Dermatologist Rates Trader Joe's Skincare Against Luxury
A board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic chemist reviewed popular Trader Joe's skincare items, comparing them to high-end counterparts and assigning
A board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic chemist has rated several Trader Joe's skincare products against their luxury brand counterparts. Dr. Cynthia Price reviewed the items for Arizona's Family, assigning star ratings based on formulation and performance.
Sunscreen Review
Dr. Price evaluated two Trader Joe's sunscreens. The Daily Facial Sunscreen, priced at $8.99 and often compared to Supergoop's $38 Unseen Sunscreen, received zero stars. She praised its texture, noting dimethicone gives a silicone primer feel that melts into the skin. However, she did not love its ingredients. She preferred the store's mineral sunscreen, which costs $12.99. That product contains 20 percent zinc oxide and also has a dimethicone feel, though it goes on slightly whiter. She gave the mineral version five stars.
Serums and Treatments
The review covered several serums. Trader Joe's retinol night serum contains 0.3 percent retinol and is dermatologist-formulated. Price called it a nice over-the-counter option, suited for younger patients with early aging signs like fine lines and brown spots. She would not recommend it for older or more mature skin and gave it three stars.
Two hydrating serums were assessed. The hyaluronic skin serum, priced between $8.99 and $9.99, received three stars. Price noted it has a very nice, fragrance-free formulation but lacks the complexity of different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid. The dewy skin serum, in the same price range, earned four stars. She said it contains more hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, glycerin, and barrier lipids, making it more hydrating. She identified it as a dupe for Rhode Glazing Milk, which is twice the price.
| Product | Price | Key Ingredients | Compared To | Price (Comparison) | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Facial Sunscreen | $8.99 | Dimethicone | Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen | $38 | 0 stars |
| Daily Facial Mineral Sunscreen | $12.99 | 20% Zinc Oxide, Dimethicone | N/A | N/A | 5 stars |
| Retinol Night Serum | N/A | 0.3% Retinol | N/A | N/A | 3 stars |
| Hyaluronic Skin Serum | $8.99-$9.99 | Hyaluronic Acid | N/A | N/A | 3 stars |
| Dewy Skin Serum | $8.99-$9.99 | Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Glycerin | Rhode Glazing Milk | ~$20 | 4 stars |
Oils, Butters, and Creams
Trader Joe's Marula Facial Oil costs $6.99, compared to a $42 Drunk Elephant product. Price described marula oil as very hydrating and great for mature skin types, noting it dries matte. She gave it four stars.
The Brazil Nut Body Butter, a dupe for Sol de Janeiro, received two stars. Price said the smell is really similar but the texture is a little more waxy. She noted the more expensive version contains guarana, an ingredient with caffeine that helps tighten skin. Trader Joe's version has the same ingredient but does not make that claim, which Price said partly explains the price difference.
The Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream costs $4.99, compared to a $29 L'Occitane cream. Price called it an incredible moisturizer with 20 percent shea butter, similar in packaging and performance to the original. She gave it five stars.
Lip Mask and Vitamin C
The lip mask, priced at $5.99 and compared to Laneige's $24 version, earned a five-star rating. Price said she is obsessed with it, calling it incredible with almost exact ingredients as Laneige.
The final product was a $10 vitamin C serum, compared to SkinCeuticals' $185 C E Ferulic. Price said it has a really good formulation for lightening, tightening, and brightening, though it has a bit of a funny smell. She cautioned that the stability of the Trader Joe's product has not been tested, which is important as oxidized vitamin C turns ineffective. She noted it lacks the smell of the more expensive product and includes an added ingredient for pigmentation and brightening.
