Affiliate Links
5 best L'Oreal skincare products

What are the best L’Oreal products for skin? When I first wrote this post a few years ago, it was hard to find something I’d actually use. As much as I love their shampoos, their skincare products left a lot to be desired. Super basic formulations that moisturise skin and… nothing more.

Fast forward a few years and things have changed. Drugstore skincare has gotten a lot more competitive in the past few years (thanks, The Ordinary!) and L’Oreal had to step up to plate and update their products with retinol, Vitamin C, and other proven-to-work wrinkle and acne fighters.

If you’re on a budget and want skincare that works without breaking the bank, this is a brand that’s now worth checking out. But some basic, boring formulations are still hiding on the shelf. I don’t want you to waste your money on those. So, here are the best L’Oreal Paris products that are worth buying:

About The Brand: L’Oreal Paris

L’Oreal Paris was founded in 1909 by entrepreneurial chemist Eugène Schueller. His first product was a hair dye that he formulated, manufactured and sold to Parisian hairdressers. Over the years, the brand has expended into makeup and skincare products and acquired 36 brands, including Garnier, Kiehl’s, Lancome, Vichy, and Skinceuticals. It’s now the biggest beauty company in the whole world. If you’re using any kind of skincare or personal care products, you have used something from L’Oreal – guaranteed.

What Are The Best L’Oreal Skincare Products?

Best For Anti-Aging: L’Oreal Paris Night Serum, 0.3% Pure Retinol ($39.99)

If you’re serious about fighting wrinkles, you need retinol in your skincare routine. This form of Vitamin A fights free radicals, boosts collagen production, and smoothen out the complexion to both prevent and treat wrinkles. The formula is enriched with hyaluronic acid to counteract the potentially drying effect of this powerful anti-aging active. Still, use it only every other night to reap the benefits without any irritation. Fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, the texture absorbs quickly into your skin without leaving a greasy residue behind.

Available at: Boots and Ulta

Active ingredients: 0.3% retinol + hyaluronic acid.

Benefits: Fights wrinkles and prevents premature aging.

Cons: Retinol can be irritating when you first start using it.

Skin type: All skin types.

Fragrance-free: Yes.

Best For Brightening: L’Oreal Paris 12% Pure Vitamin C + E + Salicylic Acid Serum ($32.99)

One of the best Vitamin C serums at the drugstore, this lightweight formula contains 12% L-Ascorbic Acid (pure Vitamin C) to brighten the complexion and fight free radicals. Its sidekick Vitamin E gives it a helping hand in fighting free radicals and boosts its effectiveness. If you have a dull complexion, dark spots to fade, or simply want to boost the protection of your sunscreen, this serum can help. Its lightweight texture absorbs quickly into the skin and never feels tacky. The only thing I don’t like? There’s barely a drop of salicylic acid here, so this serum won’t do anything for your pores.

Available at: Boots and Ulta

Active ingredients: 12% L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) + Vitamin E.

Benefits: Prevents wrinkles and brightens the complexion.

Cons: There’s barely any salicylic acid here, so this can’t help with pores.

Skin type: All skin types.

Fragrance-free: No.

Best For Hydration: L’Oreal Paris 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum ($32.99)

No matter what your skin type is, if you need more hydration, Hyaluronic Acid will do the job. It attracts and binds to your skin up to 1000 times in water, drenching it with moisture. It replenishes the hydration dry skin has lost; hydrates oily skin without adding more pore-clogging oil to it; and, despite its name, it’s so gentle, even sensitive skin can use it. This serum features a high and a low molecular form of Hyaluronic Acid to intensely hydrate and plump up every layer of skin. The result? Younger-looking, dewy skin.

Available at: Boots and Ulta

Active ingredients: 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid.

Benefits: Hydrates and plumps up skin.

Cons: Formula is basic, but does the job.

Skin type: All skin types.

Fragrance-free: No.

Don’t know what ingredients and products you can safely mix and match together? Download your FREE “How To Layer Actives Like A Pro” cheat sheet to find out:

Best For Dry Skin: L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 5 Percent Glycolic Acid Peeling Toner ($19.99)

I usually don’t recommend toner, but this formula has all your dry skin needs. Glycolic acid is a powerful exfoliant that gets rid of dead cells, smoothes out imperfection, and brightens the skin tone. Glycerin deeply hydrates skin. Vitamins C & E provide some antioxidant protection to slow down premature aging. L’Oreal has also added some skin-soothers, like Aloe Vera, to calm down irritations. Most peeling toners can be drying, but this is actually soothing and moisturising. For best results, use it every other night after cleansing.

Available at: Boots and Ulta

Active ingredients: 5% Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, and antioxidants.

Benefits: Exfoliates and hydrates skin.

Cons: Like all exfoliants, it can irritate skin if used too often.

Skin type: Dry skin.

Fragrance-free: Yes.

Best For Dark Spots: L’Oreal Paris 12% [Niacinamide + Amino Sulfonic + Ferulic Acid] Dark Spot Serum ($29.99)

This serum contains one of the highest concentrations of niacinamide you’ll find at the drugstore (or department stores, for that matter). Niacinamide is a form of Vitamin B3 that brightens the skin tone and helps fade away dark spots. It’s not as effective as Arbutin or Hydroquinone, but they’re more irritating. Try this first and move onto the big guns only if absolutely necessary. Plus, it contains ferulic acid, a powerful antioxidant that destroys three types of free radicals to keep premature wrinkles at bay. It’s suitable for all skin types, including sensitive (unless you’re allergic to fragrance).

Available at: Target

Active ingredients: 12% niacinamide + ferulic acid.

Benefits: Prevents wrinkles and fades away dark spots.

Cons: Contains fragrance.

Skin type: Anyone with dark spots.

Fragrance-free: No.

Best For Oily Skin: L’Oreal Paris Detox & Brighten Clay Mask ($12.99)

I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to spend a lot on money on clay masks. If you too look for them at the drugstore, check out L’Oreal Detox & Brighten Clay Mask. It’s loaded with kaolin and montmorillonite, two types of clays that absorb excess oil and other impurities. No, that doesn’t mean it can detoxify skin. It just soaks up all the excess sebum so your skin doesn’t look like a shiny frying pan all the time. I just wish L’Oreal got rid of the fragrance. If you have sensitive skin, that’s bad news for you. (P.S. If your skin isn’t oily, you DON’T need clay masks).

Available at: Boots, Look Fantastic, and Ulta

Active ingredients: Kaolin and Montmorellonite clays.

Benefits: Absorbs excess oil.

Cons: Contains fragrance.

Skin type: Oily and acne-prone skin.

Fragrance-free: No.

Related: What’s The Best Type Of Mask For Your Skin Type?

Best Exfoliant: L’Oreal Paris 10% Pure Glycolic Acid Serum ($32.99)

Forget scrubs. Glycolic acid is a wonderful exfoliant that dissolves the glue that holds skin cells together to reveal the brighter and smoother skin underneath. It smooths out the imperfections, gives skin a radiant glow, and fades away dark spots. And it’s much gentler than scrubs. Still, it can be irritating if used too much too often. Every other night after cleansing is more than enough to give you results without any unpleasant side effects. Plus, the serum has hydrating hyaluronic acid and soothing aloe vera to counteract any potential side effects. Best suitable for normal and dry skin types (and anyone with dark spots).

Available at: Boots and Ulta

Active ingredients: 10% Glycolic acid and hyaluronic acid.

Benefits: Exfoliates and brightens skin.

Cons: It can irritate skin when used too often.

Skin type: Normal and dry skin.

Fragrance-free: Yes.

What Are The Best L’Oreal Products For Wrinkles?

  • L’Oreal Paris Night Serum, 0.3% Pure Retinol ($39.99): A medium strength retinol serum that reduces the look of wrinkles and prevents new ones from forming. Available at Boots and Ulta.
  • L’Oreal Paris 12% Pure Vitamin C + E + Salicylic Acid Serum ($32.99): A brightening serum that prevents premature wrinkles. Available at Boots and Ulta.

What Are The Best L’Oreal Products For Acne?

  • L’Oreal Paris Detox & Brighten Clay Mask ($12.99): This clay mask absorbs excess oil, so it doesn’t get stuck in your pores and clog them. Available at Boots, Look Fantastic, and Ulta.

What Are The Best L’Oreal Products For Dark Spots?

  • L’Oreal Paris 12% [Niacinamide + Amino Sulfonic + Ferulic Acid] Dark Spot Serum ($29.99): An anti-aging serum that prevents wrinkles and fades dark spots at the same time. Available at Target.
  • L’Oreal Paris 10% Pure Glycolic Acid Serum ($32.99): A powerful exfoliant that removes dead cells, brightens the complexion, and fades away dark spots. Available at Boots and Ulta.

What Are The Best L’Oreal Products For Sensitive Skin?

  • L’Oreal Paris 12% Pure Vitamin C + E + Salicylic Acid Serum ($32.99): A lot of Vitamin C serums are too irritating for sensitive skin. This contains a medium-strength concentration that prevents wrinkles and brightens skin without irritation. Available at Boots and Ulta.

Is L’Oreal Cruelty-Free?

No, L’Oreal is NOT cruelty-free. The brand is always researching and creating new breakthrough skincare ingredients that can fight wrinkles, dark spots, and acne. Unfortunately, in some countries, animal testing is still required for this type of research and L’Oreal must comply with these regulations. *sighs*

The Pros Of L’Oreal Skincare

Affordability. L’Oreal is a skincare brand, so it delivers products that can fight wrinkles and fade away dark spots without breaking the bank. Plus, the beauty company is working hard on developing new breakthrough ingredients that can solve all your skin’s woes. When it creates one, it incorporates it into several of its line, from Skinceuticals to Lancome to L’Oreal. The latter is your chance of getting dupes of products from the more prestigious lines the beauty conglomerate owns.

The Cons Of L’Oreal Skincare

Most products are fairly basics. Even when they contain powerful anti-wrinkle and anti-acne fighters, the concentrations are usually low. Plus, the rest of the formula is very basic and free of antioxidants and skin-soothers that’d make their products work the extra mile. That’s the price to pay for drugstore products. If you want more, you need to pay more.

Final Verdict

In the past couple of years L’Oreal Paris has upgraded its formulas from basic moisturisers to powerful concoctions that have what it takes to fight wrinkles, fade away dark spots, and keep breakouts under control. If you’re on a budget, the products in this list are well worth a try.

About Gio

Hi, I'm Gio. I'm a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever - every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what's worth the splurge and what's best left on the shelf - using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.