This Underrated Ingredient Plumped My Skin Way More Than Hyaluronic Acid

Prequel Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum

I had been using hyaluronic acid serums every morning for three years—until I tried this formula. The hero ingredient is polyglutamic acid (PGA), a super-hydrator rumored to perform better than hyaluronic acid for skin barrier support and bounce. Two dermatologists vouched for it, and they were right—my skin has never felt so plump.

Prequel combines a custom blend of multi-molecular weight PGA for optimal absorption with 10% glycerin and organic fruit and flower extracts for added antioxidants. The ingredient list is simple but powerful, allowing you to use it twice a day without worrying about interactions with retinol or exfoliants.

My favorite perk is the phenomenal texture and finish. It absorbs quickly, adding a noticeable dewy finish and smoothing texture without leaving a sticky residue, making it perfect to wear under makeup. —Hannah Frye, assistant beauty & health editor.

Olay Cleansing Melts

There is nothing that feels more refreshing than washing your face at night, at least in my opinion. I love the feeling of washing the day off and starting clean again. It's my favorite daily ritual.

It's even more exciting when I'm using a new face wash that I'm enjoying, like these innovative face-washing melts from Olay. The face wash starts off as a small paper-like square, but then, when you run it under water, it "activates" into a lush face wash. The pad completely dissolves into the palms of my hands, and I'm left with a gentle, but effective, wash that only uses fewer than 10 ingredients. —Alexandra Engler, beauty director

Rhode Pocket Blush

In my opinion, Pocket Blush is the brand's best product yet (yes, even better than the viral lip gloss). Not only do these blushes come in an easy-to-use applicator, but they're also packed with peptides and tamanu oil to help soften and hydrate the skin. I've tested all of the shades, and I must admit it was hard to pick favorites—they're all incredibly buildable and adaptable (but if you must know, Sleepy Girl and Toasted Teddy are my most used).

What's more, I use the same product as a creamy eyeshadow and tinted lip balm. This makes it an easy one-stop-shop product to pop in your bag for a mid-day makeup refresh.—Frye

CoverGirl Clean Eyeshadow Sticks

Savor Beauty Radiant Rose Collagen Cream

If you don't know about the magic of Savor Beauty, let me acquaint you: The brand is inspired by the founder's heritage and Korean Beauty rituals passed down from her mother, but then uses natural and organic ingredients and is created in small batches in upstate New York. 

This seasonally limited edition cream is like a prize—a treasure right in your hands. Made only when the raw materials are available, this blends together Rose Otto essential oil (known for strengthening the skin barrier), rosehip oil, evening primrose, peptides, and amino acids. The result is a creamy, rich face cream that tones and brightens, leaving the skin revived. —Engler

Babor Mushroom Cream

Babor is renowned for its luxurious, high-performance skin care products that often come with a steep price tag. However, they're embarking on a new mission, catering a line Gen Z consumers with the cleanest ingredients and lowest prices—two demands that resonate with the younger generation. One example is their Mushroom Cream, which delivers high performance at half the price of some of their other moisturizers.

The Mushroom Cream is aptly named, containing skin-boosting extracts from reishi, chaga, and shiitake mushrooms. These extracts, combined with prebiotics, support the skin microbiome, in turn protecting your skin against environmental stressors like pollution.

I loved the long-lasting hydration this cream provides, thanks to the almond oil and glycerin in the formula. It makes my skin feel fresh and revives any dryness without excess weight.—Frye