In the realm of beauty sales, Dermstore’s annual anniversary sale is up there with Black Friday for rare deals. In honor of the site’s birthday, a huge selection of brands, from skin care and makeup to hair care, is up to 25 percent off until August 17 when you use the code CELEBRATE at checkout. Some brands, like EltaMD, Olaplex, and Coola, are offering double points. Incidentally, many of our best sellers make up the sale items, so here’s a selection of some of our most raved-about beauty buys. (You can check out our beauty writer Rio Viera-Newton’s five must-have picks here.)
The cult-favorite, Reddit-beloved Sunday Riley exfoliant at a rare discount. And there’s more Sunday Riley on sale: the UFO oil, CEO Glow Serum, and enzyme cream.
Stephanie Danler’s miracle, do-it-all moisturizer (“I’ve used it to heal scrapes and burns while camping, to calm frizzy hair, and to spot-treat cuticles, elbows, and heels”) is frequently spotted in makeup artists’ kits.
Arguably the best French micellar water of all time (and the first), one we’ve covered on numerous occasions here before.
Dubbed one of the best under-the-radar French beauty products for acne-prone skin, this serum from Caudalie uses grape-derived resveratrol to help with skin’s radiance. It’s a favorite of blogger Anastasja of Sea, Glow & Sun, who calls it the best serum she’s ever tried.
The legendary creamy French moisturizer that’s a favorite of Jane Birkin, countless makeup artists like Sir John, and Rio, too.
This terrifying-looking product covered with hundreds of tiny needles is what rid Rio of the hyperpigmentation she’d had for years — and she promises it actually doesn’t hurt at all.
This dermatologist-recommended face moisturizer contains oatmeal and shea butter, which simultaneously calm inflammation and protect the skin’s natural barrier. During the brutal winter weather, Rio uses this moisturizer on her eczema-prone skin.
The cult-favorite Japanese foot peel that removes dead skin from your feet. Writer Molly Young deemed it “more than a podiatric miracle. It’s a product that will make you believe in beauty products again.”
Rio has called this COSRX snail mucin “a truly skin-changing product with seriously devoted followers” because of how it hydrates and retexturizes skin.
These pimple patches, also from COSRX, are a long-running best seller among Strategist readers. Rio calls them “your very best friend” for any pimple emergencies.
Our former colleague Margaret Rhodes (and her hairdresser) both recommend this ultrahydrating cream for anyone with long, color-treated, dry locks: “It’s a great everyday moisturizing treatment that sinks in really nicely, smooths out puffy hair, and never feels sticky or heavy.”
This nongreasy Japanese cleansing oil has a cult following, and it’s a favorite cleanser for oily skin in Rio’s skin-care group chat.
One of our most stood-behind beauty items on the Strategist, a wrinkle-reducing silk pillowcase that has developed a loyal following among beauty experts.
Another Rio favorite that landed on her updated Google Doc for skin care. She says it’s “a great choice for those who want some nice hydration but aren’t as intensely parched as I am.”
The very light Harry Josh hair dryer that ranks high on our “Best of” list — and also rarely goes on sale.
This kit is also great for ingrowns, says Rio, who says it helped clear up hers by about 60 percent and also helps with inflamed skin. Every mitt is soaked in lactic acid, willow bark (a chemical exfoliant), and witch hazel (an astringent that helps with oil production) and can be used as often as you’d like.
According to bioanalyst Eileen Ceconi, this best-selling Sachajuan shampoo is a life changer for dry hair. “I stan Sachajuan so hard … it healed my dry, itchy, painful scalp. Their scalp shampoo sells out occasionally, but when it’s back in stock, I order it in bulk. It smells nice, the bottle is cute, and it doesn’t leave my hair feeling like straw.”
A nifty brush-on sunscreen that Rio loves; it’s spillproof, so it’s very handy to stock in your purse or carry-on.
Don’t be fooled by the kelly-green lipstick bullet. This Frog Prince lipstick goes on in what senior editor Simone Kitchens dubbed a “perfect shade of pink” because of its color-adjusting properties. Kitchens and stylist Jenna Perry both note that the lipstick stays on without fading, which is why Perry calls it her “all-day bae.”
This dermatologist-approved exfoliator from SkinMedica offers both physical (jojoba beads) and chemical exfoliation (AHAs and BHAs) to slough off dead skin cells and help keep pores clear.
If you prefer a physical exfoliator, this one from Dr. Brandt, recommended by Dr. Deanne Mraz Robinson, is a good option. “It’s great for people who wear a lot of makeup and athletes that often have sweat on their skin,” she says, adding that the mix of aluminum-oxide crystals, lactic acid, and aloe vera helps to exfoliate, smooth, and soothe skin.
This “featherlight” moisturizer from PCA Skin is a favorite of dermatological nurse Natalie Aguilar, who recommends wearing it underneath your face mask to help prevent maskne. In addition to moisturizing, it brightens skin thanks to ingredients like niacinamide and cucumber extract.
Emilio of the Dewy Dudes says this face oil from Korres is the secret to glowy skin. It’s packed with antioxidants like camapu, bisabolol, and ginger root, which offer protection from environmental stressors. It also has Super C to brighten dark spots and tone skin.
Rio recently sang the praises of this mineral sunscreen, which she says goes on with zero white cast and gives her skin a dewy glow. It’s also a dermatologist favorite for people with dark skin because it was designed with deeper skin tones in mind.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
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