The beauty breakthroughs of 2025 that completely transformed my hair and skin
by Kristina Mikulić GazdovićDecember 3, 2025
BEAUTY
Shinier hair, fuller lips, a simpler routine and smoother skin. These are all changes I clearly noticed this year thanks to beauty innovations.
Some come from the popular Korean playbook, while others have me faithfully returning to French tradition. From a shampoo that doubles as a purifying scalp treatment to a lip balm that works like a treatment to reduce the appearance of fine lines and boost lip volume. Of course, there were many more products I tried throughout the year that left me disappointed, but there are also those for which I have already secured a personal stock.
Below is a selection of eight beauty products that improved the health of my hair and skin and made my routine easier.
Beauty innovations of 2025.
Best hair repair oil: L’Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Absolut Repair Molecular Oil
You do not need to test this two phase oil for months to see its effect. After just the third application, I felt that my fine and fragile hair, prone to breakage and tangling, had been completely transformed.
How I used it: It can be applied in several ways, but you first need to shake the bottle well so the two phases blend together. You can then apply it to damp hair before blow drying, although my favorite way to use it is as an overnight treatment. Three to four times a week, meaning before every wash, I apply a generous amount to dry hair and massage it thoroughly along the lengths. It is also very important not to apply it to the scalp. I then comb through the lengths to distribute the oil more evenly and braid my hair. In the morning I wash it with my head tilted forward, focusing only on the scalp, and the hair is already so smooth that I do not need to use conditioner.
- Effect: smooths the hair without weighing it down, repairs minor damage along the strand
- Key ingredients: amino acids and peptides to strengthen the hair structure
- Packaging: 90 ml
Best anti aging SPF: Bioderma Photoderm XDefense Ultra Fluid SPF 50
Bioderma’s newest protective fluid won me over instantly with its water light texture. It does not leave the skin greasy or white, and I noticed it did not leave yellow stains either. Once I looked more closely at the ingredient list and how this fluid works, I realized it is something truly special. The formula contains the Sun Active Defence patent and the Detox Science innovation, which helps the skin produce its own enzymes that neutralize pollutants and its own antioxidant enzymes. This makes it ideal both for city life and the beach.
How I used it: I used the fluid almost every day as the final step in my morning routine, sometimes as a base for foundation. Either way, it worked seamlessly with my ever changing routine and remained a constant in it.
- Effect: protects the skin from external aggressors and leaves it radiant
- Key ingredients: Detox Science innovation and Sun Active Defence patent
- Packaging: 40 ml
Best anti aging lip balm: Violette FR Nourishing Lip Treatment Balm Amour
The soft, cushioned feeling on the lips that lasts for hours after application won me over instantly. The texture sits somewhere between a hydrating balm and a nourishing overnight mask that envelopes the lips and keeps them cared for long after. What impressed me even more was the effect that becomes noticeable after the first month of use. The lips start to look younger and softer even when the balm is not applied.
How I used it: depending on the season, I applied it several times a day as needed
- Effect: envelops the lips, prevents dryness, supports the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid
- Key ingredients: Phyto Collagen Activator, Lip Rewind peptides, cocoa butter
- Packaging: 10 ml
Best multifunctional skincare product: N°1 De Chanel Revitalizing Serum-in-Mist
This excellent antioxidant mist with potent effects, powered by red camellia extract, arrived just before summer. For my sun allergic skin, the timing turned out to be perfect. I carried it with me to the beach for an extra dose of protection alongside sunscreen, and later I added it to my morning and evening routines as a step before moisturizer. The formula contains several red camellia extracts. Instead of regular water, it uses water infused with red camellia. It also includes finely dispersed drops of red camellia seed oil and flower and leaf extracts that deliver strong antioxidant benefits. The mist feels exceptionally soft and pleasant, and the small bottle was very practical for the beach since it fits into even the smallest bags.
How I used it: as an antioxidant toner at the beach before reapplying SPF and in my morning and evening routines before moisturizer.
- Effect: soothes the skin and provides radiance and antioxidant protection
- Key ingredients: red camellia extract, jojoba oil, adenosine
- Packaging: 50 ml
Best at home skincare device: Medicube AGE-R Booster Pro
You will not see the effect of this device right away. In my case, it took at least a month to understand the real power of this viral machine. Think of the AGE-R Booster Pro as a facial device for home use. It offers a mode that replaces exfoliation, relaxes the muscles, strengthens them, and the most popular one, the booster mode, which works like non invasive mesotherapy by enhancing absorption. When you use the device every morning and every evening for at least five minutes, the results become clearly visible. This is especially true when it comes to a more radiant complexion and a firmer looking skin. After the first month, I could no longer imagine my routine without this viral device.
How I used it: every evening and every morning to apply gel serums and water based creams with the booster and microcurrent modes, and occasionally the Air Shot mode, which replaces exfoliation.
- Effect: depending on the mode used, it leaves the skin more radiant and visibly firmer with a more even complexion
- Key modes: Booster, Microcurrent, Air Shot, Derma Shot
Best purifying shampoo for oily hair: Kundal Natural Caffeine & Intensive Scalp Care+ Shampoo
I decided to try this shampoo from the popular Korean brand because the ingredients caught my attention. As a caffeine and salicylic acid shampoo, it targeted two issues I have been trying to solve: a scalp that becomes oily quickly and hair growth. Since I use hair growth serums, I still attribute faster growth to them, but what truly impressed me was that the shampoo managed to delay my wash day by an entire day. If you struggle with an oily scalp, you know this is a big improvement. I had tried salicylic acid shampoos before, but none delivered such a visibly strong effect. It all comes down to the complete formulation, which works on the scalp from several angles, making it one of the products that won me over quickly.
How I used it: for washing my hair every other day, which, already in the first week of testing, decreased to two or three times a week.
- Effect: deeply purifies the scalp and removes buildup, while rinsing out easily
- Key ingredients: caffeine, salicylic acid, collagen, ginseng, licorice, green tea extract
- Packaging: 500 ml
Best shine and protection product for hair: Kérastase Paris Gloss Absolu Anti-Frizz Glaze Milk Sprej
The entire Gloss Absolu line was a complete discovery for me this year. It smooths the hair quickly and effortlessly and restores incredible shine, regardless of its starting condition. On top of that, the citrus floral scent is phenomenal and full of optimism. Still, among the whole line, I feel the need to highlight the Glaze Milk Spray. It has an exceptionally powerful anti frizz formula, so it must be applied sparingly to avoid over smoothing the hair. Yes, even that can happen. It protects the hair from heat damage, and the smoothing effect lasts up to four days.
How I used it: I applied a small amount before blow drying or heat styling.
- Effect: protects from heat and humidity, smooths, makes blow drying and detangling easier, and eliminates frizz
- Key ingredients: hyaluronic and glycolic acids, wild rose oil, coconut oil
- Packaging: 190 ml
Best fast transforming face mask: NACIFIC Rice Pepta Collagen Gel Mask
Of all the skincare steps, face masks are my least favorite. For a while, I stopped using them completely. Occasionally I would try an exfoliating mask that clears my pores or a creamy one in my evening routine that feels just like a nourishing face cream. Collagen masks, however, won me over from the first try. After using them, the skin feels smoother, almost frozen, intensely hydrated and radiant. Among them, the Rice Pepta Collagen Gel Mask stood out the most. It delivers the best glow and makes the skin look more elastic and plump. I especially like using it before special occasions to look extra luminous.
How I used it: two to three times a month, I kept the mask on for three hours.
- Effect: leaves the skin softer, smoother and radiant
- Key ingredients: anti aging peptides, niacinamide, rice extract, hyaluronic acid, collagen
- Packaging: 4 masks
