We never said we were minimalists.
Each month, Fashionista editors try a *lot* of beauty products. And while not every formula we test is a winner, we’re constantly unearthing new favorites. Here, we’ve rounded up our latest hair, skin, fragrance, wellness and makeup discoveries — whether fresh-to-market drops or merely recent additions to our personal routines.
It’s almost a new year, which will no doubt bring with it a whole crop of new beauty favorites with which team Fashionista will become obsessed. But before we get ahead of ourselves, we’re taking a moment to look back at some of the standout hair, makeup, skin, fragrance and wellness finds we discovered in 2022. Join us, won’t you?
Scroll through for a selection of our top product discoveries of the year, as well as our month-by-month roundups.
Photo: Courtesy of Iris & Romeo
January
In January, we found new candles and perfumes that became instant favorites.
Common Heir 10% Vitamin C Serum, $88, available here: “I’m a vitamin C serum devotee because I’ve seen the powers the ingredient has to fade dark spots and scarring, protect skin and brighten my overall complexion. This one is a new favorite because of its silky texture, potent 10% vitamin C concentration, gentle formulation and biodegradable ampoules to preserve product freshness. I also love that it comes in recyclable paper packaging, making it the lowest-waste serum I’ve ever used.” —Stephanie Saltzman, Beauty Director
View the 24 images of this gallery on the original article
February
February brought us luxurious body creams, fancy scented candles, soothing bath soaks and hair-rehabilitating treatments.
Eadem Cloud Cushion Airy Brightening Moisturizer, $58, available here: “I was immediately drawn to this fluffy, superlight cream because of its highly appealing name — and I wasn’t disappointed. In addition to the lovely, plush texture, the formula itself is packed with peptides to firm, ceramides to deeply moisturize, snow mushroom to hydrate and tucuma extract to brighten. I also love that it’s gentle and was specifically developed with skin of color in mind, meaning it’s safe and effective for everyone.” —Stephanie Saltzman, Beauty Director
View the 19 images of this gallery on the original article
March
Our March favorites included delightful spring candles, reparative hair treatments and at least one skin-care product all the TikTok cool kids convinced us to try.
Lys Beauty Triple Fix Brightening Concealer, $18, available here: “Dark undereye circles are pretty much a constant for me, and this lightweight, full-coverage concealer has become a new favorite for camouflaging them. It has a skin-like finish and requires only a super thin layer, so it doesn’t turn cakey or settle into fine lines.” —Stephanie Saltzman, Beauty Director
View the 22 images of this gallery on the original article
April
During the month of April, we unearthed products that revolutionized our at-home blowout routines, enhanced our overnight skin-care regimens and livened up our Zoom makeup looks.
Body by TPH Softer Than a Mutha Vegan Softening Body Butter, $12, available here: “If you’re one of those people who hates the feel of lotion on your skin, this product is definitely not for you. But if you, like me, don’t mind feeling absolutely coated in moisturizer — and in fact luxuriate in the feeling of slipping into bed at night with body-butter-laden skin that feels extra soft in the morning — you’ll love this ultra-dense balm as much as I do. It melts into a thick oil as you massage it in, which, combined with the vanilla-y tropical scent, makes for a truly lovely sensorial experience.” —Stephanie Saltzman, Beauty Director
View the 16 images of this gallery on the original article
May
Our May faves? Cream and oil (yes, oil!) blushes, potent brightening serums and sunscreens.
Elf Cosmetics Putty Blush in Turks & Caicos, $7, available here: “My latest Target impulse buy was this inexpensive cream blush, and I’m now obsessed: It gives the perfect natural-looking — but noticeable — sunkissed glow.” —Dhani Mau, Editor-in-Chief
View the 19 images of this gallery on the original article
June
June gifted us an under-$10 mascara that seems far more expensive, innovative sunscreens and a nostalgic fragrance that’s a compliment magnet.
Iris & Romeo Weekend Skin SPF 50 + Vitamin C + Glow, $47, available here: “This hybrid mineral sunscreen/tinted moisturizer/vitamin C serum is literally my perfect summer skin-care product: It provides SPF 50 and antioxidant protection in one simple step, while also creating a glow-y, more evenly-toned finish — meaning I can go pretty much makeup-free. My skin has been garnering more compliments than ever since I started using it daily. One caveat is that it comes in a single shade, which the brand claims is transparent and universal, but I have difficulty imagining it doesn’t look at least a little chalky on darker skin tones.” —Stephanie Saltzman, Beauty Director
Photo: Courtesy of Iris & Romeo
View the 19 images of this gallery on the original article
July
In July, team Fashionista fell in love with a non-irritating retinol, hair products that help us make the most out of our styles and a whole bunch of anxiety-soothing CBD remedies.
Being Frenshe Reset Candle – Cashmere Vanilla, $14, available here: “My basic trait (like a toxic trait, except harmless) is that I’ve never met a vanilla scented candle I didn’t love. That said, this one — from Ashley Tisdale’s new brand — is exceptional. Soft, slightly powdery and not too sweet, it’s like a cozy, comforting hug in olfactory form. That it’s also accessibly priced, pet safe and available at Target make it even more of a winner.” —Stephanie Saltzman, Beauty Director
View the 12 images of this gallery on the original article
August
Amid August’s heat wave, we became obsessed with gentle skin-care formulas that actually do what they promise on their labels, hair products that revive our lived-in styles and tinted lip balms with multi-sensory appeal.
Sunnies Face Lip Treat in Poppy, $16, available here: “This sheer tinted balm is ultra-moisturizing, thanks to shea butter and medowfoam seed oil, and deposits the perfect wash of poppy red pigment, which can be layered for more intensity. It’s been a late summer go-to for me.” —Stephanie Saltzman, Beauty Director
View the 18 images of this gallery on the original article
September
September was full of perfect-for-fall candles, pretty makeup we wore to weddings and hair care that has become a crucial part of our regular routines.
Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Dewy Foundation Drops, $68, available here: “This tiny tube is pricey — but after trying the lightweight, glow-inducing serum/makeup hybrid inside, I totally get it. Despite being silicone-free, it goes on with a luxurious glide, offering sheer-but-buildable coverage and imbuing skin with a dewy glow. It also includes hyaluronic acid for hydration and filters to protect skin from exposure to blue light and pollution.” —Stephanie Saltzman, Beauty Director
View the 26 images of this gallery on the original article
October
October’s finds included a face oil we’ll be slathering on obsessively through winter, eye-brightening makeup and a multi-tasking moisturizing balm that does basically everything.
E.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter, $14, available here: “This glow-y, lightweight liquid makeup is marketed as a multi-purpose complexion enhancer, and that’s pretty much spot-on. In place of foundation (my preferred use), it offers semi-sheer, buildable coverage, evening out skin tone without turning mask-like or cakey. It can also be worn under or mixed into matte or less dewy formulas for a bit more glimmer, or dabbed on as highlighter. I also love the doe-foot applicator, which has a divot in the center to pick up and deposit ample product.” —Stephanie Saltzman, Beauty Director
View the 29 images of this gallery on the original article
November
In November, we discovered an overachieving nude lipstick, actually-good at-home hair color, winter skin saviors and a high-tech wellness gadget.
Highr Collective Lipstick in Blue Jeans, $32, available here: “Not only is this creamy, moisturizing lipstick the perfect my-lips-but-better pinky nude for my skin tone, but it also comes housed in the smartest little metal case with a hidden mirror for application on the go.” —Stephanie Saltzman, Beauty Director
View the 26 images of this gallery on the original article
December
December delivered perfectly festive lip and nail colors, an innovative alternative to traditional perfume and a slew of winter-skin-calming treatments.
Dieux Auracle Reviving Eye Gel, $44, available here: “The makers of social media’s favorite reusable eye masks have finally introduced an eye cream, after an intensive product development process. The result — a bouncy, fast-absorbing, serum-like gel that plumps, brightens and softens fine lines around the eyes — is a total keeper. It also layers beautifully beneath other skin-care products, like the heavy-duty moisturizers that become all the more crucial in cold weather.” —Stephanie Saltzman, Beauty Director
View the 27 images of this gallery on the original article
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