15 Anti-Aging Products Actually Worth Buying From Sephora’s Massive Sale

Anti-Aging Products Actually Worth Buying From Sephora’s Massive Sale

I spent five hours browsing the site so you don't have to.

Being an e-commerce writer means that what I love most—skincare shopping—is also what I do for a living. Browsing through all the creams, serums, oils, and masks while researching products is one of my favorite things to do (never mind adding them to the long list of products I want to try), and it’s even more exciting when there’s a huge sale on all of them—as is the case right now.

Sephora’s bi-annual Beauty Insider sale has officially returned for the fall, and since discounts go as high as 20 percent off across the entire site, it’s been marked on my work (and personal) calendar for months. In fact, I was so excited for the last sale—which took place this past April—that I spent five straight hours browsing Sephora’s site before the deals even launched. (And I really mean the entire site—my laptop briefly crashed due to the amount of open browser tabs.)

It was worth it, though. My “research” allowed me to amass a list of the all-time-best anti-aging products to shop from the sale. To ensure I could snap up the best winter-ready skincare products, too, I replicated my process but specifically looked for hydrating picks that will come in handy during the upcoming colder months. From brands like Caudalie and SK-II to Instagram-friendly brands like Drunk Elephant, there’s something for every skincare need and budget. Sephora’s VIB Rouge members can get them all for 20 percent off with code HOLIDAYFUN (those are the prices you’ll see listed below), while VIB and Beauty Insider members (which are both free to sign up for, by the way) will get 15 and 10 percent off, respectively.

This will be your last chance in 2020 to score everything at Sephora marked down, so don’t wait to grab the products you missed out on during the spring.

Youth to the People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser

Youth to the People brings some of the best clean-beauty anti-aging products to the masses at affordable prices, and its Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser is no exception. Without stripping your skin of moisture (which you especially don’t want to do in dry winter weather), it gently washes away any dirt or buildup while infusing vitamins C and E, and kale leaf extract. It has a 4.3-star rating from shoppers, and you can read our review of this cleanser before purchasing.

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence

The SK-II Treatment Essence had been a favorite in the Asian beauty market for years before taking the rest of the world by storm, and now celebrities flock to it. The toner, which goes on after cleanser and before serum, uses its trademarked ingredient, Pitera, to reduce the appearance of dark spots and soften fine lines caused by dryness (again, an issue that’s even more important in colder months). It rarely goes on sale, so there’s no better time to try what shoppers have called “magic in a bottle.”

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum

Another shopper-loved product, Drunk Elephant’s vitamin C serum is packed with antioxidants that will brighten your skin while eliminating signs of aging thanks to exfoliating enzymes like pumpkin ferment and pomegranate extract. It’s incredibly lightweight and absorbs easily, so you’ll forget you’re even wearing serum. More than 2,000 shoppers love this product, and you can read our review of this glow-worthy product, too.

Summer Fridays CC Me Vitamin C Serum

Summer Fridays’ multi-tasking vitamin C serum is pumped full of glow-inducing ingredients like niacinamide, as well as hydrating powerhouses like glycerin and squalane. The milky smooth formula helps with dry, dull skin that looks a bit lackluster in the winter, but the formula is also easily absorbed so you’re not left with an uncomfortably greasy feeling. A reviewer who has dry, sensitive skin touted this as the first vitamin C serum that’s made their skin look “brighter, more evenly toned, and smooth without breaking out or causing redness or irritation.”

Farmacy Honey Halo Ultra-Hydrating Ceramide Moisturizer

For those who still deal with oily skin in the winter, Farmacy’s nourishing moisturizer is here to help. While honey definitely makes tea and cake taste better, it also works as a natural hero ingredient on your skin. Farmacy, one of the most popular clean beauty brands on the market, tapped into honey’s miracle powers to make this incredibly hydrating moisturizer that helps promote firmness and elasticity on the skin without being overly greasy or sticky. And since the formula includes ceramides and and honey with a royal jelly blend, it’s one of the most effective moisturizers you can buy.

Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Glycolic Overnight Cream

Overnight creams are worth the investment because they give you a glow so bright that you’ll probably end up staring at yourself in the mirror all morning. Caudalie’s overnight cream does just that by using its trademarked Viniferine extract to visibly lighten dark spots and hyperpigmentation; 95 percent of women found their skin brighter after 56 days, according to a brand study. Equally impressive is the fact that 90 percent of reviewers recommend this overnight cream, which has a 4.6-star rating on Sephora.

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial 25% AHA + 2% BHA Mask

Like its name suggests, Drunk Elephant’s Babyfacial mask will give you enviably baby-soft skin. An exfoliating product that uses both AHA and BHA acids, the T.L.C. mask gently exfoliates dead skin-cell buildup on your face, and the result is nothing but a glow for days. Plus, it won’t strip your skin of the necessary hydration for cold winter months. It has a stellar 4.4-star rating from more than 2,000 reviews, and shoppers have called it a “skin saver” that’s more than worthy of the price.

Glamglow Youthmud Glow Stimulating & Exfoliating Treatment Mask

One of the biggest anti-aging concerns is dullness caused by the slower rate of natural skin cell turnover as you age. That’s why exfoliants are key in anti-aging products, and when they’re paired with another hero ingredient—like the mud that clears out your pores in this mask—what you have is nothing but a total game changer. Youthmud’s kaolin mud and volcanic rock exfoliators gently buff away any dead skin cell buildup while green tea leaf extract adds an antioxidant-rich brightness boost. More than 2,200 shoppers have given the Glamglow mask an average 4.1-star rating, and you can get it for as little as $47 now.

Herbivore Phoenix Cell Regenerating Facial Oil

A good facial oil is arguably the most important step in skincare hydration come winter. One of the best options is the Phoenix Cell Regenerating oil from Herbivore, another clean-beauty brand. It’s made for dry and sensitive skin, and its rosehip oil, chia seed oil, and vitamin E blend will leave your skin feeling soft but not greasy. Shoppers have called it a holy grail, with many saying that it’s saved their skin. “I truly feel it’s made a huge difference in my skin,” said a reviewer. “My skin is more hydrated, and I definitely feel it’s helped signs of aging as well.”

Youth to the People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Oil

Yes, you can still benefit from a facial oil even if you have combination or oily skin, and Youth to the People’s is one of the best “dry” oils that won’t cause breakouts. Packed with low-comedogenic oils (ones that won’t clog your pores) like jojoba, rosehip, and sunflower seed, it’s perfect for those with acne-prone skin who still want a glow you can only get from facial oils. Shoppers have praised it as a “game changer,” and it has a 4.7-star rating from more than 600 reviews. Full disclosure: I’ve used more than two bottles of this oil, and yes, it lives up to the hype.

Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Foundation

The sun might be playing hide-and-seek more often in the winter, but that doesn’t mean you don’t still need sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Of course, having to go through an extra step on cold, early winter mornings can be a hassle, so it’s a good time to invest in an all-in-one product, likeIlia’s Skin Tint. Sure, the bottle might say foundation, but this customer-loved product is more like a moisturizer, serum, and sunscreen rolled into one. Not only is it packed with hydrating ingredients like squalane, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide, but it’s also made with SPF 40 zinc oxide sunscreen that gives you an extra layer of protection. It’s perfect for the days when you want light coverage but can’t be bothered to clean your foundation brush (we’ve all been there).

Necessaire The Body Wash

It’s crucial not to forget about your body when it comes to winter skincare, and Necessaire’s luxurious body wash will make it easy to keep your skin hydrated from head to toe. Those suffering from dry skin will love its incredibly nourishing formula of niacinamide, glycerin, and vitamin E. The result is supple, smooth skin even before you get out of the shower—so it’s no wonder multiple shoppers called this product their favorite body wash “by far.” I’ve personally run through two bottles and am utterly obsessed with it, too. Pro tip? Get the eucalyptus-scented version for a relaxing dose of aromatherapy, then slather on the brand’s Body Serum and Body Lotion for the whole treatment.

Briogeo Be Gentle, Be Kind Banana + Coconut Nourishing Superfood Body Cream

My love for Briogeo is well-documented at this point, so you can imagine how thrilled I was to discover that the brand’s new foray into body care is based on one of its best products. Full of hydrating ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba seed oil, and glycerin, the Be Gentle, Be Kind body cream is every bit as nourishing as the shampoo from the same line. The delicious tropical scent will remind anyone of a summer holiday, but don’t worry—its fluid formula will never clog up your pores like bad poolside sunscreen.

Caudalie Vinosculpt Lift & Firm Body Cream

As someone who struggles with dry, itchy skin that’s prone to ingrown hairs, it’s hard to find a body cream that’s hydrating enough for winter months but doesn’t clog my pores. But Caudalie’s rich body moisturizer fits the bill perfectly andt glides on so smoothly without ever feeling heavy or tacky. Its ingredients—grapeseed oil and shea butter blended with sunflower seed oil and grapeseed extract—are hydrating all-stars that absorb super fast, so you’re not left hanging with greasy post-shower skin. 91 percent of reviewers who tried Caudalie’s cream said they’d recommend it to others, with one person adding that it made their skin look “firm, tight, and sculpted.”

REN Clean Skincare Moroccan Rose Otto Ultra-Moisture Body Oil

If lotions aren’t enough to keep your skin moisturized during the winter, REN Clean Skincare’s Moroccan rose oil will add an additional layer of hydration for smooth, supple skin. It’s one of the best oils I’ve ever tested on my skin: Not only does it smell divine, but it absorbs so quickly that I can even pull on leggings or stockings immediately after use. Chock-full of nourishing ingredients like ceramides (for barrier protection), argan oil (for hydration), cranberry seed oil (antioxidant powerhouse), and rosehip oil (for fighting dullness and providing fatty acids), it’s one of the best anti-aging body oils available. Stock up now while it’s on sale.