EltaMD, Sunday Riley, R+Co: What I’d Buy at Dermstore’s Beauty Refresh Sale

It’s been far too long since I’ve seen our best overallsunscreengo on sale, so I’d stock up now.

Two dermatologists recommend this gentle cleanser to treatkeratosis pilarison the face. It’s also our favoritecleanser to use while pregnant or nursing.

Our favoriteexfoliatorforcystic acnecontains a combination of alpha hydroxy acid and beta hydroxy acid to improve skin texture and unclog pores.

These much-loved 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.)

Sunday Riley’s lactic-acid treatment is a gentle but effective exfoliant that also targets hyperpigmentation.

Now’s a great time to try our bestvitamin C serumfor sensitive skin. Beauty writerTembe Denton-Hurstlikes that “there’s an emphasis on antioxidants in this serum, which shows up in ingredients like ferulic acid and vitamin E, which help to address the effects of environmental stressors on the skin while protecting it from further damage.”

If you’re looking for some realoomph, the PCA Skin C&E Advanced Serum contains 20 percent L-ascorbic acid along with pure vitamin E and other antioxidants that help with aging and free radicals.

This best-in-classanti-aging serumcontains retinaldehyde, which fights wrinkles and fine lines quicker than other commonly usedretinols.

La Roche-Posay’s Double Repair moisturizer is an excellent starterface cream. Its main ingredients are ceramides, glycerin, and niacinamide, a hydrating and barrier-supporting combination.

Beauty writerRachael 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 the brand’smultipurpose balmis “intensely nourishing.” (But if you have acne-prone skin, tread carefully — it gave me a nasty breakout, probably due to the shea butter.)

Denton-Hurst uses this as the first step in herdouble-moisturizing routine. She appreciates that it’s “nourishing without being too thick and doesn’t feel oily or like it’s just sitting there.”

You may not be a celebrity, but you sure can moisturize like one. Augustinus Bader’s the Rich Cream has fans likeAdam Scott,Rita Ora, andPhillip Lim. And it doesn’t go on sale often, so if you want to try it, now’s the time.

Another actually worth-it splurge: our best overalleye cream, which one dermatologist says is a favorite in their office for dealing with wrinkles, sagging skin, puffiness, and dark circles.

Dermatologist David E. Bank likes this eye cream formature skin. It improves pigmentation, wrinkles, and skin elasticity with a blend of caffeine, vitamin C, collagen-boosting peptides, and growth factors (which are “proteins that promote the growth, development, and maturation of cells and play a role in maintaining the firmness and elasticity of skin,” Bank explains).

NuFaces’smicrocurrent devicesuse low-level electrical currents to increase circulation and encourage lymphatic drainage, leaving you looking well rested and sculpted.

If you want to calm irritation caused by dryness, thisbody oilfrom Avène is an excellent option. It’s made with three nourishing plant-based oils — shea, camelina, and safflower — and the brand’s signature mineral-infused thermal water.

Writer and committedself-tannerMeredith Lynch says that nothing compares to the St. Tropez whipped mousse. “It dries fairly quickly and the scent isn’t overpowering. I’ve accepted that most self-tanners don’t smell like Le Labo, but this one is better than most.”

This pillow mist is formulated from a blend of lavender, chamomile, and vetiver essential oils. I gave a bottle to my sister for Christmas, and she is already hooked. Since I just ran out of mine, maybe I’ll buy a few.

ActressAmanda Seyfriedstarted using Marvis’s fancytoothpastesbecause her dermatologist said it was better for her skin. “I’ve fully abandoned my Colgate,” she told us.

Impervious to sweat, heat, and humidity, our best full-coveragefoundation for mature skingives a lightweight, natural finish.

RMS Beauty’ssunscreen-slash-skin-tint leaves Strategist contributorMbiye Kasonga’s skin dewy and radiant.

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

This is my favorite brow gel — fairly pricey, so make sure you buy it on sale.

This dry-shampoo paste has been on my wishlist for a while, especially so after seeing that bothJenny LewisandAnnaSophia Robbhave recommended it. They say it’s great for shaping short hair and bangs that need some de-greasing.

My fellow Strategist writerAmbar Pardillapurchased thispomade stickon the recommendationErin Andrews, who included it in her What I Can’t Live Without list. “Previously untameable flyaways get smoothed down, and unsightly frizz (not the laissez-fairekind ofFrench film starlets) becomes controllable. There’s some shine but nogreaserlikeslickness,” Pardilla writes.

We’ve loved thisconditioning hair maskfrom Briogeo ever since Strategist beauty contributorRio Viera-Newtonwrote an ode to it in 2019. She noticed her double-processed hair was smoother, less tangled, and air dried beautifully after just a few uses.

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