It’s the week after Labor Day, and if you’re a beauty obsessive like I am, then you know that this only means one thing: the holiday sales are about to be in full swing. While I’ve found some hero staples this past summer (skin tints, spray sunscreens, new brow products—the works), my fall beauty routine will be all about optimization. Thankfully, Nordstrom’s End of Summer sale will help me to get one step closer to the fall and winter beauty routines of my dreams.

​Until September 15, there are hundreds of products on sale at Nordstrom.com, and from my research, I have to admit: the deals are damn good. Whether you’re a wellness aficionado who loves a gadget (vibration plates or acupuncture mats, anyone?) or simply need to refresh your go-to tools, there is seriously an option here for anyone. Even my bath and body product lovers can get in on the fun, with perfumes, body butters, and even floss being offered at a discounted rate.

​This many products on sale at once kind of feels like a beauty lover’s version of the state fair, but if you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, trust me, I completely understand. To help get the best bang for your buck, I went ahead and curated a list of my favorite finds from the 2026 sale. Keep reading to see which products made the cut, from the lens of a beauty editor who’s tried practically every beauty product on the market.

Best Beauty Products at the 2026 Nordstrom End-of-Summer Sale

• Best Makeup Brush: BK Beauty Angie Hot & Flashy A506 Concealer Brush
• Best Blush Palette: Ofra Mini Mix Face Palette - Charm Your Cheeks
• Best Perfume: Ktoret Candy Eau de Parfum
• Best Moisturizer: Kate McLeod Spicy Cacao Body Stone
• Best Body Exfoliator: Luv Scrub Mesh Body Exfoliator
• Best Dry Brush: Pursonic Bath Body Brush With Lotus Wooden Handle
• Best LED Device: Pursonic 7-Color LED Light Therapy Neck & Face Device
• Best Skincare Essence: Haru Haru Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence

Best Makeup Brush

Best Blush Palette

Best Perfume

Best Moisturizer

Best Body Exfoliator

Best Dry Brush

Best LED Device

Best Skin Care Essence

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When Victoria Beckham told me that her newest fragrance, Hotel Portofino Extrait, was inspired by the early chapter of her love story with David—namely their Mediterranean escapes—every ounce of my being told me it would be a sexy scent. She went on: “It takes me back to the details of the hotel in Portofino—the warm evening light, the sea breeze coming through the balcony, and the smell of the room after a long day outside. I wanted to capture that feeling of being completely enamored with one another, when you’re absorbed in the moment.”

With a little help from perfumer Jerome Eppinette, who is the genius behind fragrances like Byredo’s Gypsy Water and Sol de Janeiro’s Cheriosa ‘91, the just-launched perfume is a delicious balance of spices, citrus, and woodsy notes. It’s “fresh and effortless,” per Beckham, yet it has a moody, sensual aura that makes it a distinctive date-night fragrance. It’s so good, in fact, that Beckham considers it her go-to date night scent. “There is something very romantic about wearing the fragrance that brings me back to the beginning of our relationship,” she says.

I was lucky enough to be one of the first to smell the brand’s fifth fragrance creation at a preview back in May—and was even luckier to source a lab sample come July. Since then, I’ve chosen to pull it from my collection on chilly summer nights, for weddings, and I’m confident it will get its fair share of use at upcoming NYFW events. It’s truly delicious.

How Is Hotel Portofino Different From Portofino '97 Eau de Parfum?

When I initially heard that the brand was putting an extrait twist on Portofino '97, I thought it would simply be a more concentrated version of the eau de parfum. That’s not exactly the case—the extrait is spicier and warmer by design. “I reach for Portofino ‘97 when I want something fresh and effortless,” says Beckham. “Hotel Portofino is richer and more sensual, so I love it in the evening or when I want something a bit more intimate. They have such different but complementary scent profiles, with bergamot as the common ingredient, that when layered, you get both that beautiful brightness from the parfum as well as the depth and warmth from the extrait.”

What Does Hotel Portofino Extrait Smell Like?

While Portofino ‘97 channels beachy energy, Hotel Portofino has a spicy, velvety cocktail bar feel. Top notes are the most reminiscent of the eau de parfum with bergamot, basil, and saffron, which then give way to a woody middle of fig, agarwood, and pinot noir. It then settles into something of a mysterious profile, with incense, papyrus, and black amber. Just note: the fragrance will adapt to your skin—it smells different on everyone. On my skin, it smells particularly spicy and warm; I’ll be wearing it all fall.

Is Hotel Portofino Extrait Worth It?

For years, my go-to scent from the Victoria Beckham Beauty fragrance selection has been Reverie 21:50. It’s intensely woody with a hint of vanilla and is one of the three fragrances I choose to wear in the fall and winter. While I still plan on having it in my rotation, Hotel Portofino has officially replaced it as my frontrunner. The sillage is powerful but not sickening; it lasts for hours on my skin, and despite not being a skin scent, it has a familiar, comforting profile. And frankly, if it’s good enough for Victoria and David Beckham? Well, that’s all the convincing I need.

Shop Victoria Beckham Fragrances

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Perfume, like most beauty categories, is subject to the whims of the trend cycle. Marshmallow gourmands this month, mineral skin scents the next, with dozens of affordable options (body mists, anyone?) to supplement your revolving fragrance library. Such is the state of the perfume category in 2026. The days of a few precious bottles lining your vanity are something of a relic, representative of a bygone approach to perfumery that was once rooted in craftsmanship rather than commercialization alone. That is, unless, you consult with Nick Axelrod-Welk, co-founder with his husband Casey, of Contrapposto.

"I have been thinking a lot about what defines value and where you can find value," he explains over Zoom from his home base in Los Angeles. "I felt strongly about creating a brand and a world that stood for something and a specific aesthetic, a point of view and a commitment to quality and craftsmanship."

The brand has existed as an aesthetics clinic in California for roughly three years, a venture he started after entrepreneurial beauty pursuits such as Nécessaire, Homecourt, and Glossier. After excelling in the prestige beauty market for nearly two decades, Axelrod-Welk felt drawn to the luxury space. "Over the last few years [I've] been totally fascinated with what defines luxury. And what I've come to realize, and I'm not alone in this realization, is [that luxury means] craftsmanship, story, and quality."

The co-founder notes that his commitment to excellence, and a desire to create something that was not just contributing to the waste in the world, led him to the fragrance arm of Contrapposto. "Fragrance is something that immediately enhances your life, [and] I feel like the only point in making something and putting it out there now is...that it represents a commitment to quality."

Despite his beauty pedigree, Axelrod-Welk explains that entering fine fragrance was an entirely new world. Navigating the niche vocabulary of the industry felt akin to "taking Duolingo classes." Eventually that led to him working with master perfumers Frank Voelkl and Shyamala Maisondieu of Firmenich and Givaudan respectively, giving them free reign to create Contrapposto's first scents—with zero budget constraints. "[After] starting with aesthetic dermatology and skin enhancements [for Contrapposto], I was really obsessed with the idea of creating a fragrance that could enhance your skin that felt like you were truly wearing it versus it wearing you," he says of the debut collection of extraits de parfum: Melting Flowers, Musc Pétille, and Lubanite.

Still, his aim wasn't to create perfumes that felt so esoteric and elevated that they wouldn't appeal to the average fragrance consumer. "Commercial to me isn't a bad word," he says. "Commercial means appealing and addictive, exciting and inviting as many people to the party as possible. So for me, combining something that is high art with something that is just indisputably exciting to more people than fewer was the goal."

With a $350 price point per bottle, Contrapposto certainly isn't the most expensive perfume on the market (like, say, the Bond No. 9 Couture Amphora with Swarovski Crystals, which retails for a cool $6,500), but the attention to detail makes the buying experience edge towards bespoke. For instance, designer Brian Rottinger created the outer packaging using artwork from the archives of the Met and the Library of Congress, transforming it into a 416-page book. Inside, the perfume bottle is nestled within a laser-cut compartment. Throwing the box away after you remove the fragrance? It merits space on your bookshelf far more than at the bottom of the recycling bin.

By elevating this type of ephemera, Axelrod-Welk is hopeful that Contrapposto can offer a unique take on the luxury fragrance experience, rather than a headline-making price tag. As he says, "It's something that you can't get anywhere, and that you know the hands that made the bottle, the hand that designed the packaging, the education of the person who composed the fragrance, and then the expertise of the people evaluating the fragrance." In an industry increasingly defined by what’s new, what’s viral, and what’s next, Contrapposto is making the case for something decidedly less fleeting: perfume worth keeping for years to come.

Shop Contrapposto

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The world of fragrance is constantly evolving, now more than ever it seems. In the past two years, I’ve gone from being just a casual consumer of all things perfume to a die-hard obsessive, with a rather healthy collection of niche scents to show for it. Still, as I adjust my beauty routines for the upcoming fall and winter months, I’ve found myself reaching for simpler, more minimalist scents that are the definition of crowd-pleasing. The latest on my nightstand? The newly launched Old Navy Beauty Co.

​“Fragrance and body care felt like a very natural extension of how our customers already engage with Old Navy,” says Deb Redmond, head of beauty for Gap Inc. (which also recently revised the Gap Beauty fragrance collection) and Old Navy Beauty Co. brand lead. “They’re personal, playful, and they’re everyday essentials that fit naturally into routines. You can find a scent you love, layer it, switch it up, and make it your own.” I’ve been particularly drawn to the gorgeous use of sophisticated notes in each line, which makes sense, given that the scents were created by one of my favorite noses, Jérôme Epinette.

​“I was able to have a lot of artistic freedom with this line,” Epinette told me in a recent sit-down. “The challenge for me was really taking the exquisite ingredients that I love to use, like oud, amber, and patchouli, and bringing them to a wider and more accessible audience.” If I do say so myself, he nailed the brief, and you’ll be agreeing once you get your hands on these products, too.

​There are seven scents to choose from in the Old Navy collection, and alongside the body mists, there are also body washes and lotions, which make for easy layering in the shower (and a fantastic base for your subsequent scent for the day). The full Old Navy Beauty line is available in stores nationwide and online at Oldnavy.gap.com, and I’ve gone ahead and reviewed each scent and formula to make shopping easy right from the comfort of your home. Whether you’re a fragrance snob like I am or simply love to collect perfume, there’s a product here for everyone.

What Scents Are In Old Navy Beauty?

There are seven scents to choose from in this collection, ranging from gourmands to citruses and even fruity florals. Each scent and its corresponding notes are as follows:

• Gourmand Thrill: Toasted Pistachio, Creamy Coconut, Salted Amber
• Fresh Splash: Juicy Pear, Salty Beachwood, White Woods
• Vanilla Crush: Seductive Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Warm Woods
• Floral Sweet: Crushed Raspberry, Sensuous Amber, White Patchouli
• Amber Vibe: Italian Mandarin, Golden Oud, Sundried Amber
• Suede Embrace: Jasmine Blossom, Sheer Amber, Wild Honey
• Sorbet D’lish: Dazzling Passionfruit, Frosted Pineapple, Peach Blossom

What Products Are In the Old Navy Beauty Collection?

There are three formulas in this line: Hair and Body Mists, Hydrating Body Lotions, and Comforting Body Washes. While each scent is different, the base ingredients in each product are the same.

​For the Comforting Body Washes, expect to see ingredients such as glycerin, aloe vera, and vitamin E throughout the line. Glycerin acts as a humectant that draws moisture into the skin, which allows the body to be cleansed without being stripped of moisture. Aloe vera simultaneously calms and hydrates the skin, and vitamin E doubles down on the hydration that the aloe provides, while also providing antioxidant benefits.

The Hydrating Body Lotion included hyaluronic acid, which helps to retain moisture, which in turn leaves your skin looking more plump. Shea butter deeply nourishes and further softens, while coconut water and vitamin E acetate add hydration and additional antioxidant properties to the formula, respectively. As someone whose skin can be a little temperamental at times, I love to see these types of nourishing ingredients from an affordable body care collection.

​I’m often pretty skeptical of fragrances that claim to work for both hair and body, but there is a star ingredient in this version from Old Navy that made me jump in headfirst to test: Panthenol (Pro Vitamin B5). This ingredient is known for being a hydration superhero when applied topically. For your hair, expect similar results, plus conditioning, improved shine, and even a bit of split-end mending. In short, if you have dry, brittle hair as I do, this mist won’t make it worse and will simultaneously make your strands smell phenomenal.

Is the Old Navy Beauty Co. Line Worth It?

No product in the line costs more than $15, and the formulas genuinely feel much more expensive and luxe, which leads me to conclude that the Old Navy Beauty Co. collection is more than worth adding to your routine. (Where else can you get fragrances created by a master perfumer for such a low entry point?) This collection launch perfectly straddles the line between quality and accessibility, something that Redmond was keen on with its development.

​“We wanted to bring an exceptional level of fragrance expertise to Old Navy, and Jérôme is the perfect partner for that,” she says. “He’s a world-renowned perfumer with decades of experience, and Old Navy gave him the creative freedom to work with premium ingredients and create custom compositions that put a fresh spin on recognizable notes like vanilla and sandalwood. He has such an elevated point of view, but also understood that these fragrances needed to feel approachable, wearable, and fun.” In my eyes, this is an A+ launch all around.

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Okay, okay, I relent, fall is almost here, and I’m kinda sorta excited to revel in the cooler temperatures. The upcoming season means my cashmere sweaters are coming out of storage, New York Fashion Week is imminent, and life’s cozy factor is about to multiply exponentially. What better way to ease into the season than with a couple of new fall candles? I’ll admit, my candle collection is… staggering. The vintage credenza where I store them is quite literally bowed in the middle from the weight of all the jars. But there is truly nothing better than closing your laptop at the end of the day, striking a match, and lighting a beloved scent to kick off a bit of relaxation time.

Fall candles are particularly noteworthy in my collection because of how warm, woody, spicy, and gourmand they tend to lean. After a summer filled with skin scents, fresh citrus, scintillating Ambroxan, and salty mineral perfumes, switching up my home’s fragrance profile feels like a welcome palette cleanser. So, if you’re also a home scent obsessive but you don’t necessarily want to go full-on pumpkin spice latté, here are the 10 fall candles I’m eyeing for the upcoming season.

So Santal

Santal (a.k.a. sandalwood) is one of the most popular notes in perfumery, but it’s equally seductive in candle form. The creamy, woody, and cozy vibes are ideal for the fall season.

Keep It Cashmere

Even if it’s not quite the temperature to dress in head-to-toe cashmere, you can bet I’ll be burning a cashmere-scented candle to bask in all the cozy fall vibes.

Dreamy Cedar

When I can’t make it upstate for a hike, I turn to a cedar candle for my outdoor fix. Cedarwood is one of my favorite notes for fall fragrances, and it’s just as beautiful in candle form.

Lovely Leather

What fabric am I most excited to wear come fall? Leather and suede pieces, 100 percent. It also makes for an undeniably sexy candle, just saying.

By the Fireplace

Although it’s hard to find in NYC, a seat near a wood-burning fireplace is my idea of heaven when the weather turns cool. Luckily, some of my all-time favorite candle brands have captured that scent for those of us without a hearth at home.

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I have no hesitation in saying that Guerlain is my favorite fragrance house. Not only did their perfumer, Delphine Jelk, create my everyday scent—Vanille Planifolia—but the storied brand is also one of the few major Parisian houses to have successfully evolved with the modern perfume wearer. Despite their latest crop of creations, including the Les Extraits and Les Euex ranges, being powerful and complex in their own right, they’re encouraged to be combined (fragrance layering is all the rage for 2026). Jelk views them as the components of an olfactory personality. But their latest launch breaks the mold: it’s a standalone creation—and Guerlain’s biggest women’s fragrance launch in nearly a decade.

Called L’Heure Bleue, the eau de parfum is inspired by the blue moment that comes to pass at both dusk and dawn. “I wanted to capture the blue hour with the same tenderness as Jacques Guerlain’s L’Heure Bleue in 1912," says Jelk, Guerlain Director of Perfume Creation. "As a woman, I wanted to express femininity accurately, as I see it: A blend of tenderness and strength. Authenticity and poetry. A femininity that seizes every opportunity.” The result is a unique and powerful scent with an aquatic presence and iris heart that permeates any room you enter.

I first had the opportunity to smell the creation back in June, during an exclusive preview at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City. While final bottles weren’t available at the time, I left the suite with a tester card and a sample tucked in my back pocket. Over the past two months, that single piece of paper still holds onto the L’Heure Bleue smell—and my sample is nearly drained of juice. In honor of the big launch, I’m officially cracking open my gorgeous blue bottle. And after reading this review, I’m confident you’ll want to do the same.

What Does L’Heure Bleue Smell Like?

The profile of L’Heure Bleue is unmistakable—I can guarantee you’ve never smelled anything remotely similar. It’s a juxtaposition in a bottle; equally airy as it is long-lasting; floral yet aquatic; and rich but fleeting. The heart is an Italian iris that’s harvested from the dried rhizomes, a.k.a the plant stem that grows underground. “We wanted to emphasize the extremely rare know-how that Guerlain possesses: the ability to develop its own raw materials by reinventing the tincture based on iris, an iconic flower for the house,” said Jelk. It is also responsible for the fragrance's intense powdery effect.

Secondary to iris is the ozonic accord, which adds a chill to the scent to make it well-suited for end-of-summer, early fall nights. It's also is bolstered by two ingredients iconic to the Guerlain perfumery: vanilla and Ambroxan. While they’re not primary forces in the fragrance or noticeable upon the initial spray, they linger with the dry down, giving the fragrance a cozy, familiar, and comforting edge.

How Long Does L’Heure Bleue Last on the Skin?

One of the hallmarks of a Guerlain fragrance is its intensity. The creations tend to linger on clothes for months and on skin for hours. Despite this being a traditional eau de parfum, I’ve found that its staying power is arguably stronger than that of the range of extraits. My testing strip from back in June still grips onto the aquatic accord. The sillage is remarkable, too—one spray floats throughout a room. I tucked my bottle away in a drawer, along with over a dozen other scents, and upon opening it, L’Heure Bleue prevails.

Is Guerlain’s L’Heure Bleue Worth It?

I consider myself a Guerlain collector. For that reason alone, I felt compelled to add the brand’s biggest feminine fragrance launch from the past decade to my collection. The bottle is a work of art in and of itself, too. It’s inspired by a 1912 bottle fashioned like an inverted heart—however, this time it’s been polished in a gorgeous blue gradient and designed to be refilled with the now-classic juice.

While it’s still a luxury fragrance, it’s notably more affordable than the brand’s other creations, yet it still maintains that rich, elevated fragrance profile. The staying power is unmatched, and the airy, light take on iris is incredibly innovative. I can guarantee this is about to be one of the most popular French fragrances—so be an early adopter while you can.

Shop More Guerlain Products I Love

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Meet the Expert

I'll put it plainly: August 2026 has been an elite month for beauty launches. While some people are lamenting the end of summer, I am more than ready to go full-speed ahead with all things cozy, glowy, and moisturizing, and it seems like the beauty industry is in agreement because there have been quite a few new launches that I’ve been loving.

​Not only has Initio, one of my favorite fragrance brands, expanded its existing Oud line (more to come on that), but your skin is about to be very happy with a new scrub from Dove, another expansion to a pre-existing collection that I rave about constantly. On the skincare front, 111Skin is bringing its world-renowned spa right to your front door with its Precision Peel, which gently yet effectively sloughs off dead skin to boost cell turnover—in turn revealing baby-soft, radiant skin. My new favorite face tool combines all the best qualities of a microsonic cleansing brush with the ergonomic advantages of its triangular brush head, making for an easy at-home spa experience or daily cleansing ritual. Even with all of this newness, this isn’t even half of the list.

​My favorite way to do a seasonal reset is always to refresh all my beauty routines and rituals, so if you’re in the same boat, keep reading for the products that will make the transition to fall a little more intentional, courtesy of the team at Marie Claire, who have tested them all.

• Best New Dark Spot Patches: Topicals Faded Tranexamic Acid Dark Spot Patches
• Best New Facial Tool: BioTheraputic Bt-Sonic Gen2 Cleansing Brush
• Best New At-Home Peel: 111Skin Precision Peel
• Best New Moisturizer: La Prairie Swiss Pristine Cream
• Best New Blemish Serum: Biologique Recherche Serum Vivant
• Best New Gentle Cleanser: Versed Daily Dissolve Gel Cleanser
• Best New Eyeshadow: Chantecaille Luminescent Eye Shade
• Best New Foundation: Tower28 Swipe Serum Non-Acnegenic Foundation
• Best New Lip Liner: Maed Duet Two-Sided Satin and Matte Lip Liner
• Best New Powder: Dior Forever On-Set Powder
• Best New Mascara: KJH Microscara Tubing Mascara
• Best New Retinol: Dieux FirmRevival Retinol Serum
• Best New Body Scrub: Dove Radiance Body Scrub
• Best New Fragrance: Initio Oud for Grace Eau de Parfum
• Best New Extensions: Bellami Flex Weft
• Best New Hair Serum for Dryness: Innersense Overnight Repair Serum
• Best New Hair Serum for Thinning: Sisley Paris Revitalizing Fortifying Super Serum

Best New August Beauty Launches

Best New Dark Spot Patches

Best New Facial Tool

Best New At-Home Peel

Best New Moisturizer

Best New Blemish Serum

Best New Gentle Cleanser

Best New Eyeshadow

Best New Foundation for Sensitive Skin

Best New Lip Liner

Best New Powder

Best New Mascara

Best New Retinal

Best New Body Scrub

Best New Fragrance

Best New Extensions

Best New Hair Serum for Dryness

Best New Hair Serum for Thinning

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

Packing for a press trip with Max Mara comes with its own set of challenges. The fashion house has a very distinct aura, one in which effortless and polished must exist side by side. So, naturally, I spent hours packing and unpacking my suitcase, cycling through monochrome suiting and searching for precisely the right shade of camel before jetting off to Rome, the home base for Max Mara, in late April.

The reason for the trip—which I’ve had to keep hush-hush until today—was the unveiling of Max Mara Le Parfum Eau de Parfum, a scent that translates the brand’s signature second-skin sophistication into fragrance. It’s warm and woody with a floral twist courtesy of a tuberose note that smells lighter and more airy han its heady, intense stereotype. “My intention was to create a perfume for women. Just like the iconic Max Mara coat, we started with something masculine and turned it into something gorgeous and feminine,” says perfumer Fabrice Pellegrin.

His creation, a collaboration with fellow perfumer Marie Salamagne, places symbolism at its core. The bottle—with a cinched waist and belt—is an obvious nod to the coat that inspired it. The warm, woody, floral skin scent is a cloak of comfort, reminiscent of the brand’s iconic cashmere trench. And the base notes themselves, which include sandalwood and cedarwood, are stitched together like an impenetrable fabric. The result is a fragrance that feels intertwined with the brand’s DNA—elevated and sexy, but incredibly refined. And it’s shockingly made me a tuberose convert.

For my full review and to shop the just-launched fragrance, keep reading.

What Does the Max Mara Le Parfum Smell Like?

Le Parfum is comforting, soft, and sexy. Or, in the words of brand ambassador Florence Pugh, “it actually smells like cashmere.” It’s one of those unique and comforting scents that 99.9 percent of people will gravitate towards. By looking at the ingredient list alone, though, I wouldn’t have guessed it. The top note is tuberose, which, for the unfamiliar, is traditionally a very visceral scent with a strong sillage and identifiable floral-meets-menthol intensity. The noses, however, were intent on rebranding tuberose. They extracted the creamiest-smelling portion of the flower and paired it with benzoin, an even creamier resin and a citrus to cut the bitterness. Ironically, it’s this combo that gives the scent that “cashmere” like vibe.

The base of the fragrance is composed of vanilla and amber notes, which suit my gourmand preferences, and it has a woodier composition, drawing on both sandalwood and cedarwood. The result is a scent that smells both intimately familiar and bizarrely unique. Regardless, it will have you coming back for a second, third, and fourth whiff.

Is Max Mara Le Parfum Eau de Parfum Worth It?

I am not lying when I say that a woman quite literally chased me out of a restaurant in the Hamptons to ask what perfume I was wearing. I couldn’t tell her at the time (sorry), but now that the embargo has lifted, I can confirm that said “incredible” smell is Max Mara’s Le Parfum. I’d also like to point out that this has not been a one-off experience. I get stopped at least once a day by a stranger on the street when I’m wearing this. And when my friends and family come over to raid my perfume collection? This is consistently the bottle they try to steal. Don’t worry: I stand my ground. This is one fragrance I refuse to part with.

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For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

Meet the Expert

I will admit: I am a perfume snob. Actually, I’m a body care snob in general. Not only do I expect luxurious, sensorially elegant formulas, but I also expect them to smell phenomenal too. That being said, any fragrance lover knows that you can’t just mix and match any ‘ole scents together. Unless you use only products from one brand, there’s no real way to ensure your fragranced picks are truly cohesive. If you find layering tedious (although I do recommend figuring out your olfactive personality), allow me to introduce my favorite single note, which I firmly believe pairs well with anything: Ambroxan.

​“Ambroxan is one of the best-smelling ambergris ingredients there is,” Geza Schoen, perfumer and founder of Escentric Molecule, tells me. “It’s a synthetic replacement for that legendary waxy substance a sperm whale expels into the ocean, which only develops its extraordinary scent after months or years drifting in saltwater and sun. Real ambergris is rare and absurdly expensive, so Ambroxan is the recreation of this molecule in the lab.”

​The magic of the note is in its shape-shifting abilities, which make ambroxan perfumes a fantastic addition to any scenting routine, regardless of where your preferences typically lie on the olfactive chart. “What makes Ambroxan so special is its ability to be both present and discreet at the same time,” Sergio Momo, Founder & CEO of Xerjoff, tells me. “It can create a soft, almost skin-like aura around a fragrance without ever dominating the composition. At the same time, its exceptional persistence and longevity can give a fragrance a distinctive, contemporary, and sophisticated signature.”

​I’m not kidding when I say Ambroxan is one of my favorite perfume notes, and to be honest, I think I’ve collected almost every Ambroxan fragrance on the market. Of course, this means that I’ve tested them all, and as usual, I have notes to share. If you’re on the hunt for your own Ambroxan perfumes, want to learn how to layer with the note, or simply prefer a more minimalist fragrance, the picks below will be a fantastic addition to your fragrance collection and routine.

The Best Ambroxan Perfumes

• Best Overall Ambroxan Perfume: Escentric Molecules Molecule 02
• Best Masculine Ambroxan Perfume: Bleu de Chanel Eau de Parfum
• Best Aquatic Ambroxan Perfume: Liquides Imaginaires Fleur de Sable Eau de Parfum
• Best Niche Ambroxan Perfume: Xerjoff Alexandria II Parfum
• Best Skin Scent Ambroxan Perfume: Fugazzi Angel Dust Eau de Parfum
• Best Fresh Ambroxan Perfume: Louis Vuitton Imagination Eau de Parfum
• Best Classic Ambroxan Perfume: Another 13 Eau de Parfum
• Best Ambroxan Home Fragrance: Ambroxyde 17 Home Fragrance

Best Overall Ambroxan Perfume

Best Masculine Ambroxan Perfume

Best Aquatic Ambroxan Perfume

Best Niche Ambroxan Perfume

Best Skin Scent Ambroxan Perfume

Best Fresh Ambroxan Perfume

Best Classic Ambroxan Perfume

Best Ambroxan Home Fragrance

What Are the Best Notes to Pair With Ambroxan?

Ambroxan is one of the best chameleon perfume notes out there, so realistically, you can pair it with anything. However, a few others highlight its unique facets beautifully.

“Ambroxan is endlessly versatile and plays with almost anything,” Schoen says. “My favorite partners are musk, which melts into it to create the ultimate skin scent; cedarwood, which gives it structure and backbone, and iris, for a cool, powdery, genderless elegance.”

Xerjoff also has a few favorite pairings. “Ambroxan adds depth and warmth to citrus and fresh notes, enhances the regal and dry character of woody notes such as sandalwood, cedarwood and vetiver, and when paired with musky notes, creates a very seductive nuance.” In niche perfumery, it’s also not uncommon to pair the note with floral, spicy or gourmand profiles, which XERJOFF says creates an “unexpected yet intriguing contrast between freshness, warmth and texture.”

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Looking hot has no age limit. There is also no one singular product or treatment that can elevate your hotness factor. In fact, hot girls know that 90 percent of being, well, a hot girl, is mindset; that enviable mentality and confidence that you carry with you from day to night. But for that remaining 10 percent? Well, that's the stuff we need to know, because who doesn't want to hone their hot factor with a few buzzy additions to her beauty routine? It's why I had to chat with Cyklar founder, OG creator, and certified hot girl Claudia Sulewski.

Even if you're not chronically online, or completely and utterly obsessed with her body care brand like the rest of the Marie Claire team, you might have spotted Sulewski on the most recent Forbes 30 Under 30 list, or flashing a rather sizable diamond on her ring finger (she's currently engaged to musician and producer FINNEAS) in a few shots on Instagram. A stranger to the spotlight she is not, and to my delight, she is equally well-versed in the beauty space. I mean, how could she not be when she's been creating YouTube beauty tutorials for the last 17 years, and launched an award-winning line of body care and fragrance products that now sit on the shelves at Sephora?

"I remember having a very extensive nail polish collection," she tells me over Zoom. "By the time I was 10 years old, I was painting my nails every single color. And I started making YouTube videos at 13." The founder adds that by that point, she had fully infiltrated her mother's makeup collection. "I'd steal my mom's makeup and create these makeup tutorials and eye tutorials and post them online. I was so serious at 13... but now I view beauty as an enhancement or an extension of myself. I feel like we're in this fun phase of just embracing our natural beauty and doing these little tips and tricks that make you just feel a little bit hotter, but still you."

It comes as no surprise, then, that with well over a decade spent immersed in beauty, both personally and professionally, Sulewski has amassed more than a few secrets to look and feel smoking hot. Keep scrolling for more.

What are the moments in your life when you feel the hottest, naturally?

It really is so simple. When I'm tan, not from the sun, but when I've self-tanned. When my skin is breathing and hydrated—it's not covered in a ton of makeup. And when my hair is done, I really think when you walk out the door and you've done something to your hair to just make it look a little bit more presentable, you don't need to touch your face. That's my philosophy.

When do you feel like you need a bit of a hotness boost?

If I was out the night before and had some alcohol and need to de-puff essentially, or when I don't get eight hours of sleep. I mean, sleep is so important. If you had a late night or if you have to wake up super early, a few more steps [get] tacked onto my skincare routine when I've lost my sleep.

What in-office treatments help you feel like the hottest version of yourself?

I've finally started seeing an esthetician on a schedule. I really don't do too many [beauty] things out of the house, but [I'm] seeing an esthetician at least once a month right now. We do a lot of peels, a lot of spot treatment lasering, which I didn't know was a thing. I though you kind of have to just get lasers across your whole face, but she'll just zap certain areas for dark spots, which makes it a way shorter downtime. Also dermaplaning I started doing for the first time this year, and it lets your makeup and everything on your face just sit so much better. So I'm doing all of those things when my esthetician feels that we need them. I go to Lisa Karadjian.

Also nails, that's a huge one. If I have a good set of Builder Gel nails, I'm walking differently. I am talking differently. I'm feeling so hot and so confident. Depending on what I'm getting ready for, if it is a big life moment or a red carpet, [I see] Jenny Jenny's or Nails by Zola, they're so good. Or I just go to the nail salon that's five minutes away from my house. But I love just having a natural, long almond nail. It just does so much.

But that's kind of it. I've joked in the past that my Notes app is just a graveyard of recommendations for my friends like, here's the lymphatic drainage person that you need to go to. Here's where you need to start going to for this. It's overwhelming to know what you should be doing and outsourcing.

What does your at-home hot girl routine consist of, from products to practices?

Obviously having my own body care brand, the lineup is extensive. So I really, really enjoy luxuriating in my body care routine. I'd love to call out the Cyklar Self-Tanning Milky Essence. It's just such an easy self-tanner that we developed that allows you to just maintain your tan in between spray tans, or if you got a little bit of sun. It's just really easy, so that's always a confidence hot boost for me personally. I'm sauna-ing a lot. Strength training. My answer to almost everything these days is strength training. Longevity! It makes you feel so good, so sexy. It gives you energy. I love to elevate my legs at nighttime. I'm always thinking about circulation, blood flow. I have the vibrating plate. So certainly all of those things, we're embracing all of them.

For skin, I love at-home devices. Shark Beauty, the CryoGlow mask is so good. I've found that as a hard shell mask, it sits on my face lighter than any other one. And also the cooling underneath for your eyes is so nice for the morning time. I'll often habit stack with that mask. This morning upstairs, I had the mask on in the dark and I was doing calisthenics with my arms and just getting a little workout in, a little six-minute arm circuit. We're doing a lot of habit stacking.

Also, I really believe in a high quality peptide serum. There's a Medik8 one, Advanced Peptides MP. I've been using it all year. Obviously sunscreen every day. The Shark Beauty DePuffi. On those nights where I didn't get a lot of sleep or I was out the night before and want to chisel, contour my face, that cooling setting feels so good to use in the morning.

I try to stay as low maintenance with my hair as possible. I love a heatless curl if I know I don't have a bunch of time in the morning and just want to run out and have some sort of texture going on with my hair. If I'm styling it, Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System. They have these auto-wrap curlers that hold your curl for so, so long and have it look blown out for the next four days. And it also just helps with heat damage.

Right now I've been loving Chanel Gardenia and actually mixing that with [Cyklar] Sex Musk, which is one of our perfume oils. I mean, I like to layer that with anything. I love a very light white floral, and for the summertime it makes me feel very feminine and ethereal.

What’s a mantra or words of wisdom you swear by to feel confident, hot, and in-charge?

I would say that just reminding myself that confidence really is built on the promises you keep for yourself. More often than not, the days where I am feeling so confident about myself and feeling like that hot bitch is crossing off my to-do list. Giving myself a plan of what I need to do and what I'm going to do and getting it done and getting it done earlier than I thought I would. I really think so much of it comes down to that, just walking the walk and doing what you're telling yourself you're going to do. And obviously you can have beauty routines and products and treatments in the mix of that, but it's really just feeling like you respect your relationship with yourself. You can rely on yourself, you're consistent. Those daily habits, it's cliché to say that, but it's so true. That's what matters the most.

Do you think that purposefulness in the way that you attack your day is the secret to radiating hotness at any age?

A million percent. Because you trust yourself more. Obviously you can alter yourself and try to fix all these things on the outside, but in terms of how you walk into a conversation with someone, how you walk into a room, I think all of that stems from the inside and the work that you do with yourself, whatever it is, whatever makes you feel good. You know what I mean?

If reading makes you feel smart and empowered, keep reading, keep picking up that book. Or if it's being super communicative and in tune with your emotions, meditating, journaling. I'm oftentimes when I'm wearing the LED mask, I'll journal. These little things just help give you this self-identity. I think it's so important to feel connected to your unique self, if that makes sense.

Sometimes buying the same foundation that everyone else is buying is not going to do that. It's not going to fill that gap. I mean, we're getting cheesy, but it's just true. That's what it is.

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The biggest perfume trends of 2026 are comprised of fragrance notes I never in a million years would have thought to try. I’ve had rice water scents cluttering up my desk, tomato-flavored mists on my vanity, and too many pistachio, banana, and olive extracts in my inbox to process. But the most unexpected—and shockingly my personal favorite—has been matcha perfumes. Now don’t get me wrong: I like a Blank Street Daydream Matcha Latte as much as the next person, but I can’t say that I always dreamt of smelling like my afternoon pick-me-up. And yet, once I started smelling an assortment of matcha notes, I realized the note was surprisingly complex. It’s green, but not too grassy. There’s a bitterness that reads as vegetal, and, in many, an underlying creaminess that softens the scent into something intimate and skin-like.

Formulating it isn’t the easiest—there’s no real matcha plant to extract from. “Perfumers have to layer ingredients that together evoke the full sensory impression of matcha: green tea notes that capture that fresh, slightly bitter top, alongside softer, creamier elements that mimic a perfectly prepared bowl,” says Carol Han, the founder of Nette. The result is an accord that’s often reminiscent of peace and stillness. “We’re all looking for ways to slow down, and there’s something so inherently meditative about match, and it’s almost become this symbol of mindful living,” says Han. “Fragrance, at its best, does the same thing. It pulls you into a moment. People are drawn to matcha in perfumery for the same reason they’re drawn to it in life: it feels really grounding.”

Intrigued by summer's latest, and most enticing, perfume trend? Keep scrolling for the five best matcha fragrances to try before fall hits.

The Best Matcha Fragrances

• Best Gourmand Matcha Perfume: Nette La Vanillé
• Best Green Matcha Perfume: Dossier Green Lush
• Best Matcha Skin Scent: Le Labo Matcha 26
• Best Matcha Body Mist: Matcha Milk
• Best Floral Matcha Perfume: La Monde Gourmand Thé Matcha

Best Gourmand Matcha Perfume

Best Green Matcha Perfume

Best Matcha Skin Scent

Best Matcha Body Mist

Best Floral Matcha Perfume

What Does Matcha Perfume Smell Like?

“In fragrances, matcha is calming and clean, with both earthy and creamy notes,” says COO and Head of Creative Dossier, Ines Guien. Think of it more like how your matcha latte smells than the powder itself. “Matcha in fragrance appears as an accord of notes that balances the earthiness of green tea with more powdery or creamy lactonic notes for that scent we associate with matcha.” Matcha cannot be extracted, so creating the aura takes the careful work of an expert perfumer. It’ll differ brand to brand, but expect to see a combination of violet, coumarin (a tonka bean-like ingredient), milky or frothy lactones, and bergamot or cardamom.

What Notes Pair Well With Matcha Perfumes?

Matcha is a team player—you’ll typically see it alongside woody, citrus, or floral notes to help balance out its earthy energy. That being said, it’s a note that sits closer to the skin, so don’t expect the matcha sillage to project far; it’s much more intimate. But as is the case with everything in fragrance, the goal is to have fun. Layer as you see fit and create an olfactory personality that's uniquely you.

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For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

Meet the Experts

Summer Fridays is expanding its product offerings, and I have to say: the brand is about to have another hit on its hands. Launching today, August 7, the brand’s body collection takes its beloved lip balm scents and turns them into lush body butters and mists that anyone can wear.

​“Body care offered a natural opportunity to expand our thoughtful approach to skincare into a more complete, head-to-toe experience,” Summer Fridays co-founder Marianna Hewitt tells me. “We saw an opportunity to bring thoughtful ingredients, effective hydration and an elevated sensorial element to a category that is such an important part of people’s daily routines.”

​I got the opportunity to test the new body care line ahead of the launch, and in short? I genuinely love them. As for the product lineup, there are three body butters and three matching fragrance mists to choose from. The scents include vanilla, pink guava, and pistachio milk, perfect crowd-pleaser scents that will delight both a fragrance novice and expert nose equally, while also appeasing the body care snob that wants a luxurious sensorial experience.

​I’ve found myself already playing favorites with the vanilla scent, but I do understand that not everyone is a die-hard vanilla lover like I am. So, I’ve done my due diligence and reviewed the full line so you can choose your own favorite formula and scent, perfect for fitting right into your existing scenting routine. The new collection is available to shop today, August 7, on Sephora.com and Summerfridays.com. If you can’t make it into stores immediately, keep reading to see my full review of the line ahead.

What Do the Summer Fridays Body Care Formulas Feel Like?

Starting with the body butters, I have to say that name is very apt. When I see squeeze tube packaging like the one this formula is housed in, I immediately expect a lighter, more lotion-like consistency, regardless of marketing claims. Imagine my surprise when I put this formula onto my hand, and it was rich, thick, and creamy—an actual body butter that provides deep, noticeable hydration for hours. (Seriously, my hands felt so supple even after washing them. The difference is stark.)

​The perfume mists, on the other hand, are light on the skin but packed with incredibly realistic scents (the vanilla scent actually smells like a vanilla bean pod!). They’re so strong that it’s to the point where I’ve worn one by itself and, if I didn’t know any better, could have been convinced that it was an actual eau de parfum. I’ve come to realize that I also have fairly sensitive skin, so when I sprayed it directly onto my chest and had no reactions or even slight redness, it immediately became a winner in my book. Speaking of scents, the notes for each duo are as follows:

• Vanilla: Vanilla Cake, Tonka Bean, Fluffy Musk
• Pink Guava: Guava Nectar, Pink Strawberry, Pear Blossom
• Pistachio Milk: Pistachio Milk, Creamy Woods, Raspberry Sugar

What Ingredients Are In the Summer Fridays Body Care Formulas?

The deliciously emollient body butter formula was created with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and a trio of butters (shea, murumuru, and Illipe, to be exact). Don’t forget other moisturizers like jojoba oil and hydrators like glycerin, which round out the formulation and help it glide onto the skin with ease. These body butters are like a comforting hug for your skin wrapped up in some of the most decadent scents.

​The ingredients for the mists vary by scent, but you can expect each composition to include classic fragrance chemicals like vanillin, rose ketones (a compound that creates a rose scent), and limonene (a citrus scent). Essentially, all the building blocks that make a fragrance actually have a scent instead of just being, well, water.

Is the Summer Fridays Body Care Line Worth It?

I am completely obsessed with this line and fully believe that it is worth adding to your body care and fragrance routines. The body butters truly provide long-lasting moisture, and the hours-long wear time appears to extend to the fragrance that they're scented with, too. When you top each moisturizer with its matching body mist, the scent it leaves behind will be potent enough to make you want to skip any other perfumes—it’s that strong. Still, if you want an entire room to smell you well after you’re gone, use it as a part of your fragrance layering routine, and I promise the compliments will be endless.

​This is yet another A-plus launch from Summer Fridays. If you’re newer to the brand, while you're picking up the new body collection, tack on a few of my other favorites from the brand below.

Shop My Favorite Products From Summer Fridays

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For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

Meet the Expert

The words fragrance and sale are like a bat signal to me, and when money can be saved on my favorite cosmetics, I’m going to answer the call every time. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale ends in just a few days—you still have until Sunday August 9th to shop—but some of my all-time favorite perfumes are still majorly discounted. I’m talking skin scents that I obsess over, TikTok-viral fragrances that are more than worth the hype, and even a few niche options that anyone—experienced nose or a newbie to the space—would be happy to indulge in.

​Of course, fragrance isn’t just limited to the perfumes on your body. In fact, I’m on the hunt for my apartment’s new signature fall scent, and wouldn’t you know? There are candles, Puras, and diffusers that are all a part of this year’s discounted selections.

​All that said, I never recommend just buying something and hoping for the best, especially if you can’t go into a store to experience it before you pull the trigger. But that’s where I come in. Not only have I scoured the sale section for the best fragrance deals worth paying attention to, but I’ve also tested each of these scents personally, so when I say they’re good, know that everything from the complexity of the notes to the sillage is next level.

Ahead, find my curated list of the best fragrance deals at the 2026 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale worth adding to your scent collection or gifting for the upcoming holiday season.

The Best Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Fragrance Deals

• The Best Citrus Fragrance: Soleil Neige Eau de Parfum Gift Set
• The Best Discovery Set: Le Labo Discovery Eau de Parfum Fragrance Set
• The Best Luxury Gift Set: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Discovery Fragrance Trio Set
• The Best Rose Scent: Parfums de Marly Signature Fragrance Duo Set
• The Best Niche Gift Set: Diptyque Eau Rose Eau de Parfum & Hair Mist Set
• The Best Deodorant: Donna Karen Cashmere Mist Deodorant Trio Set
• The Best Home Fragrance Set: Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt Diffuser & Candle Set
• The Best Electric Diffuser: Pura x Glasshouse 4-Pack Home Diffuser Fragrance Refill

Best Citrus Fragrance

Best Discovery Set

Best Luxury Gift Set

Best Rose Scent

Best Niche Gift Set

Best Deodorant

Best Home Fragrance Set

Best Electric Diffuser

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

In case you haven’t noticed, K-Beauty has been having a moment for the past few years, a true revival from its peak popularity in the States in the mid-2010s. From PDRN serums to cutting-edge makeup—not to mention the surge of medical tourism, a.k.a. visiting the country specifically for beauty procedures— the industry has something to say, and it’s been full-on pedal to the metal over the last two years. Simultaneously, but at a slightly slower pace, has been the emergence of Korean fragrance brands in the Western market, and if you didn’t already know, this is definitely a space to watch.

​“Many Korean fragrances tend to be light, clean, linear and immediately understandable, usually centered around soft musks, transparent woods, aldehydic laundry notes, simple florals and linear citrus compositions,” Jun Lim, the founder of the brand Borntostandout, tells me. “This is more of a response to social etiquette. Korean consumers generally do not want their fragrance to invade someone else’s space. Perfume is expected to sit close to the body as if you’re speaking quietly in a crowded room.”

​Still, as with anything, you can’t paint the entire Korean fragrance industry with broad strokes, but through my research, I’ve generally found Lim’s words to be true. That being said, I’ve found some rather incredible fragrances that run the full gamut of the olfactive spectrum, and even a few, dare I say, beast mode perfumes that are my new obsession. Of course, I’ve gone ahead and curated a list of my six favorite Korean fragrance brands to make it easy to discover, explore, and shop. Plus, additional tips on what notes to look for and how to further your journey into Korean fragrance brands from Lim, as well as the co-founder of Elorea, Su Min Park.

The Best Korean Fragrance Brands

• Best Overall Korean Fragrance: Borntostandout Dirty Heaven Eau de Parfum
• Best Fresh Korean Fragrance: Elorea Hazy Blue Extrait Eau de Parfum
• Best Indie Korean Fragrance: Nonfiction Iris Concrete Eau de Parfum
• Best Solid Korean Fragrance: Longtake Sandalwood Eau de Parfum
• Best Designer Korean Fragrance: Tamburins

What Role Does Fragrance Play in Korean Culture?

There’s a reason why Korean fragrances are just starting to get global recognition, and it has to do with the way fragrance has been viewed in the country in the past. “Korea did not historically develop the same everyday perfume culture as France or parts of the Middle East,” Lim says. “For many people of my mother’s generation, wearing a noticeable perfume could be associated with nightlife, seduction, or even vulgarity. My mother used to tell me that perfume was something worn by people working at nightclubs.”

​While this attitude has mostly gone away with time, Lim says that there are still traces of it present today. “There is still an instinct to smell clean rather than perfumed, and to avoid appearing too sensual, too loud or too self-conscious,” he adds. “Fragrance is often treated as personal grooming rather than personal expression.”

​Still, that doesn’t mean that fragrance has never been a part of Korean culture. “Fragrance in Korea was woven into everyday rituals and was closely associated with creating a sense of balance, well-being, and harmony,” co-founder of Elorea, Su Min Park, tells me. “It was experienced through incense, herbal medicine, scented woods, tea, and perfumed sachets, rather than perfume alone.”

​Park says these practices still influence the way many Korean brands approach fragrance today. But that’s the beauty of Korean fragrance culture as it stands today. “Rather than treating perfume as purely decorative, there is often a greater emphasis on atmosphere, memory, and emotion,” she says. “It is about how a scent shapes an experience and makes you feel.”

What Notes Are Popular in Korean Fragrance Brands?

While there isn’t necessarily a set of notes that define Korean fragrances, there are some that are heavily linked to Korean culture that you may start noticing quite a bit.

​“Today's perfumers have access to many of the same raw materials, so I don't think Korean perfumery is defined by a single set of ingredients,” Park tells me. “At Elorea, we work with notes like perilla leaf, Korean pear, rice wine (makgeolli), and even aged soy sauce, ingredients that have long been part of everyday Korean life but are rarely found in fine fragrance.”

​What's most interesting, Park says, isn't the ingredients themselves, but rather the perspective behind how they're used. “We choose each ingredient intentionally, not simply because it's Korean, she says, but because it helps tell a story, evoke a memory, or express an emotion rooted in Korean culture.”

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For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

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It’s like July grew wings and flew away because somehow, we have arrived at the end of the month. While this does, sadly (or thankfully, for some of us), mean that summer is coming to an end, it also means we have quite a few new beauty launches to talk about.

​July saw the release of one of my favorite brow products ever, which is a bold claim, considering I’ve been obsessed with makeup for well over 15 years now. Still, I fully stand by it because this product is simply one of the easiest-to-use and well-executed beauty products I have ever used. On the fragrance side of things, one of my favorite influencers, Funmi Monet, launched her highly anticipated brand, Influxious, to rave reviews and an almost instant sell-out of inventory. Thankfully, my favorite from the line is still in stock on the brand’s website, so more on that to come. Westman Atelier makes one of the best luxury highlighters on the market, and a recent addition to the line reminded me once more why I’m so obsessed with the formula.

​Apparently, I can go on and on about all of the best new launches of July, but I’ve gone ahead and curated a list of only my favorites that neither the Marie Claire beauty team nor I can stop talking about. Whether you’re on the hunt for some new makeup favorites or believe that smelling good is a lifestyle (hard agree), keep reading for the products worth adding to your shopping cart and late-summer beauty routines. ​

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

I grew up in the '90s and early '00s, which obviously means I spent plenty of time shopping at the Gap at my local mall (shoutout to Chesterfield, MO). Roaming the aisles filled with pastel cardigans and bell-bottom jeans was a true treat for the senses, including my nose since the store was heavily scented in the way that all mall brands were at the time—I basically needed an oxygen tank to step foot inside Abercrombie & Fitch. But Gap (then stylized as The Gap) did it right, with scents that perfectly captured the minimalist, clean aesthetic of the '90s. Sadly, the brand phased out the collection in the early 200s, and Gap Beauty became yet another Y2K relic. Until now.

Gap fragrances have returned, with a five-piece collection of scents that both honor the prior aesthetic and move the brand into the future—much like the fashion arm of the brand under the guidance of Creative Director and EVP Zac Posen. Four of the original five scents have returned, albeit slightly reimagined for 2026: Dream, Grass, Heaven, and Om. An entirely new blend, Harmony, has replaced the So Pink perfume from the original lineup.

“Gap has always created products that become part of how people express who they are, and fragrance is a natural extension of that,” Mark Breitbard, CEO and President of Gap, said in a press release to media. “We’ve modernized Gap’s signature fragrances for the person who grew up with Gap and for those discovering it for the first time. It’s a deeply personal category and a powerful way for us to connect generations as we continue to evolve the brand.”

As a millennial gal who has newly fallen back in love with the brand—I'm waiting for a pair of the Hailey Bieber x Gap jeans to arrive in my mailbox any day now—I had to find out if the new Gap fragrances could transport me back to my tween and teen days, without feeling too dated or stuck in a nostalgia loop. The (extremely picky) Marie Claire beauty team weighs in on the new Gap scents, ahead.

What Are the Gap Beauty Scents?

Like the original collection, Gap Beauty is made up of five eau de parfums: Harmony, Om, Heaven, Grass, and Dream. And like the OG lineup, each fragrance is extremely wearable, but the modern renditions are designed with extra attention to their layering capabilities. The new Gap Beauty scents are for anyone looking to build her or his fragrance wardrobe while also adapting to the day's mood and occasion. As DebRedmond, Head of Beauty at Gap Inc, explained via press release, “We were rigorous about the technical journey, maintaining the core DNA of the original scents while modernizing the formulations for how people actually wear fragrance today."

Here are our honest thoughts on each of the five Gap scents.

Gap Harmony

This is the new kid on the block. Bright, playful, with punchy notes of apricot nectar, lush gardenia, and warm amber. "It's extremely wearable...so lovely," says Marie Claire Beauty Writer Ariel Baker. "As a notorious floral hater, if you're in my neck of the woods, you will still really like this. It's not too on the nose in terms of being a floral. It just smells like you just came out of the shower, used a really gorgeous floral-scented body wash but it's not as potent anymore because you've toweled off, and then you follow up with a really milky lotion. Then you top it off with a perfume oil. Done! Love it!"

Gap Om

Om is arguably the most sophisticated scent in the bunch, with rich notes of sandalwood, ginger, and cedar. Deep, earthy, but still approachable, this is for the elder millennials and true fragrance fans that are curious about the new Gap Beauty universe. "It's so yummy," says Marie Claire Senior Beauty Editor Samantha Holender. "It's very skin-scenty, a little woody, but a warm wood, with something that makes it very comforting. I'd wear this on a summer night into fall, it's very cozy, with a warm cashmere-like vibe."

Gap Heaven

If you're a fan of a fresh and sensual scent, Gap Heaven eau de parfum might be right up your alley. Soft Madagascar vanilla, heady patchouli, crisp pear, and buttery amber create a soft fragrance that is perfect for layering any time of the year. "This is giving, not clean per se, it's not giving cotton-y, but it's definitely pear, really fresh, with a hint of something punchy," says Baker. "I'm not a signature scent gal but this could make a really nice signature scent. I could wear this in the office or wear it out. If you want to be known as someone that smells really good all the time, but can't really pinpoint how or why, this is really good. It wears close to the body; it's a universally appealing scent."

Gap Grass

I was the most eager to try the Gap Grass scent, as it was the perfume that first caught my attention as a young kid at the mall. It's a very green, earthy fragrance, but not in a freshly-cut soccer field sort of way; think more long beach-side grass in Nantucket. Crisp notes of green mandarin, matcha, and Virginia cedar keep it grounded and woody yet still bright and energetic. I really can't wait to smell how it transforms during a slightly sweaty, 90 degree day. This is my pick for the best summer scent of the collection.

Gap Dream

This is for the true OG Gap heads (Gappers?) who still crave that '90s, minimalist aesthetic from their perfume. The latest eau de parfum is the closest to the original formula, per the brand, keeping to its warm, woody DNA with fresh notes of Italian bergamot, silky jasmine, and cedarwood. "It's Gap in a bottle," says Holender. "When you walk into a Gap store, this is what it smells like. It's definitely floral—I normally hate floral, however, it's not too powdery. It has a very smooth, creamy undercurrent through it. Remember the Gap x Doên collab? If that had a signature scent, it's this one."

How Much Do the Gap Fragrances Cost?

Now that the fragrances are finally available to shop both online and in store, you'll be able to snag a five-piece .05 oz Discovery Kit for $20, a 10ml size for $20, and 50ml bottle for $52. I love a fragrance sampler, and honestly, there's not a single perfume in the bunch that I wouldn't wear, so I'll be adding the minis into my rotation ASAP.

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For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion, and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

There’s nothing better than being the best-smelling person in the room. While I’m a big fan of niche, hard-to-find scents that really flex my fragrance knowledge, sometimes I just want something comforting and universally beloved. Enter: my obsession with powdery perfumes—except these ones smell incredibly chic, not like your grandma.

​I’ve come to find that certain accords are serious crowd pleasers, and powdery scents tend to fit the bill almost unanimously. They can lean sweet, gourmand, clean-smelling, or even woody, but wherever they land on the olfactive chart, I typically find there to be a healthy amount of musk in almost every powdery perfume that I own, which I’ve found to be a fantastic hack to build out my powdery perfume wardrobe. “[Musks] provide a sensual, earthy aroma and often serve as a base note that can anchor lighter, more fleeting scents,” DMS-Firmenich Perfumer, Alexandra Monet, previously told Marie Claire. Paired with additional notes like orris, vanilla, and even classic aldehydes, you never know when that perfect “I need it now” concoction will finally find you.

​If you’re anything like me, the musk-to-powder perfume pipeline is very real, but of course, not everyone has the time to curate a perfect fragrance wardrobe. That’s where I come in. For the past few weeks, I’ve been spritzing, sniffing, and layering some of my favorite powdery perfumes to find only the best concoctions worth recommending.

Ahead, I’ve curated a list of only the most impressive options on the market, for your easy perusal (and shopping, of course). From luxury houses to niche options you might not have even known about, keep reading to find the 10 best powdery perfumes worth adding to your fragrance collection, straight from a beauty expert and fragrance connoisseur.

Best Powdery Perfumes

• Best Overall Powdery Perfume: Gucci The Alchemist's Garden Muschio Di Luce Eau De Parfum
• Best Floral Powdery Perfume: Frédéric Malle Iris Poudre Eau de Parfum
• Best Citrus Powdery Perfume: Van Cleef & Arpels Collection Extraordinaire Musc De Soie Eau De Parfum
• Best Luxury Powdery Perfume: Chanel 1957 Les Exclusifs De Chanel Eau De Parfum
• Best Skin Scent Powdery Perfume: Ex Nihilo Iris Porcelana Eau de Parfum
• Best Niche Powdery Perfume: Chambre 52 Orencie Eau de Parfum
• Best Everyday Powdery Perfume: Juliette Has a Gun Musc Invisible Eau de Parfum
• Best Viral Powdery Perfume: Borntostandout Angel's Powder Eau de Parfum
• Best Cozy Powdery Perfume: Essential Parfums The Musk Eau de Parfume

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For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

Meet the Expert

One thing I’ve learned over the past few months: moving in New York City is not for the weak. Finding an apartment is like the Hunger Games. And once that very stressful step is done, it’s time to pack everything up. Call it an occupational hazard, but I have hundreds of glass-bottled perfumes, fragile skincare jars, and eyeshadow palettes that need extreme TLC. For all of a split second, I considered packing ‘em alone, but I ended up having Piece of Cake Moving & Storage do it for me—nuts to bolts—and it was the single best decision I made. “When packing fragile fragrances or glass cosmetic bottles, the biggest priority is preventing movement inside the box to avoid them from hitting each other and cracking; wrap each bottle individually with packing paper and pay extra attention to caps and lids to prevent leaks,” says Najah Ayoub, Piece of Cake’s Chief Marketing Officer.

Once my mattress, too many clothes, and all my beauty products arrived safely at point B, well, that’s when the fun actually started. I moved into this space determined to make my home (and bed) feel—and smell—like a luxury hotel room. I was hyper-focused on finding the creme de la creme of candles, diffusers, detergents, and soaps. I needed a bed that felt plush, crisp, and most importantly, very cool. And I obviously had to maximize my bathroom storage. That was the fun part.

Finding furniture that works in a small space—and provides storage— was not an easy feat. I’m in a studio apartment, so every inch matters. Add that to the fact that I was adamant about achieving a modern Parisian vibe without any crown molding in my rental, and I had my work cut out for me. But after going through, well, every home website that ever existed, I firmly believe I’ve found the best kitchen, bathroom, and apartment products of all time. My guide to stocking a new home, ahead.

Signature Scent

I’m a big believer that an olfactory personality doesn’t stop with my physical person. My home is a reflection of my personal style, and I want it to smell as such. I switch out my diffusers pretty frequently, but the end goal is the same: to feel like I’m entering an oasis the second I open my apartment door.

The Ideal Hotel Bed

I always have the best, best, best night’s sleep when I’m in a fancy hotel room. The comforters are fluffy, there’s an exorbitant amount of pillows, and the sheets feel cool, crisp, and temperature-regulated. After much trial and error, I’m convinced this assortment of products is a recipe for a perfect night’s sleep. (And that’s coming from a terrible sleeper.)

Chic Cleaning Supplies

I’m definitely a bit neurotic about keeping a clean home. It’s a shoes-off household, and I’m very strict about no outside clothes on the bed (and couch). That being said, I refuse to have my space smelling like bleach, so I’ve stocked my home with the most elevated detergents (if you know me, you know this is my biggest obsession) and cleaning supplies.

Kitchen Staples

My kitchenware predated my college graduation, so it was time for a Big Girl refresh. But I also wanted to make sure the apartment's feminine, modern vibe carried into my kitchen, so I was pretty picky about the color of my pots, the shape of my plates, and the design of my utensils. Oh, I even went so far as to have my gray countertops covered in Taj Mahal peel-and-stick wallpaper from Amazon.

Bathroom Basics

For the past five years, I’ve been doing my makeup at a vanity with a massive Glamcor mirror. But it kind of ruined the vibe of my new apartment, so I’ve transitioned into getting ready in my bathroom. Storage has been very important, as have towels and robes that make the whole process feel calm and cozy.

Cozy Details

It was much more difficult than I anticipated to execute a modern Parisian aesthetic in such a small space. But I was adamant about making my apartment feel like a snapshot of a luxe Paris hotel, so it became imperative that every single item in my home be intentional and serve a very specific purpose—especially the little details. “It’s really about effortless sophistication. It needs to feel warm and timeless, elegant yet unfussy,” says Kathy Kuo, the founder of Kathy Kuo Home. “The key to getting it right is restraint: Every piece should feel intentional and slightly storied, as if it's been in the apartment for years.”

Small Space Furniture

My tape measure is my new best friend. But! Every single item fit perfectly into my home. “The secret to making a small space feel bigger is to make the most of its footprint. I don’t mean filling it to the brim with lots of furnishings and objects, but choosing pieces with the right proportions and utilizing vertical real estate,” says Kuo. “The idea is to use design elements in a way that naturally moves attention to the boundaries of the space and makes it feel more expansive.” I played with textures, multiple mirrors, and height to make the space feel much larger than it actually is.

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

I was first introduced to Nette, a niche fragrance brand based in NYC, when I was in the midst of sniffing hundreds of perfumes for Marie Claire’s inaugural Fragrance Awards in 2024. Once you’ve smelled roughly 250 scents in a given day, everything starts to smell of sameness—the gourmands are all weirdly reminiscent of one another and the skin scents, which were blowing up at the time, were more or less all interchangeable. It wasn’t until I came across Pear Jam, Nette’s jammy and wildly joy-filled fruity floral blend with Japanese pear and raspberry pulp, that I felt like I had actually stumbled across something genuinely new in the market. It made me feel giddy—and that was the point.

The crux of Nette is emotional chemistry. Founder Carol Han, who is a second-generation candle maker and one of my favorite humans I’ve met in the beauty industry, approaches each scent like a piece of poetry. “I think of scent as a language. Every Nette fragrance begins as a poem I write that captures an emotion—joy, calm, nostalgia, desire. That poem becomes the blueprint for the scent: it defines the emotional intention,” she explains. “Then we bring science in. Each fragrance is scientifically proven to boost certain emotions.”

The proof is in the perfume. Lemon Puff consistently provides a wave of calm. Mochi Banane gives me that touch-grass grounding. Rose Parade is a manifestation of feelings of comfort. But don’t just take it from me—discover the five best Nette fragrances in the brand's portfolio and enjoy tapping into some of that NYC It-girl energy.

The Best Nette Fragrances

• The Best Citrus Nette Perfume: Lemon Puff
• The Best Fruity Nette Perfume: Pear Jam
• The Best Banana Nette Perfume: Mochi Banane
• The Best Floral Nette Perfume: Rose Parade
• The Best Vanilla Nette Perfume: The Vanille

The Best Citrus Nette Perfume

The Best Fruity Nette Perfume

The Best Banana Nette Perfume

The Best Floral Nette Perfume

The Best Vanilla Nette Perfume

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

It’s the thick of summer, and if you, like me, refuse to smell anything other than completely magnificent, then I have something to tell you: Frédéric Malle has extended its Acne Studios collaboration to include two brand new formulas.

​While I don’t typically subscribe to any fragrance rules, I do find myself gravitating toward fresher, cleaner, and even citrus scent profiles in the summer months. That’s exactly why the creation of the body wash and milk formulas in the popular Acne Studios scent caught my attention immediately. The fragrance that resulted from the collaboration between the two houses is a perfect scent for the sweltering summer heat that is blanketing New York City right now. Aldehydes, rose, peach, vanilla, and more combine to create a slightly fruity but extremely soapy scent that makes me feel like I just stepped out of the shower for the entire life cycle of the perfume.

​With the new body care formulas readily available to layer with, I expect this already beast-mode scent to become nuclear when I stack all three products back to back. With that being said, if you’ve never tried the perfume and don’t want to commit quite yet, the body care formulas are a fantastic way to get in on one of my favorite summer scents. Keep reading to see my full review of both the body wash and milk, plus a few of my other favorite products from the esteemed house of Frédéric Malle.

What Do the Acne Studios by Frédéric Malle Body Care Formulas Feel Like?

As the name suggests, the Body Milk is a much lighter formula than a traditional lotion. While that means it sinks into the skin much faster, don’t let that lead you to believe the scent is affected at all. In fact, the fragrance is so strong that you can dab a bit on your pulse points like you would a traditional eau de parfum, and the scent trail you’d leave behind would still be unbeatable.

​For the body wash, the same rules apply. There is an overdose of the peachy, aldehydic fragrance that is the signature of this collection. When using in the shower, note that a little goes a very long way, as you can see in the video's viscous, thick texture. It doesn’t have the most bubbly lather; however, the formula does make my skin feel clean without completely stripping it of moisture, all without compromising the mouthwatering scent.

What Ingredients Are in the Acne Studios by Frédéric Malle Body Care Formulas?

There are a few standout ingredients across both launches that lead me to believe that these formulas are wonderful for a wide range of skin types. The body wash has hexylene glycol, which is acne-safe and acts as a penetration booster, helping the soap's cleaning agents penetrate a bit better. There are also oat amino acids, which help to condition the skin, and castor oil, which acts as an emollient to keep the barrier moisturized.

​As for the body milk, a myriad of oils like sweet almond and safflower seed keep the formula nourishing, while butylene glycol helps with retaining moisture to keep the skin looking soft and supple. Both formulas are applied like any other body care product: the body wash is used in the shower and can be applied with a washcloth, African net sponge, or loofah, and the body milk can be used either in place of or paired with a thicker lotion.

Is the Frédéric Malle Acne Studios Body Care Collection Worth It?

In short, these new formulas are exactly what this line needed, and this launch was timed perfectly. Acne Studios for Frédéric Malle is the perfect summer scent, especially for anyone who wants to smell sweet, clean, and a little fruity without having to put on three different perfumes. Each olfactive journey is so distinct, but when they all mingle at the end of the day, the result leaves you smelling fresh and inviting.

​This line isn’t the only thing that Frédéric Malle has become known for, so keep reading to see a few of my other favorite products from the brand. Expect compliments and thank me later.

More Frédéric Malle Products I Love

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

Although I work in the media sector, it’s rather rare that I get excited to meet a celebrity. All that nonchalance went out the window when I met Hilary Duff for the first time. Not only is she one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met, but she looks incredible. And not in a flippant way. I mean, everything about her looks ridiculously good. Her hair, her nails, her teeth. She looks just like she did on my TV screen growing up, and when I finally saw her in person, the nostalgia hit me like a freight train.

​I’m sure this isn’t a unique experience. In fact, I’m certain because that was exactly the vibe that Bath and Body Works was channeling when the brand decided to partner with her for its new Fruit Fusions line. “It felt like the perfect partnership because one: I want to look like that all the time,” Duff told me in a recent sit-down, cheekily pointing to the campaign she shot with the brand that was playing on a screen behind her. “But also Bath and Body Works is such a fun brand that many people, including myself, have grown up with.”

​Not only is this collaboration a meeting of two icons, but I also got a chance to use the products from the new line, and I have to say: these are some of the best scents that have come from Bath and Body Works in a while. Both Duff and I share an affinity for the Tangerine Twirl mist, but for even more insight on the singer’s beauty routines and favorite products, keep reading for the rituals and practices that help Hilary Duff get In The Mood.

"I more so have a practice than a mantra: I’ve been waking up earlier than the rest of the house and making my morning matcha. There’s something so indulgent about having on some cozy pajamas and making a delicious drink just for myself that I love. As a mom of four, I don’t get to wake up gently, well, ever, so this alone time has become sacred to me."

"I’m really big on scent, so I actually love making my showers smell really good. Something I've been doing with these products is putting on my lotion in the shower instead of getting out and doing it separately. It makes my skin feel super moisturized. I also love using the shampoo and conditioner from the brand RŌZ. The founder is an incredible hairstylist, and the products are phenomenal. Before I get in the shower, I also love dry exfoliating with the Goop brush. It’s wonderful."

"The first one would have to be my night guard. But I also have a Lyma laser that I love, but I have to admit it’s a little scary-looking. When I use it in bed, I often wonder if my husband is giving me the side-eye."

"Berry Bliss and Tangerine Twirl are my favorite scents right now. They're also what I've been wearing on tour. They’re perfect for a light misting that doesn’t feel suffocating. I’m in my fruity era right now, probably because of the heat."

"I'm going to use a little bit of concealer. I’m going to contour with a bronzer. I'll do a little tiny flick of a cat eye, but not like a liquid liner because I'm going to smudge it out. I’ll curl my lashes, but I'm not wearing mascara. Then I'm going to overline my lips, dab on a little lipstick, and then probably put a gloss on top. I’m obsessed with the Victoria Beckham bronzing drops, as well as a bronzing mist from a brand called Luna Bronze."

"A slicked-back bun. It’s functional but chic. I also have a lot of piercings and love to wear jewelry, so I feel like that hairstyle shows them off really well."

"I’m a minimal nail girl. I just like a nude, long, almond-shaped, super glossy manicure. Sometimes I’ll do a French tip, but I typically keep it simpler."

"I go full throttle. I never abbreviate my skincare routine. I also am a consumer to my core, so I love trying new skincare products all the time. My dermatologist told me I should be exfoliating quite a bit, and one of my tried-and-true products is the MBR Enzyme Cleansing Booster. I love it."

Shop Hilary Duff's Beauty Routine

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For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

Not many people can claim to still be at the top of their career after decades in the entertainment industry, but Christina Aguilera is one of the few who can. The Dirrty singer has spent decades in the spotlight as a vocalist, actor, and entrepreneur, and if you’ve long been a fan, you’d know that many of her eras are marked by some rather dramatic hair changes.