The Fourth of July sales are already rolling in, which means now is the perfect time to stock up on our favorite (and admittedly pricey) beauty products, starting with all things Herbivore. The plant-based skin-care brand is known for its potent and powerful formulas, and, right now you can score 25 percent off all of their formulas through July 4 with code HAPPY12 in honor of Herbivore’s birthday (which also happens to fall right around America’s birthday, giving you double the reason to celebrate).
If you have to try one thing from the sale, we cannot recommend Herbivore’s Moon Fruit 1% Bakuchiol + Peptides Retinol Alternative Serum enough, especially with summer in full swing, since it comes with all of the benefits of retinol without the sun sensitivity and irritating side effects. In addition to this best-selling formula, we share our top picks for the Herbivore birthday sale, ahead.
Originally $62, now $44
Retinol is considered an anti-aging powerhouse, however, it can be highly irritating for some. If you’re looking for a serum that boasts the same benefits as a retinol formula without irritation (and sun sensitivity), consider bakuchiol, which is a natural retinol alternative that, according to research, is just as effective if used regularly. If you’re new to the ingredient, the Herbivore Moon Fruit 1% Bakuchiol + Peptides Retinol Alternative Serum is an excellent place to start, as its formula not only features the retinol alternative, but also includes plant peptides and superfruits for additional healthy skin aging benefits such as firming, brightening, and added nourishment.
In a review of the product, one Herbivore customer says this serum helps keep their fine lines “in check.” Another said they love this alternative because they don’t have to worry about all of the rules of retinol (such as not using it in the morning and staying out of the sun) while reaping the same benefits. We love it because in addition to alleviating those pesky retinol rules and keeping fine lines at bay, the serum is also gentle enough for more retinol-sensitive skin types and keeps skin looking and feeling hydrated for an everlasting glow.
Size: 1 ounce Key Ingredients: 1% bakuchiol, plant peptides, superfruits
Herbivore skincare favorites on sale
Originally $26, now $20
The Pink Cloud Rosewater + Tremella Creamy Jelly Cleanser is one of Herbivore’s top-selling products for its pH-balanced formula that is designed to gently cleanse while also hydrating and prepping the complexion for the rest of your skin-care regimen. Formulated with tremella mushroom, which is sort of like hyaluronic acid in that it attracts and retains water, as well as rose hydrosol for its soothing properties and squalane for its lightweight nourishment that is powerful enough to remove makeup (and doesn’t clog pores), the cleanser is formulated for all skin types and will surely become a staple on your #shelfie.
Size: 3.38 ounces
Key Ingredients: Tremella mushroom, rose hydrosol, squalane
Originally $65, now $49
If you have sensitive skin but are looking for a vitamin C formula that is potent enough to actually target dark spots, we cannot recommend this vitamin C serum from Herbivore enough. As the name suggests, the Nova 15% Vitamin C + Turmeric Brightening Serum features 15 percent THD vitamin C, which is a highly stable vitamin C with clinical strength. It also features turmeric for its antioxidant properties and ability to target uneven skin tones, as well as arbutin, which is an ingredient that can tighten the look of pores. With regular use, this serum not only brightens the skin and improves the complexion’s overall glow, but it also evens out skin tone by brightening dark spots.
Size: 1 ounce
Key Ingredients: 15% THD vitamin C, turmeric, arbutin
Originally $26, now $20
When breaking out, we reach for the Aquarius BHA + Blue Tansy Clarity Cleanser, because it’s seriously like magic in a bottle. This cleanser for acne is formulated with willow bark, which is a natural source of salicylic acid and benefits the skin by unclogging pores, along with blue tansy oil to calm the complexion and diminish redness. The cleanser also features an ingredient called zinc PCA which protects skin from acne-causing bacteria and helps restore balance, too.
Size: 3.3 ounces
Key Ingredients: Willow bark BHA, blue tansy oil, zinc PCA
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Originally $54, now $41
To brighten the look of dull skin, we swear by the Prism AHA + BHA Exfoliating Glow Serum, which includes a variety of beneficial exfoliants including AHAs such as sugar cane glycolic, bilberry lactic, sugar maple tartaric, and malic acids along with BHAs derived from willow bark extract. Formulated to slough off dead skin cells and improve overall texture, this Herbivore serum is like a glow-up in a bottle.
Size: 1 ounce
Key Ingredients: Sugar cane glycolic, bilberry lactic, sugar maple tartaric, malic acids, BHAs, rosewater
Originally $88, now $66
Celebrities and beauty editors alike swear by rosehip oil for its amazing anti-aging properties. And, while you can use the oil on its own, we prefer the Phoenix blend from Herbivore, which also features sea buckthorn oil, chia seed, neroli oil, and meadowfoam seed oil to protect the skin’s moisture barrier, replenish nutrients with omega fatty acids, and protect against environmental aggressors with the help of antioxidants. Rosehip oil is also a fantastic source of vitamin C, so this is also kind of like a vitamin C serum, in a way.
Size: 1 ounce, 1.7 ounces Key Ingredients: Rosehip oil, sea buckthorn oil, chia seed, meadowfoam seed oil, neroli oil
Originally $50, now $38
If you’re looking for the best face mask for oily or acne-prone skin types, we love the Blue Tansy Invisible Pores Resurfacing Clarity Mask from Herbivore, which we use on our T-zone for balancing and brightening. The face mask is enhanced with white willow bark, which is a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) that can provide clarifying benefits to the complexion, along with fruit enzymes for further exfoliation. Its star ingredient, blue tansy oil, gives the mask its gorgeous color (and amazing scent) and also helps calm redness and irritation caused by breakouts.
Size: 2.02 ounces
Key Ingredients: White willow bark, fruit enzymes, blue tansy oil