PEOPLE's Beauty Awards: See Our Favorite Skincare Products of 2024!

We all want to give our skin the TLC it needs. So for PEOPLE’s 10th beauty awards, we put countless new launches to the test, by cleansing, toning, exfoliating and more to find the best body washes, moisturizers so forth out right now. This year’s hits range from a hydrating $5 mask to an indulgent $188 oil. Every find will make you look forward to your a.m. and p.m. routine.

THE BEST SKINCARE OF 2024

BEST MICELLAR WATER: Sofie Pavitt Micellar Cleansing Pads

Esthetician Sofie Pavitt’s micellar pads successfully removed our testers’ stubborn eye makeup without irritation.

BEST CLEANSING BALM: Garnier SkinActive Erase It All Makeup Cleansing Balm

The makeup remover, which comes in a brightening and a hydrating option (above), melted one tester’s longwear foundation off in seconds.

BEST CLEANSER FOR DULL SKIN: Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Vitamin C Lactic Creamy Cleansing Oil

Not only does this luxurious oil whisk away makeup without stripping the skin, it’s also got a refreshing scent our testers loved.

BEST CLEANSER FOR SENSITIVE SKIN: Tower 28 SOS Daily Balancing Gel Cleanser

One pump was all our tester needed to get “every nook and cranny” clean, and she gave it bonus points for leaving her skin feeling “bouncy.”

BEST ESSENCE: Curél Japanese Skincare Water Essence

“My skin drank this up,” one tester said of this soothing liquid treatment, which is applied after cleansing for extra hydration. 

BEST RETINOL SERUM: Elizabeth Arden Retinol + HPR Ceramide Capsules

These perfectly-dosed capsules dispense Goldilocks of line-smoothing serums. “It’s just the right amount of gentle but effective,” a tester said.

BEST BRIGHTENING SERUM: Drunk Elephant C-Luma Hydrabright Serum

This vitamin C serum, which brightens and hydrates thanks to squalane and other ingredients, was an instant hit with our testers: “I would buy this again!”

BEST LINE-SMOOTHING SERUM: SkinCeuticals P-Tiox

“The glow up is real,” said a tester of this liquid, which uses gentle acids and niacinamide boost radiance, and peptides to smooth forehead, eye and Marionette lines.

BEST DARK SPOT-CORRECTING SERUM: Dr. AndrewWeil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Dark Spot Corrector Serum

“A welcome step in my morning routine,” reported a tester of this serum, which treats existing and prevents future hyperpigmentation.

BEST HYDRATING SERUM: Prequel Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum

Testers were extra-impressed with this hydrator, with on putting it to the test before an international flight: “It kept my skin looking fresh despite the jetlag.”

BEST FIRMING SERUM: InnBeauty Project Firming & Plumping Vegan Snail Serum

“A little goes a long way,” said a tester. And that’s a good thing because you might not be able to stop applying it once you see how quickly it improves elasticity.

BEST MOISTURIZER FOR DRY SKIN: No7 HydraLuminous+ Day Gel

The lightweight hyaluronic acid gel hydrates and plumps skin, plus it layers well under makeup.

BEST MOISTURIZER FOR OILY SKIN: Clarins Multi-Active Matte Emulsion Moisturizer

“Definitely my new go-to,” said a tester of this luxe fluid, which reduces shine and the
look of pores. 

BEST LINE-SMOOTHING MOISTURIZER: BeautyStat Peptide Wrinkle Relaxing Moisturizer

With its rich texture and two types of firming peptides, it’s no wonder testers (and celebs) love it. 

BEST TINTED MOISTURIZER WITH SPF: Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Sheer Tint Moisturizer

Testers were “obsessed” with this SPF 45’s “cool” cream-to-water consistency.

BEST CHEMICAL SUNSCREEN: Kiehl’s Better Screen

Makeup-wearing testers said this SPF 50+ serum couldn’t be beat as a base, and neither could its
seamless, glow-inducing finish. 

BEST MINERAL SUNSCREEN: Caudalie Vinosun Protect Daily Mineral Sunscreen

“It feels more like an expensive face lotion than a sunscreen,” said a tester of this silky SPF 50. 

BEST OIL FOR ACNE-PRONE SKIN: Keys Soulcare Deeply Replenishing Squalane Facial Oil

Alicia Keys’s noncomedogenic oil nourishes all skin types without clogging pores.

BEST OIL FOR DRY SKIN: U Beauty The Super Intensive Face Oil 

Testers who described their skin as dehydrated delighted in this oil which is boosted by hyaluronic acid and makes skin look radiant.

BEST NIGHT MOISTURIZER: Neutrogena Collagen Bank Moisturizer

A product that helps preserve the skin’s natural collagen while you sleep? Our testers said, “Yes, please!” 

BEST LINE-SMOOTHING FACE MASK: Clinique  Smart Clinical Repair Overnight Recovery Face Cream + Mask

A tester said this cream deserved a “10 out of 10” for its whipped texture and smoothing effect. 

BEST HYDRATING FACE MASK: Pacifica Future Youth Time Shift Hydrogel Facial Mask

Testers said this $5 hydrogel mask did the work of one multiple times its price thanks to its powerful peptide formula and calming scent.

BEST EXFOLIATING TREATMENT: Chanel Le Masque

Testers said this camellia seed shell and jojoba bead scrub-mask is a one-step facial. And the generous tube size helps justify the price. 

BEST ACNE TREATMENT: Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Mini Invisible+

“I wore one all day, and my husband and kids didn’t notice it,” said one tester of the brand’s smallest-ever acne patches. 

BEST FIRMING EYE CREAM: Dermalogica Phyto Nature Lifting Eye Cream

We were skeptical that this cream could really give sagging lids a lift, but testers swore they saw a difference. 

BEST DOES-IT-ALL EYE CREAM: L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Midnight Eye Opener

Got puffiness, wrinkles, dark circles, sagging or all of the above? This cream has you covered. 

BEST HYDRATING EYE TREATMENT: Versed Water Rush Hydrating Eye Gel

This refreshing hyaluronic acid and aloe leaf juice gel delivers loads of hydration but absorbs in a flash, so it’s makeup-friendly. 

BEST RETINOL EYE TREATMENT: Summer Fridays Jet Lag Eye Serum

After using this velvety formula just a few times, testers had already started to see a noticeable difference. “I looked more awake,” one reported.

BEST EYE PATCHES: Dr. Barbara Sturm Everything Eye Patches 

“Pampering” and “fancy” were just a few of the words testers used to describe this 15-minute eye treatment.

BEST LIP MASK: Burt’s Bees Lip Mask

It supplanted a popular product that one tester kept bedside, while another raved that its incredible smell made it a must-have in her p.m. ritual. 

BEST LIP BALM: Dr.Jart+ Ceramidin Lip Balm

“This is the lip balm I have been searching for my whole life,” said one tester who noted she went hours before reapplying.

BEST LIP PLUMPER: Sara Happ The Plumper

“It really makes your lips look fuller!” exclaimed a tester of the glossy, volumizing formula, which can be worn alone or layered with any lip color. 

THE BEST BODY CARE OF 2024

BEST CLEANSING BAR: Dove Plant Milk Cleansing Bar

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BEST SCENTED BODY WASH: Olay Indulgent Moisture Body Wash

This collection does such a great job moisturizing skin that one tester said she skipped her regular body lotion.

BEST UNSCENTED BODY WASH: Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Body Wash

Testers loved that even though this formula is so mild, it still feels pampering. “I’d buy it for that reason alone,” said one. 

BEST BODY SCRUB: Josie Maran Sugar and Argan Oil Body Scrub

Testers said this “luxurious” scrub, which comes in three yummy scents as well as unscented, has the perfect “grainy” feel and “melts into skin.”

BEST BODY LOTION: Billie Body Lotion

This formula is super-hydrating and fast-absorbing, and the scents are so addictive, one tester said she couldn’t stop smelling her arm. 

BEST BODY LOTION WITH SPF: Sun Bum Daily Body Lotion

“It’s a game-changer for me,” said one tester of this SPF 50. “The lotion formula is so easy to apply, and it actually smells great.” 

BEST SUNSCREEN: Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion

The brand is known for its stellar sunscreens, and this SPF 60+, which comes in three sizes, is no exception. 

BEST RADIANCE-BOOSTING BODY SERUM: Nécessaire The Body Vitamin C

It uses a powerful blend of vitamin C, tranexamic acid and enzymes to reduce sunspots and hyperpigmentation from your neck down.

BEST RESURFACING BODY SERUM: Shani Darden Body Reform Treatment Serum

Like a facial for your body, this potent retinol serum treats everything from keratosis pilaris and crepiness to stretch marks.

BEST UNSCENTED BODY OIL: Naturium The Glow Getter Body Oil

“It glides on like satin,” said one tester who loved how this blend of olive, jojoba and rosehip oil sank into her skin.

BEST SCENTED BODY OIL: Phlur Missing Person

Whether you wear this silky jasmine and orange blossom-scented oil solo or layered with its complimentary viral perfume, you’re guaranteed to hear “you smell so good.”

BEST BODY BALM: Renée Rouleau Skin Care Bedside Body Balm

“Indulgent” and “delightful” were just some of the words our testers used to describe this buttery but not greasy skin-softening balm.

BEST DEODORANT: Secret Whole Body Deodorant

Use this product from “pits to privates” (per the directions!) to stay fresh and odor-free even on a 90-degree day. 

BEST PERFUME: Lancôme La Vie Est Belle L’Elixir

This perfume did the near-impossible: It got a “love it” from every single tester, thanks to scrumptious notes of raspberry and cocoa butter.