By now, you’ve probably surmised that we test-drive a lot of beauty products here at Who What Wear HQ. From nail polish and makeup to hair and skincare, we’re eyebrow deep in all things new, exciting, and wish list–worthy. That said, due to the number of products we come in contact with, we’ve also transformed into the nitpickiest of beauty consumers. Within seconds, we can tell if a new hair oil is too heavy, and we’re quick to ignore a serum that yields disappointing results.
The good news? We’re far more often impressed than unimpressed after trying out a new product, and usually, we simply can’t wait to spread the word to all of our fellow beauty lovers (also known as you!). Therefore, we’ve decided gushing over our latest fave products should become a monthly ritual, and every 30 days or so, you can expect a full report detailing the highlighters, hair wands, and overnight skincare saviors we’ve quickly fallen head over heels for.
For the most part, we’ll be covering buzzworthy launches, as those typically take up most of the action atop our product-filled desks, but we won’t dismiss new-to-us products, either. Sometimes, our best discoveries are found on a friend’s vanity or on someone’s face at the bar (true story). Ahead are the best beauty products we tried in April! Grab your game face and wallet—you’ll be needing both.
I’m just going to put it out there: I’m not a huge hand-cream person. I’ll apply it (maybe) at night, but I can’t stand the feel of greasy or sticky hands during the day, and 99% of the time, any moisturization benefits I’m getting disappear the second I wash my hands, which is often! So until Alo’s new hand cream came along, I had kind of just resigned myself to a life of cracked skin and knuckles. This is a game changer, though. First of all, it smells so freaking good and fills me with nostalgic summer memories—think one part banana, one part coconut, and one part salty sunscreen. Does that make sense? So good. But what I’m most impressed by is how incredibly soft and supple my hands feel after I’ve used it. And that softness and suppleness actually stick around! I only have to apply this a few nights a week to keep my hands perfectly hydrated.
I’ve been eating out of the palm of Hermès’s hand ever since the iconic brand branched into cosmetics a few years back. But I think the new infused lip oils just might be its most delicious product yet. Each adorable tube is an investment, but the subtle yet juicy colors and long-lasting shine and hydration make the plunge very worth it.What really separates this lip oil from all others, however, is the scent. Hermès perfumer, Christine Nagel, created a collection of six unique scents to correspond with each hue, so now you really have no other choice but to collect them all. That said, I can’t quit the my-lips-but-better hue Rose Kola. It’s a fail-safe rosewood shade that just can’t go wrong!
I’ve been a longtime fan of Guerlain’s luxe Abeille Royale line, but the brand has really outdone itself with this decadent oil-in-balm. Surprisingly, it’s not greasy or oily in the slightest (and this is coming from someone who thinks practically everything feels heavy or greasy!), but instead just provides the most satisfying drench of hydration and luster to your skin. I hate to be dramatic, but my jaw actually dropped the first time I slathered it all over my face, neck, and décolleté. The star ingredient is ultra-pure Black Bee honey, which is sourced from Ouessant Island, along with hits of royal jelly and a unique cicawax complex. I kid you not my redness, dullness, and fine lines immediately looked less noticeable, so I can’t wait to see what the long-term results yield.
You know that scene in Legally Blonde when Elle is watching a sappy romance movie in bed and shouts “LIAR” at the top of her lungs whilst showering the TV in half-eaten chocolates? Yeah, that’s kind of the internal reaction I have when any product claims to have filter-esque blurring capabilities. Except, plot twist, this new multi-benefit skin tint from Simon Ourian, MD, actually succeeds (which, let’s be honest, shouldn’t be all that surprising considering he caters to the faces of the Kardashian-and-Jenner clan, Megan Fox, and pretty much every other notable star in Hollywood). Not only does this skin tint do an amazing job of blurring the skin to make it look healthier and more even, but also Ourian strategically infused it with great ingredients like vitamin A, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, and jojoba oil so it will help your complexion look better in the long-term too. Another perk? This is the one makeup product he says you don’t have to hate yourself for falling asleep in. You’re sold, no?
Prepare for TMI. I lasered away practically everything under my waist a few years ago, so while I don’t need a ton of upkeep down below, I definitely need a few key products in my summer arsenal to keep things ultra smooth, ingrown-free, and completely hairless. (Because that’s just my personal preference.) But whenever I’m with my friends at the beach or pool, they can never believe that I don’t wax or sugar—the area down there is just that pristine. And really, I attribute their shock to everything and anything Truly. The entire line is honestly so damn cute and fun (and hey, I’m down for anything that makes shaving less of a chore), but the products really, really work, too. I’ve been prioritizing this group of products for weeks now (the aftershave oil, in particular, is life-changing), and at the risk of sounding cocky, I don’t think the vicinity between my legs has ever looked better. (Sorry, but I warned you!)
I did the riskiest thing imaginable about a week or so ago. Pre–first date, I tried a new self-tanner I had never used before. I wanted some glow and a nice dose of color fast, so when I found this unopened express formula from Bali in my self-tanning cabinet (yes, I have a self-tanning cabinet), I had a true Jesus-take-the-wheel moment and decided to take it for a spin. I had heard from my fellow beauty editor Caitie Schlisserman that it was amazing, and let me just say she wasn’t lying! This is hands down the best self-tanner I have ever tried—and I have tried hundreds. It applies like a dream and has a nice color guide (definitely use a mitt, though!), and you can leave it on for just one to three hours depending on how deep of a tan you want. Also, thanks to the aerated texture of the foam, it’s touch-dry instantly! No stickiness, no transfer. I left it on for three hours and was left with the most even, natural-looking tan that continued to develop hours after I rinsed it off. I did apply a second coat a few days later, and the results have lasted a full week, and the fade is so even and unnoticeable. It ticks every box. You’re wasting your time if you’re using anything else!
If you think you don’t need to be using a separate oil for your breasts, this cult-loved oil from Dr. Janine Mahon will 100% change your mind. Inspired by Chinese medicine, it’s a unique product designed to bolster the flow of life force (aka qi) to the breast and lymph area while also helping to clear any harmful toxins, fibrous tissue, and even the tenderness that can come along at that time of the month. It’s been my saving grace the week before my period, and I honestly just love the ritual of applying it and massaging it in pre-shower. While it might seem counterintuitive, the hot water and steam actually increase the absorption and won’t wash off all of the amazing ingredients.
This is easily one of the best vitamin C serums I’ve ever used! In true beauty-editor fashion, I recently upgraded my routine to include about five Luzern products, and this is one of them. After just one use, my skin looked instantly brighter, and when used in combination with the brand’s Hydrating Essence and other serums, the results are pretty incredible. I honestly can’t wait to see what kind of long-term results it delivers.
This is an incredible brand and foundation stick. I recently reviewed it, and I love how buildable the coverage is. The formula is so weightless and feels like a second skin. It’s a great option for days when you just want to wear something light but can also work well for those times when you’d like to do a full glam. It’s truly a powerhouse product.
I’ve been loving Agent Nateur’s products lately—especially this amazing hydrating hair serum. My hair is just naturally pretty dry, but the nourishing oils, restorative proteins, and silk peptides in this formula never fail to make my strands feel soft and healthy again. It works well on both dry and wet hair, which I’ve found isn’t always the case with other hair oils and serums!
I cannot get enough of these Tom Ford lipsticks! They are so blendable, which is perfect for getting effortless, French-girl lips. This shade is absolutely gorgeous. I don’t typically opt for plum shades, but this one is such a dream and looks so good on.
I love a Byredo scent, and this new one is such an interesting take on vanilla. It’s recognizably vanilla, but there’s also something unique and mysterious about it. It’s smoky and woodsy thanks to notes like musk and cashmere wood, and it’s absolutely perfect for a night out. It’s the kind of scent that surprises people in the best way possible. I’ve even caught my boyfriend stealing spritzes—that’s how you know it’s good!
Call me weird, but anything marketed as “milk” immediately has my attention. In my mind, that translates to fresh and creamy. I knew I was going to love this body lotion right off the bat, but I didn’t realize how much I was going to love it. Centella milk and rice milk soothe and calm skin, while actives like squalane, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and vitamin E soften and moisturize. It’s lightweight and absorbs instantly without leaving an oily residue. Plus, the subtle, creamy scent is exactly what comes to mind when I picture anything marketed as “milky”—in other words, this body lotion seems to be specifically created for me.
Is there anything better than a new Charlotte Tilbury Color Chameleon shade? The answer is no, especially when the new shade in question is its cult-favorite Pillow Talk. This chubby shadow stick is highly pigmented and easy to use—just a few swipes, and you have dreamy, high-impact color on your lids. I put this on at 6 a.m. last Saturday (yes, 6 a.m.) and didn’t take it off until 6 p.m., and I can attest that it did not budge at all. No smudging, no creasing—and I didn’t even use a primer!
I’m usually hesitant to use self-tanning products on my face for fear they’ll cause my skin to break out. That was far from the case with this Tan-Luxe moisturizer I was gifted with earlier this month. It’s the brand’s new rich face cream that comes out of the bottle white (instead of brown or orange) and offers a gradual tan. I recommend using it every other day in the morning underneath sunscreen to achieve a sunkissed glow.
I love a two-for-one deal, and this limited-edition set from Tower 28 is my latest obsession. I was already a fan of the BeachPlease Cream Blush and ShineOn Milky Lip Jelly Gloss, but I had yet to try these rosy nude shades. The cream blush in shade Magic Hour is super blendable and long-lasting. The lip gloss in Pistachio is hydrating without being sticky. I love them separately, but together they make a beautiful no-makeup makeup look. Overall, this bundle has completely streamlined my everyday beauty routine. (Plus it saved me $9).
This is not a new product on the market, but it is new to my collection, and wow—what a difference it has made on my skin. I deal with dryness on a daily, and my skin has been really soaking up this extra hydration. I concentrate this serum on my elbows, knees, and décolletage. I swear this is the ticket to smoothing rough skin when paired with a body lotion. Seriously, you’re going to want to try this.
It’s rare that a product lives up to its hype, but this liquid blush sure does. There are so many good shades, but I’ve been partial to Hope and Joy. They both make me so happy! The formula is very pigmented, so I suggest you apply a small amount to the back of your hand and use a brush on your cheeks. (Trust me—I learned this the hard way.) It can take a minute to blend it out, but it’s worth it. Just wait to see the magic that happens. The formula is creamy and buildable and adds the best flush of color.
I’ll be honest. I’m not a foundation girl. I’ve been a loyal user of tinted moisturizer since my high school days, so it’s a really big deal for me to say that this foundation has blown my mind. Sure, it’s a foundation, but it’s also a skin treatment made with HA, niacinamide, peptides, squalene, and more. So it basically improves your skin while enhancing its natural appearance. It’s unbelievably natural-looking, the formula is so lightweight it doesn’t feel makeup-y at all, and it honestly stays put. I have nothing but good things to say about it.
I’m also very much into this medium-coverage concealer, as it too is a skincare base made with HA, peptides, and caffeine, which hydrate, visibly plump, and give a smooth, radiant finish. Plus, it doesn’t crease under my eyes, which a lot of formulas do.
Full disclosure: I’ve only used this a few times so far (it’s a weekly hair treatment), so I anticipate I’ll see more results the longer I use it. But so far, I’m thoroughly enjoying it, and it hasn’t made my hair greasy or anything. It’s made with pure rice water extract and is meant to minimize flyaways and remove buildup while nourishing hair and adding shine. I’m all for a healthier scalp if it means I’ll have stronger, healthier hair with less breakage.
I’m a sucker for good branding, but Vacation actually has super-legit products. I’m a full-blown stan. I have a lot of the other SPF products, but it just released the classic formula in a spray, and it’s everything you would want in a sunscreen. It’s lightweight; it’s made with things like coconut oil, aloe vera, and banana extract, so it smells insanely good; and it’s truly transparent.
I’ve tried retinol eye creams in the past, and some can be a bit harsh and leave me with flaky, itchy under-eye skin the next day (not a good look) but not so with this one. It balances out the retinol with moisturizing ceramides and olive oil, and I’d go as far as to say that it’s the best wrinkle-smoothing eye cream I’ve tried. The skin under my eyes has gotten smoother, and I truly look more awake the day after using it.
As much as I love highlighter (and a dewy makeup look, in general), I don’t wear it that often because I’m not great at applying it. But this one is completely foolproof. I’ve been mixing the Sheen shade with foundation for glow boost and on my cheekbones as a last step. Unlike some highlighters, it doesn’t take my blush off when I tap it on.
I’m really picky about eyeliner, and this is the best one I’ve tried in ages. I have it in three shades, and they’re all excellent. I’ve been using Solstice (so pretty!) along my lower lash line and Cave or Obsidian along my upper waterline, and they stay put all day without running. They’re also really pigmented but easy to blend.
