While I may not technically be a beauty editor by trade, my beauty-product obsession runs deep, and I have an increasingly difficult time resisting a new launch. As a fashion editor by trade, it goes without saying that I adore shopping for clothes, shoes, and accessories, but I’ve been over shopping for summer clothes for the past month or so while I await the fall offerings and have been much busier scoping out the latest beauty products to hit the market. (True story: Not a day goes by that I don’t check the Just Dropped section on Sephora.)
Of all the beauty products I’ve tried this summer (and there are many), there are around 20 that I don’t know how I lived without. I even had to add a couple of new makeup bags to my collection and cleared off a shelf in my medicine cabinet to house them. Among my favorites are the new Rare Beauty lip gloss, the buttery Summer Fridays cream blush and brush, the Fara Homidi bronzer everyone is talking about, and much more. Keep scrolling to find out why I think my new favorite beauty products are worthy of a purchase, and shop them for yourself.
ILIA
Soft Focus Blurring Blush Talc-Free Powder Blush
Big blush girl here. If a brand that I like releases a new blush formula, you can guarantee I’ll be first in line to try it. The newest powder blush to catch my attention is Ilia’s Soft Focus Blurring Blush. (They had me at the name.) It literally melts into your skin, which isn’t something I can say for most powder blushes. I’m partial to Breathless and Wonder, but every single shade is so pretty and wearable.
Dieux
Mini Air Angel Collagen & Peptide Hydrating Gel Cream
Nothing makes me happier (relatively speaking) than when one of my favorite products is released in a mini, travel-friendly size. Dieux Air Angel is my ideal moisturizer for every season—lightweight but noticeably hydrating, and it pairs well with other skincare products and makeup. It leaves a blurred finish that’s just shy of matte. (And don’t sleep on the new mini Instant Angel, which I’ll be packing for all of my cold-weather trips to come.)
Fara Homidi
Essential Bronzer Compact
Bronzer has never really been a staple product for me, but I couldn’t ignore the buzz surrounding this one. Once I got my hands on it, I was blown away by how seamlessly it blended into my skin and how natural it looked. I’m pretty fair, so I went with the shade Bois, which I was pleased to see was more neutral than warm—a rarity with bronzers. The brush is also great and allows for targeted or allover bronzing.
rhode
Pocket Blush Tan Line
If you asked me how many Rhode Pocket Blush shades I own, the answer would be too many. But that still didn’t stop me from ordering the new Tan Line shade immediately. It’s the perfect rosy summer color that’s even more beautiful when paired with the aforementioned bronzer. (Disclaimer: I called it a summer color, but I plan on wearing it year-round for a sun-kissed flush.)
Crown Affair
The Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner Duo for Oily, Flat Hair
Even though I wouldn’t call my hair oily, per se, I’ve been finding it to be a bit flat and thin this summer, and my usual hydrating shampoos and conditioners aren’t helping. I’d heard that Crown Affairs volumizing duo is excellent, and I can now confirm that myself. It makes my hair bouncy, feathery, and airy—exactly what I was looking for.
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez
Positive Light Luminizing Lip Gloss
I thought I’d left sparkly lip glosses in the past, but the new Rare Beauty Positive Light gloss actually blew me away. The glimmer is subtle and pretty, without a hint of chunky glitter. I ordered it in Glimmer first, then went back for Dazzle (yes, the blue one) because I was so impressed.
CYKLAR
Naked Neroli Perfume Oil
The new Naked Neroli was my first experience with those Cyklar perfume oils everyone raves about, and I now get it. It’s a lovely, fresh scent for summer that’s softly floral and perfect for any occasion day or night. I like that you can throw it in your bag for reapplications throughout the day, and I’m already planning which scents I’m going to try next.
Summer Fridays
Blush Butter Balm Hydrating Cream Blush With Peptides
Yes, another blush. This one is the new Summer Fridays cream blush, and it’s as buttery as the name implies. In fact, it’s so buttery that I assumed it wouldn’t be that long-lasting—especially in the summer. But I was wrong. It wears beautifully throughout the day, and I especially like pairing it over other, more matte blush formulas to add a bit of dewiness. I’ve been wearing Sweet Rosé and Toasted Terracotta, and Berry Spritz is on its way to me. Side note: The brush is also really good and makes the blush look even better, which I didn’t think was possible.
Beauty of Joseon
Day Dew Sunscreen Lightweight SPF 50
If your skin is on the dry side or you love the glowy look, the new Beauty of Joseon Day Dew sunscreen (which just landed at Sephora) is one I highly recommend trying. It blends easily and wears well under makeup, which are two sticking points for me. I can tell this is going to be a staple for me when the air gets drier, as does my skin along with it.
Saie
Slip Tint Undetectable Baked Setting Powder
While I love a pressed powder, I don’t love it when they’re super matte, which I find most of them tend to be. Saie’s new Slip Tint has a subtle luminosity to it that makes your skin look fresh and softly filtered, and you can reapply it throughout the day (although you don’t even need to) without it looking cakey in the least.
Glossier
Boy Brow Arch 2-in-1 Longwear Pomade Eyebrow Pencil
This one isn’t really new, but it’s new to me, so let’s talk about it. I’ve tried countless brow pencils and dislike most of them, but Glossier’s is a win for me. It’s more waxy than powdery, so the line is a bit more precise, and the angled shape of the thin pencil is so good. (You can “sharpen” it on the cap.) The shade range is great too—I went with Cool Brown, and it’s perfection.
ANFISA Skin
Ân-Gloss Ceramide Lip Tint
Yes, there are a lot of tinted lip balms on the market, but I’ve tried many of them and I have to say that Anfisa Skin’s stands out from the pack. The cooling applicator, naturally plumping formula (that improves your lips over time), and your-lips-but-better shade combine to make a product that justifies every penny of its price tag—trust me.
Tatcha
Dewy Milk Moisturizer
I’m a big fan of Tatcha’s Dewy line, but the products can be a bit heavy—especially this time of year. So this new lightweight, milky moisturizer was exactly what I needed. It leaves a glowy finish while also absorbing oil, which is some kind of witchcraft I can’t explain, but I’ll take it.
Prada
Light Glowing Highlighter Powder
Yes, she’s expensive, and yes, she’s worth it. Prada made the butteriest, most naturally glowy powder highlighter I’ve ever encountered. I opted for the Champagne shade, but I’m dangerously close to ordering it in Pink as well.
Saltair
Shimmering Body Oil
I usually skip over body oils, as I’m not a fan of the greasiness, but these sink right in about leave the prettiest subtle glow. I’ve been applying them to my legs and shoulders, which are always exposed on these 95-degree July days. The scents are also lovely and smell like summer.
Hourglass
Ambient Soft Glow Foundation
I know, another not-brand-new product. But I just tried it for the first time, and I need to talk about it. I’m very picky about foundation (aren’t we all?), but Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow made my jaw drop the first time I applied it (with the viral brush, of course). It makes my skin glow without any greasiness, and it still looks just as good 12 hours later. I also appreciate that the packaging isn’t bulky, so traveling with it will be a breeze.
TOM FORD
Gloss Luxe Moisturizing Lip Gloss in Casablanca
When I saw that Tom Ford released a lip gloss in Casablanca, my favorite lipstick shade from the brand, I ordered it immediately. As expected, it’s perfect and I have no notes.
Kulfi
Double Life Pore Blurring Serum Primer With Niacinamide & Tranexamic Acid
I typically avoid primers, as I find them to be a bit chalky, but this new one from Kulfi is a major exception. I was shocked by how easy it was to blend (even over all of my skincare and sunscreen) and loved that it didn’t make my makeup look flat. It just made it look better and last longer. So yes, I highly recommend.
Biossance
5% Niacinamide Brightening Eye Serum With Vitamin C + Squalane
As someone who doesn’t get enough sleep, a brightening eye cream is very lucrative for me, so I jumped on this new Biossance release, and it lived up to my high expectations. It did, in fact, instantly brighten my under-eye area, and it magically kept my concealer from creasing. That’s a win in my book.
