InStyle: Dr. Killeen’s Skincare Picks From Sephora’s Annual Sale

For InStyle’s November 6, 2026 story “A Plastic Surgeon Told Me Which Anti-Aging Products to Buy (and Which to Skip) From Sephora’s Annual Sale,” senior beauty writer Tamim Alnuweiri asked one doctor to sort through the store’s skincare aisle: Dr. Kelly Killeen, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills. Every pick in the piece is hers, and the reasoning behind each one holds up long after the sale.She started with the Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray. “It should be a staple in just about everyone’s skin care routine,” Dr. Killeen said. “Its active ingredient, hypochlorous acid, has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help calm irritated skin and reduce redness. This is one product I personally reach for every single day.” She has been explaining hypochlorous acid to beauty editors for years, including in SHAPE, The Zoe Report and Mane Addicts.Next came a retinoid, the Medik8 Crystal Retinal Age-Defying Serum, which she likes because it comes in six strengths, so you can find one your skin tolerates. She called its namesake ingredient “one of the most extensively studied ingredients in anti-aging skin care. It stimulates collagen production, improves epidermal turnover, and can help reverse some of the structural changes associated with photoaging. If you’re serious about treating visible skin aging, a retinoid should be part of your routine.”For vitamin C, she pointed to the Paula’s Choice C15 Vitamin C Super Booster Serum as a more affordable alternative to a well-known $185 serum, saying the two have “a lot in common.” She was also candid about the evidence: “While this specific formulation has less extensive published clinical research, the combination of ingredients has a strong scientific rationale. Vitamin C helps neutralize free radicals, supports collagen synthesis, and can improve uneven pigmentation and overall skin tone.”Her moisturizer pick was Dieux Instant Angel, “an excellent all-around moisturizer that layers beautifully with other skin care products. It contains a combination of ceramides, lipids, and other moisturizing ingredients that help support the skin barrier and leave skin feeling soft and hydrated.”Then sunscreen. “It’s the one product I never want anyone skipping,” Dr. Killeen said. “It’s one of the most effective things you can do to prevent premature skin aging, pigmentation changes, and skin cancer.” Her advice is to stick to SPF 30 or higher and settle on the one you will actually enjoy wearing every day. For InStyle she named Beauty of Joseon’s Day Dew Sunscreen SPF 50. Her own “Bottom of the Jar” reviews cover several more she has finished and rated, including the Tower 28 SOS FaceGuard SPF 30, the SkinCeuticals Clear Daily Soothing UV Defense SPF 50 and the Kosas DreamBeam SPF 40.Her last featured pick, the Olehenriksen Dewtopia Flash Facial Exfoliating Mask, came with a caveat. She said to skip it if you have sensitive skin, but if you don’t, “it can leave the skin feeling incredibly soft, smooth, and glowing.” If you already use other exfoliating actives, her advice is to “not overdo it.”As for where not to spend, Dr. Killeen told InStyle you don’t need to splurge on makeup removers and cleansers. “There are so many inexpensive products that do an excellent job, and spending more doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting better results.” (For one she has used to the bottom, see her review of the Tower 28 SOS Daily Balancing Gel Cleanser.)The article closes with three more products she approved: the Tower 28 SOS Daily Skin Barrier Moisturizer, Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 50 and the Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask.Read the full article on InStyle