Although it may not feel like it in some parts of the country, summer is officially upon us. With every new quarter comes seasonal recipes, outdoor activities, and — you guessed it — new beauty launches. Seeing as we're makeup-, hair-, and skin-obsessed around here, the former (obviously) has us the most excited. Summer tends to be one of the most innovative seasons when it comes to beauty. Plus, it's the perfect time to experiment with color.
We've spent the past few months meticulously testing a barrage of promising summer finds. Need a fuss-free lip stain or a sunscreen that won't cause breakouts? It's all right here. So, sit back, pour yourself a cup of (iced) tea, and get ready, because there's a ton of exciting newness, ahead.
"I've seen a lot of colored mascaras in my day, but none quite as sexy as this one. First of all, whipping this crazy-chic tube out of my bag just makes me really happy. But it's the rich, glossy pigment it leaves on my lashes that sold me. It comes in a bunch of shades, but the electric blue will be my summer go-to." — Cat Quinn, beauty director
YSL Mascara Vinyl Couture in Blue, $29, available at YSL.
"I don't think I've ever used a primer as unique as Hourglass' new Ambient Light Correcting Primer. The shade I like is Mood Light, which squeezes out of the tube a light purple-pink shade. Once it's on my skin, it has an immediate blurring effect that slightly masks discoloration. I don't know what kind of magic is in this tube, but ever since I started using it a few weeks ago, I need significantly less concealer and foundation." — Mi-Anne Chan, beauty editorial assistant
Hourglass Ambient Light Correcting Primer in Mood Light, $44, available at SpaceNK.
"I've been a huge fan of Carven's fragrances for ages, but the latest launch may be my favorite yet. L'Absolu is the cool girl's answer to floral fragrance. It's a heady mix of jasmine, iris, and tuberose, but it's grounded by a base of patchouli, sandalwood, and amber. It's the least cloying floral fragrance I've ever sniffed and a scent I'll likely be wearing all summer long." — Maria Del Russo, beauty editor
Carven L'Absolu, $120, available at Nordstrom.
"This purple lipstick may look intimidating in the bullet, but on the lips, it's surprisingly flattering. Apply one heavy coat for a pop of vibrant purple-berry color or dab it on lightly and wear it as a stain." — Mi-Anne Chan
Topshop Straight Ace Lipstick, $12, available at Topshop.
"Periwinkle blue shadow with a lilac duochrome should not, in any way, work on your eyes. But if anyone is going to challenge that, it's gonna be May (just kidding, it's going to be NARS. Sorry, *NSYNC).
"Pool Shark — snaps to that shade namer — can be applied lightly for an oh-so-delicate watery whisper, or loaded on for that 'holy shit, I love your eyeshadow' reaction. I like dipping a damp sponge applicator in water and lining the top lid or making a squared-off, graphic cat-eye. Follow that up with a few coats of brown mascara (which will really make the blue pop). Boom: Summer makeup in two easy steps." — Megan McIntyre, beauty features director
NARS Pool Shark Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow, $29, available at NARS Cosmetics.
"Yes, this is a nail polish named after the CC cream craze — but hear us out. This is far from a sheer, neutral polish. Instead, it looks just like your nails, only better. One coat gives nails a matte finish and slight tinge of nudey-white color, but the real beauty is that it fills in ridges and makes nails look super smooth. Plus, it's so light that you can paint your digits in under a minute and it will still look good." — Lexy Lebsack
SpaRitual Vegan CC Crème in Natural Medium, $17, available at SpaRitual. [Ed. Note: This product is currently sold out. We have reached out to SpaRitual and will update this post with restock information.]
"When I went to Singapore last year, I got my hands on a Korean gel lip stain that was unlike any other I'd tried; it applied wet and once it dried, it stained my lips and left ZERO residue behind. Just when I thought I'd have to fly across the globe to get another tube, E.L.F. dropped its new Aqua Beauty Lip Stain which boasts a shockingly similar texture, color, and feel.
"Just remember to let the stain dry before going in for a second coat. This will keep the product from getting patchy and help the color appear more vibrant on the lips." — Mi-Anne Chan
E.L.F. Aqua Beauty Radiant Gel Lip Stain in Dewy Berry, $4, available at E.L.F. Cosmetics.
"This is truly one of the strangest products I’ve used in a while: a foam spray blow-dry? The hell? But it’s exactly what it sounds like. It’s an aerosol mousse that you spritz (lightly) into wet hair. When you go in with your dryer, it creates the perfect amount of texture and grip, without making hair fuzzy. I like to use it before curling my hair with a wand — it makes my haphazard, lazy, beach waves last for a couple of days." — Jenna Rosenstein, senior beauty editor, brand experiences
Bumble and Bumble Surf Foam Spray Blow Dry, $31, available at Sephora.
“These new liquid lipsticks from indie brand Gold Label Cosmetics are my new go-tos. The cushion applicator allows the formula to glide on smoothly and it can be layered, depending on your look of choice. I’m a dark lip girl at heart, so my favorite is the deep red Empowering, but I also plan on dabbling in the light purple shade, Social Diary.” — Taylor Bryant, beauty news editor
Gold Label Matte Lip Pen in Social Diary, $17, available at Gold Label Cosmetics.
"These new highlighters from Lancôme have the coolest, bounciest, silkiest texture. They glide on like butter and add just the right amount of gleam. Plus, the base of the formula is clear (not white) so they won't look chalky on darker skin tones." — Cat Quinn
Lancôme Glow Subtil Silky Crème Highlighter, $30, available in June at Sephora.
"Algenist has gotten in on the sleeping pack game and its first foray is a total winner. Twice a week, I smooth this sleeping mask on after my skin-care regimen. When I wake up, my skin is intensely hydrated, glowy, and bright. Who says you can't get good skin in your sleep?" — Maria Del Russo, beauty editor
Algenist SPLASH Absolute Hydration Replenish Sleep Pack, $68, available at Sephora.
" After a day by the sea, my thick, wavy hair looks nothing like the 'beachy waves' you ask for at the salon. It’s usually a huge, frizzy mess — but I know there is potential for good hair there. This summer, I’m planning to add some of this beauty balm to my locks before hitting the beach (and maybe even after a salty swim) to keep things under control and protected from the sun." — Megan Cahn, senior beauty editor
Alterna Bamboo Beach BB Balm For Hair, $22, available at Alterna.
"If you've ever tried a Makeup Geek eyeshadow, you know that the pans of powder have excellent color payoff, blendability, and texture. The same can be said about its new line of eyeliners, which marry the creamy, easy-to-use qualities of a gel with the travel-friendly practicality of a pencil." — Mi-Anne Chan
Makeup Geek Full Spectrum Eye Liner Pencil in Espresso, $9, available at Makeup Geek.
"Okay, seriously, is there anything fancier than popping some Chanel patches under your eyes? I would wear these out of the house, honestly. The best part — and the part that somewhat justifies that price tag — is that the rollerball of lightweight eye serum (which you apply first) lasts long after you use up 10 patches. I keep the little bottle in my purse for touch-ups throughout the day or on a flight." — Cat Quinn
Chanel Ultra Correction Total Eye Revitalizer, $125, available at Chanel.
"In all honestly, this mascara sounds a little terrifying. Do I really want spidery eyelashes? But the thick, graphic, super-black lashes you get aren’t scary-spidery.. they’re scary-good. The brush combs your lashes into perfectly symmetrical little spikes. And at the end of the day, it washes off easily with regular face wash." — Jenna Rosenstein
Maybelline The Colossal Spider Effect Mascara, $8, available in June at Maybelline.
"I'm not normally a fan of hair glazes, since most I've tried weigh my hair down. But I was out of conditioner last week and remembered I had this new guy at home to test out — and I'm so glad I did. It made my ends incredibly soft and silky and the mid-lengths of my hair extra shiny. You use it weekly instead of conditioner and, shockingly, it didn't make my hair feel limp or flat. Winner!" — Lexy Lebsack
Oribe Glaze For Beautiful Color, $58, available at SpaceNK.
"This fragrance is the perfect mixture of sweet, floral, and woodsy. I can already see it becoming my go-to perfume on warm summer nights." — Mi-Anne Chan
Korres Bellflower Tangerine Pink Pepper Eau de Toilette, $38.50, available at Sephora.
“I’m all about gel formulas when warmer months start rolling around. This new guy from Tatcha is lightweight and includes tiny bits of gold dust, which makes me feel extra fancy when applying it in the morning.” — Taylor Bryant
Tatcha Balanced Pore Perfecting Water Gel Moisturizer, $68, available in May at Tatcha.
"What I love most about this dry shampoo (apart from its oil-absorbing properties) is how much volume it injects into my hair. Seriously, a few sprays and a little tussling is all I need to lift my flat strands." — Mi-Anne Chan
Ouai Dry Shampoo, $24, available in May at SpaceNK.
"As the resident contouring expert on the R29 beauty team, I'm always looking for the next best thing to carve my cheekbones with. This brush from It Cosmetics has quickly become my favorite contouring brush because of its long, flat head. Not only is the brush's shape ideal for sculpting, but the wide, ergonomic handle keeps your hand steady while you work." — Mi-Anne Chan
It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Sculpted Contour and Highlight Brush, $34.50, available at It Cosmetics.
"Besides being an absolute badass in all things dermatology, Dr. Dennis Gross is also the creator of what I believe is one of THE best facial sunscreens of all time (the Dark Spot Defense Cream is the word). He's following up that SPF perfection with the new Instant Radiance Sun Defense. Available in two shades, this multi-tasker gives the sun protection and lightweight feel of Dark Spot Defense, but also provides the color-correcting, subtle tint, and illuminating powers of a CC cream. Now, my biggest summer worry is which one I'm going to use each day." — Megan McIntyre
Dr. Dennis Gross Instant Radiance Sun Defense, $42, available at Dr. Dennis Gross.
"This month, Katy Perry will be launching a slew of lipsticks with CoverGirl, which the pop star helped formulate and design. I love the creamy, buttery texture of the demi-matte lipsticks and the shade range is great for anyone looking to experiment with color. My favorite? Perry Panther, a deep, black shade that she wore to Met Gala this week." — Mi-Anne Chan
CoverGirl Katy Kat Matte Lipstick in Perry Panther, $6.94, available for pre-order at Walmart.
"I like to think I take relatively good care of my skin (that's a bit of an understatement — I'm obsessed), but changes in your complexion are only natural as you get older. While I'm not scared of the fine lines and wrinkles that are coming (hopefully a ways down the road), I am interested in exploring my options. God, this sounds like a skin-care dating profile. The point is: I'm not scared of getting older, but that doesn't mean I don't want to experiment with so-called 'anti-aging' products.
"One such interesting treatment is 111 Skin's new Micro Masks — basically a fancy way to say eye mask. But oh what an eye mask it is. The brand claims the vitamin C and-hyaluronic acid formula is delivered deeper into the skin thanks to '150 micro structures aligned on the masks surface.' And brava to those micro structures, because my eyes looked as perky as a Pekingese post-application." — Megan McIntyre
111 Skin Meso Infusion Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin C Micro Mask, $160, available at SpaceNK.
“Ouidad's coming out with an entire line dedicated to ladies with tighter coils this spring — much to the relief of the kinky-haired ladies out there. The brand's Triple Treat Deep Conditioner is the collection's star product. It includes coconut and grapeseed oil and will give your curls new, hydrated life." — Taylor Bryant
Ouidad Curl Immersion Triple Treat Deep Conditioner, $38, available in June at Ouidad.
"As someone with combination skin, facial oils are a godsend for me. They're intensely hydrating and offer up that fresh-faced, dewy glow that I'm constantly searching for. SK-II's new oil is a cut above the rest. The dual-phase product contains brightening pitera, which is the strain of yeast that's the backbone of SK-II's cult-favorite Facial Treatment Essence, along with a moisturizing oil blend. Shake it up, press it over your skin, and you'll get a gorgeous glow along with amazing anti-aging benefits." — Maria Del Russo
SK-II Facial Treatment Oil, $150, available at SK-II.
"I'm extremely lazy when it comes to my hair. Like, so lazy that I rarely even bother to blowdry or style it. That's why air-drying creams have become staples in my nighttime routine. Right after hopping out of the shower, I squirt two to three pumps of this texture lotion into the palms of my hands and work it through the mid-lengths and ends of my hair. Once dry, I'm left with frizz-free, textured locks that just need a little zhuzhing with my hands come morning. Yep, it's that easy." — Mi-Anne Chan
Oribe Matte Waves Texture Lotion $42, available in May at SpaceNK.
"Everyone's favorite natural deodorant (read: one of the very few that actually work) is now available in a handy stick form. This brings me great joy; I'm all over the natural deo train, but I still can't get past dipping my fingers in a paste and awkwardly smearing it in my armpits. What can I say — I'm old-school like that." — Megan McIntyre
Meow Meow Tweet Deodorant Stick, $22, available May 12 at Meow Meow Tweet.
"Okay, I'll admit it: I'm addicted to brushes. Sure, I already have a contouring brush in the mix here, but I couldn't keep this one out. This super-soft, tapered blush brush from Dose of Colors is the perfect shape for just about any powder product. I use it with bronzer, contouring powder, blush, highlighter, and even setting powder." — Mi-Anne Chan
Dose Of Colors Tapered Blush Brush, $24, available at Dose Of Colors.
"With all the summer parties, festivals, and weddings in our future, this magic-in-a-jar mask is a must — for both before and after the big events. It’s basically like getting a mini facial, but only takes 10 minutes. Smooth it on pre-party to get plumped-up, dewy skin, and use it after to combat puffiness, bags, and tired eyes. Oh, why is it called a bouncy mask, you ask? It has this amazing gel-like texture that does not drip a bit." — Megan Cahn
First Aid Beauty 5 in 1 Bouncy Mask, $38, available at Sephora.
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