My Feb-March 2026 Skincare Finds: What I loved and what I’ll never repurchase
Honest product reviews from someone with sensitive, acne-prone, dry skin
I’m still wrapping my head around a whole quarter of 2026 being over. It’s been a blur of a quarter with a lot happening at work and endless travel. Somewhere in the middle of it all, I also managed to try a bunch of new skincare. Here’s the full list with the pros and cons (and ingredient breakdown, of course) of everything I tried recently.
PSA: I am not a dermatologist. This analysis is based on my personal experience with these products, publicly available ingredient information on INCIdecoder and informed by skincare science. I would recommend consulting a dermatologist and / or patch testing before experimenting with potent skincare products. If you would like to consult our dermatologist, comment or DM us.
1) CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
I’ve been looking for gentle cleansers for a while - something more “clean feeling” (for lack of a better word) than Cetaphil / Episoft but still ultra-gentle for my morning routine. This was a Blinkit gamble in that same hunt.
✅ Pros: The CeraVe cleanser definitely left my skin feeling a tad more ‘clean’ than Cetaphil and Episoft did, so that’s a win! Packaging also felt more sturdy (I know this shouldn’t matter but - (1) I don’t want an ugly bathroom shelf and (2) I like the packaging to feel tough and crack-proof). It has a super mild surfactant system (Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, PEG-40 Stearate, Polysorbate 20, Behentrimonium Methosulfate), making it very non-stripping → great for sensitive skin. The ceramides are a big plus too. Clean formulation with no fragrance, essential oils, or harsh sulphates.
❌ Cons: It doesn’t foam at all, which honestly doesn’t bother me too much, but this isn’t the product for you if you like some foaming (just remember that sometimes foam might mean harsher surfactants). My skin still doesn’t feel as clean as I would like it to. Finally, if you’re looking for a cleanser to do a little more (like prevent acne, work on pigmentation, etc.), this cleanser is not the one.
🔄 Did it make it into my routine? For now, yes. I like it more than the previous options and plan on finishing the entire 236ml bottle (but while I keep looking for better options!).
2) Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant
I was on a Bioderma exploration spree at some point this year and this came in that order!
✅ Pros: This is probably my favourite Bioderma cleanser so far - because it doesn’t dry my skin out at all. It’s a clear gel liquid that foams well and has a good gel texture. It has a well-balanced multi-surfactant system that keeps it foamy and effective without being too drying.
❌ Cons: It has SLS, which isn’t straight up bad to be honest, but is on the harsher side and not the best idea for sensitive skin.
🔄 Did it make it into my routine? Yes. I really like it for my night routine on the days when I’m not stressing about breakouts (because it can’t help with that).
3) Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Sunscreen Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+ PA++++
I know I’m late to this party, but I finally tried this viral Korean beauty sunscreen, and I must admit it’s actually lived up to its hype.
✅ Pros: My #1 shoutout - it contains new-age filters and is fragrance-free, making it great for acne-prone and sensitive skin. It’s a broad-spectrum SPF 50 PA++++ rating with no white cast. The formulation has multiple humectants, making it hydrating and easy to blend.
❌ Cons: It’s an expensive sunscreen - costs around ~1.5k INR for a 50ml tube. It’s not water resistant, in case that’s something you need. It might feel heavier for people with oily or combination skin, or if you’re someone who lives in a humid-hot location. They have a lighter aqua version, which I am yet to try.
🔄 Did it make it into my routine? 100% yes. A clean sunscreen that spreads beautifully is the dream.
4) Kama Ayurveda Eladi Hydrating Face Cream
This is not my usual purchase (you likely guessed this already if you’ve been following the 1 am substack) - it came in a gift set my husband received, and I just had to try it when I saw it. PS: Does anyone else have this compulsive need to try skincare products whenever you see them? No? Nevermind :(
✅ Pros: It smells divine and makes you feel very… rich (for lack of a better word). This isn’t just because it costs > 3k for a small jar, but also because it makes the skin feel like you’ve just come out of a spa.
❌ Cons: It has a lot of essential oils and multiple (botanical) fragrances, making it very prone to irritation risk - if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin, it’s not the best idea. It also sits heavy on the skin, so it would be a no-no for oily skin.
🔄 Did it make it into my routine? I haven’t used it again after the first time. Partly because I’m trying not to steal the gifts my husband gets (still working on this habit), but largely because I just know it’s going to trigger acne on my skin. I would have considered using it as a hand cream (if the price was lower), but the heavy essential oil system bothers me.
5) The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
I’m a sucker for Niacinamide serums - it’s a constant in my skin routine regardless of what else goes in / out - partly because it’s compatible with almost every other active and my skin tolerates it well.
✅ Pros: Very focused and simple formulation - 2 actives only (niacinamide and zinc) that are powerful and work well together. While you might want more out of your serum, the simple formulation makes it a lower irritation risk. Now easily available in India and better priced than the other global brands.
❌ Cons: The Niacinamide % is quite high (10%) and the formulation has no buffer to soften it. If your skin is sensitive or new to Niacinamide, it might not tolerate this serum well. In that case, I’d recommend starting with a lower % or a formulation that has a buffer (like Panthenol or Allantoin).
🔄 Did it make it into my routine? Yes. I’ve been using Niacinamide for years (started with 5%) so my skin handles it well now, and I’ve personally had no trouble with this formulation. That said, I’ve now been considering moving from Niacinamide to Azelaic - might switch this up if I do that.
6) La Roche Posay Anthelios Ultra Facial Sunscreen SPF 50+
Bought this as a part of my never-ending sunscreen testing sprees - and because LRP is usually the gold standard for pharma skincare.
✅ Pros: Broadly good UV filter system - Tinosorb S, Uvinul A Plus, Uvinul T150, Tinosorb M, Avobenzone (red flag here), Titanium Dioxide. Such a large UV stack likely offers great sun protection.
❌ Cons: It has a high % of alcohol denat (4th ingredient on the list!) and added fragrance - both avoidable. It also has many waxes and other comedogenic ingredients, but is labeled non-comedogenic, which is usually a clinically validated claim. The texture is terrible - it sits heavy on the skin and feels waxy for a while after.
🔄 Did it make it into my routine? I find it unbearably heavy and waxy for my face, so it sat unused on my shelf for a while, till I realized it’s a great body sunscreen for me. I’m using up the current tube as a body sunscreen and do not intend to buy it again.