When we talk about anti-aging skin care, it’s not with any disdain toward getting older — we all know it’s a privilege. Rather, we want to highlight the things we love about ourselves; and this includes nourishing the health and longevity of our skin with potent, tried-and-true active ingredients.
A great skin care product doesn’t have to be expensive, but often is, which is why we love taking advantage of Amazon Prime Day deals to stock up on the highly effective items that will leave us looking and feeling refreshed. And if there’s anything you have your eye on, you’d better shop quickly — these sales will end in a matter of hours, and you’ll have to resort to paying full price for those formulas you love.
Below, we’ve rounded up a selection of anti-aging skin care and beauty products that actually work. I’ve been a beauty reporter for over a decade, and now that I’m over 40, I’m looking for skin care that works quickly and effectively. Not only is this list made up of great products I’d happily use on myself, but the discounts are as good as it gets.
Prices change quickly on Prime Day, so keep checking back to see the latest updates. Make sure to sign up for an Amazon Prime account to get the best deals.
An editor-loved dark spot serum (33% off list price)
This 21% off K-beauty serum is in my arsenal of anti-hyperpigmentation products. I find it can help reduce the look of dark spots and help erase stubborn post-breakout spots.
I’ve added this to my weekly routine by spot-treating the worst areas of my face with this serum and within weeks the dark spots were lighter, softer and more blurred. I’ve never used a product with the antioxidant glutathione before, and I’m pleasantly surprised. I was worried adding a new formula to the mix would cause breakouts, but so far so good!
SkinFix Barrier+ triple lipid-peptide cream (25% off list price)
Dry skin season is here, and this moisturizer from SkinFixcan combat it. This cream is on the pricy side but well worth it for it’s barrier-repair capabilities. It has a buttery-rich texture and a silky finish that doesn’t feel too heavy. It helps moisture penetrate deeply thanks to skin-loving ingredients like ceramides, peptides and more.
This microneedle-like, at-home solution for softer skin (69% off list price)
Skin care enthusiasts swear that microneedling — the process of puncturing your skin with tiny needles to create micro-tears that stimulate collagen production and boost skin care absorption — is the ultimate key to smoother, evenly-toned skin. Still, as promising as those before-and-after photos may look, it can be expensive, invasive and downright scary.
With that considered, we found a product that may offer a gentler at-home solution for the trend, and reviewers say it “helped smooth all the bumpy patches” and make their skin “even and super soft and supple,” only after a few uses. Korean beauty brand Medicube has its tingly, microneedle-like Zero Exosome Shot 2,000 on sale right now on Amazon, and better yet, it’s 40% off.
A sub-$12 beauty product is a tiny risk for an attempt at smoother, evenly textured skin.
Tarte Shape Tape concealer (40% off list price)
This holy grail concealer is on rare sale, making it the perfect time to scoop it up. Loved by industry insiders and beauty aficionados worldwide, it’s a blendable, full-coverage formula with a matte finish that people love because it doesn’t settle into fine lines. And it comes in nearly 50 shades. For those of us getting up in years, a good concealer is an absolute must.
Whether your skin has changed from hormones or menopause or you’re just struggling to perfect your routine — Shape Tape is likely the last concealer you’ll have to try.
Made with mango and shea butter for smoothing and conditioning and licorice root for brightening, Shape Tape smooths over texture and discoloration. Its high-coverage formula conceals redness, acne, acne scars, hyperpigmentation and dark circles, and its smart wand head lets you spot-apply and do quick touch-ups or cover your whole face.
TruSkin vitamin C serum (50% off list price)
In case you didn’t know, vitamin C is a really valuable player in the skin care game. In fact, after sunscreen and retinol, it’s the most helpful ingredient in defense against premature skin aging, as experts have previously explained: It can promote collagen production and can protect against the damaging effects of free radicals.
This makes this popular serum’s enthusiastic reviews all the moreun damage and aging spots — improving the appearance of skin conditions like melasma and an overall increase in skin brightness and radiance
Medicube Zero Pore Pads (21% off list price)
Few items have impressed me as much as these cult-favorite toning facial pads. Since using them, I’ve ditched my traditional AHA serums for these bad boys, and my skin has never looked better. The Medicube pads are designed to help exfoliate, balance and brighten skin while reducing oil production, minimizing breakouts and refining the look of pores. They are formulated with powerful alpha and beta hydroxy acids like white willow bark, vitamin C and calming botanical extracts like lavender to soothe skin.
My skin is softer, smoother and has a really noticeable glow. Most importantly, I’ve detected a decrease in melasma, which has plagued me since my pregnancy. They’re incredibly potent, and it’s very obvious to me why they’re so popular. I’ve tried out other exfoliating pads and can confidently say that these are just as, if not more, effective at a fraction of the price. They’ve been a game-changer for my skin in the last couple of months, and I just hope they don’t sell out now that the secret’s out!
Tatcha The Serum Stick (30% off list price)
Nourishing squalane, Japanese lemon balm and a proprietary fermentation complex are packed into this concentrated serum stick by Tatcha that’s convenient to apply. It’s intended to instantly hydrate skin, address dryness-related fine lines and create a dewy cushion for makeup.
Celimax The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster (29% off list price)
When you get down to the brass tacks of anti-aging skin care, there are a handful of proven ingredients that will deliver every time. One of those is retinoids, an all-encompassing term for vitamin A derivatives like retinol and retinal. Celimax’s Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster, a K-beauty formulation with currently 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon, features 0.1% retinal.
Another key element to the Vita A has to do with the way the product is delivered and absorbed into the skin, otherwise referred to as the “Shot” component of its title. The brand claims to use nano-particles that are 16 times thinner than pores and are uniformly sized. Wu said that, in theory, this could help distribute ingredients more evenly, but what mainly determines a product’s potency and efficacy are still the molecule’s concentration, stability and packaging.
NassifMD Exfoliating Detox Pads (30% off list price)
Bravo fans and skincare aficionados alike will recognize this skin care brand by plastic surgeon Dr. Nassif, and these exfoliating pads are a great addition to any skin prep routine. They’re designed to provide daily gentle exfoliation thanks to the use of glycolic and salicylic acids along with antioxidants that will help leave you with a smooth, bright glow. They can even help reduce the look of pores and textures.
Biodance Bio Collagen masks 4-pack (32% off list price)
It’s possible you’ve seen some version of these overnight hydrogel masks on TikTok that start off opaque and become transparent as all of the infused goodness absorbs into skin, leaving behind a complexion that’s plump, hydrated and glass-like. These Biodance masks contain a collagen-peptide that’s of a low molecular weight to penetrate deeper into the skin. It also has brightening niacinamide, moisture-trapping hyaluronic acid and galactomyces to improve skin tone and texture. I use one of these once a week without fail and I love how they make my skin look and feel.
A powerful ampoule containing salmon DNA-derived PDRN (30% off list price)
It claims to be the original salmon PDRN product and a brand that is most recognized in this category, according to Gould. This DNA-based formula is enriched with highly purified salmon serum and salmon sperm extracts, ingredient types that are the ideal molecular size for the best and deepest absorption possible, based on brand claims. The ampoule also contains supportive peptides for additional plumping power and raspberry leaf extract, an antioxidant-rich ingredient that soothes and protects against premature skin aging.
Goda Silk body oil (17% off list price)
A great body oil can help with all manner of skin issues, especially when it comes to dryness. This Goda silk body oil was formulated with shea butter, argan oil, jojoba, vitamin E, that is nourishing and can help support skin’s health, improving elasticity and even tightening crepey skin. It has a lovely scent for a hint of aromatherapy, making it the perfect post-shower oil. It’s an easy way to add a hint of luxury to your everyday routine.
Clinique Moisture Surge cream (30% off list price)
Clinique’s Moisture Surge gel cream is packed with trusted ingredients for reliable skin care, and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This moisturizing cream is packed with tried-and-true ingredients like hyaluronic acid (alleviates dryness) and aloe (naturally hydrates), both of which is meant to help strengthen the skin. It also has vitamin C, which helps with melanin synthesis and lightening dark spots. It also has vitamin E, which experts have previously told us “can act as a natural form of sun protection” when combined with vitamin C. Vitamin E also helps block free radicals, playing a large part in the aging process, reducing wrinkles and keeping the skin youthful-looking.
D’Alba Piedmont Italian White Truffle First Spray Serum (41% off list price)
The d’Alba Piedmont First spray serum is a unique mist-able serum that is specially formulated to immediately hydrate skin and improve skin texture, whether it’s applied as a step during your skin care routine or spritzed throughout the day when you need a moisture boost.
The serum’s featured ingredient is a potent blend of white truffle extract hailing from Italy, an addition that may seem like a gimmick at first until you learn that truffles are antioxidant-rich. Antioxidants in skin care products not only nourish but are also essential for preventing premature skin aging by neutralizing free radicals in the environment.
According to the brand, it uses a unique formulation process to get the most robust concentration of nutrients from the white truffle and therefore the most effective response when applied topically.
Clinique’s “Quickliner” that is perfect for mature eyelids (30% off list price)
No one wants a liner that skips and drags on delicate lids, and Clinique’s beautifully pigmented and creamy glide-on formula promises a budge-proof wear that won’t tug on loose eyelid skin.
“As I get older, the skin on my eyelids has gotten thinner, so putting on eyeliner is sometimes challenging,” one Amazon shopper wrote in a review. “This eyeliner goes on super easily, very smoothly and evenly.”
Available in several shades and safe for sensitive skin and eyes, the Quickliner has a silky finish and can be used to create defined, precise lines, or smudged out for a smoky look. But once the transfer-proof formula dries, it’s staying put.
Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream (40% off list price)
If you’re ready to invest in a truly hydrating and luxurious day cream, this is it. The Pro-Collagen Marine cream is a long-time fan favorite, and with good reason. It’s designed to be incredibly soothing and adept at quenching dehydrated skin, while also delivering a hefty dose of anti-aging ingredients that can help to firm skin and smooth fine lines and wrinkles. It has a satin finish and a soft texture that won’t weigh you down.
A 40% urea cream for baby-soft skin (19% off list price)
Experts previously put us on the skin-smoothing benefits of urea, especially when it comes to softening rough and cracked callused heels, psoriasis, keratosis pilaris and more. The Ebanel intensive moisturizing and softening cream, which, at 40%, contains the highest concentration of urea out of many market options out there. Protective, intensely moisturizing and softening, this cream also features 2% salicylic acid to help exfoliate away patches of rough and flaky skin, as well as targeting things like calluses, corns and cracked skin. The shea butter-based formula is enriched with trusted hydrators like hyaluronic acid, coconut and jojoba oils, and antioxidants like green tea and vitamin E. It’s a combination that can be useful for feet and elbows and even promote healthier-looking nails.
A PDRN collagen capsule cream that one editor swears by (27% off list price)
I previously wrote about my love-love relationship with Medicube’s PDRN collagen capsule cream, a unique moisturizer featuring suspended spheres in a jelly-like cream — an encapsulation formula the brand claims is the most effective delivery method of its main plumping ingredient, PDRN.
The result is a highly customizable and effective cream that is light as a feather yet somehow also incredibly hydrating. The satiny, dewy finish makes it feel like it’s much more expensive than it actually is. I recently got a facial and my aesthetician confirmed that the state of my skin was much improved. It’s a must for dry or finicky middle-aged skin like mine.
Paula’s Choice 2% BHA liquid exfoliant (30% off list price)
In caring for mature skin, exfoliation is a crucial yet often forgotten step. Applied after cleansing but before moisturizing, this exfoliant has a silky, watery texture you can drip out of the bottle and pat over your face and neck as needed. Other than salicylic acid, this product is loaded with green tea to help prevent irritation. The brand says it’s effective for reducing redness, purifying clogged and enlarged pores, evening bumpy skin texture and brightening up dullness.
Tula’s brightening eye balm stick (30% off list price)
A simple balm stick can be one of the easiest ways to give your eye bags a wake-up call — and way more cost-effective. Not sure where to start? Tula’s hyaluronic acid and caffeine eye balmshave impressed reviewers of all ages, with some claiming it makes them “look years younger” and garners them compliments on their skin, even after a terrible night’s sleep. The price on this balm seems to only go down during major Amazon sales, so you might be stuck waiting until after Thanksgiving to get it for under $30 if you don’t grab it now.
Revision Skincare YouthFull lip replenisher (30% off list price)
We’ve rarely seen an audience response quite like we did when former HuffPost editor Janie Campbell introduced our readers to the Revision Skincare YouthFull lip replenisher. You purchased this nourishing lip product in droves, and upon closer inspection, it’s clear why. Campbell made a compelling case for this balm, calling it a “truly stellar and game-changing product.”
Formulated with several peptides, vitamins E and C, green tea and shea butter, it’s designed to target visible signs of lip aging like puckering, wrinkles, dryness and dullness. And while it’s not typically like us to recommend such an expensive lip balm, the results speak for themselves. It has a thick, tacky texture that really grips the lips, making it a great overnight treatment.
In previous HuffPost reporting, experts explained why peptides are such a popular ingredient and how they work. Peptides can also help skin “appear plumper and smoother” and improve skin hydration, texture and firmness, said Dr. Kseniya Kobets, a dermatologist and the director of cosmetic dermatology at Montefiore Einstein Advanced Care in Elmsford, New York. They are particularly beneficial for “lines that form with expression, such as laugh lines around the mouth and eyes,” added Dr. Toral Vaidya, a dermatologist with MDCS Dermatology in New York.
Dermora foot peel mask (28% off list price)
Available in several fragrances like peach, rose and lavender, this reader- and Amazon-favorite foot mask uses all-natural ingredients to exfoliate rough, cracked and callused feet. In just two weeks, feet are smoother, more hydrated, and renewed. This set comes with two sets of treatments and the booties fit most foot sizes. You’ll want to jump on this deal to have smooth and presentable feet.
Tosowoong arbutin 7% + tranexamic acid 4% cream (33% off list price)
Unlike your run-of-the-mill sun spots, we know that melasma is arguably one of the most clingy and temperamental skin conditions to treat. That’s what makes this Korean drugstore cream — originally featured mid-last year and well-received by HuffPost readers — all the more impressive, and worthy of a 2026 HuffPost Shopping Award.
It contains a 7% concentration of arbutin, an antioxidant with brightening properties that works by inhibiting the over-production of melanin in the skin, which causes hyperpigmentation. It contains other well-trusted ingredients in the world of melasma care, one of which is 4% tranexamic acid, which is revered for its ability to reduce pigmentation associated with melasma, without causing any kind of irritation.
There’s also niacinamide, a workhorse antioxidant that you’re most likely already familiar with. If you’re not, just know that this all-skin-concerns ingredient can reduce redness, acne, and, most notably, brighten the complexion.
“I’ve been using it for about a third application, after washing my face and wow! I see drastic fading already!” one Amazon reviewer claims.
A serum with a concentrated dose of retinal for wrinkles (25% off list price)
If you’ve ever wondered how to get your hands on some of the strongest retinoids without a prescription, this is a much-talked-about option that actually comes in six strengths for everyone from the retinol beginner to the seasoned expert. The Medik8 Crystal Retinal (in the mid-strength option) is also one of my favorites; it’s an effective yet gentle addition to my repertoire.
It leaves my skin looking and feeling great. It not only addresses typical signs of aging like wrinkles and texture quickly and efficiently, but it also rounds out my anti-hyperpigmentation routine without stripping my skin of moisture or being overly harsh. The formula balances hyaluronic acid and glycerin to keep skin supple, soft, smooth and hydrated.
A shockingly effective neck cream from Medicube (23% off list price)
I have never really been bothered by my little neck lines, but based on my mother’s complaints, I’ve long known that neck issues were coming for me. Sure enough, my entry into mid-life has deepened my neck wrinkles and softened my jawline. As if right on cue, Medicube — a K-beauty brand responsible for a variety of affordable and highly effective skin care products that numerous HuffPost staffers swear by — has released the neck care product of my dreams, a PDRN- and volufiline-rich cream formulated specifically for one’s neck, with a handy applicator that’s reminiscent of a gua sha tool.
The combination of the innovative applicator and the excellent quality of the cream makes this a truly standout product in my skin care routine. It uses popular K-beauty ingredients that you can find in a few other beloved Medicube products like PDRN and volufiline, which are formulated to help soften fine lines and plump up the skin while enhancing your natural glow. Best of all, it requires zero effort on my part and doesn’t require getting my hands all gunky.
The cream is surprisingly lightweight and silky, nary a sticky residue is left behind. It dries down quickly and absorbs beautifully into the skin, leaving behind only soft, smooth flesh. You simply twist the applicator and squeeze the tube so some of the cream comes out and then glide it all along the jaw, neck and collarbone.
While the benefits of gua sha are still being studied, using the sculpted applicator to apply the cream are giving me results that I love. My face looks slimmer and less puffy, and the skin around my jawline and on my neck looks and feels tighter as time goes on. It’s definitely the kind of product that requires consistency, but it’s worth it. And the fact that it’s a quick and easy addition to the morning skin care routine is a highly motivating factor to use it regularly.
A famous caffeine serum that tackles all your skin care bases (20% off list price)
HuffPost readers love a high-quality skin care product that can replace pricey facial treatments, like this K-beauty serum that one beauty TikToker calls “filler in a bottle.” Its prowess is attributed to an ingredient called PDRN, which is widely used in injectables overseas. Like the aforementioned Medicube serum, it has anti-inflammatory and tissue-repairing capabilities that can improve skin firmness and leave recipients with a telltale glow. It’s usually extracted from salmon sperm cells, but Iope’s serum has a completely vegan, plant-based formula that is as unique as it is effective.
Additional ingredients like niacinamide, probiotics and caffeine round out this repairing formulation — all ingredients that are beloved by HuffPost editors and readers alike. It’s such a great product that it was awarded a HuffPost Awards seal of approval.
I have covered countless serums in my many years of beauty reporting, and this one by Iope covers all my must-have bases. My skin is significantly more hydrated, glowy and bouncy. I make an effort to put it on my necklines and it definitely helps to blur them as well. I’m a convert for life.
Supergoop’s famous invisible and weightless sunscreen (20% off list price)
This cult-favorite sunscreen from Supergoop is arguably the product that put this trendy sun care brand on the map. It’s renowned for its clear, lightweight and unscented formula that won’t leave behind an irritating white cast but still offers broad-spectrum protection. It’s also an oil-free formula, great for anyone who might have sensitive or acne-prone skin, and layers seamlessly beneath makeup or can be worn on its own. Middle age is not the time to be messing around with skin health, and as experts have mentioned, it’s the most effective anti-aging skin care product you can use and in my SPF rotation year-round.
A skin-firming Medicube serum (31% off list price)
I was pleasantly surprised by this firming serum, which is one of Medicube’s newest releases. It uses innovative ingredients like NAD+ and EGF (growth factor) peptides, along with a collagen firming complex, to target common signs of aging like smile lines, wrinkles, and overall firmness. I’ve been using it religiously on my neck wrinkles and have found that they’re softening with time, becoming less pronounced and deep. The serum itself is incredibly lightweight and smooth, giving my skin a nice glow without feeling greasy or heavy.
My neck is very sensitive to powerful active ingredients and so far I’ve had zero negative reactions. I’m excited to see how results shake out long term, and am again delighted by the cost. Any other luxury brand would have charged over $100 for these exact same ingredients.
Sunday Riley Good Genes lactic acid treatment (30% off list price)
I am a longtime fan of Good Genes, it’s an incredibly powerful and rapidly effective serum. The secret is in the high percentage of active ingredients in both, particularly content of lactic acid. It is a unique chemical exfoliant that encourages quick cell turnover in the surface layers of the skin, leaving it smooth and helping clear up blemishes. It’s paired with licorice and lemongrass, which help brighten up the look of dark spots, sun damage and other discoloration, and prickly pear extract that helps soothe redness and calms sensitive skin. This serum will go on sale here and there, but rarely at such a steep discount. It’s definitely worth taking advantage while you can.
In previous reporting, experts said that products with lactic acid are a good option for anyone looking to treat dry, dead skin and improve hydration. It can also be used to soften the little bumps some people get on the backs of their arms, known as keratosis pilaris.
A PDRN serum packed with five different plumping peptides (21% off list price)
In previous reporting, experts suggested this recognizable pink serum, a Korean beauty brand that’s quickly become synonymous with tons of PDRN-based products, from jelly masks to toners and face creams. The PDRN peptide serum is one of Medicube’s best sellers on Amazon, and in addition to salmon sperm-derived PDRN, it’s enriched with a complex containing five different types of peptides. According to dermatologists that we previously spoke to, peptides are amino acid proteins known to boost collagen production, improve skin texture and promote wound healing.
A tried and true minoxidil foam by Rogaine (16% off list price)
Rogaine is probably the best-known product that features minoxidil as the active ingredient for hair growth. This three-month supply features a 5% minoxidil along with a variety of botanical extracts and humectants, which can draw moisture into the hair.
The once-a-day treatment is also in the form of a foam — an important requirement according to experts we’ve previously spoken with — so the product won’t drip down to other areas of the face, thus risking unwanted hair growth.
First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser body scrub (35% off list price)
This exfoliating scrub, which has earned a cult following among people with all types of skin, is a fine pumice-based formula that functions closer to a microdermabrasion treatment. Flores says, “I have been a dedicated user of First Aid Beauty‘s KP bump eraser for years as a way to instantly treat my incredibly stubborn and very obvious keratosis pilaris on my arms. Its ability to soften rough skin is probably primarily due to its 10% concentration of AHAs, like glycolic and lactic acids.”
This category of derm-approved chemical exfoliants can work to refine skin texture and slough off the dead skin cells that are responsible for those pesky bumps. The formula is also enriched with natural bisabolol, an antioxidant that offers soothing benefits post-exfoliation.
A moisturizing retinol body cream for crepey skin (35% off list price)
Skin care is about more than the skin on your face, a truth HuffPost readers clearly recognized judging by their continued interest in this Medix 5.5 retinol body lotion. The lotion contains retinol and ferulic acid to moisturize and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and crepey skin. Reviewers have called it an “exceptional skin care discovery,” saying they could “genuinely feel a difference” after a month of use.
A drugstore crepe corrector body lotion that reviewers love (16% off list price)
If you’ve ever dealt with “crepey” skin — or skin resembling crepe paper in its dry, wrinkled, thin appearance, this is for you. This fragrance-free, lightweight lotion works to keep skin smooth and moisturized, thanks to a unique smoothing concentrate that features protective antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and powerful botanicals. It gives you a nourishing, replenishing boost while keeping your skin feeling elastic and bouncy, and experts have previously recommended using producs with nourishing vitamins and antioxidants to help restore skin’s moisture and help to prevent and reduce crepiness. It’s a staple in my body care routine that’s worth every penny, but I prefer to buy it when it’s on sale.
One reviewer said, “Cannot believe how quickly this improved my skin! I am in my late 60’s and developed crepey skin on my arms, hands and neck. After just a few days my skin looks taunt, soft and years younger. I am beyond thrilled and will continue using Gold Bond!”
CeraVe moisturizing cream (33% off list price)
This unassuming and popular hydrator is adored for its accessible price point and unbeatable compatibility with even the most sensitive skin types. Whether you lather it on your feet, elbows, or knees or spread it on your face, it’s truly an all-purpose cream that you’ll keep reaching for, especially in the dry, winter cold.
In previous HuffPost coverage, one expert called it “one of my favorite moisturizers in the entire world,” saying he recommends it to patients every day. “It’s a rich, non-greasy and fast-absorbing cream that releases a steady stream of moisturizing ingredients, including essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid,” he continued. “It’s also fragrance-free, so it’s great for even the most sensitive skin types.”
Because CeraVe Moisturizing Cream contains thick emollients (substances used to soften skin and increase moisture, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), it helps replace ceramides and lipids in our skin. The formula also contains hyaluronic acid, a tried-and-true humectant that draws moisture into the skin. In the simplest terms, it’s a super-rich, nourishing cream that doesn’t just smooth skin; it helps it retain moisture, keeping it soft and strengthening your skin barrier,
A plumping multibalm by Medicube, packed with Volufiline (40% off list price)
Multibalms are the way of skin care’s future, and I’m beyond excited that beloved K-beauty brand Medicube released this plumping pink stick packed with a powerful combo of PDRN, retinol, NAD, peptides and collagen for a bouncy and hydrated complexion. The star ingredient of the hydrating stick — which you can swipe around the eyes, along forehead lines, the lips and anywhere else you notice signs of aging — is Volufiline, an ingredient that dermatologists previously told us can provide structural integrity to skin and visibly soften deeper lines.
Flores and I are both devoted to this Medicube stick, having picked one up each during the last Prime Day event. We’re definitely snagging another stick while we’re at it!
An ultra-rich repair cream that’s helped my eczema (30% off list price)
Flores is a fan of a few First Aid Beauty products, like this intensive repair cream. She credits it with saving her itchy, flaky, eczema-prone skin on more than one occasion. Dermatologist have also previously sung this product’s praises, citing the soothing, barrier-repairing powers of ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, shea butter and allantoin.
A luxury pro-collagen cleansing balm (40% off list price)
The first time I tried the famous Elemis cleansing balm, I couldn’t believe how soft, supple and clean my skin felt. And it’s been endorsed by dermatologists in previous reporting. I had always assumed that someone with acne-prone, oily skin like me should stay away from oil cleansing, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. It has a buttery soft consistency that starts off like a rich, thick oil and slowly melts into the skin, dissolving makeup, grime and impurities. It’s formulated with fatty acids that can help to improve skin elasticity and moisture retention, and the brand says its starfish and elderberry oils help soothe irritation and smooth out the complexion.
My colleague Kristen Aiken is also a huge fan of this cleansing balm. She told me that “this item is way pricier than what I’m usually willing to spend on cleanser (which is usually from the drugstore and under $10), but I’ve found it’s one of the only products that can effectively cleanse my skin AND nourish it without making me break out. I have perpetually dry skin no matter how much water I drink, and this saves me from drying out (especially in the winter months). Bonus: If you use it as a second round of double-cleansing (i.e. after you’ve already removed the day’s initial layer of gunk), you can use your favorite facial massage tool over top it, to help your tool slide smoothly along your face and de-puff.”
A 3-piece set that includes my favorite glazed jelly lip mask (44% off list price)
Senior shopping writer Tessa Flores swears by this Korean lip mask with a distinctive jelly texture and a heavy dose of derm-approved PDRN to minimize the appearance of lip lines, make her pout look more plump, and, above all, stave off chronic dryness — especially around the corners of the mouth where regular retinol use can make it go flaky. Not quite a balm and not quite a gloss, but somewhere in a delightful jammy middle, the Abib treatment feels cushiony and velvet-like on the lips and not at all sticky. Because of this, it’s much more comfortable to wear as an overnight lip mask, and she loves waking up with noticeably softer lips.
Many users also say that this thick and nourishing lip gel “was the best product” they had ever used and worked miraculously on wrinkled, aging lips.
You can get the lip mask individually for 16% off today, but the Abib is offering a better discount on a 3-piece gift set that comes with the brand’s collagen overnight mask and retinol eye patches along with the lip product.
My magic kojic acid bar soap that brightened my underarms (24% off list price)
“I have used this kojic acid bar soap as the first in-line product in my shower routine for about two years now, particularly on my arms for my KP and my underarms for any hyperpigmentation — and it really works,” says Flores.
I also started using this soap and love how quickly I started to see the effects on the discoloration on my underarms. It’s a must-have. I’m also obsessed with the citrusy scent. It reminds me of my abuela’s house in a small Mexican pueblo that I used to visit as a child.
These bar soaps harness the power of active ingredients like vitamin C and retinol combined with the nourishing benefits of hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, shea butter and olive oil to potentially help even out skin tone, lighten dark spots, smooth skin and reduce blemishes. This two-pack has myriad glowing reviews attesting to its prowess and could be a good tool in your skin health arsenal.
