Stop Sleeping on Trader Joe’s Skincare—Your New Top-Shelf Staples Are an Aisle Away

As a New Yorker, I treat shopping at Trader Joe’s like an Olympic sport. The TJ’s in NYC are not like anywhere else. When you walk in, you join the long line that weaves through the aisles, shopping as you go until you reach the checkout counter. If you’re playing on expert mode, you bring a partner and divide and conquer—one in the line, one scouring the shelves. It’s an adrenaline-powered affair that’s not for the faint of heart. The first time I visited a Trader Joe’s outside of the city, I took the time to just browse. (It was a revelation!) When I wasn’t anxiously snatching the first thing on each shelf, I discovered a whole new world. And that, dear, reader, was the world of Trader Joes skincare.

Trader Joe’s is primarily known for their rotating festive favorites. From fall snacks to surprisingly good salads to wellness faves, Trader Joe’s is a treasure trove of hyped-up goods and hidden gems. But the most slept-on section? The skincare aisle. Usually located somewhere between the dog treats and the cleaning products, Trader Joe’s skincare selection is small but mighty. I got hooked when I picked up the Rosewater Facial Spray on a whim. One spritz was all it took to let go of my overpriced facial spray. Soon, I began to wonder: what else I was missing out on? The answer: a cornucopia of beauty goodies. And chances are, you’re missing out, too.

Featured image by Belathée Photography.

trader joe's skincare
Image by William Perez

Trader Joes Skincare: The Unlikely TikTok Phenomenon

Remember when The Ordinary took over everyone’s feed a few years ago? We were all enamored by the low prices and high-quality ingredients. While I still keep the niacinamide serum in constant rotation, my new source for affordable skincare is Trader Joe’s. Here, you get the same high-quality, buzzy ingredients at a low price. But TJ’s offers more exciting, and even more versatile, product formulas. Their skincare and their snacks have more in common than you might think: innovative, high quality, and addictive.

Even TikTok has started to get on the Trader Joe’s skincare hype. Over the summer, the Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40 went viral for its silky texture and affordability. For weeks after, it was sold out at every store in the city. It’s only a matter of time before other fan favorites become the internet’s latest obsession. My advice? You’ll want to head to stock up fast.

Their skincare and their snacks have more in common than you might think: innovative, high quality, and addictive.

woman applying skincare products in mirror, trader joes skincare
Image by Michelle Nash

The Budget Trader Joe’s Buys Your Medicine Cabinet Needs

Though most drugstore products are packed with filler ingredients, dubious additives and preservatives, and overly strong fragrances, Trader Joe’s is all about making quality accessible. So if you’re thinking of trying a new buzzy ingredient, test out the Trader Joe’s version for easy entry. Or if you want to level up your skincare with higher quality products without busting your budget, make TJ’s your go-to.

The only downside? Trader Joe’s swaps out their product offering depending on the season. So be prepared to check for new and returning products each time you walk down the skincare aisle. (And stock up on your favorites before they get swapped out for more seasonal goods!) Pro tip: You can find some of the heavy hitters on Amazon in a pinch.

Without further ado, these are some of the all-star Trader Joes skincare bestsellers to add to your routine.

Best Trader Joe’s Face Products

Trader Joe’s Rose Water Facial Toner

Most rose waters contain drying ingredients like alcohol and fragrances, which might smell pretty but can wreak havoc on your skin. This refreshing mix of rose water and rose oil brightens and moisturizes while soapbark extract softens and conditions.




Trader Joe’s Antioxidant Facial Serum

Even the most minimal skincare routine needs a serum. This one is packed full of vitamins and antioxidants, including capsules of vitamin C and ferulic acid. The silky texture also primes your face for moisturizers and makeup.




Trader Joe’s Hyaluronic Moisture Boost Serum

Hyaluronic acid is a superstar ingredient—but you don’t have to splurge to experience its super hydrating qualities. This dermatologist-formulated serum quenches your skin’s thirst and creates a protective barrier around your skin to lock in moisture.




Trader Joe’s Nourish Microdermabrasion Scrub

A facial in a tube! This super-fine facial scrub combines the affordability of your old favorite drugstore scrub (St. Ives, rest in peace), without the overly rough texture. Finely ground pumice and kaolin clay detox your skin from within and slough away dead cells to reveal a newer, smoother visage in minutes.




Trader Joe’s Marula Facial Oil

Drunk Elephant put marula oil on the map, and this affordable alternative is putting it on your shelf. This pure, cold-pressed formula gives you all of the good stuff with none of the fuss.




Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40

TikTok’s favorite affordable sunscreen. This lightweight formula goes on smooth and doesn’t leave a white cast. If you find this on the shelves, snatch it up fast.




Trader Joe’s Ultra Hydrating Gel Moisturizer

This water-based face cream deeply hydrates without clogging your pores with oily residue. The water-based gel formula is packed with aloe leaf juice, green tea, and hyaluronic acid to lock in your skin’s natural moisture.




Trader Joe’s Retinol Night Serum

Start your retinol journey without the giant price tag. This gentle retinol formula balances its vitamin A with complementary ingredients like vitamins C and E for brightening, salicylic acid for cell turnover, and skin-soothing baobab seed oil to prevent irritation.




Trader Joe’s Supreme Hydrating Eye Cream

This plumping eye cream is packed with hero ingredients like revitalizing marine collagen, brightening Coenzyme Q10, soothing Manuka honey, and nourishing almond, argan, rosehip, and marula seed oils.




woman using face oil, trader joes skincare
Image by Drew Kutcher

Best Trader Joe’s Body Products

Trader Joe’s Refresh Citrus Body Wash

You have a skincare routine for your face, but what about your body? Vitamins C and B5 brighten your whole body, leaving your skin smooth and refreshed.




Trader Joe’s Oatmeal Exfoliant Bar

Bar soap is back, y’all. This gently exfoliating bar contains oatmeal, one of the most calming ingredients for your skin.




Trader Joe’s Lemongrass Coconut Body Oil

Nourish your flaky winter skin with this refreshing coconut oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, and olive oil. This lightweight formula is non-greasy and absorbs quickly for deep full-body moisture.




Trader Joe’s Hydrating Hyaluronic Body Gel Cream

For even deeper hydration, take advantage of the nourishing powers of hyaluronic acid on the body with this quick-drying gel cream.




Trader Joe’s Coconut Body Butter

Slather this whipped butter all over your body for soft skin all winter. Ingredients like aloe vera, shea butter and vitamin E combine in a formula high in fatty acids and antioxidants without a greasy residue.




Trader Joe’s Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+

Trader Joe’s Nourish Spray Sunscreen SPF 50 is a lightweight and waterproof full-body screen that protects from UVA and UVB, containing aloe, vitamin E, and coconut oil.




The post Stop Sleeping on Trader Joe’s Skincare—Your New Top-Shelf Staples Are an Aisle Away appeared first on Camille Styles.

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