At one time you could only get your hands on Shani Darden's powerful formulas if you were lucky enough to be in the know about this famed aesthetician and skin-care expert who counts dozens of celebrities among her early clients. However, in 2019, she opened a studio in Los Angeles — and, as of May 2020, had her line stocked right at Sephora.
Shani Darden Skin Care products include a lightweight, oil-free moisturiser and a sake toning essence, but the brand's most iconic — and especially popular with POPSUGAR readers during quarantine — is the Retinol Reform ($30-$88), a results-driven, retinol and lactic acid blend that handily takes on dark spots, fine lines, and blemishes. Or, if you're not quite ready to try that potent serum, there's also the incredibly gentle Texture Reform ($88) which one editor dubs "the perfect retinol for beginners" and "magic for [her] skin."