From byrdie

The first of every month brings about a slew of new beauty products, each launch fancier and more exciting than the last. The thing is, though, they’re not all the miracle potions and fountain-of-youth elixirs they promise to be. Wading through a pool of new products can be intimidating and sometimes disappointing. So I decided to try some of Sephora’s buzziest new April launches and report back on what’s worth it and what, sadly, is not.

My original thought was to rank my favorites from best to worst, but as I wrote, I realized all my chosen formulas were uniquely wonderful in their own right. So sue me—they rule. I swatched and applied them all and took selfies to prove it.

Below, find the products that are worth spending your hard-earned cash on because, well, you love beauty and so do I.

The Shimmering Body Oil

Fenty’s limited-edition shimmering body oil is back—with a new cult-favorite shade to boot. I audibly gasped when I saw it, and I promise I’m not being hyperbolic. That’s the reaction these products elicit every single time. The formula is meant to veil your skin in a high-shine finish (think one step up from dewy, but not quite sparkly), and it does just that. It incorporates light-diffusing micro-pearls with a sheer tint (in the case of Trophy Wife, a hyper-metallic gold) to coat your body in a glow. Usually, I shy away from yellow golds, my skin tone is more neutral than it is warm, but this one just works. It’s extra in all the dreamiest ways and makes me feel closer to Rihanna with each pump. The best part? It’s super easy to apply and doesn’t get messy in the slightest. I like to use Fenty’s Body Kabuki Brush ($34), to buff it on to my chest, collarbone, and shoulders until they’re glistening, and add a bit to my arms and legs when my outfit allows. You can apply a subtle amount, a little goes a long way, or build it up to a really gorgeous, personalized shine.

The “Glass Skin” Highlighter

To be quite honest, any product deemed worthy by Katie Jane Hughes is a winner in my book. So, when I saw the celebrity makeup artist using Kevyn Aucoin’s Glass Glow Face Liquid Highlighter ($32) on her Instagram, I knew I had to get my hands on a tube. Needless to say, it’s everything I hoped it’d be. I used the Crystal Clear shade, a sheer, slightly holographic face gloss that created this unbelievable glow. I applied a bit to my cheekbones as a primer ahead of my foundation and tapped on a few more drops post-application (to my cheekbones, brow bone, and Cupid’s bow).

My skin has never looked so well-hydrated, glassy, and radiant—but in an entirely natural-looking way. The gel formula incorporates passion fruit and marula oils, both rich in omega fatty acids 3, 6, and 9, to promote hydration, reduce redness, and add an otherworldly dew factor. It’s one of those “skincare as makeup”-type products for that reason, it nourishes as it highlights. I’m still swooning as I think about it. As an aside, the brand also launched a Glass Glow Lip Gloss ($26) in the same shade, and you better believe I’m wearing both.

The Brightening Serum

My love and devotion to a vitamin C-heavy skincare routine is real, and Glow Recipe’s newest launch is a formula I’ve happily added to my weekly rotation. In the tiny, pineapple-shaped bottle lives a potent, lightweight vitamin C and AHA serum concentrated with pineapple juice, hyaluronic acid, and chamomile to brighten and retexturize your skin as it moisturizes and soothes. It smells like a tropical dream (which is highly important to me), feels super light and refreshing on your skin, and absorbs really quickly—leaving behind glossy, even skin. I like to alternate the Pineapple-C Brightening Serum ($49) with Skinceuticals’ CE Ferulic ($166) to offer a highly effective dose of antioxidants to my skin, a one-two punch of vitamin C if you will. It keeps everything healthy, bright, and, dare I say, pretty flawless.

The March Launches:

The Matte Lipstick

I love a good matte, and Huda Beauty’s Power Bullet Matte Lipstick ($25) has quickly become one of my favorites. The formula is so pigmented—and I’m not just saying that. It’s brimming with an intense color payoff, so much so you only really need one swipe. I apply it straight from the bullet to keep things precise (but it also looks great pressed on with your finger for a stain-y effect) and couldn’t believe the silky-smooth formula. It’s really comfortable and not at all drying, the classic downfall of a matte lipstick, and it smooths your lips upon application. I like to wear it with no much else, just a bit of mascara and brow gel, for a striking but totally foolproof makeup look.

The Curl Resetting Mist

I go pretty long without washing my hair (it’s curly and damage-prone so I try to keep it moisturized and shampoo once or twice a week), but sometimes I need a little extra oomph to get through the week. Because, while my hair is quite curly, it’s also really thin—needless to say, things get dicey a few days in. Enter: Playa’s New Day Mist 3-in-1 Styler Refresh ($24). It works to reset my curls without water or hot tools, which is basically my hair’s saving grace. The formula is made with neroli and aloe waters to hydrate and restore your hair’s pH balance, as well as sugar cane (a humectant that retains and preserves moisture). So, pretty much, it’s one part hydrator, another hairspray, and a bit of fragrance to boot. It’s the ultimate reboot for your unwashed hair—all you do is spray it all over, scrunch, and, for me, it’s that easy. I use it on second, third, and even fourth-day hair. it’s been such an asset in my morning routine—I’m sold.

The Multi-Purpose Highlighter

There’s no denying the blissful frenzy that comes along with every new Fenty Beauty launch. You can feel it in the air each time a package comes across our desks. So when Rihanna sent over this new shade of her beloved Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter ($34)—it’s a baby pink shimmer called Wattabrat—I couldn’t wait to break open the packaging and swirl my fingers in the formula. And, yes, I am pretending Rihanna personally mailed it to me. Just go with it.

The cream-powder hybrid is the same, as it instantly melts into your skin and blends with almost zero effort. The shimmer looks practically 3D. First, I brushed it on the tops of my cheekbones, creating an otherworldly glow that was both radiant and subtle at the same time. For more, I applied it onto my eyelids, patting on the formula with a flat brush to make it even more opaque and sparkly. It was everything I craved and more—pink, creamy, easy to apply, and absolutely lit. You can apply it anywhere the light hits, making it a truly multi-purpose delight.

The Reformulated Lipstick

Genuinely, this might be my new favorite lipstick. I’ve been more of a nudes and clear glosses girl for the last few years—favoring hydrating balms and shine over mattes and reds. But this formula is pretty near perfect. Touted as a “comfortable matte,” Milk’s new lip colors are packed with pigment and super hydrating ingredients to make certain it’s both long-lasting and non-drying. I know that doesn’t sound revolutionary, but actually executing both those traits in a lipstick that looks and feels good is a tall order. Each lipstick includes shea butter as well as coconut and grapeseed oils to nourish and moisturize, plus bamboo-derived blurring powder to deliver a smooth, soft-focus effect. And the colors? Guys, they’re gorgeous. My favorite, Name Drop, is a bright, orangey-red that applied like a dream and brightened up my entire face (and disposition) for an entire day. I applied it straight from the bullet for a perfectly precise application and then wore it again the next day.

The Roll-On Highlighting Balm

At first glance, I thought this whole thing was a gimmick. The roller-on applicator looks exactly like a paint roller, in a whimsical but questionably effective tool. Turns out, it works really well. The highlighter itself, an ultra-reflective balm with pink pearlescent pigments and ruby powder, is a beautiful formula. It feels light and easy to blend, never sticky or cumbersome like a lot of others with the same texture. It glows on contact and doesn’t dry down, giving off this really beautiful golden shine. The best part? It’s blurring like a primer, smoothing every last lingering fine line around my eyes as I apply it to the tops of my cheekbones and brow bone. I kept layering it on and found myself blinded by the final product. It’s a perfect accessory to a juicy, pink lip and nothing else.

The Plumping Moisturizer

I’ve been a devotee of Tatcha’s Luminous Dewy Skin Mist ($48) for years—using it as a makeup setting spray, refreshing spritz during a 3 p.m. slump, and even using it dampen my Beautyblender before applying foundation. It’s one of those products that you’ll use forever no matter the occasion. Cut to when celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic revealed the brand’s newest glow-giving formula at his master class with Kim Kardashian West. It’s a product that serves up the same shimmer-free, naturally dewy skin, only this time it’s a rich, emollient cream rather than a mist. I had to try it for myself.

According to the brand, there’s Japanese purple rice, hyaluronic acid, and natural botanical abstracts (the same ones as the mist) to nourish, replenish ceramides, stimulate collagen production, and very literally plump up your skin. Once I tried it, I knew it was a keeper. All you need is a small scoop for all the dew-inducing, plumping properties to take over. It’s perfect for a pre-makeup facial massage (decadent right?) or can be used daily as your regular moisturizer. Now, with both my mist and cream in tow, I will never stop glowing. Seriously.

The January Launches:

The Lipstick

First of all, Naked Cherry is a moniker I can get behind. It sounds sultry, cool, and maybe a little nostalgic. Turns out, the lipsticks are just as good as the name led me to believe. There are three shades—Juicy (light peach with copper shimmer), Devilish (a metallic berry pink), and Cherry (a deep berry wine). First, I went with Juicy because I loved how it glistened in the sunlight, allowing the shimmer to keep it all looking fresh and glossy but not too sparkly. Then, I dabbed on a bit of Devilish to add a little pink and fell in love. Together, the two shades created an incredible, full-bodied color and left my lips plumped and hydrated. It’s all in the formula, Urban Decay’s signature Vice offering, which houses avocado oil, jojoba seed oil, shea butter, and lactic acid. The ingredients are as good for your lips as the shades are for your look.

The Limited-Edition Set

I’ve written about the components of this set before—the Watermelon Pink Juice Moisturizer, the watermelon sleep mask with a 5000-person waiting list, and jelly sheet mask—because every Glow Recipe skincare product I’ve tried is lightweight, fresh, hydrating, and effective. According to Glow Recipe, “watermelon rind and flesh [are] traditionally used in Korea to soothe irritated and inflamed skin. It’s full of skin-restoring vitamins, antioxidants, and amino acids.” Plus, now, the brand has launched the entire set packed inside the most adorable blush-colored bag, which is proof of my aforementioned point that it just gets it.

The moisturizer offers up a formula that’s 90% derived from watermelon for all those wonderful antioxidant-rich benefits, as well as optimal potency and efficacy. It drenches your skin in moisture and leaves it feeling bouncy and plump throughout the day—similar to the sleep mask, which does exactly that, only while you sleep. I applied it right before bed and woke up to baby-soft, impossibly bright skin. Other star ingredients come in the form of seaweed, pumpkin, cabbage, pomegranate, banana, licorice, peony, and sweet potato extracts. Then, I like to finish off my spa experience with the sheet mask, though it’s not really a sheet at all. The “sheet” itself is a cotton-free blend of watermelon extract and natto gum, a decision the founders made when they realized it helped the ingredients better penetrate your skin. It leaves you de-puffed, refreshed, and noticeably dewy. I like to rub the excess serum from the package into my skin, along with my neck, chest, and hands. Below, find how good my skin looked post-products.

The Palette

I’m not usually a fan of palettes. I think they look beautiful and want to love them, but I so rarely wear eye shadow that they barely get any use. That, and I don’t exactly know how to expertly apply it. So when I saw this gorgeous collection of 18 highly pigmented shades, including soft berry, dusty copper, rosy pink, and golden taupe, I had our managing editor, Lindsey, brush a combination of three shades across my lids. The texture is unmatched—velvety, easily blendable, and formulated aloe vera and coconut oil for a butter-like application. Then there are the shades. My favorites are drenched in shimmer, but there are so many warm and cool-tone options for about a million combinations.

On me, we used Lace as a base (a soft lilac) and added Daydream on top for some dreamy dimension and shine. Then, along my outer crease, Lindsey added a touch of Tease (a slightly darker purple) for definition. I’m in love, and I resign to re-create this look in different shades until I use them all up.

The Lip Liner

While this product isn’t new (I’ve been toting it around in my bag with me for years), it is new to Sephora as of January 2019, and that certainly causes a celebration.

The liner’s waterproof, velvety texture and oil-wax formula ensures that your lip color lasts all day without feathering. My favorite shade, Pillow Talk, mimics and enhances the natural hue of my lips, making it so I don’t need to apply anything on top. I have less-than-defined lips, which is an issue when it comes to precision, and the pencil took care of all that. It glides on smoothly (but not so smoothly that it’s difficult to control). After applying, my lips looked instantly bigger, softer, and decidedly pillowy. Thank you, Charlotte.

The Two-in-One Product

I’d never been really big into “holiday” makeup looks. The cliché of it all kind of turned me off. That being said, I have entirely changed my thought process with the advent of otherworldly, shimmery, alienesque collections like that of Fenty Beauty. The products are cool, not cheesy, and they offer up something different than red lipstick and gold glitter.

I started out with the Metallic Eye + Lip Crayon in Parka Princess (discontinued), expecting only to use it on my eyelids. It imparted the most beautiful, glowy, slightly sheer rose-gold finish that looked metallic and cool against my pale skin tone. Then, I loved it so much I got a bit carried away and put in on my lips. I thought it’d be a fresh take on the monochromatic look to do it up in festive sheens. Halfway through lining my lips, I was really excited. Maybe I am into holiday makeup, after all, I thought to myself. To add more glitz, I lined the inner corners of my eyes with the Metallic Eye + Lip Crayon in Slush Fund (discontinued), a metallic blue-gray that made my eyes look brighter and more intense. Then, because I was having so much fun, I also lined my Cupid’s bow with the same pencil.

The Shimmer Veil

CoverFx’s Shimmer Veil offerings are so pretty. Previously, they came in a bunch of light, cool-toned, ethereal shades. However, for fall, the brand really stepped it up a notch with deep reds, copper, and bronze options. My favorite, though, is Mercury, a gun-metal hue that practically melts into your skin, providing glossy, shimmery, light-catching illumination wherever you see fit. I applied it to my lids, cheeks, and Cupid’s bow; tapped to blend; and was out the door in minutes. It’s all courtesy of the weightless cream texture. See it swatched in the sunlight below.

The Chemical Exfoliator

“I’ve been battling some lingering acne scars and discoloration after several weeks of travel, and they’ve virtually disappeared thanks to the Exfoliating Acid Potion, a ‘magic’ blend of AHA and BHA acids. I also love that it’s gentle enough that I don’t feel any stinging or tingling sensation when I slather it all over my face at night. Have I mentioned my blackheads are now nonexistent, too? This shit works,” our wellness editor, Victoria, gushed to me when she first tried this product, so I had to try it. Turns out, it’s as good as she said it was. The five-acid complex features glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acid (all my favorites) to help encourage natural cellular turnover and unclog pores. Then, vitamin B3 and adaptogenic reishi and tocotrienols boost your skin’s hydration. After one use, my blackheads were gone (yes, gone), and my face felt soothed and toned.

The Scent

This magnificent scent was recommended to me by Faith, our trusty editorial director, and I’m never going back. I’ve been vacillating between scents for a few months now, never sure if I could commit to just one. Well, folks, this is it. Its notes are airy jasmine petals (I know it sounds crazy, but it literally smells airy), orchid, musk, and white cedarwood. It’s warm and sensual but also fresh and floral in all the best ways. It makes me feel sexy and confident when I spray it on (I did so in the image below, right before speaking on my first-ever panel). So basically, it makes me feel like Wonder Woman wrapped in a cashmere blanket surrounded by flowers in a wood cabin. It’s that good, people.

Next up,From Sephora to Ulta: The Best Fourth of July Sales to Shop This Weekend

From byrdie

Holidays hold a special place in any shopaholic’s heart. While letting loose with friends and time away from your trusty cubicle is certainly great, the sales at our favorite stores are even better.

So if you need some respite from barbecues and family time this Fourth of July weekend, might we suggest whipping out your laptop and replenishing your beauty supply? Below, you’ll find a list of the best sales to shop this holiday week—because the best way to feel patriotic is buying that shimmery highlighter or face cream that has been lingering in your shopping cart, right?

From Sephora to Ulta, shop the best sales below.

Dermstore

Score 20% off the site’s wide selection of prestige skincare until July 9 (brand exclusions apply) with the code FOURTH. If this isn’t an excuse to treat yourself, then we don’t know what is.

Made from jojoba, white tea extract, and shea butter, this soothing lip nourisher promises a smooth and hydrated pout.

This multipurpose day cream is lightweight and soothes irritated red skin. Better yet, the texture is smooth as velvet.

Benefit

Get three bronzer, highlighter, and brow fun-size minis with your $70 purchase using the code SOLSTICE through July 6. Your brows and would-be summer glow will be screaming with joy.

This lightweight waterproof concealer is perfect to smooth unevenness, fine lines, and under-eye circles. An Instagram filter in a jar, #nofilter necessary.

Apply this face primer under or over your makeup to minimize pores and fine lines.

Space NK

Though the sale isn’t holiday specific, Space NK is offering up to 50% off some of our absolute favorite skincare, makeup, and haircare products while supplies last. (That means you should probably get shopping now, btw.)

Even if you don’t make it to the beach this weekend, no one has to be the wiser.

Sephora

Running low on some of your essentials? Now’s the time to restock: Sephora’s Big Beauty Sale offers up to 50% off of tools, makeup, skincare, and fragrance—not to mention that there are plenty of free samples thrown into the mix, too.

This weightless setting spray will make sure your makeup isn’t going anywhere—even if the humidity is topping out at 237%.

bareMinerals

BareMinerals is looking out for your summer glow by offering free shipping on bronzers and highlighters through July 4. On top of that, you get $20 off $100 and $15 off $75.

For a glow that looks more sun-kissed than Cheeto, this buildable powder has you covered.

Made with ultra-fine reflective pearls, this marbled highlighting face powder might be the best thing that ever happened to your cheekbones.

Birchbox

You’re going to have to make room on your vanity because Birchbox is offering 30% off its extensive array of products. (No code needed—just add the items to your cart, and the discount will apply.)

Made from vitamin E, tea tree oil, and Argan oil, this hair mask will lend your locks a glossy, healthy shine.

This lipstick pencil adds the perfect amount of effortless color, no matter what’s on your agenda.

Ulta

On top of its large summer sale section, Ulta is offering a buy one, get one 50% off deal on any Ulta brand skincare product. Great news for your wallet and complexion.

These wipes are easy to use and effectively take off even the most stubborn makeup– we’re talking to you, waterproof mascara.

Moisturize, balance, and improve your skin’s texture all in one go.

Missha

K-Beauty fans, take note: Missha is having its semi-annual sale, which means 40% off the entire site and free gifts with each purchase. And yes, the brand does have a “sheet mask café.”

Not only does this cult-fave product contain hydrating and rejuvenating properties, but it’s lightweight and leaves behind no sticky residue–essentially a facial in toner form.

Wrinkle prevention? Check. Brightening? Check. Sun protection? Check. Need we go on?

MAC Cosmetics

In case you haven’t acted on the fact that MAC Cosmetics is giving away free lipstick, the offer has been extended until July 8. Buy any two lip products, and get a free full-size lipstick.

We all hate that moment your lipstick morphs into a poorly applied lip liner. This lip primer helps keep the color from fading so your pout looks flawless all day long.

Next up, It’s Official: This Is Sephora’s Top-Selling Powder Foundation

From byrdie

Our beauty breadth is wide. We shop at independent beauty stores, international skincare and makeup sites, clean beauty pop-ups, and—without a doubt—giant retailers like Ulta and Sephora. Each shop has its unique benefits and downfalls, although we must say, in regards to the latter, there are benefits abound. We can shop hundreds of brands and categories simultaneously, often with hundreds of reviews and customer ratings to back each one up. So when a single product rises above all the others to earn the top-selling spot in its category, we instinctively perk up.

Can you blame us? That means the product in question has performed better than its competitors, and you’re often getting honest, unbiased reviews from fellow make-up enthusiasts who want to help a fellow shopper out. It’s a true beauty democracy: thousands of real-life customers casting their votes, deeming a specific product most worthy of purchasing.

The latest product to clinch the top-selling spot in its category is a powder foundation. Reviewers have described it as weightless, soft-blurring, and silky— just to name a few. Keep scrolling to see which fan-favorite powder foundation is currently flying off the Sephora shelves.

The product in question (drum-roll please) is Kat Von D’s Lock-It Powder Foundation ($37). The sultry red and black compact holds a lightweight, yet full-coverage powder that is available in 26 different shades (here we feel the need to pause and praise the brand for its inclusive range, as many other pressed powder products are seriously lacking in this area).

This is a truly beloved product from the vegan and cruelty-free brand, supported by 1,000 reviews and 10,000 “loves” by its fans on Sephora. We should probably credit the formula, praised for being “long-lasting”, and made with rice powder and kaolin clay, successfully used to blur and diffuse imperfections (it’s basically like an Instagram filter IRL).

The only fairly consistent complaint customers seem to have is with the compact’s included sponge applicator. Some reviewers note that they’re not fans of the way it deposits the product, which is why they opt for using a brush instead. We recommend Kat Von D’s Pressed Powder Brush ($39), which pairs perfectly with the foundation, both by function and aesthetic. Like all of Kat Von D’s makeup brushes, it’s composed of fine, vegan bristles that are incredibly soft to the touch.

With it’s wide range of shades, cruelty-free formula, and glowing reviews about glowing skin, this foundation will be the first thing we add to our always-active online shopping cart. This powder is a prime example of how reviews can be key when finding the best beauty products, and a reminder that it’s wise to scroll through and read them when looking for something new, and helpful to write your own when you find something you especially love. Who knows? It might just help a fellow shopper find their next favorite product.

Next up, Just In: Sephora’s Launching a Beauty Class for the Transgender Community

From byrdie

As a beauty editor, I’ll try just about any product or trend once. Note that I said “just about,” because I’ll admit there are some questionable, just-plain-weird treatments celebrities have name-dropped over the years that even I won’t touch. Aside from those rare exceptions, though, you can pretty much count me in—especially when it means getting my hands on buzzy products from a certain in-demand beauty company. In truth, I’d be surprised if you haven’t already seen Kaja Beauty’s adorable new line all over your Instagram feed. It’s a K-beauty brand from Sephora, and I honestly love everything about it, from the bite-size packaging to the feel-good formulas to the affordable price point (everything rings in at under $24). Here’s a breakdown of everything I’ve tried so far…

This concealer was aptly named—it doesn’t settle into fine lines. Or blemishes. Or any skin concern, really. I swiped a little under my eyes and over a few blemishes, and blended it out with my fingers. Its lightweight texture melted into skin giving it a natural-looking finish. It’s not quite dewy or matte, it falls somewhere in the middle of the two, and I just love it. I’m really an easy customer to please.

Blush is another product not in my regular repertoire (I have naturally rosy cheeks), so this cushion blush was a bit outside my comfort zone. To my delight, though, the color was incredibly natural looking. I dipped the stamp into the compact, blotted it onto my cheek once, and used my fingers to blend the color out. If I did want to go more bold, I’d stamp and blend again (and again, if desired.) Also, can we please talk about the cute heart-shaped applicator? Part of me was tempted to keep the print on my cheek all day, but then I remembered the errands I had to do and I snapped back to reality.

This blush just makes me happy—plain and simple. It has this warm peachy-pink tone with a hint of golden shimmer; it’s basically a warm hug wrapped up in a cute pink box. It’s light, easy, and has a creamy powdery finish that looks incredibly natural when on my skin. (It’s not nearly as pigmented as it looks in the compact, which is good in my book.)

These conveniently packaged shadows speak to my busy, busy heart. Having them stacked together is genius, and makes it so much easier to throw in your bag and use for touch-ups on the go. Not just that, but the cream-to-powder texture actually works better when you apply with your fingers (a serious time-saver). Here I kept things simple: I used the middle champagne color and dabbed it along my lids. The color is soft, and the shimmer factor is wow. (Bonus points for the fact that the glitter isn’t actually chunky.) These would look great layered over a solid shadow too—I’m thinking just a small dab in the center of the lid for some added drama.

You’ll know instantly why this highlight is dubbed “mochi glow”. Especially if you eagerly poke your finger into the compact like I did and leave an imprint. The impossibly soft, creamy texture dries to a powdery finish with just the right amount (read: natural, not extra) shine. I swiped a bit on my brow bones and cheekbones, and even my fiancé commented on it. (The fact that he was even able to tell that I put highlighter on speaks volumes.)

Next up, This Hollywood Dermatologist Doesn’t Believe in Sephora

From byrdie

According to one Beverly Hills-based dermatologist, your skincare products are lying to you. Perhaps lying isn’t the perfect word. But in Dr. Zein Obagi’s opinion, whatever you’re using isn’t working. “We have to change the concept of skincare,” Obagi tells me, as we sit across a well-manicured brunch table at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Dana Point, California. According to Obagi, “the rate of satisfaction for many brands is zero.” He aims to be the exception.

If you recognize Obagi’s name, you might already be familiar with his products—at least his old ones. Ten years ago, Obagi’s over-the-counter skincare line most likely sat on your mother’s bathroom countertop. Perhaps you stole pumps of moisturizer or facial sunscreen once upon a time. But in 2006, Obagi got out of the regular retail skincare business. He no longer believed in it. In the years since, Obagi has hunkered down to develop a skincare brand unlike anything you can find at your average beauty supply store.Obagi’s line is called ZO Skin Health, and he says it’s the future of intensive skincare.

You cannot have a disease and say ‘I’m going to go to the gym to fix it.’ You have to go to a doctor.

Earlier this month, I traveled to Dana Point to attend a ZO Skin Health faculty conference. Dozens of attendees, from dermatologists and developmental scientists to marketers, gathered at the Ritz to see Obagi present the latest findings and results from his treatments.

I can say for certain that I’ve never seen an approach to skincare as zealous and assertive—almost mad scientist-esque—as Obagi’s. I’ve also never seen any before and after photos more graphic or results more staggering than those he presented at the conference. Disfiguring scar tissue, deep pigmentation, wrinkles, rosacea, sagging skin—with Obagi’s new techniques, he is able to eradicate all of these conditions and more. And he’ll be the first to tell you that his results are one of a kind.

What is Obagi’s secret? And how can you gain access? To learn about this sobering new approach to skincare, keep reading.

The ZO Camp’s philosophy states that you can’t buy visible skincare results over the counter or DIY them in your kitchen. The fact that we all believe in these remedies is pure marketing, says Obagi. “Currently, the concept of skincare is to make the product available to everyone,” he explains. But skincare is different from makeup or hair styling—according to Obagi, it’s a medical concern. “Before you start spending thousands of dollars through the years buying products that don’t work, go to a doctor,” he says.

(A ZO-authorized doctor, preferably.) “Learn about your skin health, your skin type, and if you have any medical problems, it will be detected early. This cannot be done going to an esthetician’s office,” he says. In other words, Obagi aims to take skincare out of the spa and into the dermatologist’s office. His goal is “to create a bond between physicians and patients.”

What Obagi’s new services do that over-the-counter treatment cannot is control skin at the cellular level. “This is a novel idea in itself and has never been done before,” he tells me. “By doing the right combined procedures, we can control the cells, put them back to work, and renew the whole skin,” Obagi says, noting that for the first time, he and his team are treating skin as a living organ. “The old way of thinking was that skin is a wall,” he says. “That is wrong. You have to go into the skin, like a heart, and make it a functioning, strong, living organ.” Once all the cells are working at peak function, then you can correct any deficiencies.

Obagi has seen remarkable success from his new treatments on an array of skin conditions, including acne, hard scars, dark pigmentation, skin looseness, and deep wrinkles. Thanks to his presentation at the conference, I have witnessed these results firsthand.

Obagi’s new treatments come in two stages: prepping the skin at home with an intensive regimen of products, and then treating it with a combined procedure in-office. “You have to get the skin ready to do the procedure,” he says. “It’d be like asking someone to run a marathon if he’s never trained in his life. You need to train someone to run a marathon. Same thing with the skin.” According to Obagi, our skin cells tend to get lazy over time. These at-home treatments wake them up, preparing them for his intensive in-office procedures.

“It’s a very artistic and scientific approach to skin,” he says. “In the past, people who have skin cancer, burns, and scars couldn’t be fixed, but now there is a greater chance.”

Obagi’s daily recommended routine consists of the following components: cleansing, exfoliating, toning, and treating with serums and masks catered to a variety of different concerns. Depending on your skin type, you might also need a step for calming and hydrating. And of course, sun protection is key. Some of these at-home products are available on the brand’s website and at specialty ZO Skin Centres, which they are currently developing all over the globe. Other products are only accessible with a prescription (these are labeled “ZO Medical”). So far, the line contains 44 products in total.

Once you’ve been on your at-home regimen for six weeks, you are ready for in-office procedures. These consist of a lactic acid peel to tighten the skin, followed by a resurfacing laser treatment. Any hard damage that the acid can’t reach, the laser will wipe out. “Think of the laser as sandpaper—I’m sanding away the damaged tissue on the surface,” Obagi says. His new laser is a breakthrough compared to the technology that came before, which could only improve skin 10% to 40% at most, he says. This new combined procedure restores both smoothness and tightness: an anti-aging double whammy that can cure conditions, often with 100% success.

Without a doubt, Obagi’s approach to skincare is aggressive. And those who follow it are steadfast believers. “The best thing you can do for your skin is to wake up and have your spouse slap you in the face,” Obagi announced to his room of conference attendees. The irony in his voice was scarcely palpable.

After day one of the conference, I attended a faculty happy hour packed with employees in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, many of whom had been on Obagi’s products for decades. “You need to start treating those freckles now,” one female skin specialist told me, as she sipped a frosty pink daiquiri. “You need to be put on a strong Retin-A.” I tried not to feel offended as I scanned her face. It was impossible to tell how old she was. Her skin glistened, like glass. She just wanted to spread the message, I figured.

“When you visit Dr. Obagi, he will ask you, ‘Are you aggressive about your skin?’” a 38-year-old ZO employee told me, a half-empty champagne flute in one hand. “If you are not aggressive, there is nothing he can do for you.” The lower half of this woman’s face was peeling off like a sunburn—the last remaining side effect from undergoing one of his peels five months prior and continuing treatment with a prescription Retin-A. (Peeling, redness, and mild stinging are all common side effects of Obagi’s treatments). “I used to have huge dark spots and sun damage all over my face,” she said, furiously scrolling through her phone to find a before photo. “Do you see a single freckle on me now?” It was true—peeling aside, her skin was completely clear.

For argument’s sake, let’s say you are aggressive. Let’s say you have acne or sun damage, and you want a whole new face within a year. How can you gain access to ZO’s treatments? And how do you know for sure that they’re right for you?

Obagi describes the start-to-finish ZO Skin Health experience like this: First, do a quick search on the brand’s website to find an authorized ZO dermatologist. You’ll go in for an evaluation, where the doctor will diagnose your skin type, any major concerns, and your best solution. “Not everyone is going to need a combined procedure,” Obagi assures. “Some may only need a peel or an easy year-long regimen.” Regardless of your skin’s needs, the doctor will start you on an at-home regimen of cleansing, exfoliating, toning, and treating. Of course, depending on your skin type, the exact products you’ll use will vary. “Tissue, no matter what you do to it, won’t respond unless we activate the cellular function,” Obagi assures. Only after activating the skin with this six-week regimen will it respond to further treatment.

At this point, you can opt for more procedures. Ultimately, it’s up to you, says Obagi. Whatever your skin concerns, the doctor can customize your procedures accordingly. Then you’ll be put on a customized healing regimen for six to eight weeks, post-procedure. “Skin doesn’t have a brain,” says Obagi. “So we need to go in and control the healing process.” This might involve restoring elastin or collagen, increasing vitamin A, or some combination of these treatments. “Maybe I need to stabilize color, or maybe there is too much oil in the face, creating inflammation,” says Obagi. “This is where the skill comes in.”

Obagi promises that within just a few months, your skin will be completely renewed. It comes with a price. But if you’re “aggressive” about your skin, Obagi says it’s time to stop treating it at the mall.

Shop some of ZO Skin Health’s most popular products below!

This exfoliating cleanser is intended for daily use for those with normal to oily skin.

After cleansing, follow up with this exfoliant. This product contains ultra-fine magnesium crystals to remove dead skin and increase cell turnover.

If you have oily or acne-prone skin, these toning pads should be the third step in your daily routine.

This lightweight reparative gel works for any skin type. Incorporate this as an optional step in your nighttime routine.

Next up,15 Korean Makeup and Skincare Products Every Beauty Lover Needs to Try

From byrdie

Trends come and go, but the way things are looking, K-beauty is here for the long haul. The proof is unavoidable: Korean girls have the most #flawless skin on the globe. And here at Byrdie, we’re in a near-constant state of happy dancing as K-beauty favorites finally make their way to Sephora aisles (both virtual and brick-and-mortar).

If you’re new to the wondrous world of K-beauty, you may need some help figuring out where to start. After all, navigating an entire country’s worth of beauty products, especially a country as skincare-obsessed as South Korea, is difficult, to say the least.

But whether you’re a K-beauty novice or are already obsessed with it, we hope this list gives you some inspiration. We consulted Sephora’s best-seller stats to put together a roundup of the top-rated Korean beauty products every makeup and skincare lover needs to make room for on their vanities. From AmorePacific cushion compacts to Belief face creams, these are the best-selling Korean products worth adding to your beauty routine.

With over 250K “loves,” this overnight lip mask is a must-have. It’s made with an eight-hour time-release to ensure that lips stay perfectly hydrated all night long. What’s more, it’s available in the original scent, which is reminiscent of watermelon and bubblegum, as well as vanilla and apple-lime options.

This daily face cream contains anti-aging ingredients like antioxidants, plantin, and oat husk to protect the skin from environmental damage and seal in moisture. The product already has over 160K “loves” on Sephora, and consumers continue to fall in love with its results-driven formula every day.

This impossibly-rich moisturizer is a favorite from AmorePacific, arguably the single largest beauty brand in Korea. Thanks to an all-natural ingredients list, including goodies like bamboo leaf extract, the product supports your skin’s natural hyaluronic acid production, moisture-retention, and cell turnover.

These ultra-affordable sheet masks will make your skincare routine feel luxe AF. They come in 13 different formulas—targeted toward each and every skin type and complexion concern—all of which have earned Sephora shoppers’ stamp of approval, with a whopping 90K “loves.”

This beloved whipped moisturizer by Belif is one we’ll be reaching for every day, especially as the temperature drops. Aptly named the moisturizing bomb, the product’s hydrating and detoxifying formula (which has earned over 80K “loves”) “bursts” onto the skin to provide hydration all day long.

While it might look suspiciously similar to its sibling, The True Cream Aqua Bomb, this slightly heavier formula is better suited for normal to dry skin, whereas the lighter Aqua Bomb is ideal for combination and oily skin types.

Toner is usually formulated with distilled water, but AmorePacific’s features red ginseng extract instead. It’s great for even the most sensitive skin types, calming redness and irritation while balancing pH and prepping skin for serums.

Who doesn’t love a skincare product that delivers optimal results with little effort? That’s precisely why this overnight moisture-surge mask is so popular at Sephora. The fast-absorbing gel-cream features the brand’s trademarked Sleep-Tox formula, which helps to soothe skin to reduce the appearance of fatigue. Plus, it’s made with hydro ionized mineral water, which features six moisturizing minerals, to ensure skin is plump and dewy come morning.

This eye gel supports circulation on the microscopic level, effectively combatting our dreaded dark circles and puffiness. It also has a 24-hour time-release, meaning that the results stick around all day.

Korean women are known for their clear, bright skin. One way to achieve the look is to use this best-selling vitamin C serum. The concentrated, lightweight formula smells vaguely of pineapple upside-down cake and the results of using it are just as sweet. Before you know it, your skin will look noticeably smoother and brighter, as well as less inflamed overall.

Noticing the AmorePacific trend? There’s a reason so many of the brand’s products are best-sellers—not just at Sephora but over in South Korea. Their popularity is due to their efficacy, plain and simple. This cleanser is super gentle, stripping makeup but not skin. It’s also chock-full of vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant.

Whether you’re looking for a toner or a cleanser, you can’t go wrong with this gentle K-beauty fave. It’s designed to hydrate dry skin with rose flower water, lavender water, and orange fruit extract while resurfacing dull, uneven skin with smoothing and brightening papaya extract. And, like micellar water, it doesn’t need to be rinsed off.

Peels are a must in Korean skincare; after all, regular exfoliation is the key to smooth, radiant skin. When combined with water, this powder exfoliant uses papaya enzymes to gently clears the skin’s surface.

Ready to revamp your makeup routine? This all-in-one complexion-perfecting beauty balm is sold in three universal shades, including light to medium, medium to deep, and deep. It’s made with SPF and a powerful anti-aging complex to prevent environmental damage from getting in the way of a radiant, youthful-looking visage. No wonder it’s earned over 50K “loves” from Sephora shoppers.

Looking for hydration without the icky pore-clogging side effects? Consider reaching for this hydra-gel moisturizer. With nine (yes, nine!) amino acids and ginger-root extract, your skin will be soft, supple, and most importantly, clear.

With over 20K “loves” on Sephora, this cult-classic cushion compact (say that five times fast) is another of AmorePacific’s top contenders. The lightweight formula feels like air on the skin, while hydrating, brightening, and protecting with a bevy of Asian botanicals. Oh, and did we mention it has SPF 50? Yes, please.

Next up, The 15 Best New Beauty Products to Buy at Sephora

From byrdie

Can buying a beauty product solve all your problems? Maybe not—but we know full well how powerful a brand-new lipstick (or perfume, or serum) can make us feel. With that in mind, we present to you our new Shop series—a carefully curated collection of all the buzziest beauty products to feast your eyes on, maybe lighten your wallet with, and definitely feel great about. Our market editors will be scouring the interwebs and our favorite retailers to bring you the noteworthiest new beauty gems before you see them everywhere else. So, go ahead and shop—you deserve it.

If you’re going to overhaul your beauty bag, chances are you wait until the start of each new season. The changing temperatures and trends coincide with the need for updated products, whether it’s a cold-weather moisturizer or beach-ready sunscreen. But what about that time in the middle of the season when you don’t technically need anything new but you’re feeling uninspired by the current options sitting on your vanity?

As beauty editors, we’re big advocates for switching up our routines to make sure they feel fresh, and we’re advocating for you to do the same. Whether it’s a new perfume that makes you feel energized or an updated red lipstick, beauty bag refreshes don’t have to adhere to any timeline. Feel free to splurge and let the below products act as your inspiration, here’s what to buy at Sephora when you need a pick-me-up.

Not only does this concealer provide flawless coverage, but the cooling Zamac tip also helps to de-puff sensitive under-eye skin.

An air-whipped, cream blush that delivers a gorgeous matte flush in a single sweep.

Opt for this mild exfoliating mask, filled with superfood ingredients like pumpkin and apricot, whenever your skin needs an added boost.

Looking to negate a week’s worth of dry shampoo buildup? Use this pink charcoal cleansing oil to strip hair of dirt and oil pre-shampoo.

Don’t let this futuristic device overwhelm you. The hands-free mask, which delivers therapeutic red and blue LED light to support natural collagen production and zap acne-causing bacteria, is easy to use.

The price point and the fact that the bristles are infused with tourmaline ions to help dry hair faster, add shine, and eliminate frizz make this the perfect round brush.

If your cleanser is more of a mild soap, it’s time to rethink your process. Opt for this blueberry-infused cleanser packed with antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, and AHAs.

We’re predicting this stunning, limited-edition palette will be your holiday-party go-to.

This nourishing cleanser is the perfect cold-weather essential. It wipes away dirt and impurities while also hydrating your skin.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Volume 4

Score all your favorite hourglass highlighters in one thanks to this travel-friendly compact. Hurry, though. It’s limited-edition. Note: The product has been discontinued.

Visibly hydrate and firm skin overnight with this concentrated body serum.

We’re obsessed with this handy facial brush that removes tough makeup and improves the appearance of pores over time.

Clock a full eight hours and wake up to more hydrated, younger-looking skin thanks to this anti-aging sleep cream.

Calling all multitaskers, this two-in-one straightening and drying brush was made for you.

Dior Diorific Mat Velvet Colour Lipstick

We can’t stop wearing this light mauve shade. Note: The product has been discontinued.

Next up, The Best-Selling Dry Shampoos From Amazon, Sephora, and More

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated

From byrdie

Dry shampoo is my desert-island product. Forget long lashes or red lips (we’re on an island, people)—I’d want to have decently clean hair, and dry shampoo will achieve that without me having to take a dip in the ocean (clearly I’ve been pondering this for too long). So because my affection for the magic in a can runs deep, I’m always on the hunt for the best of the best.

Instead of just meandering the aisles of one store, I decided to search for the best-selling dry shampoos at five major beauty retailers: Sephora, Ulta, Target, Net-a-Porter, and Amazon. The results varied yet at the same time were quite similar. (Spoiler: Batiste Dry Shampoo, $8, is the repeat winner here.)Keep scrolling to see the rest!

Amazon’s Best Selling Dry Shampoos

For 40 years, Batiste has been the haircare authority for taming your mane between washes. Consumers go nuts for this cheap and effective dry shampoo—it’s the number one bestseller on Amazon.

Most times we just want a dry shampoo that will soak up oil, but this offering from Garnier Fructis gives life to thin, lifeless strands too.

“I was shocked when I used this. I normally swear by Bumble & Bumble dry shampoo and I can usually never afford to buy it since it is about $40 for one bottle. I was really amazed! It soaked up the oil and added volume,” wrote one customer.

Sephora’s Best Selling Dry Shampoos

Free of sodium chloride and colorants, this dry shampoo really delivers without drying out your strands.

The brand suggests you apply this before bedtime “to beat greasiness to the punch.” Pretty genius, if you ask us.

At Byrdie HQ, we’re obsessed with this sweet-smelling, invisible, highly effective dry shampoo.

Net-a-Porter’s Best Selling Dry Shampoos

This offering is a total chart-topper at Net-a-Porter, too. Did we mention it’s non-aerosol? Always a plus in our books.

There’s a reason I wrote about this dry shampoo for our Love Story series. The smell is intoxicating, and it actually keeps my hair clean for days on end (yes, I go days without washing it).

Derived from natural plant and mineral ingredients, this organic dry shampoo delivers serious volume (and smells like cocoa to boot!).

Target’s Best Selling Dry Shampoo

No surprise that this easy-on-the-wallet dry shampoo is a fan favorite at Target, too.

One user writes, “[It] does not leave any white residue on my scalp or dark-colored hair. The smell is amazing and lasts all day. I have tried several products and this has worked THE best from all the products I have ever tried.”

Considering the extremely affordable price, this dry shampoo needs to be a staple in your beauty arsenal. The travel-size bottles are also perfect to keep in your purse for days when your hair could use a boost on the go.

Ulta’s Best Selling Dry Shampoos

Again, a fan favorite of Ulta shoppers too!

With over 2000 reviews on Ulta and the fact that it’s a best-seller at three different stores/sites, we’d say this product is a hit.

Bye, spray: Just squeeze the powder out from the nozzle and directly onto your roots, let it sit, and then fluff up your strands for an instant just-left-the-salon look.

What’s your favorite dry shampoo? Sound off below!

Next up, What Dermatologists Buy at Sephora: A Tell-All

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated

From byrdie

When we asked makeup artists what their Sephora hauls look like, it was almost like getting to read their diaries. Okay, maybe not as intimate, but we got a peek at their exclusive shopping lists, and what they use on their elite Hollywood clientele, so we felt pretty charmed getting the inside scoop and sharing it with you, dear readers.

Recently, we were privy to the Sephora shopping lists of another influential group: top dermatologists. As much as we want to test out the most popular serums and foundations, they’re not always skin-friendly, so discovering which products get the stamp of approval from those whose lifeblood is to care for the body’s largest organ was a real treat.

We spoke to a handful of skincare experts, and they were kind enough to give us a peek inside of their Sephora shopping carts. Keep reading to learn all about their holy grails for healthy, glowy skin.

“This cream has anti-aging and hydrating properties thanks to resveratrol and hyaluronic acid,” says Karen Hammerman, MD, of Schweiger Dermatology Group in NYC. “Resveratrol is an anti-aging ingredient that diminishes visible wrinkles and enhances skin firmness, with the same regenerating process that allows grape vines to live up to 100 years.”

“Start with a hydrating moisturizer for your skin,” instructs Michele Farber, MD, also of Schweiger Dermatology Group. “Peter Thomas Roth’s Hyaluronic Cloud Cream has a high percentage of hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture.”

“Sephora sells excellent brands of makeup,” says Farber, listing brands like Clinique, Yves Saint Laurent, and Bobbi Brown. “General advice is to use a noncomedogenic foundation, especially if you are acne-prone and use paraben-free and fragrance-free products if your skin is more sensitive.”

“For nighttime skincare, this serum is great to even out skin tone,” says Farber. “Use only a few nights per week, especially if your skin is sensitive, and be particularly careful about [using] sunscreen with this type of product.”

“My favorite thing at Sephora is the BareMinerals makeup line—mineral-based makeup is great for acne-prone skin,” says Mara Weinstein, MD. “It’s lightweight and doesn’t clog pores. It also gives great coverage without worrying about causing breakouts.”

“This product moisturizes and hydrates skin around the eyes to decrease the appearance of wrinkles and crow’s-feet,” says NYC dermatologist Kristina Goldenberg, MD, of Goldenberg Dermatology. “I like using it in combination with Botox.”

“This product contains chlolleragen, which has been shown to decrease the appearance of fine wrinkles and lines. It also has moisturizing properties,” says Goldenberg.

“I love Murad Advanced Acne and Wrinkle Reducer because it contains retinol, salicylic, and glycolic acids,” explains Kenneth Howe, MD, of Wexler Dermatology. “The retinol modulates skin maturation and shedding, which prevents the formation of the plugs that cause acne. This is a medication-like effect. The addition of the glycolic and salicylic acid furthers shedding via loosening of the bonds between clumped dead skin cells, which is a chemical effect.”

“This retinol-based formula is so gentle, it won’t harm even the most sensitive skin,” says NYC-based dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, of Zeichner Dermatology.

“This natural eye balm is powered by a patent combining vine resveratrol with hyaluronic acid for an age-reversing effect,” explains Hammerman. “Formulated with advanced peptides and an anti-puffiness plant complex, this eye balm helps lift the skin of the eyelids, reduces puffiness and dark circles, and smoothes the appearance of wrinkles. The texture is silky and melts into [the] skin without the use of synthetic emulsifiers, and it works especially well under makeup.”

Elizabeth Tanzi, MD, and founder of Capital Laser & Skin Care says this is an excellent staple formula for camouflaging dark circles. While one of its primary functions is to conceal, it’s a hybrid treatment that’s clinically proven to visibly lighten dark circles by 30% in 12 weeks.

“Fresh Umbrian Clay Purifying Mask can be used as a deep cleanser or to minimize small imperfections,” explains board-certified plastic surgeon, Joseph Cruise, MD. “It is ideal for normal and oily skin types. The Umbrian clay has a high mineral content that helps purify and balance the complexion. It has sandalwood oil, chamomile flower, and lavender water [to calm and soothe the skin]. It reduces the appearance of pores and mattifies the skin without drying out the complexion. It leaves the skin feeling clean and soft.”

“Made with Mediterranean rose clay, Canadian willow herb, and exfoliating jojoba bead, this mask gently gives a deep clean while boosting the skin’s overall quality,” says Cruise. “It leaves the skin smooth, refines pores, and gives skin a radiant glow.”

Next up,I Took Sephora’s Free Class on No-Makeup Makeup—Here’s What I Learned

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated

From byrdie

When I first heard that Sephora would be offering free makeup classes to its Beauty Insiders, I couldn’t sign up fast enough. Even though I absolutely love applying makeup and I talk about it like it’s my job (it is), I’d never taken an actual class. Suffice to say, I couldn’t wait to dip my brushes in.

The first available class was a 90-minute session on no-makeup makeup. At first, I kind of chuckled a bit, considering the fact that a fresh-faced look shouldn’t take over an hour to learn, right? But I showed up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 10 a.m. on a Saturday and was escorted to a long table in the back of the Sephora store. Lined up along the table were mirrors, “hygiene stations” equipped with sponges, spoolies, makeup remover, etc., and a face chart explaining the look. Our lovely instructor, Annie, walked us through the steps on her model, Mia, and then we executed those steps on ourselves.

The class took about two hours in total, as the application process as a group and the time it took to find the right shades and products for each individual person were a bit lengthy. But Annie insisted that if you were to do the whole process at home, it would only take about 10 minutes. Below, check out the best tips and tricks I learned from Sephora’s no makeup class.

1:Hydrate the Skin

“Your skin should always be hydrated, plumped, and ready to accept the makeup,” Annie explained. We were given Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum, which is a great product; no greasiness, and my skin felt super supple and plump afterward. Annie told us to start from the center and work toward the outside using “minimum product for maximum hydration.”

2:Treat Under-Eyes with Care

Annie then told us to think of our under-eyes as similar to linen—”If you toss linen in a wad in the laundry basket, it gets wrinkly.” As a result, you need to be super gentle around the area when you wash and apply skincare. Her product of choice for under-eyes is Tatcha Luminous Deep Hydration Firming Eye Serum. She instructed us to tap it on with our ring finger since it’s the most gentle finger, instead of tugging the area with your index finger.

3:Comfortable with Cushion Makeup

Forget BB creams or tinted moisturizers; Annie’s must-have no-makeup makeup is cushion foundation. She loves AmorePacific Color Control Cushion Compact for light coverage. Instead of using our fingers or the little puff that cushion compacts always come with, we were instructed to pat the product into our skin with a damp BeautyBlender ($20). Annie dipped the bottom of the rounded BeautyBlender into the compact and then bounced that off her skin, whereas I usually dip the side in toward the tip of the pink egg. I tried her method and found that it worked just about the same.

4:Apply Concealer Liberally

Annie also suggests dabbing a bit of concealer with the tip of your Beautyblender on your eyelids, between your eyebrows, underneath your nose, and in the corners of your mouth. This will conceal redness and brighten up your face in no time. I was given the Marc Jacobs Remedy Concealer Pen ($27) (the Marc Jacobs pen has been discontinued, but we also recommend the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat All-Over Brightening Pen), which had really nice light coverage. Sure enough, my complexion mirrored her claims.

5:Reach for Cream Blush

Cream blush is the best thing to use for the no-makeup makeup look because it’s light and dewy and won’t leave a chalky look behind, according to Annie. It also replaces contour and bronzer in the NMM routine, as it contours the cheeks in and of itself. We tried the Milk Lip + Cheek Stain and were instructed to apply it using our BeautyBlenders because applying directly from the packaging can sometimes be too harsh. After blending out the bright pink hue, I immediately got a few oohs and ahhs from the other students.

6:Go Easy on Powder

The key to no-makeup makeup is being fresh-faced, so putting on any more powder than necessary will only take away from that. Annie told us to only use a bit of translucent powder on your “hot spots” (the areas that get greasy) if you have oily skin, but if you have normal skin, you can forego this step. She also told us that if your skin is dry, you can use a setting spray to bring your makeup to life and freshen up your skin.

7:Keep Your Eyes Open

Don’t close your lid while applying eye makeup! Annie says that you need to apply eye shadow and mascara so that it flatters the eye when it’s open, so closing the eyes can result in an off-kilter look. We used the UrbanDecay Naked2 Basics ($29) to create a neutral eye using the shimmery nude color on the lids and the darker taupe on the orbital bone. We then used a brown eyeliner (never black for no-makeup makeup) on our lash line, and followed with a light brush of Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara. “My one and only rule for makeup is that you must wear mascara if you wear eyeliner,” urges Annie.

8:Use Brow Gel

For no-makeup makeup, don’t spend the time filling in your brows with a pencil. Instead, beef them up with a brow gel, like Benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel. It takes two seconds and makes a big impact.

9:Don’t Neglect Your Lips

Though no-makeup makeup may not seem like a place for a little rouge on your pout, the key is to find something that’s light, hydrating, and will amplify your natural lip color. We’re partial to Milk Makeup’s KUSH Lip Balms, which have just a hint of color, but are super hydrating.

Next up, Sephora’s #1 Eye Cream Sells Every 3 Minutes, and My Under-Eyes are Thrilled

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated

From byrdie

As someone who’s cursed with a troublesome under-eye area (I’m talking puffiness, bags, and blue-ish dark circles), I have all but given up hope in new eye creams. I keep only a select few that work well for me. The rest I’ve given away.

While I have five to six eye creams on my vanity at any given time, there are only three that I keep in heavy rotation. The first is Tula’s Multi-Spectrum Eye Renewal Serum, which has a cream consistency, even though it’s called a serum. It’s antioxidant rich, alleviating puffiness and dark circles with the help of a cooling metal applicator. The second is Dr. Loretta’s Tightening Eye Gel, which really does tighten the eye area, diminishing the look of under eye bags, puffiness, and sagging skin.

The third is one of my all-time favorites; it’s Ole Henriksen’s Banana Bright Eye Creme. Ever since I first tried it over a year ago, I’ve been reaching for it almost daily. And it seems most everyone else reaches for it, too, because Ole Henriksen’s Banana Bright is Sephora’s top-selling eye cream with 22 sold every hour. That equates to one sold every three minutes.

Scroll on to read why this eye cream is so beloved by myself and many others—plus, other eye products worth investing in.

Best Overall: Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Creme

The product was inspired by banana powder, which is an old-school makeup artist trick especially popular in drag communities for color-correcting, brightening, and setting makeup. Because it has a warm yellow tone, the powder disguises darkness and sallowness with a subtle radiance (Kim Kardashian West is reportedly a fan of it). Ole Henriksen wanted this eye cream to work similarly, by disguising dark circles, illuminating the under eye area, and toning and hydrating the skin. As such, the cream contains special pigments that blur darkness and reflect light.

While it doesn’t conceal my dark circles (eye cream isn’t concealer, after all), it does illuminate my skin as quickly as I apply it. Since it has a slippery texture, I’m able to rub it around my eye socket using gentle pressure from my ring finger to alleviate puffiness without any tugging or friction; I call it a DIY eye massage. It also hydrates my under eye area, which makes the subsequent concealer I use glide on smoothly and blend evenly. Because of this, I’ve honestly started treating it almost like a primer for my under eye area, since it makes my makeup look that much more bright and even.

As for its actual good-for-skin ingredients, you can count on vitamin C (from orange and lemon fruit extract) to brighten the skin and provide antioxidant protection over time, collagen to support elasticity, and jojoba seed oil and shea butter to hydrate and plump the skin. The same ingredients can be found in the brand’s newest Banana Bright product: the Banana Bright Primer.

Best Primer: Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Primer

Just like the eye cream, the primer is a vitamin C-infused illuminating product that helps makeup apply smoothly and last all throughout the day. You can apply it all over your face before makeup application or you can only apply it in places where you want to look extra glowy, like on the cheekbones, brow bone, forehead, and cupid’s bow (that’s what I do, since my oily T-zone already provides enough glowiness in the center of my face). In fact, I’ve started using it in place of highlighter on days when I’m not wearing makeup. It provides just enough natural-looking dew to the high points of my face, without any tell-tale bits of shimmer or sparkle.

Best Serum: Tula Multi-Spectrum Eye Renewal Serum

This aforementioned eye serum feels lightweight and hydrating. I love the cooling metal applicator, which dampens the extreme puffiness that may result from a bad night’s rest or (ahem) drinking one too many glasses of wine at dinner the night before.

Best Gel: Dr. Loretta Tightening Eye Gel

This hydrating eye gel uses peptides to tighten the eye contour and algae extract to support the skin’s natural collagen production. I like the fact that it’s formulated with antioxidants that protect against UV and free radical damage (I still follow up with sunscreen, though, as one should).

Best Anti-Aging: Fleur & Bee Eyes Eyes Baby Anti-Aging Eye Cream

For a more natural option, try this tiny pot of eye cream from all-natural skincare brand Fleur & Bee. It uses caffeine, squalane, aloe vera, and various vitamins to smooth, brighten, and hydrate the under eye area. I like the fact that it’s made without gluten, parabens, sulfates, and artificial fragrances. It just feels so nice and gentle and lightweight on the sensitive under eye area.

Best for Tired Under Eyes: Sunday Riley Auto Correct Brightening and Depuffing Eye Contour Cream

Sunday Riley’s eye cream promises to “auto correct” the under eye area with a few stand-out ingredients. Caffeine and Brazilian ginseng root extract are paired together to energize tired eyes and reduce circles and puffiness. Horse chestnut and acamella oleracea extracts smooth wrinkles and lines and lift the eye contours, and lutein gives the area some much needed radiance. Finally, shea butter and cocoa moisturize the skin while watermelon rind hydrates.

Next up,Byrdie Editors Love These Sephora Mascaras the Most

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated

From byrdie

When it comes to mascaras, it’s difficult to know where to start. There are so many formulas out there promising stronger, longer, volumized, thickened, and smudge-free lashes. So how to weed through all the noise? We’ve got you. Since we have the unique opportunity to try products before they’re launched, we have a few thoughts on the best mascaras out there. So much so that we couldn’t help but make a list of (read: a love letter to) the formulas that have gotten us through it all—tears, dates, family gatherings, industry events, and yes, even workouts.

“Even though Dior’s original DiorShow formula seems to get all the love, I’ve used and sworn by this magical mascara for years (since high school, if we’re getting really specific.) Not only is it one of the only mascara formulas that actually curls—and maintains—the bend of my lashes, it also encourages separation and length. I’m convinced I’ll be hooked for life.” — Erin Jahns, assistant editor

“This has been a tried-and-true mascara for me for quite a few years now, and every time I stray away from it and come back, I wonder why I ever left. It simply offers the lengthiest, thickest lash effect of any mascara I’ve tried. I also love the straight up and down wand—it allows me to employ my favorite mascara hack).” — Amanda Montell, features editor

“I love tinted mascaras; they’re so much fun and really elevate a going-out look, which can sometimes get stale. My favorite is this blue one from YSL. It’s highly pigmented so that the vibrant blue really pops and defines the eyes, but it has an amazing staying power so that the formula doesn’t smudge everywhere. Also, it gives my lashes the same lift and volume as some of the best traditional black mascaras out there.” — Audrey Noble, associate editor

“I’m very particular when it comes to mascara. My short blonde lashes need volume and length, and I’ve found very few formulas adequately achieve both. So once I found what I deemed *the* ultimate mascara, I didn’t dare stray. But then one day I saw the Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Mascara I’d gotten in a mailing staring me in the face, begging to be tested, so I gave it a whirl. In a word: wow. The brush is big and fluffy, and the formula is a thick, jet-black inky texture that goes against my usual thin silicone brush comfort zone, but the combination is divine and leaves me with the most lush lashes. I’ve been using it for months now, leaving my old favorite on standby.” — Lindsey Metrus, managing editor

“This mascara is perfect for thin, sad little lashes like mine. I’m impatient, so I appreciate when a mascara gives me major volume in just one coat. Unlike most other volume-boosting mascaras, the brush on this guy isn’t huge, which means it’s easier to wiggle it through your lashes without getting it all over your eyelid. The formula is velvety- smooth, and you can easily build volume without clumping. It’s the mascara I recommend to anyone who isn’t afraid to spend a little more for quality formula and a major volume boost.” — Faith Xue, editorial director

“I applaud the devil who came up with the name of this mascara as much as I admire whoever nailed down its formula. Whenever I want my lashes to look long and separated without having to worry about any flaking or smudging, this is the classic I reach for.” — Amanda Montell

“My 18-year-old eyelashes found this pink and shiny mascara tube, and I haven’t looked back since. I’m the type of person who loves glamorous, over-the-top, and intensely curled lashes on a regular Tuesday, and this mascara does just that. The thing I love about it the most is it transforms my lashes in lightning speed. In just two coats, I’ll look like I got some sleep and have my life together. Plus, it’s easy to get off with coconut oil, unlike other mascaras that make you pull out a lash or two during the removal process.” — Maya Allen, assistant editor

“For as long as I’ve been wearing makeup, I’ve been on the search for my lifetime mascara. After making my way through popular drugstore varieties in high school, bouncing around Sephora options before settling down with Benefit BADgal Lash in college, and then proceeding to not commit but instead rely on mascara samples throughout postgrad life, I think I finally found The One. Dior Diorshow Iconic Overcurl is as close as I’ve gotten to a mascara I buy time after time—that I love from first swipe until it’s all dried up. I had tried the classic Dior Diorshow previously, but the Overcurl iteration gives an extra oomph and effectively holds curled eyelashes in place.” — Dacy Knight, weekend editor

“I’m usually not a fan of plastic-bristle mascara brushes because I feel like they rarely give me the volume I want, but Giorgio Armani’s Eccentrico surprised me. First all, the formula is super-inky black and has a bit of a wet-shine finish. Very dramatic. I love that I can apply multiple coats and my lashes still look natural, thick, and longer than they ever have on their own. It’s a great mascara for layering, too—you can apply it over any other formula without it clumping.” — Faith Xue

“To make my lash look even more impactful, I always swipe on a couple coats of this volume-boosting lash primer before applying the Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara. As a duo, these products have a synergistic effect. I had never before been a fan of lash primers (I felt they made the mascara look flaky and sometimes the white coloration was never fully covered up), but this one has become a makeup-bag staple and the perfect pairing to my (most likely) lifetime mascara.” — Dacy Knight

Found a formula that speaks to you yet? Sometimes it takes a little trial and error to find the holy grail you’ve been looking for.

Next up, Sephora Can’t Keep This Cult-Fave Face Oil in Stock

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated

From byrdie

Suffice to say, Sal Ali has harnessed the power of Midas. The husband of Insta-famous beauty guru Farah Dhukai teamed up with a group of cosmetic scientists last year to create a restorative, hydrating, and multipurpose beauty product. Oh, and it’s littered with specks of 24-carat gold. It’s basically the facial oil to end all facial oils, according to the very opinionated beauty community on Instagram.

The formula was originally created to solve Farah’s frustration with the lack of skin benefits in most makeup products, so not only is this product beautifying, but it’s also chock-full of good-for-you ingredients to boot. And if you’re looking for ultimate proof that the gold-flecked face oil delivers on more than just curb appeal, consider this: Sephora only recently began stocking it, and it’s already managed to sell out in that short time. (They’ve since restocked.)

Does it all sound too good to be true? Not to worry—we did some digging. (Gold rush pun intended.)

What it is: A natural, nontoxic moisturizer that aids in smoothing out your makeup—it blends and melts right into your skin for an airbrushed finish. Ideal for all skin types, it promises to make your complexion appear fresh, dewy, and luminous. We definitely don’t mind the fresh citrus scent while using it either.

Why it’s awesome: The concoction of rose hip, pumpkin seed, lemongrass, and orange peel oils protects your skin from environmental toxins and free radicals, which can speed up aging. And while the golden flecks are certainly pretty to look at, they also slow collagen depletion and prevent sagging skin.

How you can use it: What really sets this face oil apart from the mass of others out there—besides, you know, being infused with gold—is how versatile it is. Generally speaking, it’s a daily moisturizer, but there are actually three different ways you can apply the treatment. Switch out your primer for this oil, and your makeup will be longer-lasting and easier to apply. Mix two or three drops into your foundation (more if you tend to have dry skin) for that goddess-y, celestial effect. Or, like Dhukai, you can opt to blend it on with a Beautyblender by squeezing two drops onto a damp sponge and dotting it on over your foundation. (Mixing them together before applying works too.)

Next up, I Spent $200 on Makeup at Sephora: Read My Honest Reviews

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated

From byrdie

I’m not big on switching up my makeup look. I’m a creature of habit, and when I know what I like, I stick to it. So I’ve also been pretty loyal to a few product favorites for years. This summer, though, I decided enough was enough. I was going to try new products and brands and never look back. It’s time to be experimental, spontaneous, and less restrictive on myself (and my look). Can you tell I’m a Taurus? Change is not exactly one of my strong suits.

I headed over to Sephora (it’s across the street from our office, which is dangerous for my wallet) and perused the shelves. I even talked to a salesperson or two and let them know what I was doing. I had a budget of $200 (I ended up spending $209—don’t tell anyone) and had to be out in an hour. I picked out some staples (foundation, highlighter, mascara, etc.) and bought them all without trying them on. Once I was back at the office, the testing began. Below, find my honest reviews of each product.Spoiler: They all rule.

1. Eye Shadow

I had been looking for a blue eye shadow for what seemed like forever when I stumbled upon RMS’s version. Dubbed “eye polish” the formula offers a sheer, metallic glow with a coconut-oil base (so it’s good for your skin too). At first, the color payoff was really subtle and didn’t look exactly as I wanted it to. But after building and layering, it was the pastel, cotton-candy shade of my dreams. It stayed put pretty well, only creasing slightly throughout the day and fading to a less opaque wash. But I love it anyway. I got so many compliments when I had it on.

2. Mascara

I’m always skeptical about new mascaras. I’m not exactly easy to please. See, my eyes are more watery than most, and even the highest-reviewed mascaras often leave me with below-the-lashline smudges. I swiped on Nars’s new offering, called Climax (pun intended), and was immediately taken with the large, thick-bristle brush. After a few brush strokes, my lashes looked so long. Then after a few more, they looked insanely thick. I couldn’t believe the difference, but the real test came later. Would the mascara stay in place without a smudge?
I examined my face after coming home from dinner and was pleasantly surprised. No terrible smudges, no flakes. They don’t call Nars iconic for nothing.

3. Foundation

This is Beautyblender’s first-ever foundation, Bounce, and man, it doesn’t disappoint. I take my foundation very seriously. My skin is my thing and unless I’m going to look glowy and bright, I’m not having it. This one’s a full-coverage formula (which isn’t my usual go-to, but just wait) that feels light, whipped, and pretty much like bare skin once it’s applied. It blends like a dream. It’s so silky and melts into your skin once you hit it with a damp Beautyblender and offers a velveteen-matte finish (healthy, dewy, but not shiny). It’s infused with hydrating hyaluronic acid which boosts moisture and plumps your skin, so I applied it without primer and didn’t dust powder over top. It stayed perfectly on my face all day and into the night.

4. Brows

Originally, I thought this product was sort of gimmicky. Why would I need more than one shade? Wrong. According to most makeup artists (and I’ve talked to a fair share), the most natural-looking brows offer dimension because our hairs aren’t all alike. This four-in-one brow tool was specially designed to fill, define, and highlight your eyebrows in one fell swoop. It’s a click pen with four settings: two personalized shades, an edge-definer shade, and an arch highlighter. One click is all it takes to switch between them. It’s fun to use, first of all, and it made my brows look amazing. The strokes are tiny enough to look like real hairs and various shades blended together to create a bold, yet entirely natural, look.

5. Lip Gloss

Kopari’s balm offers a glossy, melty shine that isn’t sticky in the slightest. It’s a blend of coconut oil, vitamin E, and shea butter to keep dryness at bay (no matter the season). I reapply a few times during the day haven’t experienced that dry, chapped feeling since I bought it. It feels like a balm but looks like a gloss, the best type of low-key hybrid product I can think of. Plus, it smells like vacation.

6. Highlighter

I kid you not, the second I rubbed my finger on this soft, cream-powder hybrid gem, I let out a scream. It’s so good. It feels bouncy to the touch and allows for a hyper-lustrous, glistening effect, without a wet texture. You can apply it to your cheeks, Cupid’s bow, brow bone, the inner corners of your eyes, and even your collarbone and shoulders. It’s a heavenly, pearlescent glimmer that looks bold or subtle depending on your mood (and how much you layer it on). I like to dot it on to my cheekbones for that ever-coveted glass skin look. It works like a charm.

Next up, Banish Your Biggest Skincare Concerns With Sephora’s Best Sellers.

From byrdie

We all have those dreaded skincare concerns we would rather live without. Read: blackheads, acne, dark spots, dry skin… The list goes on. Moreover, finding the perfect product to tackle these concerns can feel overwhelming (and perhaps more stressful than the skin issues themselves). Thankfully, Sephora’s best-selling skincare products have us covered. From invigorating face scrubs and hydrating serums to multitasking masks, these highly reviewed and top-rated picks will help tackle common skincare issues, leaving your skin smooth, refreshed, and glowing.

Acne & Blemish Prone Skin

There’s a reason this skincare mask is a best seller. The potent formula addresses common skin concerns such as blemishes, redness, scars, and ingrown hairs and includes a blend of acids to help minimize pores and create clearer skin. Activated-X charcoal clears away dirt, leaving a healthy-looking complexion in its wake. This is a winner for those with problem skin such as blackheads, blemishes, large pores, and oily skin.

Perfect for acne-prone and oily skin, this drying lotion and full-coverage concealer disguises the look of blemishes, acne, redness, and discolorations without creasing or cracking. Simply tap the concealer onto and around the blemish until you build your desired level of coverage.

Dry Skin

Ideal for normal to dry skin, this highly rated nourishing face mask delivers 24-hour moisture. A combination of hyaluronic acids provides deep hydration while rosewater and rose flower oil soothe and nourish. Plus, the floral scent is exquisite.

While most foundations and tinted moisturizers can leave skin dry, this one has the opposite effect. Made with vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, and other nourishing ingredients, this multitasking tinted moisturizer provides skin with 12 hours of soothing hydration, as well as SPF. Excellent for those with sensitive skin, dry skin, and redness.

La Mer’s highly coveted moisturizing cream continues to impress those with even the driest of skin. Infused with its Miracle Broth, the ultra-rich cream is known for its power to hydrate and improve dryness in as little as three days. Skin appears softer, nourished, and soothed.

If traveling dries out your skin, this one’s for you. Deeply hydrating and über-dewy, the jet-lag mask soothes stressed-out, dry skin with a nourishing mix of vitamins, antioxidants, and exfoliating extracts. The result? Your complexion looks instantly renewed and radiant.

Dull Skin & Uneven Skin Tone

Users can’t recommend this enough. The vitamin C day serum is packed with a potent antioxidant complex, nutrients, and enzymes, which penetrate the skin and dissolve dead surface skin cells. It leaves skin radiant and luminous. Apply daily in the morning and say goodbye to dull skin.

Blurring the lines between skincare and makeup, this long-lasting foundation is ideal for those with uneven skin tone, redness, and oily skin. With a satin-matte finish, the foundation comes in 20 shades that conceal redness, pores, and dark spots without looking cakey. If you want to achieve a smooth, hydrated, and even skin tone, this one is for you.

A color corrector and serum in one, Dr Jart’s green-to-beige camouflage formula neutralizes redness and revitalizes dull skin tone. Use alone or under makeup for a glowing finish. Perfect for those with uneven skin, rosacea, acne, irritations, and any sensitivities.

If you’re looking to dramatically even skin texture and tone, then it’s time to give yourself an at-home facial. Drunk Elephant’s innovative mask gently and efficiently exfoliates dead skin cells, evens out skin tone, smooths skins texture, unclogs pores, and minimizes the look of fine lines, wrinkles, and pores. Say hello to radiant, fresh, and clear skin.

Aging Skin

We’re all looking for the fountain of youth, and we’d say Algenist’s liquid collagen comes pretty darn close. The anti-aging formula contains natural microalgae oil beads; omegas-3, -6, and -9; and a natural source of vitamin E to make skin brighter, more resilient, and youthful-looking. Apply to your neck, face, and chest after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Smooth, beautiful skin in just two minutes? Sign us up. This anti-aging peel is easy to use and doesn’t require any recovery time compared to other regular peels. Two separate pads (one packed with exfoliating acids to clear away dead skin, the other a neutralizer containing anti-aging ingredients) work together to combat the common signs of aging, leaving skin smooth and radiant.

Pores and Blackheads

This best-selling exfoliating treatment contains lactic acid, fruit enzymes, and natural exfoliants to deep clean clogged pores. Use once or twice a week for smooth, bright, and healthy-looking skin.

Dead skin cells will be gone by morning! This high-tech night serum sinks easily into the skin and delivers an effective level of chemical exfoliation. Diminish the appearance of pores, fine lines, wrinkles, and excess oiliness overnight.

Users worship Philosophy’s multitasking mask that scrubs away blackheads, improves the look of pores, and draws out impurities. The pore extractor mask contains potent exfoliants that leave skin looking smooth, glowing, and clear.

Next up, What to Buy at Sephora If You Only Have $20

From byrdie

Sephora is a magical place where you can find any beauty product you’ve ever wanted (and many you never knew you needed). There’s makeup, fragrance, haircare, skincare, and even those tiny little travel products by the register that test every ounce of your self-control. It’s a place where my credit card has taken on a mind of its own. But—like many of us—I have champagne taste on a beer budget.

To help you make healthy financial decisions—and end up with a great product haul in the process—we’ve grouped a few must-have Sephora products by price. With this handy list, you can budget your next shopping trip while still bettering your beauty collection. Get the most beauty for your buck with these choice buys.

If You Want to Buy One Product, Buy…

I took a poll, and we all agreed that spending the full $20 on a Beautyblender is totally acceptable. It’s perhaps the most important product in your makeup routine! No other sponge, brush, or tool has ever allowed for such a streak-free, airbrushed-looking finish with minimum product waste. Just dampen the sponge and blend away.

Or

Looking for a dewy, natural-looking finish with just the right about of highlight? Look no further. This product has officially reached cult status, courtesy of its ultra-fine, light-reflecting pearls that blur and add glow wherever you may apply. Add it to your primer, foundation, or moisturizer for even more radiance.

Or

Stock up on this potent multitasker that nourishes your skin, strands, and cuticles for a dewy glow from head to toe. Imported from Morocco, where it’s grown organically, this pure argan oil is rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids.

If You Want to Buy Two Products, Buy…

This mascara is one of the best when it comes to super-thick, inky-black lashes and a ton of volume. The brush has an hourglass shape and dense bristles to curl, coat, and define your lashes in one coat (but I like to do three for extra oomph).

And

Recommended by our news editor, Victoria, this budget-friendly liquid liner is both easy to use and boasts great results. Victoria says, “It’s extremely waterproof (but not impossible to remove at the end of the day), and the sponge applicator is perfect. I’ve been using it since I was in high school!”

If You Want to Buy Three Products, Buy…

Think for a second about the last time you cleaned your brushes—like, really cleaned them. It’s been a long time, right? Now think about how necessary this brush cleaning kit is (especially at such a great price). This rinse-free, quick-drying disinfectant formula comes complete with a mini tin duo to help with the cleaning process. Just pour the formula into the tin, swoosh your brush around, and blot it dry.

And

Apply this moisturizing sheet mask and relax as the concentrated serum locks in water and makes you look more rested than you feel.

And

A classic favorite (and one I always used to pick up as I waited to check out at the register). Use it as a pinky lip balm to soothe chapped lips or as a multipurpose blend on burns, dry patches, or rashes. It’s thick and hydrating, with a faint smell of roses.

Next up, This Buzzy Urban Decay Palette Is 50% Off at Sephora This Week

From byrdie

Another Thursday means another Sephora Weekly Wow Sale. Like we’ve said before, this sale has become a part of our weekly routine. After waking up, pouring ourselves a cup of coffee, and getting ready, we head straight to our computers to see which buzzy brands and products are being offered for up to 50% off. Thursday has officially become sale day.

This week there are five products included in the roundup. Each one will help keep your hair, skin, or makeup looking bright and radiant, no matter if the short and dark days, dropping temperatures, or pre-holiday stress are making you feel dull and tired. Think of products like a gorgeous blush, bronzer, and highlighter palette; a lacquered lip color; and a professional hair tool that will smooth, dry, and volumize your hair all at once. To see all five discounted products that are included in this week’s Sephora sale, keep scrolling.

This gorgeous palette makes it easy to fake summer skin in the dead of winter. Apply the bronzer under your cheekbones, jawline, and on the sides of your forehead. Then, pat a golden, shimmery highlight on the high points of your face. Finish with a boost of subtle blush on the apples of your cheeks.

This lip color is super (we can’t place enough emphasis on super) glossy. The high-shine formula mimics the look of latex or vinyl. Plus, it stays on your lips for a really long time, meaning you won’t have to deal with constant touch-ups during a night out.

This highlighter is infused with rose water, so it all but sinks into your skin to offer a natural sheen. It’s portable and easy to blend out with your fingers. In other words, it’s a great highlighter to stash in your purse or carry-on during holiday travel.

As we all know, you can’t skimp on sunscreen—not even in the winter. No matter how cold or cloudy it gets, UVA and UVB rays are still out there, ready to damage and age your complexion. This product has SPF 45 to protect your skin. The powder formula is released through the brush so you can easily swipe it across your face. It’s also great for oily skin types since it will mattify shine.

This professional hair dryer has ion-generating technology to eradicate static and frizz and boost shine (we’ve seen it in action, and we can promise it dries hair quickly and effectively without frying it to bits). It also comes with a barrel brush for easy styling.

Next up,Real Women Agree: These Were the Best Foundations at Sephora in 2017

From byrdie

Our constant quest for the best foundation—great coverage, lightweight feel, turns our faces into that of a glowing goddess—more often than not takes us to Sephora. The mecca of all things beauty sells almost every makeup brand worth purchasing, and it doesn’t mind letting us in on their best-kept secret: the top sellers. Below, we detail seven of Sephora’s most-purchased foundations in 2017, aka the ones you should seriously look into. The numbers don’t lie, after all.

Keep scrolling for your next magical formula.

Available in 40 shades, Fenty’s foundation is both ground-breaking in its inclusiveness and genuinely effective in its coverage. “I might even go as far to say that’s truly one of the best foundations I’ve ever tried,” says Faith Xue, Byrdie’s editorial director. “It’s velvety-smooth but not too mattifying, and it basically blurs out every line or blemish for a truly filter-like effect. As I applied it, I couldn’t believe how quickly it turned my skin into a flawless canvas.”

After each one of our editors tried it, yielding five totally honest reviews of the Kim Kardashian West fave, we’re sure in our assessment that using this foundation is like falling in love at first sight. You only need one pump to perfect and flawlessly apply this creamy, silky goodness.

If you’re game for a matte, high-pigment, full-coverage foundation—this one is for you. Banish shine and discoloration with one light layer of Kat Von D’s finest—it’s waterproof, fade-proof, and totally transfer-resistant.

If you’re game for a matte, high-pigment, full-coverage foundation—this one is for you. Banish shine and discoloration with one light layer of Kat Von D’s finest—it’s waterproof, fade-proof, and totally transfer-resistant.

Formulated with “buoyancy gel” technology (it plumps and smooths skin while it covers), this foundation offers weightless, natural-looking coverage and a ton of hydration. Soft-focus powder particles work to reflect light to blur fine lines and discoloration.

Achieve natural-looking coverage with Too Faced’s version of “I woke up like this” beauty. It gives a dewy, radiant, but completely undetectable finish.

The only powder offering of the bunch, this foundation’s foundation feels like a creamy hybrid with a natural, matte finish. Read: It’s never cakey.

Next up,15 Things From Sephora, Ulta, and Amazon Women With Dark Skin Tones Should Buy

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated

From byrdie

Getting lost in beauty holes is what I’m the best at, especially when the glossy doors of Sephora and Ulta are calling my name or Amazon Prime deals are just too good to resist and I’m in a treat-yourself mood. That’s pretty much all the time because when you hustle 100% of the time, you must reward yourself, you feel me? As a proponent of the popular saying, “When you look good, you feel good,” I’m here to make all my fellow women of color feel their absolute best. There was once a time when offerings were severely scarce when it came to catering to our varying deep complexions and undertones. Thankfully, slowly but surely, that’s become a thing of the past, and each day more and more brands are launching shade ranges and products that were practically made for us. Finally, because we deserve it.

All those colorful beauty aisles and never-ending online pages can feel overwhelming at times. It’s gifting season, and you can’t forget about yourself. I did all the scrolling for you and included the 15 best products from Sephora, Ulta, and Amazon women of color should certainly consider copping. Keep going for the goods.

When Rihanna says mix to fire- and ice-colored highlighters, you follow suit. Get in the holiday spirit with these frosty shimmers that’ll bling on brown skin like no other.

This is one of those no-brainer lip gloss shades that you absolutely know will look stunning on deep skin tones. Black-owned vegan beauty brand The Lip Bar always gets it right. Layer this brick-red gloss on top of a matte texture, or wear it alone for a sultry, sheer effect.

You can never own enough neutral eye shadows—and 40 shades of ambers, taupes, and smoky hues in one palette sound like such a treat. Imagine how much use you’ll get out of this.

Brown girls and bronzer go together. Whether you’re trying to enhance the radiance of your overall complexion or you want to amp up the depth of your contour, bronzer is your best friend. The Covergirl Queen line has remained a staple among women of color for decades because it has spoken to deep skin tones since its inception.

These festive fall shades—one is warm and the other is more cool-toned—will suit an array of dark skin tones. I’m devoted to the unmatched matte texture of this line. These shades will sink into your lips and you’ll forget they’re there. Plus, for $10 you can try both shades and pick which one you want to cop full-size.

Each champagne hue in this highlighter palette will simply dazzle on dark skin. Use the top, far-right shade if you want a holographic vibe and the bottom, far-left color if a sunset bronze is more your style.

Huda Beauty is widely praised for delivering no-BS, full-coverage formulas. This concealer is for those who respect the fake-it-till-you-make-it approach. You know, when you’re grinding all night but still aim to look like you woke up like this. Here’s your secret weapon, available in a large spectrum of deep shades.

Toss your sticky glosses away and stock up on these, which will kiss your lips in moisture instead. Every brown girl knows how agonizing it is finding “nude” shades that complement dark complexions. Ladies, these are true nudes and will work on dark skin tones.

Mark my words: Every eye shadow shade will look exceptional on dark skin tones. This compact palette from Pür has some extra-gorgeous hues that will make your eyes pop.

Meet the next best thing from Tom Ford: a creamy, glow-inducing powder that will add a touch of luminosity anywhere it lands. Brown girls, layer this on the high points of your face like highlighter and get ready for its light-reflecting powders to be practically blinding.

How “holiday” is this palette (insert heart eyes). Nars is one of those legacy brands that have always catered to dark skin tones. I encourage you to pick up this limited-edition palette for any and all festive parties on your calendar before it sells out.

The latest from L’Oréal is a breathable foundation that feels light as a feather but offers buildable coverage. Fortunately, women of color are finally able to walk into their local drugstore and see foundation shades made for them. This oil-absorbing, SPF-packed formula is a star example.

ColourPop gained a cult following on Instagram—relating to real women who wanted quality makeup at accessible prices. The cream-to-powder feel leaves a velvety strike of shimmer you can blend to perfection.

Let’s get this straight: Dose of Colors does not play around with pigment. One scroll through the brand’s breathtaking Instagram feed is all the proof you’ll need. This chocolate burgundy hue looks like it was made for women of color. It has a satin finish so it’ll feel ultra-soft on the lips.

You can’t talk about makeup for brown girls without including the mother of makeup, aka the icon that is Pat McGrath, who has been singlehandedly putting on for women of color since she stepped on the scene. These dazzling matte, shimmer, and glitter eye shadow shades don’t need much of an explanation. They’re good, trust me.

Next up, The Kiehl’s of Korea Just Launched at Sephora

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated