My skincare routine has simplified over the years, so I am no longer easily snared by social media ads for hot, new products. Keep your miracle masks and life changing serums. I’ve spent more money than I like to think about chasing magic in a bottle. But every now and then, a product appears with testimonials from the right influencers and I open my wallet to give it a try — Prequel is such a product.

Prequel skincare is a “collection of dermatologist-developed, solution-focused products designed to be beneficial and safe for people with a wide range of skin conditions.” The products are designed to be gentle on skin and restore you skin’s natural ability to heal and protect itself. Many of the products are designed for use on acne-prone skin, rosacea, eczema, and sensitive skin. And all of the products are priced to be accessible to a wider range of customers.

The gateway drug for Prequel is Gleanser, a glycerin cleanser that “removes makeup, excess oil, and impurities while maintaining skin’s natural moisture barrier and pH.” The cleanser is reported to make skin softer and more supple. And many of the over-35 influencers I follow praise the cleanser’s non-drying, gentle formulation.

Even though I’ve tried several times to switch to a gentle cleanser, I have never been able to use Cerave or Cetaphil washes. My skin always felt gross after a few days, like it was still dirty. But Prequel’s Gleanser cleanses skin without stripping and doesn’t leave you with the feeling that your skin didn’t really get clean. I liked it so much that I bought a second bottle for the shower. Because at 41, all of my skin needs as much moisture as it can get.

Along with the cleanser, I purchased the Lucent-C serum. I’ve used the same pricey vitamin-C serum for years, so my hopes were not high for a $23 product. The serum contains “L-ascorbic acid, ferulic acid, ergothioneine, niacinamide and inulin” to boost radiance and give you glowing skin. To test it out, I stopped using my usual serum and switched to Prequel for two weeks. Before the second week ended, I noticed that my skin was significantly brighter. The serum cured the winter blahs for 1/8th the cost of my usual serum. I’m officially converted.

Barrier Therapy isn’t a moisturizer, it’s a product to restore your skin’s natural barrier function to help heal dry, irritated skin. I use it on my hands in the winter. I apply it to my face when I’ve spent too much time outside. And I’ve recently start using it on Sloane’s face — she sleeps on her stomach and her little cheeks get absurdly red and chapped if we don’t moisturize. I like the product, but I’m not sure that I will re-purchase it when it runs empty.

Bottom line: Gleanser is my new favorite face wash, and Lucent-C may have already reached “forever repurchase” status. I have never used a gentle cleanser or vitamin-C serum that works better than these two products. Add to that the unbeatable <$25 price points and I am sold.

If you’re interested in trying Gleanser, don’t hesitate. It sells out every time it is restocked. I just bought a back up bottle just in case my supply runs out during a sell-out. Even if you think you have a great cleanser, I recommend trying Gleanser. As we age, our skin needs all the hydration it can get, and this product has mine feeling hydrated without slathering on moisturizer.

{like all saw it on social posts, I purchased all of the products reviewed in this post with my own money and accepted no freebies. opinions about the products are mine, and mine alone. the post contains affiliate links that may generate commission for the author}