Best overall
e.l.f. Cosmetics
Halo Glow Liquid Filter
8.3Great
A $15 liquid glow booster in 15 shades, widely compared with Charlotte Tilbury's Flawless Filter for a fraction of the price.
Highlighter5$15.00
Glow · Radiance
Dullness
12 products we review are built for dullness — 25% of them moisturizers. The ingredients doing most of the work: hyaluronic acid, glycerin and squalane. Most are made for combination skin, dry skin and normal skin.
Dark spots, dullness and that lit-from-within look everyone on your feed is chasing.
Top rated
The dullness podium.
The ingredients behind it
Key actives in the products that deliver dullness — tap one for what it does and how strong the evidence is.
Often paired with
Benefits that tend to come along for the ride.
12 products
Every dullness pick.
12 products
Best value
Timeless Skin Care
20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum
8.1Great
The best-known budget take on the C + E + ferulic formula: 20% L-ascorbic acid for $27.95, if you can keep it from oxidizing.
Serum5$27.95
Best value Trending
The Ordinary
AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
8.1Great
The viral red 10-minute at-home peel: strong, cheap and effective on texture, but only for experienced, non-sensitive skin.
Peel5$9.50
Best value Trending
The Ordinary
Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner
8.0Great
A cheap, effective daily glycolic toner for smoother, brighter skin, best for resilient skin that already tolerates acids.
Toner4$9.00
Best value Trending
The Ordinary
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
7.9Good
A $6 cult niacinamide serum that helps many oily, blemish-prone users with shine and pores, though a vocal minority reports breakouts.
Serum5$6.00
Community favorite
SkinCeuticals
C E Ferulic with 15% L-Ascorbic Acid
7.7Good
The benchmark 15% vitamin C + E + ferulic serum, backed by strong data and derm loyalty, at a price many find hard to justify.
Serum5$185
Viral Trending
Biodance
Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask
7.6Good
Viral overnight hydrogel mask that leaves skin plump and dewy by morning, though reviewers call the glow a short-term boost.
Sheet mask4$19.00
Cult favorite
Charlotte Tilbury
Hollywood Flawless Filter
7.6Good
Charlotte Tilbury's sheer, illuminating glow booster in 12 shades, the $50 benchmark that budget liquid-filter dupes are compared with.
Highlighter5$50.00
Clinique
Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator
7.6Good
A refreshing, oil-free aloe and hyaluronic acid gel-cream that excels at light, fast hydration rather than heavy barrier repair.
Gel-cream4$48.00
Splurge
Drunk Elephant
Protini Polypeptide Firming Refillable Moisturizer
7.3Good
A fragrance-free peptide gel-cream with nine signal peptides and amino acids, pleasant to use but hard to justify on price alone.
Gel-cream5$72.00
Viral
Solawave
4-in-1 Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand with Red Light Therapy
7.2Good
A pocket-size red light, warmth, galvanic and vibration wand that feels pleasant to use; reviewers find the results subtle.
Device5$169
Splurge
Tatcha
The Dewy Skin Cream
7.2Good
A rich, scented line-plumping cream loved for its dewy finish and makeup prep, but costly and not for fragrance-sensitive skin.
Cream4$74.00