Again, this is not sponsored, and very honestly, this is what JOY gets for not sponsoring me
Hello and welcome back to another post where I rant about skincare products I’ve tested—products that make me kick my feet in excitement.
Today, we’re looking at more skincare brands that I’ve used, genuinely liked, and think are absolutely worth trying.
Hyphen
No, this is not how you find out that I have a thing for Kriti Sanon.
I’m still figuring that out myself.
That said—there’s something about this brand that just works. There are hundreds of celebrity skincare brands out there, and yet very few receive genuine love from the general public the way Hyphen (and Kay Beauty) does.
When Deepika launched her skincare brand, people said skincare wasn’t the market for India—unless your target audience was Mukesh Ambani’s family. Kriti proved them wrong. Hyphen showed that you can build a successful Indian skincare brand that people buy—not because they’re fans, but because the products actually make sense.
The first product I tried was their lip gloss, and my expert reasoning was simple: the packaging was yellow.
Yes. That’s it. I have no self-control. Accept it.
I expected it to gloss my lips, obviously—but here’s the part where you need to sit down.
It was mango-flavoured. It smelled like mango. It tasted like mango.
One red flag, though: the tube breaks easily. Mine cracked right where the cap sits, so now the product leaks all over my purse—the kind of purse that contains everything from a sanitary pad to a bulldozer.
Later, my boss (yes, I have a job—shocking, I know) told me she loved their bi-phasic serum. I checked the price, cried briefly, and then bought it anyway—actually, I bought three products during a sale in November.
I started using them in January, and while it’s too soon to give a full review, I’m liking them so far. They make me feel happy and snatched, and honestly? That’s enough for now.
Good job, Kriti.
Re’equil
You know a skincare brand is serious when its packaging makes you think, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
Because if I didn’t know better, I’d assume Re’equil products belong in a hospital.
I’ve only used their moisturiser, but I loved it. Part of it might be the clinical-looking packaging, but the formula deserves credit too.
Odour-free.
Non-irritating.
Leaves your skin feeling properly moisturised without drama.
This brand deserves more hype because they’ve quietly perfected what they do.
10/10 would recommend.
Conscious Chemist
Once again, I’ve only used one product from this brand—the Trubiom Pigmentation Correction Cream.
It’s advised not to use it every day, only in small amounts, and not to mix it with too many other serums. So obviously, I haven’t gone completely rogue with it.
That said, this brand has always made sense to me. The formulations feel thoughtful, and I trust what they’re doing. I’d love to try more of their products someday—but first, I need to finish the fifteen hundred skincare products I already own.
Himalaya
When I say Himalaya, I strictly mean body care.
Face care? I’m still holding a grudge.
Growing up, the only product we knew was their neem face wash—and despite all the “acne-free” claims, I’m pretty sure I got my first pimple because of it.
However.
I’ve recently started using their Cocoa Butter Body Lotion (I didn’t even know they made one), and it’s actually great. Very hydrating, stays on the skin for a long time, and does what it’s supposed to do.
I’ve also started using their Vitamin C serum this year, so it’s too early to judge—but I do enjoy a good redemption arc.
So dear Himalaya, I’m rooting for you. Please behave.
Pilgrim
I’ve had doubts about this brand since it launched—mostly because I associate Yami Gautam with Fair & Lovely and not… common sense.
But then I realised the aloe vera gel I’ve been using is from Pilgrim.
I’ve tried aloe vera gels from multiple brands before (cough Patanjali), but I know someone with a genuinely horrifying skin issue on their feet that was corrected just by using Pilgrim’s aloe vera gel.
And trust me—the condition was so bad, I’m sure even the devil was afraid of it.
This gel fixed it.
Not a miracle.
That’s God’s work.
And with that, I officially believe the brand.
And that’s it for now—brands I’ve tried, tested, and genuinely enjoyed using. This list isn’t about perfection or holy-grail guarantees; it’s just skincare that made sense to me and earned a permanent spot on my shelf. But the shelf isn’t full yet. There are still brands sitting in my cart, living rent-free in my brain, and waiting for me to emotionally justify the purchase. So yes—Part 3 is coming, and it’s all about the skincare brands I want to try next. Consider this the calm before I spiral again.
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