15 Skincare Products Southern Girls Swear By
Everyone's skin type is different, meaning each of our skincare routines is unique and personal. But your geographic location can affect the skincare products you buy, too. The climate in New England is very different from the climate in the desert of Arizona or New Mexico. Not to mention certain brands and rituals are culturally trendier in some parts of the country than others. For example, Moon Juice's holistic, plant-based skincare and supplements are especially popular in Los Angeles, and so many New York City girls I know get their facials at Joanna Vargas. But these facts obviously aren't true everywhere.
We were interested to know about the skincare products that Southern American women are into at the moment. So, we asked members of our secret beauty Facebook group (The Beauty Line) from Southern states to chime in with their recommendations. Generally, in the South, heat and humidity are more of a consistent issue than they are elsewhere, so that definitely informs one's skincare choices. Our Southern readers also came through with several amazing drugstore recommendations. Curious to discover 15 skincare finds Southern girls swear by? Just keep scrolling.
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Southern Girls Favorites:
Garnier's affordable Moisture Bomb sheet masks are one Souther-girl favorite. The brand makes multiple formulas for different concerns (breakouts, dryness, dullness)—this super-hydrating one is packed with hyaluronic acid. Our Beauty Liner recommends keeping these in the fridge, which makes them extra refreshing.
Another budget-friendly go-to, especially on hot days, is Mario Badescu's versatile rosewater spray. The hydrating mist is super refreshing and soothing on irritated skin and can be used as a toner after cleansing or throughout the day as a pick-me-up.
Sunscreen that won't break you out is of vital importance everywhere, but especially the sticky South. One beauty lover from Atlanta says she swears by this French antioxidant serum with SPF. "My holy grail product this year," as she calls it, "this is the sunscreen for people who hate sunscreen. It is so silky and light, and I swear it's been helping fade my acne scars too. I've tried cheaper sunscreens, but I always go back to this one."
Another French-made find, this is the go-to moisturizer for one recent transplant to Florida. The product is super lightweight and formulated with soothing, hydrating ingredients like shea butter and aloe vera. It leaves the skin glowy but never greasy. (Fun fact: Tons of celebrity makeup artist are also high-key fans of this stuff.)
"I started using Kate Somerville ExfoliKate when I moved back to the South from L.A. a few years ago," one Byrdie reader told us. "It's deep-cleansing but not drying in the least, so I can use it year-round (despite what people think, the air can get very dry in the South)."
This affordable mask "helps draw out all of the shitty stuff that makes my face congested," one North Carolinian Byrdie reader wrote us candidly. This is mostly thanks to the mask's key ingredient: Amazonian white clay.
Another sunscreen for those who hate sunscreen, this natural and 70% organic product boasts SPF 30 and vitamin C for antioxidant benefits. It has a lightweight whipped, mousse-like texture that leaves a matte finish on the skin, not a greasy one like most SPF face products.
Bamboo charcoal and white clay are the star ingredients in this purifying mask, which works to clear pore-clogging dirt and debris, keeping the skin looking bright, even, and blemish-free.
Looking for something more affordable to use every day? "My go-to daily moisturizer is Eucerin's Daily Protection," another Southern reader told us. "It's light and fragrance-free, plus it has a 30 SPF." At only $10, it's absolutely worth a try.
Our North Carolina reader calls these breakout patches her "#1 holy-grail product." There are 24 patches to a sheet (in three different sizes), each of which works quickly to eliminate the acne-causing bacteria and clear the clogged pore while minimizing the risk of dark spots and scars left behind.
A South Carolinian reader says this luxurious oil cleanser is the one thing she constantly keeps stocked. "It's the ultimate makeup remover and cleanser in one," she says.
This affordable exfoliating serum contains a 10% concentration of Alpha Hydroxy Acids, Beta Hydroxy Acids, and Polyhydroxy Acids. The perfect product for keeping skin bright and breakout-free if you're new to chemical exfoliation.
Women living in humid Southern climates can benefit from simple, oil-free moisturizers, like this drugstore pick, which seals the moisture barrier to protect skin's hydration levels while keeping acne and excess oil production at bay.
One last pick from our North Carolinian: "I'm a sweaty human, and my face gets easily irritated," she writes—but this serum clears up her face in no time. The fast-absorbing dry oil smells like candy but is packed with 1.5% salicylic acid to clear both your pores and skin surface of the dead cell buildup that can cause dullness, uneven skin texture, and breakouts.
Next up: This is what night-out makeup looks like in L.A. versus New York versus Paris.