This Is the Affordable Brand Beauty Editors Swear By for Clear, Glowy Skin
Very few brands have a cult following of beauty editors quite like French skincare brand La Roche-Posay. Besides the fact that the products are affordable and readily available, the reason that La Roche-Posay is such a hit amongst us beauty eds is actually down to what I like to call its antidote status. Let me explain. Right now, it seems like every time I click on to Instagram, there is a new product that skinfluencers can’t get enough of. From glow-boosting serums to spot-blitzing masks, the power of a skincare product that goes viral knows no bounds. While trying to keep up with the ever-changing world of skincare can be totally exhausting for the average shopper, for us beauty editors, it can wreak havoc on our skin.
You don’t need me to tell you that chopping and changing your skincare line-up every time a new It product hits the shelves is terrible for your skin. Not just because our skin likes routine but also because all skin is different, and what is deemed a miracle product by one skinfluencer could be disastrous for your complexion. And no one knows this peril better than a beauty editor. You see, while we beauty editors like to think we know better than to fall for every buzzy product that comes our way, in reality, we’re ruining our skin every single day by testing and trialling them all—it’s part and parcel of the job. In order to know what products are good and which ones aren’t, we’ve got to be prepared to face the music when our skin acts up.
This is where our stash of antidotes comes in. Every beauty ed has a small handful of products to act as antidotes any time our skin reacts to a product it doesn’t like. Made up of trustworthy, effective products guaranteed to get the skin back to its spot-free, glowy ways, the antidote stash is there to be called upon during skin emergencies. The products have to be fuss-free, basic and, most importantly, fast acting. The most common brand amongst such stashes is, without a doubt, La Roche-Posay. Whether their skin is oily, acne-prone, sensitive or dry, every single beauty editor I know relies on at least one La Roche-Posay product for healthy, glowy skin.
So why is it so great? Well, that’s just it. It’s as though the formulators at La Roche-Posay just have a certain je ne sais quoi that means every product they touch actually works. The products are gentle but hardworking and lightweight but seriously effective, and they don’t break the bank. Sure, they don’t have Instagram-worthy packaging or TikTok-ready textures, but what they do have is a fan base chock-full of experts who really know what skin needs. According to editors and dermatologists, these are the best La Roche-Posay products that beauty experts love.
1. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+
2. La Roche-Posay Effaclar H Hydrating Cleansing Cream
3. La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF50+ Sun Cream
4. La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water
5. La Roche-Posay Retinol 0.3% + Vitamin B3 Serum
I have it on good authority (a beauty-editor bestie who is a real retinol aficionado) that this retinol serum is the perfect formula for beginners. As someone with sensitive skin, I can confirm that it's a great option for those who want a bit of extra glow come morning without any serious side effects.
6. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Cleansing Gel
7. La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Finding a really great hyaluronic acid serum can be tough. In their nature, they tend to have a sticky, tacky finish that feels uncomfortable on the skin. This formula, however, sits wonderfully under thicker skincare and makeup, leaving skin looking plumped and radiant.
8. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Softening Foaming Gel Wash Sensitive Skin
If you have rosacea or are prone to redness, listen up. La Roche-Posay's Toleriane range is the best of the best. This wash will help rid skin of the day's dirt without disrupting its natural balance, meaning you don't have to worry about cleanser-induced flare-ups.
9. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume Lips
10. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Moisturiser Sensitive Skin
11. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+ Ultra Concentrated Serum
The thing that La Roche-Posay gets so right is its ability to come out with products that tackle an issue without causing another one. This serum is really effective at dealing with oil, breakouts and blemishes without drying the skin out in the process.
12. La Roche-Posay Hydraphase Intense Eye Cream
I'm yet to meet an eye-cream denier who doesn't have a soft spot for this formula. Whether you have irritation, milia or congestion around the eyes, this lightweight, depuffing lotion just manages to brighten up the under-eye area without a hint of trouble.
13. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Dermallergo Soothing Serum
Out of the entire Toleriane range, this stuff is the hero I must say. Most beauty eds have a bottle of this somewhere in their stash for when things take a bad turn. In a matter of minutes, it calms irritation, takes down redness and relieves tightness.
14. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Anti-Shine Sun Protection Invisible SPF50+ Face Mist
15. La Roche-Posay Lipikar Moisturising Body Balm Ap+M
16. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Hydrating Body Lotion SPF30
La Roche-Posay is known for its exceptional SPF formulas, and this body sun cream is one of the best in its offering. Not only does it hydrate dry limbs, but the formula itself is also impressively non-greasy. Plus, it's housed in an eco-conscious cardboard tube, reducing plastic consumption and making recycling a whole lot easier.
17. La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Aquagel SPF30
18. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Soothing Fluid
Lighter than the aforementioned Toleriane Creme, this stuff sits somewhere between a fluid-like lotion and a serum. It provides essential hydration and moisture to keep the skin barrier in check (reducing redness, dryness and itching) without overloading the skin with greasy richness.
19. La Roche-Posay Pure Vitamin C10 Serum
This is a brilliant all-rounder serum for glowy skin. Alongside pure vitamin C to brighten it contains skin-plumping hyaluronic acid and gently exfoliating salicylic acid for brighter, smoother skin.
This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
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Shannon Lawlor is the beauty director atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK. With over a decade of experience working for some of the beauty industry’s most esteemed titles, including Marie Claire, Glamour UK, Stylist and Refinery29, Shannon’s aim is to make the conversation around beauty as open, relatable and honest as possible. As a self-confessed lazy girl, Shannon has an affinity for hard-working perfumes, fool-proof makeup products and does-it-all skincare.