SELF-CARE
10 Brands Skincare Junkies Can’t Get Enough Of
Published: June 15, 2022
Whether you’re struggling with acne, dark spots, or fine lines and wrinkles, the right skincare can do wonders. The trick is in finding the right formula for your specific needs. Here are 10 stores you might want to look into. They’re all highly rated, skincare junkie-approved, and relatively affordable.
This brand was born out of something very relatable: applying aloe vera to a sunburn back in 1971, long before SPF was invented. For the last 45 years, they’ve been creating long-standing, staple formulas using thoroughly researched, natural ingredients. They produce the world’s largest selection of Aloe Vera-based products, marketed as naturally age-defying, nourishing, and moisturizing. And they have it all: shaving cream, moisturizer, sunscreen, salt scrubs, facial cleansers, under-eye gel, and much more.
What Skincare Junkies Say:
Key West Aloe is available from its own website, storefronts, and, of course, Target. Their reviews are high overall, with products like Eye Matrix and Save A Tan standing out among the crowd.
As the name suggests, DERMAdoctor is a clinical skincare brand focused on hypoallergenic, multitasking, and problem-solving formulas for all. You can use it regardless of gender, age, skin type, or concern. These clean, cruelty-free formulations give skincare junkies the power of the lab in a bottle—and the freedom to purchase doctor-approved products from stores like Ulta, Nordstrom, and Macy’s. They offer BB cream, eye treatment, serums, sun protection, cleaners, body treatments, and more. Whether you have dark spots, rosacea, or even eczema, DERMAdoctor has something for everyone.
What Skincare Junkies Say:
Forbes October 2020 called DERMAdoctor skincare “beautiful medicine,” while Allure Magazine called the Calm Cool + Corrected Tranquility Cream the perfect way to “reduce the look of red patches and skin irritation.”
In the last couple of years, you’ve likely seen tons of Kiehl's products on display. Social media lit up with their Ultra Facial Cleanser and Midnight Recovery Routine Value Bundle. And yet, Kiehls isn’t new—they’ve kept skin fresh and clear since 1851. It all began when John Kiehl, an ambitious pharmacist, began his apothecary on the corner of 13th Street and Third Avenue. His products included herbal teas, tinctures, and oils, but soon grew into a plethora of formulas for just about every skincare concern. These days, it’s one of the most widely used skincare brands in the world, with classic products like the Calendula Herbal-Extract Tone, Blue Astringent Lotion, used by Andy Warhol himself.
What Skincare Junkies Say:
Kiehl’s has 4-5-star reviews on Sephora, with over 2.3k 4-star reviews on the Ultra Facial Moisturizing Cream with Squalane. Meanwhile, the Calendula & Aloe Soothing Hydration Mask won the Elle International Beauty Award in 2018.
What began as Ming Zhao’s own battle with difficult skin has turned into a massive skincare movement better known as PROVEN Skincare. Her agenda? To create effective, problem-zapping formulas for an affordable price. And so, partnering up with scientific experts, she created a holistic approach to skincare: The Skin Genome Project™—the world’s largest skincare database. It lets customers find tailor-made PROVEN Skincare formulas that fit like a glove.
What Skincare Junkies Say:
Forbes called PROVEN “The Tesla of skincare.” 4.5 out of 5 skincare lovers swear by the brand’s personalized skincare.
If herbal skincare and restorative spa treatments are up your alley, then Naturopathica is the brand for you. By harnessing the power of nature, their product lines treat the cause of skin problems and prevent them from recurring. So, it’s not surprising that they avoid animal-derived ingredients, endocrine disruptors, petroleum products, silicones, and other potentially harmful or known irritants. Truly, Naturopathica is a sensitive skincare dream.
What Skincare Junkies Say:
Most of the brand’s products receive a 4-5-star rating across the board. Well-loved skincare review site, The Derm Review, calls out their Daily UV Defense Cream SPF 50 and Manuka Honey Cleansing Balm as part of their top 5 products by the brand.
Philosophy is another well-known brand. In fact, odds are high you’ve either given someone one of their iconic gift bundles or received one, at one time or another. It’s no surprise either—they’re highly regarded for their clean formulas, eco-responsible formulas, and responsibly sourced ingredients. People trust them so much that the brand has listed both their Amazing Grace 3-in-1 Bath & Shower Gel and their Amazing Grace Firming Body Emulsion as bestsellers for several years in a row.
What Skincare Junkies Say:
Purity Made Simple is America's number one face wash, according to Philosophy. The cleanser has won an Allure Best of Beauty award for 10 years. Their Hands of Hope hand cream made the list of winners in 2018.
If cute, feminine, and effective skincare calls your name, Pixi Beauty is the perfect choice for you. Considered one of the more approachable drugstore brands in the skincare community, it’s available at Target for a reasonable price range. The creator, Petra Strand, has over 20 years of experience as a makeup artist and product developer. She uses botanicals and beneficial ingredients like cucumber and aloe vera extract in her skincare.
What Skincare Junkies Say:
Both the skincare and makeup communities love Pixi, and it often appears on beauty gurus' and skincare experts' favorites lists. Their reviews are high, and their cult-following speaks for itself. The Derm Review speaks highly of their Glow Tonic and Overnight Glow Serum.
Similar to DERMAdoctor, Lifeline Skincare is all about revealing beautiful, resilient skin through the power of science and advanced technology. The difference is Lifeline Skincare uses a patented stem cell extraction process to create groundbreaking skin serums. This new formula is more easily absorbed through the skin because of the small molecule technology their scientists specialize in.
What Skincare Junkies Say:
The results speak for themselves with Lifeline Skincare. Improved skin elasticity, boosted clarity, and smoothed fine lines and wrinkles are the byproducts of the peptides found in human non-embryonic stem cells.
DermaBlend is one of the most popular, highly rated, and beloved brands in the makeup community—especially in the theater, tattoo, and LGBTQ communities. The reason? This makeup covers just about everything and still looks natural, so plenty of performers use it before going onstage. Their skincare is nothing to scoff at either. Formed in 1981, when Dr. Craig Roberts partnered with his makeup artist wife, Flori Roberts, DermaBlend is the blend of both worlds. With high-performance pigments and dermatologist-approved standards, these products will help you put your best face (and body, thanks to body makeup) forward without sacrificing the skin-clearing ingredients you love.
What Skincare Junkies Say:
If you check out DermaBlend’s website, you’ll quickly notice all the high ratings. Social media eats up their products, especially their body makeup. There's a reason the brand is the #1 dermatologist recommended coverage brand and the brand of choice for makeup artists and physicians.
Skincare experts, gurus, influencers, and lovers swear by La Roche-Posay. In fact, if you’re relatively new to the skincare scene, the odds are high that you’ve already started hearing about this brand from just about everyone. That’s because the formulation for La Roche-Posay is super strict. They only partner with the most innovative, high-ranking dermatologists. Combine that with 750+ studies and 25 years of research, and you get some top-tier skincare products.
What Skincare Junkies Say:
The average rating for all of La Roche-Posay’s products is a solid 4.5. Thousands of the world’s best skin experts recommended the brand.
Save On Skincare
Ready to up your skincare game, but worried about just how much it’s all going to cost you? That’s a reasonable concern—much like makeup, skincare products are fairly expensive, with small bundles often going for well over $300.
Luckily, no one ever said you have to pay full price for top-tier formulas. Get your skincare needs for a fraction of the cost with Eureka.
