The One Winter Swap That Instantly Elevates Your Skin

We Tried Merit’s Great Skin Double Cleanser—The Gentle Face Wash Your Skin Will Actually Love



How It Feels on the Skin

Foaming cleansers often get a bad rap, but Merit’s Great Skin Double Cleanser proves that texture isn’t everything. I usually approach foams with caution, yet this one feels surprisingly luxurious. I use 1–2 pumps on no-makeup days and up to 4 pumps when I’m wearing a full face, massaging it into dry skin for a few seconds before rinsing.

As it foams, it gently lifts away makeup, SPF, and everyday impurities without stripping or leaving that tight, dry feeling some foaming cleansers give. My skin feels refreshed, soft, and balanced—no toner or extra swipe needed to feel truly clean. There’s barely any fragrance, which is a win for sensitive skin like mine.

One note: while the brand says it can remove eye makeup, I wouldn’t recommend rubbing it into stubborn mascara—it can sting. A dedicated eye makeup remover or cleansing balm first will keep things safe and gentle.


My Thoughts

Merit’s Great Skin Double Cleanser has quickly become a staple in my routine. After weeks of testing, my skin feels clean, balanced, and radiant—without a hint of irritation or dryness. For anyone who’s breakout-prone or just wants a simple, effective cleanser that cuts down on extra steps, this formula truly delivers.

I’ve adjusted my routine slightly, skipping it in the morning to avoid over-cleansing, but in the evenings, it replaces my usual double cleanse effortlessly. One gentle wash removes makeup, SPF, and impurities while keeping my skin hydrated and glowing.

If you’re looking for a cleanser that feels thoughtful, works hard, and makes your nightly skincare feel like a little indulgence, this one is worth adding to your shelf. Merit, as always, has nailed it.

We Tried Rhode Skin — Here’s What We Really Think

In the ever-evolving world of skincare, Rhode by Hailey Bieber has emerged as a brand worth watching. Bieber’s impossibly dewy glow has had fans begging her to drop the skin routine — and she finally did, in the form of a line of carefully curated skincare essentials. Take a scroll through Hailey’s Instagram and you’ll find her products sprinkled throughout like Easter eggs, tempting you to know more. Seeing her juicy vacation lips and that sleek lip gloss she seems to take everywhere, we just have to know: are her products worth the hype? We decided to find out.

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What you should know about Hailey Bieber’s Rhode products

Rhode’s product line spans six products, ranging from a moisturizing cream to a gel serum. But the star product is their peptide lip treatment, emblazoned with an Allure Best of Beauty award. Infused with high-performance ingredients, the products seem to focus on one goal — moisture. Ooey, gooey, dewy, delicious moisture to keep your skin happy and hydrated. The brand prides itself on its simplicity, which you can see from the packaging, and aims to be your go-to essential. And because they highlight authenticity as one of their brand values, we tried each product in the line to give our most authentic take on whether they live up to their hype.

Barrier Restore Cream, Rhode, $29.

I’ve heard great things about the Rhode Barrier Restore Cream (BRC) so I couldn’t wait to try this product out. I have sensitive and dry skin where I normally get oily and dry around my T-Zone, so I initially get nervous and need to be careful trying new products. I also only break out when it’s my time of the month (and right now it’s time), so I was hoping this would calm my skin down — and it did. I like the BRC. It’s not thick or oily, it’s fragrance-free and smooth on my skin. I applied it after doing my usual skincare routine and the BRC was what I needed to lock everything in place. My skin feels moisturized right after and it kind of helped bring the redness of my breakouts down.

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Half a finger length, as it suggests on the packaging of the cream is all that’s needed to work its magic and make your skin feel restored. While I do enjoy this, I don’t love how it feels during the day under makeup. To me, it felt a tad bit heavy and moved a bit. I would rather use it at night as a moisturizer alone and I feel like my skin would appreciate it more. 

Peptide Glazing Fluid, Rhode, $29.

One of the best tricks to always having that glowy “no makeup” look is to start with a skincare serum that can do just that. For that reason, I do love Rhode’s Peptide Glazing Fluid. It gives you that “lit from within” look that comes through your finished makeup look, or just a simple refreshed, and hydrated look for those no-makeup days (which is how I’ve been using it the most).

While I’ve truthfully used some serums that give me a more immediate glow, I feel like this product just has to be used for a longer period to gain that look consistently. I did appreciate how smoothly it goes on without a heavy feeling or a sticky residue that some serums leave behind. For now, with just a week’s worth of use, I can confidently say I will be adding it into my skincare routine to see just how much of that iconic *glazed donut* look it can give me.

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Peptide Lip Treatment in Unscented, Rhode, $16.

I’ve been hearing all about Hailey Bieber’s Rhode skincare line for a while now and as a self-proclaimed lip gloss expert, I knew I had to get my hands on the Peptide Lip TreatmentAt first glance, I liked how the formula includes shea butter, babassu, and peptides to help create and maintain “pillowy-soft lips. The application is easy to apply and practically mess-free. It leaves my lips feeling smooth, soft, and moisturized without leaving creases or gloss lines behind. The moisture lasted for about four hours before I felt like reapplying again. 

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I like this product and think it’s a great investment for someone who is looking to splurge on a high-quality lip treatment. It can be used on its own or on top of your favorite lip liner and lipstick. A bonus is that it works well on sensitive skin so you don’t have to worry about feeling irritated after a long wear. Also, a little goes a long way with this product and you can feel the positive difference on your lips instantly. I’m a fan of this ‘new philosophy on skincare’ by Mrs. Bieber.

The balm is available in three flavors – watermelon slice, salted caramel, and an unscented version. So you can take your pick and have loads of fun. The product adds the extra oomph and gloss and all things good that give your lips the much-needed tender loving care.

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FINAL VERDICT

While all of Rhode’s products are solid options worth trying if you’re looking for hydrating products or an entry into skin care, they’ll have to be combined with other products to target specific skin concerns that acne-prone or mature skin types might want to treat.

@rhode

@haileybieber’s nighttime rhoderoutine. ✨ three easy steps for dewy, delicious skin. ☁️

♬ Countless – Official Sound Studio

If someone is combating more severe acne, hyperpigmentation, or inflammation, they would need to utilize skin care with active ingredients that are tailored to treating such skin conditions.

PRIMP TIP: Of course, if you’re concerned about any of the ingredients, it’s best to consult your dermatologist.

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As for user experience, all of the products are accessible and well made (and use recyclable postconsumer materials when possible), but I noticed that the Peptide Glazing Fluid bottle contains less product than you might think when looking at it (the cap is nearly the same volume as the bottle itself).

Have you tried Rhode Skin? And if so, would you be willing to try Rhode cleanser, toner, vitamin C, and eye cream if they extend their line?

Selena Gomez’s Pre-Flight Skincare Routine Is So Good I’m Stealing It

Stars, they’re just like us. Selena Gomez woke up early last weekend for a 6 a.m. flight and took to TikTok to share her (extremely) early morning routine. 

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Gomez walked us through the products she prioritizes before boarding, taking extra care to douse her face in moisture. Remember, the air on planes can be extremely drying, so it’s extra important to take good care of your skin before and after a flight—no matter how long the wheels-up-to-wheels-down time is. 

If you want to level up your next flight experience, we’ve compiled Gomez’s entire travel routine below. While we may not get the kind of luxe cabin experience that Gomez shared at the end of the TikTok, we can at least have glowing skin. 

MARIO BADESCU SKINCARE Facial Spray With Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater $7

Gomez starts by spritzing on this brightness-boosting spray to help wake herself up.

IS CLINICAL Cleansing Complex $45

Gomez follows with this cleanser, which is both gentle and resurfacing. It is genuinely the only cleanser you ever need in your routine. 

RARE BEAUTY Hydrating Under Eye Patches $25

While Gomez continues her skincare routine, she pops on these patches to de-puff, hydrate, and revive her under-eyes—perfect for faking the look of a full night’s sleep.

DERMALOGICA Multi-Active Toner $43

Gomez follows up with this toner, which has aloe and moisture-binding sodium PCA to hydrate and soothe skin. 

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THE INKEY LIST Reusable Cotton Pads $15

Reusable cotton pads are the best way to smooth on toner. 

DERMALOGICA Smart Response Serum $145

Next up, Gomez uses this serum that reacts to your skin’s needs thanks to four actives that respond when triggered. Since traveling can be so unpredictable, this is the perfect pre-travel necessity. 

DERMALOGICA Dynamic Skin Retinol Serum $92

We typically only reach for retinol at night, but when you know you’ll be sleeping (with blinds shut!) on a plane, it’s a smart way to multitask your skin care as long as you make sure your skin is moisturized too. This retinol is formulated with squalane and beta-glucan, which help ensure plenty of moisture. 

RARE BEAUTY Positive Light Under Eye Brightener $24

Gomez dots on this under-eye brightener for visibly brighter under-eyes in a pinch. 

RARE BEAUTY Always an Optimist 4-in-1 Prime & Set Mist $27

The finishing touch? This hydrating face mist seals everything in.