Skin

9 Naturium Skin-Care Products Our Editors Can’t Get Enough of

The stressors of the past year have taken a toll not just on our minds, but also our skin. Without our regular visits to the dermatologist or esthetician, we’ve been left to our own devices, on the hunt for clinical-grade products that can deliver powerful ingredients and ultimately, glowier complexions. Luckily, we found a solution in Naturium, a clean skin-care brand backed by science. Here are the products that saved our skin.
3 Editors Try Clean SkinCare Brand Naturium Reviews Photos

You don’t have to be a beauty editor or even just an amateur beauty lover to know that the skin-care market is a crowded one. While the beauty biz has always been a billion-dollar industry, the focus used to be on cosmetics — and now, shoppers are shelling out to fill their skin-care #shelfies. And while I don’t see the sales of serums and moisturizers slowing down anytime soon, I do think we’re reaching a breaking point. Because the options are endless, consumers are becoming more discerning, more educated, and as a result, more determined to find products that actually work (and won’t cost them their entire rent check). It makes sense, then, why scientifically-backed, highly-effective, yet affordable brands like Naturium (available at Target) are finding huge success among skin-care newbies and devotees alike.

“Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen the interest in easy-to-digest skin-care education and results-driven products increase on social media,” Susan Yara, co-founder of Naturium, tells Allure. “What seemed to be lacking from the market was a brand that offered the education and the results, paired with elegant, well-rounded formulas and packaging at an accessible price.” Yara should know — she’s been a popular beauty content creator for years, reviewing hundreds of skin-care products on her YouTube channel and listening closely to what her viewers were looking for to complete their skin-care regimens. “That’s what we offer with Naturium. Everyone that buys from us knows our products will work well, feel great, and fulfill our mantra that skin-care is self-care.” Naturium’s advising board-certified dermatologist Dr. Alexis Stephens supports Yara’s claim. “I like that Naturium makes highly effective, beautifully formulated products feel more accessible to everyday consumers. They use ingredients that are proven to help even skin tone, decongest pores, and encourage healthier skin in general. There’s a product that works for everyone,” Stephens tells Allure.

It sounds too good to be true, right? To find out for certain, we put the brand through the beauty-editor test. Here’s what Sarah Kinonen, Blake Newby, and I think about Naturium’s products. Spoiler alert: We’re all fans. Scroll down to see what we’re loving in our specific skin-care regimens.

  • I know it sounds a little trite these days but I mean it when I say that my favorite selfcare practice is doing my...
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    Sara Tan, Contributing Beauty Editor

    I know it sounds a little trite these days, but I mean it when I say that my favorite self-care practice is doing my skin-care regimen. It gives me a moment to slow down, be present, and have a little “me” time. But ever since becoming a new mom last September, I’m lucky if I find even a minute in the day to wash my face, let alone do my entire skin-care routine. For this reason, I’ve been turning to multipurpose products that can deliver on more than one front. I was thrilled when I discovered Naturium and its science-backed, results-driven line, and have been using the brand’s Niacinamide Cleansing Gelée, Plant Ceramide Rich Moisture Cream, and Vitamin C Complex Serum as part of my routine over the last few weeks. Here’s how I’ve been using them and how they’ve changed my skin so far.

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    Naturium Niacinamide Cleansing Gelée 3%

    I love cleansers and have pretty much tried them all: cleansing powders, cleansing foams, cleansing oils, you name it. There’s something so luxurious about washing the day off of your face. That’s why I love this serum-like cleansing gel from Naturium. It’s made with hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and the real star, a clinical level of niacinamide, which helps fade dark spots and smooth skin texture as you cleanse and rehydrate your skin.

    What I love even more is that you can use this cleanser as a mask — we love a cleanser that can do it all! I apply it on my face before getting into the shower, let it steep for a few minutes, and then rinse for what I always find to be a smoother and brighter visage. It gives the illusion that I got a full night’s rest.

    $17.99 (Shop Now)

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    Naturium Plant Ceramide Rich Moisture Cream

    If you’re big on texture, like me, you’ll find this cream to be absolutely delicious. It’s thick and buttery, but absorbs nicely into your skin and won’t leave you feeling greasy. It’s exactly what my parched skin demands, especially post-partum. Hormonal changes can deplete your skin of lipids during and following pregnancy, which is why I’ve been using this plant-derived ceramide-rich moisturizer nonstop since first trying it.

    According to Minneapolis-based board-certified dermatologist Jenny Liu, topical ceramides have been shown to effectively repair the lipid barrier while also enhancing your skin’s natural production of lipids. I’ve noticed that after using this cream, my complexion has felt less tight and overall, bouncier, even at the end of the day, whereas other moisturizers typically leave my skin high and dry by lunchtime. Also, while I’m not against using synthetic-made ceramides in my skin-care, Liu informs me that phytoceramides (aka plant-derived ceramides) are more environmentally-friendly, which I appreciate.

    $30.99 (Shop Now)

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    Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum

    Vitamin C is a non-negotiable in my skin-care routine. It’s an ingredient I recommend everyone use in their regimen and one I love so much, I use it both day and night. As a busy mom, I appreciate vitamin C even more than ever because of its hard-working ways. “Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, great for protecting skin from UVR, brightening skin, improving hyperpigmentation, and supporting collagen production,” says Liu. However, vitamin C can be unstable, “degrading quickly upon exposure to light, heat, or metal (i.e. copper in skin-care ingredients),” Liu tells me. This can cause it to sometimes be irritating to the skin or ineffective if it isn’t accompanied by the right ingredients in product formulations.

    Thankfully, the Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum is made with glutathione, which can help to not only stabilize the vitamin C, but enhance its efficacy, resulting in brighter, firmer, and more radiant skin. After just a week of using this product, I can already see the vitamin C doing its work — my face seems glowier and healthier, no filter needed. I also love that the bottle is a sealed pump, which helps to keep the vitamin C from oxidizing.

    $24.49 (Shop Now)

  • 5/12

    Sarah Kinonen, Associate Digital Beauty Director

    It’s hard to believe that this March marks a full year of working from home due to the pandemic. While moving my 9-to-5 into my home full-time has been a learning curve (and perhaps a test of boundaries, if I’m being honest), I realize I’ve been incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to write and edit from the comfort of my own couch. That said, while everything I need is usually within reach, one thing I miss from pre-pandemic times is… my dermatologist and her prescription pad.

    Luckily, I recently discovered Naturium, a clean skin-care brand formulated with clinically-effective ingredients. This is a big deal for me: Before COVID-19, I had a full skin-care routine filled with prescription-strength products, whereas now, sadly, those tubes have all dried up. Without prescriptions or future appointments on the books, over-the-counter (OTC) products are my new best friend. And according to Shari Marchbein, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, OTC products are more effective than you think. Naturium’s products are proof.

    Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been using the BHA Liquid Exfoliant 2%, Retinol Complex Serum, and the Quadruple Hyaluronic Acid Serum 5% to smooth, brighten, and hydrate my combination and sensitive skin. Here’s how I use them.

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    Naturium BHA 2% Liquid

    After cleansing with a gentle, non-foaming cleanser, I shake the Naturium BHA Liquid Exfoliant 2%, an alcohol-free, leave-on exfoliant made with salicylic acid and fruit extracts — including a bioactive complex of caviar lime, desert lime, and rainforest lime — and pour it into the palm of my hand. You can also use a cotton pad to apply the exfoliator, but because I’m one, lazy, and two, cognizant of my carbon footprint, I prefer to use my hands. That said, once a dime-sized amount of the clear liquid is pooled into my palm, I gently pat it onto my face — from my forehead to the bottom of my chin. 

    Immediately, the lightweight liquid seeps into my skin and gives an almost-glowy finish. This is because salicylic acid, the key ingredient in the BHA Liquid Exfoliant 2%, is excellent for exfoliation. “Salicylic acid is an oil-soluble beta hydroxy acid (BHA), which penetrates deeper into pores than alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), making it ideal for unclogging them and treating mild acne,” says Marchbein. \

    $20.00 (Shop Now)

  • 7/12

    Naturium Retinol Complex Serum

    Every other day, when I’m not using the aforementioned exfoliant, I sub in the Naturium Retinol Complex Serum, a nighttime treatment made with microencapsulated retinol and anti-inflammatory bakuchiol, to boost collagen production, improve elasticity, and give skin an overall smoother, brighter disposition. I like to use them on separate nights so as to not upset my sensitive skin, which Marchbein recommends for fussy skin like mine.

    “AHAs or BHAs and retinoids can be used together, but depending on the time of year, other products and ingredients in your routine, your skin type, and skin-care needs, I would be cautious so as to not irritate the skin,” she says. “BHAs, like salicylic acid, are less strong than retinoids, but can also irritate the skin, so care should be taken when using them together.” 

    The Retinol Complex Serum is thick and creamy compared to the BHA Liquid Exfoliant 2%, but that’s the point — it’s a completely different product, targeting different skin concerns. But like the exfoliant, I prefer to use the Retinol Complex Serum right after cleansing on dry skin. Just a pea-sized dollop is more than enough to cover my face — forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin.

    For days when I’m feeling a little extra-sensitive, I’ll apply the retinol using what Marchbein calls the “sandwich method,” which is applying a thin layer of moisturizer, followed by your retinol, and then sealed in with another thin layer of moisturizer. “Studies have shown that this base layer of moisturizer does not dilute or reduce the efficacy of the retinoid and helps with tolerability,” she says.

    You can also do this with a hydrating serum, like the Naturium Quadruple Hyaluronic Acid Serum 5%. However, “at least one of the steps of the sandwich has to be a creamy moisturizer, though, so I wouldn’t swap both out for a hyaluronic acid serum,” says Marchbein.

    $20.00 (Shop Now)

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    Naturium Quadruple Hyaluronic Acid Serum 5%

    The Naturium Quadruple Hyaluronic Acid Serum 5%, formulated with four different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid — an ingredient that deeply hydrates, locks in moisture, and plumps up skin — comes next in my routine. All I need is a solid pump of the viscous serum for my entire face for it to immediately feel moisturized. Then, I grab my favorite moisturizer of the moment and slather it on from my hairline to décolletage.

    Over the last couple of weeks, after following this routine, I’ve noticed my combination (with a touch of sensitive) skin is smoother to the touch and glowier on screen. Thanks, coworkers, for all of the compliments over Zoom!

    $15.99 (Shop Now)

  • 9/12

    Blake Newby, Contributing Beauty Writer

    I’ve always taken pride in my ability to, for the most part, keep my skin under control. But after enduring a year that was anything but ordinary, the health of my skin rapidly declined, and it seemed like nothing I tried would render any relief. The increased stress, decreased derm visits, and unrelenting laziness which resulted in me neglecting my once-rigid skin-care regimen didn’t help — but it seems that I’ve finally discovered a skin-care brand that does.

    I recently turned to Naturium, a clean skin-care brand with clinical-grade products, and for the first time in months, cystic acne and hyperpigmentation aren’t dominating my skin. My favorites, the Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2%, Glycolic Acid Resurfacing Gel 10%, and Azelaic Topical Acid 10% are my new skin-care must-haves. Here’s why.

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    Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2%

    If there’s one ingredient you can always count on being somewhere in my skin-care routine, it’s niacinamide. As a Black woman, I’m more predisposed to hyperpigmentation post-breakout, so I ensure I keep a great formula like the Naturium Niacinamide Serum close. “Many acne-fighting ingredients like retinoids, salicylic acid, and benzoyl peroxide can be drying and irritating, so it can be helpful to combine ingredients like these with niacinamide that supports the skin barrier and improves moisture levels, tone, and texture,” explains New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Hadley King. “Acne can often leave post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, so it's particularly helpful that niacinamide can help with discoloration.”

    I also love that the formula isn’t too oily, a must for my combination skin. It penetrates deep enough to ensure that my complexion stays radiant and even, and that my skin appears dang-near poreless — all while minimizing any inflammation and fine lines I may have.

    $19.59 (Shop Now)

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    Naturium Glycolic Acid Resurfacing Gel 10%

    I prefer my exfoliants free of microbeads, which is why I’m obsessed with the Naturium Glycolic Acid Resurfacing Gel. The AHA gel boasts natural fruit acids, like orange and lemon extract, so I receive a double-dose of brightening. “AHAs dissolve the bonds that hold dull, dead skin cells on the surface of the skin so the skin will gently shed, revealing smoother, brighter skin underneath,” Dr. King says. “AHAs are also water-soluble and work on the surface of the skin.”

    While it may sound crazy, I like it when my skin care tingles a bit, and this does. It makes me feel like it’s really working, and that’s surely the case with this gel. However, because it’s a more potent formula, I only apply a small amount three-to-four times a week to ensure I maintain radiance without risking damage to my skin. And because AHAs increase my risk of sun damage, I immediately lather on my SPF to ensure that I don’t sunburn.

    $28.49 (Shop Now)

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    Naturium Azelaic Topical Acid 10%

    With mandatory mask-wearing, the cystic acne along my jawline and chin has been more prevalent than ever. That said, I try not to further exacerbate the breakouts with products that will congest my skin. The Naturium Azelaic Topical Acid 10% works to normalize my skin’s sebum production and gives me a much-needed clarifying. “It helps to unclog pores, and because of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, it can be helpful for acne, and also helps to decrease hyperpigmentation and even out skin tone because it inhibits tyrosinase, an enzyme that leads to pigmentation. This makes it helpful for treating post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation that occurs after pimples,” Dr. King says.

    A staple of my nighttime regimen, I apply this immediately following a gentle cleanse while the skin is still wet, and continue with a rich moisturizer. By the time I wake up, my skin is visibly more radiant, smoother, and appears so much plumper. And while some formulations I've tried over the years have left my complexion feeling more oily than anything else, this one is nothing but hydrating. Plus, I can feel my breakouts being fought all at the same time.

    $20.49 (Shop Now)

Keywordsnaturiumclean beautyniacinamideceramidevitamin cBHAsretinolhyaluronic acidZincglycolic acidazelaic acid