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Imagine waking up tomorrow and every skincare and haircare product you own is gone. No backups. No half-used favourites. Just a blank slate — and the question of what’s actually worth buying again.

 

 

I test a lot of products, but very few earn a permanent place in my routine. So today I’ll show you exactly what I’d repurchase if I had to start from scratch — the ones that have proven themselves over time, work with Tretinoin, and make my routine feel curated rather than complicated. I do this at the end of every year – my skincare favorites if you will, this time for 2025.

And yes, we’ll also add up what that routine would cost — just for perspective.

 

 

 

My favorite cleansers of 2025

If I had to rebuild my whole routine, I would get two different cleansers: One to remove makeup and do an evening cleanse, and one that is for mornings and just cleansing the skin, without the need to remove layers of makeup, sweat and sunscreen. A first and a second cleanse, if you will, although I don’t always double cleanse.

The evening cleanser would be the Geek and Gorgeous Mighty Melt Cleansing Balm (98 ml for 12,80 €, full review here). I love it because it is affordable and easy to pick up, but has a beautiful texture and rinses clean even if you don’t have a wash cloth at hand. if I wear really heavy makeup, I sometimes need to get back in around the eyes to remove every trace, but I have yet to find a product where that doesn’t happen (Might it be that I pile on too much mascara? I guess we’ll never know…) Bonus points for the fact that it is easy to travel with as it doesn’t leak or spill in your bag!

For second or morning cleanse I still need your input: I have tried a lot of good ones, but none that was either fun to use or convinced me in texture. Yes, skincare should primarily work, but in a world filled with products, I want some that I enjoy using, not just something that does the trick. As I haven’t found the one in this category yet, I’d get the Geek and Gorgeous Jelly Joker Low pH Cleanser (150 ml for 9,50 €, full review here) simply because it is nice, easily accessible and affordable and I use it a lot.

 

 

My favorite toner or ampoule of 2025

My toner favorites change depending on the season: In the summer, I want hydration that feels like nothing on the skin. I can’t deal with the feeling of too much on the skin, so the SKIN1004 Centella Asiatica Ampoule (100 ml for 12,49 €, full review here) is what I would currently pick. It isn’t much in terms of what it adds to the skin, but that is exactly why I enjoy it.

For the colder months, I prefer something richer, something that, in addition to being hydrating, calms down my often irritated skin. For that the SKIN1004 Probio Cica Essence Toner (210 ml for 10,87 €, full review here) is great. It has more body and features fermented ingredients, Centella Asiatica extract as well as Panthenol and Ceramides.

 

 

My favorite exfoliant/ active of 2025

I have tried several salicylic Acid products over the years and always found it hard to get the balance between keeping my skin congestion free and also not irritating it to the point where I’d get flaky and red skin right. That was until I discovered the Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant (118 ml for 39 €, full review here), much later than I should have. I had heard others sing its praise over and over again, but I admit I thought there wouldn’t be much difference between this one and others except the price. Well, I was wrong and ever since I finished my first bottle, I keep coming back to it. Depending on the season I use it three times a week (in spring, summer and fall) or twice a week (during the winter).

For retinoids I don’t have one I’d repurchase. I use prescription for my adult acne (yes, I will be 47 in a bit, no it shows no sign of leaving me for good) so anything over the counter won’t be able to compare, I can give you the one I recommend to my friends and family a lot though, the Geek and Gorgeous A-Game 10 (30 ml for 18,80 €, full review here). There are currently three different strengths available, 0,05%, 0,1% and 0,2%, but in my experience there isn’t really a difference in terms of irritation potential between 0,05% and 0,1% and the 0,2% has the downside of being less cosmetically elegant that the others. It takes longer to sink in and can give your skin a yellowish cast, especially if you have prominent facial hair. If money wasn’t an objection, the Medik8 Crystal Retinal (30 ml for 69 €, full review here) is absolutely beautiful, but you’ll have to see for yourself if it is 3-times the price beautiful for you.

 

 

My favorite serum of 2025

I know you had this one on your bingo card: the Geek and Gorgeous C-Glow Serum (30 ml for 12,50 €, full review here) has been featured here ever since it came into my life. Quite frankly, as long as I can tolerate Ascorbic Acid (and I don’t see a reason why that would change anytime soon), I don’t see myself straying from it. It is affordable, easy to pick up and not once oxidised on me. I know there are people that need one of the derivatives, but for me it will always be the original Vitamin C.

Another one I always have in my routine is a serum featuring copper peptides. This year it is a new one, the Medik8 Advanced Liquid Peptides MP (30 ml for 81 €, full review here). Yes, it is pricey, and yes, you can get other ones that will work just fine. I mean, you don’t even need to incorporate any peptides into your routine, they are surely not the foundation of a good skincare routine. But as I am almost 47 and consider myself more passionate about my skin than the average consumer, I am willing to spend the extra money on peptides in general and on this one in particular. Many others I have tried didn’t feel great when it came to texture, but this one is beautiful. And on top of that they feature Dual Mini Proteins – not a must have, but an interesting field of research, so I am happy to have them.

If I’d go minimalist, that would be the serum part done, but I am pretty much not. I like a streamlined approach to almost anything in life, but just like my failed attempt to build a capsule wardrobe a few years ago I want a little more than what is pure necessity. So, to make up for my skins increasing disability to stay hydrated, I like to layer with something I call “hydration with oomph”. The „oomph“ here is anything that is added to a basic hydrating serum, so over the years I have tried quite a few different ones. The one I would probably repurchase because it ticks all the boxes in terms of availability, price and texture, is The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum (30 ml for 6 €, full review here). The „oomph“ in this one is an added peptide from the Matrixyl Complex, which makes it feel as if I am doing something for my collagen framework as well as my hydration. For night time use, I would pick the SKIN1004 Probio-Cica Intensive Ampoule (95 ml for 13,49 €, full review here) Despite being called an ampoule, I always use it in the serum step. The lotion texture feels very soothing and depending on your skin type and the climate you live in it might even work as light moisturizer in summer. The „oomph“ here is the added soothing ingredients: Ceramides, Niacinamide, Adenosine, Panthenol and of course Centella Asiatica. Especially Niacinamide is one that I make sure I have in my night time routine to make sure I tolerate my Tretinoin a little better.

 

 

My favorite eye cream of 2025

This section needs your judgement: Can a favorite still count as a favorite if you haven’t repurchased it in a year? The thing is, I have had the same favourites here for years. And I have used them at the beginning of last year, they featured in my empties of 2025. But then I decided to shop my stash to prevent others that I liked as well from going off, and as eye creams always take forever to finish, I simply didn’t feel the need to purchase any new eye cream. Or repurchase the ones I consider favorites.

I have decided to count them – simply because I wouldn’t have anything else to show here if I didn’t.

For the mornings it is The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream (15 ml for 7,95 €, full review here), formerly called Caffeine Eye Serum. In the mornings I need something that absorbs quickly so I can carry on putting on makeup and that is lightweight enough my concealer doesn’t slip around. This one ticks both boxes, is very reasonably priced and, which makes it stand out, is the best at deputing my eyes. The older I get, the puffier my eyes seem to be in the mornings, and the one brings that down within a few minutes. Much better than any of the cooling metal tip ones I have tried in the past.

At night I like to use one with an eye friendly retinol concentration. Why I don’t just take my prescription right up to my eyes? Because I don’t even tolerate it nightly on my face, so bringing it up to the eyes would most likely lead to horrible flaking and would make my already dry eyes even drier. Does that mean you can’t do it? You do you, I just prefer not to for the reasons mentioned before. So a retinoid specifically formulated for the eye area is what I reach for, and the Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum (15 ml for 99 €, full review here) has been a favorite ever since I tried it for the first time. I am sure there are less expensive ones that work just as well, so you really don’t need to spend as much as I do. But seeing that it takes me forever to finish an eye cream anyway and I just love the texture and that it never gives me irritation makes it worth it for me.

 

 

My favorite moisturizer of 2025

This has to be the category that has seen the most change over the years. Back when I started, I would list one, maybe two products just to have something to share, proclaiming that I was rarely excited by a moisturizer anyway. Now I not only have a favorite one, no, I have several different ones to suite my mood and (more important) the current weather.

The first one is a lightweight one that I use on winter mornings or summer nights, the Murad Nutrient Charged Water Gel (50 ml for 55 €, full review here). How I could ever fall for a product so pink and fluffy like this gel moisturiser is beyond me, I firmly stand by black being my happy color. But something about that light pink texture just makes me happy whenever I open the pot. That paired with the lovely texture and the mixture of beneficial ingredients – you’ll find ceramides, a few peptides, Growth Hormones and Niacinamide – make it a recurring appearance here.

If it is cold on the other hand, I want something that is nourishing, but not greasy. I can’t stand the suffocating feeling of some products on my face, I would never willingly try slugging for example, so it is hard to find the right balance. The SKIN1004 Probio-Cica Enrich Cream (50 ml for 12,42 €, full review here) finds the perfect balance. And yes, there are a lot of their products featured in this list, but I just feel the Probio-Cica line is perfect for my skin right now. No surprise I guess, as it is the one aimed at mature skin.

The I have an in between option, for when the lightweight gel won’t cut it anymore, but it still isn’t cold enough to reach for the Enrich Cream: The Real Barrier Intense Moisture Hyaluronic Cream (60 ml for 32 €, full review coming eventually), It is the one in the tube, not the one in the jar – the naming is very similar, which might lead to confusion. The one in the jar is very nice, but quite rich, while this one is rather lightweight despite being nourishing. The brand claims that their MLE technology is responsible for that, meaning that the skin lipids in their formula arrange exactly like they’d do in the skin when looked at under the microscope, but as I am not in the habit of looking at my skincare under a microscope, I can’t say if there is truth to that. It festures Panthenol, Allantoin and Madecassosside for soothing, so it fits well into the theme of this years moisturizer picks.

A honourable mention for special occasions rather than a product I use daily is La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 (100 ml for 12 €, full review here). That one is rich and greasy and only comes out at night when I feel my skin starting to act up or getting flaky around nose and mouth. It isn’t something I would even consider wearing during the day, let alone underneath makeup, but as part of my emergency skincare kit it is non-negotiable.

 

 

My favorite sunscreens of 2025

This is another category that sees a lot of repetition over the years, and 2025 is no exception. I have thre different categories of sunscreen I always have in my stash: One for outdoors and the beach, one for office days and one for touchups when needed.

The outdoors one is the La Roche Posay UVMune 400 SPF 50+ (50 ml for 17 €, full review here) which differs from the others in the range of UVA protection (according to the brand they are the only one covering a spectrum that broad) and in being sweat resistant. I love being outdoors in the sun, but I am also prone to hyperpigmentation, so I want something that stays put as good as possible. That doesn’t mean you don’t need to reapply (sadly) and you certainly feel it more on the skin than others that aren’t labelled that, but for me it is the best compromise bewteen protection and comfort.

Not sweat resistant and reserved for office days are my favorite Korean options: SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Water Fit Sun Serum (50 ml for 8,99 €, full review here) and Beauty of Joseon Sun Relief Rice + Probiotics (50 ml for 13 €, full review here). I could probably survive with just one of them as well, but like to change them up due to slight differences in finish. SKIN1004 is more natural and a smidgen more lightweight, so the option for when it is warmer, and Beauty of Joseon a little more dewy and more hydrating, meaning I prefer it during winter.

And for touch-ups, I reach for Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence (70 g for 9 €, full review here). You could of course use either of the ones mentioned before to touch up as well (and if I am at the beach, this is what I will do with La Roche Posay), but even if I know how very important these touchups are for protecting the skin, the thought of putting yet another hydrating layer on top of the sunscreen, makeup and sweat that is already there makes me shiver. Biore is so lightweight you absolutely don’t feel it (apart of the short smell of alcohol that can make your eyes water), so it makes the process a little more bearable.

 

 

My favorite hair care of 2025

You won’t find a shampoo here. I’ve never found a shampoo that excited me enough to remember the name the next time I was at the drugstore for a refill, so I usually reach for whatever catches my eye on the shelf. And I share with the kids, so buying something fancy isn’t on the cards either, we go through the bottles at lightning speed. I remember the ones that didn’t work, but other than that I go by scent.

For conditioners though I am more picky, but probably not in the way you’d expect: I look for ones with enough silicones to give my hair slip. My hair is very fine and bleached and prone to knots and  breakage, so silicones are my lifeline. Right now I like either the L’Oréal Elvital Bond Repair Conditionier or the Glycolic Gloss Conditioner from the same brand (150 ml for 7 €), not because of bond building or extra shine, but more for the softness and manageability they offer.

That doesn’t mean I forego bond building, no. Ever since I tried it the first time I swear by Olaplex No 3 (100 ml for 30 €, full review here) used every Sunday as pre wash treatment. And during the week (I wash my hair between two and three times per week depending on the intensity of my workouts and my schedule), I use the K18 Leave-In Molecular Hair Mask (50 ml for 48 €, full review here) for the lengths. Do you need to do both? Most likely not. Still I take the „everything and the kitchen sink“ approach when it comes to saving my hair.

In addition to that I use the Garnier Fructis Multi Use Wonder Oil (150 ml for 5,99 €) in the mornings and at night before brushing. It took me a while to get around to hair oils as my hair is easily weighed down, but this one provides just the right amount of slip and shine and isn’t too heavy.

 

The total amount

Again, you don’t need that much, and you don’t need the high price items I sprinkle in especially in the serum and hair care part. After a certain treshold you pay for the story behind the product, the brand name and the overhead for general development more than you pay for the actual product. But I want my skincare routine to make me feel good almost as much as I want it to keep my skin happy, and that justifies the extra money spend.

Adding up everything, I would have to spend 643 € if I had to replace everything at once, 552 € if I exclude the hair care. Last year it was 624 € (525 € if hair care was excluded), so it seems my preferences haven’t changed that much.

Now I am curious: Have you ever added up what your routine would cost? And is this an amount you’d be willing to spend on your skin?

 

 

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