Skin Care at Home

You don't always need a prescription for good skin care. Some over-the-counter products can boost your skin's radiance without draining your wallet. We asked dermatologists to share their favorite products that you can find at a drugstore or retail shop. Here's what they said:

 
 

Francesca J. Fusco, MD, New York City-based dermatologist

 Pick: Patricia Wexler MD Dermatology Depuff Eye Gel ($19.50, www.bathandbodyworks.com)
 Why: "I keep it in fridge, and put it on while I'm making coffee in the morning," she says. "It immediately shrinks and tightens the skin." The fast-acting skin-firmers (including fortified yeast complex and caffeine) are paired with a patented, long-term tightening agent.

Ava Shamban, M.D., founder of the Laser Institute for Dermatology and European Skincare in Santa Monica, California

 Pick: Once weekly, she slathers on NeoStrata Exuviance Rejuvenating Treatment Masque ($22, www.neostrata.com).
 Why: This line, founded by a dermatologist and a researcher, features natural fruit and veggie acids-aka alphahydroxy acids (AHAs) and polyhydroxys (PHAs)-which exfoliate skin, leaving it feeling smooth and looking more even-toned.

Ranella Hirsch, M.D., of Cambridge, Massachusetts, president elect of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery

 Pick: Sun protection.
 Why: "We receive more than eighty percent of our sun damage from just living life, not lying out at the beach," she says. "Wear it every day, even if it's raining or snowing." And be sure to apply it at least thirty minutes before you leave home, so the product has time to absorb into skin.

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