As you read this, you’re likely also watching Netflix. And you’re probably emailing yourself some ideas for tomorrow’s big meeting, too. And you may even have your closet open because you need a comfortable, cute car outfit for a road trip this weekend, and you’re on hour two of messaging with a friend who is going through a bad breakup.Sound familiar? Of course it does, because when have you actually had the luxury of doing just one thing at a time? You don’t have time to be a one-tasker, and you don’t have time (or $$$) for skin-care products that are one-taskers either.
Luckily for you, we found 11 products that can juggle your many needs and wants almost as well as you juggle everything else in your life. So go ahead and check 'em out, and then get back to everything else pronto. (P.S. You can never go wrong with sneakers, skinnies, and a button-up with rolled-up sleeves for your road trip this weekend.)
The contents of this take-it-anywhere tube will moisturize your lips and delicate undereye area. (Quick advisory: If you have very dry undereyes, you might be using too harsh a face cleanser.) Fans of the oil stick even claim it’s lightened their dark undereye circles. Vitamin E is also derm-recommended for fading scars, so swipe it on that cooking burn — because it’s a solid, the application won’t be a drippy mess. Hooray!
Reviva Labs Vitamin E Oil E-Stick, $4, available at Reviva Labs.
Okay, so it’s not exactly a revolutionary idea to use an acne face product on body acne — but hear us out. This scrub can make a temporary mess out of your tub — those little dots of black soap stick — but it’s going to clear up that mess of sports bra-area back and chest acne. Chest skin, in particular, can become irritated and tender if you’re using heavy-duty body-acne scrubs, but because the SheaMoisture wash is meant for the face, it’s gentle enough for that sensitive area, and will moisturize it as it treats your blemishes.
SheaMoisture African Black Soap Problem Skin Facial Wash and Scrub, $6.99, available at Target.
Refinery staffers are obsessed with using this rich, but lightweight oil for night and day. Let it work miracles on any dry patches of skin — like those tissue-induced flakes you get on your nose during cold or allergy season — or on creasy, dry undereyes. It gives your skin a glistening-not-gleaming glow and softly holds down thick eyebrows without giving them a straw-like texture, so it’s perfect for a fresh-faced no-makeup look. Plus, it works as a highlighter and a hand cream.
Josie Maran Argan Infinity Cream Intensive Creamy Oil, $28, available at Sephora.
This moisturizer dries with a satin finish, so you don’t have to worry about getting oil all over your clothes or looking like you’ve been coated with cooking spray. Rub it on your bod after a shower; dab some on your cuticles before a home manicure, or on the crunchy ends of your hair to refresh a style (it’s Shu Uemura, after all). One Refinery editor uses it in place of a shaving gel, and her legs are extra-silky as a result.
Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Body Nourishing Dry Oil for Skin, $68, available at Shu Uemura Art of Hair.
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No matter how simple (or complicated) our beauty routine, we’re always on the hunt for a moisturizer that works hard on its own and plays nice with others. With its rich, creamy texture, Clarins Multi-Active Day SPF 20 rehabs our dry, dull skin, while priming it for whatever we want to layer on next: serum, BB cream, the works. And because the formula is packed with SPF and antioxidants — think organic botanicals like teasel and California poppy — our skin gets potent protection against environmental stressors with an extra side of glow. Mission accomplished.
Clarins Multi-Active Day SPF 20 All Skin Types, $53, available at Clarins.
After giving your face, neck, and décolletage a swipe with one of these bellini-smelling pads, give your hands a once-over, let it all sit for one to three minutes, and rinse. Your weather-beaten claws will instantly feel smoother, and they’ll be more receptive to your usual dollop of hand cream. Best of all, you’ll be getting your money's worth by using up the pad 'til the last drop.
Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads, $45, available at Sephora.
This sleepover pal contains retinol — a form of vitamin A that’s the queen of skin-care ingredients because it zaps zits, brightens, and evens skin tone, and softens and prevents fine lines. Plus, it's an organic, cold-pressed oil, so unlike many other retinol products, it moisturizes.
Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil, $105, available at Sunday Riley.
This little tin might just contain the most bang for your beauty buck. For $6, you can use this formula as a lip balm (duh), a dewy highlighter, a non-flaky brow gel, to add some shine to shadow-free eyelids, to soften and moisturize cuticles, and to prime your lashes before curling them for a glossy, but natural lashline.
Rosebud Perfume Co. Smith's Rosebud Salve, $6, available at Ulta.
This combo of grape-seed, hibiscus, sesame, and argan oils is non-greasy, so you can use it to smooth down baby hairs, or as a leave-in conditioner, with no fear of wet-head. But its more traditional use is as a post-shower moisturizer — its antioxidants help firm the skin. Extra points? It has a soft, floral scent, so it doubles (triples? quadruples?) as a perfume.
Caudalíe Divine Oil, $49, available at Caudalíe.
There’s no reason not to carry this pocket-sized multitasker. Sure, there are plenty of multipurpose balms on the market, but this moisturizer and sunburn-soother stands out thanks to its chapped-skin- and lip-healing powers. Plus, it comes in a convenient stick formula (no need to lug a heavy jar or stick your finger in anything gooey) and has a minimal ingredient list: olive and avocado oils, beeswax, honey, and propolis — and that’s all organic. Thanks, Mama!
Medicine Mama's Sweet Bee Magic Wand, $12.99, available at Medicine Mama's.
We’re getting a little misty thinking about all of the things this beauty mist does. Part skin treatment and part makeup primer, it delivers sweet science to UV-damaged skin — hyaluronic acid repairs and electrolytes refresh and hydrate it — while creating a smooth canvas for your foundation, blush, and highlighter.
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water, $32, available at Smashbox.
This buzzy cleansing brush doesn't just exfoliate your face, neck, and chest. It's brand-recommended for anywhere you want to get the smoothest shave, because it exfoliates the area beforehand. Use an older brush that you won’t be using on your face to exfoliate your armpits before a shave, and you’ll be ready for your professional armpit-modeling career.
Clarisonic Mia2 Skin Cleansing System, $149, available at Sephora.
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