Every time I'm online shopping at Urban Outfitters, hunting for a cute cardigan or pretending I'm not about to buy another piece of furniture I have absolutely no space for, I somehow end up in the beauty section. And, honestly, that's where the real magic is. Over the past year, UO has quietly become my secret weapon for shopping perfume, makeup, and skincare. The online retailer's lineup is full of cool-girl fragrances that smell like vacation distilled into a bottle, innovative serums, K-beauty gems, and under-the-radar brands that usually only get passed around in beauty editor group chats.
So, the next time you're adding jeans, candles, a viral lamp, or some home-décor treasure to your cart, don't sleep on the beauty tab. It's stacked with formulas, fragrances, tools, and plenty of other gate-kept gems that deserve way more hype than they get. Below, I've rounded up the standout picks I genuinely think belong in your next checkout session—from Starface’s juicy Star Balm Lip Balm to T3's Airebrush. Here's everything worth adding to cart—keep scrolling!
Starface—the cult-favorite brand dreamed up by OG beauty editor Julie Schott—will forever have a chokehold on me. And this balm? It's no exception. It's loaded with nourishing, cushiony goodness that makes your lips look juicy in that effortless, "I didn't try, I’m just naturally like this" way.
When I'm running low on my favorite scalp scrub—especially in the winter, when my roots start acting up—this is the one I immediately add back to the cart. Ceremonia's papaya-infused formula leaves my scalp feeling fresh, lifted, and actually clean without stripping my ends. It's the rare exfoliating shampoo that makes your hair look better the second you step out of the shower.
Because I'm on a bit of a Botox break (giving both my wallet and my muscle memory a moment to breathe) I'm reaching for anything that'll keep wrinkle formation on pause. These microneedling patches are my secret weapon—they deliver a hit of smoothing ingredients exactly where I need them, and they genuinely make my skin look fresh overnight.
Every beauty editor I know eventually circles back to the e.l.f. Power Grip Primer like clockwork. It holds onto makeup all day, smooths skin, and gives you that juicy, glazed finish without feeling heavy or sticky.
I am a big fan of nail art but it tends to get expensive to hop into the salon every few weeks, so I've decided to do them at home every once in a while. I get Aprés nail extensions when I go in for my appointment, so this LED lamp from the brand was my first purchase when going DIY. It cures quickly, evenly, and gives that same glossy, salon-level finish I’m used to.
I love a good tan, but I refuse to compromise on SPF. This sunscreen oil hybrid from Vacation is the perfect middle ground—it gives your skin that just-stepped-off-the-beach sheen while still delivering real, broad-spectrum protection.
A blowout at home? Say less. I swear by all T3 tools, but the Airebrush is the one that gives me a full salon-level finish in under 10 minutes. It's lightweight, intuitive, and genuinely foolproof—which is ideal for someone like me who cannot read instructions to save her life. It's the closest thing to having a stylist in your bathroom.
If you want an affordable makeup brand that still delivers the most bang for your buck, let me point you straight to Colourpop. Their formulas consistently perform, and this highlighter is no exception—it gives the prettiest pink sheen that looks flattering in literally every type of lighting.
This is one of those quiet K-beauty staples that completely lives up to the hype. The Mixsoon Bean Essence is basically a skin-reset button—hydrating, smoothing, and somehow making my face look clearer and more even overnight.
If "effortlessly hot" were a fragrance, it would smell like this. Lust for Sun is that cool-girl scent—warm, a little salty, and just sweet enough that people lean in when you walk by. It's giving sun-warmed skin, late-afternoon beach haze, and the kind of confidence that only comes from knowing you smell really good.
