Independence Day is just around the corner, fellow beauty buddies. Summer has officially begun, which means good and bad times for skincare. Humidity and sweat make our adult faces more moisturized, but otherwise leave them sticky and uncomfortable. With Independence Day and Prime Day sales, it’s that time of year when you’ll want to stock up on the anti-aging products you use all year round (the best retinol serums and as much Vitamin C as you can get). You’ll also want to splurge on some summer-specific skincare products, like a quality ice roller or cool facial mist.
At the moment, Fourth of July sales are — can I say this? wonderfulhigh-quality brands are on sale in rare deals, and staple serums, patches, and creams are on sale at huge discounts. Check out some of my favorite deals below.
Best 4th of July Beauty Deals
Amazon
Skin Care Essentials: If your face is aging and you want to look younger, you need retinol. If you’re new to retinol or have dry skin, CeraVe’s formula is a great place to start. It’s only 0.3% concentrated, so it’s gentler and less drying than more concentrated products. It’s also packed with skin-soothing ingredients like niacinamide and hydrating hyaluronic acid. Best of all, it’s cheap enough right now to try it without feeling guilty about investing a lot in skin care.
$12 on Amazon
Amazon
Let’s be honest (no pun intended): As a woman of a certain age, traveling to the moon can leave you feeling burned from the inside out. Evian’s portable face mist is a favorite of every old-school beauty editor I know for its quick skin-refreshing properties. Not only does it instantly cool you down, it also leaves your face looking hydrated and beautiful.
$7 on Amazon
Amazon
Caffeine is clinically proven to reduce under-eye wrinkles and fade dark circles. This serum contains a high concentration of 5% caffeine and a cooling metal rollerball applicator that improves blood flow to the area. With over 4,000 five-star reviews (some with before and after images) and a price tag of under $15, it’s a great choice for skin care.
$15 on Amazon
Amazon
The delicate skin under your eyes needs extra nourishment, which is why experts recommend a treatment you apply before bed to help while you sleep. This peptide-rich eye skin-strengthening cream has garnered over 1,000 five-star reviews on Amazon.
Want more options? Check out more of the best eye creams of 2024.
$34 on Amazon
Amazon
Speaking of retinol, there’s a reason Sarah Jessica Parker’s favorite brand is a drugstore skincare legend: it’s proven to work. In clinical trials, 97% of people who tried Retinol Correction reported smoother skin just overnight. Users report a 63% increase in skin moisture after one week and visibly firmer skin after one month. RoC Retinol Serum is dermatologist recommended and tested, and it’s one of the highest-rated skincare products on Amazon, with over 13,000 five-star reviews.
$23 on Amazon
Amazon
This affordable serum contains 2.5% encapsulated retinol, one of the highest concentrations available on the market. Encapsulated means it’s slow-released, which means less irritation and fewer side effects. It’s also packed with hydrating hyaluronic acid and soothing aloe. The texture is thin but not watery, and it absorbs quickly. If your skin can handle this level of potency, this is the best over-the-counter retinol serum we’ve tried at this price point. It’s gentle and quick to work, but it’s as effective as prescription Retin-A. Nearly 10,000 five-star Amazon reviewers call it a “gentle retinol serum that works.”
$15 on Amazon
Amazon
You might think it’s not so need Another gadget you put on your face, but I tell you: you want Ice roller. This simple device rejuvenates the skin like no other. It is effective in reducing eye puffiness, reducing redness and improving circulation to the face and neck. But above all, the ice roller feel It’s like a refreshing popsicle on the skin.
$16 on Amazon
Amazon
Approved by Jessica Alba, this golden eye mask is infused with hyaluronic acid, amino acids and seaweed to hydrate the delicate under-eye area, reduce dark circles and puffy bags and smooth the appearance of fine lines. It’s also paraben- and sulfate-free, vegan and gentle on most skin types, and its luxurious packaging makes it the perfect gift.
$18 on Amazon
Amazon
The neck ages faster than any other part of the body because the skin there lacks the fats and essential oils that keep the rest of the face smooth and soft. While no product can completely transform your neck (a true lift requires surgery), this silky, lightweight lotion is super hydrating, non-irritating, and non-greasy (a blessing for those familiar with neck creams), and in my experience, it reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with consistent use. It also has a pleasant scent and is quickly absorbed.
$20 on Amazon
Walmart
The secret to keeping aging skin from looking dull and lifeless is finding an exfoliating, regenerating mask that promotes cell turnover and sloughs off dead cells. This mask from Peter Thomas Roth is a tried-and-true favorite that I’ve been using for 20 years. It’s rare to find high-quality products from a luxury brand at such a deep discount.
$34 at Walmart
Amazon
It’s a great bargain on this fan-favorite face serum that has more than 94,000 five-star reviews. One enthusiastic user raves: “My aesthetician recommended this to me (I’m 59) as I was noticing the appearance of fine lines and dark spots. My skin has improved and my dark spots have faded considerably.”
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Check out more of the best serums of 2024.
$39 on Amazon
Amazon
Age spots, like a wrinkled cadet with stripes etched across his face, are a strange and cruel indignity of growing older. This Swedish brand’s Dark Spot Fix is a skin-lightening treatment that contains Retinol 8, a stabilized vitamin A complex that’s said to be eight times more effective and half as irritating as traditional retinol. While I don’t have any data to back up the company’s claims, I can speak from experience: the formula is creamy, gentle on skin, and helped fade the stubborn brown spots on my cheeks that had plagued me for years in just three weeks.
While it won’t be as effective as a visit to the dermatologist, if you’re struggling with mild pigmentation, this is a great at-home skincare option – especially at this price.
$58 on Amazon
The above review reflects the most current version at the time of publication.