The brand, founded by industry veterans Alisa Metzger and Jen Shane, was created to make safe, affordable beauty accessible for once. "We are both obsessed with skin care and love the clean movement," Metzger tells me. "We have so much respect for the brands that pioneered the category, like Drunk Elephant, Beauty Counter, and Youth to the People, and we recognized the need for effective and clean skin care that was affordable."
Here's the rundown: Individual items in the range are all under thirty bucks, and each item in the INNBeauty lineup is outfitted in multi-colored packaging you'll actually want to reach for every day. "There is no reason that an effective and clean brand had to look dull or minimalist," Metzger says. INNBeauty also made a sustainability commitment, pledging to fund the removal of three plastic units from landfills, waterways, and marine environments for every product sold.
It's hard not to scroll through TikTok and find a review of the brand's viral pimple paste or tinted lip oil — both of which blew up during the pandemic. "Spending hundreds of dollars on a skin routine wasn't possible, and our accessible price points resonated with our audience," Metzger explains. "Our top products — Slushy and Pimple Paste — won over consumers and cured their maskne, while being affordable."
The hype left me wondering: Is INNBeauty Project worth trying? I tested out some of its best-loved products. Read on for my honest reviews, ahead.
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INNBeauty Project Slushy Serum Moisturizer Crush
The name of this product was enough to pique my interest. I'm a sucker for a cherry ICEE slushy, so this felt nostalgic. Adolescent associations aside, I was even more curious about the serum-moisturizer hybrid, which has bakuchiol, hyaluronic acid, and yuzu for hydrating and brightening. The pump dispenses a frosty formula that mimics actual slush. The application is no-frills: I warmed it up between my fingers, and it instantly melted down to a serum-like consistency. It absorbed quickly into my skin, leaving my pores smooth and hydrated. I expected a dewier finish but was surprisingly impressed when this dried down like satin.
INNBEAUTY PROJECT Slushy Serum Crush, $, available at Innbeauty Project
INNBeauy Project Pimple Paste
This little tube is the star of the INNBeauty show for a very, very good reason. The formula is a potent mixture of willow bark (a salicylic acid alternative), azelaic acid, tea tree oil, and — my personal favorite — sulfur. Like many people, I've also been dealing with the effects of maskne on my skin. I put this on a pimple when I feel it sprouting up, and a few hours later, it's vanished without a trace. I've tried my fair share of drying lotions and pimple patches, and this is one of the best I've used by far. If you had to spend on only one INNBeauty item, I say go for this.
INNBEAUTY PROJECT Pimple Paste, $, available at Innbeauty Project
INNBeauty Foam Around Clarifying Cleanser
Foam cleansers aren't my favorite, so I went into my face-washing experience with this glycolic and salicylic acid-packed formula prepared to be underwhelmed and over-cleansed when it was all said and done. I used three pumps to wash my face, neck, and chest, and was pleasantly surprised with how clean my skin felt as I massaged it in. When I got out of the shower, my skin didn't feel uncomfortably dry, which usually happens to me after using foam. Was it my favorite cleanser ever? No. But it gets the job done, which is enough to keep it in my shower caddy.
INNBEAUTY PROJECT Foam Around Clarifying Cleanser, $, available at Innbeauty Project
INNBeauty Project Power Up Face Mist
This mist doesn't leave behind the greasy cast that most dual-phase mists leave behind. Instead the spray — which goes on light and airy — left my skin feeling revived after one spritz. I've been particularly dry thanks to NYC's unstable weather, and I've enjoyed applying this on my bare skin throughout the day.
INNBEAUTY PROJECT Power Up Face Mist, $, available at Innbeauty Project
INNBeauty Down To Tone
Toner is the one skin-care category I've gotten super lazy with, but I enjoyed testing this exfoliating formula. It's alcohol-free, so you won't get that burning sensation that some toners give; instead, this one is lightweight and smooth, and almost feels like an essence. Between the niacinamide and a brightening blend of six acids, my skin feels hydrated and glowy once it all seeps in. I haven't forgotten to use it since I've cracked the bottle open, which is a good sign.
INNBEAUTY PROJECT Down To Tone, $, available at Innbeauty Project
It's hard to believe that I was once a full-matte-face type of gal, considering all of the glow-enhancing products I've fallen in love with during the pandemic. This is one of them. The brand calls Face Glaze a cross between skin care and makeup thanks to nourishing ingredients like squalane and ceramides. I like to swipe this on before Zoom calls when I don't have time to be precise with concealer. It gives me a natural glow and makes my skin look filtered IRL.
INNBEAUTY PROJECT FACE GLAZE, $, available at Innbeauty Project
INNBeauty Project Extra Glaze Lip Oil
My daily lip gloss collection has also grown to feature this one regularly. The comfortable formula gives my lips that coveted plumped look without the burning sensation that some glosses have. I also love the shimmery, natural tint that enhances my natural lip color, and the fact that it does actually kinda taste like a glazed donut.
INNBEAUTY PROJECT EXTRA GLAZE, $, available at Innbeauty Project
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