The beauty products The Nod team bought and loved in 2025

The newest entry in my daily routine is this lip serum. It’s meant to help with discolouration on the lips and make them look a bit plumper—and it does exactly that. What I don’t like about it is that it sometimes gets in your mouth and has a slightly acidic taste. But otherwise, it’s a no-fuss treatment that you apply at night (thought in my case I’m compulsively applying it throughout the day) and I can safely say I do see a difference in the colour and softness of my lips. —Naheed Driver

Dermatologists and skincare influencers on TikTok have been raving about this balm for eons, and I’m actually mad at myself for not trying it out sooner. My skin is chronically dry, and this moisturiser doesn’t just quench the skin, it rescues it. It’s rich and occlusive in a way that feels genuinely protective, like your skin is wrapped in a nice blanket. Since it’s quite thick, you may not want to use it on your face daily if you have oily, acne-prone skin. But using it if you have flaky skin during the winter months is a no-brainer. It’s also great for sandwiching your retinol if you have super-sensitive skin that reacts to everything or for treating random rashes and sunburn. I’m obsessed and will be repurchasing forever. —Chloe Chou

Another TikTok-famous product that I am pleased to report actually earns the hype. I keep testing new moisturisers, and a lot of times they fail to deliver the hydration they promise. This milky toner quietly fixes that. It adds an immediate cushion of moisture, makes whatever you apply next work better, and lends your skin a plump, well-rested look. I’ve been using it in the morning and at night, and it’s become one of those boring-but-in-the-best-way staples I don’t think about—until it’s missing. —Chloe Chou

This liquid matte lipstick by makeup artist Violette Serrat doesn’t budge even after a whole afternoon spent sipping on cocktails, snacking, and gabbing. I have yellow undertones, so I got the shade Cerise Désir, which is a bright, true red, and while I was initially a bit wary of the highly pigmented colour, it’s truly joy in a bottle. —Butool Jamal

The e.l.f lip pencil in the shade Pinky Swear is the perfect pink nude. I loved it so much that I bought one for all my best friends and every woman in my family so they wouldn’t steal mine. Also, it’s so well priced that 10 of them cost the same as one regular lip pencil from a fancy brand. —Priyanka Parkash

My derm recently put me on azelaic and tretinoin, which means my skin has been flaking like a croissant—especially in the winter. I bought The Ordinary’s Soothing & Barrier Support serum on the recommendation of my older sister and, honestly, it’s liquid gold for your skin. Packed with vitamin B12, niacinamide, plant ceramides, and centella asiatica, it calms irritation, repairs your barrier, and hydrates without clogging pores or feeling sticky. If that’s not convincing enough, it’s a bubblegum-pink serum that looks as good as it works. —Shyamolika Vaz

This palette is a life-changer for the lazy girl who wants to look slightly put together (sometimes). It has a blush, bronzer, and a highlighter all in one. It all blends beautifully together to give you that perfect sun-kissed look. Highly recommended. —Naheed Driver

This Dior stick is the holy grail; it blends into the skin seamlessly. It’s so easy to use that you can literally apply it in a moving car. What I love about it is that it doesn’t feel heavy and you can add build it up if you want higher coverage. I love mixing it with the Rhode Glazing Milk for a bit of glow. —Naheed Driver

I rebuy this foundation stick every time I’m at an airport out of fear it will be unavailable one day. —Priyanka Parkash

Before makeup, after makeup, just on bare skin—this spray serum is guaranteed to give you a glow that will not fail you. Random people on the street have stopped me to ask about how my skin is glowing, and it’s because of this product. If I had to choose just one beauty item to recommend, it would be this. —Priyanka Parkash

Booster Pro is a six-in-one device featuring electroporation, microcurrent, EMS, electric needles, LED, and sonic vibration. I’ve used it for a few months and feel like my complexion looks brighter and my skin looks lifted, particularly in the jaw and cheek areas. As usual, Hailey Bieber knows what’s up (she uses it in her GRWM videos). The key is to be consistent with the tool, but since it’s so user-friendly, it shouldn’t be hard to get that down-time for your skin while scrolling on Instagram. —Naheed Driver

I switched my moisturiser this year. I’ve been sticking to the CeraVe tub the past couple of years despite the texture not feeling too satisfying for my early-forties oily skin. Thanks to some dermatologists and wellness influencers on Instagram, I discovered the MaxRich Yu daily-use cream from Glenmark, and it’s the best one I’ve ever used. This squalane-enriched cream is light but not useless, makes skin dewy without the oil slick, and it’s available at my nearest pharmacy. I’m down a few tubes already. Definitely repurchasing. —Shalini Shah

I faced the wrath of second puberty this year. Thankfully, my sister gifted me a small silver tube of this cream that nullified all the stubborn cystic acne in a few weeks. Pair Acne Cream W by Lion is a class 2 over-the-counter staple in Japan. The formula uses ibuprofen piconol (IPPN), which sounds intense but really just means it goes straight for inflammation and acne-causing bacteria instead of dancing around the problem. Redness and pain ease up in about four hours (whaaat?!), which is genuinely impressive for something this low-effort. One caveat: if you have dry or sensitive like me, don’t skip barrier care. This works best when your skin isn’t already hanging on for dear life. If someone you know is going to Japan, consider this your sign to add it to their shopping list. —Shyamolika Vaz

In an effort to win the battle against frizz, this was the year I splurged on the Botoplexx hair treatment that promised to straighten and smooth my hair. As a result, my shoulder-length bob is now super manageable (no blow-dries or hair masks required). The only real after-care has been a rejig of my shampoo and conditioner choices to include this combo recommended by my hairdresser. The ingredients seem to revive the treatment, and the sulfate-free formula is gentle and ensures that it lasts longer. —Butool Jamal

I got a digital perm earlier this year, which lowkey fried my hair. Nexxus’s serum is a real godsend. Despite its oil base, it doesn’t feel sticky or greasy and it leaves my hair looking healthy, shiny, and smelling divine. A true comeback product for anyone with chemically treated hair that’s now dry and frizzy. I love using it before blast-drying my hair. —Chloe Chou