Dr. Maren Locke runs a channel built around helping people find routines that actually fit their skin and their budget, covering everything from sunscreens and retinoids to cleansers and eye care. She leans on clinical experience to explain when a splurge is worth it and when a cheaper option does the same job.
The products The Budget Dermatologist has crowned best in their category, and brings up again and again.
The Budget Dermatologist has reviewed 444 products. Of the ones she gives a clear yes or no to,she approves 95%. The products she rates highest and brings up most are The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution, L'Oreal 3.5% Pure Glycolic Acid Cleansing Gel and ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40.
She has reviewed 77 serums and approved 69 of them. The ones she rates highest are Vanicream Vitamin C Serum, SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic and Avène RetrinAL 0.05% Serum.
She has reviewed 60 moisturizers and approved 54 of them. The ones she rates highest are CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, La Roche-Posay Lipikar Balm AP+ Intense Repair Moisturizing Cream and Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Cream. The full picture is in The Budget Dermatologist on Moisturizers.
She has reviewed 58 sunscreens and approved 55 of them. The ones she rates highest are ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40, Tula Radiant Skin Brightening Serum Skin Tint SPF 30 and EltaMD UV Skin Recovery Sunscreen Green Tinted.
She has reviewed 45 cleansers and approved 41 of them. The ones she rates highest are L'Oreal 3.5% Pure Glycolic Acid Cleansing Gel, Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser and CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser.
She has skipped 23 of the 444 products she has reviewed. The ones she is clearest about are CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum, Olay Retinol 24 Max Night Moisturizer, Babe Essential Lash Serum, SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 and St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub.
There is a guide to her picks for each skin type she covers most: The Budget Dermatologist on mature skin, The Budget Dermatologist on acne-prone skin, The Budget Dermatologist on sensitive skin, The Budget Dermatologist on dry skin and The Budget Dermatologist on oily skin.
Products where their take diverges from the rest of the gurus.
All 444 products The Budget Dermatologist has reviewed, grouped by product type. Click a product to see the full guru consensus.
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Subscribe to the digestThe Budget Dermatologist is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, The Guru Index. Every quote on this page comes from her public YouTube videos, linked at the timestamp. Verdicts and approval stats are our editorial read of what she said. "Guru" is a title we award, not a sign of any affiliation.