admin As 2023 winds down, we’re looking back on all the beauty products we tried that became newfound favorites and staples in our routines. We’re talking about all the makeup, hair, skin and fragrance finds that left us wondering, “How did I go so long without this in my life?”
Below, dive into the absolute best products we discovered this year, as well as our month-by-month roundups.
Fashionista’s favorite beauty products of 2023
Shani Darden Hydration Peptide Cream, $58, available here: “This is such a solid non-greasy, non-heavy moisturizer that keeps skin quenched, plump and happy. It’s an absolute staple in my routine.” —Steph Saltzman, Beauty Director
KS & Co Sheer Tinted Brow Gel, $36, available here: “I love how sheer and natural-looking this lightly tinted brow gel is. There’s no real risk of messy, uneven coverage or accidentally applying too much pigment, but it is buildable if you’re looking for a bolder look. On top of all that, it contains nourishing ingredients that strengthen brow hair and help it grow.” —Dhani Mau, Editor-in-Chief
Hustle Butter Deluxe Luxury Tattoo Care & Maintenance Cream, $22, available here: “I’ve been getting tattooed for nearly a decade and a half and after starting to use Hustle Butter’s aftercare cream, I totally get why it’s an industry favorite. The petroleum-free formula is super jam packed with natural oils to make sure my ink heals well.” —Liza Sokol, Sr. Audience Development Manager
Undefined Beauty R&R Night Serum, $28, available here: “I love the slippery texture of this serum, which I find ideal for aiding in facial massages. Made with ingredients like bakuchiol, rosehip oil and squalane, it’s intensely moisturizing and also calming.” —Andrea Bossi, Staff Writer
Hourglass 1.5MM Mechanical Gel Eye Liner, $21, available here: “This is the finest tip you’ll probably ever find on a gel eyeliner pencil. I first bought the black shade, and when it ran out (after nearly a year, might I add) I went back and bought all three colors.” —Savannah Sitton, Contributing Market Editor
Bobbi Brown Lip Liner Pencil in Ballet Pink, $30 $26, available here: “I have been on the hunt for a pink-y nude lip liner for so long. This ultra-creamy pencil glides on effortlessly and never feels dry or causes flakiness (an issue I’ve had with some other lip pencils).” —Brooke Frischer, Staff Writer
Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen, $30, available here: “I’ve been a full-coverage person ever since I started wearing makeup, but I love this tinted moisturizer: It’s super lightweight, without sacrificing its buildable coverage or dewy finish. Although it doesn’t have as long of a wear as some of my favorite full-coverage foundations, the SPF 20 adds a touch more sun protection to my makeup routine, which is a must for this redhead.” —Catie Pusateri, Contributing Writer
Ranavat Radiant Rani Brightening Saffron Serum, $135, available here: “I’m usually skeptical about these supposed cure-all face oils, but this is now one of my favorite products — if I’m feeling lazy I’ll sometimes just wash my face, apply a few drops and call it a day. I’m obsessed with the smell and consistency, and it seems to help breakouts disappear more quickly in addition to leaving my skin looking brighter and healthier with each daily use. While it is pricey, a little goes a long way.” —Dhani
Photo: Courtesy of Sofie Pavitt Face
Sofie Pavitt Nice Ice Toner Pods, $68, available here: “These genuinely innovative little ice pods wake me up, calm and soothe my skin and are just plain fun to use. So genius.” —Steph
Kayali Oudgasm Tobacco Oud | 04 Eau de Parfum Intense, $140, available here: “Kayali’s scents are my absolute favorite for layering, and this year’s oud-spiked launch has me mixing the spicy, tobacco and clove-spiked scent with sugary gourmands to add some depth.” —Liza
Jones Road Tinted Face Powder, $28, available here: “I love that this powder keeps my face matte year-round, including during the oil-triggering heat of the summer.” —Andrea
Oribe Gold Lust Repair and Restore Shampoo and Conditioner Bundle, $101, available here: “I’ve long been on the hunt for a shampoo and conditioner combo that keeps my hair feeling silky after rinsing, and this year, I finally found it. Both of these formulas are creamy and rich, leaving my hair moisturized, tangle-free and smooth.” —Brooke
IGK Good Behavior 4-in-1 Prep Spray, $32, available here: “My hairstylist recommended this heat protectant during a recent blow-dry, and to my surprise, my hair stayed smooth and frizz-free for days (which was a first for my heat-damaged hair). Every time I spritz it on before styling, my hair feels so soft that I almost forget about any aforementioned damage.” —Catie
Olly Flawless Complexion Gummies, $14, available here: “As I wrote about here, these skin-care gummies spiked with zinc, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E and selenium have played a huge role in keeping my skin acne-free and are now a crucial part of my daily routine.” —Dhani
Canopy Humidifier, $150, available here: “Back in February I wrote about my favorite humidifier, the Canopy, which is not only cute as hell, but inhibits mold and is super easy to clean. I still keep it on 24/7 the moment I start to feel even an iota of dryness.” —Liza
Make Up For Ever HD Skin Matte Velvet Undetectable Longer Blurring Powder Foundation, $43, available here: “I can’t apply foundation for the life of me — trust me, I’ve been trying for years. So, I turn to powders that cover, and this one has surpassed every other complexion compact I’ve tried. Not only is it buildable, but it’s virtually fool-proof; just apply with any skin brush for smooth, matte coverage. It’s probably my most prized product.” —Savannah
Rahua Enchanted Island Vegan Curl Butter, $48, available here: “This thick styling cream easily dilutes with a bit of water in my hair, leaving my curls soft and defined. It also has a delicious, tropical smell.” —Andrea
Rare Beauty Brow Harmony Flexible Gel, $17, available here: “As an avid Rare Beauty fan and eyebrow-focused individual, I am so excited to report that this is genuinely the best brow gel I’ve ever used (and I’ve tried most of them). The clear, lightweight formula has one of the strongest holds I’ve experienced. It remains transparent as it dries down, with no white flakes or unnaturally stiff-looking hairs to be seen.” —Brooke
Alpyn Beauty Wild Huckleberry Brightening Peel Mask for Sensitive Skin, $56, available here: “As the queen of sensitivity, I’ve been looking for a product to brighten my acne scars without ripping my face off in the process. This mask has slowly started to fade my hyperpigmentation while also making my skin feel softer without any burning, flaking or redness. And it’s gentle enough to use daily? Magical.” —Catie
Verb Ghost Air Dry Whip, $20, available here: “This pillowy — but not mousse-y or crunchy — hair cream is great for the days where you just want to air dry and not have to deal with hot tools or frizz.” —Liza
MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara, $27, available here: “I too had no idea what tubing mascara was until an actress friend shared a trade secret with me; this delicate mascara is meant for bottom lashes so it applies a light, wispy coat while keeping each individual lash mostly separated, creating a long, extensions-like look. 10/10.” —Savannah
Olive & June That’s Amoray Long Lasting Polish, $9, available here: “This sheer polish gives the prettiest, subtlest pink iridescence to my nails. It’s my lazy go-to when I’m taking a break from salon manicures. It’s like a Telfar x Melissa pink jelly sandal in nail polish form.” —Dhani
Christian Louboutin Louboutin Rouge Silky Satin Lipstick, $100, available here: “This year was my era of rediscovering red lipsticks. I don’t just love this formula, which swipes on smoothly and lasts for hours; I also love the fancy-feeling case that you can accessorize with charms.” —Andrea
AZ Haircare Remedy Restorative Masque, $47, available here: “Ever since Sofia Richie posted her slicked-back bun routine and revealed she uses a hair mask instead of hair gel, my world has been turned upside down for the better. I wear my hair in a claw clip basically every day, but since using Richie’s hack, it’s felt significantly smoother and silkier. The frizzy and heat-damaged parts of my hair have become significantly less apparent after using this buttery pudding-like product for a week. The best part is that after raking it through my post-shower hair, I can sleep with the mask in — the product solidifies after a few minutes, leaving no opportunity for any residue to transfer onto anything.” —Brooke
Glossier Boy Brow Volumizing Eyebrow Gel-Pomade in Auburn, $18, available here: “I’ve spent a while searching for a brow product to match my auburn hair — it’s always too red for brown shades and too brown for red shades — but I’ve finally found the perfect fit with this Glossier eyebrow gel. I also love the formula, which is both lightweight and long-lasting.” —Catie
Theraface Pro, $399, available here: “The way this device multi-tasks is what’s really sold me on it. The massage feature does wonders for my TMJ issues; the microcurrent is a necessity for lifting my mid-30s skin; and the LED light can be customized to treat acne or wrinkles, with an infrared-light option that adds a number of other benefits. It’s also very easy to travel with and stays charged for weeks.” —Dhani
Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo in She’s Giving, $36, available here: “Patrick Ta’s TikTok-viral blush is an incredible mix of super pigmented and easily blendable. She’s Giving has my favorite cool shades of pink and I like to ‘drape’ it up to my temples for a more dramatic look. The powder on top of the cream gives a nice glow and melts into my skin so it doesn’t just sit on the top.” —Liza
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in Vanilla Beige, $24, available here: “I love every single shade of this lip balm, but the mauve-y one is the simplest way to apply a hassle-free lip color that melts and moisturizes like literal magic.” —Savannah
Kayali Oudgasm Café Oud Parfum Intense, $140, available here: “I always keep a Kayali scent in my perfume rotation, and the latest Oudgasm collection was an easy addition. The intense perfumes are long-lasting and sure to get you some compliments. As someone with an undeniable caffeine addiction, of course I love the warm smell with hints of cappuccino.” —Andrea
Month by Month
January
Back at the beginning of the year, we discovered vanilla-scented body wash, fun face pearls and eye-brightening makeup.
BeautyStat Universal Pro-Bio Moisture Boost Cream, $50, available here: “This has quickly become one of my favorite moisturizers ever. It feels ultra-hydrating, reparative and protective despite being surprisingly lightweight — perfect for my hormonal acne-prone skin.” —Dhani Mau, Editor in Chief 
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February
In February, we found multipurpose eye brighteners, an ultra-smooth cream-to-powder blush and reparative hair treatments.
Oribe Hair Alchemy Strengthening Masque, $68, available here: “This hair mask carries a bit of a hefty price tag, but it also accomplishes a whole lot more than just standard moisturizing and conditioning. It boosts strands’ elasticity, which prevents breakage and damage; replenishes to correct brittleness; and seals the outer cuticle for smoothness and tons of shine — plus, it works on any texture, and doesn’t weigh down my ultra-fine hair.” —Stephanie Saltzman, Beauty Director
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March
March brought us new floral scents, curl-defining hair gel and skin-replenishing moisturizing masks.
Roz The Foundation Duo Shampoo & Conditioner $72, available here: “I’ve been a longtime admirer of hairstylist Mara Roszak, who works with celebrities like Zoe Saldaña and Michelle Yeoh. The effort she put into developing her namesake hair-care brand is clear from the quality and performance of the formulas. I’m particularly obsessed with the ultra-gentle shampoo and conditioner, which rely on natural surfactants, peptides and ceramides to smooth and strengthen hair. Bonus: They work on all hair types and smell incredible — like an airy, sun-drenched flower-and-herb garden.” —Stephanie Saltzman, Beauty Director
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April
April introduced us to a slew of new candles, a restorative scalp tonic and water-based lube without a hint of stickiness.
Essie Hard to Resist Advanced Nail Strengthener, $11, available here: “A coat or two of this clear polish somehow makes my perennially weak, brittle nails unbreakable. It’s become a necessity for when I’m in between manicures.” —Dhani Mau, Editor-in-chief
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May
In May, we loved a white-cast-free sunscreen, a tinted face powder and a Sofia Richie-approved highlighting stick.
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Leave-In Treatment, $29, available here: “I have super-fine hair, so I’m always on the lookout for repairative treatments that condition and prevent breakage without weighing it down. This leave-in conditioner is a new favorite: It contains ceramides, as well as argan, coconut and rosehip oils to moisturize and strengthen strands — yet it’s not heavy or greasy in the slightest. I use about five pumps on the midlengths and ends of my hair to seal the cuticles and split ends.” —Stephanie Saltzman, Beauty Director
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June
In June, we found a mega-pigmented eye shadow stick and, naturally, many new sunscreen favorites.
Pat McGrath Labs Divine Blush: Legendary Glow Colour Balm, $29, available here: “The cream blush category is really booming right now, and this is another formula I’m completely enamored with at the moment. It layers beautifully, offering a sheer-but-buildable wash of pigment and that signature Pat McGrath lit-from-within finish.” —Stephanie Saltzman, Beauty Director
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July
The July heat had us reaching for an SPF lipstick that actually looks (and feels) good, a delicious eau de toilette from Brazil and a density-enhancing shampoo.
Lancer Nourish Rehydration Mask with BioPeptide Vitamin B3, $100, available here: “Between the scorching temperatures outside and the overly-air-conditioned climate inside, my skin has been inflamed and unhappy lately. (Same, pal.) This soothing, balancing mask has been a savior: The slick, thick gel delivers peptides and vitamin B3 (also known as niacinamide) to moisturize, even out skin tone, prevent water loss and give skin a plump, happy finish.”—Stephanie Saltzman, Beauty Director
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August
Our favorite finds in August included a new obsession-worthy brow gel and skin saviors that helped our faces transition from summer to fall.
Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment in Rhode Vanilla, $16, available here: “While I try to not be the most easily-influenced person on earth, I can’t stay away from these peptide lip treatments. Vanilla is my favorite scent by far, with just the right sweet- but-not-too-sweet cake-inspired aroma.” —Olivia Novato, Editorial Intern
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September
The beginning of fall brought us on-trend chocolate brown nail polish, a self-rotating curling iron and an innovative mascara-and-eyeliner duo unlike anything we’ve seen before.
Sofie Pavitt Nice Ice Toner Pods, $68 for 12, available here: “These genius little toner pods are designed to be popped into the freezer and frozen solid overnight (they’ve been tested to maintain stability and ingredient efficacy) before using. A combination of glycerin, niacinamide, green tea extract and ashwagandha soothes and calms irritation, inflammation and redness. Lately I’ve been struggling with a horrible bout of hormonal acne like nothing I’d experienced before, and these have gone a long way toward (gently) counteracting it.” —Stephanie Saltzman, Beauty Director Photo: Courtesy of Sofie Pavitt Face
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October
In October, we couldn’t get enough of creamy lip liners and many moisturizing masks, serums and lotions.
Shani Darden Signature Nourishing Facial Mask, $58, available here: “Facialist Shani Darden makes one hell of a skin treatment, and this soothing, clay-based mask is no exception. Kaolin and bentonite sop up excess oil help clear pore congestion, while colloidal oatmeal, aloe and a blend of tea extracts soothe redness and irritation. Some clay masks can render skin parched and stiff, but this one solves that issue with the inclusion of squalane to lock in moisture.” —Steph Saltzman, Beauty Director
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November
Our November favorites included glossy your-lips-but-better lip balm, nostalgic vanilla scents and lightweight stylers that tame flyaway hairs without waxy residue.
Naturium Phyto-Glow Lip Balm in Spice, $10, available here: “The tinted versions of Naturium’s intensely smoothing, glossy lip balm have been sold out — and with good reason. For only $10 a pop, they pack a moisturizing formula of shea butter, squalane and cupuaçu butter to cushion lips and impart beautiful shine, either alone or over lipstick or liner. I’m obsessed with the warm, pinkish-brown tint of the shade ‘Spice,’ which gives that perfect my-lips-but-better effect. I’d recommend hopping on that waitlist for the re-stock, stat.” —Stephanie Saltzman, Beauty Director
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December
To end the year, our December picks included on-the-go dry shampoo blotting sheets, hydrating snail mucin gel patches and a buildable mascara that defies flakes and smudges.
Topicals Slick Salve Mint Lip Balm, $16, available here: “This intensive, ceramide-packed moisturizing lip treatment isn’t messing around. With a thick, almost honey-like texture, it has amazing staying power: I slick it on before bed, and can still feel it coating and cushioning my lips in the morning when I wake up. ‘Slick Salve’ is the perfect name, honestly.” —Stephanie Saltzman, Beauty Director
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