Launch List: The Best New Beauty Products in September, From OLAPLEX’s First Hairspray to MAKE UP FOR EVER’s First Lip Balm

Ultra Violette Unblock Screen SPF 50 ($40)

The first sunscreen in the U.S. to contain bemotrizinol, or BEMT (the first new UV filter approval here in more than 25 years), this SPF is formulated for oily, acne-prone and reactive skin. It pairs BEMT with zinc, sebum-regulating Bix'Activ and hydrating Pentavitin in a whipped, soft-matte texture that eliminates the frustrating white cast situation. It also comes in a touchless, airless jar, which matters more than you’d think for anyone applying sunscreen over active breakouts.

“We have developed products using BEMT in our global range for close to 10 years, which is why we've been able to move fast, not just with the launch of Unblock Screen, but with a pipeline of BEMT-powered products to soon follow, starting with the highly anticipated launch of Fave Screen in January 2027,” says cofounder Bec Jefferd.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist ColorGlow Lip Balm ($26)

MAKE UP FOR EVER’s first-ever lip balm delivers hydrating, buildable color in one swipe thanks to skin-care ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peptides and blueberry seed oil. It comes in seven shades—five shiny, two shimmery—and leaves lips looking plump and feeling soft for 24 hours. It's a low-effort pout perfector with high payoff, and can we talk about the packaging? So fun! Who wouldn’t want to show that off?

Olay Retinol24 Starter Night Repairing Lotion ($28)

Retinol can be intimidating for anyone, no matter your age, skin type or skin-care experience. The team at Olay knows that, especially after 70 years of skin research, so it created this fragrance-free nighttime lotion to make the transition easier than ever before. First-time retinol users get an introductory dose of Pro-Retinol, a triple collagen peptide blend and niacinamide in a lightweight moisturizer that gradually refines the skin surface without irritating sensitive or reactive skin types. The regimen is simple by design: Apply the lotion at night and use sunscreen during the day to protect your skin as it acclimates.

OLAPLEX Shape Set Hairspray ($34)

Olaplex is finally tackling hairspray’s biggest trade-off: a formula that holds without wrecking your hair in the process. Shape Set uses the brand's patented Bond Set Technology (an encapsulated peptide that relinks broken disulfide bonds) to deliver dry-touch, brushable hold, repair and heat protection in the same spritz. In testing, it held styles in place for 96 hours (frizz control included), reduced hair breakage by 60 percent after a single use, and left 97 percent of users saying their hair still felt touchable, not glued.

Éminence Organic Skin Care Vitamin C+ Eye Cream ($102)

Give your under-eyes the brightening boost they need this time of year with this new vegan eye cream, featuring a cooling metal applicator designed specifically for the eye contour. The formula combines a stable, dual-soluble vitamin C derivative with caffeine-rich yerba mate and antioxidant cloudberry to reduce dark circles and smooth fine lines. Clinical testing found that 88 percent of users saw improvement in their under-eye appearance after 28 days, with a 19-percent increase in eye contour brightness after two months of twice-daily use.

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Blur Loose Powder ($50)

Charlotte Tilbury's cult-favorite pressed powder now comes in a loose version, taking the micro-milled "Powder Blur Technology" from the legendary compact and turning it into an ultra-fine, weightless dust that somehow bakes without ever looking baked. It comes with up to 16 hours of wear time, avoids the dreaded flashback in photos, and also contains emollients for a bit of hydration (while still mattifying). Pores looked blurred and shine disappears, but skin doesn't look flat or chalky. It also comes in seven shades, two of which are brightening options made to soften under-eye shadows. And of course it comes with a heart-shaped puff, because of course it does.

La Prairie Swiss Pristine Serum ($320)

Part of a new three-step system from La Prairie is this barrier-repair serum (there’s also an essence and a cream) built around Hypower LP52, a proprietary complex developed with leading scientists at two Swiss universities, alongside encapsulated glacial minerals that are released gradually into skin. Designed for stressed skin showing signs of fatigue, the serum, which took six years to perfect, claims measurable results across six markers: fine lines, pores, texture, tone, radiance and redness, with barrier function fully restored by eight weeks. It’s suitable for all skin types, even sensitive, and each bottle's crackled glass finish is designed to be one of a kind.

“We worked with the universities to patent a specific extraction process to get the essential nutrients we needed to create our proprietary complex called Hypower LP52,” says Julien Goetz, a life science expert for La Prairie who is part of the R&D team. “We also created a new cellular model that was able to replicate modern fatigue at the cellular level. In our study, we deprived skin cells from oxygen and then studied how they were able to survive in this particular extreme environment with our active ingredients. We managed to prove that the older essential repair pathways were reawakened, and we are so excited about these results.”

IGK Turn It Up Instant Airy Volume and Thickening Spray ($28)

Does your hair go limp by lunchtime? If so, this new dry spray that volumizes and thickens in one step is for you. The formula includes hydrolyzed pea protein to plump individual strands (and keep them that way for up to 48 hours) and marshmallow root extract to keep hair soft instead of stiff. Spray it onto dry hair in sections (like you would dry shampoo) to build up your desired volume. We love that it’s not sticky or heavy either, and like all IGK products, it smells really good.

Bubble Skincare Clean Landing Daily Purifying Hypochlorous Acid Spray ($13)

Consider this gentle spray a panic button when your skin is angry. The fragrance-free hypochlorous acid formula was dermatologist-developed to calm redness and irritation on contact, and the ultra-fine spray comes out of a 360-degree nozzle, so it works upside down, sideways or wherever your face (or body) happens to be during a meltdown.

“Hypochlorous acid is one of those ingredients I often recommend because it's effective yet incredibly gentle on the skin,” says New York dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD. “It's an ingredient that's actually produced naturally by the body to help with wounds. Clean Landing helps support skin that's prone to visible redness, irritation, and post-workout or post-sweat congestion, making it an easy addition to almost any routine.”

Grande Cosmetics GrandeTUBULAR Tubing Primer ($25)

For those who aren’t ready to fully commit to tubing mascara, GrandeTUBULAR is tubing primer that turns any mascara—the favorite you’ll never stop buying—into a tubing formula (aka no more raccoon eyes, and you can remove it with only water). But that’s not necessarily a new concept, so of course founder Alicia Grande took it a step further, infusing the primer with her peptide complex to also promote longer, thicker lashes over time. As a bonus, the primer was made bright blue so that it also intensifies the look of the mascara without leaving behind a white cast.

ALPYN 3-in-1 Barrier Repair Serum ($58)

One of our favorite multitasking serums as of late, this one takes a barrier-first approach to hyperpigmentation, treating three concerns—dark spots, loss of firmness and redness—in a single formula rather than isolating brightening as its own step. Buzzworthy ingredient azelaic acid addresses discoloration and uneven tone, Snap-8 peptide smooths the look of expression lines, and centella asiatica and mountain-grown ghostberry calm visible redness and boost hydration. And, it’s even earned the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance.