We independently select and review the products we recommend. We may earn a small commission on purchases made through our affiliate links below. Learn more about how we review products and our sources of information.
Skincare capsules seem to be the cherry on top when it comes to gimmicky self-care. But these single-dose beauty shots offer a practical way to carry your daily dose of skincare with you wherever you go. So, is that all? Is that the only superpower they have? A solo micro balloon fight to squirt yourself with antioxidants on the plane? Absolutely not!
A skincare capsule is a single-use face serum packed inside a capsule, which is usually made of sustainable material. The serums usually contain highly potent active ingredients like vitamin C or retinol.
These capsules come in 30 or 60 inside a jar or a bottle. You pop the capsule open and apply the product just like you’d apply your face serum.
You can throw a few capsules in your bag without having to carry a whole bottle. They’re incredibly travel-friendly. And let’s be honest, we’ve all wasted a good amount of product simply by forgetting to tighten the cap after applying the serum with the dropper.
The benefits of skincare capsules are not only about practicality. There’s more to them than just knowing exactly how many days your serum will last and the fact that nothing goes to waste.
Skincare capsules are all about keeping the active ingredients stable. The most hard-working skincare ingredients are equally difficult to stabilize. They have the potential to lose potency when exposed to air, light, or heat.
But when you pack the ingredients inside capsules, you keep them as fresh and as stable as you possibly can without needing a lot of additives and preservatives. Not to be confused with micro-encapsulation, these serums are literally encapsulated.
The Best Skincare Capsules
What you see is what you get. So stop calculating because these beauty shots are countable! Below are the best skincare capsules to get plump, smooth, and glowing skin.
1. Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Capsules Line Erasing Night Serum
A name associated with skincare capsules -and for good reason! Elizabeth Arden boasts a variety of capsules with powerful actives to keep your complexion youthful. This particular bottle contains the ultimate anti-ager retinol. So, you know it’s going to be wrinkle-reducing, texture-smoothing, and skin-transforming. You also know it’s going to be a little bit drying.
For that, each capsule contains barrier-restoring ceramides. They keep the moisture in and prevent dryness. Additionally, the peptides in the formula help stimulate collagen formation. The serum is fragrance-free and is the perfect addition to your evening routine to tackle signs of aging, uneven skin tone, and hyperpigmentation.
Active Ingredients: Retinol, ceramides, peptides
Key Benefits: Encourages skin turnover, minimizes wrinkles
Size: 30 capsules
Good To Know: Fragrance-free
2. Eve Lom Age Defying Smoothing Treatment
This is going to replace your anti-aging night serum with its peptide-packed formula. It contains Argireline; a peptide widely formulated into wrinkle patches. It’s more commonly known for its Botox-like effects. Not as effective, but the way it works is similar to Botox.
It restricts muscle contraction to prevent wrinkle formation. It also increases collagen production in the skin. These effective skincare capsules diminish fine lines and wrinkle depth. Additionally, they contain vitamin E to repair free radical damage on the skin. The peptide & antioxidant blend renews the skin at night and improves its texture over time.
Active Ingredients: Argireline, vitamin E, squalane
Key Benefits: Smooths out wrinkles
Size: 90 capsules
Good To Know: Vegan
Related: The Best Wrinkle Patches
3. Elemis Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules
These day & night skin capsules are amazing for anyone who complains about dullness, loss of radiance, and tired-looking skin. The jar contains your daily & nightly dose of powerful antioxidants to freshen up the complexion. The capsules contain an oil formulation, not a serum. So dry and dehydrated skin types will especially love the revitalizing effects.
Your daytime capsule has the skin-toning rose flower extract, the antioxidant-rich moringa oil, and the free radical scavenger vitamin E. And your nighttime capsule infuses the skin with another dose of vitamin E to repair UV damage. Plus, it has anti-inflammatory lavender to soothe and nourish the skin.
Active Ingredients: Moringa oil, vitamin E, lavender oil
Key Benefits: Moisturizes, nourishes, calms skin
Size: 60 capsules
4. Exuviance Vitamin C Serum Capsules
And speaking of antioxidants, what better way to brighten up the skin, even it out, and fade dark spots than by pampering the skin with vitamin C? These capsules contain a whopping 20% vitamin C. From reducing existing wrinkles to preventing the formation of new ones, and from getting rid of hyperpigmentation to stimulating collagen production, the benefits of it are endless.
The formula also boasts a hot and relatively new ingredient, Aminofil (acetyl tyrosinamide). It’s a chain of amino acids that have plumping effects on the skin. And it’s exceptionally helpful in reducing the look of smile lines and crow’s feet. Whether you’re being anti-aging or just in it for reducing acne scars, these are the best vitamin C skincare capsules for glowing skin!
Active Ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin E
Key Benefits: Illuminates skin, evens out skin tone
Size: 6o capsules
Related: The Best Vitamin C Moisturizers
5. Oskia Super-C Smart-Nutrient Beauty Capsules
At this point, we’re all familiar with the synergistic chemistry between vitamin C and vitamin E. I mean, hello? SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic? These two work amazingly well together and amplify the antioxidant action. The duo is as restorative as it is preventative. By increasing collagen production, the antioxidants improve the skin’s elasticity.
And as they’re incredibly powerful against oxidative stress, they can actually repair the sun damage on the skin. The added benefits include a luminous and smooth complexion. In addition, the serum contains nourishing fatty acids, antioxidant-rich tomato extract, and moisture-boosting squalane.
Active Ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin E, squalane
Key Benefits: Treats and prevents free radical damage, reduces hyperpigmentation
Size: 60 capsules
6. Beauty Pie Superactive Capsules Pure 3% Resveratrol + Exotic Fruit Oils
If you have sensitive skin, retinol or vitamin C might be hard for it to tolerate. But there’s no shortage of antioxidants. These capsules contain resveratrol, an amazing antioxidant that protects the skin against wrinkle-causing UV rays and pollution. It prevents collagen loss and keeps the skin firm and tight.
The multi-tasker improves skin tone and is the perfect antioxidant for preventative skincare as well. Nutrient-rich extracts like pomegranate and raspberry are formulated into capsules to promote healthy skin.
Active Ingredients: Resveratrol, raspberry seed oil, pomegranate seed oil
Key Benefits: Helps repair sun damage, reduces dark spots
Size: 60 capsules
7. Darphin Ideal Resource Youth Retinol Oil Concentrate
Besides the collagen-stimulating hero retinol to soften wrinkles, these capsules have an impressive amount of botanicals. They have argan oil, which is rich in fatty acids, cranberry seed oil, which is rich in antioxidants, and moisture-boosting jojoba oil.
Together, they minimize the sensitizing and drying effects of retinol so that it doesn’t disrupt your skin barrier. The formula is gentle enough to use around the eyes as well. The retinol oil capsules increase skin turnover while keeping the skin plump and smooth, preventing flakiness and redness.
Active Ingredients: Retinol, macadamia seed oil
Key Benefits: Stimulates skin turnover, moisturizes
Size: 60 capsules
8. Roc Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Night Serum Capsules
This is a more budget-friendly option to get in on skincare capsules. These drugstore single-dose skincare capsules contain retinol. And the formula is just as effective as their famous Deep Wrinkle Cream. With minimal additives, the serum is ideal for oily and acne-prone skin too.
In addition to retinol, the night capsules contain a synthetic but bio-derived antioxidant DC. It reduces hyperpigmentation and improves the skin’s elasticity. The drugstore skincare capsules are a great and affordable way to test out the trend and see if you like it.
Active Ingredients: Retinol, soybean oil
Key Benefits: Smooths out skin texture, softens fine lines
Size: 30 capsules
Good To Know: Fragrance-free
9. Neostrata Vitamin C Concentrate
Pure ascorbic acid is gold when it comes to stimulating collagen and reducing hyperpigmentation. But it’s highly unstable and oxidizes easily once the container is open. That’s not your concern anymore. This is a jar of 30 capsules for a full-blown ascorbic acid infusion.
The fragrance-free capsules contain 10% vitamin C to give you a daily dose of antioxidants. They’re incredibly potent and offer a practical way to address sun damage head-on. You can expect no less than a brighter and smoother complexion at the end of 30 days.
Active Ingredients: Vitamin C
Key Benefits: Brightens skin, fades discolorations
Size: 30 capsules
10. No7 Advanced Ingredients Vitamin C & Vitamin E Facial Capsules
These capsules are as affordable as drugstore vitamin C serums but even more budget-friendly. You get 30 capsules of pure vitamin C with a concentration of 20%. Obviously, they’re not very suitable for sensitive skin.
But if your skin is familiar with pure ascorbic acid, they’re amazing. If you have sun damage and uneven skin tone, or mature, aging skin, you can try the capsules to achieve brighter, healthier skin.
Active Ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin E
Key Benefits: Treats hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone
Size: 30 capsules
FAQs
Read Next: The Best Microencapsulated Skincare Products
