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As 2025 comes to a close, we’re reflecting on the beauty products that genuinely impressed us throughout the year. From barrier-supporting skincare and lightweight sunscreens to hydrating serums, cleansers and everyday staples, these are the products that earned a permanent place in our routines and recommendations.
We’re also looking ahead to 2026 with practical advice for anyone considering active skincare ingredients such as retinol, tretinoin, AHAs or BHAs. Whether you’re searching for your next skincare favourite or planning your skincare goals for the year ahead, this roundup brings together some of the products, lessons and discoveries that shaped our beauty year.
🧴What Made The Skincare Nice List For 2025
Between myself and the amazing contributors at White Rabbit Social, we try a lot of skincare.
It’s also no secret that there’s been so much new this year, which we’ve all been busy trialing – though you’ll see some surprisingly familiar products featured below.
Read last year’s Nice List here: The 2024 Nice List: Skincare Edition.
There isn’t a magic amount of products that fill The Nice List. It’s whatever I’ve loved, backed by our contributors. That means there’s no push to add extras that didn’t fill us with skincare-joy, or take away products that deserve their spot.
Also, although tempting, there’s no repeats from last year. Included below are my own mini reviews, as well as ones from our writers that have trialled the products featured in the list. Let’s hop in.
1. A313 Vitamin A Retinol Cream Tube, $38.99
Want to know if A313 is for you? I’ve written a full review that includes before and afters. Read: My Honest A313 French Skincare Review: What It Did to My Adult Acne-Prone Skin After 4 Weeks
“I’ve tried a lot of vitamin A products over the years, including prescription options available in Australia, and I don’t say this lightly: A313 has become my current go-to not because it’s the strongest, but because it’s the one I can actually use consistently without my skin falling apart.” – Minnie Isaac
2. Thirsty Turtl Pacific Dusk Overnight Barrier Cream, $65.00
Read Praise’s review of the Thirsty Turtl range, it’s a goodie: My Honest Thoughts on Thirsty Turtl’s Full Range by: Praise Fadzai
“The blue-tinged Pacific Dusk Cream was my first love from the brand because it is the lush, thick, barrier-restoring moisturiser of my dreams. It even made it into my 2024 end-of-year beauty favourites round-up. Its colour and scent comes from polyphenol-rich grape skin extract and it also includes soothing colloidal oatmeal and seaweed extract.
This is the kind of moisturiser that would be perfect for dry skin types or those with combination skin that sometimes throws tantrums (like mine).” – Praise Fadzai
3. biobod Replenishing Hydra-Soothe Serum, $65.00
Check out Ellie’s review of some of the hero products from biobod. Read: How I Repaired My Skin Barrier With 4 Soothing Products
“This is hydration in its most soothing form. It’s lightweight, but powerful, formulated with sodium hyaluronate, panthenol and prebiotics to calm inflammation, hydrate deeply and help balance your microbiome. My skin drank this up.” – Ellie Bunic
4. Go-To Clarifying Face Hero, $56.00
Read my full review: I Tried Go-To’s Clarifying Face Hero For 4 Weeks. Here’s my Review on True Acne Prone Skin
“I’m happy to report the the Clarifying Face Hero is nourishing and relaxing on the skin, but quickly settles to a dry touch finish that doesn’t feel tight or uncomfortable like some can.
I found that quite impressive because what I truly love about oils is their ability to be relaxing and soft on the skin- and the fact that this is, but isn’t greasy or heavy is wonderful. I also love the smell and look forward to using it nightly.” – Minnie Isaac
5. Conserving Beauty Day Dissolver Wipes, $35.10
“I love how effectively these cleansing wipes remove makeup. The oil feels silky and not coating or suffocating. It emulsifies (turns milky) beautifully, but is more subtle as there’s less product on your face.
Once rinsed, my skin feels soft, clean, and very comfortable without any stripped feeling or suffocation from left over oil. I always follow up with a second cleanse, but even on their own, they leave my skin fresh and smooth.” – Minnie Isaac
6. Boring Without You Make Me Wet™ Hydrating Milk Serum, $44.99
Want to read more about the BWU range? Read: TikTok Viral Brand For Combination Skin Boring Without You Has Two New Products
“After cleansing and watching the water evaporate quickly from my skin, I dispensed two pumps of the serum into my hands and I could instantly feel the silky texture give me a rush.
After massaging the serum into my face and neck, there was this sense of relief that comes only when my skin is wet. The texture is akin to a watery slime, for lack of a better description. Yes, it’s wet.” – Lara Schilling
7. Naked Sundays CabanaClear™ SPF50 Water Gel Serum, $62.00
Read: “It Feels Like Water” The Sunscreen SPF-Haters Love: CabanaClear Naked Sundays Full Review
“The Cabana Clear Water Gel Serum SPF 50 is fragrance-free, non-comedogenic (it doesn’t clog pores), and incredibly lightweight.
It’s also quick-drying, so there’s no risk of pilling or rolling up under makeup. Most importantly, it has zero white cast, even on the deepest skin tones – making it perfect for everyone.” – Minnie Isaac
8. SAMI No-Rinse Hydrating Cream Cleanser, $48.00
Keen for a deeper dive on the full SAMI range, including their new Nourishing Cleansing Oil? Read: New in Skincare: My Honest Acne-Prone, Sensitive Skin Review of SAMI’s Range
“I’ve personally found the no-rinse format fantastic when I’m not always able (or willing) to do the bird-bath-face-wash at the start or end of the day, which usually lags my morning routine to be early-afternoon.
The texture of the hydrating cream cleanser is plush but non greasy, and appropriate for even the most sensitive skin types. There’s no film left on the skin, but there is obvious hydration left behind. Because you don’t rinse this off, ingredients like Gotu Kola (centella asiatica), Hyaluronic Acid and Glycerine stay behind to keep skin hydrated.” – Minnie Isaac
9. Embryolisse Lait-Creme Sensitive Cream, $54.00
Read: My Honest Acne-Prone Review of the Viral Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré Moisturiser
“A reliable, chic moisturiser that my skin loves when it’s dry, flakey, oily, sensitive, breaking out, and anything else it decides to give me each week. I love the OG, but the sensitive is my top pick for the super sensitive skin seasons.” – Minnie Isaac
10. Vani-T Lip Glaze Sheer Gloss, $20.76
“It is a gorgeous, plush, but thin, beautifully emollient, sheer gloss. It has a hint of pink – just enough to give the lips a healthier, happier look. It’s a skincare-infused formula, and it is so stunning. I (personally) think it’s better than Summer Fridays.
What takes it over the line for me is the ceramic tip on it, which isn’t metal, but it’s still cooling, and it feels very luxe and sleek. I’m a real sucker for it. It’s got a very subtle vanilla flavour, which I know my friends are fussy about scent and taste are going to really appreciate.” – Minnie Isaac
11. The Ordinary Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion, $22.20
Read: Science Backed, Budget Body Care by The Ordinary. Full Review, Swatches & More
“Niacinamide is one of my favourite ingredients, it doesn’t irritate me and it helps with everything from oil control to hyperpigmentation to dryness. This feels to me a like a true serum texture, it’s a creamy, watery lotion that absorbs into the skin quickly and without feeling sticky or tacky.
An emulsion is a mixture of liquids that don’t normally mix well into each other e.g. oil into water. Emulsion formulations typically lightly moisturise the skin without weighing it down which this product certainly does.” – Praise Fadzai
12. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+M Triple Moisturiser, $39.99
“This cream contains a ceramide that prevents melanin forming in the skin, which helps the skin maintain an even tone without lightening it – so the tech in the formula is really cool.
I’ve used this for years, and the recent update has helped it be even more skin loving. Can’t stop recommending.” – Minnie Isaac
Getting Active Skincare Curious For 2026?
Many of us are feeling ready to dip our toes into active skincare. Active skincare (or active skincare ingredients) is a catch all term for anything that has a direct effect on how your skin behaves, not just how it feels.
Read: Should You Stop Retinol on Holiday? What to Know About Using Active Skincare While Travelling
Retinol (vitamin A), chemical exfoliants (like AHAs and BHAs), and other treatment-focused ingredients can fall into this category – but it’s worth nothing it’s not a perfect or regulated term.
Often actives are designed to improve or prevent skin texture, reduce signs of laxity in the skin, help manage breakouts, and even out skin tone.
Read: 7 Things I Tell People Starting Tretinoin as a Pharmacist
Because they actively impact the skin processes, they tend to be more potent, and like all skincare steps require consistency.
They also tend to require extra attention to barrier support and diligent sun protection, more so than your routine would otherwise.
The Golden Rules For Using Active Skincare
- Start low and slow. Space out the times you use the product, and if there’s a more gentle option or version, opt for that over the stronger. Higher ingredient percentages doesn’t mean better – and might lead to more irritation.
- Listen to your skin, and don’t follow rigid skincare rules. Although a helpful guide, saying to use an active product x3 a week at night might lead you into some troubles. Keep a sharp eye out for any redness, sensitivity, or flare ups – this is your skin telling you to slow it down.
- Get even better at sun protection. We know you’re probably a sunscreen pro, but when you start using active ingredients, sun protection matters even more. Many actives photosensitise your skin, meaning the sun does more damage than usual. Make sure to rely on multiple forms of sun protection, including diligent sunscreen reapplication.
A Note From Minnie Isaac
Join us on socials @whiterabbitsocial_
Thank you for being part of such a full year for myself and White Rabbit Social.
We’ve had the pleasure of hosting many diverse voices on the website, and although our monthly beauty newsletter is about beauty (go figure), I’m super proud of how deep we’ve been able to go with our write-ups around culture and career – even having the pleasure to interview beauty brand founders and experts in the industry.
It’s always been important for me to actively respond to what our community engages with, and we see that a lot on our social media.
It’s also such a great way get feedback quickly on what sparks people’s interest and where we should put our time and our funds.
So please do join us there. We’re most active on Instagram @whiterabbitsocial_.
To our writers and contributors – your work is beyond appreciated and so deeply essential.
Thank you for sharing your passion and creativity with us all.
Lots of love,
Minnie xx
We hope you have beautiful year ahead, and enjoyed this December monthly beauty recap.
As always, the team is a email or DM away – so don’t hesitate to hit that reply button with how we can make these newsletters even better – or let us know what your favourite beauty addition was for 2025.
We’re all ears,
🐰 WRS Team x
This Month’s Winner of The $100 VAMS Beauty Gift Card: 🎉 Sar .B. 🎉 We’ve emailed you! Please check your inbox.
This article originally appeared in the White Rabbit Social Beauty Newsletter, our monthly roundup of beauty news, skincare discoveries, product recommendations, and community favourites. If you’d like future editions delivered directly to your inbox, you can subscribe for free or explore previous newsletter editions in our archive.
Related Reading
- The Best Skincare Products of 2025 — Tested, Loved, and Actually Worth It
- The 2024 Nice List: Skincare Edition
- 25 Beauty Products I Used and Loved Throughout 2025
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