What Dermatologist Kavita Mariwalla Buys at the Drugstore

This is one of the most underrated products in the skin-care aisle. It’s like a serum-gel hybrid. It’s lightweight, but you get a lot of moisturizing power thanks to polyglutamic acid. We always talk about hyaluronic acid as a great moisturizer, but I think polyglutamic acid is way better because it’s able to lock in hydration for a longer period of time. If you use Mineral 89 consistently, your skin will feel more hydrated and look plumper and smoother over time.

It’s a little gem sitting on the shelf. Retinol is highly unstable, but Neutrogena has a proprietary way of formulating it so stability is maintained from the second it is created to when it’s in the bottle. It’s one of the few over-the-counter retinoids that the clinical data is almost as impressive as a 0.025 tretinoin.

This is a great conditioning oil for summer when you’re at the beach or pool. I love it because it’s lightweight and smells like summer. And unlike other hair oils, it doesn’t leave your hair really greasy or stain your pillowcase. The coconut oil absorbs into the strands. I think of it as after-sun care for your hair.

As we get older, our lashes get thinner and a bit more brittle. CoverGirl makes this beautiful mascara that’s a primer, serum, and mascara in one. It’s hydrating, and the wand is really good too. It doesn’t deposit too much on the lashes.

I’m a fan of imPress Nails. They’re safe and much better for your nails than a gel manicure. They’re not too sticky and pop off easy-peasy. They come in all different shapes and styles. To prep, you buff your nails ever so slightly — and they stay put! If one pops off, you get 30 in a pack, so just throw on another one. It’s not complicated.

This is isn’t so sexy, but I think everyone should have it, especially for summer. This is my go-to for skin irritations, chafing, fungal infections, or just keeping skin folds dry. It’s has menthol, so it’s cooling and anti-itch.

I really like Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water. It’s great for removing mineral sunscreens. After you reapply a bunch of times, it’s in your pores. You feel like you have to triple cleanse, but then you’re just drying out your skin. Instead, put micellar water on a cotton ball, wipe your face with it once or twice, and then cleanse as usual. It’s also super clutch for removing waterproof mascara and long-wear makeup.