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Skincare stopped being a routine and became a whole culture, and the internet moves fast. One month it is glazed-donut glow, the next it is Korean PDRN. Keeping up is exhausting and, frankly, expensive if you buy the wrong things. Skincare is one of the fastest-growing categories in India right now, so here is the honest edit of the viral products actually worth it.
A quick note: everyone's skin is different, so treat this as a map of what is trending and what each product is for, not medical advice. Patch-test the actives.
1. rhode Glazing Mist
rhode is Hailey Bieber's brand and arguably the most viral skincare launch of the decade. The rhode Glazing Mist at Rs 3,451 is the hydrating face spray behind the glazed-donut glow everyone chased. It is the fun, low-commitment way to try the brand everyone is talking about.
2. Medicube PDRN Hydrating Gel Cleanser
Korean beauty's biggest buzzword right now is PDRN, and the Medicube PDRN Hydrating Gel Cleanser at Rs 3,600 rides that wave. Medicube is one of the hottest K-beauty names, and a cleanser is the safest, lowest-risk way to add a viral ingredient to your routine. The smart K-beauty entry.
3. Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF 30
Supergoop made sunscreen cool, and the Glowscreen SPF 30 at Rs 2,150 is the cult hybrid, a glowy primer and an SPF in one. In a country as sunny as India, a sunscreen you actually enjoy wearing is the single best skincare buy you can make. The one non-negotiable on this list.
4. Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3
For the results crowd, the Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3 at Rs 9,850 is a beginner-friendly retinal, the faster-acting cousin of retinol that the skincare-obsessed swear by. Start low, go slow. The pick for someone ready to add a real active.
5. Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster
The Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster at Rs 10,599 is a vitamin C serum from one of the most trusted, no-nonsense names in skincare. Vitamin C is the daytime brightening staple, and Paula's Choice is where a lot of people land once they stop chasing hype. The grown-up pick.
6. Play Everyday Lotion SPF 50
Rounding out the SPF options, the Play Everyday Lotion SPF 50 at Rs 2,665 is the higher-protection everyday body-and-face option, and the most affordable pick here. Reliable, no-drama sun protection for daily use.
How to actually use this list
Do not buy all six. A great starter routine from this list is simple: a gentle cleanser (Medicube), a vitamin C in the morning (Paula's Choice), a sunscreen every single day (Supergoop or Play), and a retinal a few nights a week once your skin is used to actives (Medik8). The rhode mist is the fun extra.
Skincare is one of the most counterfeited categories online, and expired or fake actives do nothing or worse, so only buy 100% authentic. See more in our affordable Dior beauty guide and the buying guides section.
