2022 Skincare Favorites

I know, I know, it’s the beginning of March. We’re two whole months into 2023 and I’m just now getting around to writing my 2022 Skincare Favorites. Let’s look on the bright side – at least it’s not 2024 and I’m a full year late. You will notice this post is on the shorter side compared to my other Annual Skincare Favorites posts. I really stuck to the basics in 2022. I had an extremely good skin year (knock on wood) and I found I didn’t need to add a lot of extras into my skincare routine. Hence, you’re going to see there’s just a couple cleansers, moisturizers, serums and masks that made their way onto this roundup. But, I can promise you that although this list is short, they’re all really, really great products. Sometimes less is more, right?

Favorite Cleansing Products

• Favorite Micellar Water: Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water ($10.99CAD/$7.99USD)

I have a slight addiction to micellar water. I don’t think a day goes by where I don’t use micellar water to take off my makeup. And because of that, I go through A LOT of micellar water. And this one by Garnier tends to be my favorite time and time again. Garnier makes a ton of different micellar waters but this version contains both hyaluronic acid as well as aloe so it’s super soothing and hydrating on the skin. It doesn’t strip my skin of it’s natural oils but it also is extremely effective at removing every last bit of my makeup before moving on to cleansing with my face wash.

• Favorite Day Cleanser: COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser ($14USD)*

I’m always hesitant to try a new cleanser. For me, I feel like cleansers are the difference between breaking out horrible versus keeping my acne tame and at bay. And luckily, this COSRX Good Morning cleanser turned out to be fantastic for my skin. It’s pH balanced so it follows your skin’s slightly acidic natural pH level, keeping it balance and protecting it from getting irritated. It also contains tea-tree oil and BHA which I find always helps to keep my skin clear! It also foams up very nicely especially when using my Clarisonic which is always something I look for in my cleanser! Read the full review here.

• Favorite Night Cleanser: Vichy Normaderm Anti-Acne Purifying Cleansing Gel ($27CAD)*

This is actually my brother’s go-to cleanser and it turns out he knows a little something about good face cleansers (I’m actually the one that recommended it to him, but still). This is an OG acne cleanser and there’s good reason for why it’s stayed popular all these years. It’s incredibly gentle yet the salicylic acid really helps to keep skin clear without drying out the skin. It makes my skin feel so clean yet still hydrated and soothed. Read the full review here.

Favorite Moisturizers

• Favorite Sunscreen: Rovectin Skin Essentials Aqua Soothing UV Protector ($31USD)*

I used to think I would never find a sunscreen I loved. I thought all sunscreens were just destined to be oily, and greasy, and give off a white cast and that was just something we all had to live with. But boy oh boy, was I wrong. This Rovectin UV Protector is the world’s best sunscreen. I have already gone through three tubes and I’m not stopping anytime soon. I never thought I would be the skincare girly who would wear sunscreen every single day but here I am!! Let’s all give me a pat on the back. This sunscreen has SPF 50, is super hydrating on the skin and literally just feels like a lightweight moisturizer. You wouldn’t even be able to guess that it’s actually a sunscreen! We love! Read the full review here.

• Favorite Day Cream: Paula’s Choice C5 Super Boost Moisturizer ($45USD)*

You all know my obsession with Paula’s Choice so naturally at least one item on this list had to be from Paula’s Choice. This is the C5 Super Boost Moisturizer with five percent vitamin C. It helps to visibly brightens dullness, firms, hydrates, and supports the skin’s barrier all in one multitasking step. It’s the perfect moisturizer to achieve a glowing skin tone!

• Favorite Night Cream: Estee Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+ Bright ($126CAD/$98USD)*

I’ve always strayed away from super duper anti-aging face creams because I thought I was young and didn’t need them. Well, news flash. I turn 28 in a week. I am no longer young. That’s a tough pill to swallow y’all. And so enter this Estee Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+ Bright cream. It contains moringa extract which helps skin amplify its natural collagen production as well as enhance cell renewal. Vitamin C also helps to ensure your skin is left silky-smooth with the appearance of dullness, discolouration, lines and wrinkles reduced. Basically, it does it all!

Favorite Serums and Treatments

• Favorite Day Serum: Vichy Mineral 89 Booster ($45.95CAD)*

I’m pretty sure this Vichy Mineral 89 Booster has been on multiple yearly skincare favorites posts, but there’s definitely good reason for that. Although this booster only contains 11 ingredients, it really does wonders for my skin. The special Volcanic Water and hyaluronic acid hydrates, plumps & fortifies the skin to protect it against aggressors like weather changes, stress, fatigue and pollution. It’s the perfect addition to any skincare routine. Read the full review here.

• Favorite Night Serum: Clarins Hydra-Essentiel Bi-Phase Serum ($80CAD/$62USD)*

This is another product that I’ve been using for years. This helps to hydrate my skin like no other serum. It has this unique bi-phase formula where the water and oil is separated but work together to deeply hydrate the skin. I love that watery texture that feels lightweight and absorbs quickly. It’s the perfect serum to layer under any moisturizer. Read the full review here.

• Favorite Mask: Laneige Water Sleeping Mask (Lavender) ($38CAD/$29USD)*

It’s funny. Sometimes when I get sent skincare to review, it takes a looong time until I finally find a place in my skincare routine for it. And that’s exactly what happened with this Water Sleeping Mask in the Lavender scent from Laneige. It wasn’t until I came back from Japan and my skin freaked out from being so dry and heavily dehydrated, that I started to incorporate this mask into my routine. But this seriously saved my skin. It’s designed to not only provide intense moisture without feeling heavy but also strengthens your skin’s moisture barrier at the same time to ensure it has long lasting hydration! It completely transformed my skin back to normal. Read the full review here.

Favorite Lip Treatments

• Favorite Everyday Lip Balm: Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Swivel Stick ($5.29CAD/$3.99USD)

I already know what you’re going to say- that this lip balm strongly resembles a glue stick. I’ve heard it all time and time again from anyone who sees me applying it. But glue stick or not, this lip balm is amazing. I’ve been using it constantly for the past four years and it’s never failed to dissapoint. It helps even the driest of cracked lips and I lather it on every chance I get. I guess you could use the argument that if it was really such a good lip balm, I wouldn’t need to apply it constantly, but hey, I think I’m just addicted at this point. Read the full review here.

• Favorite Hydrating Lip Gloss: Laneige Lip Glowy Balm ($20CAD/$17USD)*

While the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is defintiely one of Laneige’s most hyped lip products, I actually think the Laneige Lip Glowy Balm deserves the crown. These lip balms are incredibly moisturizing, have a smooth yet slightly tacky texture so they stay on for hours, and give the lips the most beautiful glossy shine. They’re really a lip gloss AND a lip balm in one. And that is why I make sure I have one of these in my purse at all times. Read the full review here.

• Favorite Lip Mask: VT Cica Night Lip Mask ($20USD)

Is it evil to include a lip mask that you can only get in Asia? As far as I have found, this lip mask is a hard one to find in North America, but it’s so good I just had to include it. For those of you who want be visiting the Eastern side of the world anytime soon, I’ve included some other lip mask recommendations down below. This Cica Night Lip Mask is amazing. It has a lovely texture that half absorbs and then half stays on top of your lips so you wake up with fully hydrated, plump lips every time. Plus it doesn’t make me breakout in my lip region like some other lip masks have the tendency to do. Read the full review here.

So there you have it! All of my favorite skincare of the past year! I really enjoyed my skincare routine in 2022 and let’s hope that 2023 is the same… unless my skin decides to enter puberty again when I’m 28. Anything is possible. But let’s just cross our fingers that there will be no more acne in my future!

Check out my previous Skincare Favorites:

2021 Skincare Favorites: https://when-im-older.com/2021-skincare-favorites/

2020 Skincare Favorites: https://when-im-older.com/2020-skincare-favorites/

2019 Skincare Favorites: https://when-im-older.com/2019-skincare-favorites/

2018 Skincare Favorites: https://when-im-older.com/181461299160-2/

2017 Skincare Favorites: https://when-im-older.com/169737761309-2/

*ftc disclaimer: Products marked with an “*” were sent free of charge for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make When I’m Older possible!