The 24 Best Beauty Products Fashionista Editors Tried in August

Each month, Fashionista editors try a *lot* of beauty products. And while not every formula we test is a winner, we're constantly unearthing new favorites. Here, we've rounded up our latest hair, skin, fragrance, wellness and makeup discoveries — whether fresh-to-market drops or merely recent additions to our personal routines.

Before we completely devote ourselves to early Halloween decorations and pumpkin-flavored…well, everything, team Fashionista is preparing for all things fall with revamped beauty routines.

The final days of summer left us craving much-needed moisture in every category with a buttery, amber-scented hand cream, a hyaluronic acid-packed soothing scalp serum, a refreshing overnight eye mask and a non-stripping hydrating gel cleanser. We treated our hair to a high-shine at-home gloss, frizz-fighting smoothing cream and lightweight hair spray offering a flexible hold across hair types. As for the additions to our makeup bags, we tapped a long-lasting blurring pressed powder, a luminous skin-like foundation and a blendable chunky lip pencil delivering a sultry, diffused finish.

Ahead, see (and shop!) all of our favorite makeup, hair, skin-care and fragrance finds from August.

Dr. Loretta Barrier Repair Gel Cream, $65, available here: "The barrier repair category is absolutely booming, but what sets Dr. Loretta's addition apart from all the others is that it's spiked with peptides, glycerin and squalane to also target fine lines, wrinkles, texture and redness. Plus, it's the loveliest lightweight gel-cream texture." —Stephanie Saltzman, Beauty Director

Patrick Ta Major Skin Hydra-Luxe Luminous Skin Perfecting Foundation for Natural Glow, $58, available here: "I was sold on this foundation watching Patrick Ta himself apply it to a model directly in front of me, but you never know if you'll be able to recreate the magic of professional makeup artists on your own face. Once I was able to try out the product at home, I realized I could: The liquid formula goes on smoothly and blends seamlessly with little effort from a sponge. I love the luminous finish — and the fact that it's still visible even after a dusting of setting powder." —Brooke Frischer, Staff Writer and Social Lead

Glossier Crème de You, $45, available here: "Fragrances are fun, but at my core, I'm a scented body cream girlie, hands down. This dense, scented cream is my new body-care best friend: The shea butter-based formula is rich without being too heavy and doesn't leave a greasy residue. Plus, there's the alluring, warm, subtly floral scent that has quite an impressive staying power." —Janelle Sessoms, Staff Writer

Good Molecules Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel, $12, available here: "I first tried this hydrating facial cleansing gel in a moment of desperation (I ran out of my usual cleanser and had to resort to the sample I'd gotten in a recent Ulta bag), but I was pleasantly surprised by it. I liked the sample so much that I went back to Ulta for a full-size bottle. I highly recommend this to anyone needing a no-frills cleanser that doesn't strip the skin of moisture." —Emma Greene, Editorial Intern

Tower 28 Beauty GetSet Blur + Set Pressed Powder, $28, available here: "As a lifelong oily skin girlie, minimizing shine without sacrificing my makeup's radiant finish has been an ongoing challenge. This pressed powder, in the words of Hannah Montana, offers the best of both worlds: It stamps out excess oiliness around my T-zone via kaolin clay without leaving a flat, cake-y complexion (thanks to hydrating agent squalane). It's also formulated with hydrophobic (water-repelling) silica for a sweat-resistant finish that delivers crease-free undereyes and an all-day fresh face." —Catie Pusateri, Contributing Writer

Fitish SPF 50 Face Stick, $30, available here: "As a sunscreen obsessive, this is my new favorite: With a clear formula that's scentless and virtually undetectable, it glides on invisibly (leaving a shiny finish that I buff in with my fingers for a more matte look). It also leaves my skin feeling smooth and hydrated, thanks to the inclusion of aloe and coconut oil, without clogging pores. The chubby, twist-up stick makes it easy to cover my entire face in seconds, I even swipe it over my lips (no taste) and eyelids (no irritation), too." —Savannah Sitton, Contributing Market Editor

Roz Foundation Mask, $48, available here: "This new addition to celebrity hairstylist Mara Roszak's chef's kiss of a hair-care brand is a savior for dull, dehydrated, damaged hair that's been through it. With a blend of natural oils rich in vitamin E, rice bran extract and rosemary leaf extract, the thick (but not heavy or greasy) mask reduces breakage, while imbuing strands (of all textures) with moisture, strength and elasticity. I also love that it comes in an aluminum tube — with an aluminum cap, game-changer! — so the whole thing is easily recyclable and there's zero plastic involved." —Steph

Pat McGrath Labs Dramatique Lip Pencil in Naked Seduction, $29, available here: "If your ideal lip color finish is 'blurry' — think: sexily diffused, matte, but not chalky or cement-like — this is a must-try product. The chunky pencil has a gorgeous slip, blends easily and delivers a truly modern take on matte lip color. My favorite shade is 'Naked Seduction,' a beautiful beige-y mauve that I can't wait to wear all fall long." —Steph

Uncommon James Hard Feelings Eau de Parfum, $72, available here: "With this fragrance's woodsy, fall-ready take on florals, it immediately caught my attention as a spicy alternative to my usual breezy, flower-centric perfumes. Notes of pink pepper, bergamot, tobacco and sandalwood evoke a warm, long-lasting scent without overpowering the senses, crowning it as my go-to fragrance for autumn." —Catie

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day High-Shine Gloss, $36, available here: "Nothing beats a professional, in-salon gloss when hair is looking lackluster and dull — but this in-shower version comes close. After a five-minute treatment (with a heaping handful, more than you think you'll need!), it seals hair's cuticles for a smoothing effect and imparts hair with impressively reflective shine. I'm particularly lazy about booking salon visits, so it's become an instant go-to." —Steph

Unplain Unplain Pads, $55, available here: "I've been loving these double-sided exfoliating treatment pads, which help me keep up with an impactful skin-care routine even when I'm in a rush. Infused with a prebiotic, AHA and three types of hyaluronic acid, one side features a soft cotton lining that I swipe all over to clean the first layer of muck off, before flipping it over and using the grittier gauze side to really slough off anything else with a bit of physical exfoliation. I find that it leaves my pores feeling clean and gunk-free, and it instantly softens and smooths dry lips, too. I also love that the formula is hydrating enough that I can skip serums and moisturizers if I'm feeling particularly lazy — I can just swipe this on in the morning, layer on some sunscreen and go about my day." —Savannah

Bubble First Class Oil Cleanser, $17, available here: "By the time I'm ready to wash a day's worth of makeup and SPF off, I'm looking for a straightforward cleansing routine that won't disrupt my sensitive, acne-prone skin. Enter: this oil-based formula, which whisks away makeup, oil and dirt without stripping my skin of its moisture. Plus, its gentle blend of sunflower seed oil, prickly pear oil, rosehip seed oil and Betula Alba bark extract sets the stage for soothed skin ahead of a water-based double cleanse." —Catie

T3 Aire 360 Ceramic Air Styler Blowout Kit, $300, available here: "I've long admired bouncy blowouts achieved via air-centric tools from afar, but now T3's newest air styler has made the sleek, voluminous curls of my dreams a reality. Though it took me a couple tries to wrap my mind around the tool's airflow mechanics, the Aire 360 styles my thick, naturally wavy hair within 15 minutes sans any heat damage. It comes with four ceramic attachments — an oval brush, drying concentrator and two curling attachments — essentially making it three hair tools in one. As for the key to a long-lasting and glossy-looking 'do, start with mostly dry hair before styling and enjoy the Cindy Crawford-worthy blowout." —Catie

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Mask for Blemish Prone Skin, $14, available here: "I recently added this salicylic acid-laced mask back into my skin cycling routine, and my complexion is loving it yet again. I leave it on for about 30 minutes, twice a week, and find that it leaves my skin soft while also shrinking breakouts with each application. Coupled with the brand's hyaluronic acid serum and a thick layer of CeraVe moisturizing cream, my dry, acne-prone skin is smooth and calm despite the drying property of salicylic acid." —Emma

R.e.m. Beauty At The Borderline Gel Eyeliner Pencil in Far Out, $19, available here: "I have loved using this gel pencil in several colors to experiment with some more fun eye looks. My favorite so far has been 'Far Out,' a pastel lavender shade that makes the purple lover in me extremely happy. The pigment payoff is super opaque and gorgeous, and the formula makes for a super smooth application." —Brooke

Crown Affair The Finishing Hair Spray, $38, available here: "My naturally fluffy, puffy, very fine hair needs quite a bit of product to give it grit, structure and any semblance of style (it's fun). It's also prone to flyaways, but anything too heavy will instantly deflate it or turn into oil slick central (I know, now I'm just bragging). This superlight, non-aerosol hairspray — which I'd say is really more like a hair mist, if you will — is exactly what it needs. The flexible, non-crunchy hold is amazing for any hair type, and it's also alcohol-free, so it's less drying than most other formulas on the market." —Steph

Phlur Heavy Cream Hair and Body Mist, $38, available here: "Fragrances typically give me migraines (even the 'safe' ones), so I usually steer clear of perfumes altogether. But a friend raved about this mist recently, and she was right: Its creamy scent is noticeable but not overly sweet (it hasn't caused me any migraines thus far) and the base of vanilla marshmallow and coconut creme deliciously accentuated with light top notes of lemon sugar and orange, for a delectable and unique creamy scent." —Savannah

Goldie Locks Smoothing Cream, $41, available here: "The late summer heat and humidity have teamed up to turn my naturally wavy hair into a dry, frizzy mess. This smoothing cream — packed with aloe vera, carrot seed, raspberry and strawberry — has softened my hair to the point where I can't stop touching it, while also delivering on its claim to prevent frizz. Not only do my strands feel stronger and look smoother, but this cream has brought definition (as opposed to humidity-induced volume) back into my soft waves." —Catie

Act + Acre Daily Hydro Scalp Serum, $24, available here: "My itchy, dry scalp was desperately calling for more hydration, so was happy to come across this serum, which includes multi-molecular weight hyaluronic acid. It replenishes skin with intense moisture and has made a huge difference: I've been using it every day for the past couple of weeks, and my scalp feels happy, healthy and itch-free." —Janelle

Laneige Bouncy & Firm Eye Brightening Sleeping Mask, $32, available here: "Given that I rarely get enough sleep thanks to late-night binge reading, my undereye area needs all the hydration-based attention it can get. When applied over top moisturizer or eye cream, this hydrating mask works while I'm asleep with a stacked formula of peony, peptides and collagen complex to achieve visibly firmer skin around my eyes as well as caffeine and niacinamide to depuff and brighten. Now, I wake up looking well rested without actually having to be well rested." —Catie

Plavogue Dual Voltage Blow Dryer Brush, $60, available here: "I was very stressed about not being able to do my hair on my trip to London this month, and luckily, this blowdryer brush that works in Europe saved me. My hair looked better than it has with any other similar styling tool — plus, it dried in record time." —Brooke

Dedcool Xtra Milk Hand Cream, $20, available here: "I've already professed my love for Dedcool's Xtra Milk fragrance range, so it's not exactly shocking that I'm a huge fan of its hand cream iteration. But it's not just the cozy, amber-y scent that has me hooked — I'm also really into the glycerin-, olive oil-, shea and cacao butter-spiked formula, which is intensely moisturizing, but not slimy or oily on skin." —Steph

KaramMD Enrich Breathable Barrier Balm, $100, available here: "Due to my own facial routine negligence, my skin has been dehydrated and sporting (faint) dark spots. As a way to get my skin health back on track, this barrier balm has become my new savior: The lightweight, slick jelly is packed with astaxanthin (for evening, brightening and hydration) and bakuchiol (a gentler alternative to retinol). While it's great as the last step before applying sunscreen, I also use it as a single step when I'm in a rush." —Janelle

Quip Rechargeable Cordless Water Flosser, $65, available here: "This cordless water flosser has been a game changer for my dental routine: It's lightweight and easy to maneuver, with a pulsating stream that's strong, but not painful on sensitive soft tissue. I use it before brushing my teeth (as instructed) to knock anything loose, then I brush and finish with my tongue scraper for the ultimate clean." —Savannah

In case you missed last month's picks, you can find them here:

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