Of all the stories I write about beauty per yer, an annual ‘best of’ edit is my favourite. Skincare is arguably my favourite category, so I’m kicking off some 2022 highlights right here. Being in beauty, I try a lot of products per year, but only a very small few make a lasting impression, and only fewer still are things I’d checkout more than once. Every single product below falls into the latter: an edit of 10 new launched I tried this year that genuinely changed my skin, and thus, the contents of my bathroom vanity. They are personal opinions of course, but ones I can proudly stand behind.

Keep reading for the top 10 skincare products to launch this year, according to a beauty editor.

read more: IF 7 YEARS AS A BEAUTY EDITOR HAVE TAUGHT ME ANYTHING, IT’S THAT I’LL NEVER PART WITH THESE MAKEUP PRODUCTS

Biologique Recherche haute couture. Learn More

Trying the Biologique Recherche Haute Couture program was both an honour and a privilege. While it’s existed for some time, it exclusive made-to-measure skin system launched exclusively in Australia via Melanie Grant earlier this year. It consists of a detailed skin scan, before a completely bespoke routine is created by the research team in Paris, designed to treat individualised concerns. I’m about three quarters of the way through my lineup now, and oh my god it’s good (as in, my skin is the best it’s looked in years). Of course, such quality comes with a price tag, but if you’re a fan of the brand or looking for a customised solution that’s completely non-invasive, Haute Couture is as good as it gets.

 

Emma Lewisham Supernatural Sleeping Mask, $121. SHOP NOW

The entire Emma Lewisham skincare line is gold standard, but I’m particularly obsessed with the Supernatural Sleeping Mask. Buttery and thick, it’s jam-packed with lipid-rich plant extracts, hydrators such as Saccharide Isomerate, barrier-building Ceramides and Gardenia Jasminoides to support overnight skin repair. It has a melting texture that’s beyond comforting, and works in eight hours to restore softness and bounce. If I’ve been burning the candle at both ends, or my complexion looks flat, this is what I’ll reach for – it never fails to turn things around.

Rationale #3 The enriched creme, $191. SHOP NOW

There are day creams, and then there is the Rationale Enriched Creme. It was reformulated this year to include the same Zinc fusion technology as the Tinted Serum, which is essentially a form of zinc that is luminous and non-whitening (those who have used a classic Zinc-based sunscreen will understand they are, more often than not, incredibly thick and chalky). It has a balm-like texture that solidifies when it’s cool out, but once you warm it between your palms and massage into the skin, the finish is illegally luminous. Not only that, it prevents water-loss, protects against environmental damage and even prevents heat-related damage. If you suffer from reddened or pigmented skin (hi, me!) it’s an excellent investment.

Bioderma Atoderm SOS Anti-Itch Spray, $25. SHOP NOW

This mist is hands-down the best drugstore skincare buy I’ve come across in years. It has a milky consistency, so I like to spray it into my hands and press onto my skin after any watery serums and before moisturiser. Since I started using it, my skin feels (and looks!) bouncy, soft and calm. Because it’s formulated with Squalane and Niacinamide, it comes with barrier-strengthening benefits, as well. Admittedly I don’t suffer from eczema or categorically sensitive skin, but its premise is to limit the adhesion of bacteria, preventing flare-ups as well.

 

Estee lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Creme, $119. SHOP NOW

Most eye creams give me red, scaly, bumpy skin – which is frustrating as I’m noticing fine lines, and the area is really prone to dehydration. But this renovated iteration from Estée Lauder is perfection. I loved the original, but the re-launched version seen here is even better. It has a light, gel-like texture (so no congestion), contains antioxidants for protection and hyaluronic acid to plump up crepey skin. But the real benefit I love is that it works wonders on dark circles. I’ve already emptied one jar and will 100% be going back for more.

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast B5 Serum, $65. SHOP NOW

Can you tell 2022 was the year I decided to treat my barrier right? I picked this serum up in France back in September because I love the Cicaplast B5 cream (a cult TikTok skincare item and French pharmacy icon), and it didn’t disappoint. Made with Panthenol, Glycerin and Hyaluronic Acid, it’s both hydrating and strengthening – use it if you want to calm redness or repair a damaged barrier. While it’s notably more expensive than the cream counterpart, I think it’s an excellent staple serum for all skin types (whereas the cream is probably not great for oily, acne-prone skin).

No 1 de Chanel Powder to Foam cleanser, $91. SHOP NOW

I’ve always been a big fan of enzyme powders, or powdered cleansers — the Dermalogica Microfoliant has literally been in my shower for eight years. Chanel’s version is super-fine and deeply cleansing, I love the way it instantly polishes and brightens. You can use it alone, or add a sprinkle to your favourite cream cleanser. If I wake up dull or tired-looking, a two-minute massage with this increases my glow tenfold.

Dr Barbara Sturm The Better B Niacinamide Serum, $207. SHOP NOW

Niacinamide is a hero among skincare ingredients, and for good reason. It refines the look of large pores, brightens acne marks, regulates oil production and calms irritated skin – all gripes I’ve dealt with at one point or another. You can find it everywhere nowadays, but I’m yet to find a serum as good as Dr Barbara Sturm’s The Better B. It launched into Mecca earlier this year and I was lucky enough to get my hands on a bottle. Aside from the Niacinamide there’s also Plankton, Panthenol and Amino Acids to strengthen and repair. I’m nearing the end of this and can confidently say my cheeks are less red, the pores on my nose are smaller and my face overall is clearer. I didn’t think it was possible to top the Hyaluronic formula from this brand, but The Better B has proven me wrong.

Lanolips 101 Dry Skin Super Cream, $19. SHOP Now

Lanolips is one of those skincare brands that continues to create honest products that just work. The 101 Dry Skin Cream launched earlier this year, and my immediate thought was that I probably didn’t need another lanolin-based moisturiser. But how wrong I was. This has a thick but whipped texture, so it’s easy enough to rub in, but the nourishment is next level. I’ve taken it on long-haul flights, used it on cracked heels, as a hand cream… there’s nothing it can’t do. It’s also less than $20, and a little goes a very long way.

Eighth Day Reparative Moisturiser, $265. SHOP NOW

This is pricey and hard to come by in Australia (the brand do ship internationally, but no local distributor as of yet) but it is a phenomenal product and I just couldn’t leave it out. it’s one of those products that just made my skin better. The entire brand was developed by Dr. Antony Nakhla, a skin cancer surgeon and wound healing expert, and is built around a stem cell technology the brand calls Peptide-Rich Plasma®. A blend of growth factors, peptides and amino acids, the compound is said to repair damaged skin cells and if my experience is anything to go by, it works. I also love that is affords long-lasting nourishment, and has a luminous finish that’s dewy but not greasy. I’ve sorely missed it ever since I finished the bottle.