Is it just us, or has the beauty content flooding the timelines this month been almost exclusively spook-centric? It’s not shocking—it is Halloween after all—but festive makeup has been omnipresent all month long, from manis designed to look like severed fingers to Hocus Pocus-inspired makeup. Even though this is the time to put amateur VFX skills on full display, I would say that the true marker of a stellar product is how well it can integrate into your everyday, and that’s what our beauty team had in mind as we sifted through the latest launches. This month, our beauty team’s favorites range from body care including a luxurious body polish and a microbiome-focused serum, to makeup, with a new matte lipstick and a multi-use pigment stick, and fragrance, with Crown Affair launching their first-ever perfume. Read on for this month’s best of the best.
Ama Kwarteng, Beauty Director
Ama wearing Summer Fridays' Blush Balm Stick.
Photo: Courtesy of Ama Kwarteng
Blush Balm Sticks
"Is it just me or is it harder for everyone to get out of bed in the wintertime? The one thing that can get me out from under the covers is the looming threat of being charged for missing a New York Pilates class. Otherwise, on most days, the snooze button is my best friend. That means by the time I’ve stopped telling myself just five more minutes, I only have about 10 minutes to make myself look presentable for the day—that's where Summer Fridays Multi-Use Lip & Cheek stick comes in handy. After finishing up my skincare routine and applying some concealer, I’ll swipe the stick across my lids, atop my cheekbones, and on my lips to give my face a quick and colorful pick-me-up. The sheer formula is super buildable, goes on so smoothly, and makes it look like you actually put some effort into your makeup look that morning."
Deep Cleansing Oil
"Some people say the cleanser you use doesn’t really matter too much since it doesn’t stay on your skin for long—you just wash it off—but I strongly disagree. It’s probably one of the most important steps in your PM routine; if you aren’t able to completely wash the day off your skin, how do you expect all the serums that follow to sink in?
"Anyway, I always start off my routine with an oil cleanser and I’ve really been into this new launch from Susanne Kaufmann. The consistency is super lightweight but effective—it removes all of your makeup without leaving a greasy film behind on your skin. Plus, it's formulated with apricot kernel oil giving the cleanser a nice and not-overwhelming-at-all-scent. Adding this to my evening product lineup has definitely transformed my PM routine from something I’d rush to get through into an enjoyable, sensorial experience."
Royal Tulip Petal Polish
"Exfoliation is always a part of my body care routine and as of late, I’ve been really into this new one from Bloomeffects. First of all, the texture is incredible; it starts off as a super-fine scrub, similar to grains of sand at the beach, which makes it a great option if you have sensitive skin. The formula uses sea salt crystals, alpha hydroxy acids, and papaya extracts to gently dissolve dead skin cells while vitamin C and hyaluronic acid even out your skin tone and boost hydration, leaving behind a smooth afterglow."
Sumiko Wilson, Beauty Fellow
Photo: Courtesy of Sumiko Wilson
Superplant Body Serum+
"I’m calling it: This will be my least ashy winter of all time. Iota’s Superplant Body Serum has joined my personal body care hall of fame. The microbiome support at the core of Iota’s formulas piqued my interest, but the instant hydration boost earned this serum top shelf status. Post-shower, my skin drank up their niacinamide and hyaluronic acid-rich formula and left me with instantly supple, soft skin without any drying time, residue, or tedious rubbing in. Plus, the unscented formula is designed to suit sensitive skin types sans irritation, striking the perfect balance between gentle and high-performance."
On the Mend
"After ten months of consecutive Gel X manicures and a lifetime of nail-biting, when I took my first Gel X break of the year last month, my nails were in very rough shape. I don’t think they have ever been more brittle—a strong gust of wind could leave me with a broken nail. Enter Chillhouse’s new On the Mend Kit: a brush-on cuticle serum and a crystal file. The kit comes stacked with a crystal nail file to prep nails and a restorative serum featuring jojoba, vitamin E oil, sea buckthorn oil, and aloe leaf extract to heal damaged cuticles and lock in moisture. Pro tip: If you happened to snag Soft Services’ new overnight hand treatment Theraplush, pair this serum with that treatment to give your cuticles some targeted TLC before bed and wake up with the softest hands ever."
Satisfying Skin Caring Moisturizer
"For their first foray into the skincare category, cult (and personal) favorite fragrance brand Ellis Brooklyn unveiled their debut moisturizer. When I first opened my jar, in all its sky-blue frosted glass splendor, I was genuinely surprised. The feel of this moisturizer strays from the skincare status quo with a more whipped, bouncy texture. Founder Bee Shapiro drew from her experience writing about skincare for the New York Times to nail down a formula that was efficient and indulgent (the gentle vanilla scent adds a subtle dose of aromatherapy to your nightly ritual). This is lightweight enough that I can wear it under makeup but rich enough to go toe-to-toe with my go-to night cream.. It's on the pricier side, but between the high-power actives like squalene, niacinamide and microalgae, and the fact that I only use a pearl-sized dollop each time, buyer’s remorse is highly unlikely. It’s a yes from me."
Adi Giesey, Beauty Assistant
Photo: Courtesy of Adi Giesey
The Scalp Serum
"Ever since I have experienced a little bit of thinning along my hairline, I have been testing serums and treatments in an attempt to give my scalp some much needed TLC. I love this formula because it has a super lightweight texture that won’t leave your hair looking greasy (a big issue for me in the past). Hyaluronic acid and niacinamide deliver a dose of hydration while the five percent biomimetic peptide blend helps promote hair growth. This has been a welcomed extra step in my routine that is here to stay."
Quick Dry Polish
"I am the perfect candidate for a quick dry nail polish but I have never been willing to sacrifice the shine and finish of a traditional formula. It has become a running joke amongst friends that I will alway leave the house with wet nails which inevitably results in at least one smudge. But leave it to Olive and June to figure out how to keep the quality of a true polish with a quarter of the drying time. I’ve already used several shades before a wedding, a birthday party, and a work dinner and I am happy to report that they were all dry by the time I made it to my Uber. This is truly perfect for anyone who needs a quick manicure or simply does not have the patience for a full dry time."
The Signature Scent
"If you’ve used Crown Affair before, you know that the brand not only has hair-loving products, but a signature scent that incredible. After high demand, the fragrance is finally available as an aloe-based hair perfume that leaves your strands feeling and smelling refreshed. As someone who is a big believer in keeping a fragrance wardrobe, I’ve had so much fun layering this with my favorite perfumes from day to night."
Pimple Correct
"Whether you are acne-prone or only get a handful of stubborn pimples every month, this spot treatment will be your new best friend. The formula is full of calming tea tree capsules and salicylic, acetic, and azelaic acid to help tackle breakouts. I had a particularly large zit on my forehead a few weeks ago and I was truly shocked how within just a few applications it swiftly disappeared. As a plus, the packaging makes it super easy to throw in a travel bag or take on the go."
Matcha Hemp Body Wash
"While trying to perfect a facial cleanser, the Krave Beauty team found themselves with batches of leftover formula that didn’t make the cut. So instead of letting it go to waste, they used it as the base for their first-ever body wash. Talk about sustainable thinking at its finest! It is full of antioxidants, hemp seed oil, and my favorite soothing ingredient, oat. I’ve been loving cycling this into my shower routine and wish that it wasn’t a limited-edition product."