Hundreds of products come across our editors’ desks every month, but not all of them deliver on their claims or live up to the hype. (Not everything that goes viral on TikTok is a miracle worker.) This is our exclusive curation of the best-in-class beauty products receiving rave reviews from our team and hitting shelves right now.
Kosas Wet Stick Moisturizing Lip Shine ($24)
“I call it a bougie lip balm,” says brand founder Sheena Zadeh-Daly. “It gives the lips sheer color and slight shine—it’s an impression of color that’s really casual and easy to wear. It also contains a high amount of squalane and ceramides to give you that yummy, comfortable, cushiony feeling, like skin care for your lips. We also included hyaluronic acid and peptides for that visible plumping effect.”
There are so many neutral shades to choose from with names inspired by a hot tropical vacation. Zadeh-Daly’s favorites are “Baby Rose, which is a really wearable pink look; Heat Wave, which is a warmer tone; Hot Beach; and Island High for that fiery look.”
belif Aqua Bomb PHA Exfoliating Toner Pads ($24)
The newest launch from the K-beauty brand focused on super hydrated skin, these pre-saturated toner pads contain both exfoliating and hydrating ingredients for a double-duty effect. The blend includes polyhydroxy acid (PHA), cica, panthenol, hyaluronic acid, and two Napiers herbal formulas for hydration and moisturization.
The pad has two sides, and the brand recommends using them up to three times per week. Use the gauze side for a little physical exfoliation so the PHA really gets into your pores, and the embossed side for a softer application. I like to start with the gauze side for 30 seconds (also making sure to get my neck) and then switch to the other side for another 30 seconds or so.
LALICIOUS Kiwi Krush Sugar Scrub ($38)
I remember when I first tried LALICIOUS’s Sugar Kiss Sugar Scrub years ago and raved to everyone I knew about how delicious it smelled, and how soft my skin felt. Now, the brand is debuting a limited-edition Kiwi Krush version that’s also to-die-for, just in time for summer (there’s also a Body Butter).
The scent is a mix of juicy kiwi, fresh pear and sweet musk, but kiwi isn’t just used to make the formula smell better. Kiwi seed oil is a star ingredient in the mix, which lends a moisturizing benefit to the gentle exfoliation you get from the whipped, 100-percent pure cane sugar scrub. Also, if you’re wondering what gives the scrub its green tint, the brand says it’s a natural colorant derived from red cabbage juice and turmeric. So fascinating!
LolaVie Intensive Repair Treatment ($35)
For those who consider breakage and damaged strands their biggest hair concerns, try this new weekly mask from Jennifer Aniston‘s beloved brand. I love that it is formulated without water, and instead fortified with bamboo essence, which makes it more eco-friendly. It’s also silicone-free, but still gives hair that soft, cared-for feeling.
The creamy formula is made with 99-percent naturally derived ingredients, including chia seeds, conditioning coconut, amaranthus, squalane, açaí, and the Rose of Jericho. The brand’s proprietary LolaVie Bond technology is clinically proven to reduce breakage by 68-percent after one use by shielding each hair fiber and protecting the cuticle for sealed and stronger strands.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Lip Blur ($35)
Charlotte’s latest lip creation is inspired by the smoothing and blurring effects of her airbrushed-like backstage beauty secrets. The formula is matte, but not drying, and comes in eight shades, including the makeup artist’s famous pinky-nude Pillow Talk.
“I have worked with world-leading laboratories to create a weightless-feeling formula that’s infused with perfecting powder blur technology and everyone’s favorite hydrator, hyaluronic acid,” says Tilbury, who just named Bella Hadid the face of this campaign. “This is a modern matte lipstick with a soft-focus effect that hugs the contours of your lips. It gives the illusion of a matte powder pout without drying, creasing or feathering.” You can wear the lippie either blurred (a more diffused look) or bold, depending on the occasion.
CurrentBody Skin LED Hair Regrowth Device ($859)
“A couple of years ago we started receiving messages from our customers saying they were holding our LED Face Mask on their head trying to regrow their hair,” Emily Buckwell, global head of communications for CurrentBody. “What we’ve done is taken that LLLT (low-level light therapy) and created a 10-minute daily hair-regrowth treatment that does the thinking for you.”
New York dermatologist Robert Finney, MD says he’s a huge nerd when it comes to hair loss and he has a big patient population in this category. “LLLT actually has the science behind it, and for more than 20 years, there have been many well-designed scalp trials that have proven that certain wavelengths of light work on human hair for female and male genetic hair loss. It takes a minimum of four to six months to see results from this device—you should see an increase in the density of the existing hair—and consistency is key,” he explains. “It can take a year or 18 months to see longer hairs.”
LANEIGE Pink Lemonade Swirl Lip Sleeping Mask ($25)
Anyone I’ve ever gifted this lip mask to becomes hooked. If you haven’t tried any of the OG flavors, it’s not a bad idea to jump right into this limited-edition one, which makes me think of a patio party with friends, family and lots of icy-cold pink lemonade in the summertime.
Named the number-one lip treatment brand in the U.S. by NPD Group, this yummy swirl combines LANEIGE’s best-selling Berry flavor with a blast from the past, limited-edition Lemon Sorbet, which was a fan favorite as well. You can expect the same soft, supple lips come morning that you get with any of the other flavors, which is thanks to the brand’s Berry Fruit Complex, vitamin C, coconut oil, shea butter, and murumuru seed butter.
Iris&Romeo Best Skin Days Treatment Concealer ($32)
If you’re a fan of the brand’s Best Skin Days, which is currently the top-selling foundation at Credo, you’ve probably been wishing for a concealer to pair with it. Well, the day has officially arrived. “We launched the foundation right before the pandemic, and the most common request we’ve received since then was for a concealer,” says founder Michele Gough-Baril. “I’ve worked on it for four years. We are not a fast-beauty brand. If i’m going to bring something into the world that women will reach for daily, it needs to perform on another level.”
Gough-Baril says the new product combines an eye serum and a dark spot treatment inside of a creamy, hydrating concealer, and includes 6-percent vitamin C for brightening, as well as licorice root extract to block excess melanin that leads to dark spots. “It also has tons of hyaluronic acid so it gives you that plump, juicy, move-with-you formula, and it melts into skin and becomes invisible. You can use the concealer on both under-eyes and your full face, and if you use our BSD foundation, it’s half a shade lighter than your shade.”
NUDA Self Tanning Water Mousse ($44)
Founded in 2017 by entrepreneurs Mahay Dumas-Tremblay and Genevieve Beaulieu, Canadian brand NUDA is making a big splash in the sunless-tanning scene. This water-to-foam formula is vegan, free of dyes and fragrances, and comes in Light to Medium and Medium to Dark. The water turns into a lightweight foamy mousse as it’s dispensed onto your mitt, and it won’t stain your clothing (you only have to wait about five minutes before getting dressed).
Your tan will develop in two hours (a super quick development time compared to some other formulas) and continue to develop over the next 12 hours. The longer you wait to shower after application, the deeper the tan will develop. In independent consumer testing, 92 percent of women agreed their skin was hydrated and nourished after using the product, and 100 percent agreed it created a natural-looking tan.
JunkTheory CAMO Chamomile Hyaluronic Moisturizer ($58)
A new brand I’ve recently been introduced to, JunkTheory is serious about sustainability. It focuses heavily on waste prevention, and it formulates using a balance of sustainably harvested organic ingredients and safe synthetic ingredients to reduce its impact on the environment. This includes avoiding “toxic, ‘junk’ ingredients that are harmful to people and planet.” For example, the brand won’t use silicone because it is known to bioaccumulate in the environment.
This moisturizer not only smells great (very natural-botanical), but also feels really nice on my skin. It’s made with hydrating sodium hyaluronate and soothing niacinamide, as well as chamomile, algae, ginger, and grapeseed oil to defend against signs of inflamm-aging and oxidative stress.
Living Proof Full Thickening Blow-Dry Cream ($32)
Powered by the Living Proof’s proprietary Time-Released Styling Technology and patented Thickening Molecule, this lightweight, silicone-free cream gives the hair fullness that will last all day. I recently visited the brand’s headquarters in Boston, where a team of stylists used the cream on my hair, and I could not only see a difference (more body), but I could also feel it. My hair actually felt thicker and a tiny bit grittier (in a good, style-holds-better kind of way), but it wasn’t heavy or sticky.
Another plus is that the cream contains heat protection up to 450 degrees, so you don’t need an extra step before you style with hot tools. Apply it to clean, damp hair from the mid-lengths down, comb through, and then blow-dry and style per usual.
VOTARY Super Sensitive Cleansing Cream ($78)
The brand’s first non-oil cleanser, this fragrance-free formula was designed with super-sensitive skin in mind. “This nourishing cleansing cream is the best way to cleanse sensitive, reactive skin,” says bran cofounder Arabella Preston. “The soothing rinse-off formulation leaves skin clean and soft, while supporting your skin barrier through tough times.”
The standout responsible for all this nourishing, soothing action is the brand’s blend of 21 super seed oils (pumpkin, chia and flax, to name a few) that is enhanced with oat kernal extract, which is a known calming ingredient for sensitive skin. (Though it’s loaded with oils, none of them are essential oils, which may cause irritation for sensitive types.) Massage it into your face and neck with damp hands and then rinse clean.
Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Shadow Matte ($32)
“I am always certain Caviar Stick Eye Shadow Matte will look great on eyes with all needs, like dry mature skin, textured or oilier eyelids—it’s simply effortless,” says Tayaba Jafri, global beauty director of Laura Mercier of the brand’s new-and-improved version of its best-selling eyeshadow, which is also now longer-lasting. “The ability to just swipe, blend and go and know it will be crease-proof, waterproof and transfer-proof all day is what makes this a top must-have, even for novices. What I appreciate the most is having these benefits in a product that also comforts the skin, provides anti-inflammatory benefits and prevents loss of hydration. This is done with raspberry stem cells and hyaluronic acid.“
To apply, Jafri says you can simply swipe it on and blend with your finger or a brush. “Everyone benefits from a ‘self’ shade that suits their eyelids the most, is closest to their natural eyelid shade and just brings brightness when they wear it all over the lid. The easy ones are the neutrals like Au Naturel, Cobblestone or Café Noir, but shades like Caramel, Peach, Sepia, and Brick are great to wear all over the lid if they are close to your skin tone level. They can provide a lifted look and brightness because of their warm peachy tones.”
Color Wow Dream Coat Extra Strength ($32)
Created by Gail Federici, founder and CEO of Color Wow, who many in the beauty industry have dubbed the queen of frizz, this extra-strength version of the cult-classic Dream Coat is even more powerful. “We always knew we need an even more powerful version of the original for certain types of hair, but it was extremely difficult to make because when you add any additional ingredients, it can interfere with the waterproofing technology,” says Federici. “It took us over three years to figure out how to add moisturizing ingredients and up the waterproofing power without interfering with the integrity of the original formula.”
This formula is great for hair that is super dehydrated or coily, and contains moisturizing ingredients and a more powerful waterproofing system. “If your hair starts to revert back to it’s natural texture on the second day, or it starts to show signs of frizz in humidity, you need a more powerful formula than the original,” Federici says. It’s also safe for keratin-treated hair.
Payot Pâte Grise Purifying Exfoliating Stick ($22)
If you’re the kind of person (like me) who has combination skin and can’t shake the random breakout every once in a while, this new launch from French brand Payot is for you. “Because it’s a stick, you can use it just on your T-zone—it’s really easy and practical,” says Coralie Esnault, international educator for Payot.
Moisten the stick and your face with lukewarm water, apply it wherever its acid exfoliation and purification is needed, and then leave it on for five minutes. Esnault explains. “It’s made with 96-percent natural ingredients, including Chilean mint extract, which helps to regulate sebum and rebalance the skin’s microbiome. It gently unclogs pores and gets rid of blackheads for clean, fresh skin.”
ABI AMÉ Summer Skin ($38)
Taking into account the fact that many people want to switch to a lighter-weight body moisturizer in the warmer-weather months, founder Yasmin Zeinab created this serum-lotion hybrid that hydrates like a rich lotion but feels like a barely there serum (it’s not sticky at all). Key ingredients include multitasking niacinamide, repairing vitamin B5, moisturizing saccharide isomerate, and hydrating oat extract. It’s also vegan and fragrance-free.
“The reality is that when it comes to skin care, our face gets all the attention,” says Zeinab. “We believe in adopting a skin-care mentality for the whole body. There’s a whole suite of pain points in the body-care space that hasn’t been addressed by existing products. That’s why we set out to create high-performing skin-care products for the body using the same nourishing and effective ingredients typically found only in products for the face, that solve specific problems we know our community experience.”
ColorProof Humidity Rx Style Lock Spray ($35)
My hair does not do well in humid conditions, and therefore I’m always on the hunt for products that work to combat the frizzy mess I end up with, especially if my hair is freshly washed. This new vegan “weatherproof” spray works to create an invisible shield on the hair to help repel humidity (and the resulting frizz).
Unlike a hairspray, it’s not meant to add hold, but that’s also what I like about it because it feels like I have nothing in my hair. If you do need to use hairspray, use that first and then this as a last step (this should be the last step of your hair routine regardless). I also love the woodsy-coconut scent.
Le Prunier Plumbody ($80)
I was very excited about this launch because I’ve been a big fan of the brand’s coveted Plum Oil, which Chrissy Teigen helped put on the map in 2020. (I’m not even a big oil person, and I love this one.) This silky body cream also utilizes the brand’s patented, vitamin-rich plum extract called Midnight Muir, but is meant to transform skin on the body rather than the face.
Benefits include a big boost of hydration, a visible decrease in redness, dryness, flakiness and fine lines, antioxidant protection, and improved skin elasticity/firmness. Plus, it’s vegan and fragrance-free, and you can also use it on your neck and décolleté. “We applied the clinical benefits of our facial formulations in a next-generation body cream,” say brand founders and sisters Jacqueline, Allison and Elaine Taylor.
LUSH Naked Mascara ($14)
Always on the search for innovative ways to eliminate the need for plastic packaging, LUSH’s “naked” products are never short on innovation. Case in point: Its newest addition to the category, an eco-friendly mascara that comes in four shades, including black, brown, coral and blue. Each shade comes with one of three wands (as pictured here), so you can choose based on whether you want volume, definition or lash separation. The wands are made of 100-percent bio-based material (no plastic) that is recyclable, too.
Because this is unlike any other mascara you’ve probably used, the brand is offering some pointers for first-timers: Lightly wet the tip of the brush and place it into the mascara; move the brush around inside to coat the bristles; and then brush through your lashes like normal. When you’re done, rinse the brush thoroughly and let it air-dry. Then, shake your mascara upside down to ensure there’s no water remaining inside and let it dry.
MAËLYS GET-DREAMY Overnight Toning Body Whip ($49)
Infused with with drops of melatonin and valerian to encourage restful sleep, this nighttime body moisturizer uses topical milk thistle and Uva-Ursi leaf extract to reduce the appearance of dimply skin. In fact, in a 56-day clinical trial with 30 participants, once-a-day application at night proved to tighten the look of the skin, reduce the look of cellulite and reduce skin roughness.
It also helps hydrate the skin thanks to the addition of passion fruit seed oil, making it a great product to apply after a hot shower (hot water strips the skin) if you shower at night. Also, like any firming body product, consistency is key!
milk_shake sun & more incredible milk ($26)
“During the summer months, there are many stress factors, such excess environmental exposure—sun, heat, wind)—salt water, chlorine, and mechanical damage that will cause hair to become dry, brittle and dehydrated,” says Gerard Caruso, the brand’s creative director of education. “This will lead to split ends and breakage, as well as dull faded hair. Taking the time to use a proper hair-care regimen will assist in preventing these stress factors.”
A product that can help prevent these issues is this new 12-in-1 milky spray (use it like a leave-in conditioner) that detangles, repairs, smooths, adds shine, and so much more. Plus, it also contains UV filters courtesy of quinoa proteins to help shield the hair from sun damage and protect hair color for longer.
