Affordable skincare that works for hypersensitive skin isn't always easy to find. I consider it no small miracle when I find one that works well for my easily irritated, acne-prone skin. After a frustrating run with other brands that were more expensive and doing less for my skin, I decided to try Dime Beauty, the brainchild of master aesthetician Baylee Relf. Dime might be a bit of an indie brand (for now), but trust me, you do not want to miss out on anything it has to offer.
My expectations aren't extremely high when I try a new brand because there is much my skin says, "immediately no" to. Dime, however, ended up being the perfect soulmate for my ultra-sensitive skin. Its products are gentle, clean, highly effective, and most importantly in this economy, won't break the bank. I was genuinely shocked at the price point on some of its offerings considering how beautifully they work. Not only is the brand affordable, it's also housed in really chic black glass packaging for anyone like me who's a sucker for those things. If you've been in the market for skincare that does the most for sensitive skin, keep reading. I'm sharing all my favorite from the brand below. Without further ado, let's get into it because I have lots to say about this underdog of a brand.
My sensitive skin is super tricky and when it comes to cleansers, it will usually let me know right away if it's not gelling with one. My skin barrier hasn't been in the best shape and most exfoliating cleansers are too harsh, leaving my skin irritated. Even some cleansers labeled as "gentle" still strip my skin and make it feel tight, but not this one! This miracle in a bottle is my dream cleanser. The strawberry oil in it smells incredible so it feels like a spa experience to use it and it strikes the perfect balance between cleansing well while still leaving my skin soothed and hydrated. It's all my sensitive, acne-prone skin has ever wanted.
This toner quickly became a holy grail item for me. Like most of Dime's products, the formula is simple, but masterfully crafted to maximize effectiveness. I know some people think they don't need a toner in their routine, but Dime really said, "Let me prove you wrong" with this product. It might also seem like a bit of a hot take to use and love ingredients like witch hazel (contained in the formula) now a days, but this is an ingredient that's gotten a bad rap for no reason over the years.
I've found that witch hazel really is *that* girl. Nothing else has more effectively tightened and snatched my pores. While I do struggle with dehydration, my skin is still oily and breakout-prone so adding this toner into the mix was a game-changer for me. It also contains extracts like chamomile and coenzyme 10 which helps protect against free radicals and supports energy production in skin cells. It's now a crucial step for me and adds some much needed hydration after cleansing.
Vitamin C is a classic ingredient and well-loved by experts alike for a reason—it just works! I saw an improvement in skin texture after using this serum for just two weeks. I was initially nervous to try this because, like I said, my skin can be a bit tricky when it comes to actives, but this one worked out great for me. To be honest with you this serum is a much cheaper dupe for C E Ferulic (it even has very similar ingredients) so if you want the same benefits for less than half the price tag — Hyper Glow is your gal!
This serum is my ultimate secret weapon. You know when you find something your skin loves so much it just has to be kismet? I'm convinced that this product and I were simply meant to find each other. It's the perfect youth-enhancing serum that gently exfoliates the skin with a low dose of mandelic acid (perfect for daily use) and it helps lighten dark spots — perfect if you struggle with acne and hyperpigmentation. It also contains peptides to firm and tighten the skin.
Leave-on exfoliants are another type of product I have to be careful with. Many of them are too strong for my skin and often leave it irritated, making my breakouts worse. But, this one is just perfection. It's super gentle so I can use it every night without any issues, but it still really gets the job done, especially when paired with the brand's TBT Cream (more on that later!).
This is a really great firming and tightening booster serum from the brand. A multi-peptide blend smoothes out wrinkles and lines while marine algae and other botanicals hydrate and support skin repair. While I definitely think it works and helps to diminish those fine lines, the packaging could use a little work. It comes in a dropper bottle and I wish it had a pump because the product can be a bit hard to dispense.
I use this velvety moisturizer during the day and it's just *chef's kiss.* It provides a hefty dose of hydration without clogging my pores or making me feel oily which is enough to make me fall in love point blank. Star ingredients include rosehip oil, snow mushroom, and ceramides to strengthen the skin barrier. It also works beautifully as a base layer for foundation along with Le Prunier's Plum Beauty Oil ($78) — my holy grail oil for acne-prone skin.
This cream is absolutely heaven-sent for anyone like me who can't really tolerate retinol. Somehow, retinoids always end up massively irritating my skin, even if I use ones labeled as "gentle" so I decided it was time to try something different. This cream offers the perfect solution on a silver platter. It's packed with retinol alternative bakuchiol to help speed up skin cell turnover without causing redness or irritation. It's perfect for all the sensitive-skinned folks out there and it really works! The rich hydration it offers doesn't hurt, either. I like to use this at night along with the brand's TBT Serum and it works wonders for my skin. It's now so much calmer, extremely hydrated, and clearer.
It's very hard to find a fully mineral sunscreen formula that doesn't leave a crazy whitecast on darker skin tones. Upon first swipe, I was unsure about this formula, but then it just melted right into my skin and completely disappeared. I was so impressed. Some mineral formulas can also be super chalky and don't spread well, but this one is amazing — it's truly one of the best mineral formulas I've ever used. It's creamy and hydrating, but doesn't feel heavy either so it's something I feel comfortable using every single day.
I use this as both a makeup remover and first-step cleanser. Spoiler alert: I love it. It's so good at removing mascara and foundation on days I wear makeup, but it's also great at decongesting my pores before a water-based cleanse on days I don't. Like all Dime products, it's also noncomedogenic, containing non pore-clogging oils like sunflower and jojoba so I don't have to worry about it clogging my pores.
This is my absolute favorite treatment mask at the moment. I love to do it on nights I use my Burke Willams Buff Scrub first to really exfoliate before going in with this. It isn't heavy so I can leave it on overnight and in the morning, my skin is so hydrated. Ingredients like NAD+, snow mushroom extract, and vitamin C brighten the skin and support cellular longevity. I like to use it a few times a week to really give my skin a boost.
Trust me, Dime doesn't just know how to do skincare. You also don't want to miss out on its *almost* too-good-to-be-true collection of fragrances. 7 Summers is my favorite from the brand. It's sweet and summery, but with a hint of musk. I'm totally obsessed and have been wearing it nonstop. Other fragrance notes include juicy pear, vanilla orchid, blonde woods, coconut, whipped cream, and ambrox. It's such a unique gourmand and you don't want to miss out if you're a fan of the category. And, for a high-quality fragrance, it's pretty affordable!
This is another don't-skip gourmand from the brand. I'm a sucker for a good pistachio perfume and this one is so cozy and delicious—perfect for the fall season. Star notes include vanilla bean, cashmere musk, toasted pistachio, tonka bean, cedarwood, and candied pear.
I haven't tried this fragrance just yet, but the notes really spoke to me. It's a juicy-sweet scent with notes of raspberry, tropical fruits, rose petals, jasmine, vanilla, coconut cream, and soft musk. A shoo-in if you love a fruity-gourmand like I do.