In the realm of online beauty events, Dermstore’s annual anniversary sale is up there with Black Friday when it comes to scoring rare deals. This year, a huge selection of products from coveted brands across the skin-care, makeup, and hair-care universe are up to 25 percent off (as long as you use the code CELEBRATE at checkout). Some brands, like Olaplex, La Roche-Posay, and ILIA, are even offering triple points on select purchases, which can be redeemed for further discounts. As it turns out, many of our best sellers make up the sale items, so here’s a selection of some of our most-raved-about beauty buys. But if you see something you like, don’t dilly dally: The sale ends Tuesday, August 17, and picks have already started selling out.
The cult-favorite, Reddit-beloved Sunday Riley exfoliant is available with a rare discount. And there’s more excellent Sunday Riley products on sale, like its UFO oil, CEO Glow Serum, and enzyme cream.
Here’s a sale on something we’ve covered on numerous occasions before: arguably the best French micellar water of all time (and the first).
Because BHAs work to remove dead cells on the surface of your skin and exfoliate the pore’s lining, Strategist beauty columnist Rio Viera-Newton turns to this salicylic-acid-based exfoliating toner (beloved by skin-care gurus such as Hyram, Sacheu, and Gothamista) for busting her persistent blackheads.
Rio says this deep-conditioning hair mask from Black-owned Briogeo — a convincing dupe for an eye-wateringly expensive Christophe Robin hair mask — left her hair “smoother and less tangled” after just four days of use.
Dubbed one of the best under-the-radar French beauty products for acne-prone skin, this serum from Caudalie uses grape-derived resveratrol to boost your 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.
Formulated with argan oil, plant collagen, and biotin, one hair-color expert calls this Oribe shampoo “the holy grail of shampoos: Not only does it cleanse your hair, but it also rejuvenates the hair cuticle from the inside out.”
Here’s its just-as-nourishing conditioner counterpart, also on sale.
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.”
Buzz Bissinger told us this oil-infused cleansing balm “builds into a nice lather” and leaves his skin feeling “both clean and invigorated.”
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 that includes the members of Rio’s skin-care group chat, where it’s a favorite cleanser for oily skin.
One of our favorite products for combating oily hair, this dry shampoo from Living Proof gives whole-head volume that’s “beach-wavy rather than just frizzy.”
One of our most stood-behind beauty items on the Strategist, this wrinkle-reducing silk pillowcase has also 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.”
This very light Harry Josh hair dryer ranks highly on our best hair dryers list — and also rarely goes on sale.
Emma Watson’s favorite pubic oil, which aestheticians also say is great for ingrown hairs.
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.
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, and also has Super C to brighten dark spots and tone skin.
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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