Which Skin Care Products Do We Really Need?

Skin care is big business – just ask the multibillion-dollar beauty industry. But does it truly take a cabinet full of pricey products to keep our skin healthy?

From cleansers to creams and serums to sunscreens, the skin care aisle is bursting with products that promise to make our skin look brighter, softer, younger, better. But which products are must-haves, and which are unnecessary? Should you shell out extra cash for “clean” cosmetics? And is sunscreen really that important?

We asked a trio of UCSF dermatologists our burning questions about skin care to find out which products should earn a spot on our shopping lists.