From gorgeous nail polish hues to gentle cleansers inspired by traditional Japanese ingredients, there were plenty of products that became instant favorites. Ahead, the beauty buys that made spending most of the month inside not so bad after all.
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Drybar Seashore Spritzer
"The odds of me getting anywhere near a beach in 2020 are slim to none, but thanks to this wave-enhancing spray I can still look carefree and windswept without ever actually making it out to the Rockaways. The crucial difference between this wave-enhancing formula and others that promise beachy texture is that it relies on sugar rather than salt, so hair stays soft and shiny with zero discernible crunch — which, apparently, is exactly what my long, fine, desperately-in-need-of-a-haircut waves have needed all this time." — Rachel Krause, deputy beauty director
DryBar Seashore Spritzer, $, available at DryBar
Embryolisse Beauty Oil
"Spritzed generously onto my shoulders, arms, legs, and chest (or décolletage, as Embryolisse’s French origins would have it) right after a shower when my skin is still damp, this dry oil makes me look and smell rich. The non-greasy texture is perfect for summer, as is the subtle floral scent, and the blend of hydrating oils and shea butter extract imparts a sexy, satiny sheen that won’t leave splotches on your white tank tops. It also layers beautifully over or under sunscreen, which is essential whether you’re in Saint-Tropez or a studio apartment." — Krause
Embryolisse Beauty Oil, $, available at Embryolisse
Function of Beauty Custom Body Wash + Lotion
"I’m more about instant gratification than customization — no, I would not like to monogram that bag if it means waiting an extra three weeks before shipping. But there’s something to be said for having things made to your specific tastes, as with Function of Beauty’s line of made-to-order beauty products, which now includes body wash and lotion. The body wash has fast become a favorite in my shower, and how could it not? The faint rose scent, hydrating yet satisfyingly foamy formula, and minimalist clear bottle are so perfect, it’s almost as if I chose it all myself..." — Krause
function of beauty custom body wash + lotion, $, available at function of beauty
Suite Eleven Nail Polish in From Brooklyn With Love
“Suite Eleven’s red nail polish has become my DIY pedicure staple. The color is a gorgeous orange-y red that complements the fair skin of my bare feet with or without a tan, but more than just a flattering red, the formula is both opaque and durable, meaning just one single coat will last for weeks without chipping or fading — even weathering frequent dips in the Maine ocean.” — Megan Decker, beauty editor
Suite Eleven From Brooklyn With Love, $, available at Suite Eleven
Victoria Beckham Beauty Bitten Lip Tint
"Victoria Beckham just created my perfect lip color with her Bitten Lip Tint in the shade Chérie. The texture is weightless, it's made with hyaluronic acid and squalane so it never feels dry or sticky, and the color is a sheer rose-pink that delivers that minimal your-lips-but-better flush." — Decker
Victoria Beckham Beauty Bitten Lip Tint, $, available at Victoria Beckham Beauty
Tatcha The Rice Wash
"I’m a sucker for a gentle cleanser that actually cleans your face, and this new formula from Tatcha has become an instant favorite of mine. The latest from the brand has the polishing properties of its Japanese rice powder, which leaves your skin fresh and glowing once you get out of the shower. There's also hyaluronic acid and Okinawa algae in the sleek purple tube, which makes my skin feel noticeably more hydrated and plump after every use. It’s the closest thing to a facial my skin has gotten since staying at home, and for that, it’s the real MVP." — Aimee Simeon, senior beauty writer
Tatcha THE RICE WASH, $, available at Tatcha
Bossy Cosmetics Liquid Lipstick in Bravery
"My makeup routine, which was once a full face every day, has been parred back to bare skin and a bright lipstick when I need a mood boost. Lately, I’ve been loving the new liquid formula from Bossy Cosmetics, which is super pigmented and non-drying. The shade Bravery, a punchy bright purple, has been my go-to for park dates with my friends." — Simeon
Bossy Cosmetics Bravery, $, available at Bossy Cosmetics
Jupiter Restoring Serum
"The idea of using a serum on your scalp might send some people's eyes straight to the back of their heads, but hear me out: This one is a godsend for my occasionally dry, itchy scalp. The cocktail of zinc pyrithione, salicylic acid, green tea, and aloe immediately relieves the itch and has noticeably improved the appearance of flakes over time. I also appreciate the fine-tipped nozzle, which helps me target my problem areas without disrupting my hairstyle." — Simeon
Jupiter Restoring Serum, $, available at Jupiter
Grace Eleyae Pink Satin-Lined Baseball Hat
"Recently, I visited my longtime stylist Matt Fugate for an outdoor haircut in the park. When I took off my hat to start the trim, the first thing he noticed was that I didn't have any frizz or hat hair, which is thanks to this genius cap. The silk lining keeps my fly-aways from sticking up (and more from forming due to friction), while the cute design and on-trend colors match any outfit. I've been wearing it all summer to work out, play tennis, and run around, and I have noticed a major difference in the frizz around my hairline and crown. I will never settle for a standard baseball hat again." – Cat Quinn, beauty director
Grace Eleyae Pink Satin-Lined Baseball Hat, $, available at Grace Eleyae
Glamazon Beauty Hydro-Matte Liquid Lipstick
"Forget all your preconceived notions about liquid lipstick. This non-sticky formula glides easily onto lips without settling or cracking, and the color is the perfect shade of pinky-nude. I swipe it on before Zoom calls and feel instantly refreshed (despite still wearing pajama pants on my bottom half)." — Quinn
Glamazon Beauty HYDRO-MATTE LIQUID LIPSTICK, $, available at Glamazon Beauty
Philosophy Oil-Free Cleanser Purity Made Simple
"You know the scene in Back To The Future 2 where Marty's mom brings home a pizza that triples in size in the hydrator? That's kind of how I felt using this cleanser. The teeniest, tiniest (I'm talking less than a pea-size drop) foams into such a massive lather, you'd think I poured out a handful. My husband and I have both been using it day and night for two months and still have more than three quarters of a bottle left. Like the original formula, it takes off makeup and leaves my skin clean — but unlike the original, which has meadowfoam seed oil, this one is completely oil-free, which plays a lot better with my acneic skin." — Quinn
Philosophy oil-free cleanser purity made simple, $, available at Philosophy
Pureology Hydrate Shampoo
"I've long been a fan of this shampoo and conditioner, but I've earned a new appreciation for it during quarantine. The peppermint tingle feels so cooling and refreshing and the moisturizing formula leaves my hair frizz-free. I wash my hair and get straight into bed and it's like my own little A/C unit. Recently, the brand changed the packaging to be more sustainable with better closures, which has allowed me to travel with it on safe roadtrips and not end up with shampoo all over my clothes." — Quinn
Pureology Hydrate Shampoo, $, available at Pureology
Bread Beauty Supply Hair Wash Gentle Milky Hair Cleanser
"Not only did the packaging of this new brand draw me in, but as someone who's learned to love all the characteristics of her ringlets, so did its pro-frizz mission. Then, I actually tried the products, and I was sold altogether. The hair wash is my favorite, with its bouncy, marshmallow-like texture and sugary scent (but not the overpowering or tacky kind). Most importantly, it left my curls looking and feeling hydrated — and my wash day officially has a new delight. " — Thatiana Diaz, senior beauty writer
BREAD BEAUTY SUPPLY Hair Wash Gentle Milky Hair Cleanser, $, available at Sephora
ONE/SIZE GO OFF Makeup Dissolving Mist
"Wipes, cleanser, micellar water, Q-tips: Makeup removal has always been so tedious for me, and I still find mascara clumps the next day. But that's all changed since I added this mist by Patrick Starrr to my cleansing routine. After spraying it all over my face and watching everything melt off, I'm able to easily wipe away makeup with less tugging, which means less irritation for my sensitive, redness-prone skin." — Diaz
ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr GO OFF Makeup Dissolving Mist, $, available at Sephora
ZitSticka HYPERFADE
"Sometimes, pimples can be harder to get over than exes. One finally goes away (or you pop it) but then you have to deal with the aftermath: a dark spot. I tend to avoid active serums because of my sensitive skin, but this patch makes it perfect to just focus on one area rather than my entire face. I didn't expect much of the sticker and its self-dissolving darts, but I was shook after using it one night. I woke up with no dark spot to be found — and now, I keep this on deck for the marks undoubtedly coming in the future." — Diaz
ZitSticka HYPERFADE, $, available at Ulta Beauty
Kosas The Sun Show Bronzer
"Hey, it’s still summer, even if I’m spending most of my days indoors. I own quite a few bronzers, but Kosas’s baked formula has been on repeat lately — and it's a safe alternative to soaking up UV rays, might I add. The medium shade has the most gorgeous terra-cotta undertones that complement my olive skin, so I usually wear it in place of blush on the apples of my cheeks and lightly dust it across my nose and forehead. It’s admittedly a bit pricey at $34, but the pan is deceptively generous and a tiny amount goes a long way — it’s that pigmented." — Karina Hoshikawa, beauty & wellness market writer
Kosas The Sun Show Bronzer - Medium, $, available at Kosas
The Nue Co. The Pill
"My skin is already very breakout-prone, and things like stress and humidity tend to send my complexion into a tailspin. Throw in necessary mask-wearing, and you’ve got a recipe for the clusters of zits on my chin and jawline. While many beauty supplements I’ve tried rarely live up to the lofty claims of glowy, clear skin, I was shocked when I started to notice fewer pimples and irritation within a week of using the Nue Co.‘s first topical skin-care product, The Pill, in tandem with the Skin Filter capsules. The serum contains AHAs to gently exfoliate, plus hyaluronic acid to soothe and hydrate. It’s not fragranced, so the natural (vaguely fermented) scent takes some getting used to, but it’s well worth it for the gentle, yet effective results." — Hoshikawa
The Nue Co. The Pill, $, available at The Nue Co
Ouai x Byredo Super Dry Shampoo Mojave Ghost
"I’ve got a serious soft spot for fragrance and have racked up a curated collection of glass bottles that I keep on rotation (yes, even in quarantine). Naturally, my heart did a backflip when I heard of Ouai’s new collab with one of the coolest scent-makers in the industry: Byredo. In addition to stretching the time between my wash days, the Mojave Ghost scent acts as the fanciest hair perfume in existence." — Hoshikawa
Ouai OUAI x BYREDO Super Dry Shampoo Mojave Ghost, $, available at Sephora
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