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| I dabbled in skin care for a little while. But ultimately, the cost-benefit analysis wasn’t in my favor. The sheer time required to find a product that actually improved whatever minor skin issue I had been convinced needed fixing was astronomical. I spend enough time researching for my day job; I don’t need a hobby where that’s also a requirement.
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| This is the headspace I was in when I came across an article from product review site The Wirecutter about a drugstore moisturizer recommended by dermatologists that beat out more expensive options in a blind test.
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| I was intrigued. So I added it to my cart and never looked back.
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You’re welcome,
Ginger Wojcik
Newsletter Editor, Healthline
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Written by Ginger Wojcik
October 24, 2025 • 3.5 min read |
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| This drugstore moisturizer is all I need
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| Heads-up, this is not a paid or sponsored piece. These thoughts are mine and mine alone.
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| Those who are in the know about skin care know about Vanicream. Marketed primarily to those with extra-dry and sensitive skin, including those with eczema, it’s a common topic in the r/SkincareAddiction subreddit. You’ll often see users gush over the short ingredient list (relative to other skin care products), in particular.
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| I did not know about any of this hype or hubbub until I wrote this newsletter, because like I said, I’m totally done reading about skin care products.
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| My thought process was more along the lines of, “It’s $9 for 3 ounces? That’s a financial risk I’m willing to take.”
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| It did work for me, though. I like that it’s thick and luxurious, it has zero smell, and, although it pains me to use a word from the skin care marketing playbook, it leaves a nice dewy glow. (To be clear, I’m talking about the Vanicream Moisturizing Cream. I can’t speak to their other products.)
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| I don’t have dry skin, so I only use a little bit during the daytime in the summer — especially since I have to add sunscreen over it. Otherwise, it’s too greasy. But at night, I apply a generous amount. It’s never made me break out or given me any kind of negative reaction. (But everyone’s skin is different. It’s important to do a patch test before you use any new product.)
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| There’s no guarantee Vanicream will work for others like it works for me. But let this be a reminder that the skin care industry wants you to believe that if you want quality, you have to spend the big bucks on boutique products. There’s simply no evidence that that is the case. In fact, many of the totally boring-looking drugstore brands — CeraVe, Cetaphil, Neutrogena — commonly make dermatologists’ lists of top products.
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| I apologize if this is the most basic revelation in history. But those marketers are good, and it never hurts to remind yourself what actually matters.
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