What Dermatologist Dr. Michelle Henry Buys at the Drugstore

I’ve used the Anthelios for a very long time. When a patient comes in and says they hatesunscreen, I’m like, “Okay, here’s one that you might like.” It really blends beautifully on any skin type. It’s not very thick; it’s not chalky. It’s super-lightweight, not sticky and tacky. I think it’s one of the most cosmetically elegant drugstore brand sunscreens.

I like the Neutrogena Hydro Boost because it’s light. It’s like a gel cream. It’s great for patients who say “I really hate moisturizers — they’re too tacky, and I can’t put my makeup on top of them.”Or for folks who are a little bit oily, so they’re skipping out onmoisturizer. This is perfect for them because it layers well and absorbs quickly. It has hyaluronic acid in it, so it still gives you that hydration without being too heavy and occlusive for someone who is oilier.

My skin is normal to dry, so I usually need a little bit more of a boost. I absolutely love this moisturizer. It’s rich without being greasy and oily. It absorbs well. It’s great for the driest, most sensitive skin types. I use it as a night cream, but I also use during the day in the wintertime. It’s definitely a dupe for some of my favorite premium creams, but I can’t say because they’ll be mad at me. If you put this in a different bottle, you’d think it was the same thing.

This is like agloss, but it’s a little bit creamier, like a balmy gloss. It feels really good — it’s not sticky. It has a nice fat, juicy tip, which is just pleasant to apply to the lips. You get good coverage quickly, but it’s not opaque. The color is sheer and buildable, so it blends in with whatever lip tone you have. My lips are a little darker on the sides, so I can even wear a color that’s more pink. It really works for anyone.

This serum uses some smart technology. It has two different molecular sizes of hyaluronic acid — one is going to penetrate deeper, one’s going to stay a little bit more superficial. You’ll see that in Skinceuticals; you’ll see that in Barbara Sturm. I like that you can get that similar technology at a fair price point. Especially as fall is coming on, this is a great time to incorporate it. I put it on my skin before I put on moisturizer.

I love a good glycolic-acid serum. It’s going to give you some exfoliation, but it’s also a humectant, so it’s going to draw in moisture. It’s like a balance between efficacy and tolerability. I like that this has a 10 percent concentration, so it’s a little bit higher but not so high that it’s irritating. It’s not aggressive — it’s gentle. It gives you an almost immediate glow. Anyone with dull skin, I recommend using it at night, before moisturizer. I struggle a lot with hyperpigmentation, and with time, you start to see it improve. If you have some acne scars or any fine lines, it’s great for that.

I have extraordinarilydry skin. If I skip moisturizer, within four hours, my skin is tight and flaky. Even this weekend, I was at a hotel and I used the hotel moisturizer and I was scary dry by the time I got home. So the right moisturizer is absolutely critical for me. I’m a diehard for Lipikar Balm — it’s one of my all time favoritebody creams. If you talk to any patient of mine who I’ve recommended a moisturizer, they will know about it. It hasglycerinand shea butter and niacinamide and prebiotic water, which helps to encourage the good bacteria in your skin and promote a healthy skin microbiome. It’s great for sensitive skin. It’s nice and rich and thick. Sometimes I even mix it with a little Aquaphor to make it really rich. So it’s like a treatment to really lock in the moisture. I use it twice a day, every day, from the neck down to the toes. I’m going to be recommending it nonstop come winter.

I’ve used this for years and years and years and years and years. When I was working in the clinic or I was in residency, always on the go and eating all day and talking all day, I could trust it would stay on. You can kiss with no transfer. Sometimes I have to put in a little elbow grease to get it off. It comes in lots of colors. It doesn’t dry out the lips. For someone who’s busy and wants to look good but doesn’t want to do a million touch-ups all day, this is the one.