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 MoisturizerLa Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte Face MoisturizerCeraVe Moisturizing CreamAugustinus Bader The Rich CreamRetinols:SkinMedica Retinol Complex 1.0Trader Joe’s Retinol Night SerumVitamin C Serums: SkinCeuticals C E FerulicTimeless Skin Care 20% C + E Ferulic Acid SerumNaturium Vitamin C Complex SerumLa Roche-Posay’s 10% Pure Vitamin C SerumDr. Dhingra likes these facial cleansers: Cetaphil Gentle Skin CleanserCeraVe Foaming Facial CleanserLa Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Facial CleanserRory likes: East Fork Everyday Bowl Additional Reading:The 7 Best Moisturizers of 2025The 6 Best Vitamin C Serums of 2025The 5 Best Retinol Products of 2025So 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› Wirecutter Social and WebsiteInstagram: /wirecutterThreads: /@wirecutterTwitter: /wirecutterFacebook: /thewirecutterTikTok: /wirecutterLinkedIn: /nyt-wirecutterWebsite: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/newsletters/ 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.