Board-certified dermatologists Dr. Lauren Penzi and Dr. Brendan Camp shared their must-have skincare products with InStyle. Their picks include serums and moisturizers from Paula’s Choice, La Roche-Posay, Mario Badescu, and more, available from $12 on Amazon.

Prices start at just $12.

Whether you’re new to skincare or a seasoned pro, the sheer number of products available can feel overwhelming. How do you decide on a treatment when so many claim to do the same thing? Well, dear reader, I have the answer; with the help of two board-certified, New York-based dermatologists, I curated a list of 10 must-have skincare products, and prices start at just $12. 

I asked Dr. Lauren Penzi and Dr. Brendan Camp over email about their recommendations for three popular skin concerns: fine lines and wrinkles, dry spots, and sun protection. Below, read their top picks from brands like Paula’s Choice, La Roche-Posay, and Mario Badescu. The best part? Everything is available on Amazon. 

Shop Dermatologist-Approved Skincare

• Paula’s Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment Cream, $64
• First Aid Beauty Fab Skin Lab Retinol Eye Cream, $35 (Originally $44)
• Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer, $13 (Originally $15)
• La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum, $40
• Vichy Mineral 89 Fortifying and Hydrating Daily Skin Booster, $30
• La Roche-Posay Anthelios Tinted Sunscreen SPF 50, $38
• EltaMD UV Clear Face Sunscreen, $43
• Cetaphil Daily Oil-Free Facial Moisturizer With SPF 35, $14 (Originally $15)
• Supergoop! Play Lip Balm SPF 30, $12
• Mario Badescu AHA Body Lotion, $15

Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment Cream

Buy on Amazon $64

Both dermatologists swear by this Paula’s Choice retinol cream to combat signs of aging. Dr. Camp explained that in addition to retinol, the cream is made with peptides and vitamin C to “improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating collagen production.” Plus, Dr. Penzi pointed out that the formula also contains oat, willow bark, and licorice extract, “making it ideal for sensitive skin.” For the best results, the brand recommends using the retinol cream up to three times a week as the fourth step in your routine after cleanser, toner, and exfoliator. 

First Aid Beauty Fab Skin Lab Retinol Eye Cream

Buy on Amazon $44 $35

The First Aid Beauty Fab Skin Lab Retinol Eye Cream earned a spot on Dr. Camp’s list of must-haves thanks to its lineup of powerful ingredients. Not only is the formula made with microencapsulated retinol “for better tolerance,” Dr. Camp said, but it also has hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture, caffeine to “reduce the appearance of dark circles,” and micropearls to smooth skin. If you’re not convinced, take it from a reviewer who said the cream “works the best for [their] dark circles,” which “feel so much better without concealer.”

Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer

Buy on Amazon $15 $13

Moving on to hydrating products, the Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer is packed with ceramides to “fortify the skin barrier,” per Dr. Camp, as well as hyaluronic acid. Its formula is free of fragrance, dyes, and parabens, so it’s suitable for sensitive complexions. More than 40,000 Amazon shoppers have purchased the moisturizer in the past month alone, per the retailer, and one repeat-buyer even deemed it “skincare gold,” bumping it to “holy grail status.”  

La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Buy on Amazon $40

Another recommendation from Dr. Camp, the La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum “hydrates skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines.” Simply apply two to three drops of the serum to your face and neck in the morning and at night; depending on how dry your skin is, you can either leave it there or add a moisturizer on top. According to a reviewer, the formula is “silky going on, and [their] skin feels wonderfully soft for hours after applying it.” 

Vichy Mineral 89 Fortifying and Hydrating Daily Skin Booster

Buy on Amazon $30

The Vichy Mineral 89 Daily Skin Booster is made with two powerful ingredients: hyaluronic acid to hydrate and volcanic water to strengthen the skin barrier. Dr. Penzi explained that the serum works as a “humectant,” meaning it “helps absorb and maintain moisture in the skin.” A reviewer in their 60s even said the product “definitely smooths out some of their lines” and makes their skin feel like it’s “constantly drinking water.” 

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Tinted Sunscreen SPF 50

Buy on Amazon $38

“Sunscreen is the best thing you can do for your skin to protect it from skin cancer, in addition to photoaging,” Dr. Penzi said, and the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Tinted Sunscreen is one of her “absolute favorites.” Made with SPF 50, the formula is “weightless, oil-free, and easily absorbed,” and it even has a “light tint that gives you a healthy glow.” The sunscreen is water-resistant for up to 40 minutes, according to the brand, and perfect to wear both on its own and under makeup. 

EltaMD UV Clear Face Sunscreen

Buy on Amazon $43

Dr. Camp is a fan of the EltaMD UV Clear Face Sunscreen, which is made with “high-purity niacinamide (vitamin B3) to help reduce the appearance of blemishes and discoloration,” he said. It “blends seamlessly” with “no white cast,” per a reviewer; as someone who has worn this sunscreen for years, I can attest that it’s the perfect base for makeup. No wonder more than 60,000 Amazon shoppers have purchased it in the past month. 

Cetaphil Daily Oil-Free Facial Moisturizer With SPF 35

Buy on Amazon $15 $14

If you’re looking for a two-in-one moisturizer and sunscreen, go with this Cetaphil oil-free formula. According to Dr. Penzi, it’s “great for people with both sensitive and acne-prone skin” thanks to its nourishing ingredients and lightweight feel. One reviewer confirmed that the moisturizer “provides a long-lasting softness to [their] skin without all of the pore-clogging additives.” Apply the one-and-done product as the last step in your morning skincare routine, regardless of the weather. 

Supergoop! Play Lip Balm SPF 30

Buy on Amazon $12

Don’t forget about protecting your pout from harmful rays with the Supergoop! Play Lip Balm SPF 30. Dr. Penzi described it as “a fabulous, hydrating, acai-flavored balm” that prevents “UV damage and aging of the lips.” Not to mention, it’s sweat- and water-resistant, so it’ll stay put on your lips no matter the temperature. A shopper called it the “most hydrating lip balm” they’ve ever used, adding that it “glides on and immediately your lips feel better.”

Mario Badescu AHA Body Lotion

Buy on Amazon $15

If you struggle with red bumps on the back of your arms, aka Keratosis Pilaris, Dr. Camp recommends adding the Mario Badescu AHA Body Lotion into your body-care routine. It’s made with glycolic acid, niacinamide, and squalane to “soften skin texture,” he said. The formula is fragrance-free and works best on clean, dry skin (avoiding the face). In addition to targeting rough bumps, a reviewer said the lotion “cleared up” acne on their shoulder in just a couple of weeks. With spring weather right around the corner, now’s the time to make sure you feel comfortable and confident in your skin.