Is Trader Joe’s Skin Care Actually Good?

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: 

• Rose Water Facial Toner 
• Marula Facial Oil
• Retinol Night Serum
• Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40
• Instead of Trader Joe's Natural Facial Cleansing Pads, try Pacifica Glow Baby Brightening Peel Pads
• Instead of Trader Joe's Hyaluronic Moisture Boost Serum, try Timeless Skin Care 20% C + E Ferulic Acid Serum

 

Additional reading:

• We Tested All the Skin-Care Products at Trader Joe’s to Find the Best 
• This Trader Joe’s Sunscreen May Be Even Better Than Its Much Pricier Counterpart
• The 7 Best Retinol Products of 2026 
• The 5 Best Exfoliants of 2026

 

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