9 Drugstore Skincare Products to Treat Your Complexion Concerns
Your skin is the largest organ in your body, so you want to make sure you're taking care of it, especially as you get older. (And it's always better to start earlier rather than later when it comes to caring for your complexion.) Instead of trying every product on the drugstore shelves, here, dermatologists reveal the best tried-and-true skincare products they recommend to their clients. (As a bonus, all of these items are affordable along with being effective.) Whether you need a cleanser for dry skin or a solution to treat old acne marks, here are the best picks for every skincare concern that won't have you spending a small fortune.
Salicylic Acid Gel
Banish breakouts for good with this spot treatment. The product has salicylic acid that minimizes the pimple size, redness, and swelling in just eight hours. Simply dab a small amount on your blemishes before bed, and by the morning, you'll wake up with a clearer complexion.
Buy It: Neutrogena Rapid Clear Acne Eliminating Spot Treatment Gel ($8, Walmart)
Oil-Free Cleanser
Searching for an exfoliating cleanser that won’t dry you out? This formula featured salicylic acid to remove impurities, ceramides to protect your skin, and niacinamide to soothe. It’s non-comedogenic and fragrance-free so that it won’t irritate your face.
Buy It: CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser ($14, Ulta)
Foaming Facial Scrub
This foaming cleanser is an ideal option to include in your double-cleaning routine, especially if you wear makeup. It has a nearly perfect 5-star rating from almost 6,000 reviews. One buyer raves, "I never leave reviews, but this product deserves more than 5 stars! I am always skeptical about a new product, so tonight, I left my make-up on to see if this complete face wash would do its job. Wow! It removed it all! It left my skin so soft and smells amazing! No need to remove any leftover mascara after washing. "
Buy It: Pacifica Sea Foam Complete Face Wash ($6, Amazon)
Benzoyl Peroxide Cleanser
Valerie Goldburt, a board-certified dermatologist in New York, recommends products with benzoyl peroxide (a bacteria-bashing medication) when tiny blackheads speckle your complexion. This contains 4% benzoyl peroxide, so it's effective but not overly stringent. For more extreme cases, she recommends talking to a dermatologist about prescription options like Tretinoin.
Buy It: PanOxyl Antimicrobial Acne Creamy Wash ($9, Amazon)
Hydrating Facial Cleanser
Brent Wainwright, a CareMount dermatologist in New York and a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, points patients with dry skin to CeraVe cleansers because they're gentle and moisturizing. CeraVe's Hydrating Facial Cleanser markets itself for normal and dry skin, and it boasts key hydrating ingredients like ceramides to help rebuild the skin's protective barrier and hyaluronic acid, which draws hydration into the skin's surface.
Buy It: CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser with Ceramides and Hyaluronic Acid ($14, Ulta)
Moisturizing Cream
If dry skin is your main skincare concern, shop for moisturizing products with ceramides. Regular exposure to drying elements, including low humidity and high wind, can deplete the skin of its protective barrier and make it prone to dryness. To replenish the skin's natural moisture barrier, Wainwright recommends a drugstore-friendly moisturizer like this cream that caters to dry skin.
Buy It: Aveeno Skin Relief Intense Moisture Repair Cream ($10, Walmart)
Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen
We should all be wearing a strong SPF to battle the sun's rays and avoid acne and wrinkles, too. For an effective sunscreen that keeps pores clear, Lindsey A. Bordone, a dermatologist in the Department of Dermatology of Columbia University Medical Center, recommends La Roche-Posay, which has broad-spectrum UVA protection with antioxidants. Plus, it's not sticky.
Buy It: La Roche Posay Oil-Free Sunscreen ($20, Amazon)
Topical Retinoid Gel
Differin, a medication that helps with acne and post-acne skin discoloration, is now available over the counter. Bordone recommends using it every other day and then applying it daily if the skin can tolerate it without irritation. Differin includes a retinoid, which is kind of like a light chemical peel, she says. It can dry out skin but increases cell turnover and speeds up the healing process.
Buy It: Differin Adapalene Gel ($13, Walmart)
Natural Rosehip Oil
Organic rosehip seed oil is lauded by the beauty community for its anti-aging beta-carotene property, which serves as an antioxidant that provides Vitamin A. Plus, it smells sweet and is an affordable and light moisturizer. Natural oils like rosehip and jojoba are ideal moisturizers for normal aging skin, but dryer complexions may need to consider a stronger solution.
Buy It: Pura D'or Organic Rosehip Seed Oil ($15, Amazon)
