Simple and Affordable Skin Care

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 (https://wrctr.co/42umbUu)
• La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte Face Moisturizer (https://wrctr.co/42A7yQy)
• CeraVe Moisturizing Cream (https://wrctr.co/4i6iiuy)
• Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream (https://wrctr.co/4csQkIo)

Retinols:

• SkinMedica Retinol Complex 1.0 (https://wrctr.co/42iVBgL)
• Trader Joe’s Retinol Night Serum (https://wrctr.co/4jlAu4e)

Vitamin C Serums: 

• SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic (https://wrctr.co/3DYLq9d)
• Timeless Skin Care 20% C + E Ferulic Acid Serum (https://wrctr.co/3YjylxS)
• Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum (https://wrctr.co/3G19fOk)
• La Roche-Posay’s 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum (https://wrctr.co/4iZw7wf)

Dr. Dhingra likes these facial cleansers: 

• Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (https://wrctr.co/423pLWA)
• CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser (https://wrctr.co/3Ecnf75)
• La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Facial Cleanser (https://wrctr.co/4i4bWf5)

Rory likes: 

• East Fork Everyday Bowl (https://wrctr.co/3DZBRa1)

 


Additional Reading:

• The 7 Best Moisturizers of 2025 (https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/re...)
• The 6 Best Vitamin C Serums of 2025 (https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/re...)
• The 5 Best Retinol Products of 2025 (https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/re...)
• So You’re Ready to Start Using Retinol. Here’s What You Should Know First. (https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/re...)
• The 12 Best Sunscreens for Your Face of 2025 (https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/re...)

 


 






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Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast (https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/th...)