For those of you who are always on the lookout for a good bargain on skincare products, you’ve probably come across one of the popular online shops out there – SkinStore.
I tend to shop there for several brands and products that are otherwise quite expensive, so I have some feedback to share with you regarding the store.
In this article, I’ll go into detail about:
- What is SkinStore
- What’s the story behind the company
- Is SkinStore legit? What’s my experience and feedback regarding shopping there?
- How does the company manage to offer quality skincare products at lower prices?
- How can you save money with SkinStore?
And more.
What is SkinStore exactly?
For those of you who don’t know much about the company, SkinStore is an online retailer that specializes in high-quality beauty and skincare products.
The online store offers an extensive range of premium cosmetics, clinical-grade skincare, and luxurious spa products from top brands, including popular names like La Roche-Posay, Obagi, and SkinCeuticals.
You can order their products only online, from the comfort of your home as SkinStore doesn’t have any physical locations to shop from.
More about SkinStore
For over two decades, SkinStore has been leading the charge as one of the earliest online retailers to bring dermatologist-created and recommended skincare products to users around the world.
But let’s dive deeper into the brand’s story.
Is SkinStore an American company?
SkinStore is an online-only skincare and beauty retailer based in the USA and Australia, however, its now parent company, THG plc, is based in Manchester, England.
Who founded SkinStore?
SkinStore is currently owned by THG (The Hut Group) Holdings plc, a global end-to-end tech platform that empowers brands to sell their products directly to consumers worldwide.
As part of THG Holdings, SkinStore benefits from special technology and a huge array of solutions that enable the company to stay ahead of the competition.
Is SkinStore part of Lookfantastic?
SkinStore is indeed part of the Lookfantastic Group – a leading online beauty retailer that offers an extensive selection of premium beauty products.
However, the brands and product ranges of SkinStore and Lookfantastic are NOT identical, and their marketing campaigns, discount opportunities, and other important details also differ.
Is SkinStore legit?
SkinStore is a legitimate online retailer with a proven track of happy buyers and positive feedback. I learned about the shop from a famous skinfluencer and a dermatologist on Youtube back in 2021 – Dr. Dray. She did a black friday sale video that made me want to buy my first-ever Avene product and effectively introduced me to the brand.
Plus, I already mentioned that the company has been around for over two decades, which is another indicator of its success in the market.
Over the years, SkinStore has gained recognition from reputable media outlets such as GoodHousekeeping.com, Byrdie, InStyle, Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, and many more. You’d see product recommendations in these publications that bring you to SkinStore to shop.
All of this speaks to the level of SkinStore’s products and its customer service, making it a great destination for discerning beauty enthusiasts worldwide.
Now, we all know that most people feel the need to leave negative customer reviews and not share their happy experience with a brand or a store — this is normal, so we should expect to see some negative feedback out there. The opposite would suggest that the feedback and reviews are fake — when things look too good to be true, they probably aren’t.
Does SkinStore sell fake products?
No, SkinStore sells authentic products directly produced by the original manufacturer. There are, however, a lot of SkinStore reviews and discussions on Reddit and other platforms, where users share their concerns about the authenticity of the products due to their low prices.
Overall, from personal experience and several successful shopping sessions, the platform offers original skincare products.
Yes, SkinStore is an authorized dealer of all the brands they carry, including EltaMD, Colorescence, SkinCeuticals, NuFace, Dermalogica, La Roche Posay, Murad, DECIEM (The INKEY List, The Ordinary & more), Medik8, and many more.
As noted above, as an authorized dealer, SkinStore receives its products directly from the brands’ manufacturers, ensuring that customers receive only authentic products.
How come SkinStore products are cheaper?
One of the reasons why SkinStore can offer products at a lower price point is because they cut out the middleman and get products directly from the manufacturer.
By sourcing products straight from brands, they can negotiate better prices due to large quantities and pass on the savings to their customers.
Additionally, SkinStore frequently runs sales and offers discounts on products, allowing customers to get even more value for their money.
Another factor that contributes to the lower prices is the fact that SkinStore is an online retailer. Operating exclusively online eliminates the costs associated with maintaining a physical store, such as rent, utilities, and staffing, which allows them to keep prices competitive.
SkinStore referral codes & discount options
As a famous destination for beauty and skincare products, SkinStore draws in over 500,000 visitors each month. One of the reasons for its popularity is its exclusive free gifts and member rewards, making it an attractive choice for savvy shoppers looking to save on their favorite products.
The company has a well-structured policy for offering different target groups attractive prices and perks. Here are some of the options you have for saving money with SkinStore.
Free delivery options
SkinStore offers free US shipping on orders over $30. This means that you don’t need to spend a fortune to get the benefit of free delivery.
And you can choose from several delivery options, including standard delivery (3-5 days for $7) and two faster delivery options – I haven’t used any but the free option, so I can’t speak about the rest.
Email list
Free delivery is always a plus. But let’s talk discounts.
One way to get a discount on SkinStore is by signing up for their email list, which offers a generous 20% off the next order. This is an excellent way to stay up to date on SkinStore’s latest offerings and receive exclusive discounts and promotions via email.
Let’s be real. They’ll be getting your email either way, so why not get something in return?
Sale section
I’d like to draw your attention to the homepage of their store first.
Here you’ll see any current offers front-and-center.
I know it seems obvious, but we often skip those when browsing websites and shops, and we shouldn’t – you can get a pretty good deal if you’re paying attention.
In addition to the email sign-up discount, and any current campaigns usually visible on the homepage, SkinStore also has a dedicated sale section where customers can find products with up to 50% off.
I always browse this section first, as products tend to fly off the shelves when there’s a campaign. Since I always tend to hit the free delivery mark, I first place an order of these discounted items, and only then select the rest of my products for a second order.
The sale section includes a variety of beauty and skincare products from top brands, making it an excellent opportunity for people to try out new products or stock up on must-haves.
I like how easy it is to filter by brand, so if you’re searching for a specific product or a range, you can find it faster.
Referral program
You can also take advantage of a SkinStore referral code, which can make you some extra savings on future orders.
Refer friends and family and get $15 for every successful referral while your friend gets a 25% discount on their first order – talking about a win-win!
Essential workers discount
Another opportunity offered by SkinStore is for Essential Workers, who can take advantage of a 25% discount on selected products as a token of appreciation for their hard work.
To access this discount, Essential Workers need to verify their status, after which they get instant access to the exclusive discount.
Student discount
Students can also take advantage of a 25% discount at SkinStore by using the SkinStore student discount code at checkout, which can be obtained via Student Beans.
This is an excellent opportunity for students to save on their favorite beauty and skincare products while balancing their tight budgets.
Overall, SkinStore offers various exclusive discounts and rewards to shoppers, which is well-appreciated especially in the current inflation.
They also run multiple deal events throughout the year, such as Black Friday, Memorial Day Sale, individual brand deals, and many more.
Being on their email list can definitely pay you back handsomely.
What to shop at SkinStore?
When it comes to skincare shopping at SkinStore, I prefer to focus on specific brands and frequently check the Sale page for new offers, or use any other method to get my favorites at discounted prices.
I often shop for the more high-end ranges of skincare here, because I like to get my cheaper stuff from Amazon and Korean skincare retailers such as YesStyle.
So I end up checking brands such as Colorescience, Dr. Dennis Gross, Dermalogica, Elemis, EltaMD, Erborian, ISDIN, Lumene, Medik8 (their Crystal Retinal is a must-have), Pai, Peter Thomas Roth, to name a few, for any current offers, discounts, and ways to get the most out of my shopping experience.
However, note that SkinStore also sells some common, budget-friendly, and middle-range brands such as The Ordinary, Avene, Bioderma, COSRX, First Aid Beauty, La Roche Posay, and more. I shop those from SkinStore only if I’ll be making an order anyway.
Other useful features of SkinStore
Aside from offering all of the mentioned above, SkinStore also provides free online beauty consultations which I’ve tested.
These consultations are a great way for newbies in the skincare space to get personalized skincare advice and recommendations from licensed skincare professionals without leaving the comfort of their homes.
You can access the consultations by visiting the SkinStore website and clicking the “Consultations” tab.
There’s a short survey that you’ll need to fill out before booking a slot – you can book a consultation for any workday.
You will need to fill in details about your skin type, your skin priorities, or current concerns, and you can also list your AM and PM routines to give the skincare expert a deeper understanding of your current situation.
You can also include information about any ingredient sensitivities if you have such.
The actual consultation takes place in a Microsoft Teams conference call and it takes about 15 minutes.
Anyone can block that amount of time.
My conversation with their in-house beauty pro took no more than ten minutes. We went through my current skin concerns (acne and subsequent scarring) and the products I used at that time.
We discussed some of the useful ingredients on which I should focus my attention, and the specialist promised to send me a list of recommendations via my profile account at SkinStore.
All in all, we had a pleasant and helpful conversation regarding my needs and how I can meet them at SkinStore or any other shop offering the products.
The same goes for my two times of ordering products from SkinStore – it’s a nice place to shop, especially if you know what you want, as you can get it at some of the lowest prices on the market.
I would love to hear from you if this overview of SkinStore and its many features was useful to you. And do drop me a comment if you have any questions about shopping there.
If you want to shop for a beginner-friendly skincare routine, do check my recommendations and get some handy tips as a newbie in the space.
Alternatively, you can check my post about the best skincare gifts to gather some fresh ideas on the must-haves to gift to anyone who loves skincare.
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