Obagi

Obagi Medical was founded in 1988 by Dr. Zein Obagi, a board-certified dermatologist with over three decades of clinical experience. The brand pioneered physician-dispensed skincare systems and has extensive clinical research backing its formulations. Obagi products are widely used in dermatology practices and medical spas worldwide.

17 products reviewed

78/100 Score

Obagi 360 Retinol 0.5 cream in a white airless pump dispenser

Clinical Retinol Gateway

Obagi retinoid

360 Retinol 0.5

A thoughtfully engineered clinical retinol that prioritizes tolerability without sacrificing efficacy. The entrapped microsphere delivery system genuinely reduces the irritation roller coaster that makes many people abandon retinol after a week. At $79 for 1 oz, you're paying a premium for Obagi's 35-year clinical heritage and a delivery technology that actually works — but that premium only makes sense if conventional retinol has burned you before.

normalcombination Fragrance Free

Maximum-Strength OTC Retinol

Obagi retinoid

360 Retinol 1.0

The maximum-strength OTC retinol from a brand with 35 years of clinical credibility, wrapped in the same entrapped microsphere technology that makes the 0.5% version so tolerable. Clinical evaluation data showing zero dryness or flaking at this concentration is genuinely impressive. The $90 price remains the sticking point — you're paying for delivery engineering and pedigree, and whether that's worth it depends entirely on how your skin handles conventional retinol.

normalcombination Fragrance Free

Sensitive Skin Night Repair

Obagi moisturizer

Gentle Rejuvenation Advanced Night Repair

A thoughtfully formulated night cream built for skin that cannot tolerate conventional anti-aging actives. The kinetin-zeatin complex with ceramides and a sustained-release delivery system delivered clinical results for both aging and rosacea — a rare combination. Discontinued but still worth tracking down.

drynormal Fragrance Free

ELASTIderm Eye Cream

A clinically backed eye cream that takes a genuinely different approach to periorbital aging by targeting elastin rather than just collagen. The Bi-Mineral Contour Complex delivers visible firming over time, though the $130 price tag for half an ounce demands patience and commitment to see the return on investment.

normalcombination Fragrance Free

Sun Shield Matte SPF 50

A dependable hybrid sunscreen built for the derm office waiting room crowd — people who want serious SPF 50 protection without the greasy, shiny aftermath. The matte finish is legitimately impressive for a formula packing 16.5% zinc oxide, though the $59 price tag asks a lot when the supporting cast of ingredients is fairly basic.

oilycombination Fragrance Free

Luxury Overnight Hydration

Obagi moisturizer

Hydrate Luxe Moisture-Rich Cream

An intelligently formulated overnight moisturizer that pairs tara seed extract's sustained hydration release with biomimetic peptides for a cream that actually earns the "luxe" designation. Not cheap, but the multi-mechanism approach to overnight hydration and repair is more thoughtful than most night creams at this price.

drynormal Paraben Free

Nu-Derm Gentle Cleanser

A no-nonsense gentle cleanser that has quietly earned loyalty in dermatology offices for over two decades, particularly among patients using aggressive prescription treatments. The formula does its job well, though the inclusion of fragrance, SLS, and parabens feels increasingly outdated for a product targeting sensitive skin at a premium price.

normaldry Pregnancy Safe

Retinol 1.0

A no-compromise 1% retinol that delivers prescription-adjacent potency in an OTC cream base thoughtfully cushioned with antioxidants and botanicals. This is not a starter retinol — it's the one you graduate to when you're ready for serious results and willing to weather the retinization period.

normalcombination Fragrance Free

High-Dose Arbutin Brightener

Obagi treatment

Nu-Derm Clear Fx

A serious brightening treatment built around one of the highest OTC arbutin concentrations available. Slower than hydroquinone but gentler and safer for long-term use — if you have the patience for a 3-6 month timeline. The SLS and parabens in the formula feel outdated for the $125 asking price.

normalcombination Fragrance Free

Maximum-Strength Clinical Vitamin C

Obagi serum

Professional-C Serum 20%

The most potent and most popular vitamin C serum in Obagi's Professional-C line, with the most complete supporting formula including sodium hyaluronate. Delivers dramatic brightening for oily and normal skin types — but the continued absence of ferulic acid prevents it from being the definitive clinical vitamin C serum.

normaloily Paraben Free

Luxury Hydration Ritual

Obagi serum

Daily Hydro-Drops Facial Serum

A visually striking hydrating serum with a proprietary droplet delivery system that delivers genuine moisture and a pleasant ritual — but at 00 an ounce for a modest niacinamide concentration and botanical oils, you're paying premium prices for a beautiful vehicle rather than breakthrough actives.

normalcombination Paraben Free

Luxury Hydration Experience

Obagi serum

Daily Hydro-Drops Face Moisturizer

A beautifully crafted sensorial experience disguised as a clinical serum. The Isoplentix oil-droplet technology creates an undeniably luxurious application ritual, and the immediate smoothing and dewy effect is real. But at $115 for an ounce of glycerin, sub-optimal niacinamide, and seed oils you can find in $20 products, this is a case where the packaging and brand name carry more weight than the ingredient list warrants.

normaldry Paraben Free

Matte Finish Oil Control SPF

Obagi sunscreen

Sun Shield Matte Broad Spectrum SPF 50

A genuinely excellent matte finish sunscreen with strong SPF 50 hybrid protection — undermined by the inclusion of methylisothiazolinone, a known contact allergen that a clinical skincare brand should have reformulated out years ago. Great texture, questionable preservative choice.

oilycombination Fragrance Free

Science-Optimal Vitamin C

Obagi serum

Professional-C Serum 15%

The scientifically optimal concentration in Obagi's Professional-C line, with a clever dual-form vitamin C approach. Would be a standout product if it included ferulic acid and vitamin E — as it stands, it is a solid but incomplete vitamin C serum at a premium price.

normalcombination Paraben Free

Derm Office Acne Staple

Obagi cleanser

CLENZIderm M.D. Daily Care Foaming Cleanser

A no-nonsense 2% salicylic acid cleanser built for oily, acne-prone skin — effective at cutting through oil and clearing pores, but the SLS-based surfactant system and added fragrance feel outdated for a $50 product sold through derm offices.

oilycombination Paraben Free

Minimalist Brightening Power

Obagi serum

Clinical Vitamin C+ Arbutin Brightening Serum

A radically minimalist vitamin C serum that pairs L-ascorbic acid with arbutin for dual-pathway brightening. Effective for evening skin tone, but the inclusion of alcohol denat. and SLS in a leave-on formula — at 2 for one ounce — asks you to pay luxury prices while accepting drugstore-era compromises.

normalcombination Fragrance Free

Gentle Vitamin C Entry Point

Obagi serum

Professional-C Serum 10%

An ultra-minimalist 5-ingredient vitamin C serum designed as the gentle on-ramp for sensitive skin. Effective at providing baseline antioxidant protection, but the lack of supporting ingredients and high retail price make it hard to recommend over more complete formulations.

drysensitive Paraben Free

★★★★★

4.1 (150)

$115.00