Welcome to the 2024 SELF Healthy Beauty Awards! It hasn’t been easy keeping the best skin, hair, body, makeup, and oral-care products of the year under wraps, but now comes the best part: sharing them with you!
Our approach to the Healthy Beauty Awards looked a little different this year. We wanted our winners to feel as practical and accessible as possible, so we tweaked some categories and added new ones (hi, facial hair care!) to make our recommendations even more gender-inclusive. For makeup, we whittled our selections down to the essentials that truly deserve a place in your quick and simple morning routine. And for every pricey product that won an award, you’ll find a wallet-friendly pick that gets the same job done.
When submissions opened, we received more than 2,500 products from about 1,000 brands for consideration. After days of combing through entries, we called in 1,300 products, and our team of 53 testers—composed of SELF editors and a diverse group of regular (and incredible) people from across the country—got to work. Over the next three months, we lit up our team’s Slack channels as we gushed about promising finds, and we stopped our glowing coworkers in the office to ask about what they were testing. We snapped selfies and shot amateur “Get Ready With Me” clips as we dabbed, scrubbed, slathered, and sprayed our way through products for every skin type and tone, hair texture, and lifestyle. Though it all sounds pretty glamorous (and a lot of the time it was!), we also didn’t hold back from sharing our breakouts and allergic reactions, bad hair days made worse, and streaky self-tanner fails.
Then we channeled all the highs and lows of testing into detailed reviews, considering everything from the products’ efficacy to how fun they were to use. These raves and rants went straight to SELF editors, who used them to compile a list of 173 winners we enthusiastically endorse. We’re thrilled to present you with top-notch cleansers, moisturizers, and eye creams; effective serums, exfoliants, and masks; elegant sunscreens to protect your face and body; dependable lip and oral care products; great shampoos and conditioners; salon-quality hair-styling tools and leave-in treatments; luxurious body care products; and no-frills makeup you’ll want to use every day.
All of our selections also meet the extensive criteria we developed alongside dermatologists Shari Marchbein, MD, FAAD, and Fatima Fahs, MD, FAAD, as well as dentist Julie Cho, DMD. You’ll find those deets in our Healthy Beauty guide below, which is designed to help you figure out the products and ingredients that might work best for your skin and hair type. (Not sure how to ID yours? No sweat, we’ve also included basic pointers to guide you toward the right stuff.) Scroll through for the features that sound most like you, and you’ll be well-equipped to craft a routine that makes you feel just as good as you look.
Now that we’ve finished our homework, let’s have some fun—the 2024 Healthy Beauty Awards are here!
The SELF Healthy Beauty Skin and Hair Care Guide
- Dry Skin 101
- Combination Skin 101
- Sensitive Skin 101
- Oily or Acne-Prone Skin 101
- Aging Skin
- Discoloration and Hyperpigmentation 101
How to know if your skin is dry:
You might notice signs of inflammation (like reddening, depending on your skin tone), flaking, or itchiness.
What to use:
- Gentle, creamy non-foaming cleansers
- A thick moisturizer or barrier repair cream
- Products that contain hydrating and moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides, dimethicone, shea butter, squalane, aloe vera, petrolatum, mineral oil, and argan oil
- Soothing ingredients like aloe, allantoin, and colloidal oatmeal can be helpful when dry skin is irritated
- Niacinamide, or vitamin B3, can help reduce hyperpigmentation and discoloration, minimize redness, and enhance hydration
- Exfoliators with polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) like gluconolactone and lactobionic acid, which have both exfoliating and hydrating properties
- Bakuchiol, a plant-based, gentler retinol alternative, instead of traditional retinoids
What to avoid:
- Foaming cleansers
- Benzoyl peroxide for treating acne
- Frequent use of chemical exfoliants like salicylic and glycolic acids, and physical exfoliants like scrubs and brushes—using these once in a while may be fine for your skin, but proceed with caution!
- Fragrances and denatured alcohols, especially if your skin is also sensitive
How to know if you have combination skin:
People with combination skin usually have areas that tend to be more oily—often around the T-zone—and areas that tend to be dry, like the cheeks. The key? Manage one area without aggravating an adjacent one. Generally, that means using a combination of products that are good for oily skin and dry skin, perhaps by alternating them based on the steps in your routine.
What to use:
- Chemical exfoliants at night followed by a creamy, hydrating cleanser in the morning
- Light, hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin on drier areas
- Exfoliants, retinoids, and oil-absorbing clays on your typical shiny areas
- Niacinamide for reducing sebum production
What to avoid:
- Moisturizers that are too thick or occlusive may include comedogenic (a.k.a. pore-clogging) ingredients, like silicones and oils.
- Using strong exfoliants too frequently, especially on dry areas of the face
How to know if you have sensitive skin:
Your skin may react easily or frequently to skin care and makeup products. People with skin conditions like rosacea, psoriasis, and eczema also usually have sensitive skin and may find that their conditions are triggered by certain ingredients like dyes and fragrances.
People with sensitive skin should always patch test a new product before using it on delicate areas like the face and neck. If you find that products frequently irritate your skin, it’s worth checking in with a board-certified dermatologist for guidance. They may steer you toward certain types of products or ingredients, do an in-office patch test to check for potential allergies, or prescribe treatments for skin conditions.
What to use:
- Simple, fragrance-free cleansers and moisturizers
- Hydrating and calming ingredients, including hyaluronic acid, glycerin, niacinamide, and ceramides
- Acne-fighting exfoliants that are also gentler on skin, like azelaic acid and PHAs
- Soothing ingredients like aloe, hypochlorous acid, colloidal oatmeal, chamomile, centella asiatica, allantoin, panthenol, calendula, bisabolol, and green tea when your skin is inflamed
- Niacinamide, which can be anti-inflammatory
- Mineral sunscreens, which contain ingredients like titanium oxide or zinc oxide, instead of chemical sunscreens which can often be irritating
What to avoid:
- Fragrances, physical scrubs, certain chemical sunscreen ingredients, and essential oils, if possible
- Certain chemical exfoliants like alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), which can be irritating
- Retinoids (including retinol) may require an adjustment period, but they can be tolerated with proper and consistent use
How to know if you have oily skin:
Your skin may produce excess oil (technically called sebum) and can feel greasy or look shiny. Because extra sebum is a common acne trigger, oily skin is also often acne-prone. One upside: That oil also provides a bit of a buffer that makes it easier for skin to withstand more intense exfoliating and retinoid products.
Try to see a dermatologist if your pimples are cystic (large, inflamed, and oftentimes painful bumps without whiteheads or blackheads) or if over-the-counter products just aren’t working for you.
What to use:
- A cleanser that contains exfoliating, acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid, glycolic acid, sulfur and/or benzoyl peroxide
- Lightweight, gel-based, non-comedogenic moisturizers; these may be marketed as “day creams” or “daily moisturizers”
- Light, hydrating serums containing hyaluronic acid
- Chemical exfoliants like lactic acid, salicylic acid, and glycolic acid
- Physical exfoliants like gentle face scrubs
- Retinoids
- Brightening ingredients like vitamin C, tranexamic acid, licorice root extract, niacinamide, kojic acid, and azelaic acid for combatting dark spots and acne scars
- Calming ingredients like green tea to help soothe inflamed skin
What to avoid:
- Ingredients that may be comedogenic, like vitamin E, and some occlusive oils, including coconut oil, petroleum jelly, and cocoa butter
- Thicker moisturizers that may be marketed as “night creams” or “barrier repair creams”
How to know if you have aging or mature skin:
Technically, we all have “aging” skin. That said, your skin starts slowing down its collagen production (the protein that keeps your skin full, soft, and plump) around age 25—so anywhere around then, you might begin to explore skin care products that focus on preventing or slowing down signs of aging. We also use the phrase mature skin to refer to skin that already has fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration, or other signs of aging.
What to use:
- Broad spectrum SPF 30+ daily, which should always be the last step in your morning skin care routine
- Retinoids, which reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines by increasing collagen production, speeding cell turnover (which evens out discoloration and brightens skin tone), and unclogging pores
- Antioxidants, which protect skin from environmental damage and further collagen degradation
- Peptides—the building blocks of collagen—to keep skin feeling plump and firm
- Ingredients that help skin retain moisture, like hyaluronic acid and glycerin
How to know if you have discoloration or hyperpigmentation:
Dark spots can appear in different forms—and have a variety of triggers. Common examples include acne scarring, skin irritation (like from waxing), hyperpigmentation from pregnancy (which usually lightens postpartum), or sun spots/areas that have been damaged from too much UV exposure.
Certain products can help treat these issues, but it’s safest to check in with your dermatologist before you try them, especially if you have a deeper skin tone, as some ingredients can have a lightening effect.
What to use:
- SPF—every single day!—to prevent existing spots from getting darker. Take this a step further by choosing a tinted sunscreen; these formulas contain iron oxides to protect against visible light, which makes hyperpigmentation and melasma worse.
- Chemical exfoliants, like AHAs (glycolic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid) and BHAs (salicylic acid), to help bring new, healthier skin to the surface
- Brightening ingredients like vitamin C, alpha arbutin, hydroquinone, kojic acid, niacinamide, soy, licorice root extract, arbutin, azelaic acid, and tranexamic acid
- Retinoids to help aid skin cell turnover and lift pigment
What to avoid:
- Excessive heat on the skin and excessive UVA/UVB exposure
There’s a difference between fine hair and thinning hair: Fineness refers to the circumference of an individual strand of hair, while thinness refers to the density of how many strands are growing out of your scalp. That said, many people who have fine or thinning hair are looking to add fullness and volume—so recommendations are often similar for each, if not the same.
Sometimes the reasons behind thinning hair can be more complex; your genetics, hormones, and underlying health conditions, among other factors, can play a role. If you notice excessive hair loss in a short period of time, or that your hair suddenly feels much thinner than it once did, see a board-certified dermatologist, who can look into a root cause and prescribe treatments if needed.
What to use:
- A heat protectant product before styling with hot tools (more on this below!)
- Products that contain silicones (including dimethicone, cetearyl methicone, and cetyl dimethicone), which prevent moisture loss and give hair a fuller look
- Hydrolyzed keratin, which is often in products marketed as thickening and volumizing
- Minoxidil, a hair growth medication that can be applied topically
What to avoid:
- Frequent heat styling, as it can pull hair from the roots and cause damage to hair health overall
- Tight hairstyles that may pull on the scalp
- Drying sulfates, which you might see listed as sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, and sodium laureth sulfate
- Oils like argan oil, coconut oil, and olive oil can weigh down fine hair
Natural hair refers to Black or Afro-textured hair, which is often kinky or coily and has not been chemically treated or relaxed. This type of hair tends to be prone to dryness, breakage, and damage, as well as some unique types of hair loss.
What to use:
- Deep conditioners that contain moisturizing and soothing ingredients like jojoba oil, shea butter, argan oil, and aloe vera
- Products containing whey protein or other hydrolyzed proteins to give curls more definition
- Scalp care products like scalp cleansers, scrubs, and exfoliators can help treat the product buildup and irritation that often occurs when using lots of moisturizing ingredients
- Wide-tooth combs and detangling brushes that are gentler on the hair
- If you’re dealing with dandruff, try shampoos that contain ingredients like zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole, selenium sulfide, or tea tree oil
What to avoid:
- Shampooing too frequently, as it can dry out hair and cause damage
- Tight hairstyles may cause traction alopecia, which is characterized by hair loss around the temples, or central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, a type of hair loss that starts in the center of the scalp and causes pain, tenderness, and itching
- Notice small bumps along your hairline? Those may be indicators of traction folliculitis—inflammation of the hair follicles—and are a sign that your hairstyle is too tight. Experiencing any pain after having braids, weaves, or cornrows done is also a sign that your style is too tight.
Having oily hair or a greasy scalp often (but not always!) goes hand in hand with dandruff. While the oil gland activity on your scalp is predetermined by genetics (more on that here), adjusting your hair care regimen can help you manage buildup.
What to use:
- Products that gently cut down on oil but also moisturize—you don’t want your hair to dry out, either
- Products with exfoliating ingredients, like salicylic acid or glycolic acid
- Ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide, coal tar, or tea tree oil, which can help control the yeast that causes dandruff flakes
- Lighter moisturizing oils, like argan and jojoba oil, if you have thick hair
- Shampoos that contain ingredients like zinc, ketoconazole, or salicylic acid if you’re dealing with dandruff—our derm board recommends using these three times weekly, if not daily
What to avoid:
- Excess oils, especially in leave-in products
- Applying oils like coconut and olive oil directly onto the scalp, as this can promote overgrowth of Malassezia (the yeast that causes dandruff)
- Overusing dry shampoos to avoid hair washing—that will just create more buildup!
Everything from the products you use to genetics to the weather can cause hair and scalp dryness. Dry hair might look dull, frizzy, or tangled, and is prone to breakage. A dry scalp may look like dandruff, as they both can lead to flaking—but dandruff is usually caused by a skin condition called seborrheic dermatitis, while dry scalp causes skin to flake off from a lack of moisture, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
You can relieve dry scalp with over-the-counter hair care products, but if you find that you’re experiencing prolonged tingling or burning, or if you begin to develop blisters or open sores on your scalp, see a dermatologist.
What to use:
- Silicones (including dimethicone), which give each strand of hair an extra coat of protection
- Hydrolyzed keratin for a volumizing effect, especially if your hair is also thinning
- Argan oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, shea butter, and (for some) olive oil to lock in moisture, especially if you have a natural hair texture
What to avoid:
- Frequent heat styling (especially flatironing)
- Tight braids, extensions, weaves, or perms
- Sulfates like sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, and sodium laureth sulfate, which help shampoo lather but can dry out hair and scalp
- Anything else that will further dry hair, including most alcohols (though cetearyl and stearyl alcohol can actually be moisturizing and are okay to use)
- Hair dyes, perms, relaxers, and similar chemical treatments, which can be drying or irritating and/or contain allergens
If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, always talk to your health care provider to determine which ingredients you should avoid. That said, you might be surprised by how many of your usual skin and hair care products are also pregnancy-safe.
What’s okay to use, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG):
- Benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid, salicylic acid, and glycolic acid, all of which help treat acne
These can be used in addition to any ingredients not mentioned on the “avoid” list below
What to avoid, according to ACOG:
- Prescription acne treatments that include hormonal therapy, isotretinoin, oral tetracyclines, and topical retinoids, and hydroquinone.
- Over-the-counter products that contain phthalates, parabens, oxybenzone, retinol, and triclosan
While ACOG advises pregnant people to stay away from parabens and phthalates—as noted above—dermatologists are divided on whether they’re harmful to pregnant people and fetuses, largely because studies testing these ingredients aren’t conducted on pregnant people. Here’s what to know about them both:
- Parabens are a common preservative found in many skin care products. They keep products free from bacteria, yeasts, viruses, and fungi—and prevent them from changing color or spoiling too quickly after you open the package, Dr. Marchbein says. “Additionally, there is good safety data to show that parabens, for the majority of us, do not incite allergic reactions,” she adds. “They are safe and well tolerated for the majority of people.” So while ACOG recommends avoiding parabens while pregnant, your ob-gyn or dermatologist may not find it necessary.
- Dr. Marchbein holds a similar opinion on phthalates, which are used in skin care to help dissolve other ingredients. There’s not enough research to determine how prolonged phthalate exposure affects people. For that reason, Dr. Marchbein says she doesn’t advise her patients to avoid them during pregnancy: “We really don’t have good studies that support the fact that it actually penetrates and permeates through the skin. There’s nothing that I see that’s well substantiated.”
A quick note on sun protection for pregnant folks: Pregnancy can bring on skin changes like stretch marks, melasma, linea nigra, acne, dark spots, and more—so regularly wearing SPF, which protects your skin and helps prevent or reduce the severity of some of these changes —is key. Both chemical and physical (a.k.a. mineral) sunscreens are safe for pregnant people to use. However, if you have particularly sensitive skin, you may prefer a mineral SPF.
A solid oral health care routine includes brushing your teeth twice daily and flossing at least once daily. Adding mouthwash to the regimen is recommended, but should not be a substitute for brushing or flossing, as it doesn’t effectively remove bacteria from your teeth and gums.
When using a manual toothbrush, a soft nylon brush tends to work best. If your teeth and gums are sensitive, you should look for a brush that is labeled with “extra soft bristles” on its packaging.
How you brush your teeth has a larger impact on your oral health than the brush itself. With a manual toothbrush, you should gently brush your teeth using a circular motion with the bristles angled toward the gums, making sure to brush all exposed surfaces of the teeth, so outside, inside, and chewing surfaces
An electric toothbrush can be more effective than a manual option because the brushing motion and speed are quicker and more consistent. Budget-friendly electric toothbrushes can also do the trick. You don’t need all the bells and whistles to find one that works. If you have issues with dexterity or have wisdom teeth that may be difficult to access, look for an electric brush with a smaller brush head, which may be easier to control. Glide the electric brush over all surface areas of your teeth, spending 30 seconds on each quadrant of your mouth. Do not scrub back and forth with the electric brush, as you could do more damage this way.
The only way to remove bacteria and food from between your teeth is by scraping the floss up and down between them. Traditional string floss is the most effective option. Water flossers are devices that shoot water between and around the teeth but don’t have the same mechanical action of scraping off plaque. That said, it’s better to use a water flosser, than to skip flossing altogether. Water flossers can also be extremely useful for people with braces, bridges, or implants.
If the contacts, or spaces between your teeth, are tight, you may want to opt for a wax floss or tape-like floss, as it’s slightly easier to use than non-waxed floss.
Sensitive teeth and gums may burn or tingle after eating foods that are particularly cold or after using certain mouthwashes and toothpastes. Sensitive gums may be inflamed, swollen, or redder than usual. There are times when moderate sensitivity is normal, like in the few seconds after rinsing out a mouthwash or flossing. But if that feeling extends for longer—like hours—or your gum tissue has a lingering soreness, you may be dealing with a more significant dental issue. If you experience extreme oral pain or discomfort, or if something with your teeth, tongue, or gums seems off for you, see a dentist as soon as you can.
What to use:
- Fluoride will help strengthen teeth and combat sensitivity. While anyone can benefit from fluoride, it’s especially helpful for people who are prone to cavities or are looking to prevent them. You can find both toothpastes and mouthwashes that contain fluoride.
- Potassium nitrate can help counteract sensitivity, especially when it’s included as an additive in whitening products.
- A pea-size amount of sensitive toothpaste rubbed onto teeth after brushing but before bed can help treat sensitivity, especially after being triggered by something like an at-home whitening treatment.
What to avoid:
- If you’re prone to canker sores (also known as stomatitis) or certain skin conditions (like eczema or perioral dermatitis) avoid sodium lauryl sulfate, a chemical compound that acts as a foaming agent in mouthwash and toothpastes.
- You may want to avoid mouthwashes that contain alcohol. Alcohol is included in some mouthwashes in order to break down the essential oils in the solution and can be especially irritating for people who have dry mouths, as it further increases dryness.
While whitening mouthwashes and toothpastes can be somewhat helpful for surface stains on teeth (like those you might have from drinking coffee), their effectiveness pales in comparison to a true whitening treatment done either at home or in a dentist’s office. That’s because the contact time between the whitening agent and your teeth is usually too short to respond to the active ingredients.
What makes a whitening treatment effective will depend on a few variables, like the concentration of bleach, the intensity of the LED light being used (if applicable), and the delivery system (how the light and bleach are coming in contact with your teeth). LED whitening treatments work by using blue light to speed up the chemical reaction between the whitening agent, usually hydrogen peroxide, and your teeth. Most LED at-home whitening treatments are not strong enough to cause damage when used as directed, though they may cause sensitivity—which can be abated with the sensitive toothpaste trick mentioned above.
What to use:
- Mouthwash that contains peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, or another peroxide derivative like carbamide peroxide
- Whitening toothpastes that contain silica, pyrophosphates, or carbamide peroxide, to gently polish the teeth and break down or dissolve stains
