What are the best Dr Brandt skincare products? This one’s tough. The brand hooks you in with catchy names like “Needles No More” and “Xtend Your Youth” and then gives you a bunch of silicone and film-formers that temporarily smoothen out the surface of your skin. It’s not necessarily bad. It’s just… Think of them as concealers or foundations. They can hide imperfections for a while, but when you take the paint off, they’re still there. But just because Dr Brandt likes to play skincare tricks, it doesn’t mean the entire line is bad. Here are the best Dr Brandt products that are worth the splurge:
- About The Brand: Dr Brandt
- What Are The Best Dr Brandt Products?
- What Are The Best Dr Brandt Products For Wrinkles?
- What Are The Best Dr Brandt Products For Wrinkles?
- What Are The Best Dr Brandt Products For Acne?
- What Are The Best Dr Brandt Products For Sensitive Skin?
- Is Dr Brandt Cruelty-Free?
- The Pros Of Dr Brandt
- The Cons Of Dr Brandt
- The Bottom Line
About The Brand: Dr Brandt
Dr. Fredric Brandt, dubbed the ‘Baron of Botox,’ has always been an advocate of a holistic approach to skincare that combines cutting-edge science with healthy lifestyle habits. He started off his career by studying the effects of antioxidants (like green tea, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C) against cancer and later shifted his focus to skincare. Founded in 1995, his skincare line takes inspiration from in-office procedures. Although he has good intention, no skincare product works that well. Just saying…
What Are The Best Dr Brandt Products?
Best For Brightening Skin: Dr Brandt C Scription($120.00)
Dr Brandt Power Dose Vitamin C is different from other vitamin C serums out there. Instead of going down the traditional route and using L-Ascorbic Acid (the pure form of vitamin C), this baby uses 20% tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, a derivative that penetrates skin better. This form of Vitamin C brighten the complexion and fights free radicals, but we don’t know yet if it works as well as L-Ascorbic Acid for anti-aging. Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate is also more stable than L-Ascorbic Acid, so if you’re tired of Vitamin C serums that go bad after a few weeks, give this a go. The only thing I don’t like? It has a few drops of essential oil that may irritate sensitive skin.
Available at: Dermstore, Dr Brandt, Look Fantastic, Revolve, and Sephora
Active ingredients: Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate.
Benefits: Brightens skin and prevents premature wrinkles.
Cons: Contains irritating essential oils. Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate isn’t as strong and effective as L-Ascorbic Acid.
Skin types: All skin types can use it.
Fragrance-free: Technically yes, but it has a few drops of essential oils that make it smell good (and may irritate sensitive skin).
Related: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Vitamin C In Skincare
Don’t know which skincare products you can mix and match together and which ones deactivate each other? Download your FREE “How To Layer Actives Like A Pro” cheat sheet to get the most out of your skincare products:
Best For Dry Skin: Dr Brandt Hyaluronic Facial Cream ($72.00)
You know how I always say you should avoid moisturisers in jars? Antioxidants are sensitive to light and air, so if you put them in a jar, they’ll go bad sooner. But that’s not really a problem for Dr Brandt Hyaluronic Facial Cream 2.0. It barely has any antioxidants at all. So why did I put it on this list? This baby is super moisturizing. Packed with shea butter, 3 forms of Hyaluronic Acid and natural oils, the cream deeply moisturises your skin and strengthens your skin’s barrier, keeping even the driest skin soft and supple all year round (yes, even in winter). The only thing I don’t like is the hint of lavender – it could irritate sensitive skin.
Available at: Dermstore, Dr Brandt, Revolve, and Ulta
Active ingredients: Hyaluronic acid and shea butter.
Benefits: Deeply hydrates and plumps up skin.
Cons: Very basic formula, has no anti-aging properties.
Skin types: Best suitable for dry skin.
Fragrance-free: Technically yes, but it has a few drops of essential oils that make it smell good (and may irritate sensitive skin).
Related: How To Strengthen Your Skin’s Protective Barrier
Best For Anti-Aging: Dr Brandt Triple Active Retinol ($75.00)
Dr Brandt likes to fill its products with film-formers and silicones that mask wrinkles. But they can’t get rid of them. What really works against wrinkles is retinol, a form of Vitamin A that boosts collagen, fights wrinkles, and speeds up cellular turnover to reveal a brighter and smoother complexion. This cream claims to contain three forms of retinol, but there’s only one form. The other type of retinol in here is not a retinol at all. It’s bakuchiol, a plant extract that delivers the same benefits without the drying side effects. The moisturising base helps to keep skin softer and smoother while retinol does its anti-aging job. For best results, use it every other night.
Available at: Dermstore, Dr Brandt, and Sephora
Active ingredients: Retinol and bakuchiol.
Benefits: Treats and prevents wrinkles.
Cons: Retinol can be harsh and drying when you first start using it.
Skin types: All skin types can use it.
Fragrance-free: Yes.
Best For Sun Protection: Dr Brandt Liquid Sun Shield SPF 50($67.00)
A high SPF mineral sunscreen that provides broad spectrum protection from UV rays, blue light, pollution, and anything else that can cause free radicals, the nasty molecules that give you premature wrinkles. Unlike most mineral sunscreens, it has a beautiful lightweight texture that spreads easily, absorbs quickly, and leaves no greasy residue nor white cast behind. It wears well under makeup too – no pulling! The bottle comes with a dropper that makes application a breeze even on-the-go.
Available at: Dermstore, Dr Brandt, and Revolve
Active ingredients: Zinc oxide.
Benefits: Provides sun protection.
Cons: Retinol can be harsh and drying when you first start using it.
Skin types: All skin types can use it.
Fragrance-free: Yes.
What Are The Best Dr Brandt Products For Wrinkles?
- Dr Brandt Triple Active Retinol ($75.00): A retinol cream to boost collagen and fight wrinkles. It also has a bakuchiol, a plant extract that has similar effects as retinol, for a double dose of anti-aging power. Available at Dermstore, Dr Brandt, and Sephora.
What Are The Best Dr Brandt Products For Wrinkles?
- Dr Brandt Triple Active Retinol ($75.00): A retinol cream to fight wrinkles and fade away dark spots at the same time. Available at Dermstore, Dr Brandt, and Sephora.
- Dr Brandt C Scription($120.00): This serum has 20% tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, a derivative of Vitamin C that brightens the complexion and fades away dark spots. Available at Dermstore, Dr Brandt, Look Fantastic, Revolve, and Sephora.
What Are The Best Dr Brandt Products For Acne?
- Dr Brandt Triple Active Retinol ($75.00): Yep, retinol can do it all. It fights wrinkles, treats acne, and fades away the dark spots pimples sometimes leave behind. Available at Dermstore, Dr Brandt, and Sephora.
What Are The Best Dr Brandt Products For Sensitive Skin?
- Dr Brandt Liquid Sun Shield SPF 50($67.00): A lightweight mineral sunscreen that protects against UV rays, blue light, and pollution. Available at Dermstore, Dr Brandt, and Revolve.
Is Dr Brandt Cruelty-Free?
Dr Brandt is NOT cruelty-free. Although they don’t test on animals, they allow their products to be tested on animals in countries that require it.
The Pros Of Dr Brandt
If you’re looking for a quick fix to minimise wrinkles before a special occasion, this is the skincare brand to turn to. Loaded with silicones and film-formers, they tighten up your skin and fill in fine lines and wrinkles so they look smaller to the naked eye. A handful of their products also use retinol and Vitamin C to prevent and treat premature wrinkles.
The Cons Of Dr Brandt
Most Dr Brandt products are very basic moisturising lotions with a high-price tag *sighs*. Plus, the most innovative skincare products that promise to reduce wrinkles do so by using a mix of silicones and film-formers that tighten skin and fill in fine lines and wrinkles. It works in the moment as fine lines and wrinkles look temporarily smaller, but as soon as you wash your face, the effect’s gone. Your fine lines and wrinkles are still there, just as deep as before. Do you really want to pay this much for a cosmetic effect?
The Bottom Line
Most Dr Brandt products are very simple moisturising concoctions that make skin softer and temporarily minimise the appearance of wrinkles. Instead, look for the products that contain retinol, mineral UV filters, and vitamin C that can prevent and treat wrinkles.
Thank you for your reviews. You confirmed my opinion about this brand. I’ve never bought anything by them, and I won’t in the future.
Maja, glad the post helped. 🙂
One product they make that I love is the Vacuum Cleaner for blackheads. I use it as a spot treatment (nose, chin), and in combo with a pore strip, my pores are clean and tight. I know it’s an older product and not youtube-able because of that, but it really works!
Katy, glad to hear it’s working well for you. Older products deserve some love too. 🙂
Your reviews are extremely helpful. I would love to learn more about high-end products like La Prairie, Sisley, Chanel. Your reviews are positive on the items above so I’m confused why a reviewer above (Maja) said she will not try these products…
Loan, just because a review is positive, it doesn’t mean the product is right for you. Maybe she has some skincare needs these products can help or she finds them too expensive.
I hardly cover those high-end brands because I don’t find them very good. They’re super moisturising, but seriously lack in the anti-aging department. For the price, that’s a big disappointment.