SkinCeuticals, Dermalogica: The Best Buys From Dermstore’s Anniversary Sale

Former deals writer Alexandra Polk likes to treat herself to this pricey cleansing oil when her skin needs a deep clean. “It melts away every stitch of makeup on my face and, since it has a thicker consistency than others, feels like a therapeutic massage while it pulls out blackheads,” she says.

“I use this salicylic-acid toner whenever my pores feel clogged, and after just a day or two, my skin looks poreless and smooth,” says writer Tembe Denton-Hurst. Our beauty columnist Rio Viera-Newton is also a fan, saying it “helps to diminish preexisting blackheads as well as prevent them from forming in the first place.”

These iconic exfoliating pads from Dr. Dennis Gross use a blend of glycolic, salicylic, and lactic acids, which help with both breakouts and dark spots. (Many users recommend cutting the pads in half to get twice as many treatments.)

SkinCeuticals quite literally never goes on sale, so a 15 percent off discount is remarkable. The C E Ferulic is our best overall vitamin-C serum (and has been for years). Six of the dermatologists we consulted recommended it, calling it the gold-standard vitamin-C serum that’s suitable for all skin types.

After interviewing five dermatologists about dark-spot correctors, writer Arielle Avila named this the best one overall. The formula, which is gentle enough for most skin types, is “formulated with a cocktail of tranexamic acid, kojic acid, niacinamide, and sulfonic acid, which work together to exfoliate, improve brightness, and reduce the chances of dark spots reappearing,” she writes.

Our best overall anti-aging serum contains retinaldehyde, which fights wrinkles and fine lines quicker than other commonly used retinols.

Dermatologist Charlotte Birnbaum told us this is an effective over-the-counter serum for treating dark scars and hyperpigmentation. It contains hydroquinone, which is a lightening agent that decreases pigment production.

Sunday Riley’s all-in-one vitamin C addresses everything from hyperpigmentation to dullness and fine lines. It’s formulated with THD ascorbate, a highly stable form of vitamin C that’s tolerated well by most skin types.

The best French-pharmacy moisturizer is the Embryolisse cream. Several makeup artists we’ve spoken to say it’s ideal for prepping skin thanks to its creamy texture and nonirritating formula.

This moisturizer is a staple in senior writer Liza Corsillo’s routine. It contains lots of moisturizing ingredients like sunflower oil and sea buckthorn, along with antioxidants like black currant — a natural source of vitamin C — and calendula. “It’s rich but melts into my skin fast and has helped my face look plump and glowy,” she says.

Former writer Rachael Griffiths, who describes her skin as so dry it “feels as though it’s cracking if you wait too long after a shower to smear on some moisturizer,” says La Roche Posay’s multipurpose balm is “intensely nourishing.” (But if you have acne-prone skin, tread carefully — it gave me a nasty breakout, probably due to the shea butter.)

You may not be a celebrity, but for $74, you can sure moisturize like one. Augustinus Bader’s the Rich Cream counts Adam Scott, Rita Ora, and Phillip Lim among its fans.

While Denton-Hurst doesn’t love eye creams, if you are going to buy it, she recommends going for something moisturizing like this one from Neocutis. It contains growth factors that support and encourage collagen production, as well as hyaluronic acid and antioxidants, which protect against oxidative damage and hydrate the skin.

Ayo Edebiri has been using this mineral sunscreen on her face and body for 20 years. She says it never feels too heavy or oily and “doesn’t leave me white-cast or blue.”

When beauty writer Krista Bennett DeMaio packs a beach bag, she makes sure to bring a sunscreen that her teen will actually wear. “My 15-year-old named this one as a favorite,” she says. “It’s incredibly lightweight, blends in instantly, and leaves no white cast behind.”

Colorescience’s powder sunscreen is ideal for applying SPF in hard-to-reach areas like your hair part and ears.

RMS Beauty’s sunscreen–slash–skin tint leaves Strategist contributor Mbiye Kasonga’s skin dewy and radiant.

One of our favorite self-tanners, for those who dislike the feeling of mousses and gels. The no-rinse mist is basically foolproof: Just spritz all over your face and neck and a subtle glow will develop within a few hours.

This longtime Strategist-favorite body scrub is formulated to tackle keratosis pilaris, but it can be used for hyperpigmentation and strawberry skin, too.

It’s still bikini season. Follow up any waxing or shaving sesh with this pubic-hair oil that’s particularly good at preventing razor bumps.

Olaplex’s No. 4 shampoo adds shine and reduces frizz over time, which is especially good for colored, bleached, or relaxed hair.

Dianna Cohen, founder of hair-care line Crown Affair, uses this hair mask twice a week and calls it “the most universal hydrating mask” to make hair shinier and silkier without clogging your scalp or causing buildup.

Both Jenny Lewis and AnnaSophia Robb say this dry-shampoo paste is great for shaping short hair and bangs that need some de-greasing.

I stand behind our best curling iron–straightener. I use it every day on my bangs to take them from stick straight to lovely and flowy. (It’s also great at creating beach waves.)

This iconic makeup sponge is one of the most recognizable tools in the game (and it’s constantly getting duped).

Kevyn Aucoin’s tubing mascara “builds extreme volume and length for even the most stubbornly short lashes,” says makeup artist Porsche Cooper.

Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka likes this serum, noting that “it actually made my lashes longer and thicker over the course of six weeks.”

RevitaLash was the preferred lash serum of senior editor Simone Kitchens before she had to take a break due to pregnancy and nursing. “I noticed a difference within a month,” she says. “My lashes are a bit thin and short naturally, and sort of straight, so they started to naturally curve a bit with the length, in a nice way.”