Sunday Riley Good Genes
Price: $105
Location: www.spacenk.com

One pump of this stuff and we quickly came to realize why it’s a cult favorite. Sunday Riley Good Genes is a skin accelerant. It promises to brighten, tighten, and tone in record time. And our opinion is it delivers. What makes Good Genes unique is its ability to play well with . . . everything. From cleansers (two pumps of Good Genes to one pump of Cleanser makes a mask), to serums (can be used alone or mixed with another serum or oil), to simply using it alone . . . Good Genes seems to improve everything that it comes in contact with. Within 7 days, we saw noticeable improvement with tone and brightness. We’ve been through two bottles already, and show no signs of slowing down.

Grade: A+

Ren Bio Retinoid Anti-Ageing Concentrate
Price: $60
Location: www.sephora.com

There seems to be no shortage of retinol-based products on the market. Each promises to deliver more than its predecessor, with fewer side effects (retinol use can lead to skin sensitivity, redness, and the occasional itch). So it’s no surprise that we were skeptical when we came across the newest addition from Ren. We’re pleased to say that this product does exactly what it promises to do: deliver a gentle form of naturally-derived retinol to the skin without harsh side effects. You’re only supposed to use it at night, and layer it under your regular night cream or serum. We found that continued use left our skin luminous and tighter. Even the slight fishy smell wasn’t enough to deter us from slathering it on every evening.

Grade: A

Caudalie Divine Oil (Hair, Face & Body)
Price: $48
Location: www.spacenk.com

This oil claims to be the cure-all for moisture maniacs: a spray formula that you can literally use from head to toe. We instantly fell in love with the sweet, floral smell . . . but hesitated to try it on our sensitive facial skin for that very reason. The oil did very well in our hair and left our tangled tresses smooth and manageable. It also felt lovely on the skin after a cool shower. But, we’re afraid that using it on the face was a no-go. That fragrance left us itchy and irritated, and prompted us to quickly wash it off. We conclude that Caudalie’s Divine Oil is that in name only . . . we’ve opted to multi-task instead with earth-sourced ingredients, meant for mere mortals like ourselves.

Grace: B