6 New Products Our Beauty Editor Loved This Month

When it comes to beauty, there’s no shortage of options; every day, there’s a new makeup, skincare or haircare product to swipe, blend, dab and lather. It’s my job to put them all to the test and vet them against my tried-and-true favourites to see what’s really worth the hype—and the money. Here are the new beauty products I’m currently using on repeat.

Summer Fridays ShadeDrops SPF 50 Mineral Milk Sunscreen, $52

I’ve been loyal to the same sunscreen for years (La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios Ultra-Fluid SPF 50+, a truly excellent option), and it takes something special to convince me to switch up my SPF for more than a few days at a time. Especially when it comes to mineral formulas—I’ve tried countless zinc oxide-powered sunscreens over the years and, while some are very, very good, I’ve never found a perfect match. Until last month, when Summer Fridays' latest mineral formula landed on my desk. 

Unlike most mineral sunscreens, which tend to be thick and hard to blend into skin due to the nature of the UV filters used, this one is weightless, sheer and a dream to apply. It’s formulated with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to protect, as well as ceramides, shea butter and an antioxidant complex that contains vitamin E, vitamin C and ectoin for hydration. If you like fluid formulas, you’ll love this one: it has a thin, serum-like consistency that leaves skin feeling hydrated and protected without causing makeup to slide around. I’ve been going through my bottle at an alarming rate (this is how much sunscreen you should apply—and reapply—daily, BTW), and it’s already on my repurchase list. 

E.l.f. Cosmetics Soft Glam Cream Blush Stick, $9

With summer just around the corner and my pale winter complexion still going strong, I’ve been piling on the blush to make myself look a little more alive this past month. I’m partial to a cream formula, and this affordable stick from E.l.f. Cosmetics rivals just about any of the pricier options I keep on rotation in terms of texture, longevity and ease of use. The shea butter-infused formula is creamy and buildable, and it melts into the skin instantly to deliver a soft, rosy flush in a satin finish. It comes in seven shades, but I’ve been reaching for Pink On It over and over again for a pretty light pink flush.

Lixr Beauty Multi-Use Cream-to-Powder Concealer & Foundation Stick, $48

The brainchild of Bite Beauty founder Susanne Langmuir, Canadian brand Lixr is all about easy-to-use formulas made without water to deliver more pigment with less packaging. From a bi-phase skin tints to lip-and-cheek sticks to lip masks, the collection puts skincare first without compromising on results. 

All of Lixr's products have earned a spot on my vanity, but the cream-to-powder complexion stick—a concealer and foundation hybrid that comes in 28 shades—has quickly become a favourite. The do-it-all, pocket-sized tube is easy to stash in my purse and use on the go. It’s made with skin-friendly fatty acids, lipids and ceramides, and gives a buildable medium coverage that feels like a second skin. 

Merit Signature Lip Blush, $38

If red carpets are anything to go by, dramatically over-drawn lips are giving way to softly flushed pouts—and I couldn’t be happier about this vibe shift. The one thing I look for above all else in a lippie is easy application, and the blurred matte lip trend has made it easy to rock a red lip without worrying about painting on sharp, clean lines. Rather than precision, it calls for diffused edges that look chic, rather than messy. Think laid-back, French-girl beauty.

The new-gen matte lipsticks that lean into this trend are nothing like the formulas of the past—they’re silky soft, hydrating and beautifully sheer. With their Signature Lip Blush collection, Merit really nailed the blurred-lip assignment. I’ve been wearing Kitten Heel (a soft red) and Framboise (a berry pink) non-stop since they launched for a pretty pop of colour that makes me feel instantly more put-together. 

Henry Rose London 1983 Eau de Parfum, $165 for 50 mL

When Burberry launched The Beat back in 2008, it instantly became my signature scent. I lived in the U.K. at the time, and the smell of pink pepper, bergamot, iris, white musk, vetiver and cedar always brings me right back to the tiny Camden Town apartment I shared with my best friend in London. The perfume has since been discontinued, but I still have a half-empty bottle I cherish but can’t bring myself to use. 

The first time I smelled Henry Rose’s—aptly named!—London 1983, it instantly reminded me of the perfume I splurged on even though I couldn’t afford it. It features similar notes: fig, black pepper, water lily, jasmine, musk, wood and vetiver. It’s The Beat, but grown up—whereas Burberry’s juice was bright and citrusy in its opening, this one is grounded, layered and sophisticated. Every time I spritz it on in the morning, it feels like I’ve come full circle in the best way possible.

Rhode Peptide Lip Boost Plumping Lip Mask, $35

Hailey Bieber’s beauty brand Rhode has launched so many viral products over the past few years that it’s almost impossible to keep track. (The blushes! The lip liners! All of the skincare!) But if there’s one formula you’ve definitely heard about, it’s the Peptide Lip Treatment, a hydrating glaze that comes in several flavours and tints. It’s the product that put Rhode on the map—and is keeping it there, thanks to a continuous flow of trend-setting limited-edition flavours. 

By contrast, the Lip Boost Plumping Lip Mask sounds a little boring—it doesn’t have a summer-ready tint with a cute name like Jelly Bean or Ribbon, or a fruit-forward scent. But with a consistency that’s somewhere between a lip balm and a lip mask, it’s the perfect all-day and all-night lip product. It’s infused with peptides and hyaluronic acid, has a slightly glossy finish and forms a petroleum jelly-like barrier without the slip to protect lips against harsh blasts of AC.