6 Skin Care Products You Should Always Keep Stocked in Your Bathroom

When it comes to skin care products, the classics are classics for a reason. Yes, there are lots of fancy add-ons you can incorporate into your beauty routine (like sheet masks and essences), but sometimes the basics are all you need to care for your skin. Keep your bathroom stocked with the following six skin care products—including our best facial cleanser for oily skin and best moisturizer for dry skin to face masks and face scrubs—so that you can always be sure that you can keep your complexion in tip-top condition. Let’s get to it! 

SKIN CARE PRODUCT #1: MICELLAR WATER

Micellar water has been a French-favorite facial cleanser for years—and once you learn how it works, you won’t be surprised why. Micellar water is powered by tiny micelles—oil molecules—that act as a magnet to lift dirt, oil, and makeup up and away from the skin. It’s a no-rinse, gentle cleansing option—just is saturate a cotton pad with it and wipe the pad across your face. 

Cleansing your skin should always be the first step in your skin care routine—morning at night. Feeling too tired to take your makeup off before bed? Well, when you sleep in your makeup, it can mix with the dirt and oil that has built up on the surface of your skin, which can lead to clogged pores—and clogged pores can lead to breakouts. Take care of cleansing and makeup removal in one step with micellar water. 

If you have oily skin…try the L’Oréal Paris Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin, which purifies and mattifies. 

If you have dry skin…try the L’Oréal Paris Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser for Normal to Dry Skin, which hydrates and soothe.

If you want to remove waterproof makeup…try the L’Oréal Paris Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser Waterproof – All Skin Types, which intensely purifies. 

SKIN CARE PRODUCT #2: facial CLEANSER

Micellar water isn’t the only cleansing option out there. While traditional water-based rinse-off cleansers may be your next bet, we recommend trying a soothing clay cleanser instead! When it comes to picking the best cleanser for you, keep your individual skin type and needs in mind. What works for oily skin may not necessarily work for dry skin, and so on and so forth. Try one of the recommendations below! 

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Detox and Brighten Cleanser: This clay facial cleanser is suitable for all skin types and its formula is enhanced with charcoal—so if your complexion looks lackluster, it might be the right one for you. Not only does it help purify the surface of your skin of dirt, oil, and pollution, but use after use, dull skin appears brighter.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Cleanser Purify and Mattify Cleanser: This clay facial cleanser is enhanced with eucalyptus and suitable for all skin types. Have oily skin? This one could be for you! It helps remove excess sebum (a.k.a. oil) from the surface of skin for a refreshed look and feel.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Exfoliate and Refine Cleanser: This clay facial cleanser is suitable for oily and combination skin and its formula is enhanced with red algae. It goes beyond daily cleansing to exfoliate. Exfoliation is the process of sloughing away dead skin cells from the surface of your skin, which can build up and cause the look of dullness.

SKIN CARE PRODUCT #3: MOISTURIZER

After cleansing, it’s important to apply a moisturizer, regardless of your skin type. Yes, you really do need to use moisturizer even if you have oily skin! We’re fans of water-based moisturizers. Find your match below! They’re each formulated with hyaluronic acid and aloe vera water to help provide long-lasting hydration. 

If you have oily skin…external factors like pollution, UV rays, and excessive cleansing can damage skin’s moisture barrier, causing loss of moisture and an increase in oil production. As a result, your complexion can end up looking overly shiny. The L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care for Normal/Oily Skin has a matte finish, so you don’t have to worry about ending up looking super-greasy. 

If you have dry skin…your skin faces external factors like pollution and UV rays that can damage the skin’s moisture barrier, increasing loss of moisture and causing it to become drier. As a result, your skin’s surface can lose its natural glow, becoming dull. The L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care for Normal/Dry Skin envelops skin with moisture, helping it to look more radiant. 

If you have extra dry skin…your skin has a very fragile skin moisture barrier that can easily be damaged by external factors like pollution and UV rays. Skin consequently loses its ability to retain moisture, becoming easily dehydrated, feeling tight and uncomfortable. The L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care for Extra Dry Skin envelops skin with moisture, providing comfort and helping to soothe your complexion. 

SKIN CARE PRODUCT #4: face scrub

One of the best ways to work on your skin by adding a face scrub to your skin care routine, as exfoliation can help you maintain the appearance of bright skin. Keep one on your sink counter so that you remember to use this handy-dandy skin care product. Three times a week, apply one of the following face scrubs to dry skin, then massage it in with wet fingers and rinse off thoroughly and pat dry.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Nourish & Soften Face Scrub:This face scrub leaves skin feeling softer and smoother and looking more refined. Immediately, skin feels smooth and comforted, while skin feels nourished with continued use over time. 

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Purify & Unclog Face Scrub:This face scrub effectively removes dirt, oil, and impurities from the surface of skin and polishes away dead skin. With continued use over time, pores look tighter, unclogged, and less visible.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Smooth & Glow Face Scrub: This face scrub gives skin a glowing appearance immediately and leaves skin feeling baby-soft, smooth, and comforted with continued use over time.   

SKIN CARE PRODUCT #5: face MASK

Does it seem like your complexion could use a little extra something-something every once in a while? Go ahead and use a face mask. Not sure where to start? Try one of the face masks below! They’re each formulated with kaolin, montmorillonite, and Moroccan clays. 

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Mask Purify & Mattify Face Mask: Day after day, impurities, dirt, makeup, and excess oils can build up on the surface of your skin, leaving your complexion looking overly oily. This face mask is formulated with three types of clay and enhanced with eucalyptus leaf extract to help draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and oils and reduce the look of excess shine.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Mask Exfoliate & Refining Face Mask: Dead skin cells can accumulate on the surface of your skin day after day, leaving your complexion feeling rough. This face mask is formulated with three types of clay and enhanced with red algae extract to help draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and oils and exfoliate dead skin cells from the surface.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Clarify & Smooth Face Mask: This face mask is formulated with yuzu lemon and three clays to help shed rough, dead skin cells from skin’s surface, clarify tone, and improve skin texture.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Mask Detox & Brighten Face Mask: Over time, harsh environmental factors like pollution and debris can damage skin, leaving your complexion looking dull and tired. This face mask is formulated with three types of clay and enhanced with charcoal to help draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and pollution and reduce the look of dull skin.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Clear & Comfort Face Mask: Did you know that clay face masks can be especially beneficial for easily-stressed skin? This face mask formulated with seaweed and three types of clay to help draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and oils, while visibly reducing the appearance of imperfections, clearing the look of congested pores, and gently cleansing skin. When you’re finished, skin is not only clean but soothed and de-stressed.

Keep in mind that whether you choose to use one, two, three, or all five masks, they’re best when used three times a week. Simply apply an even layer of face mask to clean, dry skin, leave it on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse off thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.

SKIN CARE PRODUCT #6: moisturizer with SPF

You should be applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen as the last step in your skin care routine every day of the year, rain or shine. Spending prolonged periods of time in the sun without wearing protection can lead to damage, which can show up down the road as visible signs of aging like dark spots and fine lines and wrinkles. A broad-spectrum sunscreen can help protect against UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays are the ones that cause damage, while UVB rays are the ones that burn—and you can get burned even on cloudy days! The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using a broad-spectrum sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or higher—and reapplying it every two hours (more frequently if you’re swimming or sweating, though).

Always in a rush? There’s no reason for you to skip out on this important skin care step! Just opt for a day moisturizer with SPF, like the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Bright Reveal Brightening Day Moisturizer SPF 30. It’s formulated with glycolic acid, vitamin C, Pro-Retinol, and broad-spectrum sunscreen to help brighten the look of your complexion and protect against UV rays. And remember: Toss the bottle into your purse in the morning so that you can reapply every two hours throughout the day. Apply as directed—and take other sun protection measures including limiting your amount of time in the sun, seeking shade, and throwing on a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.

Now that you have your skincare products stocked and organized, what about your makeup? Check out our article, How to Organize Your Makeup Bag Like a Pro.