Reviewed By

Dr Matete Mathobela – Specialist Dermatologist

Medical Disclaimer

This article is intended for educational purposes only and does not replace individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Persistent, severe or unexplained skin and scalp symptoms should be assessed by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

Introduction

What were South Africans adding to their skincare baskets in the middle of winter?

Our July skincare best sellers reveal an interesting change. Scalp care moved firmly into the spotlight, rich barrier-supporting moisturisers remained popular, Vitamin C continued its strong performance, and a gentle baby cleansing product entered the top five.

Rather than looking at July in isolation, we compared our July best sellers with May and June to see which products were consistently popular and which categories gained momentum as winter progressed.

The result? Scalp care, dry-skin support and Vitamin C were three of the clearest themes of the past three months.

2-Minute Read

Our July skincare best sellers were led by ISDIN PsorISDIN Shampoo, followed by SBR Protect Tub Cream, Rite Aid Fresh Cell Scalp Shampoo, MD Cosmeceuticals Vitamin C 10% and Mustela No Rinse Water.

Compared with May and June, three patterns stand out:

• Scalp products became increasingly prominent.

• SBR moisturisers remained among our strongest sellers throughout winter.

• Vitamin C remained consistently popular even though the specific bestselling Vitamin C product changed.

Seasonal changes may partly explain these patterns, but promotions, stock availability, pricing, returning customers and product recommendations can also influence monthly sales.

July Skincare Best Sellers: The Top 5

Rank	July 2026 Best Seller
1	ISDIN PsorISDIN Shampoo 200 ml
2	SBR Protect Tub Cream 350 g
3	Rite Aid Fresh Cell Scalp Shampoo 500 ml
4	MD Cosmeceuticals Vitamin C 10% 30 g
5	Mustela No Rinse Water 300 ml

July’s top five look quite different from those of early winter.

Let’s look at what may have contributed to their popularity.

1. ISDIN PsorISDIN Shampoo 200 ml

Taking the number-one position in July, ISDIN PsorISDIN Shampoo was the month’s bestselling product.

PsorISDIN is designed specifically for scalps affected by persistent scaling, redness and itching associated with scalp psoriasis. Its formulation includes keratolytic ingredients such as salicylic and glycolic acids, together with urea and other ingredients aimed at helping manage scale and scalp discomfort. ISDIN recommends using the shampoo three to four times per week. (Isdin)

Why might it have sold so well?

July is mid-winter in South Africa, and colder, drier conditions can be challenging for people with already dry or scale-prone skin.

But there is another clue in our sales figures.

PsorISDIN wasn’t the only scalp product doing well. Rite Aid Fresh Cell Scalp Shampoo was already climbing through the rankings before July.

That suggests the number-one position may form part of a broader increase in demand for scalp-care products, rather than being an isolated spike.

It is important, however, not to assume that every itchy or flaky scalp is psoriasis or dandruff. Seborrhoeic dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, contact dermatitis and fungal infections can sometimes look similar but require different approaches.

2. SBR Protect Tub Cream 350 g

SBR Protect taking the number-two position is particularly interesting because SBR products have featured prominently in our best sellers for several months.

SBR Protect is a rich, occlusive moisturising formulation, making it particularly useful when the goal is to reduce excessive water loss from very dry skin.

Why might it be popular in July?

Winter is an obvious possible contributor.

When skin becomes dry, the balance between water retention and water loss through the epidermis becomes increasingly important. Rich moisturisers containing occlusive ingredients can help reduce transepidermal water loss.

The large 350 g tub also makes SBR Protect practical for people who need moisturiser over larger areas of the body rather than only the face.

What makes the sales pattern particularly compelling is that this isn’t the first SBR product to appear among our winter best sellers.

May: SBR Repair Cream 100 g — #2
June: SBR Repair Cream 100 g — #1
July: SBR Protect Tub Cream 350 g — #2

So although the specific SBR formulation changed, SBR remained in the top two for three consecutive months.

That makes barrier and dry-skin care one of the strongest recurring themes in our winter sales.

Related reading

If you’re wondering which SBR formulation is most appropriate for different levels of dryness, read:

SBR Repair vs Renew vs Protect vs Lotion: Which SBR Moisturiser Is Right for Your Skin?

For more on dry and eczema-prone skin:

Adult-Onset Eczema: Why Your Skin Suddenly Became Dry, Itchy and Sensitive

Protecting Your Barrier Through the Seasonal Shift

3. Rite Aid Fresh Cell Scalp Shampoo 500 ml

Rite Aid Fresh Cell Scalp Shampoo wasn’t simply a July bestseller. It has shown remarkable consistency across the last three months.

Month	Ranking
May	#5
June	#3
July	#3

Moving from fifth to third and then maintaining that position suggests sustained demand rather than a once-off increase.

And once we combine this with PsorISDIN becoming July’s number-one seller, scalp care becomes one of the clearest trends in the July skincare best sellers.

People often describe scalp symptoms simply as “dandruff,” but persistent scalp scaling deserves a little more attention.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis is common, but psoriasis, eczema, tinea capitis, allergic or irritant contact dermatitis and other inflammatory scalp disorders can produce overlapping symptoms.

If scaling is severe, persistent or associated with significant redness, crusting, pain or hair loss, it is worth having the scalp properly assessed rather than continually changing shampoos.

4. MD Cosmeceuticals Vitamin C 10% 30 g

Vitamin C continues to be one of the most consistent skincare categories in our best-seller data.

MD Cosmeceuticals Vitamin C 10% had already appeared at #4 in April and returned to the same position in July.

But the bigger story becomes apparent when we look across the Vitamin C category.

In May, MD Cosmeceuticals Vitamin C & Glutathione Gel Serum was our number-one seller.

In June, Vitamin C products occupied three of the five top positions.

And in July, MD Cosmeceuticals Vitamin C 10% remained in the top five.

Why does Vitamin C remain popular?

Topical Vitamin C is widely used in dermatology and cosmeceutical skincare because of its antioxidant activity and potential roles in photoprotection, collagen synthesis and pigmentation management. A 2026 dermatology review similarly describes L-ascorbic acid’s antioxidant properties, role as a collagen-synthesis cofactor and ability to influence tyrosinase activity. (PubMed)

This makes Vitamin C particularly attractive to people whose skincare goals include:

• Uneven skin tone

• Hyperpigmentation

• Dullness

• Photoageing

• Antioxidant support

However, formulation matters. Different Vitamin C products use different concentrations, combinations and delivery systems, so a higher percentage isn’t automatically the best choice for every skin type.

Related reading

For help comparing different Vitamin C formulations, read:

4 SkinCeuticals Vitamin C Serums Compared: Which One Is Right for Your Skin?

If dryness and sensitivity are also concerns:

7 Best SkinCeuticals Products for Dry Sensitive Skin

5. Mustela No Rinse Water 300 ml

Mustela No Rinse Water is the newcomer to July’s top five.

The no-rinse concept makes these products particularly convenient for quick cleansing when a full bath isn’t necessary.

Mustela’s no-rinse cleansing waters are formulated for gentle cleansing of babies’ skin without requiring rinsing; formulations within the range are intended for areas such as the face and nappy area. (Mustela Multi-market)

Why might it have become a July bestseller?

There are several possibilities.

Parents may favour convenient, gentle cleansing during colder weather, particularly when trying to avoid unnecessary repeated bathing of dry or sensitive skin.

This is perhaps July’s most interestingBut this is also where we need to be cautious about interpreting sales data.

Promotions, stock availability, increased visibility on the website, social-media exposure and returning customers can all influence a product’s monthly ranking.

Its appearance in July is therefore interesting, but we would need more months of data before calling it a genuine seasonal trend.

Looking Back at the Last Three Months

The real story becomes clearer when May, June and July are placed side by side.

Rank	May 2026	June 2026	July 2026
1	MD Cosmeceuticals Vitamin C & Glutathione Gel Serum	SBR Repair Cream 100 g	ISDIN PsorISDIN Shampoo 200 ml
2	SBR Repair Cream 100 g	MD Cosmeceuticals Vitamin C 10% Serum	SBR Protect Tub Cream 350 g
3	Vichy Dercos Purifying Oil Control Shampoo	Rite Aid Fresh Cell Scalp Shampoo	Rite Aid Fresh Cell Scalp Shampoo
4	MD Cosmeceuticals Polypodium Leucotomos Capsules	MD Cosmeceuticals Vitamin C & Glutathione Gel Serum	MD Cosmeceuticals Vitamin C 10%
5	Rite Aid Fresh Cell Scalp Shampoo	NeoStrata Enlighten 15% Vitamin C Serum	Mustela No Rinse Water 300 ml

What Does the Three-Month Comparison Tell Us?

1. Barrier Care Has Remained Consistently Strong

SBR is probably the clearest example.

SBR Repair moved from #2 in May to #1 in June, while SBR Protect replaced it at #2 in July.

Rather than interpreting this as one particular moisturiser suddenly becoming popular, it suggests sustained interest in the SBR range and intensive moisturisation during winter.

This is also consistent with the practical realities of seasonal skin. Changes in weather and environmental conditions can worsen the tightness, flaking and discomfort associated with dry skin. SkinCeuticals similarly identifies seasonal changes, environmental factors and artificial heating among factors that can exacerbate dry skin. (SkinCeuticals)

Read next: Protecting Your Barrier Through the Seasonal Shift

2. Scalp Care Is Becoming Increasingly Important

 change.

May already had two scalp shampoos in the top five.

By June, Rite Aid Fresh Cell had climbed to third.

By July, it remained third while ISDIN PsorISDIN entered at number one.

Two of July’s five best-selling products were therefore scalp products.

Whether this continues into August will tell us much more about whether we’re looking at a genuine winter scalp-care trend.

3. Vitamin C Has Staying Power

The individual product changes, but the category doesn’t disappear.

Vitamin C was represented among the best sellers in May, June and July, with an especially strong showing in June.

That suggests Vitamin C isn’t simply experiencing a short-lived sales spike. It appears to be one of the skincare ingredients our customers return to consistently.

And that makes sense: pigmentation, uneven tone and photoageing are not exclusively summer concerns.

Daily photoprotection remains important throughout the year, and antioxidant skincare doesn’t suddenly become irrelevant when winter arrives.

4. July Looks More Treatment-Focused

There is another subtle shift in the data.

Earlier months contained more antioxidant and pigmentation-focused products. July’s top three were dominated by products associated with specific skin or scalp needs:

scalp scaling → intensive moisturisation → scalp care.

This could suggest that as winter progressed, immediate problems such as dryness, itching and scaling began influencing purchasing decisions more strongly.

We can’t establish that from sales figures alone, but it will be interesting to see whether the pattern reverses as South Africa moves towards spring.

Dermatologist’s Perspective

Best-seller lists can tell us something useful about the skin concerns people are trying to manage, particularly when we look at trends over several months rather than a single week.

But popular does not necessarily mean appropriate for everyone.

A rich occlusive moisturiser that is extremely helpful for someone with very dry or eczema-prone skin may be unnecessarily heavy for someone with oily skin. Similarly, a shampoo designed for a particular scalp problem shouldn’t automatically be used for every itchy or flaky scalp.

Vitamin C is another good example. Concentration alone doesn’t determine whether a Vitamin C serum is suitable for you; formulation, skin sensitivity and the rest of your skincare routine matter too.

The goal shouldn’t be to buy whatever happens to be trending.

It should be to understand what your skin needs and choose products accordingly.

If our July skincare best sellers tell us anything, however, it is that South African winter skin — and particularly the scalp and skin barrier — has certainly been demanding some extra attention.

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the July skincare best sellers?

Our five leading products for July 2026 were ISDIN PsorISDIN Shampoo 200 ml, SBR Protect Tub Cream 350 g, Rite Aid Fresh Cell Scalp Shampoo 500 ml, MD Cosmeceuticals Vitamin C 10% 30 g and Mustela No Rinse Water 300 ml.

Why are moisturisers more important during winter?

Cold and dry environmental conditions can aggravate dryness in susceptible skin. Moisturisers help improve hydration, while more occlusive formulations can reduce water loss through the epidermis.

Why were scalp shampoos so popular in July?

We cannot determine the reason for individual purchases from sales data alone. However, scalp-care products showed increasing popularity across May, June and July, suggesting sustained demand for products aimed at scalp concerns.

Should I use a psoriasis shampoo if I have dandruff?

Not necessarily. Dandruff, seborrhoeic dermatitis and scalp psoriasis can share some features but are not identical conditions. Persistent or severe scaling should be properly diagnosed.

Is Vitamin C still useful during winter?

Yes. Vitamin C’s antioxidant and pigmentation-related roles are not limited to summer. Topical Vitamin C has established antioxidant activity and is commonly incorporated into routines addressing photoageing and uneven pigmentation. (PubMed)

Related Articles

For more guidance on winter skin, moisturisers and antioxidant skincare:

• SBR Repair vs Renew vs Protect vs Lotion: Which SBR Moisturiser Is Right for Your Skin?

• Adult-Onset Eczema: Why Your Skin Suddenly Became Dry, Itchy and Sensitive

• 7 Best SkinCeuticals Products for Dry Sensitive Skin

• Protecting Your Barrier Through the Seasonal Shift

• 4 SkinCeuticals Vitamin C Serums Compared: Which One Is Right for Your Skin?

References

1. ISDIN – PsorISDIN Control Shampoo

2. PubMed – Vitamins and the Skin: Vitamin C in Dermatology (2026)

3. PubMed – Topical Vitamin C and the Skin: Mechanisms of Action and Clinical Applications

4. PubMed – The Role of Vitamin C on the Skin

5. Mustela – No-Rinse Soothing Cleansing Water

6. SkinCeuticals – Dry Skin Guidance

 July Skincare Best Sellers: 5 Winter Favourites

Slug: july-skincare-best-sellers

Meta description: Discover our July skincare best sellers and see how winter skin, scalp and barrier-care favourites changed across May, June and July 2026.

Secondary keywords: winter skincare South Africa, winter skincare products, best selling skincare, dry skin winter, scalp care

I especially like this version because the sales data is the hook, but the article isn’t really about selling products. It becomes useful content about how skincare purchasing patterns changed as winter progressed, while naturally feeding readers into your SBR, eczema, barrier and Vitamin C articles.