Good beauty recommendations can come from anyone—celebrities, friends, or family—but great beauty recommendations? Those only come straight from the experts themselves. Dermatologists and plastic surgeons live and breathe good skin care, so we tapped the experts for their top picks from our favorite beauty shopping destination: Sephora.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Universal Daily Peel ($88)
According to Montclair, NJ dermatologist Jeanine Downie, MD, “these pads are good for normal to oily skin and they also help with the texture of your skin. They may even out the tone of your skin and even help a little with acne.”
ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Foundation ($46)
“This will be your go-to for clean, lightweight coverage,” says Miami dermatologist Dr. Deborah Longwill. “In addition to natural coverage, it contains plant-based squalane which locks in hydration for the skin.”
Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream ($68)
“I love this cream! It is one of the most hydrating over-the-counter creams,” says New York dermatologist Michelle Henry, MD. “Plus, it contains skin-protective antioxidants.”
Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel ($39)
“I’ve been using this cleanser since my early twenties and it is a staple of my skin care,” says Houston plastic surgeon Kriti Mohan, MD. “It is fantastic at cleansing the skin, removing oil and makeup, as well as creating a brighter complexion. Long-term use also minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.”
Bobbi Brown Under Eye Corrector ($29)
For an every day pick-me-up, Dr. Downie applies this concealer under her eyes. “I never wear a full face of makeup unless I’m doing something on television, but this concealer matches my skin tone perfectly and gives me that extra boost of confidence that I need!”
Tatcha Polished Classic Rice Enzyme Powder ($65)
If exfoliation is what you need, look no further than this water-activated polish. “I love this gentle exfoliant that softens and conditions skin—without harsh abrasives,” says New York dermatologist Sejal Shah, MD.
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel ($30)
“This moisturizer is an old standby,” says Beverly Hills dermatologist, Rhonda Rand, MD. “It’s very old but has stood the test of time. It’s also well-priced and non-comedogenic.”
Philosophy The Microdelivery Vitamin C Resurfacing Peel ($72)
“I’ve been a long-time fan of this two-step exfoliating treatment,” says New York facial plastic surgeon, Dara Liotta, MD. “There is an exfoliating scrub as the first step and then an activating gel containing lactic and salicylic acid as the second step. The one-two punch rejuvenates the skin and minimizes the appearance of pores, fine lines and wrinkles.”
Caudalie Vinoperfect Concentrated Brightening Essence ($49)
“This is a glycolic acid-based toner that brighten the complexion and removes dead skin cells,” says Dr. Shah, adding that “the addition of grape water helps to soothe and hydrate the skin.”
Grande Cosmetics GrandeLASH MD Lash Enhancing Serum ($65)
If your lashes are weak and stubby, Dr. Liotta recommends using this lash-strengthening best-seller. “All hairs, including eyelashes, have a cycle of growth after which they fall out, followed by a period of rest. The more brittle the lashes, the quicker they fall out and the shorter they grow. This eyelash serum nourishes the lashes and helps keep them thick and healthy, allowing each individual lash to stick around longer, grow longer, and increase the lushness of your lashes.”
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream ($34)
“This is an amazing, non-greasy moisturizer formulated with skin soothing and repairing ingredients like ceramides and antioxidants,” says Dr. Shah. Just as the name implies, this cream is the ultimate reparative product for dry, distressed or eczema-ridden skin.
Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment Balm ($26)
“This smoothing lip treatment enhances the volume of your lips by boosting moisture for 24 hours,” says Dr. Liotta, adding that it can also anti-age the lips. “This increased moisture is extra hydrating and smooths the look of wrinkles around the delicate lip area.”
Sephora Collection Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover ($16)
According to Dr. Rand, this paraban and sulfate-free formula “doesn’t irritate” your eyes during use and “will take off anything.”