Last-minute Mother's Day: Reviewed-approved beauty buys for Mom
5 best beauty buys: Reviewed staff picks for last-minute Mother's Day gifts
Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
Mother's Day 2023 is in a few short days. Sunday, May 14 is your drop-dead date to give Mom something she'll love, so if you're planning to get a mail-order gift you need something with two-day shipping.
MORE: Last-minute Mother's Day: All the places you can shop onliine and pick up your gift in time
At Reviewed, we spend most of our time testing out stuff to find the great (and not-so-great), so you never have to be disappointed by a purchase. We're opinionated by nature. That means when it comes to the products we personally own, love and use daily, we have lots to say. We are particularly opinionated when it comes to skincare. There are loads of products that claim to work magic, but—in our experience—there are a select few that deliver.
Read on for our staff-recommended beauty buys (along with little add-ons to make for a great gift) that will arrive by this weekend.
1. Living Libations Best Skin Ever Seabuckthorn Oil
For nourished skin, this spa set.
For the mom who likes to spa at home, Staff Writer Ceara Perez-Murphy claims that Living Libations Best Skin Ever Seabuckthorn Oil has transformed her skin.
"This stuff is literally liquid gold and while it may be a bit of a splurge, I figure I’ve only got one face and I could use any extra help I can to get glowing, baby-like skin. Considering the results, ie. clear and extremely soft skin, there’s always room in my budget for this skincare must-have," says Murphy.
Pair with some soft, organic muslin facecloths for the gentlest cleaning.
Living Libations Best Skin Ever Oil $41 at Amazon
Organic muslin facecloths $14 at Amazon
2. Clinique’s Take the Day Off cleansing balm
Many cleansing balms have been tried and many have failed. We swear by Clinique’s Take the Day Off cleansing balm.
For the mom that loves a luxurious clean, we can't recommend Clinique’s Take the Day Off enough. There's a reason why this cleansing balm is a cult favorite.
“I have unofficially tested every cleansing balm out there, from the very expensive to the very affordable and nothing beats Clinique’s Take the Day Off,” Staff Writer Janelle Randazza. “It walks the fine line of being incredibly thorough and incredibly gentle. It melts away everything, even heavy makeup and waterproof mascara. In the end it leaves my skin feeling soft and clean and well-cared for.”
Pair this with a cute spa headband and wristlet set to give Mom a nightly spa moment. Taking off makeup never felt so luxurious.
3. Clinique Dramatically Lotion
This moisturizer by Clinique is a cult favorite, and this tea sampler by Vahdam is destined to be!
Yup, another Clinique cult favorite. This lotion has been a top seller for decades for somehow striking the perfect balance of simple but luxurious. Plus, it looks elegant in a Mother's Day gift basket.
“There wasn’t much that could combat my dry skin until I discovered this Clinique Dramatically Lotion," says Lily Hartman. "This face moisturizer instantly soothes my skin. With other brands, I would often have to apply the lotion multiple times to feel like my face was soft again. With this one, I feel relief on my face instantly.”
Pair this with some incredible tea, because it’s all about luxury.
4. Ordinary’s Buffet serum
The Ordinary has affordable and highly effective skincare.
“I have that [not so]coveted conundrum of having aging skin that’s prone to breakouts. I’ve tried so many anti-aging products where the only way they’ve made my skin look more youthful is because they make it look like I’m having a puberty breakout,” says Janelle Randazza. “The Ordinary’s Buffet With Copper Peptides serum is basically liquid gold. It’s filled with amino acids, peptides and hyaluronic acid, which plump the skin to smooth out fine lines to make my skin feel bouncy and youthful in all the right ways.”
I, personally, pair it with the Ordinary’s Niacinamide, for a powerhouse duo and maybe throw in their caffeine serum for some eye depuffing.
Buffet With Copper Peptides $31 at Amazon
Niacinamide and Caffiene combo $20 at Amazon
5. EltaMD UV Physical sunscreen
A powerful combo against UV rays!
Every woman (and most men) are looking for the holy grail of sunscreen. EltaMD UV Physical sunscreen is a favorite of a legion of Reviewed staffers.
Our Staff Writer, Home, Samantha Mangino said it best, "After much trial and error, I’ve found my holy grail sunscreen. This mineral sunscreen checks all my boxes: It doesn’t leave a white cast, it doesn’t sting my eyes and it offers the right SPF rating. It has a light tint that illuminates my skin, I don’t even need to wear foundation."
Pair it with a fabulous sun hat for full protection.
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
