Skincare routines have the potential to be high-maintenance — take it from someone who spends a good chunk of their time layering liquid serums, fluids, and creams on to their face each morning and night; carefully dispersing and delicately pressing into the skin like all the TikTok beauty influencers and internet dermatologist suggest. But now, solid versions of these products have been cropping up more and more for a few different reasons — one being the level of convenience they can offer. Just as the name suggests, solid skin care is solidified, often balm-like, is typically held together with help of a waxy agent, and often contains active ingredients and hydrators.
Aside from the obvious plus of being able to simply apply your favorite serum or moisturizer in just a couple of swipes ( much like you would a lip balm or a stick of deodorant), skin care solids can be a dream to travel with since there’s no risk of products leaking or not violating TSA requirements for liquids. Additionally, for products that feature temperamental ingredients like retinol, which can be potentially irritating for certain areas of the face more than others, sticks can be useful for a more targeted application. Whether you’re in the market for a solid version of a serum that targets irregular skin texture and hyperpigmentation, an antioxidant-rich sunscreen or a line-reducing retinol, keep reading on to the list ahead.
1. A protective and microbiome-boosting stick Made by the same skin.