When we think about potent, powerful skin care that addresses and alleviates our concerns, we most often assume those formulas will cost a pretty penny. Some of the industry’s trendiest products, after all, have price tags in the triple digits.

But when we asked experts to weigh in, board-certified dermatologist Dara Spearman maintained that “price doesn’t always dictate effectiveness.” Drugstore brands like e.l.f. Skin “formulate products with active ingredients in concentrations that can produce real results,” she said.

This democratization of skin care—efficacious ingredients at affordable price points—is central to e.l.f.’s ethos. The brand believes that clean beauty should be readily accessible to all, delivering a range of gentle, vegan, and cruelty-free cosmetics that take the guesswork out of caring for your complexion.

Vogue’s Favorite e.l.f. Skin Products

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Best Brightening

e.l.f. Skincare Bright Icon Vitamin C + E + Ferulic Serum

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Best for Oily Skin

e.l.f. Skincare PLZ Clarify Facial Oil

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Best Sunscreen

e.l.f. Skincare Suntouchable Whoa Glow SPF 30

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Board-certified dermatologist Noah Gratch applauds e.l.f. for what it’s doing for the skin-care market. “More accessible products have sparked curiosity and education about skin care,” he says. “People are learning about actives, how to layer them, and the importance of consistency, which is critical for results. It’s perfect for consumers who are new to skin care, budget-conscious consumers, or anyone looking for effective daily products that are not too harsh on the skin.”

For those interested in trying the formulas, read on to discover Vogue’s favorite e.l.f. products—along with insight from our experts on what makes each so good.

Best Brightening: e.l.f. Skin Bright Icon Vitamin C + E + Ferulic Serum

• Why We Love It: Of all the e.l.f. Skin formulas, this brightening serum is my favorite—for both its powerful composition and feel on skin. Vitamin C—lauded for its ability to boost circulation, illuminate the skin’s complexion, and stimulate collagen production—is paired with vitamin E and ferulic acid. The latter, as dermatologist Arash Akhavan previously shared, “helps stabilize both vitamin C and vitamin E, adding to their antioxidant effects,” and thus improves the serum’s ability to combat signs of oxidative stress like fine lines and dark spots. These skin agents are mixed into a lightweight serum that applies without the stickiness you’re likely accustomed to with vitamin C serums, layering well under moisturizer and makeup sans irritation. Our experts say it’s suitable for those new to vitamin C and all skin types.
• Key Ingredients: 15% vitamin C, 1% vitamin E, 0.5% ferulic acid, bisabolol
• Best for: Dark spots, dull skin, mature skin
• Size: 1 oz./15 ml

Best Face Cream: e.l.f. Skin Holy Hydration! Face Cream

• Why We Love It: The beauty of the Holy Hydration! Face Cream is that it’s “hydrating and lightweight, suitable for morning and evening use,” Dr. Gratch says. Hyaluronic acid is the star ingredient here, lending it its moisture-retention properties despite the cream’s weightless feel on skin. Then there’s niacinamide, which helps even tone and minimize the appearance of pores—an added benefit for oily skin types and those prone to discoloration. All around, this face moisturizer is as reliable as they come.
• Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, peptides
• Best for: All skin types
• Size: 1.7 oz.

Best for Oily Skin: e.l.f. Skin Plz Clarify Facial Oil

• Why We Love It: Those with oily, combination, or acne-prone skin types might think facial oil isn’t for them; well, e.l.f. ’s Plz Clarify drops flip that notion on its head. The noncomedogenic formula retains face oil’s nourishing benefits while honing in on calming, clarifying, and evening. It does so with 2% BHA, licorice, aloe, and tea-tree oil—agents that help eliminate blackheads, remove gunk from pores, and soothe distressed skin.
• Key Ingredients: 2% salicylic acid, licorice, aloe extract, tea-tree oil
• Best for: Acne-prone skin, combination to oily skin
• Size: 1 oz.

Best Sunscreen: e.l.f. Skin Suntouchable Whoa Glow SPF 30

• Why We Love It: UV protection and a sun-kissed glow? Get both with e.l.f.’s Suntouchable Whoa Glow SPF 30. The formula gets its sunray-shielding benefits from broad-spectrum chemical UV filters, which safeguard against damage while ensuring skin remains moisturized via aloe, hyaluronic acid, and squalane. One will appreciate that this goes on without pilling or a white cast, instead imparting a shimmering glow no matter which of the three golden-bronze hues you choose.
• Key Ingredients: Avobenzone 3.0%, homosalate 9.0%, octisalate 5.0%, octocrylene 7.0%, aloe, hyaluronic acid, squalane
• Best for: Sun protection
• Shades: 3
• Size: 1.69 fl. oz./50 ml

Best for Acne: e.l.f. Skin Blemish Breakthrough Acne Fighting Spot Gel

• Why We Love It: Looking for a way to treat that stubborn zit? Blemish Breakthrough to the rescue! Dr. Gratch explains that this “targets breakouts effectively with minimal irritation.” The secret sauce here is 1% salicylic acid, which board-certified dermatologist Richard Bottiglione previously said is “primarily used to treat acne because it’s great at eliminating oil from the pores and exfoliating the skin.” When paired with witch hazel and aloe, you get a spot treatment apt for reducing the size of blemishes in a matter of hours.
• Key Ingredients: 1% salicylic acid, aloe, witch hazel
• Best for: Acne
• Size: 0.25 oz.

Best Retinol: e.l.f. Skin Youth Boosting Advanced Night Retinoid Serum

• Why We Love It: Both our experts agree that e.l.f.’s Youth Boosting Advanced Night Retinoid Serum is great for beginners. Those new to the world of vitamin A should proceed with caution, opting for a formula that is gentle yet effective. Via its Retinoid + Antioxidant Complex—the brand pairs granactive retinoid with low-concentration retinal—along with hyaluronic acid and peptides, Dr. Gratch says this “helps with texture and signs of aging without heavy irritation.”
• Key Ingredients: Retinoid + Antioxidant Complex (1% granactive retinoid, 0.06% retinal, and antioxidants), hyaluronic acid, peptides
• Best for: All skin types, mature skin
• Size: 1 fl oz./30 ml

Best Night Treatment: e.l.f. Skin Youth Boosting Blue-ty Sleep Night Oil

• Why We Love It: According to Dr. Spearman, the Youth Boosting Blue-ty Sleep Night Oil is “best for those looking for gentle antiaging support” because it “supports overnight skin recovery and hydration.” The formula combines 1% granactive retinoid with blueberry fruit extract and a host of botanical oils (think sunflower, grape, avocado, and meadowfoam) into a silky blue oil that locks in moisture and improves skin’s firmness.
• Key Ingredients: 1% granactive retinoid, blueberry fruit extract, sunflower, grape, avocado oil
• Best for: All skin types, mature skin
• Size: 1 fl. oz./30 ml

Best Cleansing Balm: e.l.f. Skin Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm

• Why We Love It: A good cleansing balm should remove makeup and sunscreen without stripping skin of its natural oils, and e.l.f.’s does so with ease. Per Dr. Gratch, the formula rich in ceramides and hyaluronic acid “smoothly melts makeup off while keeping skin soft,” making it especially useful for dry or sensitive skin types. The solid balm quickly melts into a silky face oil as you massage it into your fingers, giving it exceptional glide as it sweeps residue off the skin’s surface. Just rinse with water to reveal a squeaky-clean complexion.
• Key Ingredients: Ceramides, hyaluronic acid
• Best for: Makeup removal, cleansing
• Size: 2 oz./3.5 oz.