Credit: Courtesy of brands
Stylist Loves
9 dermatologist-led beauty companies to help you level up your skincare routine
By Aidan Milan
2 years ago
All products on this page have been selected by the editorial team, however Stylist may make commission on some products purchased through affiliate links in this article
3 min read
To those of us who are after a self-care routine that comes with a medical professional’s seal of approval, dermatologist and doctor-led skincare brands tick that box.
In this day and age, there’s a massive amount of readily available information – and misinformation – about the various chemical complexities of skincare.
And while it’s wonderful to have a huge number of products to choose from, the combination of a crowded market and powerful active ingredients being available over the counter means savvy beauty buyers often crave an expert’s help to guide them through it all.
This is a big part of why dermatologist-led skincare brands are having a major moment right now.
Medical expertise and trust
Gabriela Serpa Royo, a senior cultural analyst with consumer behavioural analysts Canvas8, tells Stylist: “In the age of misinformation, derm-founded brands give people a sense of security. Especially as people lose trust in big corporations, there’s something very comforting about buying products from someone with a medical degree. That being said, most people don’t have access to fancy expensive dermatologists, but they’re constantly exposed to them online and they want in. Derm-founded brands enable them to play into aesthetic and medical luxury without a big price tag.”
The rise of ‘skintellectuals’
“People are becoming really well versed in derm-speak,” says Royo. “They’re discussing the differences between things like retinol and tretinoin on TikTok, but there’s so much conflicting information that people risk choice paralysis and adverse effects to self-administered skincare regimes. We’re already seeing people online talk about how they messed up their skin by using too many different products in combination. Dermatologist-founded brands cater to ‘skintellectuals’ while also compensating for people’s lack of expertise by promising them trusted experts at the brand’s helm.
“If you look at the rise of at-home LED face masks and microcurrent devices, it’s clear that people want more at-home products that can replicate – or at least promise to emulate – the kind of treatments they could get in the doctor’s office. Dermatologist-founded skincare brands are riding that wave for sure.”
Doctor- and dermatologist-led skincare companies to shop from
Dr Barbara Sturm
Dr Sturm’s product line doesn’t come cheap (30 pairs of under-eye patches cost £100) but the hundreds of glowing reviews the products have under their collective belts go a long way towards justifying the price tag.
Dr Simon Ourian M.D
This Beverly Hills cosmetic dermatologist has developed his own range to help give shoppers personalised skin care regimes from afar.
Dr Sam’s
This range is cruelty-free and based on the idea that skincare routines shouldn’t have to be complicated – just a few high-quality products should do the trick.
Klira
Personalised products by Dr Emma Craythorne are recommended based on a free test you can take to determine your ‘SkinSize’ – ie your skin type. Taking out a membership means you get your bespoke product monthly, designed to replace all the other serums and treatments that you might have been using previously.
Dr Dennis Gross
Dr Brandt Integrative Dermatology
Dr Brandt’s expansive range aims to give customers the kind of results you can expect in a derm’s office at home and promise to be friendly to the environment too.
AziMD Skincare
SkinCeuticals
Perricone MD
Dr Nicholas Perricone’s skincare products promise potent ingredients, backed by latest research in the field, as well as detailed clinical and consumer studies.
Images: Courtesy of brands
Sign up for our edit of what to buy, see, read and do.
By signing up you agree to occasionally receive offers and promotions from Stylist. Newsletters may contain online ads and content funded by carefully selected partners. Don’t worry, we’ll never share or sell your data. You can opt-out at any time. For more information read Stylist’s Privacy Policy
Thank you!
You’re now subscribed to all our newsletters. You can manage your subscriptions at any time from an email or from a MyStylist account.