Best Beauty Products For Sept. 2015 | Fall Shopping
15 Fall Must-Have Beauty Buys That Editors Love This September
As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work.
One question we are asked over and over is: what do beauty editors actually buy? That's why each month our team personally reviews the newly launched products we are using and loving. And now that school is about to be in session, it's the ideal time to open your wallet, snag a fresh product (or five!), and give yourself a mini makeover. Even if classroom days are way in your past, you can still benefit from some of our favorites — such as an ultraluxe strobing kit, not-greasy face oil, or earthy-colored nail polishes. Keep reading to discover items for your September shopping list.
Tom Ford Skin Illuminating Powder Duo
Thanks to Kim Kardashian, women are tossing aside their contouring palettes in favor of strobing, which is a makeup technique that uses highlighter to define your bone structure. Personally, I love to DIY it at home since it makes an end-of-Summer tan look even prettier. Tom Ford's brilliant new strobing kit ($80) makes it pretty easy — either swirl a fluffy brush over the two colors for an all-over glow or use the lighter hue under your eyes and the darker on on your cheekbones to pronounce them. You can bet this is staying in my bag all month for on-the-go touch ups when that 3pm energy crash starts showing on my face.
—Lauren Levinson, beauty editor
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Kérastase Couture Styling Matérialiste
Lies people believe? "Short hair is so easy to style!" Unless you have a pixie cut, I'm going to be the one to burst everyone's bubble: short hair requires a lot of effort to look good. (At least in my case!) But I've been using Kérastase Couture Styling Matérialiste ($39) in my hair for a few weeks now and it's made me enjoy going through the styling motions. This spray gel instantly works to thicken up my hair, so waves, sleek styles, and even woven braids look full and pretty.
—Kirbie Johnson, on-camera beauty reporter and producer
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Ciaté London x Olivia Palermo Smoked Out Gel Kohl Liner in Fig
If you're a brown-eyed girl, you've likely tried dozens of purple pencils in order to make your irises pop, but to no avail. Unlike many formulas I've tested (which generally lean too blue), this raisin-toned liner ($20) actually brings out the green and gold undertones in my eyes. It's also the perfect blend of creamy and smudgy, so you can apply a bunch to the waterline and smoke it out with the tiny brush on the end. It's my sexy (and easy) go-to look for date night.
—Emily Orofino, assistant beauty editor
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Shhhowercap
When I first saw these chic shower caps, I was skeptical. I have a lot of hair, and I had doubts all my coils would fit in this turban-like wrap. I was so wrong. The Shhhowercap is striving to be the cuter version of the clear conditioning caps you get from Walmart.
You might ask why you should spend $43 on something that usually costs $1. Well, you can wear this outside of your bathroom! No one will be able to tell the difference between this tub essential and your designer headwear. The insulated lining is super thin. Instead of plastic, the outside is lined with water-resistant cloth with a fashion-forward pattern (bye-bye, rubber duckies).
—Jessica Cruel, associate beauty editor
align="right">La Prairie Skin Caviar Concealer and Foundation SPF 15
I'm not a huge foundation wearer since I love the look of fresh skin! But La Prairie's latest iteration ($215) meets my standards. While it provides a lot of coverage, it melts into skin with zero caking. The bottom half of the gorgeous cobalt blue bottle houses the luxury brand's signature firming caviar extract as well as antiaging peptides and brightening licorice. The top half is a creamy concealer for under eyes, blemishes, and redness — which can all be blurred away with the handy brush. Yes, it's expensive, but it's also a two for one deal!
—LL
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'The Great Outdoors' Collection by China Glaze
China Glaze's newest collection of shades is perfect for Fall! The Great Outdoors is chock full of perfectly moody shades for cooler weather, like My Lodge or Yours ($8), a creamy puce pink, Take a Hike ($8), a moss shade, and Change Your Altitude ($8), a greige that's closer to a white than a black.
—KJ
align="right">The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalizing Facial Oil
I have pretty normal skin: not too dry, not sensitive, and doesn't break out easily. But I still have a fear of incorporating facial oils into my regimen. I know how nourishing they are for your skin, but after a few failed (and supergreasy) experiments, I was hesitant to take the plunge. The Body Shop's new facial treatment ($39) was a pleasant surprise, and a complete departure from slimy formulas I've tried in the past. The blend of three seed oils (black cumin, rosehip, and camellia) is ultralightweight and leaves a real radiance behind — so much so that I got "you're glowing!" comments from my coworkers after testing it. Though I was already sold after the compliments it brought in, I fell fully in love after learning the oil has wrinkle-smoothing and firming benefits, too.
—EO
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MorocaanOil After-Sun Milk
When MoroccanOil released its new sun care line, I was eager to get my hands on a few (thousand) of the products. Turns out, my favorite offering of the bunch is not an SPF, but rather the After-Sun Milk ($28). It's great for soothing your skin after being in the pool or catching too much sun, but also works great as an airbrush tan extender. Plus, it smells just as good as the OG MoroccanOil hair serum.
—KJ
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Pestle & Mortar Pure Hyaluronic Serum
When someone tells me a skin care product is imported from abroad, I jump at the chance to test it out because the environmental and ingredient standards are much higher overseas than here in the US. This Pestle & Mortar Pure Hyaluronic Serum was created in Ireland. The serum is a one-step solution to my primary Fall skin care issue — dehydration. The liquid drops hit the skin and immediately disappear, leaving no silicone residue or flaky finish.
—JC
align="right">Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo
Since I work out about five times a week, I need a kickass dry shampoo to avoid rinsing my curls daily. The new Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo ($22) doesn't just add texture, but it actually cleanses your roots (those Living Proof scientists know what they're doing). When you first spray it on, it may leave a white residue which will quickly dissipate as you massage it in or blast it with a blow-dryer. Then, you're left with refreshed strands and zero stickiness. Plus, the scent is time released so there's no initial blast of fragrance. It's my post-gym necessity!
—LL
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Lilah B. Palette Perfection Eye Quad in B.Stunning
I believe that you have to ease yourself into Fall makeup after the fresh-faced beauty of Summer — otherwise, you and your skin will feel smothered. I'm getting back into the eye shadow groove with this impossibly beautiful Lilah B. palette ($58). The powders are soft, creamy, and featherlight with a buildable formula, so I can start with a minimal application at the beginning of the month and work my way to a smoky eye by October. Plus, the heavy stone-inspired packaging feels and looks so fabulous, it's taken up permanent residence as a paperweight on my desk.
—EO
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Anastasia Beverly Hills Illuminator
Anastasia Beverly Hills is the name you will hear again and again when it comes to the best contouring kits. Now, the brand has released a set of four shimmering highlighters ($28 each) to complement the contour category. The powders go on superfine. I like to use a fluffy eye shadow brush to for the ultimate strobing effect. The colors range from pure gold to rose and bronze so that many different skin tones are covered.
—JC
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Nassif MD Bio-Rhythmic Skincare
The story of my life? I'm tired most of the time. And like many people who try to balance a career with socializing, networking, and personal time (like the gym), we seem to overlook the necessity of sleep. Even though I love staying up late, it's not good for your skin.
Dr. Paul Nassif — yes, from E!'s Botched — created a skincare line for night owls (or just those who lack a good night's rest). Nassif MD's Bio-Rhythmic Skin Care ($225 for all three products) works with your skin's own biorhythms to help keep tired, dehydrated skin supple, glowing, and protected from environmental factors that can prematurely age your skin (like UV radiation from our cell phones).
I love the way my skin looks and feels when using the system: supple and glowing. I don't even need moisturizer afterwards!
—KJ
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Colgate Optic White Toothbrush + Whitening Pen
After getting a full smile makeover last year, complete with teeth reshaping and whitening, I have been a huge stickler for keeping my smile vibrant as possible. Colgate Optic White Toothbrush + Whitening Pen ($15) has been a huge help in getting my teeth whiter and getting me out the door in a jiffy, because the toothbrush has a built-in whitening pen that comes with it. The hydrogen peroxide in the gel of the pen helps to keep my teeth porcelain white, and there's no rinsing required.
— KJ
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PCA CliniCalm 1%
Like clockwork, when I go to Palm Springs, I get a red rash on my face that eventually turns into pustules. (TMI, I know.) It's annoying because, duh, if I'm in the desert, I want to focus on lounging and relaxing and not that I might come back to LA with an eruption of acne.
Once I figured out what caused the pustules (it was the makeup I was using), I wanted to nip the red rash in the bud. PCA CliniCalm 1% ($45) contains hydrocortisone to help alleviate irritated, red skin. It's recommended for use after chemical peels, but works great with dermatitis, psoriasis, and eczema.
— KJ
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