I Combed Through a Year’s Worth of Beauty Reviews at Sephora, Nordstrom, and Ulta—These Products Reigned Supreme
With an overwhelming number of beauty brands and products out there, it can be a struggle to sort through them all and find what’s worth spending your hard-earned cash on. That’s where, I, a beauty editor, come in. I’ve tried so many products at this stage in my career that I can say with confidence what works and what doesn’t to hopefully save you some time and money.
As we approach the end of 2025, I decided to do some research to find out if what I bought and loved this year lined up with what other beauty enthusiasts did. I scoured hundred of reviews across my favorite retailers—Ulta, Sephora, and Nordstrom—with one goal in mind: Find the best of the best. I had a short list of products I either discovered this year or have been using for a while and cross-checked it with the beauty community. It turns out we’re all raving about the same products. From viral hits to longtime favorites, keep scrolling, I’m sharing the products that reigned supreme among the beauty community in 2025.
La Mer
The Moisturizing Soft Cream
This classic and cult-loved cream from La Mer remains a hit. After combing through this year’s reviews, it remained one of Nordstrom’s top-rated moisturizers, featuring the brand’s highly coveted Miracle Broth, a barrier-boosting and cell-renewing complex La Mer is known for. While it’s pricey, the reviews speak for themselves. People love it for the deep hydration and glow it offers, especially during winter.
Promising review: “La Mer Soft Cream is the best. It is light weight, goes on evenly, and works on fine lines.”
Medicube
One Day Exosome Shot 2000
K-beauty brand Medicube has gained a cult following here in the U.S. thanks to platforms like TikTok. While this product in particular has gained a lot of traction recently, it’s nice to see that the IRL reviews back it up on Ulta. People love it for its ability to refine skin texture. It contains exosome-coated spicules (micro-sized needles designed to penetrate deep into the skin) and low-level exfoliants to smooth and brighten.
Promising review: “I’m absolutely amazed with this product. I have rosacea and dry skin so my skin is hyper sensitive. It is a hassle to find products that don’t break me out or makes my skin reactive due to my skin’s sensitive nature. I’ve been using this for about a week (I can typically tell a product doesn’t work within a few hours to 1 day. Rarely it takes 2 weeks) but since the first day I saw results. I always struggled with texture but I can’t do physical exfoliants and most chemical exfoliants are too harsh for me. I’ve a dramatic difference in my skins texture and my pores are starting to become smaller. Not only that, it’s brighter! This product is amazing, I’m absolutely in love with it. My skin has been looking so much nicer since I’ve been using it. I am absolutely floored. Past the 2 week mark if my skin doesn’t have problems with it, I’ll be making it my holy grail. For now, I hesitantly say, I can’t live without it.”
MEDIHEAL
Phyto-Enzyme Peeling Pad
Fellow beauty editor Kaitlyn McLintock and I are obsessed with Mediheal and apparently so are Ulta customers. These peeling pads from the brand are another winning Korean formula that exfoliate beautifully without causing irritation. Natural papaya enzymes and LHA work together to dissolve dead skin cells gently while providing antioxidant protection.
Promising review: “I’ve been using this product for a month now, and when i tell you the first time i used it, it took off so much dead skin & left behind makeup I was so shocked. I use it every night and my skin feels good and hydrated, takes away my blackheads and pimples!! It honestly definitely works on darkspots on youe face & neck!! I will definitely continue using this product :))).”
Aestura
Atobarrier365 Lightweight Face Lotion
Calling all damaged skin barriers: This lightweight lotion is the perfect winter savior. With an almost perfect five-star rating on Sephora, this lotion delivers serious hydration with barrier-supporting ceramides, a triple lipid complex, and niacinamide.
Promising review: “Best moisturizer for sensitive skin. I use it with my prescription retinoid and has helped with any irritation. Perfect lightweight texture while still being hydrating.”
Supergoop!
Unseen Sunscreen SPF 50 Pa +++
This is an oldie but a goodie. It remains a top-rated product at Sephora year after year because it does what it says: Protects the skin while remaining totally invisible. It also contains antioxidant-rich marine algae, licorice root, and meadowfoam seed oil to lock in extra hydration. As a bonus, it also doubles as a makeup primer.
Promising review: “I absolutely love this sunscreen—makes my skin smooth and very soft. Works as a good primer option too. Would recommend, especially those using it for oil-control(:”
Beauty of Joseon
Red Bean Refreshing Pore Mask
This $20 Beauty of Joseon mask is a personal favorite and top-rated product at Sephora. It helps gently clarify and exfoliate the skin with red bean extract and kaolin clay. It really cleans your pores without leaving you with that super-tight, dry feeling afterwards. I use it a few times a week and I always feel like I got an expensive facial afterwards—my skin is extra clear and glowing.
Promising review: “Love the texture of this mask! It’s veeeery thick and just scrubby enough to exfoliate gently. The scent is so nice as well – very light, fresh and clean. It leaves me skin feeling refreshed and soft.”
ANUA
Pdrn Hyaluronic Acid 100 Moisturizing Cream
PDRN is all the rage in skincare at the moment, and this cream from Anua is a top pick among beauty lovers at Ulta. It’s a lightweight, fast-absorbing formula and contains low-molecular PDRN and super hydrators that give the skin a glow while also boosting moisture.
Promising review: “Unfortunately I love this and will be adding it to my growing skincare addiction. Multi-use medium moisturizer can be used in AM before SPF or in PM before oil. Sinks into my dry skin beautifully. Spritz water on your face before and after application for extra hydration. No pilling. It’s just right.”
Dieux
Deliverance 3-In-1 Repair Serum
This soothing serum from Dieux is rich in antioxidants, peptides and a cannabinoid complex to calm irritated skin. It addresses everything from fine lines to redness and uneven texture—a truly do-it-all serum. Needless to say, it’s a total fan favorite at Sephora with a solid 4.8-star rating.
Promising review: “Dieux Skincare is an up and coming brand that I am very intrigued to try more of! This serum is lovely. I had over exfoliated my skin leaving it raw and irritated. After using this serum for only 2 nights, the sensitivity was gone and my skin looked radiant. I will definitely be checking out more of their products.”
CHANEL
Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum Spray
This is one of my all-time favorite scents from Chanel, and apparently, others agree because it still remains one of Nordstrom’s most highly rated fragrances. I love how fresh, light, and airy it smells with notes of orange, Grasse jasmine, rose, patchouli, and vetiver. It’s a total classic from the brand—right up there with Chanel No. 5.
Promising review: “So feminine. Not too strong, but nice, light and refreshing. You will love it!!!”
This smoothing and softening treatment from Moroccanoil has been a top hit among Nordstrom shoppers this year. It’s enriched with strengthening argan oil and shine-boosting vitamins to help improve hair health over time. It can also be used to detangle, smooth flyaways, and to speed up drying time.
Promising review: “I’ve been using this for several years after my hair dresser told me it’s the best thing to keep my (gray) hair from being frizzy. It WORKS! It’s the best thing that I have found for this purpose. It also smells wonderful, it de-tangles my hair after washing, and adds shine. I rub a small amount into my palms and run my hands through my hair after washing and towel drying. Often, I rub in a little more after my hair is dry. (especially on the ends)…”
This Davines oil is the ultimate frizz smoother and shine booster. It also detangles the hair nicely and adds a boost of hydration. It does contain silicones, which I try to avoid in my routine, but it’s great for curlies to use once in a while to style if you need to smooth down flyaways. Overall, Nordstrom shoppers are obsessed and can’t get enough of it.
Promising review: “Best hair oil out there! I’ve been using it for the last 6 years and I can’t live without it. Smells absolutely divine and makes such a difference I use 2-3 pumps on towel dried hair and it makes my hair silky and helps with frizz a lot! Tried the OI shampoo and conditioner, wasn’t a big fan, loved the packaging and smell tho. This oil is a holy grail, highly recommend ! Very happy that Nordstrom sells their stuff.”
Yves Saint Laurent
Libre Eau de Parfum Spray Fragrance
I’m a little biased toward this perfume because it’s one of my top three scents ever. It’s nice to know that I’m not alone—Nordstrom shoppers share my love for this deliciously sweet, warm, and floral fragrance. Notes of lavender essence, orange blossom, and musk blend beautifully together. Every time I wear it, it earns me a compliment or two without fail.
Promising review: “I’ve had this on my wish list for quite sometime. I never smelled the scent before but heard it was stunning. I recently visited Nordy’s and once I smelled it, I immediately purchased without hesitation. This scent is long lasting as well. A must have scent, you won’t be disappointed!”
Laneige
Bouncy + Firm Radiance Boosting Sleeping Mask
Laneige products continue to be a hit at Sephora. While the brand has gained a cult-following for its lip mask, this plumping, firming, and hydrating mask for the face soared in popularity this year. Ingredients like peony, a collagen complex, and peptides work together to firm the skin and reinforce the moisture barrier, leaving your skin soft as a baby’s.
Promising review: “I can’t say enough about this product! I use it overnight and wake up, literally, with bouncy & firm skin, just as they say. I have mature, combo skin and this product is a lifesaver!”
Oribe
Supershine Moisturizing Cream
People flock to Oribe’s celebrity stylist-loved formulas. They give your hair a salon-ready finish every single time. This moisturizing cream in particular contains a soy protein biopolymer that makes light work of any frizz. It also provides natural UV protection and active keratin to protect hair from heat styling.
Promising review: “My stylist introduced me to this amazing conditioner when she blew out my hair, and I have used it ever since. It adds shine plus it makes my hair silky and my blow outs shorter. It’s pricey but we’ll worth it and a little goes a long way. I use a pea sized amount per section. Highly recommend it!”
Fenty Beauty
Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer
This shimmery gloss from Fenty is one of the best formulas out there IMO. It has the perfect amount of shimmer, moisturizes without being sticky, and comes in a variety of gorgeous colors. Sephora customers absolutely love it—according to the reviews, it’s here to stay on the retailer’s list of top sellers.
Promising review: “This is my absolute favorite lipgloss. It’s so shiny and shimmery and the color is perfect with a nice brown lipliner.”
ONE/SIZE
Powder Melt Glass Setting Spray
This skincare-infused setting spray from One/Size was a total hit among Sephora customers this year because it gives you a glass skin look. With ceramides, ginger flower water, and lime pearl extract, it helps seal moisture into the skin and protects it from oxidative stress.
Promising review: “I use all cream products and then a powder on top, so this spray was a DREAM! It truly melted my powder and kept my makeup on all day. Doesn’t break me out either. You can also take a clean puff and tap after applying this spray. You will still be glassy.”
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