Beauty Heroes is celebrating their 11th anniversary with a 20% Off Storewide Sale — and when I saw it, I was like welp, I just came back to this last week, might as well get the old sales pick post back! If you love them, you stock up. If you’ve been eyeing them, this is when you finally click buy.
There is no code, just add to cart, and you’ll see the discount. So without further ado…
Hidden Gems
These are the brands that don’t usually get discounted — and the category can be fleeting. I’ve had times where I tested the codes before publishing, they worked, and then once readers piled on, the brand quietly disappeared from eligibility. So if you see it here, move quickly.
Gentlerist — an obvious pick for anyone who already loves the line (or has been wanting to try it), since the full range is here, and they’re so rarely discounted. A quick guide for those who remember the YÜLI days, and may need to catch up on what’s happening at Gentlerist now:
- Halcyon — Loved the YÜLI Halcyon? Gentlerist’s Halcyon feels more put together: a sleeker gel, a more balanced sensorial texture, with that same subtle lather but fuller-bodied and refined. If you didn’t love the YÜLI version because it was too thin or lacked slip, this is the one that corrects those issues. It feels like the cleanser Halcyon always had the potential to be.
- Cocoon Dew — Think of this as where YÜLI’s mists left off, taken further. It still feels like plant distillates, but on skin it lands as a “more than fluid” — more hydrating and soothing, in a way hydrosols alone can’t deliver. It’s misting, leveled up.
- Gold Drops — If you remember YÜLI’s M.E. Skin Fuel, think of Gold Drops as its natural evolution — still feather-light, universal, and fast absorbing, but fortified with heavyweight actives like astaxanthin, bakuchiol, and CoQ10. The sensorial aspect feels like Vintner’s Daughter with a more herbal note. It’s elegant, treatment-driven, and lives up to its billing as a “multivitamin oil.”
- Modern Alchemist — If you’re already looking toward colder months or prefer an oil that is more nourishing. Of all Gentlerist’s products, Modern Alchemist has what I consider the most “precise” updates, largely familiar yet precisely updated. The updates: new actives in their Bio-Retinol Complex (Bakuchiol, Beta-Carotene, micro-algae), Vitamin K2 for circulation and radiance, and a boosted Omega-Lipid Complex fortified with ceramides, phospholipids, and plant cholesterol — give it more structure, volume, density, and anti-aging benefits. Think, support for the fat pads that deplete with aging. The very first time you use it, it just feels “right,” like all the decisions landed exactly where they should. It’s nourishing, plush, and restorative without tipping into heaviness — the perfect oil to bridge old sentiments with new improvements.
- Liquid Courage — his one has the most radical shift, and for good reason. Where YÜLI’s Liquid Courage was essentially an antioxidant-rich face oil, Gentlerist rebuilt it as a true bi-phasic antioxidant serum — elevating it from a supportive oil into a full-fledged treatment on par with the best CEFerulic formulas. The oil layer still carries its Antioxidant Seed Complex and THD Vitamin C, but it’s now paired with a water phase that adds two more stabilized Vitamin Cs, ferulic acid, and a suite of antioxidants that stabilize and heighten the formula. As someone who loves botanicals, the inclusion of Camu Camu and Kakadu Plum were especially pleasing, and make this feel like the most complete C-antioxidant serum out there. Shake to activate into a milky emulsion, and you get a modern CEFerulic that’s potent, gentle, and genuinely enjoyable to use (helped by neroli’s touch — no more “ham water” feel common to Vitamin C serums).
- Ambrosia Beauty Nectar — This was always a cornerstone product in their collection, and I always think it’s very risky to tweak with something that is already a classic. Gentlerist made a smart approach. The tweaks are subtle but meaningful: more hydrating (thanks to an even more comprehensive 20+ hyaluronic acid complex), more present on the skin (you feel it, not just deep down like before), and supported by an amped up antioxidant system that makes it stronger for environmental protection and repair. It still feels like the daily “everything” serum — just more complete.
If you knew YÜLI, this is your moment to see how it’s all evolved. If you didn’t, this is the best entry point into one of the most exciting new lines in high-end green skincare that’s always been very science forward. But either way, don’t wait too long — Gentlerist falls squarely into that “hidden gem” bucket that can vanish mid-sale.
Vintner’s Daughter — I almost feel it’s my duty on posts like this to flag when they’re included, because it’s not always a given. Sometimes orders go through at first, and then once enough people jump in, they quietly get pulled. That’s why this “Hidden Gems” category is so fleeting. If you’ve been waiting on their Serum or Essence, this is the moment to pull the trigger.
Other Highlights
Reverie — One of the few clean haircare lines that actually justifies its cult following, in my opinion. Milk remains a go-to leave-in for weightless frizz control, but beyond that, it’s a very nice overall leave-in treatment. The way it takes frizz is actually just by making the hair stronger, and healthier, and I would have totally led with that instead. Their Ever Recovery Hair Oil delivers real softness and shine without weighing down. I used it in place of a hair mask, and was surprised at how well it did the job. If you’ve struggled to find natural haircare that performs like salon staples, this is the one.
True Botanicals — A line that proves naturals can go toe-to-toe with the heavy hitters. The real standouts for me here are the Chebula Eye Patches and the Chebula Extreme Cream. The patches are an instant pick-me-up for tired eyes, flooding the area with antioxidants and hydration that make them one of the few eye masks I actually notice results from. Also, the fact there aren’t synthetic fragrances in the patches, means they’re one of the only patches I genuinely like using. The Extreme Cream is equally impressive — rich, cushiony, but never heavy, and powered by Chebula to tackle oxidative stress and visible aging in a way that feels supportive instead of disruptive.
Marie Veronique — One of the most respected names in science-forward green skincare, and the formulas show it. The Multi-Retinol Night Emulsion is a brilliant, layered approach to retinol that gives results without the typical irritation — one of the smartest clean retinol options available because it combines two forms of retinol with bakuchiol in a nourishing cream. The Barrier Restore Serum is another good serum: soothing, strengthening, and formulated with lipids and ceramides that make it a daily rescue for stressed or compromised skin at a time when everyone seems to be looking for barrier rescue.
Activist Manuka — Their Manuka Honey Mask is one of those deceptively simple products that earns a permanent spot on the shelf: deeply clarifying, calming, and healing all at once. And don’t sleep on their Manuka Honey Lip Balm — it’s ultra-comforting, beautifully packaged, and brings that same therapeutic quality to the one area we all neglect. There’s just something about the idea of a honey lip balm that I’ve loved since Burt’s Bee’s, and this is a next level rendition of that approach.
Ayuna — The Spanish brand that feels like biotech couture. So I tend to bemoan the lack of good green beauty moisturizers, but there actually are a lot of good ones. And Ayuna’s Cream series is one of them. The Cream II Rejuvenating Treatment is the middle level cream (called rich) in their 3 series. It’s the one I like and think most people will too. It’s luxurious, feels nice, and leaves skin firmer, and just happier — you feel it working immediately. Then once or twice a week, use the Balm Volcanic Revitalizing Mask, a warming treatment that draws on volcanic minerals and botanical extracts to revitalize and reset skin in a way few masks can. Think of it as an upscale update to the Origins Charcoal mask that many of us grew up using.
Le Prunier — Best known for their Plum Beauty Oil, but the real stars here to me, are Plumscreen SPF 31 and the Plumtox Clarifying Enzyme Mask. Plumscreen is one of the rare mineral sunscreens that feels elegant, sits well under makeup, and doesn’t make you dread daily SPF. I’m still quite surprised at how light and silky the cream is, just wonderful! The Enzyme Mask is gentle but effective, giving that polished, smooth-skin reset without irritation. Together, they show the brand’s range beyond the single-ingredient oil.
The Beauty Heroes 11th Anniversary Sale ends August 26th, so you have a little bit of time left to shop. The hidden gems are the ones most likely to disappear (from eligibility), so if Gentlerist or Vintner’s Daughter are on your radar, don’t hesitate. Otherwise, it’s just a good chance to try things out, if there’s one thing I’ve noticed, it’s that brands now have quick release cycles, so it always feels like we’re playing catch up.
Thank you! Love these posts!