Great — here are widely regarded “best” beauty and skincare brands, organized by category and why people (editors, dermatologists, or shoppers) choose them. I included one or two standout product types to help you pick.

Everyday / dermatologist‑friendly (science-backed, broadly recommended)

• CeraVe — affordable, ceramide‑focused barrier repair; developed with dermatologists (moisturizers, cleansers, AM/PM lotions). (uat-cd-us.CeraVe.com)
• La Roche‑Posay — gentle, clinically tested formulas, excellent sunscreens and sensitive‑skin staples. Editors and derms frequently recommend it. (allure.com)
• EltaMD — dermatologist favorite for mineral sunscreens and post‑procedure skin protection. (4s2.com)

Editors’ / critics’ favorites (award winners, often innovative formulas)

• Allure Best‑of‑Beauty winners (brands appearing repeatedly): Drunk Elephant, SkinCeuticals, Tatcha, Supergoop, iS Clinical, Paula’s Choice — these brands win product awards for serums, sunscreens, retinoids, and exfoliants. (allure.com)

Clean / “natural” and indie brands (ingredient‑forward, sustainable or niche)

• Youth to the People — popular clean formulas and editor picks for cleansers and serums. (allure.com)
• True Botanicals — high‑quality, toxin‑free formulations (often pricey, focused on active botanicals). (allure.com)

Clinical / medical‑grade (targeted high‑potency actives)

• SkinCeuticals — antioxidant serums and vitamin C products with clinical research. (allure.com)
• iS Clinical — retinoids and professional treatments favored by skincare professionals. (allure.com)

Budget / drugstore value (effective, affordable)

• Neutrogena, Cetaphil, Olay, Eucerin — reliable cleansers, sunscreens, and hydrators that dermatologists and reviewers often recommend for different skin types. (theguardian.com)

K‑Beauty / innovative textures and active delivery

• Manyo (Ma:nyo), COSRX, Tatcha (heritage + tech) — known for gentle exfoliants, essences, and hydration tech; often appear in editorial best‑of lists. (allure.com)

Sunscreen specialists

• Supergoop!, EltaMD, La Roche‑Posay Anthelios — consistently top picks for broad‑spectrum, cosmetically elegant sunscreens. (allure.com)

How to pick the “best” for you

• If you have sensitive, eczema‑prone or barrier‑compromised skin: favor ceramide/niacinamide‑forward brands (CeraVe, La Roche‑Posay, Eucerin). (uat-cd-us.CeraVe.com)
• If you want proven anti‑aging actives: look at clinical brands (SkinCeuticals, iS Clinical, SkinCeuticals retinols). (allure.com)
• If budget matters: drugstore lines (Neutrogena, Cetaphil, Olay) often match key ingredients at a lower price. (theguardian.com)
• For daily protection: choose a reliable SPF from Supergoop!, EltaMD, or La Roche‑Posay. (allure.com)

If you want, I can:

• Recommend a short routine (cleanser → treatment → moisturizer → SPF) tailored to your skin type and budget, or
• List top product picks (cleanser, serum, moisturizer, SPF) from these brands for dry, oily, acne‑prone, or sensitive skin.

Which would you prefer?