I'm a sucker for pretty packaging. It's one of the things that drive me to purchase a chubby, adorable lip balm when I'm browsing the skin care aisle at CVS. And I'm not alone.

"If you don't create a quality package, women won't pick it up and it doesn't matter how good the stuff inside is," says cosmetic chemist Don Frey, who has developed beauty products for Avon and Proctor and Gamble.

That's why it's always a balancing act for companies when deciding how much to spend on packaging, versus how much to put inside the bottle or jar. But, says Frey, when it comes to higher-end drugstore products, you really are paying more for slick campaigns and containers.

Dermatologists like Soheil Simzar, M.D., however, aren't as swayed by glossy boxes and tubes. In fact, many derms' cult favorites are among the plainest on shelves. Here, five top-recommended superhero products hiding beneath unassuming exteriors, just waiting to be called upon to save your skin.

You won't be blasting "Fancy" while you slather yourself with Environ products, but Simzar says the brand's line is packed with antioxidants -- a must-have in your skin-care routine.

Simzar says they help reverse DNA damage from the sun and "stimulate collagen synthesis" (AKA they'll banish fine lines and wrinkles). In fact, Dr. Des Fernandes, who founded the company, was a pioneer in using high doses of vitamin A (a potent antioxidant) in skin care while he was studying skin cancer.

The Derma-Lac Lotion is a standout fave for Simzar; it has a medium concentration of alpha hydroxy acid that gently exfoliates and helps diminish the look of sun damage (and also any bumpy, dry patches of skin). The gel-like formula is perfect for those who hate creamy lotions. Just don't forget your sunscreen -- AHAs can make your skin more sensitive to the sun.

Sometimes, you just need to go back to basics with your routine. Though you would probably pass right by this clinical-looking product, Simzar recommends DML Moisturizing Lotion to patients who are dealing with acne or have very sensitive skin.

The fragrance-free, hypo-allergenic formula contains dimethicone, an emolliant that traps moisture in your skin (the ingredient is even used to soothe burns from radiation therapy). Despite the rich, moisturizing ingredient, the lotion manages to be ultra-nourishing without being greasy, sticky or pore clogging.

Not accidentally, SkinCeuticals' no-frills packaging makes products looks like they came straight from the laboratory. Though their exterior definitely doesn't set our hearts aflutter, what's inside those bottles might as well be liquid gold.

Dermatologists swear by the brand for their daily dose of antioxidants. New York-based dermatologist Dendy Engelman, M.D., director of dermatologic surgery at New York Medical College, applies five drops of the brand's Resveratrol B E serum every morning -- she says it protects skin against free radical damage from ultraviolet and environmental exposures.

Another derm favorite is the C E Ferulic antioxidant serum -- it's a go-to product for New York-based derm Whitney Bowe. The ferulic acid, in conjunction with vitamins C and E, gives skin eight times more sun protection than your skin's natural defenses and helps prevent DNA mutations that are associated with skin cancer.

If you struggle with acne, chances are you also struggle to find a sunscreen that doesn't muck up your pores. The solution has been under your nose the whole time: Elta MD SPF 41. It won't be winning a beauty pageant any time soon, but it is been recommended by many a dermatologist.

It's also one of New York-based cosmetic dermatologist Doris Day's favorite sun blocks. It's formulated for post-procedure skin -- so even super-sensitive skin can get sun protection without irritation. The chemical-free, fragrance-free, oil-free formula is made with transparent zinc oxide, meaning you can say goodbye to your days of pasty-white sunscreen glow.