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Sale season is coming up, and while I don’t love the idea of buying products frivolously, there ARE a lot of great bargains, and if you’re anything like me you’ve been putting off a whole bunch of big purchases til now. Dermstore stock a lot of my favourite skincare brands and have up to 30% off with the code SHARETHELOVE until November 30th – here are some of my top picks. 

(Note: this post contains affiliate links – this means that if you decide to click through, a small proportion of the sale goes to funding Lab Muffin The amount you pay is unaffected. If you decide to use my links, thank you – I greatly appreciate it!)

Paula’s Choice – 15% off

Paula’s Choice was one of the first brands I ever tried, and a lot of their products are still in my routine. 

Their Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant was the first salicylic acid product I tried, and I still haven’t found one that I like more! It’s fantastic for unclogging acne-prone skin and clearing out blackheads and pores. There’s also the Clear Acne Body Spray, essentially the same product but in a spray bottle that’s really convenient for treating back pimples.

Paula’s Choice also make my favourite niacinamide product, the 10% Niacinamide Booster – I’ve tried other niacinamide products before, but this was the one that convinced me of its benefits.

 

The 10% Azelaic Acid Booster has one of the best textures of an azelaic acid product I’ve tried.  

Related post: All About Azelaic Acid

I’m also a fan of the C25 Super Booster. This contains 25% ascorbic acid powder in a silicone base. I wouldn’t recommend this if you’re new to vitamin C, but if your skin is used to it and you don’t use ascorbic acid fast enough to use up a water-based serum before it goes off, this is a good option with a much longer shelf life – just be careful not to use too much, and apply it mixed with a watery toner so it dissolves without 

Recently I also tried Resist Super-Light Daily Wrinkle Defense SPF 30. This uses zinc oxide as the only sunscreening agent, and impressively it didn’t give me any white cast!

Aquis – 30% off

I’ve talked about Aquis’s microfibre hair towels before a few times – I love that these dry my hair much more effectively than a regular towel, plus they’re super light on my head. 

I use the Lisse Luxe Hair Towel every time I wash my hair – I even take it while travelling! It’s thin enough that it packs easily and doesn’t weigh much, but it’s impressively absorbent for its size. This is long enough for me to wrap my nipple-length hair into a turban. Aquis also make Lisse Luxe Hair Turbans, but I prefer the extra flexibility of the towel (my sister prefers the turban).

Bioderma – 20% off

I feel like I’m constantly raving about the Atoderm Cleansing Oil. This is a cleansing oil for your body that’s brilliant for keeping your skin moisturised in dry weather. I also love the Atoderm Shower Gel which foams up nicely but doesn’t strip skin.

sale

The Sebium range has a lot of moisturisers that are hydrating, but prevent clogged pores at the same time – I particularly like the Sebium Mat Control for moisturising without adding shine. The Sebium Lotion is a new product for me, and I’ve been really enjoying it as a hydrating toner.

Related post: Bioderma Sebium for Oily and Acne-Prone Skin: Science and Review (Video)

The Sensibio H2O Micellar Water is always handy to have around – I usually wash my face in the shower, but I’ve found it really useful for removing makeup before doing a mask (which I then shower off), and when I can’t get my face wet (e.g. after microblading). My mum has also become a huge fan of the Hydrabio Serum for protecting her post-menopausal sensitive skin, to the point where she sends me and my sister running around the city to hunt it down when it’s on sale and has a huge stash for sharing with her friends. 

Cosrx – 20% off

Cosrx are a stripped-down Korean brand that’s taking off overseas – I still remember the days when you could only find it on eBay and really dense Asian retail sites! The BHA Blackhead Power Liquid uses betaine salicylate instead of the usual salicylic acid – it’s meant to be gentler, so if you want the benefits of salicylic acid but not the dryness, this could work for you.  

Neostrata – 30% off

This brand was started by the scientists who first used AHAs and PHAs for skincare. The Tri-Therapy Lifting Serum has a PHA (gluconolactone) combined with Aminofil, a patented ingredient that firms up skin (reviewed here).

DHC – 25% off

OK, this is a product I haven’t tried yet, but it’s literally on the way to me right now: the DHC Cleansing Oil. It’s one of the products that’s been consistently recommended to me for years, and as a bonus, it comes in a handy pump dispenser.

EltaMD – 20% off

Another product I haven’t tried that’s coming in the same package is EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46. This is another product that’s been recommended to me for years.

Brands with double points

These brands aren’t on sale, but you get double points:

Olaplex: One of the few products on the market that will actually repair the broken bonds in your hair! They have a whole range of products now, including a handy trial set. The original at-home treatment Olaplex No 3 Hair Perfector is what I’ve been using, but I’ve just started using the No 6 Bond Smoother, and I’ve ordered the shampoo and conditioner as well.

La Roche-Posay: I love Cicaplast for healing irritated skin around my nose when I’m sick and for maskne and dry hands, and their sunscreens are some of the best you can get in the US (the Melt-In Sunscreen Milk is my pick)

I hope you get some good bargains, and remember to spend responsibly!

Many of these products were originally PR samples that I’ve tried over the years. This post contains affiliate links – if you decide to click through and support Lab Muffin financially (at no extra cost to you), thank you! For more information, see Disclosure Policy.