I Used a Moisturizer-Free ZO Skin Health Regimen for 3 Months—Here’s My Product-by-Product Review

The first step of any skincare routine is, of course, a good cleanser. This one is electric blue and smells so refreshing. It’s formulated to be gentle and used by all skin types, which is great for me and my combination skin. Ingredients include oat amino acids and a botanical blend that delivers antioxidants while cleansing. What I love about it is that it leaves my skin feeling clean but not stripped, so I don’t experience any dryness afterward. 

Confession: I don’t exfoliate my skin nearly enough. At every facial appointment I’ve ever gone to, the esthetician would take one look at my nose and scold me. The dryness, the flakiness, the congested pores—all of this, they would tell me, would be addressed by exfoliating. Alas, I remained hesitant due to how dry the process would always make my skin feel. But given how crucial it is to the ZO Skin Health philosophy, I embraced this exfoliating polish. I only use it a few times a week (although the goal is to actually use it every night), and immediately after scrubbing, my face feels baby-smooth and soft. It is a physical exfoliant; it’s thick and grainy with ultra-fine magnesium oxide crystals, which are what slough off the dead skin. But it also features vitamin C to brighten—likely the source of my luminous glow after completing the process. 

I haven’t been this obsessed with toner pads since my days of using Stridex religiously (IYKYK).Thankfully, these feel a lot gentler on the skin and don’t leave it feeling stripped and dry. Each plant-based pad is soaked in a mixture of glycolic and salicylic acid, two chemical exfoliants that clear the gunk out of pores and wipe away dead skin cells. The formula also boasts a botanical blend meant to calm the skin, which helps bring balance to the treatment. Instead of looking red and raw after swiping one (or two) of these across my face, my complexion looks bright and even-toned, my skin instantly smoother and more refined. I love using one first thing in the morning because it makes my skin look fresh and awake, but I’ll also reach for one at night. More than once, I’ve been surprised by how much dirt and oil the pad picks up in the evening, even on days when I skipped makeup and only walked to and from the coffee shop.

When I mentioned my concern of enlarged-looking pores on my nose and the inner corners of my cheeks, the ZO Skin Health team recommended the Instant Pore Refiner. The lightweight serum targets pores in two ways: first, by reducing oil to mattify the skin and, second, by lightly exfoliating the area. I apply it either day or night (sometimes both) just on my nose and across the top of my cheeks. On its own, the formula can feel a bit drying, which is kind of the point. But with regular use, I’ve noticed far less buildup around my nose and less prominent pores. I won’t lie and say they’ve disappeared, but they no longer catch my eye the second I look in the mirror, which says a lot.

Consider this a.m. serum a suit of armor for your skin—one that glints and shines in the sun just as much a literal one. In the daytime, I follow up the pore refiner with this antioxidant-packed formula, which purports to provide all-day protection against environmental stressors (including pollution) to combat signs of early aging, all while supplying a luminous finish overall. It feels light and hydrating, and immediately revitalizes my complexion. No dullness here. It’s also the perfect step before sunscreen because it creates a silky-smooth canvas without causing pilling.

In the evening, after cleansing and applying the pore refiner, I reach for this serum. The first word that comes to mind to describe it? “Soothing.” So, so soothing. Given that it’s formulated with vitamins A and E, plant stem cells and a plant-derived polysaccharide complex (aka sugar molecules) for hydration and barrier support, it makes sense. Applying it after a long day feels like giving my skin exactly what it needs to recover.

Last, but certainly not least, is the product I look forward to using most. I’m 35 and hoping to extend the time before I turn to injectables, so I’m all about a topical solution that addresses fine lines and the loss of skin density and firmness. Made with plant- and enzyme-derived growth factors, this luscious, velvety serum brings a suppleness to my skin like no other. And while it feels rich—richer than any other ZO Skin Health product in my lineup—it doesn’t smother my skin. It still feels like my pores can breathe. I credit this serum for lifting the droopy areas around my mouth, restoring the bounce to my cheeks and smoothing out the fine lines that had been developing on my forehead and around my eyes. Although, cumulatively, I’m sure all of these products played a part.