We May Be Well Into 2020, but This Month's Skin-Care Launches Are the Year's Best Yet

"My love for body scrubs tops my love for any other body-care product. I use one every time I shower to keep my skin feeling nice and smooth. The Sunday Riley Charcoal Smoothie Jelly Body Scrub ($38) has the most amazing texture and is packed with skin-loving ingredients. It's formulated with salicylic acid, lactic acid, and natural exfoliating powders to buff away dead skin cells, plus activated charcoal to purify skin and coconut water and avocado oil to nourish skin. It works like a charm on rough spots like elbows and knees." — Jessica Harrington, associate beauty editor

"This summer has been a lot of me pretending to live out my vacation plans by endlessly clicking through the Places tab on Instagram and slathering on this Sephora Collection Gradual Self-Tanning Face Gel ($17) at night. Its effect is more subtle than a full day spent on a boat along the Turkish Riviera, but it is a hell of a lot more affordable (and way better than a sunburn)." — Kelsey Castañon, beauty director

"You knew Rihanna was going to take care of you with her new venture into skin-care territory, didn't you? Not only does the lightweight Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer SPF 30 Sunscreen ($35) absorb in a snap and smell like tropical berries you'd find in a fruit bowl on vacation, but it's also refillable for easy recycling. Pair that with the fact that its packaging is purple (my favorite color, as I like to tell everyone who never asks), and there you have it: a product that was all but made for me — and you, and you." — KC

"A delicate, noncomedogenic moisturizer is a must have for my combination acne-prone skin, and since I'm already a massive fan of Space Wash, I was psyched to hear that the brand was coming out with the Moisture on Mars ($18). This hydrating cream is full of the good stuff: holy basil leaf, vitamin E, zinc, and antioxidants to help keep the skin plump, hydrated, and pimple-free. It is super light and absorbs almost instantly, giving me the ultimate thirst-quenching base for makeup I crave." — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, associate beauty editor, Makeup.com

"I've been raving about Pixi's new Clarity Concentrate, but another product that's been a favorite of mine from this collection is the Pixi Clarity Lotion ($24). I've been moisturizing with it for a few weeks now, and I love how soft and moisturized it's been making my skin feel. I can get pretty oily from time to time as well, so I love that it's lightweight and doesn't make me feel greasy throughout the day." — Danielle Jackson, assistant beauty editor

"Maybe you know Bio-Oil for its OG product (and if you've ever tried it against stretch marks, you can attest to just how game-changing it is) but now the brand is adding to its lineup for the first time in 30 years to tackle another common skin concern. Introducing: the Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel ($11). As someone with heels so rough they could scratch glass, this gel-to-oil formula was a welcome addition to my body-care routine. First, let me say that while it looks lightweight in texture, it's actually a heavy hitter. A little goes a long way: one finger scoop can cover two feet, your elbows, and any other dry, cracked area." — KC

"Never did I think I'd find a makeup remover that actually makes me look forward to removing my makeup — until this one. This sweet-smelling Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing Balm ($32) is unlike any other cleansing balm I've ever tried thanks to its soothing, lightweight, and hydrating finish. My favorite part is that it doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy, slippery, or oily, rather, it melts away my makeup as delicately as a gentle rain cloud and makes my skin feel retexturized and supple. Once I wash it off, my skin is dry, clean, and ready for part two of my cleansing routine. This makeup remover will spoil you because you'll never want to use anything else again; I certainly don't." — AMK

"I've been looking to change my eye cream now that I am not on planes as much, but I am still tired and look like I need more sleep. I love the Universal C Eye Perfector ($65) addition to the BeautyStat family. I have been a fan of its Vitamin C Serum and love the brand's moisturizer, so I was thrilled to test the eye cream that recently launched. It feels so silky going on, and the skin around my eyes instantly looks softer and smooth. It also makes putting on my concealer easier." — Lisa Sugar, editor in chief

"I make sure to use a physical sunscreen every morning. My newest obsession is this zinc-oxide-infused Everyday Humans Rosé S'il Vous Plait SPF 30 ($25). Not only does the name really resonate with my summer motto, but the noncomedogenic formula also doesn't irritate my sensitive, acne-prone skin. It has a super lightweight formula, has a subtle smell of rose, and doesn't leave behind a white cast. The SPF has a velvet matte finish that looks great on its own or as a primer for makeup." — Samantha Holender, assistant editor, Makeup.com

"During a virtual facial, I was told by Yoli Mata that for centuries, Japanese women have reused the milky water left over from rinsing rice in their beauty routines because it's a great source of vitamins. That's why it's the main ingredient in the Tatcha The Rice Wash Skin-Softening Cleanser ($35). The thick, creamy texture of the face wash transforms into a lather when water is introduced and leaves your skin feeling soft and hydrated. I've been using it every morning, and I love how gentle it is." — JH

"I was struggling to find a new cleanser — one that removes sunscreen and the small amount of makeup I've been wearing but also feels like it's doing good things for my skin — but then I used Elemis Superfood AHA Glow Cleansing Butter ($38), and now I have one. It looks like orange sherbet but has almost no scent, which I appreciate. You massage it onto dry skin and rinse, and everything just washes away. And it leaves my skin feeling plump and dewy so I barely need moisturizer." — Dawn Davis, senior editorial director, Brandshop

"The custom-made hair-care brand Function of Beauty now makes body-care products with the launch of the Function of Beauty Body Wash and Lotion ($30). After taking a short quiz online that asks you questions about your skin's moisture level, preferred scent, and product color, you get two uniquely blended products. My duo smell like pear and are made with clean, vegan, natural ingredients." — JH

"When it comes to face wash, I'm historically of the lightweight, low-suds preference, but the Augustinus Bader The Cream Cleansing Gel ($65) might be turning me onto something new. While it's completely fragrance-free (a must when it comes to cleansers for me), it's slightly thicker in consistency but then transforms into a gel-like texture when introduced with water. The biggest win for me, though, is that it whisks away makeup without leaving that too-taut-to-talk-skin feeling afterward — a small, new sense of comfort my face very much appreciates." — KC

"I don't have sensitive skin, but my face gets beet red when I run in the summer, and that redness lasts even after a shower. If I want to be able to put on makeup, I need a calming moisturizer, and Honest Beauty The Daily Calm Lightweight Moisturizer ($30) gets the job done. I slap it on and the redness fades almost instantly, and my skin feels hydrated all day." — DD

"Elizabeth Arden's retinol and ceramide capsules are two bestsellers, so of course, I expected the Hyaluronic Acid Ceramide Capsules Hydra-Plumping Serum ($51) to be really good — and it is. Each capsule contains a single dose of silky, lightweight hyaluronic acid that leaves your skin feeling super hydrated. I love to use them before jade rolling or a facial massage to provide slip, and it leaves my complexion completely glowing." — JH

"The SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum ($295) costs a pretty penny — and I've shed a tear for all 29,500 of them now that I'm out of it. It has completely transformed my skin in just a month's time, taking it from dull and lifeless (thanks to limited outside activity) to bright and supple (thanks to its proprietary growth factor blend). If you are after a heavy hitter that really works and have the means, this will become your go-to." — KC

"As I'm mostly staying home this summer, I'm spending a lot of time in my parents' backyard soaking up some vitamin D. I wear sunscreen daily, but when I'm getting direct sun exposure, I prefer an extra layer just to be safe. Recently, I've been wearing this C'est Moi Sunshine Mineral Sunscreen Face Stick SPF 50 ($10), and I love how easy it is to use. I also have sensitive and acne-prone skin, but the ingredients in it don't break me out. It's so convenient to always have on hand and keep in my bag, too." — Krista Jones, associate editor, Shop

"I have been integrating more natural skin-care products into my routine and had not tried the incredible Tammy Fender's products until recently. Her plant-based products do wonders for the skin, and the Tammy Fender Epi-Peel ($80) makes my skin finally feel like I've had a real facial again without going to the spa. It's an exfoliating mask that only takes five minutes to do and reveals glowing clean skin instantly. I'm definitely going to be restocking this one." — LS

"I have so many serums in my medicine cabinet, but this Lancer Skincare Active Rejuvenation Serum ($150) replaces them all. It's packed with amino acids to fight lines and dark spots (and, wow, do I need help with both of those right now) and evening primrose oil to hydrate. There's also a magical-sounding complex that's supposed to create a 'web' on your skin to tighten and lift. And while I can't confirm the web, I can definitely attest to things looking a bit more chiseled." — DD

"Whether my neck is killing me from being hunched over my computer 24/7 or my legs are sore post-Peloton, this Altwell Sports Balm With CBD ($75) has been my go-to for relief. The second I start to feel any tightness in my muscles or discomfort in my joints, I slather on a generous amount of this balm. It takes the edge off almost immediately. I'm also obsessed with the texture. It doesn't feel greasy or leave behind a tacky residue. Rather, it's intensely hydrating and smoothing." — SH