8 Best Skin Care Brands Founded by Dermatologists

It’s reasonable to expect that a skin care brand named after a doctor would be helmed by a dermatologist. But in the wildly underregulated world of beauty, a company’s name doesn’t have to reflect its reality. For example, Dr. Rudolf Hauschka (1891-1969) was a chemist, an adventurer, pathfinder, visionary, and archivist. Dr. Barbara Sturm (of the skin care line by the same name) is a podiatrist and orthopedics specialist. And when it comes to the plant-based skin care line Dr. Alkaitis? He was a research scientist with a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry. Using “doctor” in a product’s name to indicate medical expertise is a tradition that dates back to the medicine shows of the early 1900s. 

This isn’t to say that a skin care brand absent of dermatology roots can’t kick out excellent or bestselling products; no matter who the founder is, a cosmetic chemist is often largely responsible for creating the formulas for a company. But if you’re looking for a brand created with the kind of knowledge that comes from treating dozens of patients a day, then it’s best to vet a doctor-fronted skin care brand to make sure a working dermatologist is involved, like with the seven brands below.

1. The Workhorse: Althaea Skin

We know Dr. Ava Shamban as the aesthetics oracle: For nearly 20 years, the dermatologist has been at the forefront of research and clinical study of dermatological disorders, dermal fillers, and neuromodulators. Dr. Shamban also heads practices in Beverly Hills and Santa Monica, California, and lectures internationally. What’s more, she serves as a principal investigator on clinical trials, including those that have led to FDA approval of Juvederm by Allergan, Restylane Lyft and Restylane Silk, and Xeomin by Merz, among others. So doesn’t it just figure that the derm with the most demanding schedule would also find a way to create a product line to help balance the circadian rhythm of skin? 

Launched in May, Althaea Skin is made to sync with the skin’s circadian rhythm, thanks to proprietary complexes that support skin cells’ daytime defense against free radicals and their nighttime role of repairing and restoring. Althaea Night Serum also contains squalane and urea to help restore the skin barrier, along with peptides and shiitake mushroom-based extract to firm skin, while Althaea Day Serum adds polyphenols to improve firmness and protect against UV exposure. The four skin care products in the line are also made to be used with the Althaea C∙A∙R∙A Multi-Modal Treatment Tool, which combines LED (blue and red) light therapy, radio frequency energy, and electromuscular stimulation.

2. The Gentle Giant: Doctor Rogers

Posttreatment skin care may be having a moment, but Seattle-based dermatologist Dr. Heather Rogers has long touted the benefits of nutrient-dense, calming skin care as a first-line treatment for healthy skin. What began with her mission to make a petrolatum- and mineral oil-free hypoallergenic ointment to heal injured skin (the award-winning Restore Healing Balm), has grown into a full range of face and body care. Doctor Rogers Face Wash is made of 10 biodegradable, fragrance-free ingredients that are soothing and hydrating (such as aloe and glycerin), but melt away long-wear makeup. Doctor Rogers Face Cream delivers the moisture and bounce of a $300 cream for way less. And Doctor Rogers Day Prevent Treatment delivers vitamin C and other proven antioxidants in a formula that won’t irritate sensitive skin. The gentle range has earned a National Eczema Association seal and is a great choice for use after laser, microneedling, and other energy treatments.

3. The Pollution Prophet: Dr. Loretta

With more than four decades as a dermatologist under her belt, Dr. Loretta Ciraldo has seen it all. But perhaps the biggest throughline in her work began during her time as a clinical researcher in 1975, when she was among the first to test the effects of UVA damage on human skin. From there, Ciraldo continued to research the effects of outdoor and indoor pollution on the skin, such as particles from car exhaust, power plants, construction sites, and fires, along with indoor particles from animal dander and other sources. More recent research from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicates that the average American spends 90% of their time indoors, furthering the need for skin protection against carbon free radicals from stovetop cooking, dust mites trapped in rugs, and blue light from screens, among other culprits. 

Enter Dr. Loretta, a skin care brand launched by the dermatologist in 2018. Products are calibrated to protect skin from various pollutants, digital and UV light, climate control (such as air conditioning and indoor heaters), and environmental aggressors. In turn, the formulas help stave off redness, fine lines, and textural issues. The brand is refreshingly minimalist: Items are developed to multitask because Dr. Ciraldo believes exposing skin to too many products is likely to introduce irritants. Among the streamlined offerings are 14 formulas high in antioxidants and made to protect against digital light and sun (Urban Antioxidant Sunscreen SPF 40), but gentle enough to nurture the microbiome and not create microtears when exfoliating (Micro Exfoliating Cleanser). 

4. The Skinfluencer: Dr. Idriss

Known for her #PillowtalkDerm videos posted to social media, New York-based dermatologist Dr. Shereene Idriss has amassed a million followers on Instagram and nearly as many on TikTok by sharing her skin care expertise and dispelling dermatological myths. Now, the derm counts a five-piece skin care line as part of her no-B.S. brand. In addition to products made to fade dark spots (Dr. Idriss Major Fade Hyper Serum Dark Spot Treatment), there’s an arnica-packed serum aimed at depuffing and reducing redness, packaged with a built-in metal roller applicator that eradicates the need for a separate tool. In 2023, the Dr. Idriss The Depuffer Redness Reducing + Depuffing Roll-On Serum swept the world of beauty awards, picking up accolades from beauty magazines and influencers alike.

5. The Acne Avenger: SLMD Skincare

Dr. Sandra Lee earned the “Dr. Pimple Popper” moniker by eradicating zits and other skin growths with the precision of the Bride in Kill Bill — and posting it on YouTube for all to see. From there, the second-generation dermatologist leveraged her online series into an eponymous TV show, for which she won a Critics Choice Award in 2021 and a legion of adoring fans. For viewers (and 16.9 million TikTok followers) who can't book an appointment with Dr. Lee in her hometown of Upland, California, there is her SLMD Skincare line. It includes a range of topical skin care products made to target everything from facial and body acne to keratosis pilaris and hyperpigmentation and scars. The brand takes the guesswork out of addressing particular skin concerns by offering products a la carte and bundled as synergistic treatments for 10 skin conditions — a godsend for those confused by a saturated marketplace. 

Given Lee’s name recognition and SMLD’s prescriptive approach to solving skin issues, the products could easily be priced for the prestige consumer. But the derm is keenly aware of the ways in which skin concerns affect mental health. (According to research published in the British Journal of Dermatology, 63% of those with acne vulgaris have a higher chance of experiencing depression.), That’s why SLMD Skincare not only partners with the the Jed Foundation (a nonprofit that supports teens and young adults’ emotional health), but also is priced with accessibility in mind. 

6. The Celebrity’s Secret Weapon: Dr. Naana Beauty

This newly launched skin care line is the brainchild of Dr. Naana Boakye, a New Jersey-based, board-certified dermatologist and certified integrative dermatologist who is the powerhouse talent behind John Legend’s skin care brand, Naomi Osaka’s sun protection company, and Gabrielle Union’s baby line. We’d say she knows a thing or two about launching successful beauty products. For her own venture, the derm turned to proven ingredients (such as mandelic and tranexamic acids) and those thoughtfully sourced (cocoa and shea butter obtained from her homeland of Ghana) to turn out clinically tested formulas. 

Boakye’s skin care philosophy eschews an elaborate, 10-step regimen for a comprehensive but tightly edited three-step solution, consisting of the nonfoaming Dr. Naana Beauty Fresh Face Cleanser; the Dr. Naana Cocoa Barrier Cream moisturizer with niacinamide, bakuchiol, and licorice extract; and the Dr. Naana Cocoa Brightening Gel Mask for gentle exfoliation.

7. The Affordable Answer: Prequel

When Dr. Samantha Ellis, a San Francisco-based dermatologist and clinical instructor of dermatology at UC Davis, launched Prequel a year ago, the goal was to create clinical products that addressed the causes of skin concerns found in dermatology offices — without the triple-digit price tags. The response has been favorable: The brand was awarded Best Breakthrough Brand of 2024 by Allure and earned National Eczema Association and National Rosacea Society seals for its Gleanser (a glycerin-based cleanser aimed at not drying skin) and Skin Utility Gel (an elevated healing ointment).

8. The Simple Go-To: Facile Skincare

This skin care line stemmed from a Los Angeles clinic loved by celebrities including Mandy Moore, Lucy Hale, and Dove Cameron. But Facile Skincare is made for all of us. Featuring a lineup of products formulated by dermatologist Dr. Nancy Samolitis, the brand is all about uncomplicating daily skin care routines. The four core products cleanse and moisturize, while targeted serums address specific skin concerns. Standouts include Bare Necessity, a fragrance-free gel cleanser that cuts through oil, debris, and makeup without drying skin; The Buzz, an alpha- and beta-hydroxy acid mask that brightens skin in seven minutes flat; and Dew You hyaluronic acid serum, made to plump skin and calm inflammation.