I Scrolled Through the Cult Beauty Sale—18 Products a Beauty Editor Would Buy
When the summer beauty sales start cropping up around this time of the year, I can't help but get excited. As a beauty editor (and self-confessed beauty obsessive, FYI), I'm the first to comb through the sales for the best deals. Even though I'm lucky enough to test new beauty products for a living, I still happily buy my favourite products. After all, beauty sales are the optimum time to snap up a great deal on new beauty products that you're considering and top up on your trusted favourites while saving a pretty penny.
One sale I consistently shop time and again is the Cult Beauty sale. Cult Beauty is a real gem for its expansive range of brands and iconic beauty products. The retailer's edit of carefully selected brands means you'll never end up with a disappointing beauty dud—everything on the site is carefully considered before being stocked. That means only the best brands are on the site, which makes shopping on the platform a beauty lover's dream.
When I spotted that the Cult Beauty sale had arrived with many products up to 40% off, I pounced. Naturally, the best beauty deals go quickly, so you have to move quickly to secure the biggest discounts. To save you from scrolling, I've rounded up the best beauty products from Cult Beauty that I'm considering adding to my basket. Scroll ahead to see all the beauty steals on my wish list, from haircare to fragrance and makeup to candles.
The Best Products in the Cult Beauty Sale
Even at full price, this kit came with a big discount. If you bought all of these individually, the total cost would amount to £84. So the fact that it's in the sale for half of that is an even bigger win. If you're yet to discover the hair-repairing magic of Olaplex, take this as your sign to try it. It includes No.0, a prepping treatment to be used with the brand's iconic No.3 treatment, which really helps to repair the bonds within damaged hair. You also get 100-millilitre sizes of shampoo and conditioner, which are perfect for taking on holiday.
I'll admit I was shocked to see that this eye cream is on sale. Dark under-eye circles can be stubborn to treat, but this brightening eye cream has so many glowing five-star reviews. It contains a potent blend of vitamin C and niacinamide to brighten the eye area, and the cooling gel consistency instantly hydrates and cools the skin, helping to de-puff the eye area too.
In case you didn't know, Rihanna (who apparently smells incredible IRL) wears a Kilian fragrance. While her pick is Love, Don't Be Shy, I personally favour the Good Girl Gone Bad scent, which is not as sweet but is still equally delicious. This is the stronger version of the scent, which features a hypnotic blend of white floral, jasmine, tuberose and narcissus with orange blossom and apricot-spiked osmanthus. Truly, it's intoxicating. When I wear this on evenings out, I always get asked what I'm wearing.
I had to do a double take when I spotted this in the Cult Beauty sale and another when I saw the generous discount. This microcurrent device is one of the most sought-after devices right now and uses electrical currents to lift facial muscles. I recently rallied the Who What Wear UK team to test the best microcurrent devices, and this was amongst our favourites.
Since swapping to silk hair ties, I've seen such a difference in the health of my hair that I can never go back to regular hair ties again. While they are on the spendy side, this set of six is currently on sale.
As someone who has sensitive skin, I try to be selective about what skincare I use on my skin. Thankfully, one of my favourite cleansers ever is in the sale with a hefty discount. Kate Somerville's Delikate Soothing Cleanser is designed with sensitive skin in mind (something the founder herself has), and I can't be without it in my bathroom cabinet.
I recently had a facial at Sarah Chapman's clinic and was amazed by the results. All of the products are incredible, but this Meso-Melt Infusion Kit would be ideal if you're looking to address skin texture and brighten the skin. It includes a derma roller and three ampoules of the brand's stem cell serum, which are effectively absorbed into the skin after needling. Await the "great skin" compliments.
Amika's hair products are seriously underrated, IMO. This dry shampoo is particularly great, helping to mop up excess oil so you can stretch your hair wash another day. The finish is not chalky whatsoever—it practically disappears at the stroke of a brush to leave you with revived roots and loads of volume.
I wasn't expecting to see a luxury brand such as Dr. Barbara Sturm in the sale, so this was a very pleasant surprise. Celebrities flock to Dr. Sturm, and the Balancing Scalp Serum is on my list to try, which promises to soothe irritation, reduce itching and give each hair follicle a strong foundation from which to sprout.
Since Kosas arrived in the UK, just about every beauty editor I know has become obsessed with its line of makeup, and I have too. I'm already a fan of the Revealer Concealer, but I've got my eye on this Tinted Face Oil to try next.
At this time of the year, I get asked a lot about how to treat sun-induced pigmentation. My answer is a brightening serum, such as this one from Dr. Dennis Gross. It contains a potent 15% vitamin C and lactic acid, which help to even the skin tone and brighten up pigmentation. Just remember to use SPF with it!
Treating thinning hair or hair loss means treating it from a 360-degree perspective. This Ouai duo contains the Scalp Serum—which has a cooling and hydrating gel consistency that sinks in quickly and supports a healthy scalp environment with a range of adaptogens—and the Thick & Full Food Supplements, which have a range of ingredients to support healthy hair growth from the inside out. Even at full price, this duo is still worth £82, so the fact that it is in the sale is an extra win.
The entire Who What Wear UK team is obsessed with Escentric Molecules. The Molecule 01 single-note scent is the classic that everyone loves, but let me introduce you to its understated sister. It contains the same Iso E Super molecule that smells a little different on everyone, but it has the addition of vetiver, which gives it an aromatic and earthy twist.
Brides-to-be, take note. This silk eye mask is a luxurious present to give your bridesmaids on your big day, but it could also make a great present if you're planning on asking your nearest and dearest to be in your bridal party too.
Frédéric Malle's candles are the ultimate in quiet luxury, and it's not often that you see anything from the brand in the sale. This candle has a generous discount, so I'm snapping one up for myself and another as a gift.
If you're looking for a chic gift for the man in your life, then you can't top this fragrance set from Frédéric Malle, which contains 10-millilitre sizes of Vétiver Extraordinaire, Bigarade Concentrée and French Lover. I'm a big believer that scent is genderless, so I'm tempted to keep this one for myself.
Dr. Barbara Sturm really thought this genius spot treatment through. The targeted spot treatment is also tinted (and available in a range of shades), so you can treat and conceal in one fell swoop.
I'm putting it out there: Fresh makes some of the best face masks that I've ever tried. This set contains the three hero masks, which are worth £82 on their own but come in at around £22 each in this kit. It's a steal.
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Eleanor Vousden is the beauty editor for Who What Wear UK. She was previously deputy editor at Hairdressers Journal, health writer at Woman & Home and junior beauty editor at beauty website Powder. She has also contributed to Wallpaper and Elle Collections with written and styling work.Working as a beauty journalist since 2015 after graduating in fashion journalism at the London College of Fashion, she has been highly commended at the BSME Talent Awards for her work on Powder and also contributed to the title winning Website of the Year at the PPA Awards.Eleanor’s journalistic focus is to provide readers with honest and helpful beauty content. Through words, video and live broadcast, she has interviewed several celebrity makeup artists, hairstylists and top dermatologists throughout her career, as well as celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Scarlett Johansson. She has a particular interest in finding solutions for acne and eczema, which she has experienced firsthand. She has also amassed a large collection of fragrances and can never say no to a new candle.When she’s not writing or testing the latest beauty product or treatments, she’s on the seafront in her hometown of Brighton and Hove, where she lives with her partner and her miniature dachshund.