2023 Healthy Skin Awards: Expert Picks for Your Best Skin Ever

Discover the top dermatologist-approved skincare products of 2023—essentials for every routine, every skin type.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 24, 2025

Discover the top dermatologist-approved skincare products of 2023—essentials for every routine, every skin type.

2023 Healthy Skin Awards: Expert Picks That Elevate Your Routine

Your skin deserves to feel healthy, look radiant, and glow with confidence. Prevention’s 2023 Healthy Skin Awards highlight the year’s top dermatologist-approved products to help everyone—from skincare minimalists to ingredient obsessives—find their next essentials.

Every item honored this year was meticulously tested by Prevention’s panel of expert dermatologists and beauty editors for real-world results, ingredient safety, and visible benefits. Whether you’re looking for gentle cleansers, hydrating moisturizers, potent anti-agers, or spot-fighters, these picks deliver healthy skin for every budget and concern.

How We Chose the Winners

Products evaluated by board-certified dermatologists and expert editors.
Selection based on ingredient efficacy, skin compatibility, and proven results.
Winner categories span daily basics, targeted treatments, and multi-use marvels for face and body.

Meet the expert panel behind the awards:

Mona Gohara, M.D.: Yale dermatologist and Prevention medical board member
Aanand Geria, M.D., F.A.A.D.: Founder, Geria Dermatology
Azadeh Shirazi, M.D., F.A.A.D.: Cosmetic dermatologist, La Jolla Dermatology & Laser Surgery Center
April Franzino: Beauty director, Prevention, Good Housekeeping, and Woman’s Day

Must-Have Skincare Basics

The backbone of healthy skin: cleansers, moisturizers, and daily sunscreen. These essentials are gentle, effective, and suitable for diverse skin types.

Best Gentle Cleansers

Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Cleanser
Youth To The People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser

These cleansers remove impurities while preserving your natural moisture barrier—ideal for daily use and sensitive skin.

Best Daily Moisturizers

Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream: Deeply hydrating and hypoallergenic; suitable as primer, mask, or gentle make-up remover.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream: Light texture, instantly locks in moisture.
CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion: Contains essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid.

Choose a moisturizer that fits your texture preference (cream, gel, lotion) and always check for barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides and panthenol.

Targeted Treatments: Anti-Agers and Skin-Correctors

For those looking to target specific concerns—wrinkles, dark spots, uneven texture, or loss of elasticity—these treatments deliver visible transformation.

Best Anti-Aging Serums

Boost Lab Multi-Peptide Anti-Ageing Serum: Peptide-rich formula for firmer, smoother skin.
Bakel Bakuchiol Lotion: Natural retinol alternative, gentle on sensitive skin.
Olay Regenerist Retinal Serum: Combines retinal (gentle vitamin A), hydroxy acids, and vitamin B3 for renewed texture and tone.

Expert Tip: Bakuchiol offers retinol-like benefits (collagen production, enhanced cell turnover) with less irritation—excellent for those sensitive to vitamin A.

Best Night Creams & Intensive Treatments

Triple-Enzyme Night Renewal Cream: Innovative cream-to-serum texture maximizes overnight skin renewal, improving hydration and smoothness.
Lunar Retinal Night Cream: Unique blend suits even retinol-sensitive skin, restoring elasticity and tone.

Sun Care Superstars

Sun protection is non-negotiable. Modern formulas offer more than UVA/UVB defense—they enhance the skin’s radiance, hydration, and elasticity.

Best Sunscreens and Skinscreens

Ultra Violette Supreme Screen Hydrating Facial Skinscreen SPF 50+: Silky texture, vegan collagen, niacinamide, blue light protection, and vitamins C, E, F for luminous finish.
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch SPF 100: Lightweight and invisible on skin.
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40: Broad-spectrum protection, non-greasy feel.

Look for added skincare ingredients (antioxidants, peptides, hyaluronic acid) to maximize your sun care routine.

Acne Fighters & Spot Treatments

Quick, effective solutions for breakouts and blemishes are crucial for maintaining confidence. These winners reveal how innovation tackles acne gently and efficiently.

Microdart Patch: Microneedle patches with AHA, BHA, and niacinamide kill bacteria deep within follicles, neutralizing painful blemishes overnight.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo: Combines benzoyl peroxide and niacinamide for inflamed and persistent breakouts.
CosRx Acne Pimple Master Patch: Hydrocolloid technology speeds up healing.

Expert Testimonial: “This microdart patch neutralized a painful blind pimple overnight. By morning, redness and pain had subsided—with far less skin damage.”

Multi-Taskers: Creams With Extra Powers

Multifunctional products streamline routines and offer extra value: hydrating, priming, masking, and even gentle make-up removal.

Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream: Use as a moisturizer, primer, mask, or remover. Fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, rich in essential fatty acids and vitamins.
Avene Skin Recovery Cream: Soothes irritation and relieves dryness.
Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré: French staple that hydrates and preps skin.

Innovation & Ingredients: Trends for 2023

2023’s winners feature standouts in technology and formulation. Ingredient lists favor scientifically backed actives and fewer irritants, positioning products for both efficacy and inclusivity.

Focus on gentle alternatives (bakuchiol, peptides) for anti-aging and sensitive skin.
Emphasis on multi-functionality: One product does double (or triple) duty.
Radiance-boosting sunscreens that deliver skincare benefits beyond protection.
Acne fighters using microdart technology and deep-delivery of actives for fast results with minimal irritation.
Expert-driven selection: All products tested for visible results by leading dermatologists.

Expert Advice: Building Your Healthier Skin Routine

While award-winning products make healthy skin easier to achieve, expert guidance ensures results are tailored to your needs.

Start with gentle cleansing to remove debris and maintain skin barrier.
Select a moisturizer matched to your skin type (dry, oily, combination, sensitive).
Layer in targeted treatments for specific concerns after cleansing, before moisturizer.
Finish with broad-spectrum sunscreen every morning (even on cloudy days).

Dermatologists emphasize patch testing when trying new products, and choosing formulations free of irritants or allergens for sensitive skin types.

Table: 2023 Healthy Skin Award Winners Highlights

Category	Product	Main Ingredient/Benefit	Expert Comment
Daily Cleanser	Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser	Mild surfactants Antioxidants	Gentle yet effective; maintains barrier
Moisturizer	Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream	Essential fatty acids Panthenol	Multi-use; instant relief for dryness
Anti-Aging Serum	Boost Lab Multi-Peptide Serum	Peptides, hyaluronic acid	Visibly firms; suits all ages
Natural Retinol Alternative	Bakel Bakuchiol Lotion	Bakuchiol, botanicals	Retinol-like effect, less irritation
Sunscreen	Ultra Violette Supreme Screen SPF 50+	Vegan collagen, vitamins	Luminous finish, broad-spectrum
Acne Solution	Microdart Patch	AHA, BHA, niacinamide	Overnight results; gentle and targeted

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How are winners of the Healthy Skin Awards chosen?

A: Winners are selected by a panel of board-certified dermatologists and top beauty editors who rigorously test hundreds of products for real-world results, safety, and ingredient efficacy.

Q: Can sensitive skin types use these award-winning products?

A: Yes. Many winning products are chosen specifically for their gentle yet effective formulas, meaning they are suitable for sensitive or reactive skin types.

Q: Are drugstore products included, or only premium brands?

A: The awards highlight a mix of beloved drugstore staples and high-end luxury picks so everyone can find effective skincare at their budget.

Q: What ingredients should I look for in healthy skin products?

A: Key ingredients include hyaluronic acid for hydration, peptides for firmness, niacinamide for soothing and brightening, and antioxidants for protection.

Q: How often should I change my skincare routine?

A: Experts recommend adjusting routines seasonally or as skin needs change; adding new products gradually and patch testing for compatibility.

Skincare That Supports Your Glow Year-Round

Whether you’re shopping for yourself or seeking gift inspiration, these expert-approved, award-winning products set the standard for skin health in 2023—and beyond. Find your perfect match and let your healthiest skin shine every day.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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