27 Amazing Skincare Product Before And Afters
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
Before you know it, you'll be taking your own before and after photos and raving about these amazing skincare essentials.
BuzzFeed Staff
I actually own this and LOVE IT! It works so ridiculously well and subtly helps to bring down redness on my face, which, in turn, makes makeup application super seamless.
Promising review: "This product is a game changer for anyone with red rosacea-prone skin. I have used everything from drugstore to expensive products from my dermatologist, plus many IPL treatments to reduce the redness. Nothing worked until I found this. A small amount goes a long way so I use a sunscreen underneath. I found patting it on my skin worked and the redness is gone instantly and stays that way all day." —DGladMarten
Get it from Sephora for $54 (also available in a mini size for $22).
Promising reviews: "Absolutely worth every single cent! I have severe rosacea that leave my nose and cheeks dry, flaky, and breaking out. I’ve had little success with anything topical that will provide and relief to my irritated skin. My sister recommended it to me when I was looking for a moisturizer after a severe sunburn that left my nose blistered and raw. I received my order Wednesday and applied it that night after washing my face. By Saturday afternoon my face is almost completely healed, preventing pealing, and helped clear up my rosacea skin irritation! I’m completely amazed! I’ve applied less than a dime size over my face four times! My skin has truly never felt better! It’s got to be witchcraft because not even the different prescriptions I’ve tried over the years have produced these results." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $24.50.
Promising review: "I fell for a TikTok star’s recommendation and I’m happy I did. This is the most I’ve ever spent on a moisturizer but I will never go back! This stuff is amazing. Keeps your skin hydrated. It’s thick but doesn’t feel like it once you put it on. Worth it!" —Mekayela
Get it from Amazon for $21.99.
To use, apply a thin coat twice daily to dry skin — once in the morning after showering and drying the skin, as well as applying after shaving if you shave. It can also be applied post-waxing!
Promising review: "I have sensitive skin and this has helped tremendously! I’m a woman who unfortunately started shaving my chin 20 years ago to get rid of peach fuzz. I’ve had stubble ever since and have to shave everyday. I get rashes on my chin due to shaving. My skin is now less sensitive and my rash is almost gone!" —Angela
Get it from Amazon for $18.99.
The best time to apply for maximum results is after hand-washing, after bathing and at bedtime.
Promising review: "Every winter, my fingers and knuckles crack and bleed. I've tried everything on the market to heal my hands. I received this hand cream yesterday and when I put it on, I could tell right away that this was better than anything I'd tried. This stuff started working immediately. I filled all the cuts and cracks on my hands with this cream, and today they are almost healed. I believe that this is the best hand cream ever made on earth." —Steve
Get it from Amazon for $11.68.
Promising review: "I have tried EVERYTHING, but because I am barefoot all the time, my heels crack (gross!!!!!!)... a lot. Sometimes they split open and it can be incredibly painful. After about three days of applying this cream at bedtime, the pain started to go away because the healing process was kicked into gear by my skin finally being soft enough to do its thing. It leaves a weird residue on your hands after application, (which could probably easily be washed off if I wasn't already cozied up in bed), but it made all the difference for my normally cracked and dry heels. I notice I get much better results when I use it daily, (so if you skip a few days, you'll notice it won't work as well). Consistency is key, but it really does work!" —Faith Mendelson
Get it from Amazon for $11.28.
Promising review: "I saw this on TikTok and Instagram. I decided to try it and it really works. I used it on my thighs and upper arms. I noticed a difference the first time and even more the second time!!! Fabulous product. Worth every penny." —Launa
Get it from Amazon for $12+ (available in four sizes).
Promising reviews: "Has completely transformed my skin. I used to get hormonal acne every single month. I still get it now but far less often and severely. Differin has really made a big difference on my quality of life. I have sensitive skin, so I only use it a couple of times a week and always over a light layer of lotion. When I first started using it, my acne did get worse for about a month, and then magically one day, my skin looked amazing. It's worth a try for sure!" —Britt
Get it from Amazon for $14.97.
Promising review: "My son was having issues with cystic type acne on his forehead after he went camping for two weeks this summer. It was red, lumpy and painful. Washing his face and using regular acne treatment wasn't helping at all. I found TreeActiv on Amazon before heading to the dermatologist and was so glad I did! Saw results after one use. Redness is gone, lumps are gone, just working on clearing up red scars. Love this stuff!!" —Lynn
Get it from Amazon for $24.95.
Read our Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch review!
I suffer from hormonal acne — it's just something that I have come to terms with and will have to deal with for many more years to come and while it's not fun, these acne patches make it sooo much easier. When I have a pimple about to come to a head, I pop one of these babies on it before bed, and then peel it off along with all the gunk it pulls out. It definitely helps speed up the process and they're gentle on my sensitive skin!
Promising review: "OMG! It actually works! My son gets really large acne breakouts that are really hard to heal. He put these on before bed and woke up to his large white pimples being gone! Like, completely gone. I usually pay $50 a visit to the dermatologist for 30 minutes for him to get extractions, which is pretty painful for him. We will be ordering more of these and using these instead!! If I could give more stars I would!" —Amazon Customer
Get a pack of 36 from Amazon for $11.97.
Promising review: "This worked for me. Here's what happened. First bandage: Everything turned white. Second bandage: The top layer of the wart started disappearing and I could see the blood vessels that were inside it clearly. Third bandage: It started burning while wearing it. One day was REALLY painful, but now I think I just put the bandage on too tight. There was definitely burning though. Uncomfortable, not unbearable. Fourth bandage: The skin around the wart started to crack. Fifth bandage: The skin continued to crack and I could see the wart separating. Sixth bandage: Skin separating deeper. Wart was really soft but it wouldn't budge. Seventh bandage: The wart stuck to the medicine, so when I pulled off the bandage, the wart went with it. I'm left with some raw skin that's a bit sensitive but it feels fine. It looks like the entire wart came off, roots and all. Side note: It smells horribly. Make sure you put the bandage on tight enough to try and conceal the smell, but not so tight it hurts. Overall, not a horrible process. Make sure you follow the instructions and keep it on for 48 hours at a time. Two of mine were only on for 24 hours and I think that prolonged the process." —Chelsea Gipson
Get a pack of 14 from Amazon for $7.66.
Promising review: "I have every skin issue you can think of. Rosacea, acne (hormonal, cystic, whiteheads, blackheads), dehydration, excessive oiliness, redness, all of it. Nothing I’ve ever used, nothing I’ve ever done, has made such a profound difference in the appearance of my skin. Having rosacea, my face often felt hot, bumpy, and burned. While my complexion is naturally fair and pink, this has seriously covered all my bases in a gentle and effective way. I’ve been trying to turn my skin around for YEARS! This was the product that did it. If I could give it 100 stars, I would. It has seriously changed my life!" —hc
Get it from Amazon for $13+ (available in two sizes).
Promising review: "I have the driest heels and this is the ONLY product that has ever worked. Before I used this my heels had some pretty deep cracks and now they're almost baby soft again. BUT please follow the directions...left it on my super dry thick callused heels for only three minutes and the calluses were literally melting off! Wonderful product! So glad I don't have to go soak my feet in those used tubs at the nail salon anymore." —Kiki
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
Promising review: "I couldn't believe how well and easily it removed the dead skin from the bottom of my feet. The only other product that I used was a tiny amount of callus remover to help remove the unwanted dry skin. I would highly recommend using caution when it comes to the amount of skin that you slough off. Otherwise, you could remove too many layers of skin, leaving your feet sensitive to touch or painful when walking on them. If you are looking for a way to maintain your feet on your own then look no further! The price is competitive, the quality is top notch, and it couldn't be any easier to use." —Amy
Get it from Amazon for $9.95.
Check out the Revlon volcanic face roller on TikTok!
Promising review: "First off, if you have extremely oily skin, this. is. it. I was so tired of getting blotting powder/wipes. It felt wasteful and always left residue on my face. I saw this on TikTok and NEEDED it. It was backordered but then I got an email saying it was in stock and I was SO excited. Not only is it affordable, but it's washable, which helps you save money and be less wasteful." —Kelsey B.
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
Promising review: "Like so many, I was brainwashed by TikTok into buying this rather expensive lotion...then I bought one for my mom and one for my sister and five more for myself as they became harder to find. My favorite thing about it is the smell. Lightly tropical/coconutty but nothing overwhelming. Every time I wear it people say, 'What are you WEARING?' like I have some amazing perfume on. Besides that, it really is a great moisturizer. I’m not usually a sucker for marketing but this was so worth it." —Kristen
Get it from Amazon for $22+ (available in two sizes).
This is good for cleaning pores and removing blackheads!
Promising review: "The best $10 I've ever spent! It's so fun! I put the clay on my face and it bubbled within 30 seconds of putting it on. Once I got it all over I could hear and feel the bubbles, and watching it bubble up was cool. I couldn't stop laughing! You know it's time to wash it off when it stops bubbling, and taking it off was just as fun as putting it on. It has also left my face feeling soft, and you could see a difference in my face. My skin looked healthier, felt healthier. This stuff is legit!" —Hollie Lalene
Get it from Amazon for $9.15.
Promising review: "Best product ever for sunburns! No peeling or itching. Simply amazing! The photos are four days apart." —Carrie
Get it from Amazon for $13.33.
Promising review: "I love this stuff! It is super hydrating and is amazing for sunburns. Honestly, I use it everywhere, all the time. I love using it as a face mist. The most affordable essential oil-based spray I have found. I highly recommend this and will for sure be a repeat customer!" —Leanne
Get it from Amazon for $19.49.
My colleague Emma Lord swears by this! Here's what she has to say about it:
"FWIW re: scars, this stuff really works. I had thyroid surgery a few years ago and Bio-Oil took me from looking like I'd stumbled out of the Red Wedding to virtually no detectable scar within a few months. All I did was apply it once in the morning and once at night."
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
Promising review: "I caved to the TikTok hype and now I am obsessed, lol! I have extremely sensitive skin but this was the first product that I didn’t have to go through a 'getting used to' phase." —Shelby
Get it from Amazon for $24.89.
Promising review: "I have always had serious dark circles and bags under my eyes and this has really changed this for me. The results are incredible. The puffiness is gone. The dark circles are hardly noticeable. My sensitive skin has not broken out. I never write reviews, but this was so good that I had to write a review. This actually works." —Ben
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
It contains over 20 healing minerals found in sea salt so it's perfect for exfoliating and polishing skin! It's blended with vegan ingredients such as aloe vera, jojoba, argan, and sweet almond oils to hydrate your skin and leave it feeling smooth.
Promising review: "This scrub has been a MIRACLE for my skin. I've had three psoriasis patches, on my elbows and behind one ear, for over 14 years. I've tried dozens of different things to keep it under control, but nothing even remotely helped until this product. Within four days, you could hardly see that I have a grapefruit-sized area of psoriasis on each elbow. Now I don't have flaky skin or redness, and most importantly, it no longer itches!" —James Butchart
Get it from Amazon for $21.99 (available in nine scents).
Promising review: "First of all, amazing deal for the price! Secondly, they work amazing!! I have issues with tired eyes and I used the patches for about 30 minutes after I washed my face, while I was in the shower, then took them off when I did my makeup, and my under-eye was so moisturized and rejuvenated!" —Tiara Baker
Get a pack of 20 pairs from Amazon for $17.97.
And while SPF 20 is a great addition to a cosmetic product, it's important to note the American Academy of Dermatology recommends wearing SPF 30 and higher, so you'll still want to apply sunscreen while wearing this!
Promising review: "Game changer. Omg. This product legit changed the makeup game for me. I was ready to give up on face makeup forever before I found this. It matches my skin tone perfectly, sinks into my skin well, and is undetectable even after hours of use!" —Nats20
My colleague, Jasmin Sandal, also swears by this tinted moisturizer. Here's what she has to say:
"I can attest that this foundation-alt doesn't draw attention to areas of dryness — it actually does a great job of nourishing your skin as well as providing coverage to naturally mask blemishes. I especially love it because I can even out my skin tone in a pinch with just *one* product instead of having to throw a bajillion things on my face to achieve a healthy-looking glow."
Get it from Sephora for $53 (available in 20 shades and also in a mini size for $29).
Juno & Co. is a small biz that sells personal care and skincare products!
Promising review: "I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!!!! I found it on TikTok and OMG!! It works so well. I don't have to sit there and rub the crap out of my eyelashes to get the waterproof mascara off. I will admit, it doesn't take 100% of the makeup off but about 95% of my makeup comes off. It is not water-resistant, as emulsifying it with water helps take the makeup off. I have not found a better makeup remover, and yes that includes micellar water (which also works well but leaves my skin feeling oily). With this cleansing balm my face feels hydrated and smooth. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!!!!! 1000/10 would recommend!!!" —Deetje Frederick
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
Promising review: "This is LIFE-CHANGING! I'm 33 and have had dry skin my entire life. I decided to try this because the price was reasonable and the reviews were great. I was NOT disappointed. I cleaned my face the first night, applied a thick layer of rosehip oil, and went to bed. Eight hours later, I woke up to a new face. I have used this oil every night for about five weeks and it has completely changed my skin. My mom saw me one morning and remarked that my skin looked like it did when I was eight! I also love that you get a large quantity of oil for a super affordable price, and a little bit goes a long way. For the amount you get, it's SUCH a bargain." —TuffLuckCowgirl
Get it from Amazon for $14.95.
Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.
Promising review:This product is a game changer for anyone with red rosacea-prone skin.Promising reviews:Promising review:Promising review:Promising review:I believe that this is the best hand cream ever made on earthPromising review:After about three days of applying this cream at bedtime, the pain started to go away because the healing process was kicked into gear by my skin finally being soft enough to do its thing.Promising review: I used it on my thighs and upper arms. I noticed a difference the first time and even more the second time!!!Promising reviews:Has completely transformed my skin.Promising review:Promising review:He put these on before bed and woke up to his large white pimples being gone! Like, completely gonePromising review:This worked for me. It looks like the entire wart came off, roots and all. Promising review:this has seriously covered all my bases in a gentle and effective way. I’ve been trying to turn my skin around for YEARS! This was the product that did it.Promising review this is the ONLY product that has ever worked.the calluses were literally melting off! Wonderful product! Promising review:I couldn't believe how well and easily it removed the dead skin from the bottom of my feetPromising review:if you have extremely oily skin, this. is. it. Promising review: I was brainwashed by TikTok into buying this rather expensive lotion...then I bought one for my mom and one for my sister and five more for myself as they became harder to find. it really is a great moisturizer. I’m not usually a sucker for marketing but this was so worth it.Promising review:Promising review:Promising review:I had thyroid surgery a few years agovirtually no detectable scar within a few monthsPromising review:Promising review:The results are incredible. The puffiness is gone. The dark circles are hardly noticeable.Promising review:Promising reviewPromising review I was ready to give up on face makeup forever before I found this."I can attest that this foundation-alt doesn't draw attention to areas of drynessPromising review:I have not found a better makeup remover, and yes that includes micellar water (which also works well but leaves my skin feeling oily). Promising review:I cleaned my face the first night, applied a thick layer of rosehip oil, and went to bed. Eight hours later, I woke up to a new faceMy mom saw me one morning and remarked that my skin looked like it did when I was eight!