u/Daneyoh

I'm always curious about holy grail items people have - but especially looking at the cheapest and most expensive items. Cheapest - bc I can't believe something else hasn't knocked it off a HG status. Most expensive - bc I know it takes a lot for someone to continue to purchase something that price. Both are real signals IMHO that these products are special.

• Cheapest - CeraVe Acne Foaming cleanser w/ 4% benzoyl peroxide (about $13 on amazon). Nothing has controlled my inflammatory acne better than this wash. I let it sit for 60-90 seconds and then rinse. At first, I was using it every other morning. Then every morning. Now I'm using it every AM and most PMs as well. As my skin has acclimated to more usage, it's stayed clearer and even addressed some redness from low-level acne. I've probably purchased hundreds of tubes of this. PRO TIP! If you use this under your arms, it will reduce or even eliminate your need to use any deoderant!
• Most Expensive - SkinMedica TNS (I've used the buy 2 get 1 free from Dermavenue, which brings it a hair under $200/bottle). I started using it last year, and was holding my breath that it wouldn't break me out bc of the microalgae it contains. But it didn't, and relatively quickly (4 weeks-ish) I started seeing a subtle firming to the skin. I wasn't expecting that tbh. I've alreadly eliminated fine lines/wrinkles w/ the rest of my routine, so firming/plumping is about all that's left. I was so shocked I started looking for what clinical evidence it has. It's got a 12-week vehicle-controlled study, showing statistically significant improvements vs. placebo in fine/coarse wrinkles and sagging. Not tretinoin level evidence (nothing is), but the strongest evidence I've seen in the growth factor category. I took advantage of a sale in April and purchased enough to get me through the summer heat (I'm paranoid about shipping sensitive products during hot weather).

One of the things that's different about this forum is that we can highlight budget skincare that punches above its price!

A few of my HG products that don't fit into the lux tier but I'd argue work better than any others at any price:

• La Roche Posay UVMUNE400 - for now this is only found in Europe but some retailers will ship it to the US. I love the "invisible" and "oil control" version of this SPF, in the "fluid/shaka" bottle. Its very watery - I actually just tilt my head back and pour it onto my face and then swipe it around. The magic in this formula is Mexoryl 400 which blocks ultra long UVA better than anything else on the market. I find both of these formulas non-irritating to me (despite the alcohol content), and they both dry down to a barely there finish. The "invisible" is more glowy, and better during the winter for me. The "oil control" is great in the summer/humid months.
• Cerave Acne Foaming cleanser - both the 4% and 10% benzoyl peroxide versions are surprisingly tolerable. They both contain ceramides which makes them surprisingly tolerable. I did acclimate over time - first using them every other day, then daily, and now I am using them am/pm even some days. I let them sit for 60-90 seconds, and rinse, and my cystic acne is completely under control, even in my beard area. I also love using these in my pits, I don't need deoderant anymore and I never smell! Seriously, if you're acne prone or dealing w/ cystic acne, I haven't found anything better than BP, and specifically the Cerave formulas.

Would love to hear of any heavy-hitter budget skincare formulas you've used + love.

I avoided it for so long because it was:

1. "Old technology" - it has been around for so long - I figured that there must be new/better growth factor / peptide products. But the reality is that TNS+ actually has some of the strongest clinical evidence backing up it's impact on the skin. Tretinoin also is "old tech" and it's still the gold standard for anti-aging.
2. Algae - I am so sensitive to algae in skincare. It all breaks me out. TNS has a certain kind of marine derived product, chlorella that I've suspected as a problem for me in the past. But after using TNS for several months, I'm so glad/grateful to say it's been totally fine for me.
3. The pump issue - the old packaging gave people a lot of trouble. It was a small thing but an additional mark against even trying it. Thankfully the new packaging is great, I have zero issues w/ the pump and think the new design is really sophisticated looking... I can be a bit of a sucker for packaging.

I'm glad that I eventually tried it bc I've definitely seen plumping and firming from using it, I saw results after 4+ weeks or so and can't imagine not using it anymore. I can see the impact around the eye area, where the skin is thinner and a bit more crinkly for me, that has all improved. I also think it's made my pores on my cheek area appear smaller, bc the overall skin just looks plumper.

Please use flairs when appropriate:

Shelfies

• Show us what's in rotation. Current routine (AM, PM or both), a travel routine, a simplified routine for post-procedure or for a specific purpose, etc.
• Expectation: caption the products, include a quick note on what's working or what you're about to cut, and how long you've been using the products.

Science & Data

• Studies, clinical trial breakdowns, INCI analysis, mechanism discussions, and formulation chemistry. If you're dissecting how something works, comparing delivery vehicles, or evaluating the evidence behind a claim, this is your flair.
• Expectation: link to or cite any source material when you can, and flag speculation as speculation.

Before/After

• Photos documenting progress on a specific concern — acne, PIE, texture, scarring, elasticity, pigmentation.
• Expectation: include your routine, the timeframe, and consistent lighting. For ex: "Day 1 vs. Day 90, same window, same time of day"

Routine Help

• You're questioning your routine or a product, you want to try something new, you've got a challenge with your current line up.
• Expectation: skin type, main concerns, current routine (AM and PM), what you've already tried, and what you're trying to solve.

Product Review

• A considered take on something you've used long enough to actually judge, i.e. typically 6+ weeks, ideally longer.
• Expectation: how long you used it, where it slotted in your routine, what it replaced or was tested against, and what actually changed.

Holy Grail

• The products that have earned permanent spots in your routine. This is a product that has one over and over, after you've tried many other alternatives. You've repurchased it many times.
• Expectation: say why it's a holy grail for you specifically — what it does that nothing else did, and who it's likely to work for.

Pro Treatments

• In-office procedures: microneedling, RF microneedling, BBL/IPL, lasers (ablative and non-ablative), chemical peels, injectables, PRP/PRF/PDGF. Surgery is out of scope.
• Expectation: share the protocol details that matter — device, settings or depth if known, provider frequency, pre- and post-care, recovery window, and results over time.

Ingredient Spotlight

• Deep dives on a single active or category: tretinoin, azelaic, niacinamide, copper peptides, growth factors, exosomes, mandelic acid, PDRN, whatever you want to take apart.
• Expectation: mechanism, evidence, concentration and delivery considerations, stacking notes, and who it's for (or not for).

Hey everyone! I'm u/Daneyoh, a founding moderator of r/EliteSkincare.

**Welcome to r/EliteSkincare**

Hello there! We're glad you're here! This sub exists because a lot of us wanted a place to talk about skincare without being told which products are or aren't worth discussing based on price tag alone. If you've felt boxed out of other communities lately, either because they're too expensive and "not worth it" or they're "too budget and not on topic", this is the subreddit for you!

**What we're about at EliteSkincare**

• First and foremost - EFFECTIVENESS! We care about what actually works - and while we're willing to pay $500+ for a serum if it's really worth it - we also understand that a $15 azelaic acid serum or a Rx from your derm may beat out other alternatives.
• We're also super interested in the mechanism of action, and evidence (or lack thereof) for products. If a product has rigorous data behind it, or a compelling clinical story, we want to hear about it! The focus here is on results + the science of skincare.

**We're nerds about**

• Ingredient-level formulation talk (INCI analysis, delivery vehicles, concentration evidence, etc)
• New or underappreciated actives and mechanisms
• Studies, clinical data, and the evidence tier behind claims
• Professional treatments — microneedling, IPL/BBL, lasers (CO2, erbium, Fraxel), RF, injectables, peels, PDGF/PRP, etc. Protocol discussion and effectiveness are very welcome. No cosmetic surgery — that's a different sub.
• Before/afters are absolutely welcome as are shelfies.

**Some ground rules**

• Be kind. Snarky comments about price, brand prestige or lack thereof, or people's choices in skincare are not ok. People using La Mer deserve the same respect as people using Cerave and vice versa. We're not trigger happy to ban people, but we will ban repeat offenders.
• Make an effort. If you post a question, include details about your skin type, concerns, what you've tried, current routine. The more context, the better the answers. If you're sharing your routine or a before/after, give us details on the regimen you followed, for how long, and what you think is behind your results.
• No affiliate links, no referral codes, no stealth marketing. If you work for a brand, disclose it. We will remove posts of this nature, and if you continue to post spam, you'll be banned.
• Please don't post AI-generated content as if it's your own. We know AI is part of our reality, and in some cases it may be worth using (for ex: help tracking down some data or research), but please disclose your usage of it, and then make sure to contribute yourself to the discussion. We want to hear from humans, and authenticity matters here.

Look forward to your posts and your contributions!

— Mods