Brace yourself: August 2022 was a big month for beauty. The launches were plentiful—our “Best New Beauty Launches” list is *never* this long. And more importantly, all the new-to-market makeup, haircare, and skincare products were damn good. With every shower session, swatch, and self-care day came a new obsession—and wild results. Some Marie Claire editors found the solution to their perpetually dry skin, while others discovered a new cult-favorite bronzer perfect for an end-of-summer sun-kissed glow. As for me? I can’t stop singing the praises for Live Tinted’s new nude lipstick or playing with my shiny, new NuFace.
Alas, that’s just the tip of the beauty iceberg. Brands reformulated cult-favorites (lookin’ at you Glow Recipe) to be better than ever, released their biggest drop of the year (shoutout Lancôme), and even entered new categories (Tory Burch’s new perfume gets five stars!). To see what our team has been loving—and shop for yourself all the while—scroll ahead.
“I have unbelievably high standards for my lip glosses (read: silky, not tacky, long-lasting, unmatched shine), so trust me when I tell you that this new drop is the real deal. Its formula, which features shea butter, coconut oil, and hyaluronic acid, leaves my lips hydrated for hours. My favorite part about the gloss, however, is the doe-foot applicator. It glides the product on super smooth—no pooling around the edges or clumps in sight.” — Samantha Holender, Beauty Editor
“Glow Recipe is one of my all-time favorite Korean skincare brands, and there's nothing I love better than a gentle chemical exfoliant I can slather on before bed—so I'm extremely excited about the new Watermelon Glow AHA Night Treatment. And I know this isn't the point, but is there a prettier skincare line than Glow Recipe's?” — Jenny Hollander, Director of Content Strategy
“I love a good body scrub, and Bom Dia Bright Body Scrub is one for the books. If you’re prone to bumpy patches and KP (keratosis pilaris), then this glycolic and salicylic acid mash up will retexturize and clear up any congestion on your skin over time. And, even if you already have super smooth skin (yup, I’m jealous) the maracujá seeds will pamper your body, and who can refuse a facial for your body?” — Deena Campbell, Beauty Director
“After a summer of extra sunscreen, sea salt spray, and of course, lots of sweat, I love turning to a new haircare system to cleanse my scalp and strands. Mela & Kera founder and award-winning hair stylist and colorist Jason Lee is the brains behind this new brand and its Balayage Exceptionnel line. The shampoo, conditioner, and styling products (packaged in a beautiful pink) are color-safe and keratin-safe, with a dreamy list of ingredients. The key ingredient across all Mela & Kera products is something called the "Rose of Jericho '' which is sourced from a desert in Mexico. Lee's magic ingredient creates a moisture retention complex that leaves hair velvety and soft to the touch. Altogether, the formulas are proven to reverse damage caused by color processing, and of course, those harsh, August UV rays.” — Tanya Klich, Senior Editor
“After months of formulating and testing, 14th Night launched their Natural Surf Spray, a clean hair product that creates the softest beachy waves and leaves your hair shiny with no dreaded crunch. The surf spray has a lovely pomegranate scent and adorable packaging. It'll leave you feeling like you're seaside long after summer's gone!” — Sara Holzman, Fashion Director
"I've been looking for a lightweight, hydrating, formula to incorporate into my skincare routine now that the weather is going to start getting colder. I have dry skin that flakes in the winter, so I like to start early with extra hydration. This has kept my skin feeling happy and redness-free. I'm chalking it up to the inclusion of snow mushroom extract, which my skin loves.” — Julia Marzovilla, E-Commerce Writer
“Like many of us, I'm beyond excited for launch of Tory Burch's fragrance line, which features five different scents. I'm obsessed with each of them, but I'm a particularly big fan of the Sublime Rose scent. I love florals, but it can be difficult to find a rose scent that won't make me smell like I belong in a retirement home. This one incorporates blackcurrant and patchouli (another of my favorites), which give it a slightly sharper edge than most rose fragrances. The result is a delightful formula that will help me channel my inner flower child no matter what the season is.” — Gabrielle Ulubay, E-Commerce Writer
“Don’t come for me, but I’ve always been a makeup wipe girl. I know it’s bad (read: tugging), but I never really, truly fell head-over-heels in love with an oil cleanser. But this one? It’s good. Really good. With vitamin C and a blend of cold-pressed oils, this balm effectively removes allll my makeup (mascara included) and leaves my skin feeling hydrated, smooth, and soft.” — S.H.
“Typically sunscreens are launched at the start of the summer, which makes sense because we’re all traveling to sun drenched destinations. But True Botanicals wanted to reinforce the fact that sunscreen should be worn year round by launching a mineral-based sunscreen just before the start of fall. The new sunscreen is non-greasy, non-comedogenic and so sheer it seamlessly blends into my almond hued skin. Five minutes after application I didn't have a horrible white cast and my skin looked and felt dewy.” — D.C.
“If you want to turn your shower into a spa, don’t sleep on this body exfoliant. It smells all kinds of wonderful thanks to a blend of vanilla, jasmine, and peppermint. Aside from the delicious scent, the exfoliant is packed with hydrating ingredients that leave skin feeling soft and supple. Using this is a must before any beach day—your skin will be glowing.” — S.H.
“Confession: I love playing chemist and mixing good-for-you skincare ingredients for optimal results. But that all goes out the window when using sheet masks. In most cases, the paper masks are already pre saturated with an essence, so it’s ready to go every time I reach for it. Well that’s not the case with this 2-step hydrating sheet mask. It’s delivered in a single-serve airtight pouch that separates the gel essence from the dry sheet mask until it's ready for use. Simply break the seal and massage the gel essence into the sheet mask until fully saturated. I can’t play chemist with it, but knowing I have a fresh, activated formula each time means the world to me.” – D.C.
“The Marie Claire team has waxed poetic about the best lip balms and glosses. We know our stuff on the hydration front. When it comes to lip masks that don’t skimp on moisture, this Mario Badescu launch has quickly climbed to the top of our list. It’s an overnight mask that pretty much takes away any and all tightness in just a few hours time. Plus, the smell is so soothing; it puts you right to sleep.” — S.H.
“I end up loving anything Sisley does, and this mask is no different. Like all of the brand's products, this one smells divine, which truly sets it apart from many similar exfoliating masks (which usually smell like acid, in my experience). My face genuinely feels cleaner and tighter after application, but with none of the dryness one would expect. Plus, the process takes only a minute, which is extremely handy for someone like me, who is constantly trying to make their routine lower-maintenance.” — G.U.
“Don’t be fooled by the fancy packaging, this bronzer is the real deal. It’s laced with microfine pigment powders that deposit a hint of warm, natural looking color without the orangeness. It also floods your skin with vitamin E so you’re essentially killing two birds with one stone. And maybe, three if you account for the packaging that instantly upgrades your vanity.” — D.C.
“Put me in the summer heat and I’m sweating in five seconds flat—it is what it is. But this new deodorant helps big time to keep my underarms dry. In addition to this deodorant being effective, it also gives the most amazing cooling effect once it’s swiped on the skin. I’m partial to coconut and sandalwood, but the formula comes in five other scents as well.” — S.H.
“Color fans will adore this four-color eyeshadow palette that offers intense pigments and long-lasting color. The shadow glides easily over the lid, making it buildable and perfect for creating multiple looks.” — D.C.
“If you’ve been contemplating splurging on the NuFACE, take this as your sign. The new kit has everything you need to get started—including the ability to sign up for the app, which in my humble opinion, is the best part. It’s equipped with step-by-step tutorials, tracks your progress, and gives little reminders to use the tool. Since I started using this, I’ve noticed that my face, especially the area around my mouth, is so much more lifted.” — S.H.
“As an Urban Decay devotee and lipstick aficionado, I was thrilled to discover that the brand would be releasing a line of liquid lipsticks this summer. This vegan longwear blend stood the test of several cups of coffee along with breakfast and lunch, and still didn't smudge or budge! Plus, the shades are highly pigmented, so they look the way they're supposed to—even on naturally darker lips like mine. I wore the Unbreakable shade to work earlier this week, and received compliments at just about every turn.” — G.U.
“I got a sample of this lip mask just a few weeks ago, and I’ve already hit the bottom of the jar. While it’s *technically* for nighttime use, I’ve been wearing this out and about during the day and I swear my lips have never, ever been softer.” — S.H.
“I have pretty fine hair, so getting it to grow long is a struggle. To help prevent breakage, I’ve been relying on this shampoo, which promises to leave hair three times stronger after just one wash. While I’ll have to report back on the hair growth of it all, I can confirm that my hair feels stronger and looks shinier post-shampoo.” — S.H.
“I’m not big on wearing foundation (most make my skin feel heavy and weighed down) but when it’s infused with microencapsulated hyaluronic acid and skin-brightening mandelic acid, it’s hard for me to refuse it. Plus, the texture is buildable and makes my face feel velvety smooth." — D.C.
“On extra hot days, I refuse to wear foundation. Instead, I’ve been grabbing this radiant-finish concealer. The smallest bit of product is able to cover my dark under eye circles and a few swipes on the high points of my face gives me a little glow. Plus, it’s waterproof, so I don’t have to worry about sweating it off.” — S.H.
"It's disturbingly hot in NYC right now, so there's no way a medium or full coverage foundation is making it on my face. Instead, I've been going for this uber-light complexion perfecter. It gives me a blurred finish and plumps up skin, but feels completely weightless. The best part? It's packed with hyaluronic acid and encapsulated retinol, so I know it's doing good for my skin while I wear it." — SH
“Lip balms set my heart on fire. They give me that quick hint of shine and moisture when my lips feel dull or dehydrated without all the fuss. I’m guaranteed to have no less than three or four on heavy rotation. But this lip balm is especially fun because not only does it smell divine (can you ever grow tired of smelling coconuts?), but it’s also a mineral sunscreen that provides broad spectrum SPF 30 protection. And, the subtle hint of pink gives me just enough tint for everyday wear or when I need an extra touch of glam. " — DC
"As someone with sensitive skin, I typically steer clear of pimple patches. But this one was specifically formulated for easily irritated skin, so I feel comfortable popping it on when a blemish appears. It soaks up the oil and pus in hours." — SH
"I'm not one to wear falsies out and about at all hours of the day, but for a night out? I"m all in—and these have quickly become my personal faves. They require little no trimming, create the perfect cat eye illusion, and stay on for 18 hours." — SH
"After a workout or right before I get into the shower, I use this soothing blend to help me wind down. With notes of peppermint and chamomile, it instantly relaxes me." — SH
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