By now, you've probably surmised that we test-drive a lot of beauty products here atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing HQ. From nail polish and makeup to hair and skincare, we're eyebrow-deep in all things new, exciting, and, yes, wish list worthy. That said, due to the number of products we come in contact with, we've also transformed into the nitpickiest of beauty consumers. Within seconds, we can tell if a new hair oil is too heavy, and we're quick to ignore a serum that yields disappointing results.
The good news? We're far more often impressed than unimpressed after trying out a new product, and usually, we simply can't wait to spread the word to all of our fellow beauty junkies (aka you). Therefore, we've decided gushing over our latest fave products should become a monthly ritual, and every 30 days or so, you can expect a full report detailing the highlighters, hair wands, and overnight skincare saviors we've become quickly addicted to.
For the most part, we'll be covering buzzworthy launches (as those typically take up most of the action atop our product-filled desks), but we won't dismiss new-to-us products, either. Because hey, sometimes our best discoveries are found on a friend's vanity or on someone's face at the bar—true story. Ahead, the best beauty products we tried in June. Grab your game face and wallet. You'll be needing both.
Erin Jahns, Beauty Editor
'Tis the season for lots (and lots) of bronzer launches—a notoriously tricky category of beauty product to perfect. The past few months I've highlighted a few new standouts like Ilia's nontoxic option and Tower 28's creamy, shimmering number, but I have to say Charlotte Tilbury has really outdone herself with this new launch. Unlike so many bronzers on the market, it comes in four different shades ranging from deep to fair so it's well suited for all skin tones, Plus, the matte finish (boosted with moisture-locking hyaluronic acid) offers a super-flattering finish that remains durable through steamy summer weather. I've been using the Medium shade.
Pre-pandemic, one of my favorite self-care indulgences was visiting The Now Massage for monthly deep-tissue massages, and it's a ritual the muscles and knots in my neck, back, and head have greatly missed. Not only does this handy anti-aging device boost skin elasticity, tone, and circulation, but it also does wonders for easing tension in those tender areas like the jaw and neck. I've been using it religiously every night, and I swear it's been key for keeping stress and inflammation at bay.
I'm typically used to being able to get my hair colored every eight weeks or so in order to maintain my bleach-blonde tone. Obviously, however, quarantine made that impossible, and I went six months without seeing my colorist. Although there wasn't much I could do about my ever-growing roots, I tried my best to preserve the tone and shine of my blonde by incorporating a combination of clarifying and purple-toned products into my regular hair regimen. Clarifying shampoos are important for everyone and anyone (not just blondes) since they de-gunk strands ridden with product or mineral buildup, and this one from Amika is by far the best formula I've ever tried. It's designed for all hair textures and hair types, and it immediately made my blonde look as pure and pristine as the day I left the salon back in January. Unlike so many clarifying shampoo formulas, it didn't strip my hair into a state similar to moisture-starved straw. (Fellow blondes, I also recommend adding Amika's Supernova Blonde Purple Moisture and Shine Cream to your routine for maximum shine- and blonde-enhancing perks.)
Speaking of hair rehab, I need to talk about this brand-new product from one of my all-time favorite haircare brands, Briogeo. Essentially, think of this as a superfood-packed wellness smoothie for your strands. It's one of the few deep-conditioning treatments that are great for every hair type—from thick and coily to thin and wispy—and it's specifically meant to target dryness, frizz, and dullness.
Too much protein in your haircare products can actually do the reverse of what you want it to (leading to breakage), so I love that this spinach-, kiwi-, and avocado-spiked mask is formulated without it.
I'm not going to pretend like I've been styling my hair every day during quarantine—far from it! I think I've blow-dried my hair once since January, and air-drying has definitely done my strands some good in the health-and-growth department. That said, on days when I need to snap some pictures for a story or have Zoom meetings, I like to add a little bit more polish to my naturally wavy texture, which can look a little sad and lank without any extra styling love. T3 is my favorite brand for heat and styling tools, and its new flat iron is honestly amazing. Truthfully, I haven't used it to full-on straighten my hair yet, but I have been using it to create waves, and it accomplishes the task in record time with minimal damage and maximum shine and hold. It's my favorite new hair toy.
My fellow beauty editor Courtney Higgs and I have both been extremely outspoken about our love for the original (aka, color-free) Victoria Beckham by Augustinus Bader Cell Rejuvenating Priming Moisturizer, but the brand's new golden iteration is *chef's kiss* wonderful. The formula has all the skin-enhancing, anti-aging magic of the OG, but the new golden hue of this summer launch is the ultimate way to dose any skin tone with a hint of amber-gold warmth and luminosity. I've been wearing it every day I can in a number of ways—on its own, mixed with my foundation, on top of other moisturizers, as highlighter… The options are endless.
I've always considered lip plumper as one of my desert-island beauty products. I can't explain it, but I just go wild for pillowy, full, shiny lips, and I talk about my favorite formulas very frequently. However, I've officially met the lip plumper of all lip plumpers in Dr. Lara Devgan's Platinum Lip Plump. This stuff is no joke. Not only is it the brainchild of the world-renowned plastic surgeon Lara Devgan and boosted with SPF 30, but it's also the most effective and fast-working lip-plumping elixir I've ever tried. Thanks to luxe ingredients like niacin, mixed-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid, and ceramides, your pout looks pink, shiny, plump, smooth, and about twice its normal size—but in a somehow super-believable way. It's the next best thing to actual lip filler.
Like most beauty editors I know, I've begun to feel more and more exhausted by the CBD-infused skincare craze, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't skeptical of this new cream from Lord Jones. However, because Lord Jones is one of the very few CBD brands I love and trust, I was slightly less pessimistic. Unlike a lot of other CBD skincare products, this cream (which is thick, luscious, and super reparative) doesn't contain any comedogenic (i.e., pore-clogging) ingredients. Instead, it utilizes the natural healing powers of whole hemp plant
derived CBD, ceramides, squalane, and hyaluronic acid to soothe, support, and rebalance the skin barrier.
Despite how lovely and rich the texture is, it dries down matte, so you'll never feel greasy or oily. It's truly the perfect antidote for anyone who needs lots of hydration but also battles sensitivity, redness, breakouts, and other inflammatory skin issues. My complexion is so happy to have discovered it, and I've been alternating it with my favorite oil-free moisturizer to keep everything balanced, calm, and in-check thus far this season.
It's officially summer, and even though I'm not spending as much time at the beach as I normally would, I'm definitely showing more skin. Enter Fur—my all-time-favorite brand for all of my grooming needs. I've been loving the brand's new shave cream, in particular, which is a match made in heaven when it's used in conjunction with my other favorite product, the Stubble Cream ($38). Together, bumps, ingrown hairs, and flaky dryness are conundrums of summers past, and I'm obsessed with the silky, velvet finish both products leave behind. (It also smells amazing and the packaging looks chic in my shower.)
Anna LaPlaca, Associate Editor
My infatuation with Kosas makeup products truly knows no bounds. My latest obsession from the brand is its cream blush-and-highlighter palette that I've been using to give off a dewy, glowy summer skin look. Confession: I've always avoided blush in my makeup routine for fear of overdoing it since my cheeks already have a natural flush to them, but this duo has made me reconsider why I ever cut it out in the first place. I found the cream formula on this one to be easy to apply with just the tips of my fingers, which is key for someone like me who's not very skilled at using a brush. Here, I dabbed a liberal amount of the blush all across my cheeks and nose and then went in with the highlighter on the tops of my cheeks and the tip of my nose, and honestly, I'm pretty happy with the results.
Let me just say this body wash is heavenly. If you want to elevate your shower experience into a spa-like ritual, a luxurious lather like this one is a must (as is hanging some eucalyptus from your showerhead—trust). In addition to the deep frankincense scent, I appreciate that everything on the ingredient list is recognizable and transparent, such as organic oils and extracts that are nourishing for the skin. After I made the switch, I definitely noticed my skin was more hydrated and happier in general.
Sarah Yang, Managing Editor, THE/THIRTY
I've been trying my best to remember to put on sunscreen when I'm working from home, and Supergoop!'s Glow Screen has made it so easy. Most days, I wear zero makeup, but when I put this on, it looks like I'm actually I'm trying. It goes on so lightly and smoothly. I'm absolutely obsessed with the way it makes my skin look so radiant and refreshed, and now I don't mind turning on my camera during Zoom meetings!
I've recently gotten into baths as a form of self-care, so I've been trying out different kinds of bath products. Lord Jones's CBD bath salts are a new favorite. Not only are they calming, but they also leave my skin feeling clean and soft and my muscles feeling less sore and tight. I've been taking a CBD-infused bath once a week, and it's definitely something I look forward to!
Courtney Higgs, Associate Beauty Editor
These last few months spent at home have given me the unexpected gift of getting to know my natural hair texture a whole lot better. Suddenly, I have a bit more time and freedom to give my hair tons of TLC, including a weekly hair mask. I've been loving this new one from Briogeo that skips the protein (too much protein makes my hair brittle and prone to breakage) and instead infuses my strands with fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants from avocado, kiwi, and spinach. It leaves my hair feeling so healthy and soft.
Speaking of getting to know my natural hair texture, I've become obsessed with mastering my no-heat hairstyles. After my weekly washday ritual, I've been practicing my twist outs and perm rod sets. This styling cream by The Doux has been an integral part of my pursuit of perfecting both of those styles. It's super thick and creamy and coats my hair in the most luxurious concoction of coconut, vitamin E, avocado oil, and mino oil. I apply it on my wet hair as I twist or curl it and once dry, my curly styles are super defined and frizz-free.
Allyson Payer, Senior Editor
This is one of the most effective skincare products I've tried in a while. I'd heard great things about it so I was curious enough to get one of my own, and I'm so glad I did. I love products with instantly noticeable results, and this serum really delivers. When I use it, the next morning, my skin is brighter, more even, and less flaky. Since it contains vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and retinol, among other ingredients, it's kind of all you need, which justifies the price.
Supergoop! is my go-to suncare brand, and I've been eager to add these three products to my collection. City Sunscreen Serum SPF 30 ($42) provides the perfect everyday face protection. Since it's also hydrating and contains antioxidants, I don't have to worry about layering any serums under it. As for the Bright-Eyed 100% Mineral Eye Cream SPF 40 ($36), it's actually not all that easy to find a good eye cream with SPF, especially SPF as high as 40, so I'm so glad the brand made this one. It has a bit of a tint to it, but it's sheer enough to work with all skin tones, and it spreads easily and doesn't cause my under-eye concealer to crease. Lastly, the Play Everyday Lotion SPF 50 ($22)—which also comes in SPF 30—is super light and not at all greasy. It's one that I'd be perfectly fine with wearing on non-beach days when I just need some extra protection (which I can't say for all body sunscreens).
Jasmine Fox-Suliaman, Audience Engagement Editor
It's officially summer in NYC which means peak sweat breakouts. I must say, though, it hasn't been as bad since I started using these acne spot dots from Peach Slices. They've been a lifesaver for a quick skin fix, and I'm obsessed. Any time I have a pimple coming on, I plop on one of the clear dots and leave it on for nine hours, and then it's gone. It's a great alternative for anyone looking for less-noticeable pimple patches (see if you can try to spot the three I'm wearing in my photo) or anyone with sensitive skin.
Up next, Amazon Reviewers Say These $27-and-Under Serums Seriously Improved Their Skin
