Shop 11 Beauty Products Our Editors Used to the Last Drop This Month – WWD
Courtesy of Target and Merit
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As WWD Shop editors, one component of our job is thoroughly testing beauty products to assure that the recommendations we include in our stories are worth your time and hard-earned money. We examine everything from the packaging to the feel of the product and how it wears throughout the day, allowing us to write honest reviews on launches (like we did for our Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream review and our Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus hair dryer review). This means that we’re often switching up our beauty routines to test face serums, sheet masks, mascara, acne-covering concealer — and so much more. Every now and then, we come across can’t-live-without products that become mainstays in our beauty routines, and we use them to the very last drop.
The products on this list are editor-approved to the nth degree. These skin care, hair care, and makeup finds are the ones we came back to between testing others in their category — they’re standouts for their packaging, texture, and results. Some of our empties this month have been celebrity-loved since launch, like the Merit Beauty Flush Balm. Others are tried-and-true staples that have flown under the radar, like It Cosmetics’ Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara. A handful of these products were sent to us by brands for testing (thank you!) and others are beauty products our editors purchased for themselves.
If you’re on the market for a lip mask that trounces the rest, an SPF moisturizer that can play primer, or a lightweight skin tint you’ll wear all summer long, shop here.
The To the Last Drop List — April 2023
Merit Beauty Balm Blush
“I’ve lost count of how many Merit Beauty Flush Balms I’ve gone through since first trying the cream blush in 2021 — these little nubs of cheek color are peerless in my book. The Cheeky shade is my favorite, it’s an earthy cool pink tone that brightens my cheeks in the subtlest fashion. That’s because this formula is semi-sheer, so it’s more like a filter on your skin versus noticeable pigments you have to blend, blend, blend until they fully diffuse. The formula is textural nirvana: I’m talking buttery and buildable. You can use Merit’s makeup brush to smooth it on or take the product straight to your cheeks; either way, it won’t displace any bronzers or foundation you apply it over. Cameron Diaz and Hailey Bieber use it, too.” — Senior Beauty & Lifestyle Commerce Editor Claire Sullivan
Courtesy of Merit
Merit Beauty Blush Balm
$30
Fenty Skin Plush Puddin’ Intensive Recovery Lip Mask
“When you have large-sized lips and naturally dry skin, no ordinary lip balm can keep your pout hydrated without several reapplications throughout the day. (It’s honestly exhausting.) That’s why I’m a huge fan of lip masks. Having tested several lip masks over the past few months, Fenty Skin Plush Puddin’ is still one of my absolute favorites. The texture is just thick enough without feeling sticky, a small dab of product can keep your lips hydrated for hours, and the travel-friendly container is ideal for those who just chuck their necessities into their work bag and run out the door.” — Director of Commerce Adam Mansuroglu
Courtesy of Fenty Skin
Fenty Skin Plush Puddin’ Intensive Recovery Lip Mask
$22
Related:
The Best Lip Balms for Dry, Chapped Lips
The Best Lip Scrubs
Rare Beauty’s Always an Optimist 4-in-1 Prime & Set Mist
“Rare Beauty’s Always An Optimist 4-in-1 Prime & Set Mist has been my favorite finishing touch to my makeup routine; I repurchase a bottle as soon as I start running low. Some long-wear setting sprays can leave my skin feeling dry and looking more cakey than where I started, but this one transforms my makeup when it looks too powdery after baking, and gives my face that lit-from-within healthy glow Rare Beauty is known for. The formula feels so hydrating and refreshing, without being too wet or dewy on my combination skin. The pump stream distributes just the right amount of mist without being overwhelming — but I love to take a shower my skin with three to four sprays.” — Commerce Writer and Producer Olivia Cigliano
Courtesy of Sephora
Rare Beauty’s Always An Optimist 4-in-1 Prime & Set Mist
$27
Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint
“Summer Fridays’ Sheer Skin Tint has me in a chokehold — I love how this makes my skin look. It has a lightweight serum consistency yet offers great coverage; a few drops are all I need. As for the finish, it’s very dewy and radiant and makes my skin look like I just had an expensive facial. Plus, this product makes it easy for me to achieve a no-makeup-makeup look — all I need to do is pair it with a little bit of Westman Atelier’s Baby Cheeks Blush Stick and Ilia’s Limitless mascara, and I’m good to go.” — Style Commerce Editor Nikki Chwatt
Courtesy of Sephora
Summer Fridays Skin Tint
$42
Summer Fridays Skin Tint
$42
It Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara
“The It Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara is a staple in my makeup bag and is truly the only mascara I reach for. My mom got me hooked on it years ago and I repurchase it every few months like clockwork. The formula isn’t slick-wet, but just damp enough to separate and lift my lashes while building impressive volume and length. When I’m going glam, I can skip false lashes with this pitch-black mascara, because two to three coats pack a major punch. I like to focus the product on my outer lashes for a fanned-out look, which are easy to access with the narrow brush applicator. It’s infused with biotin, collagen, and peptides, so it acts as a conditioning treatment on your natural lashes too. The name says it all, this mascara saves the day.” — Cigliano
Courtesy of Sephora
IT Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara
$28
IT Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara
$28
Related:
The Best Mascaras
The Best Clear Mascaras
Dr. Jart Ceramidin Eye Cream With Niacinamide
“Dr. Jart’s Ceramidin Eye Cream is my latest eye cream crush. The ultra-moisturizing formula, combined with the lasting putty-like texture, has kept my dry under-eye skin smooth and hydrated through the harsh months of winter, and helped to reduce irritation during the start of the spring allergy season. I would gladly pay double the price for this effective cream, especially since a little goes a long way.” — Mansuroglu
Courtesy of Sephora
Dr. Jart Ceramidin Eye Cream With Niacinamide
$40
Related: The Best Eye Creams for Wrinkles and Crow’s Feet
Saie Hydrabeam Brightening + Hydrating Creamy Under Eye Concealer
“My dark under eye circles are my biggest focus in my makeup routine, so when I discover a reliable concealer, it’s instantly a holy grail. The Saie Hydrabeam Brightening + Hydrating Creamy Under Eye Concealer has been my go-to for its radiant finish and lightweight feel. It’s not a heavy-duty coverage concealer, but more so a brightener that I like to layer over a color corrector for a natural finish and wide-awake look. I like to blend a few swipes with a soft brush and bring it to the central areas of my face to highlight. The formula is very hydrating on the skin, so if you have issues with creasing, I recommend setting key spots with a little bit of setting powder.”
Courtesy of Sephora
Saie Hydrabeam Brightening + Hydrating Creamy Under Eye Concealer
$26
Related:
The Best Concealers for Acne
The Best Concealers for Contouring
The Best Concealers for Dry Skin
Cay Skin Isle Glow Face Moisturizer SPF 45
“I cracked into Cay Skin’s Isle Glow Face Moisturizer SPF 45 on a recent beach trip, and I’m convinced that this sunscreen-moisturizer is what everyone needs in their skin care routine this summer. It’s a lightly tinted sunscreen that has subtle shimmer in the formula for a dewy finish. The illumination it delivers also makes it a great SPF to wear daily under makeup — my foundation looks gorgeously radiant when I wear this underneath. And for the long-term, it has a slew of skin care ingredients: Niacinamide soothes and evens out skin tone, sea moss hydrates and supports a healthy skin barrier, and a plant-based hydrating nectar rounds it out with moisturizing benefits. I noticed that the formula has the slightest yellow undertone, which I credit for less visible redness on my face when it’s hot outside.” — Sullivan
Courtesy of Sephora
Cay Skin Isle Glow Face Moisturizer SPF 45
$34
Cay Skin Isle Glow Face Moisturizer SPF 45
$34
Related:
The Best Sunscreens for Acne-Prone Skin
The Best Face Sunscreens
The Best Sunscreens on Amazon
The Best Sunscreens for Sensitive Skin
Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Balm
“I’m always on the hunt for the best shiny lip gloss that will not only give my lips a flattering shade but also a comfortable feel and a gleaming pout. That’s why when I saw Tarte’s Maracuja Juicy Lip Balm all over my “For You” page, I ran to Sephora and picked up the Strawberry-Pink Berry hue. Instantly this product became my go-to lip gloss for a night out. Whether it was the fatty acids and vitamin C in the maracuja oil or the hydrating grapeseed oil and goji, my lips felt incredibly plush after I swiped it on. Not only that, but the color payoff was intense and lasted even after I sipped on a couple of drinks.” — Chwatt
Courtesy of Tarte
Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Balm
$24
Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Balm
$24
Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Balm
$24
Related: The Best Lip Oils
Laneige Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer
“A skin care secret I abide by for dewy skin that lasts all day is a hydrating toner: These watery products multiply the moisture my skin gets from my favorite hyaluronic acid serums (hyaluronic acid can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, so applying them on damp skin is ideal). Laneige’s Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer is a dream for my dry, dull skin. It’s the first step in my morning skin care routine; I shake a few drops onto a cotton pad that I stamp all over my skin. Even if you’re on the oily side, you can still cycle this in for softening benefits — it doesn’t cause excess shine or a greasy feeling.” — Sullivan
Courtesy of Sephora
Laneige Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer
$33
Related: The Best Toners for Oily Skin
Saltair Santal Bloom Serum Body Wash
“When Hailey Bieber posted on Instagram that she loves Saltair’s Santal Bloom Serum Body Wash, I knew I needed to get my hands on it — and I’m so happy I did. It contains good-for-skin ingredients like monoi oil, cupuaçu butter, and kukui oil to moisturize the skin and ascorbyl glucoside and niacinamide, which have helped brighten my skin. It has a light earthy scent (it has notes of magnolia, rose, and jasmine, wrapped in musky sandalwood) that I feel comfortable putting on my sensitive skin since it’s a cruelty-free, vegan, and paraben-free wash. Plus, the chic and sustainable 100 percent recyclable aluminum bottle added a luxe touch to my shower.” — Chwatt
Courtesy of Target
Saltair Santal Bloom Serum Body Wash
$12
Saltair Santal Bloom Serum Body Wash
$12
Related:
The Best Unscented Body Washes for Sensitive Skin
The Best Natural Body Washes
The Best Body Scrubs
The Best Body Lotions
The Best Body Butters
Meet Our WWD Shop Editors
Adam Mansuroglu is the Director of Commerce for Fairchild Media Group, both writing and top editing stories in WWD’s Shop vertical. Prior to his current role, the Brooklyn native has covered men’s and women’s fashion, footwear, beauty, and lifestyle trends for over 12 years. His writing and reporting has been featured in a number of publications such as Cosmopolitan Magazine, Men’s Health Magazine, and Out Magazine. From splurging at beauty stores to fix teen acne woes to years of previewing top new products for editorial review, Mansuroglu has always thoroughly enjoyed playing with all the goodies the beauty world has to offer.
Claire Sullivan is the Senior Beauty and Lifestyle Commerce Editor for WWD and Footwear News. She’s spent over five years researching, reporting on, and writing about the beauty industry for publications like Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle, and Byrdie. She’s tested hundreds of products during her time as a beauty editor, so she’s well-versed in selecting the products that make a meaningful difference in your skin and hair.
Nikki Chwatt is the Style Commerce Editor for WWD and Footwear News, where she both writes and edits stories on the latest clothing, accessory, and shoe must-haves. As a New York City resident, she’s garnered a love for handbags, shoes, and garments as well as beauty and skincare products that will keep her skin protected during the changing seasons. As a result, she has tested many products to see which ones work agree for her skin and hair type and which may work better for others with different needs.
Olivia Cigliano is the Commerce Writer and Producer for WWD and Footwear News, where she writes shopping content on the best-rated beauty products, TikTok style trends, and more. Olivia received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Emerson College, and her byline can be found in publications including Elite Daily and CR Fashion Book.
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