Dermstore’s Beauty Refresh Sale Is Back With 20% Off More Than 200 Brands—Here Are the Best Skincare Buys

If you saw my best of 2021 list, then you know I fell in love with two products from Allies of Skin last year. The Prebiotics & Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster has 10% niacinamide and a gel-like texture, while the Molecular Saviour Probiotics Treatment Mist has 5% niacinamide in a moisturizing mist. I’m a big fan of both! 

Verso is a minimalist skincare line that I always recommend for its “Retinol 8” complex—it contains a next-gen retinoic acid ester that is eight times stronger than retinol, without the irritation. You can safely use it in the daytime with this lightweight Daily Facial Fluid (which also has niacinamide). It’s in the Eye Cream, too!

COSRX is probably my favourite K-beauty brand, and their BHA Blackhead Power Liquid is my favourite product of all. It’s a gentle but highly effective BHA that treats and prevents breakouts, brightens dullness, fades pigmentation and so much more. I also love the Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser.

I own almost every product from Indie Lee—that’s how much I love this clean skincare line (which I reviewed here). One product that I consistently recommend for all skin is the Brightening Cleanser. It’s an ultra-mild, sulfate-free gel that removes dirt, oil and makeup in one step, without drying or stripping your skin. Other top picks include the Squalane Facial Oil and the Active Oil-Free Moisturizer.

REN Clean Skincare is another clean line that is almost always in my skincare routines. As I mentioned in my 2021 favourites, I love the Clean Screen Mineral SPF 30 sunscreen and the Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Gel (which has a similar texture to iS Clinical Cleansing Complex!). With spring hopefully just around the corner, the AHA Smart Renewal Body Serum is also an amazing product to get rid of any dull, dead skin on your legs. 

I discovered Osmosis Beauty last year when I was looking for retinaldehyde serums, and the brand’s MD Renew Advanced Retinal Serum does not disappoint. It’s a high-strength anti-aging and anti-acne treatment made with 0.15% retinaldehyde along with niacinamide, lactic acid and peptides (and no silicones). Retinaldehyde is the direct precursor to retinoic acid (active vitamin A), so it’s more potent than retinol!

Avène is one of the best French pharmacy brands, and you’re probably familiar with their famous Thermal Spring Water mist. But what you might not know is that they also make a retinaldehyde treatment, TriAcnéal Night Smoothing Lotion, with an impressive 0.1% of the active ingredient. It’s both anti-aging and anti-acne (although you don’t need to have acne to use it), and surprisingly, is silicone-free.

Speaking of French pharmacy skincare, there’s also Vichy—and I specifically recommend their Minéral 89 “skin booster.” This is a bestselling hydrating serum made with just 11 ingredients, including hyaluronic acid and the brand’s soothing volcanic water. No silicones, oils, alcohol or fragrance!

If Doctor Rogers RESTORE isn’t on your radar yet, it should be. It’s a dermatologist-formulated line that’s made with only clean ingredients and nothing harmful or irritating. They have a Face Cream as well as a lighter Face Lotion, and both are comprised of skin-friendly squalane, niacinamide, and Centella Asiatica extract.

First Aid Beauty never lets me down—it’s one of the most reliable brands for sensitive skin-friendly products that work. As I mentioned in my face moisturizer guide, their Ultra Repair Cream is my top intensive moisturizer recommendation for dry skin. I also adore the Face Cleanser (reviewed here), and the Facial Radiance Pads are an excellent gentle exfoliant.

If you’re in the market for a new retinol, consider this dermatologist-recommended brand: Biopelle. Their strongest option is the Retriderm Serum Max 1% Retinol, which contains 1% retinol to target fine lines, pigmentation and loss of firmness. It also has hyaluronic acid and soluble collagen, and is silicone-free, fragrance-free and oil-free.

My favourite cleansing brushes are from Foreo. I think it’s definitely worthwhile investing in one if you regularly wear liquid foundations, silicone-based products and/or occlusive sunscreen, because it will get your skin much cleaner than using your fingertips alone. Luna 3 for Combination Skin has the most “scrubby” bristles (which I prefer), but there’s also Luna 3 for Normal Skin and Luna 3 for Sensitive Skin.

NuFace is the OG brand of microcurrent devices, and take it from me, they do work. Microcurrent is a low-level electrical current that basically gives your facial muscles a workout (minus the sweat and fatigue) to firm and tighten your skin. The Trinity Facial Toning Device, which comes with a silicone-free gel primer, is the best way to get started. If you keep up with regular treatments, you’ll start see a lifted look.

Everything from NUORI is made in small batches, every 10 to 12 weeks, in order to maintain optimal freshness (and therefore performance). The Mineral Defence Sunscreen SPF 30 is one of the brand’s most popular products, as well as a regular in my mineral sunscreen guide. It gives you a high level of protection with 23% zinc oxide and an array of antioxidants. The texture is creamy but lightweight, and it has a non-whitening matte finish.