How To Find The Best Skin Care Products For Your Face

With literally millions of skincare products on the market, it can be an overwhelming and daunting task choosing which skincare product to incorporate into your daily regimen. Don't just go with any product that catches your eye. Not all skincare products are made alike, and some are exponentially better for your skin's health and appearance than others. For the best results, compare the various skincare products available using criteria recommended by skincare experts and dermatologists.

Step 1

Pick your top skincare need---such as wrinkle and fine line reduction---and narrow your product choices to those that specifically target that need, recommend the American Academy of Dermatology. While it may be tempting to choose a skincare product that purports to meet several needs, such as cleansing and moisturizing, the academy says such products may not be as effective or may cause excessive skin irritation.

Step 2

Read the ingredients lists on the various products you're comparing. Verify that it contains a sunscreen ingredient if you plan to wear the skincare product during the day, according to skincare tester Paula Begoun. She says that effective sunscreen ingredients include avobenzone and zinc oxide. Ideally, the American Cancer Society reports that a daytime skincare product should contain an SPF of 15 or more.

Step 3

Toss out any skincare product that contains fragrances. A quick glance at the ingredient list, or even a whiff of the product through an open cap, can alert you to the presence of perfumes. The Mayo Clinic warns that fragrances in skincare products are the most common source of skin allergies and irritation.

Step 4

Ignore the price while comparing the products. The American Academy of Dermatology says price doesn't indicate a product's quality, and that even cheap, drugstore brands can be beneficial to your skin.

Tips and Warnings

Save yourself time by letting third-party reviewers, such as those by "Consumer Reports" or your favorite beauty magazines, do the research and comparison work. Reading reviews can help you quickly sort through your skincare options and identify high-quality skincare products, whether they're cleansers, creams or serums.