Top-performing beauty products

Here are the top-performing products that stood out during the Good Housekeeping Beauty Lab’s rigorous testing. You’ll also find proven GH Seal stars, the latest beauty breakthroughs and the hottest new products.

Next-level nourishing face oil

Laura Mercier Infusion De Rose Nourishing Oil ($65, Sephora): Of the 56 facial oils assessed (the biggest Beauty Lab test ever!), Laura Mercier outshone all others. Its combination of plant oils, like sunflower and rose hip, made for serious skin softening.

Tester notes: “It gave me back that dewy look I hadn’t seen in so long,” one said. Testers also loved its firming and plumping effects and that it left “no residue.”

Lab lowdown: The oil raised skin’s moisture by 12 percent over six hours. Apply on clean, damp skin for maximum benefit.

Softening face oil

Palmer Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil for Face ($10, drugstores): The lowest-priced of the face oils tested, GH Seal holder Palmer’s 10-botanical-oil blend (with argan, apricot and almond oils) also was a hero hydrator.

Tester notes: Skin had a “healthy glow” and “… the lines are gone!” two said.

Lab lowdown: It measured an 8 percent skin-moisture uptick without feeling heavy.

Super-brightening serum

Olay Luminous Miracle Oil Concentrate ($25, drugstores): This GH Seal holder Olay serum is like radiance bottled with concentrated skin tone-evening ingredients like niacinamide and vitamin C.

Lab lowdown: A study of 144 women showed that it reduced dark spots and uneven tone after two weeks.

Sheerest face sunscreen

Clarins UV Plus Antipollution SPF 50 ($43, clarins. com): Face SPF that feels like nothing? Yes, please! This Clarins liquid was the best of the test for all skin types.

Tester notes: “No white film,” one said. “So lightweight, you forget you’re wearing it,” said another.

Lab lowdown: It didn’t run into eyes, cause irritation, feel tacky or dry out skin.

Second-skin blush

Philosophy Take A Deep Breath Cushion Color for Cheeks ($30, philosophy. com): No more fear of blush overload! Philosophy’s special foolproof “cushion” packaging delivers a

just-right amount of whisper-thin liquid blush for a sheer, fresh finish.

Tester notes: “I dabbed this on my cheeks with my fingers and was amazed by the formula’s light-as-air feel and how seamless it looked on my skin,” one said. “This blush looked more natural than any I’ve tried,” said another.

Perfect-10 nail polish

Essie Nail Polish ($9 each, essie.com): The classic Essie formula nailed our polish test, producing the shiniest finish and fast-drying full color. It resisted chipping, was easiest to remove and didn’t stain nails.

Lab lowdown: Our scientists’ measurements revealed that the polish alone dried in six minutes on average and delivered the highest gloss score of the category.