The Absolute Best Skincare Brands That We Think Are The Fountain Of Youth

Everyone wants good looking, healthy skin, right? Of course we do. But trying to achieve it can feel daunting when there’s a seemingly endless supply of skincare products available. Vitamin C oils, serums, retinoids — these ingredients can seem overwhelming if you don’t know what it is that you need. Seriously, how does one even know where to begin?

The good news is we decided to make things a little bit easier by selecting our 20 favorite skincare brands that boast a variety of products to address your skin concerns.

How We Picked

All of our picks are popular in their own way. Some are absolute hits online, with influencer dermatologists recommending them, while others are drugstore staples that can’t be beat. To determine our final picks, we evaluated the following:

• Effectiveness: There’s no shortage of brands claiming to hydrate skin and diminish fine lines and wrinkles, but we opted for ones that have the proof to back up these claims. We looked for brands with high quality ingredients that make their products like the fountain of youth.
• Price: While we evaluated brands across the price spectrum, we opted for picks with mid-tier and affordable price points. There are certainly some wonderful, more pricey options, but it really doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg to achieve a glowing complexion.

The 20 Best Skincare Brands of 2024

Dr. Idriss

Products from board-certified dermatologist Dr. Shereen Idriss are driven by science and focused on clinically proven results. We love that she isn’t hawking a million products, because it shows she’s going for quality over quantity.

If you’re looking to dip your toe in, we recommend starting with the Soft Wash Daily Cleanser that gently but effectively removes stubborn makeup and SPF. Trust Us, you’ll be hooked.

Olay

Olay, Olay, Olay! We’re going to take a wild guess and assume you’ve seen it on the shelves at your local drugstore. Though the legacy brand has been in the skincare world since 1952, they’re constantly adapting to deliver new products that address today’s skincare concerns.

Bestsellers like their Retinol24 Night Moisturizer are emblematic of a brand that’s not afraid to innovate based on consumer demands.

Drunk Elephant

If you’re interested in investing a bit more money into your skincare routine, Drunk Elephant is a smart choice. The brand is dedicated to quality with a focus on bio-compatibility by creating products that mimic your skin’s natural pH levels. Plus, they’re packaging is poised yet playful, guaranteed to put a smile on your face every morning.

If there’s a new buzzy ingredient your skin is craving, odds are Drunk Elephant carries it. One of our favorite products is the C-Firma Fresh Day Serum containing 15% vitamin C to illuminate skin and diminish dark spots . If you’re not using vitamin C in your skincare routine, this pick will make you wonder what has taken you so long to get on board.

The Ordinary

If you want to treat your skin to potent ingredients without taking out a loan, this is the brand for you. At first glance, the affordable price point will rightfully make you wonder if their products actually get the job done. That’s the beauty of The Ordinary. Their products are backed by “effective clinical technologies” yet delivered at an affordable price point for all consumers to enjoy.

This is why their branding is a little more “ordinary” rather than colorful and eye-catching. It’s always why the product names are ingredient-based. But funny enough, we love what’s inside The Ordinary’s bottles as much as we love the look of the bottles themselves. So, if you’re looking to try out AHA’s like glycolic acid, this could be just the ticket for you.

La Roche Posay

As far as drugstore brands with a premium feel go, La Roche Posay is the creme de le creme. The brand is recommended by over 90,000 dermatologists around the globe — and for good reason. La Roche Posay is focused on implementing the growing field of dermatological research into its products.

Among the skincare brand’s cult-favorites are the Cicaplast Balm B5 and its Toleraine Double Repair Face Moisturizer. We could go on and on about our favorite picks, but we’ll leave it at those two for now.

Versed

This vegan and cruelty-free company’s product line – which can be found at drugstores – includes everything you need to create the perfect routine. From moisturizers to serums to cleansers, their well-curated range of products has quickly become a fan favorite. Be sure to check out the Press Restart Gentle Retinol Serum, an anti-aging gem that is perfect for people that are new to the world of retinol.

Blu Atlas

If you’re someone who prefers natural ingredients from your skincare, look no further than Blu Atlas, a do-it-all brand that supplies you with naturally derived products that work and smell wonderful. Some of our favorites include the Exfoliating Scrub and Body Wash in the coconut apricot scent. Buy a bottle and just enjoy the smell, it’s an absolute chef’s kiss.

Paula’s Choice

A pricier yet still reasonable skincare brand, Paula’s Choice is becoming something of a cult classic. Active ingredients range from retinoids to AHAs and vitamin C. If you’ve heard of it, odds are Paula’s Choice carries it, and has a particularly great version of it. We appreciate the website’s dropdown feature, displaying popular ingredients to not only suggest products with those ingredients, but also explain exactly what it’s suited for. We recommend starting with the 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant — it’s social media viral for a reason.

Elta MD

Elta MD is known for its sunscreens, which come recommended by many dermatologists. But as the bestsellers section of their site demonstrates, it also crushes the skincare scene with products like Foaming Amino Acid Cleanser (I use it regularly and love how gentle it is while actually effectively cleaning my face). With Elta MD, you may come for the sunscreen, but you’ll really be inclined to stay for everything else.

Barbara Sturm

Dr. Barbara Sturm is a German aesthetics expert and doctor who’s a leader in the world of inflammatory condition treatments. She used her expertise to create her eponymous luxury skincare brand, which focuses on combating inflammation to heal the skin and promote a more comfortable complexion. All of the brand’s products are cruelty-free and made without fragrances, parabens or silicones. Some picks that we love are the brand’s Super Anti-Aging Serum, as well as the Super Anti-Aging Face Cream. Both of these gems are perfect for reducing fine lines and wrinkles.

Cerave

One word that consistently comes to mind with Cerave is gentle. This brand includes three essential ceramides in all of their products to restore the skin’s natural barrier. As an added bonus, it was developed with dermatologists, so you know it’s the real deal.

Cerave’s bestsellers line drugstore shelves, including their Moisturizing Cream, Daily Moisturizing Lotion and Hydrating Facial Cleanser. But don’t sleep on their retinol or Vitamin C products, trust Us.

SkinCeuticals

Among the pricier brands on the list is SkinCeuticals. But with over 9,000 total ratings on the brand’s website and plenty of rave reviews from estheticians and dermatologists, it earns a splurge-worthy price point. The brand is dedicated to quality ingredients and clinical testing.

If you’re interested in reversing signs of aging, preventing future damage and keeping your skin healthy, this is the skincare brand for you. Start with their C E Ferulic Acid Serum, and you’ll experience results fast.

No7

Another brand that is just loaded with winning products, No7 is perfect for preventative skincare, and even reversing some damage thanks to bestsellers like its Future Renew Damage Reversal Serum. We also recommend the Pure Retinol Eye Cream, which is designed specifically to accommodate the delicate nature of the skin surrounding the eye.

The Inkey List

Since 2018, The Inkey List has identified itself as a powerhouse in the skincare game. That’s because it features helpful tools like a live support feature on its website to answer your skincare concerns. It also boasts fair prices, with bestsellers like the award-winning BioActive Ceramide Moisturizer and Hyaluronic Acid Serum costing between $8 to $20.

Alpyn Beauty 

This company is devoted to creating plant-powered, clinical-grade formulas using wildcrafted ingredients that are sustainably sourced in Wyoming, where the brand is based. All products are vegan and cruelty-free and free of artificial fragrances, synthetic dyes, parabens, sulfates or phthalates.

One of the products that put Alpyn Beauty on the map is the PlantGenius Melt Moisturizer. The deeply hydrating cream-based moisturizer uses the power of ceramides, hyaluronic acid and squalane to transform dry and dehydrated skin. Try it out and you’ll see why it’s all the rage.

Ole Henriksen

This eponymous skincare brand from a Danish dermatologist is designed to replicate the spa experience, making it pleasant from start to finish. You’ve most likely seen Ole Henriksen’s signature orange colors on their bestsellers like the Banana Bright+ Eye Cream or the Banana Bright Vitamin C Serum. Try them out for yourselves and enjoy a radical pick me up.

Cetaphil

Sure, a lot of brands market their products for sensitive skin, but Cetaphil is one of few brands that’s exclusively designed to treat sensitive skin. There’s a reason it’s so heavily recommended by dermatologists, and that’s because Cetaphil is the real deal. Buy something from this company and you can expect fragrance free products that really just get the job done, like the top-rated Daily Cleanser.

L’Oreal

Another drugstore classic, you definitely don’t want to sleep on L’Oreal. This bonafide staple offers top tier products like its bestselling 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum and its RevitaLift Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Moisturizer. The products are magnificent, but the convenience of getting it at your local store really cannot be beaten.

Kiehl’s

Since 1851, Kiehl’s has made quite a name for themselves with their apothecary-like potions beloved by celebrities and everyday shoppers alike. Hit products like the Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane and Refillable Body Lotion with Cocoa Butter have earned it true fame status. What you can expect with Kiehl’s is a bit of a higher price tag, but a quality to match it. Money is never poorly spent on this brand.

Avéne

Avéne excels at creating simple yet effective formulas that won’t aggravate the skin. It offers a wide range of products – cleansers, facial mists, serums, treatments and more – that help you achieve comfortable, healthy skin.

One of the company’s bestselling products is the Thermal Spring Water Spray. This gentle, mineral-rich facial mist is bottled directly at the source, and it’s clinically proven to soften, calm and soothe the skin.