How I’m Using Adore Beauty’s App Sale to Prep for Winter
Nikki is a writer, former makeup artist, and Communications Specialist at Adore Beauty. She kicked off her writing career at Fashion Journal, penning beauty articles and interviewing musicians she’d still name-drop seven years later. In 2023, she made a very big and bold career leap (writing about fashion instead of beauty). Now, she’s come full circle – but still loves to think outside the box.
I love winter. I love the feeling of crisp air hitting my face when I step outside in the morning and the comfort that only a worn-out dressing gown can provide.
My skin, on the other hand, isn’t thriving. It’s drier, duller and irritated by the cool change. So I’m on a season-long mission to restore its glow and load it up with juicy, summer-level hydration. Even if that means relying on something unsexy to do the job.
The best part? All of these picks are up to 30% off in the Adore Beauty app. Talk about good timing.
*Editor's note: our exciting App sale ends on the 28th of June 2026 (so we'd get downloading!)
Skinstitut Glycolic Scrub 14%, $55
To settle the physical vs chemical exfoliation debate, Skinstitut pulled a Hannah Montana and combined the best of both worlds in one hard-working formula.
Its hybrid exfoliator works to refine pores, smooth texture and brighten your skin, but I love it most as a body scrub to help remove stubborn ingrown hairs. You won’t need to use it more than once or twice a week, so it’ll probably last you until next winter.
Skinstitut Glycolic Scrub 14% review from AB customer:
"Fan for years. Hands down the best product to polish my skin, head to toe, to perfection. As a friend put it once - "it makes my skin feel like a baby seal". Perfect base for ultra rich hydrating creams." - Sarah.
Dermal Therapy Heel Balm Platinum, $15.99
It’s not something I always remember to do before bed, but slathering on an ultra-nourishing foot cream before slipping into a pair of fuzzy socks always does the trick.
Made with 30% urea, this one from Dermal Therapy is, in my opinion, the Rolls-Royce of heel balms. Insane sentence to type out, I know.
Dermal Therapy Heel Balm Platinum review from AB customer:
"This heel balm is so slept on. I am so happy with the results, it really does what it claims making a visible difference in one day. I have tried glycolic acid and many other recommendations on my cracked heels none really made a noticeable difference but Dermal Therapy has been amazing. Highly recommend." - Vanessa.
La Roche-Posay Lipikar Lait Body Milk, $41.95
Once during a routine skin check, my dermatologist told me that my legs were very dry and I needed to moisturise them, stat. His advice – albeit unsolicited – is the reason why I spend a little longer doing my nighttime routine, even though I find moisturising my body to be the most tedious step.
La Roche-Posay’s Lipikar Lait Body Milk is one of those trusty, no-BS lotions that just work. Non-greasy, non-sticky, fragrance-free. I love applying it to damp skin post-shower, ‘cause it spreads like butter and helps seal in hydration.
La Roche-Posay Lipikar Lait Body Milk review from AB customer:
"This stuff is fantastic especially for any skin that is sensitive or irritated, very hydrating and nourishing."
Medik8 Advanced Night Restore, $138
It’s hard to pick a favourite cosmeceutical skincare brand, but Medik8 continues to top every ‘best’ list.
The brand’s most famous for its Crystal Retinal line-up, but its complex, velvety moisturisers are racking up glowing reviews. I already use (and love) the Daily Radiance Vitamin C moisturiser in the morning, so I’m excited to see how this richer cream fares at night.
Maison Balzac Bonne Nuit Candle, $85
In these trying conditions (dark before 5pm), it helps to lean in and romanticise the scene. Nothing screams ‘cosy’ more than a lavender-scented candle that sets you up for a relaxing night in.
Like the name suggests, it’s the perfect candle to light when you’re winding down before bed. Best paired with hot tea in a kitschy ceramic mug.
Maison Balzac Bonne Nuit Candle Large review from AB customer:
"This smells so divine. The smell is so accurate, it honestly smells like you are putting your face to a fresh lavender bush and I love it." - Stj.
Aspect Intense Hydration Sheet Mask (5 pack), $59.90
Angie, one of the stellar dermal therapists at Adore’s Watergardens store, raves about this sheet mask from Aspect. And I’ll cart pretty much anything she recommends.
Packed with the good stuff (niacinamide, vitamin E, chamomilla recutita, copper PCA), this mask works in 20 minutes to deliver deep, long-lasting hydration. Angie likes to save the excess serum to use in her routine, which is one of the best ways to get the most bang for your buck – second to grabbing it while it’s on sale.
Aspect Intense Hydration Sheet Mask review from AB customer:
"I really love these sheet masks. I have very dry and sensitive skin and these masks make my skin feel hydrated and plump. I use one weekly and pat the remaining serum into my neck and chest." - Addlia.
Bioderma Atoderm Shower Gel, $39
It feels a little frivolous splashing out on a relatively basic shower gel, but if you’ve got dry, sensitive skin, this one from Bioderma is a cold-weather essential.
It’s gentle, soap-free and has a mild fragrance that makes your shower experience feel less clinical. Most of all, it doesn’t strip your skin, so it’s particularly beneficial on lazier days that call for skipping body moisturiser altogether. (Don’t tell my derm.)
Bioderma Atoderm Shower Gel review from AB customer review:
"This product is great for my sensitive skin... I love to use this in the bath. Love that it's fragrance free too." - Ada.
Torriden Solid-In Ceramide Lip Essence, $10
In winter, you just need a solid lip balm – plus three more that can live in your bedside drawer, car and handbag. This one from K-beauty brand Torriden is my personal fave, and trust me, I’m picky about balms. I’ll let one Adore Beauty reviewer, Meg, sum it up:
“My go-to – add one to each order. Have them all over the place. Just do it, you won't regret it!”
Torriden Solid-In Ceramide Lip Essence review from AB customer:
"This is a staple in my routine. It's very hydrating and it doesn't have any artificial colours or flavours that makes my lips irritated or overwhelmed." - Alia.
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