Beauty Editor Empties U Beauty Retinol Serum Repeatedly

A beauty editor with ten-plus years in the industry has identified the seven skincare products she actually finishes. Tamim Alnuweiri, writing for InStyle, says she rarely empties products due to constant testing but makes exceptions for these formulas, including a retinol serum from U Beauty, a brand Jennifer Aniston reportedly "loves."

The editor's list is based on personal, repeated use. She organizes her recommendations in a table comparing the products, their celebrity-associated brands, and their prices.

U Beauty's Retinol Serum Stands Out

Alnuweiri calls U Beauty's Resurfacing Compound Retinol Serum the most major skincare product she has ever used. She has gone through four large bottles and two travel sizes in approximately five years. The serum uses encapsulated retinol, which she says allows for use day or night without fear of sun irritation.

The formula combines that retinol with vitamin C, vitamin E, alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), and hyaluronic acid. According to the editor, this blend has reduced her oiliness and pore size while improving radiance, texture, and plumpness. It has also addressed faint wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. She notes she is "not the least bit surprised" that celebrities like Bella Hadid and Jennifer Aniston are fans of the brand.

Solutions for Cleansing and Specific Concerns

For cleansing, the editor praises two products. She describes Merit's Great Skin Double Cleanse as a bi-phase face wash that removes every trace of makeup, even multiple layers, and leaves skin soft and hydrated. She had previously found the double-cleansing process tedious.

For keratosis pilaris, she recommends First Aid Beauty's KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub after trying dozens of options. She says it is reliable and side-effect-free. The scrub uses dissolving pumice beads for physical exfoliation and AHAs for chemical exfoliation and cell turnover.

Minimalist Formulas and Hydration

Tower 28's SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray earns praise for its simplicity. Its formula contains only hypochlorous acid, water, and salt. The editor states the ingredient soothes inflammation, neutralizes redness, sanitizes skin, protects from environmental damage, and reduces sensitivity. She keeps multiple sizes on hand for constant use.

For lip care, she has finished every bit of Naturium's Phyto-Glow Lip Mask. She applies it nightly and finds it provides sufficient hydration. For makeup removal and correction, she uses Typology's 7-Ingredient Cleansing Oil D12. Despite being an oil, she claims it does not cause makeup to subsequently crease or bleed after removal.

The final product on her list is Tower 28's SOS Gel Facial Cleanser. She describes it as sensitive skin-safe and noncomedogenic, adding that it made her skin clearer with continued use. She likens the feeling of using it to the first cleansing shower after a long day of travel.