As much as I love Amazon, I can get pretty, prett-ay (as Larry David says) overwhelmed with its selection of goodies. More specifically, the amount of incredible beauty buys you can find on the mega-site.
If you pull up the beauty section, you’re met with zillions of SKUs that all promise to beautify your complexion, all with a simple click of “add to cart.” So help navigate the massive selection, I tapped a dermatologist to help me shop. Her advice? “I like to search these products in order of how I would apply products in actuality—cleanser, moisturizer/sunscreen, and then a night cream/anti-aging cream or mask,” says Rachel Nazarian, MD, board-certified dermatologist with New York’s Schweiger Dermatology. “I look for active ingredients which I know have evidence-based results, and then cross check with the reviews and stars. This ensures the product has ingredients that I know are effective but also that the product’s well made.” Derms—they’re just like us!
That means she’s looking at skin-care MVPs like vitamin C, retinol, and—of course—a solid SPF. Ready to shop Amazon’s beauty products with a pro? Below are Dr. Nazarian’s six skin-care picks from Amazon.
Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar, $14 for a pack of 6
“This gentle cleanser is fragrance-free, so much less likely to cause irritation than other more aggressive soaps,” says Dr. Nazarian. “It also doesn’t strip away natural skin or oils, and is great for year-round use. A perfect gentle cleanser to use twice a day, setting the stage for all the other important products in your skin-care regimen.”
EltaMD UV Clear Sunscreen SPF 46 $33
This one’s the most derm-approved sunscreenever. “It’s incredibly lightweight facial sunscreen and easy for people to wear under makeup,” says Dr. Nazarian. “The SPF is high enough for daily wear, and also effectively blocks UVA and UVB. It also contains niacinamide which decrease redness—so it’s a great choice for people who have rosacea or acne, since it is non-comedogenic and non-irritating.”
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Sunscreen Milk SPF 60, $35
“This is another absolute favorite of mine,” says Dr. Nazarian. “It goes on so lightweight, and has a super high SPF. This is the sort of thing I would wear during the summertime or at the beach. Even people who hate wearing sunscreen on their body seem to tolerate this well—that includes my husband!”
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Moisturizer, $20
“This moisturizer was created with all skin types in mind,” says Dr. Nazarian. “It improves moisture retention in the skin with continued use, and can be used with all parts of your skin-care regimen—including being mixed with the retinol below. Although it’s available with sunscreen as well, I prefer the one without so it can be used both day and night.”
SkinMedica Retinol 0.25 Complex, $62
“There are a lot of great retinols on the market,” says Dr. Nazarian of the must-have ingredient. “I think this one is pretty dependable, and gentle enough for most skin types. I’d recommend starting use two to three nights a week, mixed with a moisturizer. Retinols are a fantastic way to induce collagen formation in the skin, decrease fine wrinkles, and improve skin texture and tone. It can’t be used if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding—and it also increases sun sensitivity, so daily sunscreen use is vital.”
Glytone Rejuvenating Mask with Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Vitamin C, $49
“This mask can be rotated through a skin-care regimen once a week to remove dead skin cells, improve skin texture, and decrease hyperpigmented dark spots that can accumulate from daily sunlight and pollution exposure,” says Dr. Nazarian of the superstar skin ingredient-packed face mask.
Also for your shopping pleasure are these dermatologist skin-care lines that rival in-office appointments. And here’s why this spring, derms want you to slather on the vitamin C in your beauty routine.
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