Happy November! It’s officially the BEST time of year for skincare deals! As “The Budget Derm,” this is when I personally restock my holy grails, grab those pricier devices that truly move the needle, and try NEW products at a discount!
I’ve done ALL the digging so you don’t have to. Below is the best of the best happening right now.
Happy shopping!! Please tell me what you end up getting or if I missed any MUST-SHOP sales!
Best Skincare Devices on Sale
You guys… I LOVE an at-home skincare device. A few of these have stood the test of time and actually make a visible difference in your skin. Plus, they’re at their deepest discounts of the year.
Red Light Therapy Mask
If you don’t have a red light therapy mask yet… now is your time to shine (or glow)! This is the #1 skincare device I recommend for anti-aging and long-term skin health.
Does red light therapy really work?
YES! It is backed by strong clinical studies showing improvements in collagen production, fine lines, wrinkles, inflammation, and overall skin radiance.
Who should use it:
• Anyone wanting glowing skin, smoother texture, or fewer wrinkles
• Sensitive skin types who can’t tolerate strong actives
• Anyone wanting long-term improvement in their skin barrier
Use caution if you:
• have melasma
• have a photosensitive condition
• take medications that increase light sensitivity
I am linking the one I have used for years below. It’s comfortable, durable, and you do not need anything more expensive to get results.
The Deal: Click Here
Get the face mask and receive the neck/chest red light device for FREE! It is highly worth it if you want more complete results.
Red Light Helmet for Hair Growth
Purchase the Red Light Helmet here!
Red light therapy isn’t just for skin…it also has clinical support for slowing and improving hair loss by stimulating follicles and increasing blood flow.
I use the iRestore Elite, and it is the most powerful device on the market with 500 light diodes. It is also:
• light and comfortable
• FDA-cleared
• quick + easy
• backed by data
Hair loss is one of the most emotional concerns we deal with, and this device is truly worth the investment. Consistency is key! Shop it on sale here!
Shark FacialPro Glow Device
A super fun launch this year! This is like having a mini-hydrafacial at home.
Benefits:
• extracts clogged pores
• improves texture
• deep cleans
• heating + cooling attachments for depuffing
• helps skincare absorb better
Is it necessary? No.
Does it make you feel luxurious, relaxed, and instantly refreshed? 100% yes.
Shop Shark FacialPro on Sale Here!
Anti-aging Pillow To ERASE Sleep Wrinkles
Get your anti-aging pillow discount here!
Side sleepers, unite! Side sleeping creates vertical sleep wrinkles that eventually stop fading when you wake up. These are the wrinkles that Botox cannot fix because they’re positional, not muscular.
I eliminated mine with the a pillow this pillow linked below!! It has a facial cradle so you can side sleep without smashing your skin.
It also supports great neck/back alignment. I get the copper pillowcase for antimicrobial benefits.
Shop the pillow here: Use code BUDGETDERM for 15% off. And the copper pillowcase here!
Luxury Skincare Worth the Splurge (And On Sale!)
Anti-aging Eye Cream
Get the anti-aging eye cream here!
This is my #1 anti-aging eye cream to improve crepey texture and fade fine lines and crow’s feet.
Why I love it:
- Contains retinaldehyde: the strongest non-prescription retinoid
- Works faster than retinol
- Far less irritating than prescription retinoid
- Comes in 3 strengths so you can ladder up
- Includes ceramides + hyaluronic acid
This is the best price you’ll see all year! Shop Now!
You know I love this product because I’ve been using it since last year and did a full review here b/c its just that good!!
Full YouTube review here:
Peptide Serums
This is the year of peptides! And if you haven’t added them yet, now is the time.
My top peptide categories:
• Signal peptides (Matrixyl 3000, Synthe 6) → collagen support
• Copper peptides → skin renewal
• Neuromuscular peptides → soften expression lines
This serum contains a 30% peptide blend, one of the highest on the market and the one I personally used the most this year.
There’s also a brand-new ADVANCED version with growth factors + 30% peptides for even more benefits.
Vitamin C Serums
Vitamin C is essential for brightening, collagen protection, and antioxidant defense.
If L-ascorbic acid irritates your skin, try tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (THD). It’s more stable and gentle for sensitive skin. I personally tend to tolerate this version of vitamin the best with little to no stinging.
My personal favorite:
C-Tetra Luxe (14% THD): Shop 14% Here
There’s also a newer 20% THD version with phyto exosomes for those wanting extra power: Shop the 20% Here
Retinaldehyde for the Face
Avène upgraded their retinal formula this year! It’s more hydrating and even better for sensitive skin.
I visited Avène’s facility in France this past September and saw the thermal spring water source + sterile packaging process. It’s truly next-level for sensitive or eczema-prone users.
This product has been a top seller of mine for years! I will always come back to this one!
My Favorite Sunscreen of the Year!
My favorite sunscreen launch of the year! When I first tried this, I was blown away! Unfortunately, the price also blew me away. It’s NOT cheap! This is the first time I have seen this on sale so I am very excited about this find.
This is a green-tinted SPF for all skin tones that repairs the skin barrier while instantly neutralizing redness.
Why it’s incredible:
• 100% mineral
• Green tint neutralizes redness on all skin tones
• Elegant texture
• Zero white cast
• No tackiness
Makeup with SPF I love!
Ciele Cosmetics
I discovered this brand a few months ago, and I am totally obsessed with the quality coverage and feel on the skin! AND the fact that every. single. product. has SPF in it. It’s a Derm’s dream!
I love this under eye concealer so much!! It is 100% mineral SPF 50+ and comes in 20 shades. This contains tranexamic acid to lighten under eye dark circles. It it hydrating on the skin and does not settle into fine lines much at all. If I notice it does, I gently press it back in to the skin with my finger. This feels and wears very lux!
This weightless tinted serum is SPF50+ and also comes in 20 shades. This is similar to the Ilia super serum skin tint but, in my opinion, better. This one by Ciele is lighter weight, easier to spread, and gives coverage just as good.
I pair this with the SPF blush for a natural healthy skin finish! Shop the blush here!
Merit: The Uniform
I recently asked YOU in a question box on my Instagram which tinted SPF you found to be the most wearable and weightless on the skin. A TON of you said Merit The Uniform. I have to agree because this is one I tried when it first launched and I’ve bought it several times! I love that is has 100% mineral SPF and comes in multiple shades that I find fairly flexible to match your skin. This will give you sun protection and light to medium coverage so it’s perfect for a “no makeup” makeup day!! One of my favorites to wear to work!
TL;DR:
• 100% mineral
• flexible shade range
• light-to-medium coverage
• great for “no-makeup” days
Skinceuticals CE Ferulic Dupe (On Sale!)
A truly close match to the $185 Skinceuticals CE Ferulic — for a fraction of the price.
Shop the Skinceuticals CE Ferulic dupe here
If you are curious why you do not need the $185 Skinceuticals version, check out my recent YouTube Video here:
Paula’s Choice NEW Launches I love on Sale NOW!
Peptide Eye Serum
Shop my favorite peptide eye serum!
I have been looking for SO long for a high quality peptide eye serum and finally found one! When this launched this year, I tried it right away and fell in love. It has premium peptides in it that will actually signal your body to build new collagen. I love the cooling applicator tip and hydrating finish of this serum! This is a great option if you want an eye product for anti-aging and skin barrier support to use in the morning while you use your retinoid eye product at night. OR…if your eyes just cannot tolerate a retinoid, you can use this one alone once or twice a day!
Peptide Lip Plumper
Shop this amazing new product!
This is also a new launch from Paula’s choice this year. This has become an everyday staple for my skincare routine. It wears beautifully on the lips and comes in a clear or tinted version. It has a subtle plumping effect and contains the best type of peptides. In my opinion, this is a great competitor to The Inkey List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm.
What I’m Restocking from Paula’s Choice:
This is one of the best sunscreens on the market. I said what I said, and I will not stop shouting about this one! It is 100% mineral, perfectly tinted to avoid any white cast, and contains Vitamin C to supercharge your protection from UV damage. It truly wears weightless on the skin. This is always on hand in my stockpile!
But…THIS sunscreen is a quickly rising favorite of mine! It is a bit more focused on the Vitamin C concentration and contains chemical UV filters, not mineral.
Check out their holiday kits for extra savings too! So many great options from a top tier skincare brand!!
My Fav Budget Brands on Major Sale
Timeless (50% Off!)
I wait all year for this one because rarely do we see any brand give this big of a discount!! One of the things I love most about Timeless, aside from their super straightforward and transparent formulas, is that they are SO reasonably priced. And then to get 50% off of an already great price is just the cherry on top for me 🙂
My Top picks from Timeless are:
Obviously their vitamin C serums! They come in a 10% option if you have normal to sensitive skin like me, and a 20% version if you have super rockstar non-sensitive skin with stubborn dark spots!
I love that both of these comes in travel packs:
- 10% Travel packs: Shop Here
- 20% Travel packs: Click Here
Timeless also has great budget-friendly peptide serums to check out if you want to dip your toe into the wonderful world of peptides!
- Matrixyl 3000: Get the sale
- Matryxyl Synthe 6: Shop Now!
These Hyaluronic acid sprays are so fun and great for travel when you need an instant freshen up: Shop the Hyaluronic acid sprays here!
Don’t miss this limited time 50% off sale!
Geek & Gorgeous
This brand has quickly risen to the top as one of my favorite budget-friendly options: no fluff, science-backed, excellent pricing.
Here are my Top picks:
A-game Retinaldehyde: Easily my favorite budget retinaldehyde of the year! Retinaldehyde is *the ingredient* you want if you are focused on anti-aging, fading fine lines and wrinkles, improving skin texture, building collagen, and fading dark spots. This is unique because it comes in 3 strengths so you can start low and ladder up as your skin tolerates.
- Shop A-game 20: Shop Here
- A-game 10: Click Here
- A-game 5: See the Sale
Vitamin C:
This is another reasonable swap for Skinceuticals CE Ferulic as this one also contains L-ascorbic acid Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and ferulic acid. This goes to show you a great formulation with powerful ingredients can be affordable! Shop here!
Power Peptides:
If I haven’t convinced you to get peptides yet or if my other recommendations were out of budget, choose THIS one as your fighter!!! It contains signal peptides Matrixyl 3000 and Matrixyl synthe 6 and copper peptides. Shop peptides here!
The Inkey List
The Inkey List truly has a product for everyone! They are the definition of a no-frills skincare brand that somehow maintains that level of hype that often requires a much sexier marketing campaign. I have been a lover of this brand for years so here are my top picks on sale now!
• Bio-Active Ceramide Moisturizer: This skin barrier repair moisturizer will help you maintain a healthy skin barrier that can stand up to harsh skincare actives like acids and retinoids so you can get results without irritation.
• HA + Matrixyl Serum: This hyaluronic acid serum not only contains the always popular Hyaluronic acid ingredient, but it also contains Matrixyl 3000 peptides. Think of this as your “power couple” serum!
• Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Body Stick: I love this glycolic acid body stick for for rough and bumpy skin. Its touch-free swipe and go and has a great percentage of glycolic acid in it to *actually* make a difference!
This azelaic acid 10% serum is a top pick of mine for rosacea. It calms redness and inflammation. Plus, it’s a great option for acne that is pregnancy safe!
Speaking of acne…these pimple patches are a MUST before you check out! They are truly invisible and REALLY help you keep your hands off the skin so your pimples can heal WITHOUT a scar from picking.
Supplements I Take EVERY Day!
Oral Collagen (Verisol)
I highly recommend taking an oral collagen supplement to support your skin, hair and nails as you age. I don’t care what brand you take as long as it contains the “correct” type of collagen. In my opinion, the best kind of collagen is “verisol” collagen. This is a bio-active form that has been clinically studied and proven to benefit the skin’s elasticity and build collagen. This is the one I have taken for years now, and its on sale for the biggest discount of the year here!
It also comes in a marine form: Shop here
Hair Growth Vitamins
Since I started to experience some hair thinning this year, I did a DEEP DIVE into the best hair supplements to take to support hair growth. This is the one I chose for myself instead of Nutrafol which seems to be the most popular one people mention often. Personally, I think Nutrafol has too much biotin in it which may cause issues for some people. I highly recommend you talk to your healthcare provider before starting ANY supplement, especially one with a lot of biotin in it. Plus, Nutrafol is quite pricey and is a lot of pills to take daily. Instead, I have found success with Wellbel vitamins which is a bit more affordable, less pills to take daily, and has a great science-backed formula. Shop it in sale here
Creatine
Creatine has become one of my biggest no-exceptions additions to my routine this year. I take it every single day…truly no excuses. Getting the travel packets has helped me stay consistent because I can toss one in my bag and mix it into water wherever I am.
If you’re not familiar, creatine is one of the most well-studied supplements for women as we age. It supports muscle strength and recovery, helps maintain lean mass, and has growing evidence for cognitive and neurological benefits as well. I personally take 5 grams a day, which is the clinically supported dose for adults.
This one is on sale: Get your creatine supplements here
If You Made It This Far… You Deserve To Treat Yourself! 😂
I hope you found something exciting to try or a great gift for a skincare-obsessed loved one!!
Happy shopping!
❤️ Maren
