I Tried $308 Worth of Naturium Skincare Products and These 8 Are Worth It

Last year, I was in a frenzy looking for a non-greasy sunscreen when I came across the Dew-Glow Moisturizer SPF 50. It’s back in my rotation and I couldn’t be happier. As a minimalist, I appreciate the one-and-done of moisturizer and 50 PA++++ rating. (It matters!) As promised, it leaves you glowy and plays well with makeup. The formula also includes niacinamide and vitamin C to help address redness. The tube cap is also genius, designed with a divot to help you measure out the proper amount of sunscreen.

While I appreciate the dual function of the Dew-Glow moisturizer, I don’t want to wear sunscreen to bed. Enter: Naturium’s Multi-Peptide Moisturizer. It’s not heavy or greasy, but still left my skin feeling hydrated, thanks to the brand’s multi-peptide blend. If you’re after a glow, though, this won’t give you a dewy look. Other ingredients include vitamin C and panthenol (vitamin B) to address fine lines.

This body wash can also double as a face cleanser, and features a medley of AHAs: glycolic, lactic, pyruvic and tartaric acid. It promises to exfoliate and remedy bumpy skin texture. After about a week, I did indeed notice that parts of my skin that had been red and uneven cleared up, and felt smoother. The body wash can be used daily, but start slowly to see how your skin reacts.

I typically don’t stray from my milky cleanser, because everything else makes my face dry, tight and flakey. So, I was pleasantly surprised at how well my skin tolerated the Vitamin C Complex Cleanser. The ingredients: vitamin C, phytic acid and fruit enzymes to exfoliate and brighten. It also promises to remove your makeup. The cleanser is a gel and doesn’t lather much—fine by me, as that’s usually the culprit for dry and flakey skin. After a week of washes, my skin has been clearer than usual, and I didn’t experience a lot of dryness. While the cleanser does remove makeup, I found it’s not incredibly effective on lipstick, which I needed a cleansing balm to remove. I suspect eyeliner may be a struggle as well. But overall, it’s a modestly priced, effective and gentle cleanser.

Naturium’s Retinol Complex has a trifecta of ingredients: encapsulated retinol, a natural bio-retinol and bakuchiol. We all know that retinol is the gold standard when it comes to treating skin texture, tone and fine lines. You can also pay a pretty penny for it. I found this formula pleasing as it absorbed easily, didn’t leave a residue and is under $30. (For context, the retinol that was previously on my vanity was almost $90 for roughly the same amount of product.)

Ever since I hopped on the niacinamide train earlier this year, I’ve become a believer. The ingredient is known to be versatile, able to address a range of concerns from acne and wrinkles to DNA and skin barrier health. But I love it because of its anti-inflammatory properties. I often experience breakouts on my forehead, leaving a trail of scars and redness in their wake. However, after applying Naturium’s niacinamide formulation in the evening, I found two blemishes sufficiently calmed by morning. Overall, I’ve also noticed that my skin has been a lot clearer since I started incorporating it into my skincare routine. It’s lightweight and fragrance free, but does have a slightly sour smell. Not a huge deal, but something to note if you’re sensitive to scents.

One of my favorite makeup artists swore up and down on the Purple Ginseng Cleansing Balm, and PureWow assistant editor Delia Curtis gave it a rave review in our roundup of best cleansing balms. The formula contains purple ginseng, an ingredient that may have anti-aging properties, including collagen production and hydration. Curtis noted that it has an earthy scent, but I didn’t notice anything when I used it to remove my makeup. I found the formula to be efficient but gentle, and similarly to Curtis, thought it was hydrating and so effective I didn’t need a double cleanse. It even removed my super stubborn red lipstick with near-perfect results.

This was my wildcard winner. My lips are super dry—they chap daily if I don’t constantly swipe on some lip balm. However, I’m weary because last year, I tried a lip balm that left me with burned/chapped lips for four months after I stopped using it. Understandably, I am now extremely hesitant to venture beyond my tried-and-true Aquaphor. However, the Phyto-Glow lip balm blew me away. It’s incredibly viscous and sticky, but in addition to being glossy beyond my wildest dreams (I love a glossy lip), it was also quite moisturizing. I like putting it on overnight, and I wake up to lips that are prepped for my favorite red lipstick. As for staying power, if you’re wearing the tinted versions, I’d say it was OK—nothing extraordinary and required reapplication after eating and drinking.