Skin care doesn’t have to cost a fortune to be effective. We cover the basics anyone might need in their skin-care regimen, and our favorite drugstore brands that we’ve tested.
Guests: Dr. Nikhil Dhingra, board-certified dermatologist at Spring Street Dermatology, and Rory Evans, Wirecutter’s senior beauty writer.
Products we recommend:
Facial Moisturizers:
- Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer
- La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte Face Moisturizer
- CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
- Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream
Retinols:
Vitamin C Serums:
- SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
- Timeless Skin Care 20% C + E Ferulic Acid Serum
- Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum
- La Roche-Posay’s 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum
Dr. Dhingra likes these facial cleansers:
- Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
- CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
- La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Facial Cleanser
Rory likes:
Additional Reading:
- The 7 Best Moisturizers of 2025
- The 6 Best Vitamin C Serums of 2025
- The 5 Best Retinol Products of 2025
- So You’re Ready to Start Using Retinol. Here’s What You Should Know First.
- The 12 Best Sunscreens for Your Face of 2025
We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more›
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Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast
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