Full disclosure: As editors, we get to try products for free sometimes. (And if you’re a beauty editor, that sometimes turns to all the time.) It’s certainly a perk, but it would also be quite hard to write beauty stories without actually trying the items being discussed. Even though we try new products often and may not necessarily need another sunscreen, for example, sometimes we get so hooked on something that we feel inclined to go out and buy it. Other times, we’ll buy something simply based on word of mouth or reviews.
Below, a handful of Who What Wear beauty and fashion editors divulged to me the products they use that are worthy of buying for themselves, as well as some of the ones I’m always replenishing myself and don’t know what I’d do without.
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“An old colleague of mine gave me this to try a few years ago and I have been buying it ever since. I love this retinol formula because it doesn’t aggravate my skin at all—and my skin is normally prone to dryness. The vitamin C brightens my face a bit, which is an added bonus. I also love that it’s not too heavy of a night cream.”
“Sometimes I can’t believe I pay $166 for a serum, but then I remember how it makes my face smooth and glowy and that soothes my financial guilt. You’ve probably heard about the merits of this serum talked about nonstop on Who What Wear, so I won’t repeat. All I’ll say is that it does a good job of brightening the skin and smoothing any lines. And if you’re worried about the price tag, it does last a long time because a little bit goes a long way—I normally have to restock after three to four months.”
“I was always a drugstore shampoo kind of gal, but that all changed when I discovered R+Co’s Dallas shampoo. Now I pay almost $30 for shampoo and I’m not mad about it. It manages to make my flat and stick-straight hair look a little bit thicker and voluminous. I love that it also leaves it looking shiny and feeling soft.”
“I talk about this micellar water all the time. But years later, it’s still one of the best things to happen to my sensitive, acne-prone skin. I still have yet to meet a formula that beats it, and I use it religiously morning and night before I go in with my normal cleanser.
“There’s just no competition here. By far, this is the best exfoliating body product I’ve ever laid my hands on, and when I accidentally left my bar in Arizona at my parent’s, I immediately made a 1:30 a.m. purchase the second I landed back in L.A. It’s next-level talented at getting every last scale of self-tanner off, and even when I’m not self-tanning, it gives my skin a baby-soft exfoliation treatment sans irritation. It’s one of my all-time favorite products from Glossier. (Although Lash Slick, $16, gives it a good run for its money.)”
“This is a staple skincare product I began incorporating into my routine a couple of years ago (after two different celebrity facialists, Shani Darden and Melanie Grant) both recommended it to me, and it’s done wonders for my skin. It’s a hyaluronic acid serum so it nourishes the complexion with lots of hydration, but it also helps even out skin tone and reduces redness. I’m hooked for life, and I think I’m on my fourth bottle now. “
“Although it just barely squeaks in under the $50 mark, this eye cream is truly worth every penny and will last you at least a few months (and probably more). I’ve tried a stupid number of eye creams, and even formulas five times the price of this one just can’t compete.”
“This is the only vitamin C serum that hasn’t made my skin freak out and burst into a fit of pimples. You can read my full review here, but essentially, it’s a sister to the brand’s iconic C E Ferulic serum especially geared towards people who veer oily and breakout-prone.”
“If you think a cleanser is just a cleanser, think again. I use this one nightly and love how gentle and nurturing it is. It’s silky-smooth with a serum-like consistency (hence the name) and will never leave you feeling stripped or dry.”
“I’ve gone on and on about this OG product from Olaplex for years, but truly, I can’t imagine life—or my hair—without it. I apply it to wet strands once a week, and I try to let it marinate for at least an hour, but a whole day if possible. Because of said ritual, I only lose a couple of strands of hair post-wash as I comb out and detangle, which is a truly satisfying feeling that never gets old. I’ll put it like so: If you’re not using this, your hair is mad at you. I also religiously use the brand’s Shampoo, Conditioner, and Styling Creme.”
“After hearing about it from everyone and their mother, I finally tried Ilia’s Super Serum Skin Tint and my only qualm is that I didn’t buy it sooner. I don’t wear anything on my skin often, so when I do I like for it to feel super light (but still impactful) and this fits the bill and then some.”
“When it comes to lip products, I like something I can swipe without needing a mirror, that delivers a subtle punch of color, and that doesn’t dry me out. This Chanel Rouge Coco Flash—you guessed it—does all three.”
“I’m all about the slick back right now but one thing that sometimes makes me shy away from the fashion girl hairstyle is having crunchy hair the next day. I’m obsessed with this Briogeo product because it gives the full-on gelled look without that crunch. My hair is being hydrated at the same time as being slicked back into a chic bun.”
“SPF is a must-have of course so I’m always reordering it on repeat. One of the only SPFs that I’m into these days is of course from Supergoop. Unseen is right, it leaves no white cast and also never breaks me out. It works as the perfect base layer for the dewy makeup look I tend to follow it up with.”
“I recently went viral on TikTok for declaring my love for Olaplex because pretty much every woman who saw it was in full agreement that it’s the best hair care brand. So of course, I’m always reordering their products. While No.3 is my favorite and the first item to run dry, I have been loving No.6 lately as a part of my aforementioned slick back routine.”
“I am what you might call a body lotion snob, but I’ve been through three bottles of this. With marula butter and ceramides, it’s supremely hydrating, it smells so good, and it’s not even that expensive.”
“I think at this point, everyone is sick of hearing me talk about how much I love this mascara, but I refuse to stop talking about it. It’s my all-time favorite—it makes my lashes look double the length, and it never smears under my eyes.”
“I wear this year-round, but in the summer, it’s practically all I put on my face. Trying to wear face makeup in New York City humidity can be challenging, and Glowscreen basically makes my skin look like the best version of itself. I never get more compliments on my skin than when I’m just wearing Glowscreen. It makes you look sun-kissed and dewy. You can also use it under makeup as a grippy, glowy primer.”
“For a while, this was sold out everywhere, and I nearly had a heart attack. I can’t imagine my life without it. Not only does this leave-in conditioner smell heavenly, but it makes my hair so soft and smooth, tames frizz and flyaways, protects hair from UV rays, and helps prevent damage. It basically does it all. I’ve tried many leave-in conditioners, and nothing compares to this one!”
“After an unfortunate incident with a too-strong retinol product, I started using this and there has been zero redness or flakiness from it. I was so happy to find a retinol my skin could actually tolerate, and the line-smoothing results have been very noticeable.”
“Blush is probably my favorite makeup product, so I’ve tried them all, but this is the blush I reach for over and over. It gives a nice rosy glow without being too pink. I’m even able to dust it across my forehead and bridge of my nose without looking like I have a sunburn.”
“I’ve been using this religiously for years. My eyebrows were never particularly thick but as soon as I started using this, they were transformed. I’ve tried to find a cheaper alternative but nothing else compares to Revitabrow, sorry.”
“I’ve reordered this more times than I can count. It lasts for hours and leaves the prettiest glow. It’s not technically a lip plumper but it somehow makes them look plumper—I can’t explain it. I’ve tried a few of the other shades but the OG pink is my favorite.”
“I am totally obsessed with this moisturizer and brand right now! I’ve been using this with the brand’s Firming Bakuchiol Oil and my skin has never looked better. It truly has all the things I look for in a skincare product: peptides, vitamin C, and antioxidants. It works almost instantly and leaves you with a super bright complexion after just a few uses.”
“I really love this new moisturizer from SkinCeuticals. If you have dark spots or acne-prone skin it is a total gamechanger. It contains a few acids in it which, I know, not everyone will love in a moisturizer, but it has really helped my dark spots and a particularly stubborn breakout around my chin. It’s so smooth and also minimizes your pores really nicely.”
“I picked up this Oribe shampoo from my local beauty shop, Arch, in Madison. As someone that typically went for the $5 drugstore shampoo, this was a total splurge for me. Well, it’s now all I use. Yes, it’s pricier, but the bottle lasts so long.”
“I can’t get enough of Aesop’s entire range of products. I buy the hand wash over and over again. It’s just so heavenly.”
“I spotted this tinted sunscreen on TikTok when Hailey Bieber shared that it is part of her everyday skin prep, and ordered it immediately. It’s a new buy but already one of the best beauty products I own. It adds just the right amount of coverage and is packed with hyaluronic acid, so is also super hydrating.”
“From the gentle exfoliation to the perfect scent to the stunning packaging, this is a shower staple.”
“My only complaint about Necessaire’s shower products is that they don’t come in larger containers. The body wash, in particular, is a fixture in my shower and I don’t know what I’d do without it. The body exfoliator is also a favorite of mine and using both sandalwood scents in tandem transforms my bathroom into a spa haven. I’m hooked for life.”
“I was gifted this shampoo and conditioner set a few years ago and once I reached the bottom of both bottles, there was no question about whether or not I would repurchase them on my own dime. If you’ve ever tried Oribe products, you get it, because their signature scent is intoxicatingly good. Fragrance aside, this duo has left my hair shinier and healthier.”
“I know Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk set is the real deal because anytime I whip out the lipstick or liner to reapply while I’m out, strangers go out of their way to gush about their love for the products. The color offers the perfect flush and looks seamless whether I’m wearing minimal makeup or a full look. While all three products—liner, lipstick, and gloss—are meant to be worn together, it’s the liner and lipstick I find myself using most often. I really like how the liner blends in so I don’t get those obvious overlined lips by the end of the day when everything fades and the lipstick itself, although matte, has a really nice creamy finish that makes it really comfortable and weightless to wear.”
“I am ridiculously devoted to this luxurious feeling cleansing balm which has elevated my cleansing routine to new heights. It’s made of four aromatic oils that cleanse and remove makeup without stripping the skin. The muslin cloth it comes with is a game-changer—it not only softens the skin and opens pores but it helps me slow down and take a deep breath while I hold the cloth over my face and neck for a few seconds. I love my cleansing ritual now thanks to this!”
Next up, 20 new (to me) beauty products I recently tried and loved.
