The 20 best skin care sets to buy or gift in 2024 | CNN Underscored

For teens: Glow Recipe Fruit Babies Bestsellers Kit

For all skin types: Kiehl's Head-to-Toe Hydrators Set

For anti-aging: Sunday Riley Go To Bed With Me Complete Anti-Aging Evening Skin Care Set

For men: Jaxon Lane Deluxe Skin Care Set

Whether you’re considering trying a new brand for yourself or are looking for a gift, a skin care set is a great place to start. Oftentimes, they’ll include limited-edition sizes or exclusive packaging, which makes them a bit more fun and special to shop for compared to just picking up your usual drugstore products. I get to try beauty products for a living and I still get a thrill seeing them boxed up in special sets. This year, I found the best skin care sets to try, covering different skin types, products and budgets.

“If you aren’t ready to customize your skin care plan, starting with a skin care set can be an easy and fun way to dive into your first steps toward healthy and protected skin,” says Dr. Heidi Prather of Westlake Dermatology. The board-certified dermatologist notes that these pre-packaged sets, which often feature trial sizes of bestsellers, are a simple way to preview new products before investing in the full-size versions.

Especially around the holidays, brands will curate special gift sets that have unbeatable value (plus fun, festive packaging). And even if you don’t end up loving every single product, you can always share with friends or sneak them in as stocking stuffers. I’ve even spotted a few that include full-size products that you’re essentially getting at a discount because of the overall value of the set.

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The Ordinary is known for its straightforward, active ingredient-focused formulas at an affordable price point. This set features minis of its bestsellers, so you can try a bit of everything. We're fans of the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner and Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, which are all included.

A favorite from last year, this travel-friendly kit returns for 2024. The six-piece assortment will set you up with all of Glow Recipe's fruit-forward bestsellers including an avocado cleanser, watermelon exfoliating toner, watermelon niacinamide serum, strawberry salicylic serum, plum moisturizer and guava vitamin C eye cream.

Come winter time, dry eyes and dark circles plague me. If you can relate, grab this handy set from Laneige. You'll get a full-size overnight eye mask to depuff and brighten, plus deluxe samples of a lip treatment and face mask too.

If all-around hydration is what you're after, I also recommend the $43 Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Hydration four-piece set.

This sample kit is great if you need the basics and is especially handy for traveling. It includes my holy grail face moisturizer, the Ultra Facial Cream, as well as the luscious Creme de Corps body lotion, Creamy Eye Treatment With Avocado and Ultimate Strength Hand Salve.

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You can never have enough sunscreen! Whether you have a sunny vacation coming up or you just know how important it is to wear SPF every day, this kit will come in handy. With it, you'll get to try some of Supergoop!'s most popular formulas, like the literally invisible Unseen Sunscreen and the sun-kissed Glow Screen.

If you haven't tried the viral Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, now's your chance. This mini set includes the fan-favorite snail mucin serum, along with a cleanser, eye cream and all-in-one cream also infused with the powerhouse K-beauty ingredient.

If you're after a body care set, we're big fans of Sol de Janeiro. This set will introduce you to the iconic Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, a shower gel and a fragrance mist, which all boast the brand's caramel signature scent.

Read our review

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Housed in a hot pink keepsake box, this skin care set includes all the steps of a nighttime skin care routine. It comes with a full-size moisturizer, plus travel sizes of the T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum (a personal favorite of mine for smooth skin), Ceramighty AF Eye Balm and Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser.

If you're looking for a gift to impress, this La Mer set is it. Including four trial sizes of luxe skin care, including the iconic Créme de la Mer moisturizer, this set is perfect for keeping skin happy and hydrated in the cold and dry winter.

Featuring seven trial sizes of Sunday Riley's nighttime regimen, you're sure to wake up with refreshed skin. It includes must-haves like cleanser and moisturizer, and also active treatments like the A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum and the Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment.

Related article The 19 best men’s skin care sets, according to dermatologists

Not technically a set, but this beauty advent calendar is too good to pass up. It includes a full size of the editor-favorite Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant and Resist Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser and trial sizes of other popular products like the barrier repair moisturizer and SPF 50 with vitamin C.

This five-step set includes everything you need to kickstart a nourishing skin care routine, with each product infused with Japanese ingredients. The Starter Ritual also comes in sets tailored for clarifying, calming and firming.

Get glowing with this trio of Fresh favorites. The rose-infused set features a full size Rose & Hyaluronic Acid Deep Hydration Moisturizer, along with a travel-size toner and mini serum.

Including three bestsellers — a cleanser, vitamin-infused moisturizer and a body cream — this set provides a solid foundation for your face and body routine. Opt into the free 60-day trial membership to get the special $71 member price.

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With formulas centered around supporting this skin barrier, this kit is great for all skin types and ages. Teens will love getting to try Hailey Bieber's line, while the rest of us can just appreciate the solid formulas. I've personally tested all of the products and love how gentle and hydrating they are. The bubble pouch is pretty cute too.

Read our review

According to Dermstore, this 15-piece kit has a $826 value and is stacked with some of our favorite formulas. You'll get a mix of full-size and sample-size products, including EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46, Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant and the Grande GrandeLASH-MD Lash Enhancing Serum.

This limited-edition set gives a touch of glamour thanks to its golden cosmetics bag. It includes the Capture Totale Firming & Wrinkle Cream, Anti-Aging Le Serum and Super Potent Eye Serum to target signs of aging and boost elasticity.

Prather recommends this set, which includes travel sizes of her favorite products. "This is great for all skin types and can be customized based on your needs," she says. "For oily skin, you can use the light-weight, gel-based Restorative Moisture Complex two times per day without any shine or residue. I personally take my Ultra Nourishing Moisturizer with me on flights to rehydrate mid-air, but it can also be used for more sensitive or dry skin as a second layer at night."

A skin care set designed specifically for the guys, this deluxe box has all the essentials and more. Pamper the man in your life (or yourself) with face and eye masks, plus cover your bases with cleanser, moisturizer and SPF.

"Revision is a natural skin care company that uses first line sourcing to make incredibly high quality products backed with clinical research," Prather says. "This is a lovely product collection that is ideal for aging prevention and pigment with the Daily Boosting Serum that features antioxidant protection and improves the function of mitochondria in your skin. The YouthFull Lip Replenisher will be your go-to healthy lip gloss for the holidays, too."

Sophie Shaw is Underscored's beauty and fashion editor. The Brooklyn-based journalist loves getting nerdy about skin care and, on the fashion side, delving into what viral trends are actually worth trying. (Ballet flats are a yes for her, but low-rise pants are a never.)