Happy Dermstore Beauty Refresh Event
It's the most wonderful time of early March!
Hello friends!
Coming at you today with a special edition of Hotline Skin in honor of the first day of Dermstore’s Beauty Refresh Event! Dermstore’s annual sale around this time is always one of the best of the season, so I wanted to share a little background on why that is, tips to make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck, and most importantly, product recommendations!
EXTREMELY QUICK HOUSEKEEPING
Affiliate commissions – i.e. the commission I get when you click my links to shop at no cost to you – are a huge reason why I’m able to do any of what I do for free. Always, but especially during sales, I really, really appreciate you shopping through my links! You don’t even have to purchase what you click on, just click my link to start shopping and you already helped pay my rent.
The Founding Members subscription offer expires tonight at midnight. You’ll get my undying support and love plus the chance to be a product tester for me. Founding Members lookout for an email towards the end of this month!
DERMSTORE SALE DETAILS
Up to 20% off most brands. Most excluded brands are 2x points, with a very small selection (i.e. SkinCeuticals) that are not included at all.
Use code REFRESH at checkout. For some brands, the discount automatically applies in cart.
The sale starts today, 3/1 and ends 3/10.
WHY DERMSTORE?
Dermstore was acquired by British beauty tech conglomerate, The Hut Group, in June 2021. The Hut Group also owns SkinStore, LookFantastic and other beauty retailers. If you’re a frequent Dermstore shopper, you likely noticed their site now looks more similar to those above. If you shop at SkinStore or LookFantastic, you’re probably familiar with their never-ending sales that start and stop at a moment’s notice, have inconsistent exclusions and are just downright confusing. Despite being acquired and undergoing a site change, Dermstore has maintained their sale schedule, making it straightforward with few surprises or random caveats. This is the first reason why this sale matters. The second reason is that Dermstore sales are known for their limited exclusions list. Brands that are often excluded from SkinStore and LookFantastic sales are included. Those that are not included are (for the most part) worth 2x rewards points, which leads to the third and final reason why this sale matters: the Dermstore Rewards Program rules and not enough people know about it.
DERMSTORE REWARDS
First of all, it’s free, so if you are shopping there, there’s no excuse not to opt in. You earn 5 points for every $1 (that’s 10 points for eligible items during this sale!) and can redeem 500 points for $5 off, 1000 points for $10 off and $15 off for 1500 points. You can use these Dermstore Dollars on any product on their site. You can earn 50 points per every review for products you’ve purchased. Yes, that’s right. You can write a bunch of quick, anonymous reviews about anything you’ve purchased and get 50 points. It is extremely easy to earn points and you can even stack the Dermstore Dollars if you rack up enough.
HOW TO SPOT A DEAL
Here’s where we get strategic.
In general, I do not consider anything under 15% a meaningful discount, but for brands that never exceed that discount, it’s important intel. For example, SkinCeuticals and Dr. Loretta I have never in my life seen discounted more than 15%. Most of the brands that are under 20% off in the Dermstore sale rarely go beyond the discounted price shown.
Some brands, like EltaMD, are often included in sales, but rarely at the 20% off that Dermstore is offering (that specific discount is applied in cart). On the flip side, there are some brands that are often more discounted on other sites.
There are some brands that are available at all retailers owned by The Hut Group and some that are exclusive to one. For those that are available at all 3, they are usually all included during all sales, with the same discounts, so you don’t need to jump on the Dermstore sale specifically. But keep in mind, if we’re trying to be strategic about racking up points, that only Dermstore has an epic rewards program.
In summary, you need to consider both the discount and its history of being on sale, in addition to where you want your loyalty rewarded. The Dermstore sale is an excellent opportunity to get some great deals and earn rewards, but only if you have a savvy shopper to guide you ;)
Below is a list of all of my recommendations from the Dermstore sale. This list includes a mix of products that are rarely on sale or as deeply discounted elsewhere and products that you can often find on sale, but you might want to get now to start your rewards point journey.
Finally, here are some noteworthy deals that deserve your attention and credit card number.
EltaMD: as mentioned above, not usually 20% off. Discount applied in cart. The UV Clear SPF 47 is a cult-favorite and a great pick for acne prone or sensitive skin.
Dr. Dennis Gross: 20% off excluding devices, which is typical, but the 20% off is not. Favorites include the Ultra Gentle Peel Pads and Triple Correction Eye Serum. While the LED mask is not included, you can get 2175 points if you purchase.
R+Co, Briogeo and other hair care brands: limited overlap with what’s available at the other Hut Group retailers, so this is the only time you’ll find on sale. You can also get 2x points on Olaplex and Oribe.
LashFood Eyelash and Brow Serum: I prefer these to all other lash/brow growth serums. I’ve gone through more tubes of each than I can count. They’re not available at the other retailers.
La Roche-Posay: Though often on sale, it is rare to see the entire brand 20% off.
Supergoop!: 20% off and not available at SkinStore.
COSRX: So many hits, not available at SkinStore. This is where I exclusively buy my beloved Balancium Comfort Ceramide Cream, the best heavier moisturizer for acne-prone or sensitive skin. I’ve also gotten it for free multiple times with points!
Raincry Repairing Conditioner: available at the others, always included in sales, but also very often out of stock. This is the best conditioner and at the time of writing this, it is in stock and 20% off.
Happy Shopping! Need a rec or have a question? I’ve opened up comments on this post to all and I’ll check in periodically throughout the sale!
xx,
Jolie
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