Skincare products I’m obsessed with

Some skincare products are nice to have. Others? Absolute non-negotiables. They’re the products you keep backups of. The ones you recommend to your mum, your ex and best friend’s neighbour’s cousin. They’re the reason your bestie thinks you’re a skincare genius (hey, Al).

These are my top three skincare products. They’re affordable, easy to use, loaded with superstar ingredients and deliver every time.

BORING WITHOUT YOUR MAKE ME WET™  AQUAPORIN HYDRATING MILK SERUM

All hydrating serums are not created equal.

This magical hydrating milk was top of the pyramid every week in 2024. I use Make Me Wet almost every day and consistently recommend it to customers, friends and strangers on the street.

Skincare wizard and Boring Without You founder, Davey Rooney (@skincaredavey), identified a gap in the market for skincare consumers with combination skin. There were plenty of products for people with dry and oily skin, but none for people who experience both. Boring Without You fills that gap with products that balance oil production, hydrate the skin and support skin barrier health. So bloody clever.

If you have combo skin, run don’t walk. Now run faster.

Who is it for? Make Me Wet is suitable for chookies with oily, dry and combination skin.

Ingredients your skin will love: Glycerin, Aquaporin hydration complex, BioSymmetry Advance™.

Why does it work? It contains 98% hydrating ingredients at effective concentrations. Independent clinical testing show up to 155.40% increase in skin hydration immediately after use and 43.10% increase in skin's natural hydration levels after 4 weeks.

This unique formulation also balances oils, improves the appearance of pores, brightens your skin and tells you you're pretty. Okay, it doesn’t tell you you’re pretty but you are, and the rest is true.

Cost: $45

Why should you try it? If your skin feels unbalanced, dry or just meh, you’ll notice an immediate improvement. It absorbs like a dream, layers beautifully under other products and makes keeps your skin looking dewy and hydrated all day.

LA ROCHE-POSAY CICAPLAST BAUME B5+

Cicaplast Baume is the skincare hill I’ll die on.

I’m a sensitive skin girlie who’s totally obsessed with skincare. I test hundreds of products a year, and regularly end up with irritated, inflamed, red and flaking skin (very bad vibes). Cicaplast Baume soothes, repairs, protects and snuggles my skin through every irritation.

I’m so glad to live in the L’Oreal era.

Who is it for? People with dry, sensitive, irritated or compromised skin. Perfect for skin barrier repair, post-procedure care or when your retinol backfires.

Ingredients your skin will love: Panthenol (yep, like Bepanthen), glycerin, madecassoside.

Why does it work? It’s first aid for skin. La Roche-Posay has superpowered Cicaplast Baume with a clever prebiotic complex called Tribioma to balance your microbiome, and an ultra-soothing blend of madecassoside and panthenol to calm, hydrate and help your skin bounce back from a bad day.

You can use Cicaplast Baume for post-procedure care, post-treatment care, skin discomfort, dry to very dry skin, xerosis-prone skin, post-acne marks, post-hair removal, babies’ skin, post-breakup heartache*, suitable post-superficial irritations, mild sunburn, visible redness, post-tattoo care, sensitive skin, sensitive feelings*, dry, mild eczema-prone skin and visibly rough areas. All. The. Things.

Cost: Accessible ($24 - $42)

Why should you try it? If your skin is sensitive, dry, or prone to tantrums and irritation. Most mild skin discomforts can be soothed with Cicaplast Baume. It’s worth having a tube in the cabinet just in case, even if you don’t have dry or reactive skin.

BEAUTI.FLTR FEATHER LIGHT SPF50+

If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a million times: sun protection isn’t for sometimes, it’s for all times. It’s your skin’s daily defence against skin cancers, sun burns, premature ageing, dark spots and long-term damage.

BEAUTI.FLTR is a small, woman-founded, South Australian skincare brand focussed on creating effective suncare that fells great on the skin. And that’s exactly what they did.  

Feather Light is the sunscreen for people who hate sunscreen. It’s lightweight, velvety,  oil free, invisible and antioxidant rich. And, it doesn’t smell like sunscreen, not even a little. In fact, it doesn’t smell like anything.

Feather Light’s also a multipurpose product. So, you can moisturise, protect and prime your skin in one step. It’s the perfect one-and-done if you love a simple morning skincare routine.

Who is it for? Everyone, ever*.

Ingredients your skin will love: UV filters, Kakadu plum (Vitamin C), Vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, allantoin, bisabolo (an oil found in chamomile)

Why does it work? It’s broad spectrum, which means it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. It’s formulated with antioxidants to protect your skin, glycerin and hyaluronic acid to support skin hydration and allantoin and bisabolo to soothe and soften your skin.    

Did I mention it’s a moisturiser, sunscreen and primer?

Cost: Accessible ($25 – $40)

Why should you try it? Sunscreen with skincare benefits saves time and money. Feather Light is hydrating without being oily, layers perfectly and makes your skin look instantly smoother – all while protecting you from harmful UV rays. Like, it seems like a no brainer to me.

Always read the label. Follow the directions for use. Avoid prolonged high-risk sun exposure. Wear a hat, protective clothing and sunglasses when exposed to the sun. Re-apply frequently. Slip, slop, slap, seek, slide, folks.

Final thoughts

These products are skincare staples for a reason. They’re effective, well-formulated, afforable and two of the three are from independent Aussie developers. Whether you’re after hydration, plumping, repair or sun protection, they all deliver.

I regularly (and confidently) recommend them to clients, friends and followers with phenomenal results.

Honestly, if I had a dollar for every skin barrier I’ve rescued with Cicaplast Baume, I’d have enough to buy new AirPods.

The Great Skin Guide is a founder-led blog for honest, simple and fun skincare content. I hope you love reading it as much as I love writing it.

Tenille Hellier is the founder of It’s Tenille, an online personalised skincare service based in Adelaide. A certified skincare coach, Tenille built her practice on the idea that skincare should be as simple as possible for consumers. Her personalised skincare programs and product recommendations are based on her rigorous product selection protocol because Tenille believes every product should earn its place in your routine. Book a free 15-minute skin chat with Tenille to figure out the right next step for your skin.

You can find Tenille on Instagram, Facebook and Substack. She’s not cool enough for TikTok.