These 14 Dermatologist-Owned Skincare Brands Will Majorly Upgrade Your Routine (2024)

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Dylan Marino

These 14 Dermatologist-Owned Skincare Brands Will Majorly Upgrade Your Routine (1)

Dylan Marino

Dylan is a freelance writer and director of social media & digital strategy at Loverboy. She has contributed to Betches, Westchester Magazine, and more.

Byrdie's Editorial Guidelines

Updated on May 30, 2024 04:50PM

These 14 Dermatologist-Owned Skincare Brands Will Majorly Upgrade Your Routine (2)

If there is one aspect of the beauty industry that everyone should have access to, it's the very best in skincare. With all the celebrities that have launched lines in the past few years or the new companies that have emerged out of the "clean" beauty movement, there are more skincare brands and products to choose from than ever before. But for those with sensitive skin or specific conditions, no one knows what your skin needs better than a dermatologist.

Enter dermatologist-founded skincare brands. With well-researched formulas and cohesive brand missions of bringing clients happy, healthy skin, we rounded up 14 dermatologist-founded skincare brands that are worth trying.

01of 14

AziMD

Founded by board-certified dermatologist Azadeh Shirazi, MD, AziMD is a new brand to put on your radar, having just launched in 2022. Dr. Shirazi specializes in cosmetic, surgical, and medical dermatology and decided to create her brand after 15 years of practice.

"I felt overwhelmed by the amount of skincare products along with skin misinformation," Dr. Shirazi shares. "More often than not, my patients were spending hundreds of dollars on what they believed to be the next 'miracle product,' but they lacked efficacy or were the wrong product for their skin type or concern.To make my life easier and their skin better, I needed to know exactly what they were putting on their skin to better manage and treat their skin concerns.To simplify their skincare regimen and achieve their skin goals, I developed 10 products for my practice designed to address the majority of skin concerns."

During the pandemic, Dr. Shirazi started creating educational content and became a recognizable figure on social media, further motivating her to get AziMD in the hands of those who were dealing with skin concerns while quarantined at home.

Dr. Shirazi isn't sure if she can pick just one hero product from her brand, but calls out two notable favorites: The One Spray, which can treat multiple skin concerns ranging from flaky scalps to back acne, and Azelaic 10 Serum, the "jack of all trades" serum formulated to fade discoloration, treat acne and rosacea, and gently exfoliate skin.

As for AziMD's mission, "Dermatology by design because your skin deserves couture," Dr. Shirazi tells us."What works for your friend’s skin may not work for you. Know your skin type. Know your skin concerns to better design a skincare routine for you derived from nature and backed by science."

02of 14

Epionce

A tried-and-true, Epionce was founded in 2002 by clinical dermatologist Carl Thornfeldt, MD, a specialist in dermatologic surgery with an emphasis on skin barrier research. He received the first-ever patent on skin barrier health in 1997, then worked to create his medical skincare line that would launch five years later.

"Epionce is barrier-obsessed because we’ve proven that when you nurture your barrier, your skin thrives," the brand shares. "As a barrier-first company, we are highly selective towards our ingredients and botanically based. Dr. Thornfeldt was one of the first to look to botanicals for a solution in creating effective skincare products that drive active ingredients into the skin without breaking down or irritating the skin barrier."

Epionce's Renewal Facial Cream is the brand's staple product, with a barrier repair formula that leverages safflower, rosa canina, avocado, and flax extracts to achieve the optimum lipid ratio. Key benefits include anti-aging properties and hydrated, smooth skin.

When asked about the reason he founded the brand, Dr. Thornfeldt says, "First and foremost, I'm a doctor. I developed Epionce to help me be a better doctor. We’re proud to say that we have helped millions of people achieve their skincare goals without the use of harmful chemicals that damage the skin barrier. If you keep the skin barrier healthy, beautiful skin follows."

03of 14

PillowTalkDerm

Board-certified dermatologist Shereene Idriss, MD—who earned fame on social media for her "Pillow Talk Derm" series—launched her skincare line in 2022. The brand is known for efficacious, no-nonsense formulas that deliver on results and packaging. Notably absent from Pillow Talk Derm's products is the clinical, minimalistic marketing typically associated with dermatologist-founded skincare brands. Instead, Dr. Idriss opted to package her products in swaths of calming lavender and joyful sunset hues—a personal nod to the evening she decided to launch the brand.

As Dr. Idriss recently revealed on social media, she was on the fence about launching her brand but received meaningful encouragement from her husband while they enjoyed watching a sunset together. The sunset later became the inspiration for the outer packaging of the brand's Major Fade collection.

04of 14

Dr. Zenovia Skincare

Dr. Zenovia Skincare was founded in 2020 as the namesake brand of Zenovia Gabriel, MD, FAAD, an internationally distinguished board-certified dermatologist, hormonal skin expert, and Mohs micrographic surgeon. Dr. Gabriel is an active researcher in the field of hormonal dermatology, conducting clinical trials in her office. Her practice, Zena Medical, is in theheart of Newport Beach, California, andpatients from all over the world consult her for skincare advice, laser medicine, and aesthetic and skin cancer treatments.

Dr. Gabriel focuses on researching and developing innovative methods to combat leading skin issues from a holistic perspective, including hormonal balance for healthier skin at every stage of life."Ingredients are medicine and medicine is science," she explains. "Beautiful skin comes from effective daily skincare and research-proven remedies, not hype and marketing."

Dr. Zenovia Skincare has a major emphasis on repairing hormonal skin issues like hormonal acne, melasma, psoriasis, and accelerated aging. The brand has two hero products: the Inflam-Aging Night Repair Treatment and the 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Cleanser.

"Inflam-Aging is apowerful, triple-antioxidant formula withthe Regulate-360complex, and it addresses the full spectrum of oxidative stress in our skin that leads to aging,inflammation, and collagen breakdown," Dr. Gabriel tells us."It's a powerhousemust-have for all skin types. The Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Cleanser is highly micronized, and therefore, it is molecularly effective without being irritating. If you have acne, this cleanser should be your first step to more clear, less pimply and inflamed skin."

05of 14

Rose Ingleton MD

Rose Ingleton, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist with over two decades of expertise. In 2019, she founded her namesake brand and made it her mission to create effective skincare to address common skin concerns like aging, blemishes, dullness, redness, and dehydration.

Each Rose Ingleton MD product is infused with a blend of fruit extracts native to the founder's home island of Jamaica. "I came from Jamaica with a dream—determined, goal-driven, and inspired by my mother," Dr. Ingleton says. "I wanted to bring a piece of my heritage to the brand.”

The brand's SuperFruit Brightening Cleanser, a daily face wash with glow-boosting fruit extracts and super hydrators, won Byrdie's 2022 Eco Beauty Award for Best Gel Cleanser. This gentle, gel-to-foam formula lifts away dirt and impurities without stripping or drying out the skin.

06of 14

Dr. Dennis Gross

A true OG dermatologist-founded brand if you will, Dr. Dennis Gross has been around for 25 years. The board-certified dermatologist, whose skin cancer research background gives him a deeper perspective on both medical and cosmetic dermatology, has developed a cult following with his line of products that feature optimized active ingredients for results without downtime. The brand's mission is safety, strength, success, and the skin you want to see.

While Dr. Dennis Gross is known for multiple staple products, the brand's daily peel takes the top spot. The Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel is a fast-acting, two-step daily treatment with seven AHA/BHAs that boost radiance, refine pores, clear breakouts, and smooth lines and wrinkles.

"Our daily peel changes your skin instantly and for life—no matter what type of skin you have," the brand states. "Because it gently lifts away dead skin, your fresh, high-functioning, and more vibrant skin cells come to thesurface and make the most of any products you apply. [The result is] more vibrancy, better tone and texture, reduced lines, refined pores, and less discoloration. A peel a day changes everything. There’s a peel that’s safe and effective for every type, age, and stage of skin."

07of 14

Visha Skincare

Purvisha Patel, MD, wears many hats. The board-certified dermatologist, Mohs and cosmetic surgeon, and Advanced Dermatology and Skin Cancer Associates owner/founder entered the world of skincare entrepreneurship by founding Visha Skincare in 2014.

Dr. Patel works to be inclusive to all ethnicities and genders through Visha Skincare, which offers safe and simple products that deliver quick, effective results against early signs of aging and more. The brand includes three lines: TheAdvanced Line, which is suitable for all skin types, theMommy Line, which is best for dry and sensitive skin as well as those who are pregnant or nursing, and theFitness Line, the newest line made for an active lifestyle.

"Since starting Visha Skincare, my mission has been to create beautiful skin efficiently and affordably for all skin types, genders, ethnicities, and ages," Dr. Patel emphasizes. "I wanted to create products that were a simple add to your skincare routine, but able to address multiple issues at once." Visha's hero product, the Advanced Correcting Serum, contains retinol, vitamin C, vitamin E, ferulicacid, niacinamide, and hyaluronicacid to target fine lines, hyperpigmentation, pore size, and acne scars.

08of 14

Motif

When Devanshi Garg decided to create her brand Motif, she knew she needed a dermatologist to create formulas that would work best for the majority of skin types. She brought on Indy Chabra, MD, a Stanford-educated, board-certified dermatologist with a PhD in chemistry, to help formulate the Abundance Plumping Phytoceramide Cleanser, Motif's hero product that works to cleanse, hydrate, and nourish all skin types.

Dr. Chabra specializes in micrographic dermatologic surgery and is passionate about providing easier, faster access to dermatologic care, so it comes as no surprise that he partnered with Motif, which offers vegan, research-backed products designed to deliver transformative skin results without irritation. "Motif is a modern skincare brand that gets consumers excited and is backed by scientific evidence that my dermatologist peers and I can stand behind," Garg says.

09of 14

MDAiRE Skincare

MDAiRE Skincare was founded by board-certified dermatologist Stefani Kappel, MD, in January 2022. A former dermatology professor at UCLA, Dr. Kappel specializes in cosmetic dermatology, dermatologic surgery, Mohs skin cancer surgery, and laser medicine. She shares that innovative technology helps her brand to uniquely bridge the gap between the medical/scientific communities and the consumer.

"Healthy skin starts at the cellular level," Dr. Kappel says. "MDAiRE skincare uses innovative science and advanced technology to offer real-life results. MDAiRE is the next generation of translational skincare." The brand's hero product, the Regenerative ECM Eye Complex, uses green tea extract to visibly brighten, hydrate, and smooth the eye area while reducing the appearance of dark circles over time.

10of 14

Macrene Actives

Macrene Actives is a "farm-to-face" skincare brand founded by Macrene Alexiades, MD, PhD, a double-board-certified dermatologist and scientist. She has a head-turning resume, with three degrees in medicine and genetics from Harvard University, a Fulbright in agricultural science, and her own organic farm and lab.

Dr. Alexiades uses plant and sea-sourced ingredients from farms in upstate New York and Greece for her brand's skincare solutions. Organic, scientifically proven, and clinically tested plant derivatives are handmade in small batches to deliverdermatologic-grade efficacy that helps diminish signs of aging and protect skin from environmental damage. Dr. Alexiades notes that Macrene Actives is "the first luxury skincare to deliver the medicinal properties of Greece cultivated over thousands of years."

Macrene Actives' award-winning serum, the High Performance Face Serum, uses a range of ingredients including vitamin C, peptides, and microalgae to soothe, hydrate, firm, brighten, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

11of 14

Dr. Barbara Sturm

As the founder and CEO of her eponymous skincare brand, Dr. Barbara Sturm is the gold standard in skincare. The German doctor was fascinated by molecular cosmetics and aesthetics, and decided to develop her own line of cutting-edge skincare in 2002, starting with the MCX treatment, a Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) facial now known by many as the "Blood Facial."

In 2014, her full anti-inflammatory collection, Molecular Cosmetics, was born, and includes everything from her Dr. Barbara Sturm Eye Cream, which many equate to the result of a full night's sleep to the Enzyme Cleanser, which is a 2-in-1 cleansing foam and exfoliator used for deep cleaning oily and combination skin. The cult brand is especially loved for catering to those with deeper skin tones with its line of "Darker Skin Tones" products.

12of 14

Obagi

Dr. Zein Obagifounded his eponymous luxury skincare brand Obagi in the 1980s. He is also the founder and medical director of ZO Skin Health, a luxury medical skincare brand that began in 2007. According to the site, Obagi was the first skincare brand to test its products across the entire Fitzpatrick Skin Spectrum, encompassing a variety of skin types and tones when developing products.

Best-selling products include the Professional-C Serum 20% and the Nu-Cil™ Eyelash Enhancing Serum. The fast-absorbing serum, which is formulated with L-Ascorbic Acid and Sodium Hyaluronate, helps brighten and even skin tone, reduce hyperpigmentation, and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The lash serum is ideal for those who have thin, sparse lashes. Obagi uses Nouriplex Technology (a blend of biotin, panthenol, sodium hyaluronate, and a proprietary lipid compound) to help lashes grow longer and thicker.

13of 14

Lancer Skincare

Dr. Harold Lancer is known as the dermatologist to the stars, and it's not hard to see why. Dr. Lancer created The Lancer Method: Polish, Cleanse, and Nourish in 1985, a simple three-step skincare routine that serves as the basis of good skincare. It works to exfoliate, cleanse, and moisturize to "influence the skin's regenerative cycle," which slows down as we age.

Since then, the brand has grown to include serums, creams, oils, masks, and peels to address all skin concerns across various skin types. In addition to The Method, beloved products include the Eye Contour Lifting Cream, which hydrates and brightens under-eyes for a more youthful appearance, and the award-winning Omega Hydrating Oil, which uses a blend of fermented oils and antioxidants to lock in moisture, reduce fine lines, and give skin a glow.

14of 14

Murad

When dermatologist Dr. Howard Murad founded Murad Skincare in 1989, he also founded a revolution in skincare and became known as one of the first doctors who approached clinical skincare with modern thoughts. He believed that health and wellness and how people perceived the two, directly affected the skin.

"Wellness is health, plus well-being. It's not only being free of disease and stress, but equally important is a sense of happiness, passion, gratitude, and accomplishment," says Dr. Murad on his site.

The science-backed brand is ranked as the number one dermatologist brand. Favorite products include the Retinol Youth Renewal Serum, which is clinically proven to smooth and firm skin in as little as four weeks, and the AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, which was a 2022 Byrdie Beauty Awards winner for polishing dull, dry skin and increasing the skin's ability to retain moisture.

FAQ

  • What are the top five skincare brands?

    SkinCeuticals, Neutrogena, Cetaphil, Murad, and Dr. Barbara Sturm are some of the top skincare brands that are beloved by dermatologists and customers alike. Offering a range of products to treat different skin concerns—as well as hero products endorsed by celebrities—these brands are industry favorites.

  • Is Drmtlgy a Korean brand?

    Drmtlgy is not a Korean brand, however, the company's products are manufactured in Korea along with California. The brand's best-selling Brightening Eye Masks are made in Korea.

  • What is the number one dermatologist-recommended brand?

    La Roche-Posay has the honor of being the number one recommended dermatologist brand of skin care. The French skincare brand is known for its dermatologist-tested and recommended products that address a number of skin conditions and types. It is not as expensive as other highly favored brands and is found in many beauty and drugstores, including Target.

These 14 Dermatologist-Owned Skincare Brands Will Majorly Upgrade Your Routine (2024)
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