One of my favorite things about being in the creator space is having it be my “job” to try new beauty products. If you’ve been around since my blogging days (2016—wow, that’s crazy!), then you may be familiar with the reason I’ve become a beauty junkie.

I had horrible acne in my early 20s—acne that no dermatologist could help get rid of, even after I took Accutane—and it was devastating. The embarrassment led me to take matters into my own hands, constantly asking for recommendations about what worked for other people.

Eventually, someone told me that professional facials turned their skin around. They recommended a clinic in the Pittsburgh area whose staff was Dutch (no one can tell me anyone does facials better than the Europeans!), and they were the first skincare professionals to analyze my routine and see what I might be doing to contribute to my acne. In my case, it was cleansing with bar soap, drying out my skin, and causing it to overproduce oil, which led to acne.

Now this was years ago, so I’m sure dermatological care is much more personalized, but back then, having someone simply take the time to ask me my routine, give recommendations on new products, and, of course, do the facials themselves, made a world of a difference.

Within a year, my skin was clear, and my perspective on the power of a good routine was set. I became obsessed with finding other formulas that could work on my skin, and learning how to adjust my routine as my needs changed.

When you find the right products it really can make all the difference in your skin. I firmly believe it’s all about consistency and being gentle on your skin.

Beauty Products Are Part of the Job

As a creator, I get sent beauty products to test and share my thoughts on; not gonna lie, it’s pretty fun! But I do realize that there’s no way that I can give you an honest review of a product or a line unless I actually integrate it into my routine for a long enough period of time to see if it works.

So when I sample products, I typically use them for at least two to three months. If it’s one product, I integrate it into that spot in my routine—i.e. a serum, moisturizer, etc.—and assess how it works within my current lineup. Other times, I’ll test an entire line.

Either way, I won’t recommend anything I personally haven’t tested for as long as it takes to gauge it’s performance. So you can be sure that when you see a recommendation here, it’s because I have genuinely liked it.

As proof that I am genuine in my recommendations, some of these products aren’t even commissionable—meaning I won’t make money off a purchase you may make. Of course, I’d love to be able to make something when I help sell it, but I won’t hold back on recommending it just because I won’t.

I just wanted to be transparent with you on how and why I do these beauty posts as well as what you can expect when I do actually recommend something!

Today’s List of Beauty Products

Again, these are products or lines that were new to me in 2025, but ended up staying in my routine for a decent length of time (three+ months) after I first tried them.

Another important note: These aren’t the only products in my routine! You’ll notice there’s not every type of product on this list; I simply have integrated these into my current lineup of “classics.”

If you’d like a recommendation on a specific type of product, you can always DM me on Instagram and I’m happy to send over some ideas. 😊

Skincare

Beauty of Joseon Rice Water: I was very skeptical about the need for an essence in my routine; what’s the point in adding another step? Then, I started using this rice water essence from Beauty of Joseon, and I noticed that the hydration level of my skin immediately increased.

I put four to five drops into the palm of my hand, press my hands together, then press it into my face while it’s still a little damp after cleansing. This part is key! Make sure your skin is a little damp when you use. Then, let it soak in and continue with the rest of your routine. If you’re also using a toner, make sure to use that before this, not after, or it will wipe it all away.

Aeonia Skincare: I discovered this line earlier this year after interviewing the founder. Their serum has an ingredient that helps boost sun protection, so I layer this on under my SPF for a little boost. I love their cream too; it’s rich but soaks right in, so I layer this as the last step in my routine when I want more hydration.

Moonbow Skincare: Their cleanser, in particular, is so rich and foamy, while also being gentle on the skin. The line is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine and would also be gentle enough for tweens and teens to use! I find their serum so gentle and hydrating as well, and the cream is very lightweight but hydrating.

Epicutis Skincare: This serum (pictured above) made the most dramatic difference in my skin than any other product this year. I first tried it right after the summer, when my skin was red and super reactive after spending hours outside playing tennis in the hot summer weather. It was magic; it almost instantly healed my skin. It has a patented barrier-building ingredient. While expensive, for me, it was 100% worth it.

Haircare

Under Your Skin: This hair system—shampoo, conditioner and density drops—is all I’ve been using for the past 1.5 months. My hair fallout has decreased significantly, and the formula is rich enough to hydrate my coarse, thick hair, without feeling heavy. The density drops are starting to help with regrowth along my hairline.

Ghost Heat Defense Spray: When I curl my hair, I like to spray a light heat protectant beforehand. This one by Verb is so insanely light, it’s undetectable. It doesn’t gunk up my just-washed hair, but it also adds a layer of protection for my hair. I’ll keep repurchasing.

Makeup

Brown Mascara (specifically from Sweed Beauty): I don’t know what it is, but brown mascara looks so much more natural than black on my lashes. I wouldn’t have tried this color were I not sent it by Sweed, but I fell in love and now this is what I exclusively use. In fact I just ran out, so I’m going to use my discount code (SONNI-20) to get another tube!

I’d love to hear what new-to-you products you’ve loved this year. Any other products or lines I should try?