Hear ye, hear ye—the best Amazon Korean beauty deals abound. Although the deals tend to be fickle, changing with the wind, there’s always some discount to be shopped on Korean makeup, skin care, and beauty tech—especially during Amazon’s Summer Beauty Event, which is happening now through May 11. These on-sale products are key to achieving glass skin just in time for summer (your New Year’s resolution, in case you forgot). Whether you’re hankering to stock up on hyaluronic acid serums or finally try out a jelly blush, suppleness and soft glam are within reach at wallet-loving prices. Scroll on for the best Amazon Korean beauty deals, live right dang now, and breeze through your wishlist because these deals are bound to disappear faster than you can say chok chok (the Korean term for plump, dewy skin).

Our Favorite K-Beauty Deals

Saturday Skin

Boost your glow while you snooze with Saturday Skin’s Yuzu Vitamin C Sleep Mask, which is packed with vitamin C-rich yuzu and vitamin A (retinol) to increase cell turnover, even out texture, support your barrier, and add moisture. Commerce editor Sarah Han is a fan of this overnight mask. “Despite piling on hydrating essences and serums beforehand, this doesn’t leave my skin feeling overly glowing and sticky. It dries down super quick, so I can dive straight into bed,” she attests. Make sure you click the “apply coupon” button before you head to checkout to grab your discount.

Belif

“The cooling jelly texture of the Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb was a godsend for my dry, red skin,” says contributing commerce writer Annie Blackman. “It feels so comforting to rub on, and I know the hyaluronic acid is doing me favors I can’t even understand yet.”

For a similar energy to the above moisturizer, check out Belif’s Aqua Bomb Jelly Cleanser. This face wash goes from gel to foam as you massage it into your skin, hydrating and purifying all the while.

Medicube

There’s also the Collagen Night Wrapping Mask—a plumping, peptide-packed formula that works extra hard on your behalf. “The way my skin looks with a layer of Medicube Collagen Night Wrapping Mask is exactly how I want my skin to look without it: glassy, glowy, and clear,” says features director Dianna Mazzone Singh. “And with each overnight—yes, overnight—application of its niacinamide- and hyaluronic acid-infused formula, I get a little bit closer to that goal. I’ve been using it once or twice a week and never cease to be delighted by the satisfaction of peeling it away in the morning.”

The Collagen Jelly Cream and the Zero Foam Cleanser from Medicube are total gems. The cleanser features a sebum-controlling, sensitive skin-safe formula spiked with botanicals like chlorogalum leaf and root, wintergreen leaf, and quince extracts to hydrate and tackle impurities, never leaving skin feeling tight or dry. After cleansing, reach for the Collagen Jelly Cream, which amps up elasticity, firmness, and overall glow.

Fwee

There’s playfulness in Fwee’s products that we totally love. The Glow Jelly Pot features a bouncy gel lip and cheek tint and is accompanied by a little keychain version to fasten onto your bag as a charm for easy access to this perfectly light pigment (Blackman has it on her Baggu’s strap at this very moment). If you want a lippie with a little more oomph, opt for the 3D Voluming Gloss, which also glides like a dream.

Mixsoon

Mixsoon’s Bean Essence has a short and sweet, three-ingredient formula that doesn’t skimp on conditioning and hydration, thanks to Centella asiatica (cica), water, and butylene glycol. Take it from Han, who loves this plumping concoction. “I’m almost finished with my first bottle and have another on deck, she says. “Not only is the texture so fun to play with, but this essence is exactly what my skin needs when it’s feeling inflamed and parched.” And? It’s on sale. Enough said.

The brand’s Glacier Water Hyaluronic Acid Serum is a kinda-serum-kinda-toner that doles out a boost of moisture that absorbs deeply, never leaving behind any greasiness. Three types of hyaluronic acid are at play, so you know you’re getting serious hydration, plenty of plumping, and skin barrier-strengthening.

Biodance

When dull, dry faces call, Biodance’s Bio Collagen Real Deep Mask answers, enthusiastically. This sheet mask is stuffed with hydrolyzed collagen to soften fine lines and boost elasticity, as well as hydrating niacinamide and soothing cica. Just take it from shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis: “After using this mask for a week, my skin feels firmer, looks brighter, and is so hydrated—like my face went on a retreat and came back dewy, healthy, and refreshed,” she says. “As someone who doesn’t drink as much water as I should (don’t tell my doctor), this mask is the hydration my skin has been craving for months.”

We love a toner pad for its ease of use—perfectly dosed to give you the perfect amount of product. Biodance’s Cera-nol Gel Toner Pads are no exception, thanks to their ample ceramides, D-panthenol (also known as provitamin B5), and 10 weights of hyaluronic acid. “These are so, so, so so soothing—some of the most cooling, most drenched toner pads I’ve ever put on my face,” says Han. Convinced yet?

Anua

Anua makes some of our favorite Korean skin care products powered by heartleaf—a botanical MVP with anti-inflammatory, calming, and sebum-regulating superpowers. You’ll find healthy doses of the extract in both the Heartleaf Pore Controlling Cleansing Oil, which washes away the day’s debris like it’s nothing, and the hyaluronic acid-spiked Heartleaf 77 Soothing Toner.

Etude

The Sunprise Mild Airy Finish Sun Milk SPF 50+ is another winner, with its super moisturizing, super high-protection mineral formula. “Despite the initial jumpscare-white formula, Etude’s Sunprise doesn’t leave a ghastly cast on me, though I definitely need to be patient blending two fingers’ worth of product—I take about 30 seconds altogether, and as you can see in my after photo, my skin returns to its natural state—just a smidge brighter and more evened out,” says Han.

Blackman is obsessed with Etude’s Marker Tint. “The design of this tint/stain is genius and so fun,” she says. “It’s the perfect wash of color, and actually feels like I’m drawing on my lips with a legit marker. I love layering it under gloss.” Click the “apply the coupon” button here, too, and the discount will reveal itself in your cart.

Torriden

Torriden’s Dive In Low-Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum features a 5D Hyaluronic Acid Complex (five deeply penetrating HA molecules that burrow into your skin for an instant-release and extended-release effect. Panthenol and allantoin are also at play for all the soothing. “There’s something oh so satisfying about this serum’s silky texture,” says Han. “It dries down almost immediately, and my skin always feels bouncier with each application. I often pair it with my retinol serum at nighttime to offset any dryness.”

Tirtir

The dewy, bouncy Tirtir Mask Fit Red Cushion Foundation comes in 30 shades, is infused with hibiscus and propolis extracts, and wears comfortably and cakelessly all day long. “This is the only foundation I regularly carry in my bag,” says contributor Sarah Y. Wu. “I love the portable design and the fact that it comes with a puff and mirror inside so I can touch up on the go.”

But before you put on your foundation, treat your undereyes to a layer or two of Tirtir’s Collagen Lifting Eye Cream. This metallic blue tube boasts a cooling metal rollerball applicator to instantly de-puff and is loaded with vitamin C, collagen, and peptides to plump and fight bags beneath your blinkers. Tirtir’s SOS Serum also works anti-inflammatory wonders to rehabilitate dry, red skin.

Illiyoon

Anything by Illiyoon is a lifesaver for sensitive skin, so when it’s on sale? Yeah, you could say we’re jazzed. Grab a generously sized jar of the brand’s fragrance-free, creamy-as-heck Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream, which you’re welcome to use on your face as well as your arms, legs, chest, and wherever else needs a moisture boost. “My legs are a hot spot for eczema, so I have to be extremely careful about the body-care products I use or I will be up all night scratching at my skin,” says Abelman. “Illiyoon’s Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream is a no-brainer with its fragrance-free formula that blankets skin in comforting moisture and never annoyingly transfers onto clothes.”

Tonymoly

Two K-beauty ingredient classics are very much present in this Tonymoly gem: rice water and snail mucin. The I’m Rice Clarifying Blemish Mask skillfully draws out sebum and bacteria, purifying, hydrating, and smoothing the skin. Pick up the Ceramide Mochi Toner while you’re at it—a wonderful pick for dry skin.

Dr. Groot

Dr. Groot’s hair care isn’t messing around when it comes to the health of your scalp and strands. The Scalp Revitalizing Solution Miracle In Shower Treatment moisturizes your roots, supporting all ensuing hair growth. It’s perfectly complemented by the Hair Thickening Shampoo, which uses biotin and rosemary oil to volumize and strengthen.

Rael Beauty

Spare yourself the panic of realizing you’re all out of pimple patches and stock up on a few packs of Rael’s Miracle Patch. The non-drying, see-through patches are packed with hydrocolloids to draw out gunk from your blemishes and keep you from picking, pinching, and making every aspect of your breakout 100 times worse. The tapered edges of the stickers keep them in place all day and all night for around-the-clock treatment. And, if body acne is getting you down, reach for the Miracle Patch XL, which serves the same purpose but covers a larger surface area.

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How We Find the Best Amazon Summer Beauty Event Deals

Our shopping team searches daily for the best beauty products in the industry. We enlist the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and experts to determine which products are really worth your penny. Our sales stories are no different: We base our discounted selections on products with over 4.0 ratings, past Allure Best of Beauty award winners, and those that our editors and experts have tried and given a stamp of approval.

Why Trust Allure?

No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, we want to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

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We love K-beauty, whether it’s on sale or not—check out more products we can’t shut up about:

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, they say. And if there’s anything that doesn’t need repair, it’s Katie Holmes‘s signature look. She’s mastered the art of relaxed yet aspirational style, both with her clothing and her hair, which is almost always worn loose, long, with just the tiniest hint of third-day-of-my-blowout wave. It’s easy to forget that the actor is actually the humble owner of some pretty gorgeous natural curls, but every now and then, she reminds us just how fabulous she looks when she opts for a little more texture than usual.

On Tuesday, May 6, Holmes attended a party celebrating the second season of Poker Face, in which she’ll join a packed cast featuring the likes of Cynthia Erivo and the show’s star, Natasha Lyonne. And it looks like she might have taken a hair cue from Lyonne’s go-to look because while she was celebrating Poker Face, Holmes’s hair was certainly anything but poker straight.

Flowing over the structured shoulders of her blue and white floral R13 suit were cascades of curls. They hit the perfect mark somewhere between looking air-dried but with a hint of did-she-or-didn’t-she curling wand polish.

Getty Images

Choosing the best scar creams can make a big difference in how your skin repairs itself. Scars are a completely natural part of recovery, whether they come from a breakout, a kitchen mishap, surgery, or that time you got a little too bold with your curling iron. And while there’s no shame in having them, it’s also totally okay to want to help them fade. The good news is that today’s scar creams go way beyond basic moisturizers. They’re packed with ingredients that hydrate, soothe, and support the healing process.

“There are lots of options in this area, but the best way to choose a formula is to assess what your needs and goals are first,” says Anna Chacon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami. Joshua Korman, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Northern California, agrees—and adds that understanding your scar’s characteristics is key. “It’s important to identify your scar: new or old, color (how red, how pigmented), texture (raised or flat), and if they are bothersome, like itchy or painful,” Understanding the type of scar allows you to focus on the treatment that works best for you, as different scars don’t always react the same way to various ingredients or methods.

Our Top Picks

Whether your scar is brand new or a few years in the making, there’s something out there that can help. Here are the best scar creams worth trying now.

Best Overall: SkinCeuticals Advanced Scar Control

Why we love it: SkinCeuticals is one of those brands that comes up constantly when we talk to dermatologists and plastic surgeons, and the SkinCeuticals Advanced Scar Control is a favorite for new and recent scars alike. “I recommend using an occlusive moisturizer with ingredients like silicone to soften the scar, in conjunction with in-office treatments like steroid injections or laser resurfacing treatments to reduce the scar’s height and size over time,” says board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Catherine Chang, MD, who is based in Los Angeles. This smooth, non-sticky gel provides an occlusive barrier to protect skin and help flatten and fade new scars, such as those from surgery, bug bites, or breakouts. It’s loaded with 95% medical-grade silicones, plus calming allantoin and fatty acids to keep healing skin hydrated and happy. You get less redness, less discoloration, and a much smoother finish over time.

Best Silicone Strips: Embrace Active Scar Defense

Why we love it: Embrace Active Scar Defense isn’t your average scar treatment—it’s an FDA-cleared silicone therapy system developed by Stanford researchers to help keep scars flat, smooth, and less noticeable from the start. “These come in silicone strips and are available in various sizes,” says Dr. Korman. “The strips relieve tension on the incision and also provide the benefits of silicone to the scar. Reducing tension is key to minimizing surgical scars.”

Each medical-grade silicone sheet stays in place for seven to 10 days, even through workouts and showers. During a 60-day course, Dr. Korman says he has seen excellent results, especially on new scar tissue.

Best with SPF: Biocorneum Advanced Scar Treatment

Why we love it: Biocorneum Advanced Scar Treatment is a go-to among plastic surgeons, especially because protecting scars from sun exposure is key to preventing darkening and hyperpigmentation. “Crosslinked silicone gel and SPF 30 are packed into this product,” says Dr. Korman. “I’ve found that both the color and the texture of scars improve after several weeks to months of using it.” As the only FDA-cleared scar gel that combines medical-grade silicone with broad-spectrum SPF 30, it helps fade and protect healing scars without the need for tapes or strips, which can sometimes irritate sensitive skin. “It’s easy to apply and has almost no side effects,” adds Dr. Korman. It’s also great for scars on joints, curves, and larger areas.

Best Drugstore: Avène Cicalfate+ Scar Gel

Why we love it: Avène Cicalfate+ Scar Gel is a dermatologist favorite to soothe and treat scars, particularly on sensitive skin, thanks to its gentle, fragrance-free formula. “It’s my most recommended over-the-counter treatment,” says Dr. Chacon. “Its silicone gel formula has a gentle texture combined with hyaluronic acid to improve the appearance of the scar while locking in optimum hydration for healing support.” The formula also features Avène’s signature thermal spring water, known for its calming, anti-inflammatory properties, along with C+ Restore, a protein-rich postbiotic that helps nourish the skin barrier.

Best for Stretch Marks: Tronque Scar Concentrate

Why we love it: Tronque Scar Concentrate is a vitamin C-rich oil that goes beyond typical scar creams. “I love it because it’s an oil as opposed to the usual cream, which some patients actually prefer,” says Dr. Chacon. “It’s supercharged with botanical extracts like algae and vitamins A and C to reduce scar damage.” The formula features four types of vitamin C—including tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate—for serious brightening, collagen support, and skin-smoothing power, plus bakuchiol (a gentle retinol alternative), pink algae, and 26 bioactive botanicals. You can use it all over your body, layer it under your moisturizer, and reapply as often as needed.

Best for Old Scars: Mederma Advanced Scar Gel

Why we love it: Mederma Advanced Scar Gel is a longtime drugstore favorite. “This product contains allantoin, an anti-inflammatory ingredient that gently exfoliates and moisturizes the skin,” says Ruth McTighe, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Mt. Pleasant, SC. It’s the only brand to include “cepalin—onion bulb extract—which helps regulate collagen production and supports cell regeneration.” The gel texture absorbs easily, making it ideal for new surgical scars or small scars from cuts and burns. “You can typically expect to notice some improvement in softness after about a month, with more visible changes—like reduced redness and smoother texture—after two to three months,” she adds.

Best for Hypertrophic and Keloid Scars: ScarAway Silicone Scar Sheets

Why we love it: If you’re dealing with hypertrophic scars (those thick, raised marks that stay within the original wound) or keloids (scars that grow beyond it), ScarAway Silicone Scar Sheets are worth a try. “These flexible, breathable strips are made with medical-grade silicone that creates a comfy barrier over your skin to help lock in moisture and support healthy collagen production,” says Dr. McTighe. They also help ease itching, dryness, and overall discomfort. You can trim them to fit or layer them for larger areas—and since they’re waterproof, they stay in place for up to 10 days. With consistent use, scars often appear smoother and less noticeable within one to three months.

Best for Under Makeup: Violette_FR Invisible Bandage

Why we love it: Despite the name, Violette_FR’s Invisible Bandage isn’t an actual bandage—it’s a clear, gel-like formula that acts as an invisible shield for your skin. Winner of an Allure Best of Beauty Breakthrough Award, this innovative product is less of a traditional scar treatment and more of a skincare-meets-makeup hybrid.

While it’s not meant for deep or raised scars, it’s incredibly helpful for fresh, minor marks, post-inflammatory discoloration, dark spots, and healing blemishes. Infused with niacinamide, CM-glucan, and hydrolyzed red algae extract, it helps calm inflammation and support skin repair. It dries down smoothly, like a primer, so you can layer makeup right on top.

Best for Acne Scars: Dr. Idriss Major Fade Active Seal Vitamin C Gel Moisturizer

Why we love it: Dr. Idriss Major Fade Active Seal Vitamin C Gel Moisturizer is part antioxidant serum, part moisturizer, and fully committed to fading dark spots. Whether you’re dealing with atrophic scars (those post-acne indents in skin), sun spots, or lingering discoloration, this lightweight, fragrance-free gel delivers results without irritation.

It packs a powerful punch of brighteners—tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (a stable, gentle form of vitamin C) and 4-butylresorcinol—to even out tone and help prevent future pigment buildup. Plus, glycerin boosts hydration by drawing water into the skin, leaving you with a fresh, dewy glow. Think of it as your all-in-one for smoother, more even-toned skin.

Best for New Scars: SkinMedica Scar Recovery Gel

Why we love it: Once your wound is all sealed up, it’s go time—and SkinMedica Scar Recovery Gel is here to help when your skin is in recovery mode, yet the scar is still fresh. This lightweight, non-greasy gel contains a soothing blend of centella asiatica, bulbine frutescens, and olive leaf extract to calm redness, improve skin texture, and prevent scars from becoming constant reminders. Plus, lactic acid gently encourages cell turnover, promoting brighter and more even skin. Best of all, it’s fragrance-free, sting-free, and absorbs in just seconds, so using it twice a day feels like a breeze.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What ingredients help scars?

There are lots of ingredients that can help improve the appearance of scars, “but the best way to choose a formula is to assess what your needs and goals are first before choosing a product,” says Dr. Chacon. To protect and moisturize, she recommends starting with silicone-based gels or sheets: “These products work to seal off the scar and protect and hydrate the affected area.” For hyperpigmented scars, Dr. Chacon suggests using hydroquinone, which works to lighten the area with skin-lightening agents. However, she warns that “using a quality sunscreen is key if the scar will be exposed to sunlight to prevent worsened scarring.” For raised keloid scars, “corticosteroid is the ingredient to seek out from a clinician as these creams help to break down keloid scars and reduce inflammation and the size of the scar,” she says.

Cosmetic chemist Sherilee Backman notes that self-tanners could also be impacted by the bill, as DHA (dihydroxyacetone), the active ingredient that gives skin its bronze color, “is a formaldehyde donor… pick up a self-tanner with DHA. You’re going to have some level of formaldehyde in there.” It’s also worth noting that DHA is FDA approved for external use.

Some of these ingredients have come under fire before, including benzene, a known carcinogen. Trace elements of benzene were found in some popular acne products containing benzoyl peroxide, including La-Roche Posay’s Effaclar Duo, leading to a voluntary recall. Benzene is another ingredient that companies are not purposefully adding to their products; it’s typically the result of contamination during manufacturing or a byproduct from an ingredient breaking down.

Parabens, too, have been a hot topic for years. The preservative was used to prevent mold and fungi in products, though they have been removed from many products due to clean beauty-based backlash stemming from potential health concerns. (That said, Backman flags that parabens also occur naturally in the body, and you can also find them in certain foods.)

In 2023, the FDA proposed a ban on formaldehyde in hair products, namely relaxers and keratin treatments, reporting that use of these products has been “linked to short-term adverse health effects, such as sensitization reactions and breathing problems, and long-term adverse health effects, including an increased risk of certain cancers.” However, the ban is currently paused. In early 2024, California banned 38 beauty ingredients, though only six were actually products that are regularly used in modern cosmetics.

Backman says that the bill is “rightfully intended to protect consumers, including those whose health interests have been overlooked in the past.” However, banning ingredients outright doesn’t allow for the “dose makes the poison” nuance that’s crucial for safe product formulation. “The potential risks posed by many materials are not so easy to characterize,” she explains over email, noting that she wishes we could get away from characterizing materials as either inherently good or inherently bad. “You need to factor in [things like] use levels, interactions with other materials, and cumulative exposure from various sources.”

That cumulative exposure is something Backman wishes the general public had more education around. For instance, she notes that the antioxidants and preservatives BHA and BHT, which are included on the list, are also present in bacon. “These materials are also in products outside the personal care industry,” she says. “We’re ingesting these things.” Backman believes “a little more education and coordination between industries” would be helpful for similar bills. “Also, call on the chemists before you start putting these bills in the legislative cycle.”

Key ingredients: AHA, BHA, PHA, Truecica, Houttuynia cordata extract | Skin type it’s best for: people with acne | Size: 13.5 oz

Best for Keratosis Pilaris: Iota Supervitamin Body Wash+ Soothing

Why it’s worth it: The Best of Beauty-winning Iota Supervitamin Body Wash+ Soothing is known to kick keratosis pilaris’s butt. The condition, also known as KP, causes red, rough, and often itchy bumps along your body, and although they’re harmless, man, are they frustrating. This formula, however, is a game-changer. Jujube fruit extract and chamomile soothe irritated skin while prebiotics and probiotics support your microbiome. Meanwhile, 15 multivitamins, minerals, and adaptogens such as TKTK hydrate skin and relieve that relentless itchiness.

Tester feedback: “I love Iota’s gentle brightening formula for my sensitive skin. The vitamin C helps neutralize my keratosis pilaris and softens areas prone to roughness, and the soft lather is so pleasant,” says commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann.

Key ingredients: jujube extract, chamomile, prebiotics, probiotics | Skin type it’s best for: people with bumpy skin | Size: 10 oz

Best Drugstore: Dove Sensitive Skin Body Wash

Why it’s worth it: Oh, Dove, sweet, sweet Dove. The drugstore diamond’s Sensitive Skin Body Wash is a go-to for dermatologists and editors alike, thanks to its supreme gentleness and reliably thorough cleanse. With only 10 ingredients, this lathering wash stands out for its fragrance-free status—a rarity among Dove’s famously easygoing lineup. The second ingredient? Cocamidopropyl betaine, a coconut oil-derived surfactant, is followed closely by moisture-locking glycerin. Designed for extra-sensitive skin, it’s a formula you can trust no matter what your skin’s going through.

Tester feedback: “This body wash is like a cozy hug in the shower. It’s perfect for my sensitive skin which doesn’t really handle fragrance that well,” shopping market editor Ang Trakoshis says. “It’s made with glycerin so it’s super hydrating and leaves my skin, feeling soft, smooth, and smelling fresh and clean.”

Key ingredients: glycerin, coconut oil | Skin type it’s best for: sensitive skin | Size: 18.5 oz

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of using a fragrance-free body wash?

When you see “fragrance” or “parfum” on an ingredient list, you’re likely getting more than you bargained for. According to cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson, founder of BeautyStat, this catchall term can mask a long list of components, any of which have the potential to irritate sensitive skin. That’s why skipping synthetic fragrances can drastically lower the risk of an adverse reaction. Cleveland-based board-certified dermatologist Melissa Piliang, MD, backs this up, explaining that “[Synthetic fragrances] do not enhance the cleansing ability of the body wash, so it is best to avoid fragrance.” In other words, your skin won’t miss what it doesn’t need.

How should I choose a fragrance-free body wash?

Choose a fragrance-free body wash the way you’d pick any other skin-care product—by focusing on your goals and concerns. If you’re dealing with body acne, look for washes with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Craving hydration? Reach for formulas with glycerin or hyaluronic acid. Simple as that.

Tinted moisturizers have a more lightweight feel than foundations, so they’re usually comfortable and won’t crease throughout the day. Regardless of age, they’re the perfect addition to both your makeup and skin-care routines if you prefer lighter, barely-there coverage and don’t even want to think about applying primer.

Why is tinted moisturizer good for mature skin?

While the best moisturizer for your skin will depend on your baseline skin type and individual concerns, some qualities matter more than others when you’re in your 40s and beyond. “I generally choose tinted sunscreens with easy-to-blend textures and buildable coverage for mature skin,” says New York City-based makeup artist Suzy Gerstein. This way, there is ample coverage to conceal, say, dark spots, but the blendable textures keep the makeup from settling into fine lines and wrinkles.

What’s the difference between a tinted moisturizer, BB cream, and CC cream?

According to Scibelli, tinted moisturizers tend to have a sheerer tint and texture than BB creams, a.k.a. beauty balms. “Tinted moisturizers typically feature a sheer blend of a hydrating cream with a tint of complexion coverage, and depending on the product, some offer SPF,” he explains. The name of this category simply says it all: they’re just facial moisturizers with a tint.

Meanwhile, CC cream stands for a color-correcting cream containing pigments that neutralize discoloration like dark spots, whereas a tinted moisturizer doesn’t necessarily color-correct. “A CC cream will help address redness, hyperpigmentation (dark spots), sun spots, and uneven skin tone, while also containing moisturizing ingredients and oftentimes SPF,” Scibelli adds. CC cream can also be just that—a cream—whereas tinted moisturizers tend to have a lighter texture.

How to apply tinted moisturizer to mature skin

For the most natural finish, “I like to warm my palms together and press them onto the face a couple of times,” says Gerstein. “This helps melt the product into the skin so that it becomes one with it.” Scibelli adds that you can use your opposite hand as a palette to grab and layer product if you’re not sure how much to apply. “If you have areas that may need additional coverage, you can go back in and layer a bit more of your tinted moisturizer onto those areas,” he says. “I like to use a brush with fluffier bristles so there’s no streaking and it goes on evenly.”

Meet the experts

How we test and review products

Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?

How often should you wash 3A hair​

Facts are facts: Different curl types have different wash needs. “3A hair should be washed one to two times a week because overwashing can strip essential oils, leading to frizzy, dry strands,” explains Moore. If your hair craves a refresh in between wash days, O’Connor suggests co-washing, the practice of cleansing with a conditioner or a shampoo alternative. However, co-washing shouldn’t be a replacement for traditional shampoo sudsing.

On The Science of Beauty, cosmetic chemist Erica Douglas explains that co-washing involves using conditioner instead of shampoo to cleanse and remove hair buildup. Douglas says that you can use the conditioner you already have in your shower (mixing in a tiny bit of shampoo if you’d like), or you can buy a pre-made co-wash product, which typically contains a small amount of cleansing agent.

Type 3B

3B hair is made up of springy ringlets with a circumference similar to that of a Sharpie marker. This texture trends dry, so stay stocked with curl gels formulated with hydration-locking humectants, like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, (familiar skin-care ingredients that serve similar functions), and aloe vera extract to attract moisture.

Give the glycerin-rich Mielle Organics Honey & Ginger Styling Gel or the Curls Goddess Botanical Gel, another hydrating and defining pick. Word to the wise: “Apply when [your hair is] wet, so you’ll get definition without frizz,” urges Dickey.

3B Hair Type Frequently Asked Questions

How to take care of 3B hair

“The key to 3B hair is gentle handling, moisture, and using the right products to define and hydrate the curls,” says Moore. “Detangle using a brush, your fingers, or a wide-tooth comb on damp hair to prevent breakage.” She stresses the importance of trimming 3B hair every three to four months to nix split ends.

How to style 3B hair​

To style 3B hair, O’Connor recommends using a curl cream or gel on damp or wet hair before scrunching or diffusing to accentuate and hydrate curls. “It’s 100% better to apply any styling product—cream, gel, and/or mousse—on soaking wet hair,” Kiana Rae, curl specialist and owner of West Coast Curls in Los Angeles, tells Allure. “Curly hair is more prone to dryness, so we require so much water. Curl-friendly products are activated with water, so [they] won’t weigh our hair down.”

Type 3C

Type 3C curls resemble tight corkscrews with diameters comparable to straws or pencils. Strands are densely gathered, giving way to lots of natural volume. Frizziness is to be expected in 3C hair, so if you’re trying to mitigate fluff and flyaways, reach for a sulfate-free, non-drying, creamy cleanser like the Oyin Handmade Ginger Mint Co-Wash. Dickey also likes layering a mousse (such as the 2020 Best of Beauty-winning Rucker Roots Texture Styling Mousse) over a styling cream (like the Eden BodyWorks Coconut Shea Curl Defining Creme) when the hair is sopping wet to allow curls to clump together and form faster. “Your co-wash reveals your curl pattern, while your styling product captures [it],” Dickey explains.

Type 4 (Coily Hair)

Coily hair, commonly referred to as Afro-textured or kinky hair, type 4 is naturally very dry and spongy in texture and can be soft and fine or coarse and wiry. Strands form very tight, small curls of zig-zags right from the scalp and are prone to major shrinkage.

Key ingredients: tamarind seed, vitamin E, panthenol, hydrolyzed proteins | Who it’s for: all hair types | Fragrance-free: no

Best Customizable: Prose Custom Leave-In Conditioner

Why it’s worth it: Custom anything scratches a hard-to-reach itch in our brains, and the pros at Prose nail it every time. After a quick but comprehensive quiz about your hair—covering everything from your zip code (for determining hard water content) to oiliness tendencies to density and texture—the site whips up a leave-in conditioner formula tailored to your specific needs. No matter the make, you’ll get a bottle of heat protection up to 450°F, frizz control, and all-day shine. Once you meet your match, you can order a one-off to take your formula for a spin or subscribe for automatic refills.

Key ingredients: depends on your consultation (examples include oat oil, acacia collagen, pea protein, and fermented rice water) | Who it’s for: people who want custom care | Fragrance-free: optional

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Frequently Asked Questions

What do leave-in conditioners do?

Leave-in conditioners are miracle workers for those of us perpetually in a rush—we may not have 15 minutes to wait for a hair mask to work its magic, but we still want to give our hair a little extra love. “Think of a leave-in conditioner as a balm that kind of does it all,” says Dimitris Giannetos, a Los Angeles-based hairstylist who works with celebrities like Camila Cabello and Jasmine Tookes, and considers moisturizing leave-ins a styling must. “They can tame flyaways and add shine—even if the hair is a bit dry or damaged,” Giannetos adds.

What ingredients should I look for in leave-in conditioners?

What’s shopping for a new hair-care product without considering chemistry? Cosmetic chemist Ginger King suggests ingredients like oils, fatty alcohols, and triglycerides that will “smooth the cuticles and keep the hair in place.” For detangling in particular, King notes that compounds like quaternium 4, 7, and 11 work well (and to look out for ingredient names that start with quaternium or polyquaternium).

Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Connecticut, notes that humectants like hyaluronic acid in hair care can be key. “[Hyaluronic acid] revives dry strands and restores softness in just one minute,” she tells Allure. “Just like your skin, your hair loses moisture daily—from heat styling, environmental stressors, and even washing. Without proper hydration, it becomes dry, brittle, and prone to breakage.”

Meet the experts

How we test and review products

We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn’t want to pick up a purple shampoo that’s only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that’s never been tested by anyone with curls—right?

“You’ll be surprised to hear that I don’t wear makeup to the office. That’s because I am all about skin. My main focus is preserving the amazing skin that I have with preventative treatments (RF microneedling) and skin-care products (retinol). When the whole high-maintenance-to-be-low-maintenance convo kicked off on TikTok, I felt I had finally found my beauty cohort. As a Leo, I’m also really into big, healthy hair, which means I never miss a trim appointment. I always go for deep conditioner and scalp scrub, and I rely on wigs as a protective style if I want a completely new look.”
– Jessica Cruel, editor in chief