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Each month, Fashionista editors try a *lot* of beauty products. And while not every formula we test is a winner, we’re constantly unearthing new favorites. Here, we’ve rounded up our latest hair, skin, fragrance, wellness and makeup discoveries — whether fresh-to-market drops or merely recent additions to our personal routines.
As August slipped away into a moment in time (IYKYK), team Fashionista spent the final days of summer refining our beauty routines in preparation for fall’s cooler temperatures (and the non-stop rollercoaster that is New York Fashion Week).
August was packed with buzzy makeup launches, including lash-lengthening mascara, transparent tubing brow gel, crease-proof eye shadow, long-lasting color corrector and non-sticky lip gloss. Our editors also upgraded their respective body-care routines with a vanilla-scented moisturizing cream, serum body wash and deodorizing body mist. Meanwhile, a color conditioning hair gloss, milky leave-in conditioner and clarifying shampoo emerged as our editors’ newest hair-care favorites.
Ahead, see (and shop!) our team’s favorite beauty finds from August.
Dieux Firm Revival HydroRetinal Firming Serum, $42, available here: “Dieux’s take on a retinoid is both potent and gentle — making it perfect for everyday use, even on the delicate, increasingly crepey skin on my neck that’s easily irritated by most retinol formulas (despite desperately needing them!). It layers beautifully, emphasizes firming and strengthening skin without compromising the barrier or moisture retention and costs less than $50. They absolutely nailed it.” —Steph Saltzman, Beauty & Style Director
Joonbyrd Big Time Longevity Body Wash, $45, available here: “I didn’t even know I liked banana-scented products until this body wash came into my life. It has an elevated (and delicious) banana-woods scent with notes of peach, cacao and tonka that I’m officially addicted to. Its cream-to-foam formula is also packed with hydrating and barrier-supporting ingredients (hyaluronic acid, panthenol, prebiotic inulin and centella asiatica exosomes) that make my dry, itchy skin feel soft and balanced.” —Elizabeth Denton, Deputy Content Editor
Akt London The Haze Deodorizing Body Mist, $45, available here: “I’ve spritzed on a lot of body mists, but Akt’s newest launch stands apart thanks to its ‘deodorizing complex.’ No, it’s not technically a deodorant, but the ultrafine mist is formulated with deolya (a natural, patented ingredient that lowers perspiration odors by 58%) prebiotics to support skin’s microbiome. I’m partial to its Columbia Road scent (named for London’s Columbia Road Flower Market), which delivers a refreshing burst of lemon, iris, violet leaf and cut stems.” —Catie Pusateri, Associate Editor
Glaze Supergloss Raven Black, $18, available here: “My entire life, I’ve stayed away from hair-color treatments out of fear of damaging my hair. Maybe it’s my fully-developed frontal lobe or just my now constant exposure to the beauty world, but over time, I’ve softened up on that anxiety. I finally decided to take a leap of faith and try a tinted gloss for my first-ever hair tint. Honestly, I feel ridiculous for being so worried: The treatment enhanced my already dark hair and provided a glossy finish without drying out my curls.” —Janelle Sessoms, Associate Editor
Cotton x Utu The Essential Layer, $40 $30, available here: Cotton Inc. teamed up with outdoor skin-care brand Utu to emphasize the role fabric plays in skin protection, in addition to product ingredients. The kit (which is now on sale) includes a pair of ultra-soft and breathable 100% cotton briefs alongside Utu’s bestselling plastic-free mineral sunscreen stick, which might have the best packaging I’ve ever seen for portability and on-the-go application.” —Dhani Mau, Editor in Chief
Tower 28 SOS Rescue Spray, $28, available here: “During multiple flights this month (the longest being an 18-hour haul) that separated from my double-cleansing nighttime routine in my checked luggage, I turned to the travel-size version of this hypocholorous acid spray to keep my face clean and calm in-transit. The convenient nozzle prevented me from having to touch my face mid-flight, while the formula itself refreshed my skin with its minimal ingredient list: water, sodium chloride and the aforementioned natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial hero ingredient.” —Neia Dizon, Editorial and Multimedia Intern
Summer Fridays Body Butter Balm, $32, available here: “To say I am utterly obsessed with this body cream isn’t hyperbole: I’ve been slathering on the intensely moisturizing formula basically nonstop. As a big vanilla fragrance girl, I’m picky about my gourmands, and this delicate, nuanced, non-cloying take just might be my favorite I’ve ever experienced. (I also keep getting compliments on my perfume lately — it’s this!) ‘Balm’ is a truly apt descriptor for the texture, which is cushiony and thick, but not heavy. It cocoons skin and leaves a lovely glow-y finish similar to that of a body oil — without even a hint of greasiness. I’m also a big fan of the corresponding Body Fragrance Mist, which I’ve been spritzing all over my closet/linens/apartment/life.” —Steph
Sol de Janeiro Milky Leave-In Conditioner, $30, available here: “I’m really picky about what I use in my frizzy hair, so I was unsure if Sol de Janeiro’s new products would pull their weight or just smell good. Well, I’m happy to report that it both conditions and smells great. This leave-in makes my dry strands feel silky and, yes, has the warm-gourmand Cheirosa 62 scent.” —Elizabeth
Dr.Jart+ BB Premium Beauty Balm, $49, available here: “It may have been the summer of foundation launches, but this (reformulated!) tinted moisturizer had me in a chokehold. With lightweight, buildable coverage, it delivers a skin-like finish without looking too dewy. The ‘non-acnegenic’ formula features glycerin and niacinamide for long-lasting hydration, as well as SPF 30 for an added boost of sun protection on top of my non-negotiable base layer of sunscreen.” —Catie
R.E.M. Beauty Treble Maker 3-in-1 Mascara, $24, available here: “True to its promise, this long-lasting mascara lifts, lengthens and volumizes my lashes with just a couple of swipes. It’s not goopy and doesn’t flake or clump. My only critique? I wish it was waterproof. Otherwise, it’s safe to say that she’s a keeper.” —Janelle
Saltair Coral Coast Skin Moisturizing Serum Body Wash, $14, available here: “Mastering the art of scent layering has been on my radar all August, and I’ve learned that the first step always starts in the shower. Saltair’s Coral Coast Body Wash leaves my skin smelling fresh all day — regardless of how much I sweated in Seoul’s 90-degree weather, it turns out — and at $14, it has quickly become a staple in my shower routine.” —Neia
Celluma Pro Plus LED Light Therapy Panel, $1,995, available here: “Seemingly every single esthetician I’ve ever gone to has this LED panel, and whenever I spend some time under it, I’m reminded why. It immediately dials down redness and inflammation after a single session, and helps ward off breakouts, fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots with continued use. I finally got my hands (face?) on it for at-home use, and it’s a favorite part of my routine. It’s pricey, but so are injections, lasers and facelifts.” —Steph
Caliray Come Hell Or High Brow, $20, available here: “My biggest complaints about brow gels are that they often don’t hold my unruly brows all day, or they flake white against my dark hair. Caliray’s new eyebrow product is a unique transparent tubing formula that stayed put through 95-degree weather without fading or flaking. I’m impressed.” —Elizabeth
One/Size Ultimate Color Corrector Stain, $28, available here: “I may live in the city that never sleeps, but I don’t want to look like I never sleep. This baby pink color corrector has come to my tired eyes’ rescue, as it softens the appearance of discoloration without looking cakey. (It also helps that I’m so fair that the baby pink shade blends right in.) Plus, the niacinamide-spiked formula is undetectable under concealer, and it claims a 12-hour waterproof wear.” —Catie
Hung Vanngo Beauty Red Carpet Skin Luminous Longwear Serum Foundation, $46, available here: “Makeup artist Hung Vanngo is known for his pore-perfect makeup skills — his clients always have the most flawless looking complexions — and this super-lightweight foundation is the next best thing to having him personally do your glam. I was honestly confused the first time I used it because it feels nearly nonexistent on skin, yet offers such full coverage. It covers my redness, undereye shadows and breakouts so completely, I don’t really need concealer when I use it, and has a blurred finish that makes skin look airbrushed IRL.” —Steph
Saie SuperSuede Baked Eye Shadow, $24, available here: “Saie’s foray into eye shadow is the launch I’ve been waiting for. The brand translated its signature ‘super suede’ technology from its face powder into eye shadow singles formulated with jojoba esters, hyaluronic acid and squalane, meaning the crease-proof shadows apply like butter and last all day. I particularly love the shade Sorbetto, a champagne gold shimmer that makes for the perfect single-shadow look.” —Catie
M.ph Top Coat Hydrating Lip Gloss, $26, available here: “Did I need another lip gloss? Absolutely not. Am I glad to have added this moisturizing, lightweight, non-sticky formula (in the perfect my-lips-but-better pink-y brown) to my makeup bag anyway? Very much yes. And this packaging is so good.” —Steph
Prequel Multi-Quench Gel Cream, $18, available here: “Dr. Samantha Ellis’ skin-care brand never fails to turn out an impeccable formula. Prequel’s Multi-Quench Gel Cream has become a hydrating heavy-hitter in my skin-care routine, thanks to its humectant-rich formula. It taps a polyglutamic acid blend to enhance moisture retention, glycerin to improve skin elasticity and multiple minerals (zinc, copper and magnesium) to support a healthy-looking complexion. Its gel-like texture also feels weightless on the skin, meaning there’s no lingering stickiness.” —Catie
Neutrogena Hair Restore Triple Action Scalp Detox Cleanser, $10, available here: “Mandelic acid seems to be in everything right now, and while the gentle exfoliator is renowned for its acne-fighting abilities, it turns out it’s also helpful for de-gunking and normalizing the skin on your scalp. I love this ‘detox cleanser,’ which is basically an intensive treatment shampoo that clarifies with mandelic and lactic acids to balance the scalp and promote hair growth. It dispenses via a silicone massage tip that feels amazing and also makes it easy to really distribute right at your roots.” —Steph
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