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 August! Grab your game face and wallet—you’ll be needing both.
Amika’s OG High Tide Deep Wave Hair Crimper ($120) is, without question, my desert island heat styling tool. (Trust me when I tell you there isn’t a bad hair day on earth that can’t be easily remedied with a few strategically placed waves.) So, you can imagine my very audible hip, hip, hooray when I found out the brand was launching a new jumbo version, with three tourmaline ceramic (hello, shine!) barrels coming in at larger, beachy-er width of 1.25″ versus the original’s 0.7″. With this model, you get looser, more mermaid-esque waves versus the tighter, more crimped waves you get with the first. There are lots of wavers and crimpers on the market, but Amika’s models will never leave you with annoying creases and you’ll also have smoother, non-parched strands thanks to the moisture-locking far-infrared and negative ion technologies.
Warm and sweet gourmand fragrances are pretty damn polarizing. (For instance, one whiff of something vanilla-y or cotton candy-leaning, and I’m immediately transported to the saccharine Britney Spears, Victoria’s Secret, and Bath & Body Works confections I was hopelessly devoted to in my teens.) However, I like what I like, and even though my fragrance preferences have become more refined as I’ve gotten older, I’d be lying if I said a superbly executed gourmand perfume can’t get under my skin. Enter: Vanilla Milk, Ellis Brooklyn’s latest olfactive masterpiece and my current obsession. At first spritz did I immediately recall Janis Ian’s famous Mean Girls line “you smell like a baby prostitute”? Yes, but did that make me love it all the more? Double yes. Unlike other gourmand perfumes that can be way too sticky-sweet and cloying, this one’s mix of creamy milk accord, frangipani, peony rose, two types of vanilla, cocoa shell extract, benzoin, amyris, and sandalwood strike the perfect balance, Yummy, but not tacky.
I rarely invite new skincare formulas into my everyday routine. (My finicky skin spouts a new pimple just at the thought.) That said, if I do decided to test something new, rarely does it transcend from guest star to core cast member. Except for this new redness-banishing launch from SkinCeuticals! Even crazier? I don’t even like face mists! Sorry to scream, but my fast and furious obsession with this is really so uncharacteristic of me, I’m all riled up. But back to why it’s amazing. It’s safe for all skin types and skin concerns, and it’s composed of a lush botanical blend of cucumber, thyme, olive leaf, and rosemary extracts, plus a 6.2% blend of hyaluronic acid which work in harmony to top up your complexion with lots of dewy moisture (the glow is so, so good) while strengthening the skin’s barrier and immediately squelching redness. I can’t get enough and am addicted to how even and healthy my face looks after a few quick spritzes.
It’s hard to know where to start with the new bodycare brand, Uni, because there are so, SO many things to love. A quick crash course: they’re reef-safe, carbon neutral, zero-waste (all products are reusable, recyclable, and refillable), the products feature a modular, more sustainable design, green and upcycled inredients, oh— and for every Uni product sold online, they’ll contribute 1% of sales to coral restoration. I’m super excited to be testing everything the brand makes, but this face-grade serum for your body already has me in a chokehold. As someone who notoriously hates heavy body oils, creams, and butters, and usually can’t even be bothered to slap on a lotion (I’m supremely lazy), this ultra-potent yet invisible-feeling treatment is basically my dream formula. Uni’s signature Marine Complex doses your skin with instant moisture that will last you a full 24 hours. Then, Australian Lime Caviar, a natural citric exfoliator, sloughs off dulling dead skin cells for an ultra-smooth finish, and last but not least vitamin C-rich Australian Kakadu Plum helps re-up your skin’s collagen production so you have perkier skin with increased elasticity as time wears on. I also love how it smells; like cedar leaf, juniper, smoke sandalwood, cypress, and patchouli.
I’m totally obsessed with this new Viktor&Rolf offering. With notes of fennel-gentian flower extract, jasmine, and bourbon vanilla, it smells deliciously sweet but also earthy. It’s, hands down, my favorite perfume launch of the moment.
I recently started using this collagen-boosting face oil and it’s now one of my all time favorite facial oils! It’s completely noncomedogenic but leaves my skin feeling so soft and hydrated all day. My skin is pretty acne-prone and tends to get dry so it’s the perfect facial oil to keep around for the upcoming season. It also helps soften crow’s feet and any extra aggressive expression lines on my forehead.
This is more of a wellness supplement, but has definitely become a fast favorite in my arsenal. I (very) recently went off birth control and let me tell you, I was not looking forward to the hormonal changes that would come after having been on it for so long. Cycle Balance and Elix’s Daily Harmony formula have helped so much. Cycle Balance is a custom herbal blend that’s tailored to your specific cycle and needs. You just take a short quiz about your cycle and they create the blend for you. I’ve already noticed a huge improvement in PMS symptoms and a major reduction in hormonal acne after a month. If you’re also looking for something to help manage your cycle or are also going off the pill, I would definitely give this a try! You won’t regret it.
Pai’s rosehip cleansing oil is definitely my new favorite makeup remover. Normally, I feel like I have to use a lot of product when using a cleansing oil to take my makeup off, but that’s not the case here. The rich blend of rosehip, olive oil, castor oil, and jasmine oil creates so much slip that my makeup comes off in one fell swoop. It also leaves my skin really soft and hydrated before I go in with a water-based cleanser.
Considering I just ordered my fourth bottle of this moisturizer, it’s safe to say this is my current favorite. It’s lightweight, doesn’t pill with the next layer of sunscreen, and makes my makeup look even better. Best of all, it’s only $19.
Not only does this look great on my shower shelf, but it has minimized the products I need to use in my routine. It’s a fragrance-free body wash that also doubles as what I call a shaving “serum”. It is so gentle on my sensitive skin, it’s hard to reach for anything else now.
I’m fairly sure that Carmy in “the Bear” doesn’t wear fragrance, but if he did, he would absolutely wear this one. It’s meant to smell like a New York bistro in the 90s, and with notes like coriander seed, bell pepper, and nutmeg, it achieves just that.
I’ve long been a fan of Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Masks—I think I’ve gone through at least three containers at this point. Their newest iteration is the best yet, since it smells like my favorite fruit. It’s limited edition, so snap it up while you can.
I’m not surprised that I love Charlotte Tilbury’s newest concealer, since I fell in love with their Beautiful Skin Foundation when it came out. This concealer covers blemishes or undereye circles flawlessly, and it has a subtle radiance that makes skin look so glowy.
I’m really not picky about body wash, but when I find one I like, I can’t stop raving about it. Not only does this one smell incredible, but it also gently exfoliates skin while you cleanse.
This is another limited edition item I’d recommend snagging before it’s too late. My brother and I grew up shucking corn for my mom on our back porch in the summer. This candle instantly brings me back to that porch—I can practically hear the rubbery sound of the corn husk coming off the cob. It smells like corn silk and a late summer breeze.
This body butter is incredibly luxe and it smells divine, but that’s not my favorite thing about it. All profits from Hope Fragrances go to depression research, which is something I can feel good about.
I’ll say it—I hate hair spray. I think it leaves hair crunchy and stiff, and often makes it look flat. This hair spray is not like the others, though—it gives hair a lustrous shine, is flexible, and brushes out easily.
I recently stumbled across this artisanal bodycare brand, and I can’t stop using their scrub. It leaves skin soft and supple thanks to salt from the Dead Sea and a mix of nourishing oils. Plus, it smells incredible.
I’ve been using this eye cream day and night and I love how it really brightens my eyes. I love that you can use it all over—browbone, eyelid, and undereye area—so it’s really versatile. The formula sinks into the skin really quickly so whenever I apply it I can get to layering my other products on ASAP.
This has been my go-to facial sunscreen as of late. Like its name suggests, it feels so silky-soft when you apply it—no grease or oiliness here. Another huge bonus is the lightweight formula also leaves you with kind of like a dewy, glowy finish. It’s just so easy to wear!
These eyeshadow sticks are my new fave “shortcut.” Like seriously, you can apply a chic eye makeup look in like 5 minutes with these. They blend in so easily and are buildable, so you can personalize the color based on what kind of look you’re trying to go for. They’re also really easy to pack in a travel makeup bag.
I’m probably the least talented person when it comes to hair. I’m a no-fuss, air dry kind of girl so this was a big step for me to try out a hair wax stick. But honestly, I’m low-key obsessed—not that I have many others to compare it to, but this one gets the job done. I love being able to pull my hair back into a low pony and use this on the edges of my hair to slick it back in a way that looks intentional.
I love a good eye palette, mostly because it cuts down the time needed to create a look (spoken from a true self-proclaimed lazy makeup-wearer). This is my latest go-to, as in, what I’ve been using for the occasional night out, because it has just the right amount of perfectly neutral matte, shimmer, and metallic shades to pick from.
I used to use the original strobe cream when I was in high school but for whatever reason stopped. I’ve never used ‘peach lite’ though, so technically the shade is new-to-me. This stuff is as good as I remember. If your skin is feeling blah, it’s the ultimate quick fix. It offers a hefty dose of botanicals including green tea, which will give your complexion a seriously radiant glow within minutes. I’m still always so shocked by its wizardry. I do my normal skincare routine and before I start my makeup, I’ll apply a bit of this to my face, and let it sit for a few minutes, before finishing my makeup. It’s a total game-changer.
This is nothing revolutionary, just a really solid clear brow gel that I’m currently vibing with. I love the spoolie and how it can create a laminated brow effect, which is especially handy when my brow appointment is weeks off.
Okay, woah I was so not expecting to love this as much as I do! The color looks way more intimidating in its packaging than it does on. ‘Shagged’ is a bright berry with cool undertones and just compliments my skin tone so nicely. It honestly feels like a balm in that it’s super creamy and lightweight. I’ve just been using it straight from the compact: I use my ring finger and dab onto the apples of my cheeks and that’s it. I’ve even gotten some compliments since adding it to my makeup routine.
I feel like it takes time to notice any visible difference in your under eye area, but I swear this has already brightened up the darkness that was plaguing my face and has flooded the area with hydration. It’s gonna be a yes from me.
I’m always a bit sceptical of skin tints—I often find them to be a bit too oily or a bit too sheer, but this one is incredible. The coverage is actually quite good compared to other tints I’ve tried and it makes your skin look nice and even without covering it up. It honestly looks as though you’re wearing nothing and just have perfect skin.
First of all, it’s rare to find a cream bronzer that comes in this many shades, so I already loved it before even trying it. I typically find bronzers a bit difficult to apply so I skip them more often than not, but Merit’s is literally fool-proof and so natural-looking. It’s also dewy but not stick (which is also rare). I’ve been applying it to the high-touch points before blush and I look like I just got back from a day at the beach.
Primer is one of those products that I have trouble justifying—and then I tried this one. I instantly am drawn to anything that counts peptides as a main ingredient but this one delivers in every arena. It so effectively blurs imperfections that you hardly even need foundation. My makeup stays all day when using it, even in 90-degree heat and humidity. I’m officially converted to being a primer user.
This TikTok-famous eye cream lives up to the hype (Sephora recently restocked it after a quick sell-out). It’s one of the few eye creams I’ve tried that claims to lift the under-eye area and actually does, and it doesn’t irritate my skin like most retinol eye creams do. Lastly, the texture is very, very nice.
With fall coming, I’m ready to swap lip gloss out for something a little more substantial, and Saie Lip Blur arrived just in time. The coverage is matte but it’s not drying in the least, and it’s pretty pigmented so I suggest applying it with your finger if you want the “blurred” look. I tried the Dada shade—a burnt terracotta—which is literally the perfect fall lip color.
