You may have noticed some posts from our friends at the Strategist on the Cut. They’ll be dropping in every now and again, sharing their expertise on the basics you don’t have time to research and the weird and wonderful things you don’t yet know you need.
To kick off summer, Dermstore is having a sale they’re calling the Summer Event — and given that lots of rarely-on-sale Strategist favorites are up to 20 percent off with the code: SALEAWAY, we think it’s an event, indeed. It’s a good time to stock up on old favorites or give new things a try (the “Bentley of hair dryers,” perhaps?) and some brands, like Olaplex, Supergoop!, Paula’s Choice, and Oribe are offering double points. To help you navigate the hundreds of products available we’ve curated a list of things worth picking up — from Rio’s favorite oil cleanser to the sunscreen dermatologists always recommend.
Whenever we ask dermatologists for a sunscreen recommendation, Elta MD almost always comes up. It’s also a longtime Strategist favorite and has been endorsed by skin-care obsessives and celebrities alike. It’s a unique little formula: nongreasy, dries clear, and won’t irritate your skin. It also contains lactic acid, which gently exfoliates, and antioxidants, to further protect your skin.
This super-stable vitamin C serum is a Rio favorite. In addition to clearing up her hyperpigmentation and brightening her skin, it also lasts impressively long. “I’ve had it for about six months now, and it still works wonders,” she says.
This rarely-on-sale, cult-favorite serum is packed with glycolic acid — a powerful exfoliant that brightens and smooths skin. If you’re a big Sunday Riley fan, other hits from the brand, like the CEO Glow Oil and UFO Oil are on sale, too.
Another rarely on-sale find: this ultralight, ultraquiet hair dryer from Harry Josh Tools is 20 percent off. It’s a favorite of the Cut’s beauty director Kathleen Hou, who calls it the “Bentley of hair dryers.”
Makeup artists everywhere — from Hung Vanggo to Pat McGrath — swear by this French moisturizer, which contains deeply nourishing shea butter and soy proteins to firm up skin.
Facialist to the stars, Joanna Vargas’s Daily Serum is well worth checking out. It’s filled with workhorse antioxidants, vitamins E, A, and C, along with hyaluronic acid, which work together to fight environmental stressors and keep skin hydrated throughout the day.
This oil cleanser is one of our favorites, particularly for oily skin. It’s also great for removing makeup (waterproof included) and leaves skin feeling soft, supple, and hydrated.
Waxing specialists love this pubic hair oil (which is good for preventing razor bumps) thanks to antiseptic and antimicrobial ingredients like grape seed, jojoba, and tea tree oils.
Unsun, which happens to be helmed by Frank Ocean’s mom, makes an impressive sunscreen. It comes in two shades — light/medium and medium/dark and was specifically formulated to work well on darker skin tones and won’t leave a ghoulish white cast. It’s also lightweight and has a dewy finish, thanks to deeply nourishing ingredients like shea butter and vitamin E.
Ideal for reapplying sunscreen throughout the day, this non-fussy powder sunscreen comes in four shades and is completely mineral, which makes it less likely to irritate your skin. Dermatologist Dr. Caren Campbell often recommends it to patients with melasma and hyperpigmentation because it contains zinc oxide, titanium oxide, and iron oxide, which work together to block UVA and UVB rays.
Rio swears by the COSRX Snail Mucin Essence, which she calls one of the best healing, moisturizing, and brightening essences on the market. It works for a range of skin issues — from dullness to dryness to acne — and is made up mostly of snail mucin (that’s snail secretions), which is known to help repair and hydrate 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.
