dermaGEEK Reviews: A Review of The 6 Best dermaGEEK Skin Care Products

dermaGEEK is a skincare brand that was founded by Rachel and Dula, two certified geeks (their words, not ours) with years of expertise in the science of skincare. 

dermaGEEK believes in ingredient transparency and the power of science. We share these beliefs here at The Derm Review, which is why we’ve evaluated the dermaGEEK skin care product formulations through a scientific lens.

Below we’ll discuss the research that supports (or doesn’t support) the ingredients that you’ll find in these products. We’ll also share dermaGEEK reviews so that you can get an idea of what customers really think of these products.

What’s Inside Dermageek Skincare?

Dermageek focuses on using evidence-based ingredients in their products, such as retinoids, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid. Let’s take a closer look at how these ingredients may benefit your skin. 

Retinoids
Retinoids are the go-to anti-aging ingredients recommended by dermatologists and skin experts. They are clinically proven to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improve uneven skin tone, restore skin firmness, and shrink the appearance of enlarged pores.

The only downside? Retinoids can often lead to side effects like skin dryness, peeling, and irritation. 

Smoothing Facial Serum features a 0.3% concentration of a retinoid called retinyl propionate. After this retinoid is absorbed into the skin, it must be converted to retinoic acid (the active form) before it can provide any benefits. 

Niacinamide
Niacinamide is a multi-tasking ingredient that you’ll find in the brand’s most popular products, including dermaGEEK Nourishing Facial Night Cream, Nourishing Facial Moisturizer With Sunscreen, and Fortifying Facial Serum. 

Niacinamide is the amide form of vitamin B3 (niacin) that provides many benefits to the skin. For instance, a publication in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, states that niacinamide can repair the skin barrier and improve skin moisture, as well as reduce inflammation, blotchiness, hyperpigmentation, acne, and wrinkling.

Vitamin E
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps to protect the skin from free radical damage that can lead to signs of aging. In addition, vitamin E is known to strengthen the skin’s barrier function and helps to reduce transepidermal water loss. You’ll find this ingredient in the dermaGEEK Fortifying Facial Serum. 

Everything Else

Dermageek combines these ingredients with plenty of soothing botanicals, such as grape seed and green tea, as well as safe synthetics, such as silicones and humectants. 

We also love that the brand leaves out harmful ingredients like ​​fragrances, sulfates (SLS + SLES), parabens, phthalates, and synthetic dyes.

What Are The Top 6 Best dermaGEEK Skin Care Products?

At the time of writing this review, dermaGEEK offers just 6 skin care products, and we’ll give you the details on each one below. 

dermaGEEK Gentle Facial Cleanser

Gentle Facial Cleanser is a pH-balanced, mild cleanser with a pretty basic formula. Like most cleansers, the key ingredients in this formula are surfactants, such as cocamidopropyl betaine and sodium lauroyl sarcosinate. 

A surfactant molecule contains one end that is hydrophilic (attracted to water) and one end that is lipophilic (attracted to oil). This allows surfactants to attract and suspend oils, dirt, and other impurities that have accumulated on the skin and wash them away, leaving the skin clean. 

Like all of the dermaGEEK products, this cleanser is formulated without ​​fragrances, sulfates (SLS + SLES), parabens, phthalates, and synthetic dyes.

Bottom Line: This pH-balanced cleanser has a very basic formula, which isn’t a bad thing, especially if you have sensitive skin. It’s formulated to get the job done (aka get your skin clean). 

dermaGEEK Detoxifying Facial Serum

Salicylic acid — a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) — is the star ingredient in the Detoxifying Facial Serum, making this serum great for anyone with acne-prone skin, clogged pores, or dull, tired skin. 

The formula contains 2% salicylic acid, the maximum amount that can be used in an OTC product. It works by exfoliating the pore lining, which loosens clogged dirt and oil. 

Salicylic acid also has the ability to dissolve keratin, the protein that acts as a “glue” to keep dead skin cells together in the stratum corneum. This is effective because dead skin cells can build up on the surface of your skin, leaving it looking dull and also possibly clogging pores. 

Bottom Line: dermaGEEK Detoxifying Facial Serum is a leave-on exfoliant with 2% salicylic acid that helps to clear out pores, reduce and prevent blemishes, and revive dull, tired skin. 

dermaGEEK Smoothing Facial Serum

Smoothing Facial Serum features a 0.3% concentration of a retinoid called retinyl propionate. After this retinoid is absorbed into the skin, it must be converted to retinoic acid (the active form) before it can provide any benefits. 

Retinoic acid works deep within the skin where it boosts collagen synthesis, increases elasticity, and repairs connective tissue. It also increases cellular turnover, which helps to prevent clogged pores and also promotes smoother, healthier skin.

According to a publication in the journal Clinical Interventions in Aging, retinoic acid can minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improve uneven skin tone, restore skin firmness, and shrink the appearance of enlarged pores.

So if you’re looking to tackle multiple signs of aging at once, dermaGEEK Smoothing Facial Serum could be a good choice for you!

Bottom Line: An anti-aging facial serum with 0.3% retinyl propionate, a retinoid that improves multiple signs of aging. 

dermaGEEK Nourishing Facial Night Cream

This dermaGEEK Night Cream has a rich texture that helps your skin to look and feel supple and visibly smoother. The formula contains 3.5% niacinamide, which is one of our favorite skin care ingredients. 

Scientifically speaking, niacinamide is the amide form of vitamin B3 (niacin). It plays an important role in cellular metabolism, and it’s a potent antioxidant. But let’s talk about the benefits you can expect from niacinamide because there’s a lot!

According to a publication in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, niacinamide can repair the skin barrier and improve skin moisture, as well as reduce inflammation, blotchiness, hyperpigmentation, and wrinkling.

An added bonus is that niacinamide helps to reduce and prevent acne because of its antimicrobial and sebostatic effects, meaning it can help protect against the bacteria that cause acne while also helping to reduce oil production. 

The only drawback is the jar packaging compromises the stability of niacinamide (and other antioxidant ingredients) reducing its potency every time you open the jar. 

Bottom Line: A rich night cream that provides many benefits — like moisturizing, reducing inflammation, and brightening your complexion — thanks to the multi-tasking ingredient niacinamide. 

dermaGEEK Nourishing Facial Moisturizer With Sunscreen

The active sunscreen ingredients in dermaGEEK Nourishing Facial Moisturizer with Sunscreen include avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, and octocrylene, which provide broad spectrum SPF 30 protection. 

All four of these ingredients are classified as chemical sunscreens, which protect the skin by first absorbing UV light, then transforming that light energy into some other form of energy, such as heat.

This is in contrast to physical sunscreens, also called mineral sunscreens, such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Physical sunscreens sit on top of the skin and provide protection using physical UV filters to block or deflect UV light. 

A benefit of chemical sunscreens is their ability to defend the deeper layers of skin, including collagen fibers and other tissue, against the aging effects of UVA rays, as well as preventing penetration by the UVB rays responsible for tanning and sunburn.

A drawback of chemical sunscreens is that they are thinner than physical sunscreens and therefore, rub off easier and must be reapplied more frequently.

Another more serious drawback of chemical sunscreens is that research has shown they do absorb through the skin and into the bloodstream. It’s still unclear if these chemicals are linked to health conditions, but it’s known that they do enter the body. 

This dermaGEEK moisturizer also includes multi-tasking niacinamide, as well as several hydrating ingredients like glycerin, trehalose, and panthenol (pro-vitamin B5). 

Bottom Line: A daytime moisturizer that uses four chemical sunscreen ingredients to provide broad spectrum SPF 30 protection. 

dermaGEEK Fortifying Facial Serum

This dermaGEEK serum is very lightweight, absorbs super fast, and has no oily residue or any kind of tacky feeling afterward. The formula is infused with a blend of antioxidants, including niacinamide, vitamin E, green tea leaf extract, and grape seed extract.

Grape seed extract is an excellent skin care ingredient because it’s one of the richest fruit sources of polyphenols (plant compounds with antioxidant properties), according to a publication in the journal Cosmetics.

Similarly, green tea leaf extract is rich in the polyphenol epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG targets free radicals, particularly those caused by UV-induced oxidative damage. 

According to a publication in the journal Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, “Catechin molecules such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) are capable of attenuating the biomolecular damage induced by UV radiation, possibly through molecular mechanisms involving the cell membranes.”

EGCG in green tea is also anti-inflammatory, which means it can help to reduce skin redness and irritation.

The combination of these four antioxidants will help to protect skin from free radicals, the unstable molecules that contribute to the formation of premature wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots. 

Bottom Line: An antioxidant facial serum that combines niacinamide, vitamin E, green tea leaf extract, and grape seed extract to protect against free radicals, which helps to promote brighter, more youthful-looking skin.

How Much Do dermaGEEK Skin Care Products Cost?

dermaGEEK skin care products are pretty affordable, with the prices being comparable to higher end drugstore brands such as Olay and Burt’s Bees. For example, the dermaGEEK Night Cream costs $19.99 USD for 1.7 oz, while the Gentle Facial Cleanser costs $7.99 USD for 5 oz. 

Where to Buy dermaGEEK Skin Care Products?

dermaGEEK skin care products are sold on the brand’s website, as well as several third party retailers such as Walmart, Target, Walgreens, Kroger, and more. 

What is The dermaGEEK Return Policy?

The dermaGEEK return policy states, “For all returns other than damaged, defective or incorrectly-shipped items, you will be responsible for the shipping charges to return the item(s). To obtain your refund, the item must be returned to us, unopened and in its original packaging, with all accessories, within 30 days of the date upon which we provided the item to the carrier for shipment to you.”

Is dermaGEEK Cruelty Free?

Yes, dermaGEEK is cruelty free. 

Is dermaGEEK Vegan?

Yes, all dermaGEEK products are vegan. 

Our Verdict

Overall, we think that dermaGEEK skin care products are formulated well with evidence-based ingredients, but we wish the brand would switch from jar-packaging to airless packaging. 

Pros

• Products contain evidence-based ingredients
• All products formulated without ​​fragrances, sulfates (SLS + SLES), parabens, phthalates, and synthetic dyes
• Many positive dermaGEEK reviews
• dermaGEEK is cruelty free
• Affordable

Cons

• Jar packaging will cause delicate ingredients to break time each time you open the jar

References:
Clin Interv Aging. 2006 Dec; 1(4): 327–348.
​​J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2010 Feb; 3(2): 22–41
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2019 Jan 1;173:312-319.
Cosmetics 2015; 2(3):259-276.
JAMA. 2019;321(21):2082-2091.