The best SkinCeuticals products are staples in Allure editors’ and board-certified dermatologists’ skin-care routines—it’s no wonder the brand can’t stop winning Best of Beauty Awards. After years of testing hundreds of serums, eye creams, sunscreens, and more, we always come back to certain SkinCeutical formulas that deliver results without any fuss—no matter what your skin-care goals may be. Hydrated, glowing skin? Smoothing fine lines and wrinkles? Maintenance between in-office treatments? Trust us when we say SkinCeuticals products can do it all—without irritating our skin in the process. (Most products are fragrance-free, to boot!)

With all of this in mind, it’s safe to say that crowning our all-time favorites is no easy task, but after much debate, we’ve pulled together a list of SkinCeuticals essentials that every brand newcomer and faithful devotee should know about.

Our Top SkinCeuticals Products

• Next-Level Antioxidant: C E Ferulic, $185
• Fine Line Fighter: P-Tiox, $150
• Plump, Juicy Skin: Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier Multi-Glycan, $120
• Undereye Refresher: A.G.E. Advanced Eye, $125
• Barrier-Boosting Moisturizer: Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2, $155
• Advanced Acne Treatment: Silymarin CF, $185
• Brighter Skin Ahead: Daily Brightening UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 30, $65

Next-Level Antioxidant: C E Ferulic

Why we love it: When we think of SkinCeuticals, we think of the iconic C E Ferulic. A six-time Allure Best of Beauty and Readers’ Choice Award winner, this often-duped serum (which had previously been patented for 20 years) lists its three key ingredients right in the name: 15% vitamin C, 1% vitamin E, and 0.5% ferulic acid. It’s a powerful, widely-studied combination that brightens skin, fades hyperpigmentation and dark spots, and smooths fine lines and wrinkles over time. Meanwhile, hydrating glycerin and panthenol pull moisture in for a plumping effect (and some serious glow).

C E Ferulic is also well-loved by dermatologists for its thoughtful formulation and real results. "Compounding vitamin C with another antioxidant [like vitamin E] helps preserve the stability and boost the effectiveness of the serum," Michelle Henry, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, told Allure. "It's my personal go-to because it contains a potent triple combination of antioxidants,” Shereene Idriss, MD, another board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, added. “This simple step helps dramatically with the improvement of fine lines, skin firmness, and overall brightening." Just remember to slather on a good SPF after you use it each morning. (We have some suggestions below!)

Fine-Line Fighter: P-Tiox

Why we love it: P-Tiox targets expression lines at the source in a way few other Best of Beauty Award winners can. Two synthetic, neurotransmitter-inhibiting peptides (dipeptide diaminobutyroyl and acetyl hexapeptide-8) relax facial muscle contractions, board-certified dermatologist Omer Ibrahim, MD, told Allure, slowing the formation of fine lines similar to how in-office procedures like Botox, Dysport, or Xeomin work. It’s one of our editors’ favorite products to use in between appointments to make their results last longer. (P-Tiox can be used alone, too—just note that it isn’t as effective as a neuromodulator would be, since it only treats the top layer of your skin.)

The formula also includes brightening niacinamide, along with exfoliating polyhydroxy acid (PHA) and salicylic acid to help clear pores and smooth texture. Plus, “it contains hydrating ingredients that deliver an instant boost to dull, dehydrated skin, like sea kelp extract, which also delivers antioxidant protection to preserve collagen [levels],” Rachel Westbay, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, told Allure. This mix of hydrators, exfoliators, and peptides is the key to softer, smoother, and more even skin over time.

Plump, Juicy Skin: Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier Multi-Glycan

Why we love it: Another Best of Beauty Award winner (noticing a pattern?), the Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier Multi-Glycan reigns supreme among hyaluronic acid serums for its ability to hydrate even the driest, most sensitive skin. As its namesake, HA, pulls moisture in, licorice root helps brighten your skin tone, while purple rice extract (rich in antioxidant vitamin E) helps fight damage from free radicals and prevent all of that hydration from escaping. Plus, 12% proxylane—an ingredient patented by L’Oreal Paris, SkinC’s parent company—derived from beech wood boosts elasticity and firmness.

There’s one more plumping ingredient that often flies under the radar: the brand’s proprietary post-biotic 2% soybean ferment extract, which boosts your levels of glycan, complex sugars that already exist in your skin. This ingredient helps plump skin and give it that supple feel that dry, dehydrated complexions often lack. While other serums may feel too thin and sink in immediately, this one gives us that luminous glow our dry skin craves long after we first squeeze the dropper.

Pro tip: “After cleansing, apply a few drops of serum while your skin is still slightly damp to maximize moisture absorption,” Nkem Ugonabo, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, told Allure.

Undereye Refresher: A.G.E. Advanced Eye

Why we love it: Like many of our other SkinCeuticals picks, A.G.E. Advanced Eye lets you know how it works right in the name. The initials stand for the advanced glycation end-products that this Best of Beauty Award-winning cream addresses—they can naturally build up as you age, causing your skin to sag, Kunal Malik, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, told Allure. The workhouse formula "is packed with a lot of great ingredients, such as Matrixyl 3000 (a blend of two different peptides: palmitoyl tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7), proxylane to help skin hold onto moisture, and caffeine to depuff the eyes,” New York City-based board-certified dermatologist David Kim, MD, told Allure. Antioxidant-rich pomegranate and bilberry extracts provide brightening benefits, too, while also protecting your delicate undereye skin from environmental stressors. “With regular use, patients have definitely noticed a decrease in the appearance of fine lines around the eyes,” Lauren Penzi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, told Allure.

Barrier-Boosting Moisturizer: Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2

Why we love it: The Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 has a formula you can count on, literally: It’s made with 2% ceramides, 4% cholesterol, and 2% fatty acids. This ratio is crucial because "it infuses skin-identical fatty acids into the barrier in the exact proportion that naturally exists in our barrier," Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New Haven, CT, told Allure. (When it was new to the market back in 2016, it even won a Best of Beauty Breakthrough Award.)

While it has a place in most people’s skin-care routines, it’s even more effective for mature skin because it replenishes the moisture your skin barrier tends to lose as you age, Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, told Allure. “By restoring these fatty molecules, the barrier is not only improved, but the skin now appears more hydrated and smoother.” While Leah Ansell, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, called out Triple Lipid Restore as a great option for anyone with eczema, just be aware that it does contain essential oils, which some people with sensitive skin may react to.

Advanced Acne Treatment: Silymarin CF

Why we love it: Silymarin CF takes the same brightening vitamin C and ferulic acid pairing we love in C E Ferulic and adds two more ingredients that make it a standout for combination and oily skin. Silymarin is extracted from the milk thistle plant and excels in preventing oil oxidation, keeping pores clear. Meanwhile, salicylic acid gently exfoliates to resurface skin sans irritation to keep breakouts from forming. The formula tackles active breakouts, dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and future acne all at once: "This is the first antioxidant to address oiliness and acne, as well as free-radical formation and photoaging," Corey L. Hartman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Birmingham, Alabama, told Allure.

Brighter Skin Ahead: Daily Brightening UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 30

Why we love it: We know you’ve heard this one before: You should always wear sunscreen, indoors or out. Any good SPF—meaning a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher—will protect your skin from the sun’s damaging UV rays, but the Daily Brightening UV Defense Sunscreen goes one step further, with ingredients that also target dark spots for an all-over, tone-evening effect. "Tranexamic acid is a powerful ingredient recognized for its ability to brighten skin and improve the appearance of discoloration," Tuscaloosa, Alabama-based dermatologist Catherine Lucas, MD, told Allure. Also at work: Niacinamide, which "has been clinically shown to strengthen skin’s moisture barrier and reduce discoloration and blotchiness," she adds. Dr. Lucas suggests spreading a nickel-size amount across your face and neck before applying any makeup to reap the formula’s full rewards (read: more even, radiant skin).

Sensitive Skin-Friendly SPF: Future Mineral UV Defense Invisible Sunscreen SPF 50

Why we love it: Elegant sun protection becomes even harder to perfect when you factor in sensitive skin—but this one impressed our super-sensitive tester. Mineral SPF, like SkinCeuticals’s Future Mineral UV Defense Invisible Sunscreen, is similar to chemical SPF in that both “work by absorbing UV radiation and converting it into a very small amount of heat,” Los Angeles-based cosmetic chemist Laura Lam-Phaure tells Allure. However, she notes that the filters in mineral SPF (in this case, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) also reflect some of those UV rays, scattering them in a way chemical SPFs can’t.

This lightweight, serum-like formula blends in quickly and doesn’t leave a white cast behind, so you can quickly apply (and re-apply) it, then go. Aside from zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which provide SPF 50 (and block 98% of UVB rays), it’s also made with the hydrating humectant panthenol, plus brightening and smoothing niacinamide, for glowy skin immediately after you apply it and over time.

Restore Cracked Lips: Antioxidant Lip Repair

Why we love it: No one likes cracked lips, plain and simple, and the Antioxidant Lip Repair has a deeply restorative formula that hydrates dry, flaky lips right away. This silky cream is made with hydrating hyaluronic acid and urea, a moisture-pulling humectant that’s hard to find in lip products, to plump and soften your pout. There’s also soothing allantoin, reparative vitamin E, and free radical-fighting silymarin to help combat signs of aging (because yes, your lips age, too). While it’s pricey for a lip product, the smooth, plush results—the perfect canvas for your signature lip color—speak for themselves.

Super-Soother: Phyto Corrective Masque

Why we love it: We’re no strangers to red, angry skin (as beauty editors, allergic reactions and eczema flare-ups are often hazards of the job). So, when we need a full reset, we reach for the Phyto Corrective Masque. Depending on how much you apply, it works as a rinse-off, leave-on, or overnight mask, so you can customize the treatment based on how your skin is feeling. Along with hydrating hyaluronic acid, the gel formula contains soothing cucumber, thyme, and olive extracts that help tone down irritation. Whether you’re dealing with a sunburn (ouch) or post-procedure redness and heat, the cooling formula keeps your complexion calm and comfortable.

Stop Spots at the Source: Discoloration Defense

Why we love it: Dark spots and uneven texture are no match for SkinCeuticals’ Discoloration Defense. "It contains a great combination of tranexamic acid and kojic acid, both ingredients that are effective for lightening discolorations," Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, told Allure. Each ingredient works a little differently: Tranexamic acid slows melanin synthesis, preventing melanocytes (the skin cells that produce melanin) from interacting, Dr. King explains. This process minimizes the look of dark spots and hyperpigmentation, evening your skin tone over time. Meanwhile, kojic acid—which is great for sensitive skin, Heather Woolery-Lloyd, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami, told Allure—blocks tyrosinase, the enzyme that’s responsible for producing melanin. The multitasking formula also includes brightening, skin-smoothing niacinamide, hydrating urea, and soothing K-beauty star allantoin for an all-over glow.

Don’t Forget Your Neck: TriPeptide-R Neck Repair

Why we love it: When a dermatologist uses a neck cream, you know it’s good (and worth adding an extra step to your skin-care routine). "Once I turned 40, I realized that I could no longer ignore my neck," Dr. Hartman told Allure. “Luckily, SkinCeuticals formulated its Tripeptide-R Neck Repair to incorporate retinol in a formulation that doesn't cause irritation or unnecessary dryness.” Quick refresher: Retinol, a vitamin A derivative that boosts collagen production and cell turnover, is a gold-standard active for treating fine lines, acne, dark spots, and more. Not only is there 2% slow-release retinol (again, a slower release means less irritation), but this neck cream is also formulated with a 2.5% tripeptide concentrate to firm up the skin. The thin formula sinks in in seconds, according to our tester, and helps reverse some of that “tech neck” damage without the hassle of needles or an in-office treatment.

Inspired to upgrade your skin-care routine? We've done even more research and trialing for you, so you buy only the best of the best:

• The 7 Best Face Serums for Every Skin Type
• The Very Best Moisturizers We've Ever Used
• Our Favorite SPF-Spiked Moisturizers Provide Glow and Protection

Now watch Madelyn Cline's gorgeous, glowy 10-Minute Beauty Routine: