Is Trader Joe’s Skincare Actually Good?

A white tube of Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 40 rests inside a transparent bubble. The product sits against a solid, light blue background.

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Trader Joe's is beloved for its quirky snacks and frozen meals, but its beauty aisle has quietly become a hotspot for budget-friendly skincare and viral "dupes".

This week, beauty writer Neha Tandon shares the results of her extensive hands-on testing of Trader Joe’s moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and sunscreens. She reveals which $10-and-under products are high-performing gems and which popular items missed the mark.

This episode covers

  • The $4 Holy Grail: Why the Rose Facial Toner is a highly versatile, multi-use must-have for refreshing skin, setting makeup, and even reviving curly hair.
  • A $7 designer "dupe": How the single-ingredient Marula Facial Oil performs just as beautifully as luxury versions costing six times as much.
  • The absolute misses: Why Neha suggests skipping the "Pine-Sol-esque" tea tree oil cleansing pads and the snotty-textured Hyaluronic Moisture Boost Serum.
  • Better alternatives: Superior options for exfoliating pads and vitamin C serums if you want to upgrade your skincare routine.

Products we recommend

This rose-water spray can be used as a toner, a setting spray, and a curl refresher — among many other things. But people with sensitive skin should beware.

Packaged in a lavish-looking glass bottle, this versatile oil can be used by practically anyone on the hair, the face, and even the body.

Testers loved this uniquely slick serum, which absorbed quickly into the skin. It has a low retinol percentage, so it should be suitable for retinol beginners and those with sensitive skin.

In brand-concealed testing for our sunscreen guide, panelists overwhelmingly favored this smooth-finish sunscreen — even over pricier options.

The little yellow bottle pumps out a tingly serum powered by fast-acting L-ascorbic acid. The sticky residue requires a little time to dissipate. We think it’s worth the splurge over the snottier-textured Trader Joe’s version.

Powered by an effective AHA/BHA blend, these affordable pre-moistened rounds have texture on one side to boost the exfoliating effects. Although they come in a recyclable jar, the pads are single-use. We think they're worth the splurge over the harsher Trader Joe’s version.



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