Speak to any beauty journalist – myself included – and they’ll tell you Dr Sam Bunting is not only one of the first media-friendly skin doctors they go to for help with articles, but she’s also the person they trust most with their skin.
A cosmetic dermatologist known for her expertise in treating a variety of skin conditions, Dr Bunting advocates for evidence-based skincare, and she’s truly established herself as a trusted source within the skincare space.
With an approach that combines a deep understanding of science with a passion for using and recommending simple but effective skincare, it made sense that she would one day create her own line of products that stayed true to that ethos.
Enter, the eponymous brand Dr Sam’s, which launched in 2018 with just one product, Dr Sam’s flawless cleanser, which became an instant hit. Fast forward a few short years and there’s an extensive line of hardworking but gentle products that really do take the guesswork out of skincare.
With a clear focus on clarity, efficacy and overall skin health, each product within the Dr Sam’s brand is meticulously crafted and designed to address the most common concerns she sees day to day, including acne, rosacea, hyperpigmentation and ageing.
With a less is more philosophy that really does work, Dr Sam’s is a brand to know, and, if you’re not sure where to start, I’ve rounded up my favourite products, to give you a helping hand.
If you’re looking to try some of the formulas, but don’t want to commit to full-size products, the limited-edition radiance kit is well worth a look. It offers a five-step routine with her bestselling products – from the flawless cleanser and moisturiser to the azelaic acid serum and nightly retinoid serum – for less than £40. Keep reading for a beauty editor’s review of Dr Sam, plus how to snap up the radiance kit in the brand’s Black Friday deals.
The best Dr Sam’s products for 2025 are:
- Best day serum – Dr Sam’s flawless brightly serum: £50, Drsambunting.com
- Best cleanser – Dr Sam’s flawless cleanser: £20, Drsambunting.com
- Best night serum – Dr Sam’s flawless nightly serum: £50, Drsambunting.com
- Best body moisturiser – Dr Sam’s flawless body therapy: £34, Drsambunting.com
- Best blemish treatment – Dr Sam’s flawless neutralising gel: £30, Drsambunting.com
How we tested
The Dr Sam’s brand launched its initial cleanser in 2018, and I’ve been a fan ever since. I’be used almost every product that sits within the range, with some becoming core staples in my routine, and others being options that are widely recommended to friends and family. Naturally, I tested each product with a different criteria, to assess the benefits of each formulation.
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Dr Sam’s flawless brightly serum
Best: Day serum
Size: 30ml
Key ingredients: Azelaic acid, niacinamide, vitamin C and bakuchiol
Why we love it
- Evens out skin tone
- Protects against environmental damage
- Reduces redness
If I was pushed to pick a favourite product among the brand’s line-up, it would be this serum. A hardworking, effective but gentle formula made up of 10 per cent azelaic acid alongside niacinamide, vitamin C and bakuchiol, this really is a daytime serum that covers everything.
As well as working as an antioxidant to protect skin against environmental aggressors – such as pollution and free radicals – it also helps to even out your skin tone while reducing the appearance of pores and redness, leaving skin with a glow. It sits perfectly underneath make-up, and consistent use will help your skin be the best version of itself, trust me.
Buy now £50, Drsambunting.com
Dr Sam’s flawless cleanser
Best: Cleanser
Size: 200ml, also available in 400ml refill and 50ml travel size
Key ingredients: Aloe vera and allantoin
Why we love it
- Gentle
- Removes make-up with minimal effort
A true hero of the Dr Sam’s range, this cleanser should be a staple in every routine. I love the gel formula, which really does work to dissolve every impurity and scrap of make-up, without irritating or drying out skin.
The brand recommends using two pumps applied to damp skin, massaging it in for one minute before rinsing off – it’s a fail-safe technique that not only encourages proper cleansing but also negates the need for a second cleanse (although, you can do another if you like). The formula is gentle but effective it is – a good cleanser is the cornerstone of any routine, and this is a great option that does everything you need it to in the most fuss-free of ways.
Buy now £20, Drsambunting.com
Dr Sam’s flawless vitamin C NAD+ serum
Best: Vitamin C serum
Size: 30ml
Key ingredients: 15 per cent vitamin C complex, ectoin and sunflower shoot extract
Why we love it
- Fights UV damage
- Reduces pigmentation
- Protects against blue light and pollution
If it’s a straight-up hardworking vitamin C serum you want – whether that’s to target UV damage, reduce pigmentation, brighten skin or strengthen your skin barrier – look no further than this product. One of the newest within the range, this smart formula is bolstered with an effective vitamin C complex that won’t irritate skin. Instead, it fights free radicals and pollution, for bright, even-toned skin, while providing a dose of ectoin, to help strengthen the skin barrier. Plus, it uses sunflower shoot extract, which works to increase NAD+ – which, in short, helps reboot skin cells and improves the overall health and appearance of skin.
I love how lightweight this formula is – having worked my way through a tube of this serum, I can vouch for how well it sits under make-up and sunscreen, and how much it helped in providing my skin with a lit-from-within glow.
Buy now £64, Drsambunting.com
Dr Sam’s flawless nightly serum
Best: Night serum
Size: 30ml
Key ingredients: Granactive retinoid, azelaic acid, bakuchiol and niacinamide
Why we love it
- Fights UV damage
- Reduces pigmentation
- Protects against blue light and pollution
I’ve already established that gentle is the name of the game for Dr Sam’s, and this serum is the ideal entry-level product for anybody wanting to dip their toe in the retinoid world. Formulated with an effective blend of granactive retinoid, azelaic acid, bakuchiol and niacinamide, over time, it will work to resurface the skin, calm and reduce blemishes and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The clever blend of ingredients makes it extremely effective, and I found that – unlike with some vitamin A serums – my skin didn’t need time to adjust. I didn’t experience any dryness, instead, I just reaped the skin-smoothing rewards. Consistency is key with a product like this, but applying a pea-sized amount a few times a week before you go to sleep is the simplest path to complexion perfection.
Buy now £50, Drsambunting.com
Dr Sam’s flawless neutralising gel
Best: Blemish treatment
Size: 30ml
Key ingredients: Azelaic acid, salicylic acid, bakuchiol and squalane
Why we love it
- Gentle
- Doesn’t dry out spots
- Works under make-up
If, like me, you suffer from breakouts, you’ll probably be aware of the harsh, drying treatments that are commonplace when it comes to targeting unwanted blemishes. Dr Bunting, however, is of the opinion that spots should be treated with kindness, which is why she launched this product. The neutralising gel is formulated with a blend of azelaic acid, salicylic acid and bakuchiol, alongside hydrating squalane. Not only does it help to reduce redness and spot size, but it also helps reduce the chance of future breakouts occurring.
It’s virtually invisible on the skin, and it layers well underneath make-up, meaning it can be applied in the morning and you can be safe in the knowledge it’s working its magic throughout the day. It’s actively hydrating – something that is necessary for blemish-prone skin – so, there are no more dry, crusty, tell-tale signs of having a spot and fewer chances of any marks being left long after the blemish is healed. Consider it a must-have for anybody prone to breakouts.
Buy now £30, Drsambunting.com
Dr Sam’s flawless daily sunscreen SPF50
Best: Facial sunscreen
Size: 50ml
Key ingredients: Niacinamide, zinc oxide and octinoxate
Why we love it
- Moisturising but not greasy
- Sits well under make-up
- Non-comedogenic
Trust a skin doctor to create a sunscreen you’ll actually want to apply day in, day out. Calming and nourishing, it’s non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog your pores, and it has a primer-like finish that means it sits really well underneath make-up.
Plus, I love that it’s boosted with five per cent niacinamide, which will help to brighten and boost your skin while increasing ceramide production and helping to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles. It’s silky-smooth upon application, and, although it is white at first, it blends into skin beautifully, leaving a non-greasy, satin finish in its wake. It’s a good option for sensitive or blemish-prone skin, too.
Read more: Best face SPFs to use all year round
Buy now £31, Drsambunting.com
Dr Sam’s flawless moisturiser intense
Best: Moisturiser
Size: 50ml
Key ingredients: Centella asiatica, sunflower shoot extract, ectoin, glycerin and squalane
Why we love it
- Intensely hydrating
- Good for sensitive skin
- Supports the skin barrier
Everybody should have a reparative, barrier-boosting moisturiser in their skincare arsenal. If you’re yet to find the ideal formula, try this one. Formulated for sensitive, redness-prone skin, it is clinically proven to repair the skin barrier after your first use. It’s rich but not greasy, hydrating but not oily, and it absorbs well into the skin, plus it layers well with other products. Whether you apply this after your chosen retinoid or other actives in the evening, or if you need an extra hit of moisture in the mornings, this one can be used in conjunction with sunscreen and make-up.
Formulated with a hydrating trio made up of ectoin, glycerin and squalane, it also has sunflower shoot extract, which boosts NAD+ (in the same way the vitamin C serum does) and it also uses soothing centella asiatica, to help protect against UV damage.
Buy now £36, Drsambunting.com
Dr Sam’s flawless body therapy
Best: Body moisturiser
Size: 200ml
Key ingredients: Bakuchiol, niacinamide, lactic acid and shea butter
Why we love it
- Nourishing
- Non-greasy
- Targets keratosis pilaris
After creating an impressive range of facial skincare products, it makes sense that Dr Sam’s would focus its attention on creating a simple but effective body moisturiser that works to smooth and firm skin. This buttery soft formula is infused with bakuchiol, niacinamide and lactic acid, hydrating skin while gently smoothing it and reducing any rough bumps or keratosis pilaris you might have.
The added shea butter is nourishing without being greasy, it absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave a sticky film on the surface of the skin like some moisturisers can – meaning I was able to go from showered to moisturised to dressed within a matter of minutes. Plus, it’s a product that targets dry elbows like no other.
Buy now £34, Drsambunting.com
Dr Sam’s flawless hand therapy
Best: Hand cream
Size: 50ml
Key ingredients: Bakuchiol, niacinamide, shea butter and squalane
Why we love it
- Non-greasy
- Hydrating
- Absorbs quickly
As well as being the perfect size to pop in your handbag, a little goes a long way when it comes to this hand cream, and I love that it isn’t sticky or greasy. It absorbs at lightning speed and is bursting with active and hydrating ingredients such as bakuchiol, niacinamide, shea butter and squalane. As well as softening and hydrating hard-working hands, it also targets signs of sun damage.
It really is one of the best – if you’re somebody who’s never been fussy about the hand cream you use, or if you don’t often use one, this will change the game for you.
Buy now £16, Drsambunting.com
The verdict: Dr Sam’s
You really can’t go far wrong with any of Dr Sam’s products. Whether you’re looking to completely overhaul your routine or to fill in any gaps that might be missing, you’re guaranteed to find what you need within the range. I recommend both the flawless cleanser and flawless brightly serum as great starting points that will deliver on every level. The hand cream is also a must-have, as is the flawless neutralising gel if you’re somebody who suffers from breakouts and blemishes.
If you’re looking to try the formulas for less, Dr Sam’s radiance kit is an affordable way to sample five of her bestselling products – all for just £37. Better yet, for Black Friday, you’ll receive the kit, plus a £10 gift card, when you spend £50. If you spend £100, you’re treated to the kit and a £25 gift card. The deals begin on 24 November and run right through to 2 December.
For more skincare must-haves, check out our review of The Ordinary’s new “filler in a bottle” serum
