'These are my 4 holy grail skin products. Here's how to find yours.'

The quest to find a holy grail product takes a lot of holy fails. Am I right or am I right? In the beauty world, a 'holy grail' refers to that one product that feels like it holds miraculous powers. 

If that product was to ever be discontinued, you would absolutely riot. I know I would.

Watch: While you're here, why not check out seven ways to improve your skin while sleeping? Post continues below.

Now, if you know a few things about beauty, you’ll know that there are some select holy grails that the masses worship. 

They can always be found on the bestsellers list, they boast hundreds of five-star reviews and nearly everyone rants and raves about them. 

Think: Sunday Riley’s Good Genes, Go-To’s Face Hero, Drunk Elephant’s Lala Retro Whipped Cream and Glow Recipe's Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturiser. 

BUT, the thing about holy grails is that someone else's HG product isn’t always going to be yours. 

On my journey, I have only found a couple of products that will have me in the product reviews like, “OMG. WORLD STOP. EVERYONE GO AND BUY THIS NOOOOOOOOOW. IT CHANGED MY LIFE. I AM A NEW WOMAN. OMGGGG”. 

Along the way, I’ve learned a few tips on how to find your very own.

1. Do your research. 

Don’t feel the need to purchase a product just because it’s popular or because it’s been endorsed by your bestie. At the start of my journey, this is exactly what I did, and it cost me. 

It cost me skin-wise because some of these products didn’t work for me in the worst way. It’s one thing having the product just not work, but it’s another thing having the product break you out or damage your skin barrier. 

It also cost me money-wise, as I’d end up with dozens of unfinished bottles on my beauty shelf. 

So, before you purchase that product that everyone's raving about, do the research. Read the good reviews and the bad.

Read the reviews on the product website, and also read up the reviews on more unbiased sites like Influenster or my good ol’ favourite, MakeupAlley. 

Head into online communities like the subreddits /r/SkincareAddiction, /r/Beauty and /r/MakeupAddicts. There's a high chance you’ll find someone with the same skin type and skin concerns as you, looking for the same kind of holy grail. 

2. Buy the smallest size.

If it’s possible to do so, always buy the smallest size. It provides you with just enough product to use religiously for about a month. By the end of the bottle, you’ll know if it’s a HG product or not. 

If the product you’re after doesn’t offer a smaller size, you can try getting a couple of samples or checking out if they have the product in a starter kit or travel kit. 

The key here is to use the product consistently. It usually takes my skin about four days to tell if a product is making my skin worse and a month to tell me if a product is working (or not working at all). 

If I’m using a smaller size product for a couple of weeks, then forget to use it consistently for one week, and jump back onto it again... I’m not going to be able to ascertain if it’s my HG product or if it’s worth buying the bigger bottle. 

So stay consistent!

3. Centre YOUR skin.

Hands up if a before and after picture was the sole reason you decided to buy a beauty product. 

If you raised your hands - no judgement, because same. 

There’s nothing like a beauty transformation picture that’ll have me adding a product to the cart within seconds. 

This is all well and good, but be mindful of prioritising YOUR skin above all. 

Let’s say you buy a particular toner because you saw the way it completely got rid of someone's acne. The toner arrives, the packaging is gorgeous and you excitedly apply it to your skin. A couple of days later, your skin is peeling, breaking out, looks dull and you get a burning sensation every time you apply the toner. 

This could be your skin purging, but it could also be that the product isn’t the one for you. In this case, you need to centre YOUR skin and abandon ship! 

4. Ghost the product.

This is a tip I learned through trial-and-error, but it’s one I swear by. 

If you, for example, have a moisturiser that you feel is your HG, the only way to truly find out is to ghost it and use another moisturiser you like for a short time. 

If you notice during that little break that your skin seems to miss that other moisturiser, by way of not glowing the same way, or feeling the same way, then bestie, you might have found your holy grail! 

My holy grail beauty products.

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel, $19.

Image: Adore Beauty  

This cleanser is special. It’s so gentle but effectively cleans any build-up and makeup on the skin without stripping it. I’ve run through about five bottles of this stuff in the last two years and I haven’t looked back since. My skin just loves this. 

Biore UV Aqua Rich Sunscreen, $14.20.

Image: Pinterest  

Okay, this sunscreen right here… NO WORDS. I have combination/oily skin, so the hunt for the perfect sunscreen has been interesting. The ones I’ve tried in the past have left me with a white cast, have been too greasy, clogged my pores and/or burned my eyes. 

But this sunscreen is heaven-sent! 

It sinks into my skin so beautifully (with no white cast), and leaves me with the prettiest hydrated and glowy look. It doesn’t burn my eyes or disrupt my makeup. 

And the bonus: It’s improving my hyperpigmentation. My only qualm is that it smells like alcohol but it's not unbearable and disappears after 20 seconds or so. 

Son & Park Beauty Water, $45.

Image: Selfridges  

I can’t talk about this enough. This has been my go-to for ages now - maybe five years. It’s cleansing water, toner, and mild exfoliant all in one. I first tried this back in 2017 when I decided to give the Korean 7-Skin Method a go. From the little experiment, this was the one product that remained. I’m obsessed with the packaging and it’s so kind to my skin. My skin always feels fresher, happier, and brighter after I use it. My true holy grail product. 

Pyunkang Yul Calming Moisture Barrier Cream, $22.

Image: New Face  

It took me three months to realise that this moisturiser is indeed my new holy grail. I bought this on a whim in summer as I was looking for something simple that hydrated my skin and helped control my oiliness. 

Let me tell you something… THIS.MOISTURISER.IS.UNMATCHED. How can one thing be both lightweight, and super moisturising? I can’t even. 

Every single time I apply this, there’s an immediate difference in my skin. My skin feels smooth, plump, and perfectly hydrated. A little goes a long way, but I find myself emptying the jar in about a month. It’s so good.

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Attention beauty fans: Mamamia's first ever You Beauty Awards are here.

Beauty should be a democracy, and we want to know what products you slap on your face, slather on your body and comb through your hair, day in and day out.

Click the link below to vote for the products that have made the BIGGEST difference to your face. And hair. And body. You get the drill.

VOTE IN THE YOU BEAUTY AWARDS.

Feature image: Mamamia/Naa-Lamle Wellington/Adore Beauty/DermaSpaceUK

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