I Tried $700 Worth Of First Aid Beauty Products — & This Is My Honest Opinion

One of the first lessons they teach you in journalism school: "If your mother says she loves you, check it out." The memorable adage is a reminder to never take anything at face value without first verifying it yourself. Honestly, it's not something I've ever had an issue with before: I'm plenty skeptical, thank you very much. So when tasked to test every product in the extensive First Aid Beauty line, I knew there would be some winners, some losers, and many downright forgettables — it's the natural order of things, right?

I was very wrong. Because with just about every cleanser, moisturiser, mask, eye cream, and serum I tried, I came to just about the same impossible conclusion: It's really good. (Also, why doesn't this cost more?) For the most part, the formulas are gentle, but feel like they're doing something. Retinols and alpha-hydroxy acid resurfacers didn't make my skin feel prickly or look red — and nearly everything in the line rings in at under $60 and you can pick them up at your local Sephora.

Overall, my month and a half of testing nearly 15 products proved overwhelmingly positive. Ahead, see which products saved my skin post-girl's trip trip, which were added to my gym bag, and the few that didn't make the cut.