Skin Care Spotlight: Derma Made

As its name suggests, Derma Made is a dermatologist-made skin care brand co-founded by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Amy Brodsky. This physician-dispensed brand uses evidence-based ingredients and formulations to address specific skin concerns, such as dryness and irritation, acne, aging, dark spots, and rosacea.

In this article, we dive into the specifics of what makes Derma Made products and ingredients stand out from other brands in the medical-grade skin care category and which skin types this brand is best for.

Derma Made is a dermatologist-developed skin care brand that combines Dr. Brodsky’s clinical experience and biomedical engineering background to create effective, affordable formulas for everyday skin concerns. In an interview, Dr. Brodsky explains that she developed Derma Made because “there was a need for medical-strength products that could treat all of [her] patients, whether for cosmetic or general dermatologic reasons.” 

Derma Made offers comprehensive protocol kits for a wide range of skin concerns, including acne, redness, pigmentation, signs of aging, and compromised barriers. Its products are formulated with clinically supported ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, retinoids, bakuchiol, niacinamide, azelaic acid, hydroxy acids, and growth factors.

Overall, Derma Made is a science-backed, dermatologist-driven brand focused on providing solutions to everyday skin concerns, offering affordable, evidence-backed formulas that many clinicians recommend in their practices.

Derma Made doesn’t revolve around a single hero product or ingredient. Instead, it’s known for creating reliable and affordable dermatologist-developed skin care solutions for specific skin needs, including:

• Barrier repair–focused moisturizers designed to support dry, dehydrated skin and improve barrier function over time.

• Retinoid products, paired with bakuchiol to decrease side effects like dryness and flaking that can come along with other retinoid-based products.

• Acne, rosacea, and redness treatment with sulfur- and salicylic acid–based cleansing.

• Antioxidant support through expertly formulated vitamin C products that utilize L-ascorbic acid, the most effective form of vitamin C, at the proper pH for enhanced stability.

•  Inexpensive skincare products to encourage long-term consistency, frequent replacement with fresh product, and optimal results.

Derma Made expertly formulates and manufactures each product it offers to deliver effective, science-backed routines that are affordable for the average consumer. Derma Made does not sacrifice quality for affordability, however – Derma Made offers the best of both worlds.

Some of its key ingredients and formulations include:

• Retinol + bakuchiol. The addition of bakuchiol improves the tolerability of retinol, while also providing complementary anti-aging benefits through different cellular pathways (3).

• Affordable, stabile Vitamin C - Derma Made uses L-ascorbic acid, the biologically active and most well-studied form of vitamin C. Its formulation is also properly stabilized with supporting antioxidants and is at the correct pH to maintain potency. This allows the brand to offer an effective vitamin C serum at a lower price point than many boutique or luxury brands without compromising performance.

• Colloidal sulfur- Sulfur has keratolytic, oil-reducing, and antimicrobial properties, making it particularly effective for acne-prone, oily, and congestion-prone skin. It also has anti-inflammatory benefits, which can help to calm redness associated with acne and inflammatory skin conditions (4).

• Tranexamic acid. Unlike exfoliating acids that work by accelerating cell turnover, tranexamic acid interrupts the inflammatory and vascular pathways that stimulate excess melanin production (5). This makes it particularly useful for hormonally influenced or inflammation-driven pigmentation, where traditional brightening ingredients may fall short. 

• Growth factors (SH-Oligopeptide-1). This growth factor mimics naturally occurring epidermal growth factor (EGF), which plays a key role in skin regeneration by signaling keratinocyte proliferation and supporting wound healing (6). 

Derma Made offers a wide range of dermatologist-developed skin care products, as well as comprehensive protocol kits. Below are a few of its most popular and stand-out products.

Derma Made does not publish proprietary clinical trials on its finished products. Instead, the scientific foundation of the brand rests on the extensive body of peer-reviewed research supporting its core ingredients, such as:

• Retinoids and epidermal regulation -Retinoids are among the most extensively studied topical ingredients in dermatology. Research consistently shows that they regulate keratinocyte differentiation, stimulate collagen production, and improve photodamage when used consistently over several months (7, 8).

• Bakuchiol as a complementary pathway- Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that bakuchiol can improve wrinkles and pigmentation comparably to retinol, with fewer reports of scaling and stinging. While it does not replace retinoids, it can enhance tolerability in combination routines (9).

• L-ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)- L-ascorbic acid is the most biologically active and well-studied form of topical vitamin C. It supports collagen synthesis by acting as a required cofactor for collagen-forming enzymes, helps to neutralize free-radical damage from UV exposure and pollution, and interferes with melanin production to improve uneven tone (10).

• Barrier lipid restoration- Research shows that ceramides, cholesterol, and free fatty acids work synergistically to restore lamellar structure and reduce water loss (11).

One of the stand-out benefits of Derma Made is that it offers a wide range of products that are tailored toward a wide range of skin types and concerns. Thus, Derma Made truly has something for every skin type.

Examples by skin type include:

• Dry or dehydrated skin. Ceramide Barrier Cream to restore barrier lipids and reduce transepidermal water loss, paired with Antioxidant C Serum+ for antioxidant support without heavy occlusives.

• Oily or acne-prone skin. Medi Wash, which uses colloidal sulfur and salicylic acid to reduce oil and clear pores, combined with lightweight treatment serums that avoid pore-clogging ingredients.

• Sensitive or reactive skin. Lower-strength Retinol + Bakuchiol Serum for gradual cell turnover with improved tolerability, supported by barrier-repair products to minimize irritation.

• Hyperpigmentation-prone skin. Melafade Serum, which targets pigment through tranexamic acid rather than aggressive exfoliation, making it suitable for melasma and inflammation-driven discoloration.

• Aging or mature skin. Retinol + Bakuchiol Serum at appropriate strength levels, combined with antioxidant and barrier-support products to support long-term collagen health.

Overall, Derma Made strikes a great balance between affordability and effective formulations. That said, as with any skin care line, results depend far more on how the products are used than on the brand itself. 

 Derma Made products do not have a lot of irritating preservatives so I advise to use them within 4 weeks of opening.  If you want to try to make them last longer, you can refrigerate them. While Derma Made offers products for many needs, there is no requirement or advantage to using every step from a single brand. 

In short, Derma Made provides high-quality, well-formulated products, but don’t be afraid to mix and match products from different brands to get the best overall skin care routine for your specific needs for you Baumann Skin Type.

Derma Made stands out as a dermatologist-developed brand that focuses on evidence-based ingredients, expert formulation, and affordability. Its products are designed to work within structured routines, support long-term consistency, and address common concerns like acne, pigmentation, barrier disruption, and signs of aging. 

While no brand is universally perfect for everyone, Derma Made offers a strong, science-backed foundation that can be used alone or integrated into a broader routine tailored to your individual skin needs.

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1. Baumann L. Antiaging Ingredients in Ch. 37 of Baumann's Cosmetic Dermatology Ed 3. (McGraw Hill 2022)
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6. Pastore, S., Mascia, F., Mariani, V., & Girolomoni, G. (2008). The epidermal growth factor receptor system in skin repair and inflammation. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 128(6), 1365-1374.
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8. Milosheska, D., & Roškar, R. (2022). Use of retinoids in topical antiaging treatments: a focused review of clinical evidence for conventional and nanoformulations. Advances in therapy, 39(12), 5351-5375.
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10. Ravetti, S., Clemente, C., Brignone, S., Hergert, L., Allemandi, D., & Palma, S. (2019). Ascorbic acid in skin health. Cosmetics, 6(4), 58.
11. Draelos, Z. D. (2012). New treatments for restoring impaired epidermal barrier permeability: skin barrier repair creams. Clinics in dermatology, 30(3), 345-348.
12. Baumann L. Bakuchiol Dermatology News 2019 https://www.mdedge.com/edermatologynews/article/202646/aesthetic-dermatology/bakuchiol/page/0/1