Six cult skincare icons, and who they actually suit
Some skincare products become famous because they are genuinely useful, and some because of clever marketing. Before you spend on one, the most useful question is not whether it is good, but whether it is right for your skin and your routine.
These six are among the best-known cult skincare products you can buy on Amazon UK, most of them from prestige brands. For each one, here is what it is, who it suits and who is better off spending their money elsewhere.
The classic night serum
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum 75ml
A lightweight evening serum made with hyaluronic acid and peptides. It suits most skin types and people who want one well-made serum rather than a shelf of actives. Skip it if you already use several serums at night; adding another rarely helps.
The all-rounder
Clarins Double Serum 50ml
Clarins combines a water-based and an oil-based formula in one two-chamber bottle, designed for all skin types. It suits someone who wants a single serum that sits easily under moisturiser and make-up. Skip it if you are after one targeted ingredient, such as a retinoid or vitamin C, rather than an all-round serum.
The cleanser worth upgrading
ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm 100g
A balm that melts into an oil and turns milky with water, removing make-up and cleansing in one step. It suits make-up wearers and anyone with normal to dry skin who enjoys a slower routine. Skip the original if you are sensitive to fragrance: it contains essential oils, and ELEMIS makes a fragrance-free version.
The light moisturiser
Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator 30ml
An oil-free gel-cream made with aloe bioferment and hyaluronic acid. It suits normal, combination and oily skin, and anyone who dislikes heavy creams. Very dry skin may want something richer, at least in winter.
The gentle daily exfoliant
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant 40g
A rice-based powder you mix with water into a paste, containing salicylic acid and papaya enzyme. It suits skin that looks dull or uneven and people who like a physical feel to their exfoliant. Skip it if you already use a leave-on acid or a retinoid, as doubling up can irritate.
The cult leave-on exfoliant
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant 118ml
A fragrance-free liquid exfoliant with 2% salicylic acid that you apply with a cotton pad and don't rinse off. Salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which is why it is so popular for blackheads and congested pores. It suits oily, combination and blemish-prone skin. Skip it if your skin is dry or sensitive, or if you already use a retinoid or another acid, and whatever your skin type, wear daily sunscreen while using acids.
How I chose
These are long-running bestsellers from established prestige brands that are sold on Amazon UK. The descriptions are based on each brand's published product information and widely known details, not on my own testing of every product. When I review one in full, the review is linked from its pick.
No brand paid to be included.