The Best Beauty Products We Tried in June, Including a Hair Styling Tool That Rivals Dyson
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Plus, a Drunk Elephant revival and the latest launch from Charlotte Tilbury
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At PEOPLE, we take beauty testing very seriously. We sift through hundreds — nay — thousands of pitches and products on a regular basis, carefully swatching, spritzing, and applying the latest and greatest offerings so we can share with you, dear reader, those that are worth your hard-earned money.
And we're keenly aware that beauty products are subjective, which is why we consult with experts like dermatologists, makeup artists, and hairstylists to determine what will best suit our specific skin and hair types. We also have a large testing pool to address varying beauty needs so we can give the products a fair trial before writing them off. Sometimes, though, there are those especially shiny offerings that we feel the need to shout from the mountaintop of bottles, tubes, and compacts, which is why we publish this monthly series of our absolute favorite beauty products.
Below, we're rounding up the makeup, skincare, and hair products that made us do a double-take last month — and then reach for them again and again. From a brand-new T3 air styling tool that rivals those from Shark and Dyson (and preserved a director’s blowout during a NYC heatwave) to a reformulated Drunk Elephant face sunscreen that pleased a particularly picky writer, here is the cream of our June beauty crop.
Qure LED Face Mask
“My foray into tech-forward skincare started with Qure’s LED mask — and I’m obsessed. All you have to do is download the Qure Skincare app, where you can customize a three-minute light therapy treatment based on your skin concerns (including anti-breakout and anti-aging) and where on your face you want to target it. Your journey to glowy skin is literally a tap away since the mask is connected via Bluetooth. After using this mask daily for three weeks, I’ve noticed my acne scars fading and my complexion more even-toned. But the biggest benefit is how it's helped reduced the inflammation in my cheeks, which no lymphatic drainage or roller has been able to subside before.” —Michelle Lee, editorial assistant
Related: The 5 Best At-Home Light Therapy Devices of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
T3 Aire 360 Ceramic Air Styler
“T3 might have waited a few years to get into the air styling game, but it was for good reason: The brand wanted to be absolutely sure that their offering brought something new and different to the table. After testing out the new T3 Aire 360 Ceramic Air Styler, I can confidently say it was worth the wait.
“The styler comes with four attachments that are designed to create bouncy, salon-quality blowouts at home. After trying out the styler on two different looks — a sleek, straight finish using the oval brush and voluminous curls using the curling attachments — I'm happy to report it could not be easier to use. Even better: My smooth, shiny results lasted all day, even during a heatwave!” —Karli Bendlin, director of content strategy
Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Skin Foundation Stick
"‘Unreal skin’ is right, because I've never achieved such an ethereal glow from a product in stick form until this month. I've alternated between using it as an all-over skin tint and highlighter (though it provides sheer coverage, so I usually spot-treat with concealer), and each time this product leaves my skin looking glowy, airbrushed, and extra hydrated. To put it plainly, your summer skin needs this.” —Alyssa Brascia, shopping writer
People / Alyssa Brascia
Noyz Discovery Kit
“Those of us who were of fragrance-wearing age in 1994 will recall the phenomenon that was CK One. In the first 10 days of its release, the citrus-y genderless fragrance made more than $5 million. Twenty bottles were sold every minute! Three decades later, modern perfumers are bringing back the idea that you can (and should!) enjoy a fragrance based on your personal preference, not your gender or sexuality.
“Case in point: the new brand Noyz just debuted a collection of four "for everyone" scents. I'm particularly into "Sh**ty Day," which has notes of ocean air and clary sage to evoke "a deep breath, good laugh, the vent sesh you needed." I recommend getting the Discovery Kit so you can smell them all and change it up depending on your mood.” —Andrea Lavinthal, style and beauty director
Related: The 17 Best Perfumes for Women of 2024, According to Testers
Hally Lighten Up Hair Lightening Mist
“For all the past Sun In lovers, there's a new hair lightener in town, and I can confirm: It does not turn your hair orange! This Hally lightening hair mist is my favorite new addition to my beach bag. It gently lightens my blonde hair each time I use it, and there's also an option for brunettes, too.” —Erin Johnson, associate shopping director
People / Erin Johnson
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm
“Leave it to Summer Fridays to perfectly encapsulate summer in a tube. The brand's latest addition to their customer-favorite lip line is the seasonally appropriate Iced Coffee Lip Butter Balm, aptly named for its sheer cocoa color and java scent.
“The new flavor includes the same moisturizing ingredients — shea and murumuru seed butters are the heroes here — the balm is known and loved for, but with a delicious coffee finish. I might have edited down my makeup routine to a few must-haves for a season, but this new balm has found a permanent place in my lineup.” —Karli Bendlin
Style Edit Instant Root Cover Up Stick
“I've been on the go a lot this summer and haven't had time for my regular hair color appointments (an absolute travesty). This product has been a lifesaver on many occasions, especially when traveling. I can just dab the cream pencil side along my roots and voilá: They match the rest of my color almost seamlessly. There's also a smudger end to blend the color in even more. And when I'm really desperate, Style Edit also has a Root Spray for larger sections.” —Madison Yauger, shopping editor
Soft Services Buffing Bar Microcrystal Exfoliant
“This is one of the only products I've ever used that showed immediate improvement for my keratosis pilaris (more so than a prescription gel I used in the past). I actually look forward to feeling the microcrystals gently scrub off extra skin and any stubborn sunscreen left over from the day.” —Erin Johnson
Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte Mineral Cream SPF 30
“I've tried nearly 30 sunscreens over the past two years, so it's hard for me to commit to a new face SPF when there are so many to try. However, Drunk Elephant's reformulated mineral sunscreen does it all — protecting my face during long days in the sun (I tested this firsthand at the beach), wearing irritation-free on my sensitive skin, and blending without pilling when I layer my foundation and concealer on top. Plus, it comes in clear, light, and deep tints to avoid the possibility of white casts on different skin tones. This is officially the base of my new lazy-girl summer makeup routine.” —Alyssa Brascia
Pacifica Coconut Milk Detangle Elixir
“Every day is hair wash day for me, which means I look for products that (insert every benefit imaginable you'd want for your hair) without it complicating my streamlined routine. When it came to this detangling spray, I was hooked from the first spritz.
“It smells like paradise (that would be the coconut in the formula) and it takes my knotty, fresh-out-of-the-shower hair to new levels of sleek and shine. It’s so good at smoothing out my strands that I’d go as far as saying that this is the perfect lightweight conditioner substitute. And did I mention I have pin-straight hair? This product does a great job at giving it some oomph, too!” —Michelle Lee
14th Night Hair Elixir
“I cut my hair into a bob this spring and preemptively dreaded how it would later puff up in the summer humidity — and now that we're approaching July, I’m officially in big hair territory. But thankfully I've been armed with 14th Night's Hair Elixir this season: a light, rich-smelling oil that only requires a few drops between my palms to leave me with sleek and controlled strands.
“Whether I'm applying this oil to make my flat-ironed hair extra shiny or smoothing the frizz on my natural waves, I know my hair is going to stay put all day long (and receive an extra boost of hydration) thanks to its nourishing vitamin-forward formula. Bad hair days have gone buh-bye!” —Alyssa Brascia
Related: The 10 Best Hair Oils of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
House of Dohwa Rice Makgeolli Toner
“You'll want to read this if you have sensitive skin. House of Dohwa released its new skincare line inspired by makgeolli (Korean rice wine) and formulated with rice ferment filtrate, which does wonders at brightening, strengthening, and hydrating the skin's barrier, plus boosting collagen production — all without irritating the skin. In the month that I've put the collection to the test, I've loved the toner the most with its milky texture that feels rich and luxurious on the skin.” —Michelle Lee
Related: The 11 Best Toners of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
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