Gone are the days when you could only access medical-grade skin-care products at a doctor’s office. Today, some of the most effective, rigorously-tested and high-quality formulas are available on the world’s most convenient e-retailer, Amazon.
Why shop for medical-grade skin care at all? Fort Lauderdale, FL dermatologist Dr. Matthew Elias explained it best. “While over-the-counter products may contain active ingredients, they often lack the stabilization and formulation necessary to address specific skin concerns effectively.” He adds, “From acne to aging, hyperpigmentation to rosacea, medical-grade skin care offers targeted solutions backed by clinical evidence.”
Simply put, medical-grade skin-care formulas often use a higher concentration of active ingredients in formulations that are clinically proven to restore skin to optimal health. These products improve cosmetic concerns such as lines, wrinkles and loss of elasticity.
How to Shop Safely for Medical-Grade Products on Amazon
This rule applies to all beauty and personal care shopping on Amazon, but always check the “ships from” and “sold by” distinctions on the product page (typically found underneath the orange “Buy Now” button). If those fields note the brand itself or another trusted retailer, you can feel confident in the product you’re purchasing. Additionally, shopping directly from a brand’s official Amazon storefront is always a safe bet.
Our Favorite Medical-Grade Skin Care on Amazon
With the weather changing and holidays approaching, we know it’s peak season for skin-care shopping. Below, scroll through 17 medical-grade products we’ve written about over the years that are easy to snag on Amazon.
SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum ($280)
Dermatologists recommend SkinMedica to us again and again for its efficacy, safety and skin-saving formulas. (SkinMedica’s parent company is Allergan—pharmaceutical giant and makers of Botox Cosmetic and Juvéderm.)
SkinMedica’s TNS Advanced+ Serum has the backing of several top derms thanks to the serum’s use of growth factors and stem cells to tighten and tone aging skin. “This is my personal go-to favorite medical-grade product, and I highly recommend this to my patients,” Grand Rapids, MI plastic surgeon David R. Alfonso, MD once revealed to NewBeauty.
PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum ($119)
“I have a well-documented love affair with this serum and I stand by it. No other hyaluronic acid serum plumps the look of my fine lines as well as this one,” says Danielle Dooley, NewBeauty‘s director of digital partnerships. Our readers agree with her too—nearly a quarter recommend PCA Skin.
When it comes to the Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum, a 50-year-old user raves, “This is the best hyaluronic acid I’ve used, and I’ve tried quite a few. Emollient texture but sinks in quickly without leaving a sticky residue. Plumps fine lines and leaves skin feeling hydrated. It’s been a game-changer for my skin. I sandwich it between serum and a heavier moisturizer in the evenings.”
EltaMD UV Clear Face Sunscreen SPF 46 ($41)
“I highly recommend the use of a quality sunscreen that is broad-spectrum and mineral-based, which is foundational to any kind of skin-care routine. The brand that I personally have the best experience with and recommend to all my patients is EltaMD,” San Diego facial plastic surgeon Amir Karam, MD previously explained to us.
UV Clear’s formula protects against sun damage while helping to reduce breakouts, and has clinically proven skin-care ingredients (hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, niacinamide and more) that do double duty in helping skin look its best.
Obagi Hydrate Facial Moisturizer ($52)
Obagi is another hit among our readers—when surveyed, nearly 25 percent recommend the medical-grade brand to others. Especially its Hydrate Facial Moisturizer, a dual-action cream that attracts and seals in moisture with tara seed extract, shea butter and avocado oil.
A 57-year-old reviewer says, “It is definitely hydrating and doesn’t have a strong smell. My skin looks and feels plumper. The lines on my face are slightly less noticeable since my skin is more hydrated.”
iS Clinical Pro-Heal Serum Advance+ ($150)
Chrissy Teigen uses iS Clincal’s Pro-Heal Serum Advanced+ “every single morning.” Julianne Moore includes “four to five drops” in her “everyday skin-care routine.” When I started using this vitamin C-rich, antioxidant-packed serum, my skin looked brighter and firmer, my wrinkles softened and I noticed fewer and fewer breakouts.
ALASTIN Skincare Regenerating Skin Nectar ($254)
Palo Alto, CA plastic surgeon David Lieberman, MD once told us the Regenerating Skin Nectar serum is especially great for post-laser treatment (it’s also great after microneedling) thanks to Alastin’s soothing and skin-supporting Tri-Hex technology.
Biopelle Tensage Advanced Cream Moisturizer ($85)
Rochester, NY plastic surgeon Calvin Young, MD called Biopelle’s Tensage Advanced Cream a “high-quality moisturizer” thanks to “advanced growth factor technology to revitalize skin.” If you’re looking for a formula that firms and improves skin elasticity (or, skin’s “bounce”), this vitamin E-rich moisturizer is a good option.
ALPHASCIENCE Alpha Bright Serum ($113)
Made with a plethora of antioxidants, grab the Alpha Bright Serum when you want to balance oily or acne-prone skin, without sacrificing your skin’s radiance. “The Alphascience line of medical-grade skin-care products were developed in France with the strictest, most stringent standards for safety and the environment,” Boston facial plastic surgeon Jaimie DeRosa, MD previously explained to NewBeauty. “Alpha Bright Serum is great for those with oily or acne-prone skin because it helps to restore the proper skin oil (sebum) production.”
Revision Skincare D·E·J Face Cream® ($165)
When asked for their favorite medical-grade products, NewBeauty editors didn’t hold back. Aesthetic content manager Tatiana Bido called Revision Skincare’s DEJ Face Cream “an absolute must-have for bouncier, plumper skin.”
“This lightweight, silky-smooth cream is a favorite for its ability to target signs of aging by firming and revitalizing the skin. I love that I don’t have to overthink my routine or use harsh actives to see a noticeable change in my skin tone and texture,” she adds.
SkinMedica HA5 Hydra Collagen Replenish and Restore Hydrator ($182)
SkinMedica’s innovative and wildly successful HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator ($175) has been a dermatologists’ darling since it debuted in 2016. Now, the formula has been modernized with double the amount of hyaluronic acid, plus Hydra Collagen and Advanced VITISENSCE Technology. Simply put, that’s five forms of hyaluronic acid, vegan collagen, plant-based antioxidants and nutrients from avocado oil, vitamin F and passion fruit oil in every pump. Bouncy, dewy, even-toned skin for up to 48 hours? Yes, please.
ALASTIN Skincare HydraTint Pro Mineral Sunscreen SPF 36 ($78)
Alastin’s tinted SPF is a holy grail product among NewBeauty editors. Not only is our executive editor Liz Ritter “never without a tube,” but she also raves every Alastin product is “skin-care gold.” Another says its “glowy” coverage “blends seamlessly” to even skin and deliver a natural radiance. “Perfect for everyday wear,” declares Bido.
PCA SKIN Perfecting Neck & Décolleté ($86)
Another PCA Skin product we recommend is PCA Skin’s Perfecting Neck and Décolleté. Bido reports it “visibly firms and smooths” the skin on her neck and chest. Made with peptides, grape fruit cell extract, stem cell extract and niacinamide, Bido says it “absorbs quickly” and leaves skin “hydrated and rejuvenated.”
iS Clinical Hydra-Cool Serum ($94)
With antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, kojic acid and menthol, iS Clincals Hydra-Cool Serum is a skin refresher I’m addicted to. Count antioxidants, hyaluronic acid and mushroom extract among the ingredients in this powerful serum and luxuriate in the intense, targeted hydration it delivers. If you have dehydrated skin, I can’t recommend this one enough.
Jan Marini Skin Research Skin Care Management System ($330)
This five-product system from Jan Marini is everything you need for glowing skin, and is doc-approved. “Jan Marini products are overall good quality and they do what they say they will. They help in the defense against aging skin,” New York facial plastic surgeon Lee Ann M. Klausner, MD told NewBeauty.
Palo Alto, CA plastic surgeon Sachin Parikh, MD also said that many of his custom skin-care plans include products from Jan Marini because “her products are highly effective, but still gentle.”
SkinMedica TNS Eye Repair ($101)
Glenn Dale, MD dermatologist Valerie D. Callender, MD loves SkinMedica’s TNS Eye Repair. “It contains a combination of growth factors, TNS peptides and antioxidants that hydrates the skin around the eyes and improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” Dr. Callender explains.
Revision Skincare Nectifirm® Advanced ($159)
“My favorite neck cream is Revision Nectifirm Advanced,” says New York dermatologist Julie Russak, MD. “It does everything and more that you need for the neck: firms neck skin, helps the neck appear more lifted and makes the skin look tighter and smoother.”
Scottsdale, AZ facial plastic surgeon Kelly V. Bomer, MD adds, “I have loved Revision Nectifirm as my favorite neck cream for many years. In combination with the face products I apply to my neck, the Nectifirm, when applied liberally twice daily, keeps my neck skin youthful looking… My second favorite is Revision Nectifirm Advanced which is similar to the original Nectifirm but a bit less emollient. The peptide blend in these two neck creams seems to be the magic formulation for neck skin rejuvenation.”
Alastin Renewal Retinol .25 ($72)
Fresno, CA, dermatologist Kathleen Behr, MD recommends Alastin Renewal Retinol .25 for retinol newbies. “With its Lipid Encapsulated Retinol technology for enhanced delivery and slow release, coupled with oat and silver mushroom extracts for soothing hydration, it’s gentle on sensitive skin while effectively targeting fine lines and wrinkles through collagen promotion.”