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:

• SkinMedica Retinol Complex 1.0
• Trader Joe’s Retinol Night Serum

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: 

• East Fork Everyday Bowl

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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The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.

Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast