By now, you've probably surmised that we receive, test-drive, and review a lot of beauty products here at Who What Wear HQ. From nail polish and makeup to hair and skincare, we're eyebrow-deep in all things new, exciting, and, yes, wish list–worthy. That said, due to the number of products we come in contact with on a daily basis, we've also transformed into the nitpickiest beauty consumers. Within seconds, we can tell if a new hair oil is too heavy and greasy, and we're quick to ignore a serum or foundation that yields disappointing results (no matter how many hype emails it has sitting in our inboxes—sorry!).
The good news? We're far more often impressed than unimpressed after trying out a new product, and usually, we simply can't wait to spread the word to all of our fellow beauty junkies (aka you). Therefore, we've decided gushing over our latest fave products should become a monthly ritual, and every 30 days or so, you can expect a full report detailing the highlighters, hair wands, and overnight skincare saviors we've become quickly addicted to.
For the most part, we'll be covering new and buzzworthy launches (as those typically take up most of the action atop our product-filled desks), but we won't dismiss the new-to-us products, either. Because, hey, sometimes our best discoveries are found on an old friend's vanity or on someone's face at the bar—true story. Ahead, the 28 best beauty products we tried in June! Grab your game face and wallet. You'll be needing both.
"As someone with super-lightened, very porous hair, it only takes a few washes before a fresh batch of highlights can start to tinge with shades of brass that I really don't want. (Even with a high-quality shower filter!) This new product from Color Wow has legitimately saved me and is the most brilliant addition I've made to my haircare routine in a long while.
"Essentially, it's a pre-shampoo treatment that collects and lifts unwanted minerals and buildup from your hair to revive and protect your true color. Before, I felt like my blonde highlights would turn dingy within a few weeks time post-salon appointment, but now, it's like my color gets better with each and every wash. It's actually miraculous."
"I'll openly admit that the first time I used this ultra-clean body cream from SpaRitual, I wasn't a fan. As with most organic and natural formulas, it takes some time to absorb and doesn't immediately slip and sink into the skin. A lotion application that takes more than three minutes? No thank you, I said. Until, that is, I noticed in the days—yes, days—afterward, how insanely moisturized my skin was. Like, silky, velvety smooth with the added perk of a bright and glowy finish. I was shocked.
"I still wish the application was a little bit swifter, but I've begun to appreciate the soothing ritual of working and massaging the rich cream into the skin, taking in the delicate Earl Grey–inspired scent, and letting it work its moisturizing magic."
"I'm typically insanely picky about my foundation and have a trusted lineup of three or four I never stray from. So, when my fellow beauty editor friend and I decided to go out on the town on the fly a few weeks back, I was somewhat scared to rely entirely on her arsenal of makeup favorites, instead of mine left back at home. That said, if I would have known that I'd accidentally discover one of the best foundations I've literally ever applied, I definitely wouldn't have been as apprehensive!
"I'm usually not a fan of mineral makeup, but this liquid foundation from Youngblood is so dreamy. SO DREAMY. It's incredibly weightless, and you don't even feel it on your face after application. But it somehow manages to deliver a really buildable, customizable coverage—something someone like me who loves fuller coverage—prioritizes. I'm so obsessed and already can't imagine life without it."
"I'm a bit of a balm maniac. I have about five different formulas within arm's reach at all times. After trying this epic formula from Doctor Rogers for the first time this past month, I only ever want to use this one. My cuticles (sorry) completely suck, and regularly swiping this balmy mix of glycerin and castor seed oil on them each morning has been a saving grace. I've also been using it on my tattoo, which is decrepitly dry always, and don't even get me started on how well it works on your lips. I don't know how else to describe it other than it literally feels like it melts away your chaps, cracks, and flakes. It's from another world!"
"I've been working to slowly integrate more and more clean makeup products into my routine. It's been hard, but I think I've finally found my new go-to blush in this new launch from RMS beauty. It's a concentrated, creamy pressed formula that delivers a pop of pigment that actually lasts (unlike so many natural formulas), and the colors are whimsical and pretty. Plus, the ingredients like buriti oil, rosemary leaf extract, and vegetable squalane are so good, it's practically skincare. Dare I say I love the shade Crushed Rose better than my beloved Orgasm?"
"Remember how I said I'm a balm fanatic? Well, I'm also a lip plumber fanatic and try every formula to hit the market. I can say with zero qualms this one from Grande Cosmetics is the best I've ever tried. it instantly gives your pout that satisfying tingly sensation and transforms your lips into a glossy, pillowy situation. I'm completely obsessed with. It gets a 10!"
"You all may remember that I'm not a body oil person. But something must be in the water because more and more brands are turning out luxe formulas that I'm really, really into. The latest? This number from BeautyBio that is laden with all sorts of delicious things like jojoba, vitamins, skin-essential minerals, and quartz. The name isn't kidding, and it truly leaves my skin with the most hydrated and luminous glow—making it perfect for summer, yes, but also perfect for someone who loves to resemble a glowing angelic orb at all hours of the day every day. Also, I'm not exactly sure why, but it's less sticky and greasy feeling than lots of other body oils I've tried. I've even used it on my scalp and nails when I'm in a pinch for some necessary hydration."
"Y'all know I love myself a great face mist, and Dr. Barbara Sturm just went above and beyond with her latest launch—a brand-new hydrating mist that will assuredly make your complexion look and feel so much glowier this summer.
"It's infused with an insane roster of high-quality ingredients like hyaluronic acid, purslane, lemon detox extracts, aloe vera, broccoli, and prickly pear, and is a great midday antidote when you're feeling like the squishy face emoji. Oh, and I've also been loving to use it in lieu of water when it comes to dampening my beloved Beautyblender pre-makeup."
"Even though I generally consider myself Team Primer, I've met enough underwhelming formulas to completely understand why so many people aren't fans. But, primer loves and haters everywhere, listen up—this new formula from Yves Saint Laurent might just change your life, or, at the very least, your stance on primers. Not only is it the chicest formula I've seen packaging-wise, but it also smoothes out your complexion so you're left with a velvet canvas before going in with foundation.
"I'm especially partial to this formula because so many primers I've tried lead to breakouts—they clog my pores like no other! This one, however, is an exception. It has pimple-busting salicylic acid, is super lightweight, and leaves a matte, practically pore-free finish behind."
"I've been dealing with some gnarly breakouts recently, and whenever that happens I very sadly have to dial-back my skincare routine. Which, typically, means I say goodbye to serums for a bit. Just not this one! I've been in love with new, nutrition-packed elixir from Dr. Jart+ since I first pressed it into my skin a month ago and the love and appreciation are still going strong.
"It's not harsh or aggressive like some serums, and it gives my skin an instant glow with zero greasiness or weird finishes left behind. It's loaded with vitamins and antioxidants and is even equipped with a unique anti-pollution defense system, which is pivotal for someone like me living in smoggy L.A. I also love how it's packaged and the dropper pushes out the perfect amount of product for each application. This serum kind of smells like a multi-vitamin, but I'm A-okay with that given its vitamin-like inspiration and how well it has worked for my dull, acne-prone skin."
"I don't know what to say about this epic tool from Amika other than it gives you perfect beachy waves in about 10 minutes time. I know it's ridiculous to say this as a beauty editor, but curling irons and wands have a vendetta against me. This easy tool gives me the creaseless, super-cool mermaid waves of my dreams without the frustration of rods and wands. Bless you, Amika!"
"I'm a broken record about this, but I'm a self-tanning connoisseur. So when Isle of Paradise, one of the best (in my opinion) self-tanning brands, debuted a range of new formulas just in time for summer, you bet I was all over it.
"When it comes to tanning, my personal MO is getting as tan as possible as fast as possible, and that's exactly what their new Express Extra Dark formula does. I can the lush whipped mousse with a mitt in the morning or afternoon, let it marinate its magic into my pale skin for a few hours, and I can wash it off with warm water before hitting my sheets. When I wake up, the tan has fully developed, and I'm left with the perfect glow."
"R+Co is one of my all-time favorite haircare brands, and I was pumped to find out it was improving its *already bomb* Dallas Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner. As for the improvements, they include a new formulation featuring multi-tasking vegan ingredients like biotin and updated packaging.
"I'm not typically a fan of most volume-enhancing formulas as they either don't deliver their alleged talents on my fine, thin hair, or they make my hair poofy, but straw-like and dehydrated. Not good. R+Co's formula is different though. Not only does my hair feel fuller, thicker, and healthier post-cleanse and -condition, it also leaves my weakened hair feeling strong, resilient, vibrant, and silky smooth. It also smells superb—think notes of cardamom, pineapple, tangerine, lavender, bamboo, and blonde woods."
"TheBalm is one of the most underrated yet amazing makeup brands, and in my opinion, its blush, highlight, and bronzing options are where it excels formula-wise. (I recommend stocking up on the Bahama Mama Bronzer, $16, Mary-Lou Manizer, $19, and Hot Mama!, $18, this summer!)
"Past favorite aside, these brand-new duos from the brand have the coolest, multifunctional packaging with stacked highlight and blush shades that are just about the prettiest thing I've seen in a long while. There are three different duos to choose from, but this one called Beach Goer featuring High Tide (a pink with gold shimmer) and Low Tide (a cool semi glittery lavender) is my fave. I've been sweeping them on my cheeks as a blush and in the creases of my eyes for a pretty shadow and contour."
"Making a good sunscreen is tricky work. It's why many skincare brands don't offer one, and why it took three years of research and development for Aēsop to arrive at its newly launched SPF 25 facial sunscreen. As a fan of the brand, I naturally I wanted to try it, and I can say it easily passes one of the most important tests of any face sunscreen: no chalky white residue.
"Like any Aēsop product, there's a pleasant 'natural-smelling' scent too. I usually stick to mineral sunscreens to fit within my clean-ish beauty routine, so I also made sure to check out the ingredient list of this chemical sunscreen. One of the active ingredients is avobenzone, which is great for offering UVA and UVB protection. A quick rundown: Some sunscreens only protect against UVB (rays that burn your skin) and not UVA (rays that cause premature aging), so it's important to get one that blocks both kinds of rays.
"The Aēsop formulation also includes octocrylene, which helps stabilize avobenzone, but also has a moderate hazard rating from the EWG. On the plus side, the Aēsop sunscreen doesn't have oxybenzone, which is an immediate sunscreen red flag for me, and in comparison has a high hazard rating from the EWG. All in all, I would absolutely recommend this product to someone who wants a high-performance sunscreen with beautiful packaging, and is okay with some non-clean ingredients."
"Tom Ford's lipstick in Carriacou has become my go-to everyday color since the moment I got my hands on it. It's the perfect shade of coral for spring and summer."
"I've been searching for a subtle, barely there–looking lipstick for forever and this $16 version from Urban Outfitters' beauty line turned out to fit the bill. I'm wearing it in Cerise but plan to try out the rest of the shades soon."
"A few flicks of the wrist later (bad joke?) and Glossier's new brow product will give you that naturally thicker and fuller look that will trick people into thinking you have perfect brows to begin with. See five of our editors review it here!"
"This creamy pigment is sheer but definitely buildable. On the cheeks, it has a very dewy finish but it comes across as more matte on the lips. I have it in Before Today, but every shade looks soft and wearable. Additionally, it's clean (as all of Ilia's products are) and it smells amazing."
"This moisturizer is perfect for the summer—it's completely weightless and non-greasy. I've been searching for a new everyday moisturizer to layer under makeup during the day and over retinol at night. I've found it."
"I've always just gone the drugstore route with body wash, but Nécessaire just converted me. It's filled with skin-softening oils and it makes my shower smell like a spa. Plus, they don't sell body washes that look as chic as this at the drugstore."
"I recently decided that it was probably about time I used some type of eye cream or serum so, obviously, I asked Erin Jahns for a rec, and I think she spoiled me for life with her suggestion. This anti-aging eye serum from RéVive is hydrating, brightening, and makes me feel like a really fancy skincare lady."
"I recently started using Glossier's Body Hero body wash and I have been so happy with the results. It moisturizes my skin in a way no other body wash has in the past, plus it smells great."
"This month I tried and tested our new sister skincare brand, Versed. The whole skincare range at Versed clocks in at under $20, and is available to buy at both Revolve and Target. The brand prides itself on its clean, uncomplicated ingredients, and sustainably sourced, nontoxic, results-driven items—including cleansers, moisturizers, eye creams serums, and face masks. I fell in love with this Hyaluronic Acid Facial Treatment.
"I have very dry skin, and this hydrating booster is the missing product my skincare regime has been yearning for. It's made up of two types of hyaluronic acid (that magic ingredient that bumps up hydration levels), so I add a couple of drops to my daily moisturizer and occasionally to my foundation. It creates an overall dewier look and makes my skin feel quenched. It's such an easy and effective way to add moisture to parched skin."
"I've been traveling and dealing with stress and hormonal issues the entire month of June—translation: pimples—and this handy little pen has been my savior. The tea tree loaded formula nixes the bacteria that causes and worsens breakouts. Love the convenient tube packaging as well. Perfect for on-the-go spot treating."
"Maleup artist Robin Black of @beautyisboring used this absurdly pigmented yellow liquid liner to create a dope summer look on me earlier this month, and now I'm hooked. Yellow is such a fun eye makeup color and very summer 2019, but not a lot of brands make liners in this bright shade—especially not with formulas that are so vibrant and long-lasting."
"I used these alphabet nail stickers to create a 'punctuation mani' with a different symbol (!@?#, etc.) on every nail, and I got SO many compliments. With a top coat, they lasted well over a week. So cute, so cheeky, so simple."
"I love the light silky texture and hypnotic scent of Sunday Riley's unique new brightening oil, which uses antioxidants like vitamins C and E to make my skin glow to the gods and protect against sun damage while leaving a dewy (but not greasy) finish. The anti-inflammatory turmeric in the formula naturally prevents breakouts, so if you're scared of oils irritating or clogging your skin, this might be a good one to try."
Want more of our favorite beauty picks? Check out the 22 products we loved last month in May.
