September’s Launches We Love

Launch Date: August 15

I got an early look at Dyson’s Chitosan Styling Range (which includes a pre-style cream and post-style serum) and was genuinely impressed with the results. However, if I had to pick a favorite child, it would definitely be the pre-style cream (I have curly hair and use the rich conditioning option). As someone who styles their hair with hot tools at home, this cream is great for adding hold without feeling greasy or heavy, or for keeping your lengths smooth after a silk press. Is it pricey? For a hair styler, yes. But if you’re serious about your at-home hair situation then it’s definitely a good product to have in your kit. Plus, a little goes a long way, so you can really make a bottle stretch, IMO.

Launch Date: August 15

I personally love the best-selling Topicals Faded serum for fading the dark spots on my face (IYKYK), so I cannot wait to lather up every inch of my body with the new Topicals Faded Cleansing Bar. The bar is packed with exfoliating actives like kojic acid, vitamin C, and azelaic acid (a slightly different ingredients list from the serum) to help gently brighten dark spots and hyperpigmentation over time. It’s also formulated with moisturizing shea butter and glycerin, so it won’t dry out your skin even if you’re showering with it every day. If you struggle with body acne or discoloration (like me!) then this is definitely a bar to keep in your shower. 

Launch Date: September 1

On less-than-friendly terms with your scalp? Same, which is why I’m pumped for this new collection from Moroccanoil, which includes a shampoo, conditioner, scrub, and “tonic” (i.e., a lightweight leave-in treatment) designed to help soothe scalp dryness, flakes, and itchiness. One of my favorites from the set is the scalp scrub, which uses exfoliating argan-shell powder delivered via a nozzle-tip applicator, so you can really work the formula into your scalp with less mess. I recently got box braids, and I used the scrub before my salon appointment to make sure my scalp was squeaky clean. You better believe once these braids come out, this will be the first product I grab to break down weeks of product buildup.

Launch Date: August 27

Our team is obsessed with SkinMedica products because they work (seriously, this is one of the rare occasions in the skin-care world where you truly do get what you pay for). Deputy editor Chloe Metzger is obsessed with the TNS Advance Serum (“I owe my good skin to the SkinMedica PR team,” she says), and I’m personally in love with the classic HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator. But as of this week, I might have a new favorite: the SkinMedica HA5 Hydra Collagen Replenish + Restore Hydrator, which has double the amount of hyaluronic acid (in five different forms) than the original formula. 

Every morning and night, I smooth one pump of this serum on my clean—and slightly damp! Important!—skin before applying the rest of my skin-care routine, and I’m left with plump and dewy skin that feels non-stop hydrated. It has a steep price tag, we know, but if you want to treat yourself or ask for a gift in the upcoming months, we highly recommend this one, especially if you have dry skin. Fingers crossed you have a lot of besties with charitable hearts this holiday.

Launch Date: August 19

Origins combined the rich antioxidants in fermented apple peel with a dose of glycolic acid to create this leave-on peel that helps exfoliate and brighten your skin over time. You’ll want to start low and slow with this one and use it once or twice a week (especially for sensitive skin), and make sure to always use in combination with a facial SPF in the morning, since active ingredients can leave your skin sensitive to the sun. Note: The consistency is pure liquid, so to apply it, I prefer to saturate a reusable cotton pad and swipe it over my clean skin before moisturizing.

Launch Date: September 1

Okay, I’ve been very into this mask. It’s packed with mango and pineapple enzymes that can help to chemically exfoliate dead skin cells (no joke: My skin has been looking noticeably glowier since I first tested it). And, as with every Eminence product I’ve ever used, the formulation itself is a real sensorial treat—it smells like a tropical vacation in a bottle—which is also why I know I’ll keep reaching for this mask again and again until it’s empty.

Launch Date: September 1

I know this one is a bit pricey, but trust: It’s an incredible gift idea for the holiday season, especially if you—or someone you know—hates shaving. With this palm-size shaver, Panasonic housed a ton of teeny blades that cut super close to your skin for one of the closest shaves I’ve ever witnessed (I saw and felt it in action on a model’s head and face at a live demo). Bonus: It’s super small and portable (and reminds me of a wireless earbuds case), and can easily be tossed in travel or gym bags. My fiancé actually got jealous when he found out I gave this one to my dad, so it’s definitely something I’ll be bookmarking for him as gifting season approaches.

Launch Date: September 2

If you’re a makeup fan, you’ve probably witnessed the months-long hype around this new “blurring” foundation from Huda Beauty. Its silicone-based formula (in 29 shades) is on the lighter-weight side and meant to ~blur~ the look of your pores and skin texture using a combination of 1.5 percent niacinamide (brightening vitamin B) and dimethicone (skin-smoothing silicones). “It definitely has a satin-y finish,” says Metzger, who tested the foundation on her dry, acne-prone skin. “It’s not as sheer and moisturizing as a BB cream or tinted moisturizer—so you’ll definitely need to apply moisturizer first—but it’s not as drying as a full-coverage foundation either.”

Launch Date: September 2

Aesop is launching its 11th fragrance, Virēre Eau de Parfum, inspired by the fragrant outdoor breeze (think: crisp leaves, cut wood, bright herbs). Unlike some fall scents that can feel heavy and musky, this one from Aesop is super refreshing and bright, opening up with a mix of citrusy bergamot, herby green tea, and fresh fig, before drying down to a soft blend of cedar and green maté. The combo of notes (both sophisticated and invigorating) makes me feel ~expensive~ and bougie each time I wear it, which is exactly what I want when transitioning from summer to fall.

Launch Date: September 3

If you don’t know D.S. & Durga, allow us to introduce you to this very cool Brooklyn-based perfumer that’s known for its fragrances and candles (like the fan-favorite D.S. & Durga’s Big Sur After Rain candle). This month, the brand is launching their newest fragrance, Big Sur Eucalyptus, in two sizes (50mL and 100mL). The energizing eucalyptus plant is the star of the scent, but other notes—like wet wood, rosemary, and dry leaves—make this fragrance incredibly unique, especially for fans of earthy scents.

Launch Date: September 3

Not going to lie: Our editors have been looking forward to the release of this facial tool for months now, and for good reason: It’s basically a mini facialist in your hand. The idea behind the wand is in its name (depuffing) and has been designed to help stimulate blood flow and calm puffy skin by using a mix of hot and cold settings. The hot setting goes up to 108 degrees and helps boost circulation and lymphatic drainage. I personally like using the heat setting on days when I’ve had a few cocktails and feel a bit puffier than usual. 

If you’re like me and have puffy, tired eyes, then you’ll really appreciate the cool setting on this device. It chills quickly (as cool as 50 degrees) so you will never have to worry about leaving a face roller in the fridge again. You can use this all over your face (just make sure you don’t have on makeup) to reduce the look of puffiness and inflammation, but it really shines under the eye area for me. The metal tip adds just enough pressure when paired with the cool setting to make my eyes look less sleepy, and more awake. It’s a quick, easy way to get a face massage in even when I’m pressed for time.

Launch Date: September 4

Kosas is releasing three new “brightening” shade extensions to their Cloud Set finishing powder range that are designed to ever-so-slightly color correct while lightly setting your makeup. The shades include a soft pink (best for light skin tones), a buttery yellow (best for medium skin tones), and a muted peach (best for deeper skin tones). We tested these out on two different skin tones—my medium-deep skin and our deputy editor’s fair skin—and we’re both sold (“I use this literally every day now,” says Metzger; “it just pulls my makeup together really nicely without looking obvious”). 

The formula is also on the lightweight side (these aren’t heavy, drying loose powders), so it’ll help tone down oil without fully mattifying your face. To apply, I like to use a precise powder brush to dust the powder under my eyes, around my mouth, and around my T-zone for the most targeted “brightening” effect.