The Budget Dermatologist.

"Anua's Azelaic Acid serum is a super viral product I've been using for a long time and love. It has the maximum 10% azelaic acid you can get over the counter, which is great if you have sensitive, redness prone skin, even acne or post acne dark marks, it brightens the skin, can improve acne, and cuts down redness while staying gentle. It also has niacinamide, panthenol and ceramides in it, an overall multitasking, really gentle, great formulation. It's right around $15 for Prime Day."

"For redness prone skin, the Redness Reform Soothing Serum by Prequel is amazing, and I love pairing it with their sulfur based cleanser, which I rub on and leave for a few minutes like a mask with no irritation as it cuts the redness away, then I follow up with the soothing serum. If you have red, irritated, damaged skin barrier, this duo is absolutely incredible. It's 20% off and it's an actual discount, not a trick."

"I think this is actually a very reasonable vitamin C serum. The science already exists that this formulation strategy works, SkinCeuticals proved that with the research and studies that awarded them a patent on this technology from 2005 to 2025, and that patent basically let them corner the market and almost justify their high price tag, even though other brands were making very similar products all along. Now that patent has expired, so it can potentially give you results every bit as good as SkinCeuticals without sacrificing any efficacy."

"This is a heavy hitter if you are focused on dark spots and hyperpigmentation. One of the reasons I've been trying it and loving it is because the blend of vitamin C is better geared for sensitive skin, rosacea-prone skin, and redness-prone skin, which is me. Since I've been trying this product, I have not gotten any irritation, no increased redness, no burning or stinging throughout the day or with other skincare products, which can be so common when you're using pure ascorbic acid vitamin C serums. The three types of vitamin C in this are a 15% complex of ascorbic acid, 3-O-ethyl ascorbate, and THD ascorbate, so all of the great vitamin C's combined into 15%. I like that this is an airless pump, no dropper or bottle format, and there's a refill you can buy that will save you some money. It's not the cheapest vitamin C out there, but if you have really sensitive skin and you're just looking for a different type of formulation or different additives, something like this might be worth the extra money for you."

"This is a 10% L-ascorbic acid plus vitamin E and ferulic acid serum, which are the same three trifecta ingredients that you will find in Skinceuticals C E Ferulic, but this one is way, way more affordable and in my opinion, in my experience, it is every bit as good as that one and you save over $100 on this one. Vitamin C serum is an absolutely crucial ingredient in a very well-rounded anti-aging routine. Putting a vitamin C under your sunscreen in the morning is going to supercharge your SPF results because vitamin C is an antioxidant. That means it will scavenge those free radicals that the sun creates on our skin, and those free radicals are what attack our collagen and break our collagen apart. So if you put a vitamin C serum under your sunscreen in the morning, you're going to supercharge your results and you're going to keep the collagen in your skin for longer. You are going to prevent it from breaking down from UV damage. It's going to scavenge those free radicals away. This one you can often find for 40, even 50% off, so that makes this around $13."

"I really find this one exceptionally moisturizing actually as well has hyaluronic acid in it. Ectoin actually I love ectoin and skin care products that help support the skin barrier and I find it nourishing and hydrating on the skin. So I just love that texture so much. It's $28. That's an incredible price for a Vitamin C Serum that is more in line with the price that you will find on L-ascorbic acid types of vitamin C serums. Both of these vitamin C serums get a thumbs up from me in terms of formulation and feel on the skin such that they are not irritating and they don't sting. That is one of my biggest complaints with L-ascorbic acid vitamin C serums is I get that stinging sensation on my skin very frequently with that type of product. Both of these very nice on the skin on sensitive skin. No stinging. This is closer to the L-ascorbic form. This is potentially a little bit more gentle and like I said this did get the eczema seal of approval. So if you have very very sensitive skin, you can't tolerate L-ascorbic acid forms of Vitamin C Serum, maybe it would be worth it to you to start here."

"Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum, their vitamin C serum is a really, really good, even suitable level good swap for skin suiticles. It's expensive. It's $80, but that's going to still save you over $100 if you were thinking about getting skin suiticles. You can get this one instead. Very similar: vitamin E, ferulic acid, low pH, 15% L-ascorbic acid. I use all of them, but I would say currently I've been doubling down on this option, and also with very sensitive skin, I find this just is soothing to my skin and does not overdo it and still gives me the results I'm looking for."

"Power Peptides by Geek and Gorgeous. It's under $19. This is good for all skin types. Peptides are generally very well tolerated. I think a peptide serum layers well with other skincare products better than most other treatments. This is an example of a great budget friendly peptide that has the key player peptides in it as well. I would put a layer of this on my skin first. Let it fully dry and absorb in. Then you can put on your retinoid."

"This is their Hyaluronic Acid Serum, this is $10 but it's not just hyaluronic acid. This also has in it Matrixyl 3000, which is my favorite peptide for anti-aging. It's one of the peptides that has the most research behind it that shows that it can rebuild collagen in the skin. So for $10 you get hyaluronic acid and peptides that's going to simplify your routine and not overdo it for your skin barrier."

"This has 10% pure vitamin C serum. I really like this product. I'm loving this package because it is opaque so it will protect it against the light breakdown of it. It's an airtight container that also can protect it from air getting to it to break it down. The vitamin C ingredient is really obviously the hero ingredient here. The other supporting characters in this product would be ceramides, which is very classic of the CeraVe brand and I love especially for the under eye area because ceramides can really reinforce your skin barrier and help it stand up to these stronger actives like vitamin C or retinoids. This also has hyaluronic acid in it."

"Peter Thomas Roth Peptide Skin Injection also has argireline in it and some other great skincare ingredients. You will apply this to the skin as part of your skincare routine. It's going to absorb into your skin and soften your muscular contraction and lessen how severely your wrinkles can be formed. You can use this morning or night in your routine. I love to use peptides, and I love to use this in the morning so I have my topical skincare product that is attacking the muscular movement."

"I love this option if you've already tried the lower percentage and you're ready for something more with no irritation, you're going to go up to this one. Or if you have redness prone skin, because this has some added ingredients into it to reduce redness of the skin, which is such a problem for me, it's something I struggle with. So this is a really good option for wanting vitamin C benefits with sensitive skin, rosacea prone, redness skin. I love this option for that group of people."

"This one is one of the more expensive products I will recommend on my channel but it is unmatched and it is that good. This has 20% THD ascorbate in it, it has 3% vitamin E in it and 2% ferulic acid, so I consider this your THD swap of the Skinceuticals CE Ferulic. It also has a trifecta and it has a very transparent list of the exact percent of each of those three ingredients in it, which is incredible. It's so frustrating how hard that is to find in skincare where they actually disclose how much, what is the percentage of these, because we need to know so we can go up or down based on how our skin reacts. I love that about the Peter Thomas Roth formula. Overall a really soothing formula, very nice product, unmatched, totally worth the money if you are going to go hard into Vitamin C in your skincare routine and you really want the best benefits. 20% sounds like a lot if you're trying to compare 20% L-ascorbic acid to 20% THD, they're not the same because this has to undergo a conversion to get to this, so even though this is higher I don't think you are going to get the same level of irritation with 20% this versus 20% that."

"The soothing and barrier support serum contains lipids, ceramides, and other epidermal barrier repair ingredients. This is going to go on your skin after you cleanse, put a little bit on, and you can put a moisturizer over it and repair your skin day and night. You can use this up to twice a day. It's a very great price point and you can use this to reset your skin barrier without breaking the bank."

"Timeless has a Matrixyl 3000 Serum and this is the simplest of all the formulations so it has Matrixyl 3000 in it and it has hyaluronic acid again like some of these others so it really can be considered kind of a hybrid duo serum. This one is just around 26 or $27. They all look very similar and they finish very similarly on the skin there's really no issue with any of them that I found they don't pill they don't finish tacky or anything."

"The Matrix 10% Plus Hyaluronic Acid by The Ordinary is extremely affordable, right around $17, and it has that Matrixyl 3000 complex in it which I recommend if you're looking for a great dose of peptides. It's a thin serum that you put on your fresh cleansed skin and it absorbs in lightweight. It does not finish heavy on the skin or sticky or tacky or anything like that. It is just a very lightweight smooth serum, very simple."

"This one by La Roche-Posay has 10% L-ascorbic acid in it, which is the active form, but the problem with that form for many people is it can be irritating and just be hard to tolerate. So if you have really sensitive skin or rosacea-prone skin or very dry skin, that's something to take into account. They do disclose how much is in it, 10%, and you want the vitamin C serum somewhere between 5 to 15%, so this is right there in the mix. Other key ingredients in this include salicylic acid, so it's also going to help exfoliate the skin at the same time. The packaging is in a dropper bottle format. For me personally, I don't love dropper bottle formats for vitamin C because you are going to be exposing it to air every time you open and close it, and that means it's going to break down and go bad more quickly. If you choose a vitamin C serum in a dropper bottle, you should be using this very often in your routine and using it up quickly. But if you are somebody who is only going to want to use your vitamin C a little bit more sparingly, you probably are going to want to find one that is packaged differently. This product costs $46.99."

"Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream has the silkiest feel on the skin ever. It normally is 54 dollars but it is 30 off right now so it's 37.80 on both days of Prime Day. This contains a 30 percent hyaluronic acid complex. It's actually a little bit similar in feel to the Vichy Mineral 89 but this has a thicker texture so it's a little more hydrating, a little more occlusive on the skin."

"If you have dark spots or hyperpigmentation that you want to address, the Maelove Fade Away Brightening Serum is going to be for you. I'm starting to get a couple dark spots, so this is going to really be something I lean on. This has kojic acid, alpha arbutin, licorice root extract in it, all things that can help lighten dark spots on the skin. You can use this morning and or night in your routine. Maelove's whole point is to make easy products to layer, so say you want this in your routine and you still want to use a vitamin C serum, technically you can layer these. It's just quick, easy, seamless in your routine."

"This has AHAs and BHAs -- alpha hydroxy acid like glycolic acid and BHA like salicylic acid. So this is going to help exfoliate your pores from the BHA and the more superficial texture of your skin from the AHA. What I love about this particular exfoliation product is it doesn't sting, tingle, or burn the skin like so many glycolic acid and exfoliants can. This is actually very comforting to use, which is so rare. I'll just do a dropper full of this, dab it into the face, little bit on the neck, and that's it -- moisturizer on top and we're done. I would do this about once a week depending on how your skin feels and your skin texture is."

"This is probably my personal single most favorite product from the entire Maelove spectrum, and that really says a lot because some of these products are just all amazing. It's their anti-aging neck cream, the Maelove Forever Firm Peptide Neck Treatment. You can put this on morning and night and it absorbs really nicely; if you have your hair down, it doesn't stick to it or anything. It has giralene in it, the peptide that targets those muscles of contraction, so this is really great for those vertical bands that you get down the neck. It also has Matrix Cell 3000 peptides to build collagen and help fight those crepey neck signs of aging. It has spylanthanol, which is a plant-based ingredient, again to target the vertical banding and muscle contractions. It really hydrates the skin, so if you have dry skin or crepey neck texture, the ceramides in it are really going to help with that. And if you have any hyperpigmentation or discoloration of the neck, it has niacinamide and licorice root extract to target that. It's really just such a good all-in-one neck treatment that has much better quality peptides in it than most of these peptide neck treatments out there that are just junk and will sell for over $100. So this is actually a great, great, great price considering how well-rounded it is."

"This is the one that I think is absolutely superior to peptide serums out there. It's the Medik8 Liquid Peptides because this has a whopping dose of peptides in it. This has a 30% peptide complex. This peptide serum has signal peptides in it, which are the peptides I look for. It's called Matrixyl 3000, it's actually a blend of two peptides. Signal peptides are the ones that are so well studied and have lots of evidence for building collagen in your skin. And the serum is so lightweight and nice on the skin, you can wear it in the morning under makeup with your other skincare products, no issues there. Then it also has copper peptides in it, which are really great for skin renewal, repairing your skin barrier, wound healing, skin elasticity. That's amazing, it's in this one as well. And then neuropeptides."

"This one also has the added 6% niacinamide. I really love a combination product because it makes routines so simple. It has niacinamide in it too and at a really good percentage, 6%. It is not sticky or tacky at all, which is a complaint I have with some niacinamide serums that can leave this like little residue on the skin, but this is very smooth. It's a serum that is very simple, good for sensitive skin, has two powerhouse ingredients in it: niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. You can use it either morning or night or both, whatever makes sense for your routine."

"One of my all-time favorite cleansers is the Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser from CeraVe. If I'm not using a cleansing balm for heavy makeup or waterproof sunscreen, I'll just use this, it gently removes makeup in one step, basically turning a double cleanse into a single cleanse, without leaving the oily residue behind that cleansing balms can leave, while still getting all the makeup off. It's the quickest, easiest, and very affordable way to get all your makeup off."

"If you have redness-prone skin, rosacea-prone or an actual rosacea diagnosis, you have to check out the Prequel Redness Reform Sulfur Cleanser. Since I started using these, my skin has been so much less red than is average for me. The reason it works so well for rosacea-type skin is that it has sulfur, which is kind of one of those catch-all ingredients that can help a wide variety of skin conditions: acne, rosacea, perioral dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis. It also has azelaic acid. Do not sleep on azelaic acid. It's such a good ingredient for the skin, especially for redness-prone skin, and that's why it's in here. There's also a soothing ingredient in there that's great for the skin. This is technically a cleanser, but I like to use it as a mask. I take a good amount, apply it all over my face in a thick layer, and let it sit for two to five minutes if I have enough patience, letting it work as a mask before I wash it off."

"This has 4% benzoyl peroxide in it. You can get benzoyl peroxide over the counter in strengths up to 10%, but the higher the strength the more potential it has to irritate your skin. I like to start low. 4% can get the job done and balance the side effects of that irritation. I specifically chose this cleanser by CeraVe because not only does it have that benzoyl peroxide, but it's in a really great formulation to decrease that risk of irritation. This also contains ceramides and niacinamide, which is another great ingredient that can address a couple of the causes of acne."

"All you want it to do is to have short contact time on your skin, get the dirt, oil, makeup off of your skin so that you can go on to the next step of your skincare routine. It doesn't need to stay on your skin, it doesn't need to do anything fancy, it doesn't need to cost a fortune. You just need it to do its job. I always go in with my gentle cleanser after to make sure all of that makeup is removed and that's what I prefer, that's what I recommend. I think you will get the deepest, most effective cleanse in this two-step process."

"Starting with the Versed Purest Antioxidant Cleanser, this is right around $10 and it is the best gentle cleanser. It does not irritate the skin, it does a great job removing makeup and dirt and oil from the skin and leaving your skin feeling clean without stripped. You cannot beat it. I can tell you time and time again, do not overspend on cleansers, save that part of your budget for your treatment products in your routine, go with a budget gentle cleanser like this one. It's amazing."

"This is super lightweight but not drying. It's great even for dry skin. Even though it's a gel cream, it's just wonderful to go from spring into summer if you want really lightweight skin care. This by itself gives a nice little healthy glow but not like a greasy shiny look because it's just a Moisturizing Gel Cream. It's simple but it's so nice on the skin and it's weightless. Weightless hydration on the skin with protection, no makeup days. Obsessed with these and such a good price point which we love here on the budget derm channel."

"Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer is a very great option. It's under $15. It has hyaluronic acid in it. It has ceramides in it. And it is very lightweight. So we don't have a heavy or greasiness if you want to put makeup over it. It's such a versatile moisturizer. Very budget friendly and it gets the job done. It is simple. It is a workhorse. Good for all skin types. It has the seal of approval from the eczema association."

"This is my favorite moisturizer of the year, and this is a new product launch from this year, so I've been using this for almost all year. I think it launched like January of this year. It's incredible, full price this is $20, but right now it's on sale for $15, so a moisturizer for your face that lasts this long is a great price. It's by The INKEY List, it's a Bioactive Ceramide Repairing and Plumping Moisturizer. The reason this is topnotch is because it has ceramides in it in a really nice and nourishing base. Please only use a little bit of this, a little bit goes a very very long way, this will really last you a long time. And the other thing that's really cool about this is it has this ingredient in it called Gro Blur, so it blurs, kind of fills and blurs those fine lines on your skin, so you instantly get kind of this rejuvenated look. I love this moisturizer, I use this almost every night in my routine right now. You can use this morning or night, it's a little bit on the heavier side, so don't overdo it, I use it just at night."

"My number one product that I use to moisturize my body, for years now, and I have not found anything better, honestly I'm not even looking, is the La Roche-Posay Lipikar Balm AP+M Triple Repair Moisturizing Cream, the cream form of this product, not the lotion. Lotions are the thinnest, least hydrating. Creams are more thick and more hydrating. Then you have balms and ointments, which are the heaviest. I usually go for a cream, it is the most user-friendly but gives the best hydration. This has ceramides, shea butter, glycerin, and niacinamide in it, so it is beautiful at repairing the body and then getting hydration in there and keeping it there. You cannot beat this product."

"Paula's Choice Barrier Repair Advanced Moisturizer has ceramides and peptides in it so it's very hydrating and repairing of the skin barrier. It comes in a pump top container. The difference between this and other options is that this Paula's Choice one is just a little bit lighter on the skin. They both have shea butter in it and are very hydrating and repairing on the skin, and this one is $38 so almost half the price."

"Step two of my custom glow on a budget routine is the Versed Weekend Glow Daily Brightening Moisturizer. I like to say this is a tingle free skincare acid solution that gives you the benefits of an acid without that stinging misery, if you know you know. This is really the first thing that you should grab if you ever feel like your complexion is just lackluster or dull, it's because you have an accumulation of dead skin cells on the surface of your skin that is trapping light. This is going to break up that layer and allow light to bounce off the skin so you have that glowy look. You just need a little bit of this, you can do it two ways. This is a nice pump top container so just one pump and you can actually just pat it into your skin very gently, or if you have a little bit of extra roughness to your skin and you need a little bit more, I take a cotton round and one or two pumps here and then just gently swipe along the skin. Do not overdo it, you do not have to be rough here. This is also a great addition to hyperpigmentation skincare routines or post acne marks because this has a very nice blend of four acids in it."

"This is my actual most favorite luxury sunscreen splurge of all time, maybe my number one favorite sunscreen ever. It's EltaMD UV Skin Recovery, the green tinted version, because I have rosacea prone, redness prone skin and green cuts red. This leaves my skin better than before after I use it because the UV Skin Recovery formulation can repair your skin barrier while it's protecting your skin from the sun. No white cast, this is all mineral. I can wear this working out in the Florida sun, sweat on my face, and it does not burn my eyes, which is almost impossible because I have such sensitive eyes. To me this is worth the splurge. For Prime Day it's 20% off, which is a very good deal since I personally have not seen this for more than 20% off."

"This is one of the products I picked up called BYOMA Ultra Light Face Fluid SPF 50. I think it comes in an SPF 32 too, but get the SPF 50, more is better. The reason I like this so much is because it is extremely lightweight. It just absorbs almost immediately, no white cast, and it feels like you are wearing nothing on the skin. It also has some ceramides in it, antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, and it's so super affordable. This has been every morning for me and I absolutely love it."

"This mineral sunscreen is probably one of the most invisible mineral sunscreens I've ever tried. I'm talking minimal to no white cast. When I started using it, it really reminded me of a certain bougie sunscreen that we all love. It is really giving that a run for its money. And this one is under $16. That's an incredible price. So, a very budget friendly, invisible mineral sunscreen."

"This is my number one pick of everything I saw for sale for SPFs on Prime Day. It's one of my favorite sunscreens ever for several reasons. I love this because it's 100% mineral, but it is very sheerely tinted, so it's not going to leave a white cast on your skin. I think this can blend in and match many different skin tones. What I also love about this is that it contains vitamin C, so an antioxidant. In my opinion, makes a sunscreen much more effective and complete. It has THD ascorbate form which in my opinion absorbs better into the skin compared to [L-ascorbic] acid and it is more gentle. So if you have sensitive skin that's the one I recommend. It's so good and it is not sticky on the skin at all."

"This sunscreen, an amazing price, super high SPF, all mineral. It's not going to irritate and sting the skin, and antioxidants with vitamin E. This is a no-brainer for your summer sunscreen collection. Great to use everyday if you want to use your more bougie sunscreen less often. Definitely fill your stockpile with something that you are not afraid to slather on your skin so you are getting enough SPF."

"Day six, this could have been my favorite product of the year, I've used it so much and just loved every time I've used it. My favorite tinted SPF this year is by DRMTLGY, it's the matte version of their Universal Tinted Moisturizer SPF 46. Before this was just the Universal, and this year they launched a matte version, which I love. What's amazing about this matte sunscreen is that it gives you a matte look without drying your skin out, which can really happen with some matte products. If you prefer a little more of a dewy hydrated look you want the Universal, if you want a more soft velvety focus finish you're going to use the matte one, and this is what I've been using the most this year. It does not dry your skin out. I tend to have a normal to dry skin type and this is so amazing for my skin, a soft velvety finish. This is a very sheer tint, so it's not going to give you much coverage of dark spots, but it's plenty if you want a really light makeup look, you don't have to put makeup over this, it's very sheerly tinted. This is the one I've been using a lot since launch, I think summer is one at launch."

"For this routine my personal pick is the CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 in the tinted version, though this also comes in a non-tinted version. I really love this sunscreen option for this routine because it has ceramides in it, it has niacinamide in it, and the SPF in this one is zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, so a very good, well balanced, well formulated sunscreen that is going to complement a Skin Barrier reset routine just beautifully. One of my key reminders is to make sure you use enough sunscreen to get the SPF on the label, so either put a couple layers on or put a lot on to begin with."

"The Total Package Mineral SPF Body Lotion is amazing to use on your arms and legs. There's the most subtle little white cast to it, not enough to really notice it or worry about using it on a daily basis. I love this because it really feels more like a lotion, less like a sunscreen, so this is going to be what you should be putting on your skin every day if you're going to be wearing short sleeves and shorts, going to be outside, even just running errands, doing stuff like that. This is your go-to, super affordable."

"This is a non-tinted chemical based sunscreen but it has zero white cast on the skin. The polyglutamic acid ingredient is the focus of this product and it's what really makes this unique in my opinion. Polyglutamic acid you can think of it like a hyaluronic acid but it holds four times more water, so the focus of this sunscreen is really to hydrate the skin as it protects you from UV damage. Many sunscreens, especially zinc based sunscreens, are so drying on the skin but you will find that that is not the case with this one because of that polyglutamic acid. It also has squalane and glycerin in it, so those three ingredients together really pack on hydration in the skin. I really love this one for all skin types, dry and combination skin, even mature skin. It is really good. I have more dry skin type so this really helps with dehydration. The Inkey List is so transparent with their ingredients, which I love. They always tell us the percentages that are in this product, which is so helpful when I'm judging products to determine if they're going to work for my skin type."

"Another really affordable one that you can get for right around 14, maybe under $15, is Geek and Gorgeous C-Glow. Very simple formulation, 15% ascorbic acid, vitamin E, ferulic acid, and at a low pH. The thing I love about Geek and Gorgeous is they don't overcomplicate it. Their products are very simple, super minimal ingredients list, and very transparent about everything in their products, which makes it so easy for us as a consumer to make sure we are picking a product that will work. And another one of my favorite things about this brand and this product in particular is they're priced where they should be. They don't play marketing games and make a product like this cost $100. This is literally $15, probably even less right now on sale."

"This one by Prequel, the hypochlorous acid spray, is such a holy grail of mine. I love this one because it's packaged really well. It has a great pH, very simple ingredients, and it's not overpriced. We don't need to be spending like $30 or more on hypochlorous acid, that's insane. It's like a one fix all type of product. It can help acne, rosacea, eczema, sensitive skin, can help fix or repair your skin barrier. It's great to use after the gym to cut down on bacteria on the skin. It's a really, really great addition to any skincare routine."

"The Ordinary Argireline Solution is a very affordable one. This specific type of peptide, Botox in a bottle, will target muscle contraction and help prevent that from firing quite so hard, and that is supposed to lessen the amount of wrinkles on your face. Peptides can be really helpful if you are someone who does not use injectable Botox because this is another way, obviously not as effective, but you're not injecting something so you can still get some of those benefits without injection."

"Hypochlorous acid does not have to be expensive, it's actually a very simple product with very simple ingredients, literally one or two ingredients in it. Do not overspend on this product, but it can be so helpful in cutting down irritation around the eyes, like styes and blepharitis. It also is really good for the skin and can help if you have conditions like eczema, acne, or rosacea. It's just a really great product. You do have to be careful with this though, it's thought that this can actually inactivate some antioxidants, so when I apply this to my eye area I'm not putting any other active skincare ingredients on right away. I'm just letting my skin calm down and relax."

"There are two main categories of eyelash serums: those that contain prostaglandins and those that do not contain prostaglandins, and all of the serious side effects, some of which are permanent and some of which are temporary, come from the lash serums that contain the prostaglandin ingredient. Latisse is prescription, and these work. I am not telling you not to use them; I am simply wanting you to know the risks here so you can weigh these pros and cons before you start using them. If you are considering an eyelash serum, you need to thoroughly evaluate the label to see if your product contains a prostaglandin. Often times, probably all of the time, this is actually not even clearly listed on the box or the packaging and instead it's only mentioned or hidden in the ingredients label of the packaging."

"The patches that I use for this are called Frownies Facial Patches. These are extraordinarily affordable remedy for fixing your forehead lines that comes in a box with a whole bunch of patches in here. They're perforated, you kind of tear them apart into triangle sizes and you use them across the forehead. I use just a little thermal water spray on the side that goes skin down, let it warm up for a second, rub it in and then I patch my forehead. These are basically going to lift your wrinkles off the skin and create almost harden into a little cast on the skin that is going to prevent those muscles from firing again, what caused your wrinkles in the first place muscle contraction. So these little guys are blocking our muscular contraction."

"This is the one I have used and tested the longest, starting way back last year. This one is still probably my favorite of all the budget [retinaldehydes] I've ever tried. It actually comes in three strengths: a 0.05, a 0.1, and a 0.2, similar to the concentration that's in the 2 prequel. I really love that because if you've never used a retinoid, I don't love starting at 0.1. I really really like starting at 0.05 and you can do that with the A-Game 5. I love Geek & Gorgeous brand because they are really everything I look for in a skincare brand. They're super transparent with how they formulate their products. They tell you the pH of the product. They tell you percentages of everything that's in the product. They tell you where they source things so that we know they're stable. They're very into the science behind the skincare, which really speaks to me as a dermatologist. I find all of their products extremely thoughtfully formulated."

"It contains retinaldehyde, which is the best type of retinoid you can get without a prescription to give you results the quickest, but with less irritation. This is a good product. I have used it. But this has fragrance. Fragrance doesn't always bother me in skincare, but this fragrance just bothers me a little bit after I use it for a while, so I tend to steer away from this. I don't use this on my face. I have some other more budget-friendly retinaldehyde options for the face that I think work just as well, and I don't necessarily feel like I have to splurge for this one. So it is not in my routine."

"My favorite budget anti-aging body product of the year is this one by Gold Bond, the Age Renew Retinol Overnight Body and Face Lotion. I love this because it has a very thick texture, so it's really good overnight to just layer it on and let it do its job. It's super affordable, you can get this at the drugstore. It has a retinol ingredient in it to smooth your skin texture and skin tone on the body, just like we do on your face. You can find retinol body lotions by a lot of brands and they can be $30, $40 or more, but I actually love the texture and finish of this more than some of the expensive ones. It's amazing. It's a workhorse."

"Olay Retinol 24 Max, same thing retinol not retinaldehyde in that product. The reason I say this is not my first choice is because retinol has to undergo two conversions to get to retinoic acid if you remember the retinaldehyde has to only undergo one so this is closer to prescription strength. Retinol can still be effective and you'll get even less side effects with that but it's not the strongest option."

"Move actually makes a retinol too, if you're really sensitive and you've never tried a retinoid product you could start with their retinol, I think it's called Stargaze. And then you can graduate up to Moonlight, which is the one I use. It has 0.11% retinaldehyde in it. A lot of people have concern about putting retinaldehyde on their skin, maybe you're sensitive, maybe you're worried about dryness or irritation, but this has other really great supporting ingredients in it. It has ceramides, it has hyaluronic acid, so it's really going to be gentle on your skin considering you're putting a retinoid on there. You can use this morning and night. At night you would actually put this one on first and then the Moonlight retinaldehyde, then you want to follow with a great moisturizer. Do I want you to use a retinaldehyde product every single night? No, I do not, because I think it's important to take a few nights off as rest nights to rest and reset your skin."

"This under eye cream by Numbuzin is an NAD+ retinol with niacinamide and peptides, a multitasking treatment for fine lines and wrinkles that also brightens the under eyes. What I really love is that it has ceramides that give it a shimmer, so when I rub it in it instantly makes the light bounce off my under eyes and the dark circles seem to disappear, while the niacinamide gradually improves the under eye color. It's right around $13."

"This is my 2024 product of the year, my very favorite product that I feel like has made the biggest gamechanging difference on my skin. It's an anti-aging eye cream by Medik8 called Crystal Retinal Camide Eye. There are actually three versions of this anti-aging eye cream in three different strengths: a 3, a 6, and a 10, so you can start low and ladder up to get results as your skin adjusts to decrease your risk of side effects. This has retinaldehyde in it, which is the best anti-aging ingredient you can get over the counter, but it's very gentle on the eyes. It's made a lot of difference to my fine lines this year more than any eye cream I've ever used in the past. So it is a little bit of a splurge, but it's the cheapest you can get this all year long right now because it's 30% off."

"I love this one because part of the issue with some tubing mascaras is they can be clumpy on the lashes and that's not the look we want. This mascara started my entire search for the best tubing mascara because I was on my Instagram raving about finding a mascara that I'm absolutely obsessed with. I still am not jumping ship from my original favorite because it's very versatile."

"Grande Lash is one of the lash serum brands that contains prostaglandin in their products. These work, but I want you to know the risks. If you are considering an eyelash serum, you need to thoroughly evaluate the label to see if your product contains a prostaglandin. Often times, probably all of the time, this is actually not even clearly listed on the box or the packaging and instead it's only mentioned or hidden in the ingredients label of the packaging."

"Babe Lash is one of many lash serum brands that contain prostaglandin in their products. These work, I am not telling you not to use them. I am simply wanting you to know the risks here so you can weigh these pros and cons before you start using them. If you are considering an eyelash serum you need to thoroughly evaluate the label to see if your product contains a prostaglandin, and often times this is actually not even clearly listed on the box or the packaging and instead it's only mentioned or hidden in the ingredients label of the packaging."

"Photobiomodulation is thought to promote the growth phase of hair and provide anti-inflammatory effects. Studies show that low-level light therapy increases hair density in patients with androgenetic alopecia. When choosing a device, look for one that is FDA cleared with appropriate wavelengths, typically 630 to 660 nanometers, for red light. Devices like this one from iRestore is a great option. This comes in various models. This is one part of the routine. Think of it as giving you more synergy with your minoxidil."

"I've been experimenting with patches that basically contain micro darts or these little needles in them. It sounds scary but it's really not, and let me tell you they don't play, they really work. These are the Cure Micro Infusion Targeted Patches. I am extremely focused on anti-aging around my eyes because this is the thinnest skin on your face and it is going to be the first area that shows signs of fine lines, crepy skin, wrinkles. I will put these on my skin at night and I wear them overnight. You only have to wear them two hours but I get the best results if I wear them overnight. I will do this on nights that I do not use my anti-aging serums or other products. I will cleanse my skin and then apply these directly to the skin. These have 80 little tiny tiny darts that are self-dissolving that aim to really soften fine lines and wrinkles. These are micro micro micro little darts that just slightly will penetrate the skin so it can deliver the infused ingredients in this patch deeper into your skin so they work better. These can be applied to crows feet, kind of under the eyes, to target dark circles."

"I did a ton of research on different hair growth devices and helmets and the technology used in them and I really like this one. It does take about three to six months to really get results. So far so good, it's been very easy to use. One of the things I like about this one is the power output of this device, it's very high. It also has 282 lasers and LEDs and it has a really great coverage to cover the whole scalp area because of the size and design of the helmet. This device uses these lasers and light technology to stimulate the hair follicle to grow hair and it is believed that this technology can increase blood flow to the hair follicle, so more blood means more oxygen and nutrients for the hair to grow. It might increase the production of growth factors around the hair follicle and decrease the inflammation there that can easily cause hair to shed."

"Let's start with my favorite one, the DRMTLGY pumpkin enzyme mask. This is one of this brand's bestsellers, it's a viral skincare product so I had to try it, this was one of the first ones I tried this season. This has obviously pumpkin in it, but it also has ceramides which are going to replenish and maintain the hydration of your skin barrier, it has peptides in it which are good for building collagen and anti-aging, and it has clay so that's really good to draw out the gunk from your pores and help them shrink down and look way less noticeable. But check this out, inside it has these little orange beads that contain jojoba esters and vitamin E, and they are so soft and pliable, they basically melt into your skin as you massage them in, and this helps exfoliate but in a very gentle and soft way, they're not rough and gritty, it's not a hard texture, and they melt as you are applying this mask and they really can hydrate the skin. So I love that little addition to this mask. I use this mask at night after I do a gentle cleanse of my skin."

"It's called the Peter Thomas Roth Sulfur Mask for acne. If you have acne and you do not have clear skin yet and you are not using a sulfur product, get this and try it out because sulfur is really the unsung hero in treating acne people overlook it all the time. You can use it a couple times a week. It helps unclog the pores and decreases some of that acne causing bacteria on the skin."

"The alternative that I actually want you to use potentially works better at preventing infection. It works better at healing your wound and it's cheaper. It's Vaseline or the generic petroleum jelly. Studies show that when you use just plain petroleum jelly or this occlusive ointment on top of your wound, you are going to prevent infection and you are going to help your wound heal plenty quickly without the added need of an antibiotic ointment on top of the skin. I'm asking you to keep it simple and keep it more affordable and just go with plain petroleum jelly or Vaseline to heal your minor cuts, wounds, scrapes, and burns."

"Neosporin, or triple antibiotic ointment, is a product that I do not recommend and I'm constantly deinfluencing people from. The three main ingredients are Polymixin B, Neomycin, and Bacitracin. While people use it on minor wounds, scrapes, cuts, or procedures to prevent infection, there are several very common problems with this product. First of all, it is very highly likely to cause an allergic reaction on your skin called contact dermatitis. This is going to be very uncomfortable, it looks red, inflamed, itchy, burning, and can cause a new problem on top of the problem you are already initially trying to treat. The neomycin and other ingredients in it are common culprits of contact dermatitis that we see in our clinics. The other issue with triple antibiotic ointment is it can lead to antibiotic resistance."

"This gives you the benefits of a traditional ointment like protection and repair, but without the heavy greasy feel. What else makes this unique is that it doesn't have petrolatum in it like traditional ointments, but rather 40% glycerin, which helps provide up to 72 hours of moisture. As a dermatologist who treats a lot of patients with skin barrier damage and even conditions like eczema, I know that ointments are a mainstay of therapy, but I've seen that compliance from my patients can be so low because of that greasy feel. That's why I love and recommend the Skin Relief Healing Ointment. Instead of that feeling of it just sitting on top of your skin like most ointments, this actually felt like it absorbed in. And I find that my patients like this feel better. Therefore, they are more compliant and actually able to keep up with using it, so their skin stays moisturized. I recommend this product to fix dry, cracked, or chafed skin."

"If you want to target more of the crepey texture or aging skin look, you can try a body retinol. I have another one from Naturium, the Skin Renewing Retinol Body Lotion. These can help as well. But you have to protect your skin from the sun. If you're going to be using these, especially, you need to be wearing body sunscreen or pants, UPF clothing to balance that out so you're not making matters worse."

"The Deodorant Gel is my top pick from this brand overall. I will always keep buying this again and again. It's different than other deodorants because it contains five percent AHA, or alpha hydroxy acids, and niacinamide, and together these can significantly lighten dark spots on the skin. It has no aluminum in it, so it's aluminum free, has no baking soda, no parabens, no synthetic fragrance. It comes in this glass bottle, it's a roll-on, it's clear. Necessaire is truly a great and sustainable skincare brand, and this is one of their standout products in my opinion."

"Paula's Choice is one of my favorite skincare brands because their products are just formulated so well. The Paula's Choice Pro Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster has just a little bit of a thicker texture or consistency but absorbs in really nicely and quickly and finishes very smooth on the skin. It's your treatment step and it's going to do your anti-aging, skin brightening, skin barrier strengthening and kind of help your skin reset."

"The Peptide Squad Serum is a favorite of mine. This is one of the best peptide serums on the market because it is very well-rounded. It has all of the key types of peptides that you want in a peptide serum if you're really after those anti-aging benefits. The reason this is such an incredible peptide serum is that it has my favorite type of anti-aging peptide in it, called Matrixyl 3000."

"These patches are really unique to me because they are more invisible on the skin than any other patches that I have tried. They have invisible technology that helps the patch instantly blur the appearance of the pimple underneath. They are ultra thin and ultra matte and that allows it to blend in all skin tones so that they are undetectable. This patch is made of hydrocolloid which is a hyper absorptive material that draws the gunk out of the pimple. It also has salicylic acid which penetrates into the acne pore to unplug it so the gunk can come out. Sumic acid is also in this patch that can improve redness and ectoin will soothe blemish prone skin. You should apply this to clean dry skin directly after cleansing and leave the pimple patch on for at least 4 hours or overnight to help clear up your acne fast."

"My argument is that ketoconazole shampoo will actually give you better long-term results that do not wash away. So if you are more budget-conscious and results-driven, opt for Nizoral, your ketoconazole shampoo. On a daily basis, I'm using Nizoral to grow my hair. Now, I want to be very clear: shampoo should not be your primary treatment for hair loss. Think of your shampoo as only an adjunct, or part of your routine or treatment plan. So let's talk about how you can correctly use ketoconazole shampoo. You can buy this in a 1%"

"It's 96% snail mucin and hyaluronic acid so it's super lightweight and thin and it does a really good job giving you just this nice seal of hydration on your skin. You can put a moisturizer over this if you need to, I usually don't need to. It's very viscous. This is like 60% off, it's less than $10 on the sale, usually it's $26. It's a really cool product if you're looking to try something new and trendy. Snail mucin gets that nice dewy hydration, draws in water, really seals the skin."

"It's a Nail Conditioner called Derma Nail Conditioner, not a lacquer to harden the nail. The idea with this product is that you will apply this to the base of the nail where the cuticle is so that it is absorbed into the cuticle and matrix area where the nail grows from. This product is very simple, it's a clean formulation. It has mandelic acid in it which binds the corney cells in the nail to make your nail plate harder. So you can apply the Derma Nail Conditioner down at the base of the nail to promote new growth."