PEOPLE Editors Tried Dozens of Beauty Products in July, but Only a Few Scored Recurring Roles in Our Regimes
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Sabrina Carpenter’s sweet perfume collaboration and a red light therapy mask from a celeb-approved brand made the cut
People / David Hattan
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 that we can then share with you, dear readers, those that are worth your hard-earned money.
Below, we're rounding up the makeup, skincare, and fragrances we reached for again and again this month. From a new red light therapy mask by the same company as the skincare wand famously used on celebs like Charles Melton and Reese Witherspoon to one of Sabrina Carpenter's confectionary perfumes from Scent Beauty, these are the 17 best beauty products we discovered in July.
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Solawave Wrinkle Retreat Light Therapy Mask
“I absolutely love my Solawave wand, so I was eager to try the brand's Wrinkle Retreat mask. While I get similar results with both, I reach for the mask on days when I don't feel like standing in front of the mirror to use the wand. I just slip on the mask, close my eyes, and lay down. After 10 minutes, my skin looks alive, and I'm ready to start the day.” —Erin Johnson, Associate Shopping Director
Related: The 7 Best Red Light Therapy Devices of 2024, Tested by Real People
Keys Soulcare Let Me Glow Serum
“I'm a big fan of the illuminating serum and primer from Keys Soulcare, which, if you didn’t know, is founded by Alicia Keys. My new favorite thing to do while glamming with this product is to listen to affirmations narrated by Keys herself, a feature that’s part of Keys Soulcare and Amazon’s immersive experience on Echo devices, which truly transforms my everyday routine.” —Michelle Lee, editorial assistant
Ciele Cosmetics Bronze & Protect SPF 50+ Bronzing Concentrate
“I love an over-achieving beauty product, and Ciele's new bronzing SPF concentrate is proving to be one of the hardest workers in my summer routine. Not only does this product give me a much-needed dose of sun protection, but it also mixes flawlessly with my foundation for an all-over glow and blends in seamlessly when applied directly on my cheekbones for added definition. Win-win.” —Karli Bendlin, director of content strategy
Brown Sugar Babe It Girl Nourishing Body Oil
“Beauty editors are tasked with trying everything under the sun, but in their hearts there's always one category that shines a little brighter than the others. For me, that's fragrance. So when my industry colleague and fellow fragrance enthusiast Kayla Greaves partnered with Brown Sugar Babe on a signature scent — It Girl — my eyes lit up.
Here's how Greaves, who I can attest lives up to the name, tells me she applies the body oil: ‘Shoulders to toes! But if I have a little left on my hands, I'll put that on my hair, too. It leaves my skin feeling super soft and supple, and with a gorgeous glow (and scent) that lasts all day.’” — Jackie Fields, Deputy Beauty Director
Scent Beauty Sabrina Carpenter Caramel Dream Eau de Parfum
“Let me start by saying that I'm not typically a fan of sweet-smelling perfumes — but a few spritzes of Sabrina Carpenter's latest Scent Beauty fragrance (aside from the sold-out Cherry Baby Eau de Parfum) made me rethink my preferences. The top notes almost smell like vanilla thanks to a confection of caramelized amber and patchouli, but there's a musky base that sophisticates this scent and lasts all day long. It's your caramel latte perfume-ified and made a touch sultrier. An extra shot of espresso, if you will.” —Alyssa Brascia, shopping writer
Etude House SoonJung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream
“It feels like the second I hit my mid-thirties, my skin went from supple to dry, no matter how much I moisturize and hydrate. In a desperate attempt to restore moisture and soothe my flaky skin, I turned to a K-beauty favorite from Etude: the SoonJung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream. This formula is super creamy and lightweight and absorbs into the skin quickly. I love to apply it right after my nighttime shower when my skin tends to feel exceptionally dry and tight.” —Kayla Kitts, shopping editor
Heritage Store Rosewater & Glycerin Hydrating Facial Mist
“I was suffering from some dry, rough, painful skin right near my eyes (thanks, eczema) and was looking for something light that I could spritz on throughout the day to keep it hydrated. This product is made with only three ingredients: rose extract to soothe and soften, glycerin to hydrate, and water to bind all the goodness together. Within two days of snagging this rosewater spray from my local pharmacy shelf, my scaly skin completely cleared up.” —Cai Cramer, shopping writer
Kopari Kaanapali Coast Hair & Body Mist
“I go for lighter scents in the summer, and the Kaanapali Coast Hair & Body Mist is such a refreshing mist with notes of coconut milk and vanilla. I love that it can be spritzed on my skin and hair, and the scent makes me feel like I'm at the beach (even when I'm really in the pits of the New York subway system).” —Madison Yauger, shopping editor
DoTERRA After Sun Restorative Body Spray
“I live in Hawai'i, so I value a good after-sun product. (R.I.P. Ocean Potion, which you can only get on eBay now). This Doterra After Sun Spray is the only thing I've found that actually turns my slight burns into a tan. As a single lady, I also love that it's a spray — as opposed to a lotion — because I can spray my entire back without enlisting help. Plus, it smells amazing.” —Erin Johnson
Related: The 12 Best Sunscreens from Neutrogena, Supergoop, and More, Tested on the Beach
Sol Labs Sunscreen
“Because I have sensitive skin I’m always wary about trying new skincare products, but Sol Labs subdued my anxiety with their mineral sunscreen launch. The hyaluronic acid, astaxanthin, and niacinamide lock moisture in without irritating the skin, plus the formula layers well under makeup without making me looking super oily.” —Michelle Lee
Glossier Lip Line Enhancing Hydrating Longwear Lip Liner Pencil
“When I say I can't go anywhere without my Glossier lip liner, I truly mean it. The brand's first foray into lip pencils has changed my beauty routine for the better because this long-lasting formula, which, when applied to dry (read: no freshly applied balm) lips, stays put for hours on end. ‘Buff,’ my shade of choice, is a warm nude that blends beautifully with every lipstick, gloss, and oil I've layered on top of it — it's as essential to my purse as my keys, phone, and wallet.” —Alyssa Brascia
Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlight Stick
“I wish I didn't love this highlighter stick as much as I do because now my makeup doesn't feel complete without it. The formula is (and I never say this) perfect — it's creamy and smooth enough to apply directly to my face without lifting my makeup, glowy without being sparkly, and impressively long-lasting. Every aspect feels luxurious, from the lit-from-within glow it provides to the heavy magnetic tube it's packaged in.” —Cai Cramer
Phlur Strawberry Letter Eau de Parfum
“Phlur's deliciously addicting Strawberry Letter fragrance is my official scent for the summer. Despite its fruity inspiration, the perfume is surprisingly subtle: notes of earthy woods, tonka bean, and sugared amber mellow out the sweetness of the strawberry, so it leaves just a hint of the summer treat behind.” —Karli Bendlin
Hourglass Cosmetics Unreal Liquid Blush
“Liquid blushes took over my beauty collection this month, but this new formula from Hourglass was a cut above the rest. Its innovative packaging ensures that you only get a drop or two of the pigmented product, which is more than enough to build a rosy haze on both cheeks. Plus its hydrating formula includes hyaluronic acid, which made my skin look and feel dewier and plumper than before — doing double as skincare and lasting for up to 12 hours atop my foundation.” —Alyssa Brascia
Glossier Balm Dotcom
“Like many loyal fans of Glossier, I was super excited when they reintroduced their original formula, but with the added bonus of a tip applicator. I’ve tried all seven of the scents (minus the fragrance-free option) and I keep going back to mint, because nothing beats a refreshingly chilly tingle on your lips in summer.” —Michelle Lee
Ursa Major 4-in-1 Essential Face Wipes
“I feel like I've found the ultimate summer skincare hack: I keep this bag of face wipes in the refrigerator, so I get an immediate cooldown when I come in from a hot afternoon of running errands or a day at the beach. It removes my many layers of sunscreen grime, and the cool and refreshing feel is just priceless.” —Erin Johnson
Related: The 10 Best Face Sunscreens of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++
“As someone who is deeply immersed in the world of K-pop and K-dramas, I am on a serious quest to achieve the glass skin of my favorite idols — and arguably the most important step in this journey is protection. This face sunscreen from Beauty of Joseon is my new favorite. The formula feels like a lightweight moisturizing lotion that I can use alone or layer under makeup without pilling or caking. It absorbs into the skin and provides an instant glow without a white cast or stickiness. It even touts some natural skincare ingredients like rice extract and grain-fermented extracts that help moisturize dry skin.” —Kayla Kitts
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