Welcome back to Haul of Fame, the weekly beauty roundup of new products, new ideas and a serious question for J.Lo.

Included in today’s issue: Beautycounter, Bella Hadid, Biopelle, Byredo, Dime, Dualist, Ellis Brooklyn, Franz Skincare, Gen See, Grace & Stella, Gretchen Wieners, Goop, Harry Styles, Jennifer Lopez, Kate MacLeod, Kiko Milano, Kulfi, Laneige, Milk Makeup, Mother Science, Olive & June, Ouai, Pat McGrath Labs, Philip B., Redken, Urban Decay, UMA Oils, Versed and a bunch of French hairbrushes.

But first…

When the brand Truly Beauty asked me to get a drink, I assumed they meant one of the excellent martinis at Jac’s on Bond. They did not. The self-care range most famous for its delectable rainbow-swirl shaving cream (called Unicorn Fruit, and truly delightful on the skin) is teaming up with Erewhon on a new smoothie, the Truly Cooka Colada, out May 1.

The drink has all parts of the coconut — the water, cream and fruit meat — plus pineapple, banana, maple syrup and mango glaze. It retails for $9 (cheap for Erewhon, right?) and mirrors the brand’s Cooka Colada shave butter, which also has coconut and pineapple extracts. Truly Beauty’s founder, Maxx Appelman, told me that “Erewhon approached us about the collaboration. Our products are sold in all 10 of their stores as their headline high-end shave brand.”

In LA, Erewhon is an Eden for celebrities and the people who want to detox like them. A smoothie placement can mean top-of-mind visibility for influencers and A-listers. And while Appelman says it didn’t cost anything to get Truly Beauty’s drink onto Erewhon’s menu, “we did pay a $30,000 fee to cover free smoothies” for subscribers to the store’s membership programme.

Appelman says his brand has been at Erewhon for about a year, and while under 5 percent of their revenue comes from the supermarket, “on a per-store basis, Erewhon is one of our strongest retailers … We’ve had a lot of success with them.”

The prospect of linking a yummy-smelling product to an actually yummy smoothie is super-fun, though we’ll see if paying $30,000 to supply vegan-adjacent VIPs with free slurps is a wise investment. Dove did a smoothie partnership with Juice Press in August 2023 that linked with their body scrub scents, and gave each sipper a $3 coupon off future Dove purchases. There are now rumbles of several smoothie beauty routines linked to Met Gala Monday.

In any case, just as Starbucks cups were the “drink me” accessories of the early aughts, smoothies are making the case as the next portable status symbol. (Unlike Stanley Cups, they are also disposable. This sucks for the planet but is a boon to brand budgets.) It seems prescient to sponsor this new investable ingestible early, before a Chalamet or an Olsen casually grabs hold.

Skincare

Last summer, Kate MacLeod released a bug-repellant-slash-moisturiser called The Dusk Stone. On April 24, it crept onto Sephora, just in time for outdoor yoga season.

Also on April 24, Dualist introduced their Balancing Oil-Serum, which delivers doses of hydration and nourishment for $95. It is fragrance-free, which is a major win for those of us wilting from seasonal allergies right now. (It’s me, hi, I’m the sneezer…)

April 26 brought the 2000 Ampoule Toner and Aeturnum Luxe Ampoule Mist from Franz Skincare. The duo comes loaded with peptides and hyaluronic acid, and yes, both products sound like they are also names for tiny spaceships. Ahsoka, you missing a ride?

Grace & Stella dropped their glitter purple under-eye patches and pink-and-purple zit stickers on April 26. They are adorable and retail between $10 and $20, about $6 less than very similar versions from Florence by Mills.

Gwyneth has entered the suncare chat! On April 29, Goop introduced Summertone Bronzing Gel, “a sheer tint that adds an instant wash of colour (and boosts your skin with antioxidants).” It’s $38, but if you’re looking for a bargain instead, the brand’s G. Tox pore refining tonic is currently $22.50, marked down from $75.

Mother Science debuted its Retinol Synergist serum on April 30. It combines retinol with malassezin, a molecule that could help reduce discoloration and hyperpigmentation. I’m surprised more brands haven’t jumped on the “mother” slang bandwagon. Related: Nicole Kidman, where’s your own skincare line?

Harry Styles loves Texas… we think. The superstar’s new Pleasing lip balms debuted at a pop-up boutique in Austin on April 27, then everywhere else on April 30. They come in two flavours — Peppermint Honey and Vanilla Fig — and cost $25 each.

Biopelle unveiled Antioxidant CE Plus Serum and C+AHA Renewal Serum on May 1. Both formulas promise a “gentle version” of Vitamin C, but just a reminder — if you’re using any type of fruit acid on your complexion, you need SPF all day, everyday!

Would you like to try new skin washes? UMA’s Deeply Clarifying Purify & Balance Gel Cleanser and Detox & Renew Pore Minimising Exfoliant both rolled out on May 2.

Cosmetics

Impress premiered its matching manicure-and-pedicure press-on nail kits on April 25. This is so smart for those everything-must-match people. And yes, it seems every nail brand has a press-on right now. (Olive & June’s came out on May 2, and include both super-neutral and blue metallic versions.) I’ll test some versions and let you know if any last through the day without falling off…

On April 25, Versed rolled out its classic Glow Drops in a sheer rose gold tint, which is a win for anyone who loves highlighter and wants to match their makeup to their Beats by Dre pink headphones. (This is not sarcasm; I see these rose gold headphones on subway riders — of all genders — at least five times a day. They’re basically an accessory at this point.)

Gen See’s new lipstick shades, Anita and Colette, arrived on April 25. Both are named after employee moms (awww!) and come in a pink nude and a latte brown for maximum ‘90s nostalgia.

April 26 brought us four new shades of Pat McGrath Labs Divine Cream Blush, including a “Vivid Orange” that’s made for deep skin tones, but could also double as an eye colour wash on lighter ones.

On April 29, Urban Decay finally launched its All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray with Hyaluronic Acid, after nearly a month of its “coming soon” memo on the Ulta New Arrivals page. Welcome to the world, kid!

Beautycounter dropped its Cheeky Clean Cream Bronzer on April 30, which is the least dramatic news about the company this week.

Nordstrom has the exclusive on Kiko Milano’s “Bridgerton” collaboration, which rolled into stores and online April 30. The range has nine super-girly products, including a blush and highlighter duo, lipstick, gloss, eyeshadow palette, eyeshadow stick, and metallic liquid eyeliner. My favourite is the Gilded Glaze Shimmering Cream Eyeshadow, probably because it’s the one I can imagine best on Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan.

New eyeliner alert! On May 1, Kulfi introduced its Kajal Eyeliner in a new shade called Jamun Glaze, named for a really gorgeous Indian plum. The brand will donate 5 percent of eyeliner proceeds to the mental health collective Sad Girls Club, so $1 from every purchase.

May 2 brought us a new Pore Eclipse Matte Blur Stick from Milk Makeup. Besides the usual smoothing effects, it also has tea tree oil in the formula to help curb breakouts.

Hair Care

I don’t know when hairbrushes became the new prestige beauty tool, but voila. In February, La Bonne Brosse (“The Good Brush”) made a quiet appearance at Raquel New York, the in-the-know Tribeca skin spa. The brushes are made in France with lightly twisted handles for a more ergonomic grip, plus bristles that claim to enhance hair shine and mobility. This week, Altesse Studio, another heritage brush brand with 100 percent boar bristles from France, debuts online at Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, and IRL at C.O. Bigelow. I’ve tested La Bonne Brosse and I like it very much; it makes my curls quite soft and almost doll-like. That’s perhaps the whole point — hair brushes are very much a symbol of global girlhood, and when you couple them with the French Girl Beauty allure that’s still tres intense, the selling potential is so real. But so is this question: Who’s paying $320 for a brush?

If you believe shower creams are a better investment, Philip B.’s new Peppermint Avocado conditioner came out on May 1.

Redken launched its Acidic Bonding Curls line with six products, including shampoo, conditioner, leave-in conditioner, a curl mist, a gel and a curl cream. It claims to use new technology to “restore the natural curl pattern and health to processed, damaged curls.” As someone with 3c texture prone to breakage, I found the Hydrating Curl Cream ($32) to be the real winner. It helps coils keep their shape without feeling greasy or crunchy. It also doesn’t have much of a scent, which is reassuring, considering the new insistence that haircare should also be perfume.

Fragrance

Speaking of that insistence, Ouai St. Barts Hair and Body Mist dropped on April 30, with orange oil and “ocean breeze accord,” which is a fragrance compound that can smell salty and sweet at the same time. I actually do love Ouai’s signature scent, but it’s funny how its floral punch has replaced Chloé eau de parfum as the most recognizable scent at New York Pilates.

On April 25, Dime launched their Running Late perfume with “zesty citrus notes layered with blooming florals and soft musk.” The bottle is an easy-to-grab little rectangle, so if you’re actually running late, you can throw it in your purse.

Also on the ocean front, Ellis Brooklyn unveiled Miami Nectar on April 29, which is loaded with “pineapple, palm leaves, and coconut water.” (Remind me to write a column soon on how everyone wants to look like they’ve been on vacation, but nobody wants to spend the money and time to go on vacation.)

Is it a little late for a “Mean Girls” product collaboration? It is. Can we forgive the timing because Literie’s new On Wednesdays We Wear Pink candle smells like toaster strudel? We can.

Bella Hadid isn’t the only one who wants her fragrance to multitask. On April 25, Aprés Nail introduced a cuticle serum in four different scents. All are infused with turmeric, almond and jojoba oil and vitamin b. None start with an apostrophe (ahem, Bella!) in an attempt to be first on every alphabetical listing.

Modern Vanilla launched its new Jane Parfum Oil on May 1. It smells fantastic — a little hazy, a little honeyed — but because it’s an all-natural oil, it just doesn’t last on my skin for that long. Creator Erika Kuhn recommended I roll it onto a cotton t-shirt neck instead, which is a cool trick.

May 1 also brought us the beloved Mojave Ghost as a solid perfume — the first time it’s done that — and the debut of JLo fragrance’s new scent Limitless, which includes jasmine, ylang ylang, and patchouli oil. (JLo, do you really ever smell like patchouli oil? Please advise.)

And Finally

Laneige teamed up with the accessory company BonBonWhims on a series of kawaii “lip balm charms” for influencers and editors. (They’re basically like giving the tip of your tube a piercing.) I took a very scientific Instagram poll and asked if these beauty charms were gonna be a thing. Nearly everyone who voted “yes” was in Gen Z or has a kid in primary school. Perhaps the return of Sweet Secrets is imminent.

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Welcome back to Haul of Fame, the weekly beauty roundup of new products, new ideas and at least one Real Housewife.

Included in today’s issue: Beia, Byoma, Davines, Indeed Labs, Juliette Has a Gun, Hourglass Cosmetics, Killian Paris, Make Beauty, Ogee, Olive & June, Oscar de la Renta, PLA, R.E.M. Beauty, Smashbox Cosmetics, Solawave, Typology Paris, Urban Outfitters, Zizia Botanicals and strawberry soda.

But first…

Every few days, somebody tells Lisa Rinna to sit down. “They’d never say it to my face,” says the 60-year-old TV queen. “But I’ll get DMs and messages saying, ‘Why don’t you just let your daughters take over? Why are you still here?’ And the truth is, I’m here because my friends and I are the ones who have the money!” she exclaims. “We are still so viable. We feel great. And it’s a problem in the consumer marketplace that women over 40 aren’t being seen as sales drivers and trendsetters, even though we so often are.”

Rinna was a soap opera veteran for years, but the California native gained new fame as a Real Housewife in 2014. She launched her personal care brand, Rinna Beauty, in 2020. By 2021, it was reporting $10 million in sales, with a public investment by UTA Ventures, the celebrity-fuelled capital fund that also counts Chamberlain Coffee (by Emma Chamberlain) and Cameo as portfolio-mates. Rinna confirms her brand is still “proudly profitable, thank god,” and growing into new categories.

Example: This week, it drops Bright Eyes, a line of cooling under-eye patches. “I’ve used all the [other] brands,” Rinna says from her home in Los Angeles. “I was determined to create one that’s not slimy! It feels cool; it doesn’t slide down your face; it works.” Rinna tested six prototypes before settling on her version, which costs $28 and includes Erewhon-friendly ingredients like red algae and carob in the formula.

The launch is a toe-dip into skincare for Rinna, who isn’t shy about discussing her cosmetics procedures. “Actually,” she concedes, “I think they’re the greatest things ever. Joan Crawford and Bette Davis didn’t have this technology at their fingertips. It’s brilliant we now have a choice in how we age.” Still, she cautions younger women to be sparing with their medi-spa moments: “If I’d known then what I know now, I’d say be careful with the lasers, be careful with the acids and stuff. Do less than you think you need, because if you start doing [procedures] too young, you’ll actually look older!”

Is this a brilliant line of thought to sell topical skincare to 30- and 40-something fans of Rinna? It is. But it’s also the true observation of a woman with two Gen-Z daughters — Delilah Belle, 25, and Amelia Grey, 22 — who are stunning enough to be runway models, but still human beings caught in the impossible trap of modern fame, which demands expansive demonstrations of self-love and near-imperceptible attempts at self-promotion, often in the exact same TikTok frame.

Rinna has thoughts about that, too: “I think social media and [augmented reality] filters have really [messed] everybody up,” she says. “I feel very sorry for the kids that are growing up in this day and age and having to have phones and social media. It’s a double-edged sword that’s mostly very sharp and very cutting … but I understand that Instagram is also a tool, you know? It is what it is. I enjoy spreading joy on it, and I’m lucky I get to do that … I’m lucky I get to keep moving the needle and showing women that they can be amazing at 60 … But I have to be really clear-eyed about it, because it’s good and bad.”

As for being clear under-eyed, Rinna would point to her website. The new patches are available now.

What Else Is New?

Skincare

Would you put an LED light on your breasts? Solawave’s new Neck and Chest Rejuvenating Mask rolled out on Apr. 9, with “red and near-infrared light therapies to target the neck and decolletage, where wrinkles, creases and dark spots often appear.” Honesty, I would try it… once, anyway.

Indeed Labs has hit CVS in a big way, launching six products in 2700 doors. Their offerings include Nanoblur skin cream and Snoxin II, which is a topical “facial line fighter” they claim is on par with injectables. (I will stick with my injectables, but perhaps that’s because I secretly love needles. Another column, another therapy session, etc.)

If you’re one of those people who’s glued to your Ulta app, you may have noticed the stealth appearance of R.E.M. Beauty’s first under-eye balm on Apr. 3.

Do people take bubble baths anymore? Zizia Botanicals is thinking “sure” and they’ve released a Silky Forest formula with “therapeutic” atlas cedarwood, hinoki, and cypress extracts.

Beia released a Bikini + Body scrub on Apr. 11, which makes it easier to scrub away minor ingrown hairs and red bumps. It includes green tea extract, which is high in antioxidants. If you’re young and broke, I recommend taking a still-warm green tea bag and compressing it directly on your razor bumps instead; the rest of you can pay the $38.

Also on the green tea beat: On Apr. 11, Ogee introduced Clearganics, a green dropper serum for zits with the tea, plus 0.5 percent salicylic acid, raspberry and frankincense. (Can I make a “holy water” joke here, or are biblical resin gums not that funny? If you grew up going to church, please advise.)

Typology Paris made a new Anti-Redness Face Cream on Apr. 8 for rosacea and skin that’s prone to redness and irritation. It comes in an old-school metal tube like many French pharmacy ointments, but contains modern fixes like Niacinamide and Azelaic Acid.

Hair Care

Eco-sensitive Italian label Davines quietly rolled into Target on Apr. 6. This might be the first time the superstore has used the words “regenerative soil” and “shampoo” in the same blurb. I like it.

PLA’s Lash & Brow Rehydrate and Restore Serum hit shelves on Apr. 4. It claims to help regrow over-tweezed brows and thicken lashes; it also includes marshmallow serum, which is a calming agent.

Cosmetics

On Apr. 9, Laura Gellar gave us a reason to tell the truth about our age: Her site’s “OK Boomer” campaign with comedian Leanne Morgan includes a promo for anyone over 40. To celebrate, head to her site through Apr. 16 and get an age-based discount if you’re 40 or older. If you’re 50, you’ll get 50 percent off everything; if you’re 60, it’s 60 percent off. The discounts go all the way up to 80 percent for octogenarians, which means if Martha Stewart (82) needs new mascara, she’s in for a very good deal.

Make Beauty is going big with their first liquid eyeliner. It appeared on their site on Apr. 9 and came in 13 shades, including traditional black and grey, along with aqua, yellow, lilac and a deep maroon.

Brands are going to the matte. On Apr. 7, Smashbox Cosmetics debuted a version of its best-selling Photo Finish Resurface Primer with glycolic acid to “boost cell turnover” and (hopefully) brighten skin while it blurs pores. Also on Apr. 7, Hourglass Cosmetics launched its Vanish Airbrush Pressed Powder. It is “clinically shown to instantly reduce shine,” but all you need is a mirror and not a physics degree to decide for yourself.

LYS Beauty dropped two new shades of their No Limits Cream Bronzer Stick on Apr. 10, bringing the total hue count up to seven … and the total TikTok view count up to about five million.

Do we need a separate “gloss roundup” in every issue now? Fine: Byoma unveiled a Lip Tide lip oil on Apr. 12 with a “glossy flush” formula exclusive to Ulta.com. R.E.M. Beauty’s new Essential Drip Glossy Balm debuted on Apr. 9, with six colours including two — cherry cola and strawberry soda — named for fizzy drinks. Somebody get Ari an Aarke machine!

Fragrance

Killian Paris embraced their Sunkissed Goddess scent on Apr. 2. The fragrance includes monoi oil, a Tahitian gardenia extract that’s both aromatic and nourishing for dry or sunburned skin. So many perfumes are touting mental health benefits right now; it’s neat to see one that’s more focused on a physical ailment.

Juliette Has a Gun introduced a new Eau de Parfum on Apr. 6 that’s heavy on dark cherry and Cashmeran notes. It’s simply called Juliette, which is kind of a relief, because although the fragrances themselves are gorgeous, the word “gun” is no longer an edgy joke amongst American girls.

On Apr. 9, Oscar de la Renta dropped three new scents in their Alibi collection: Eau So Charming, Eau So Chic, and Eau So Lucky. Each boasts a mix of cheery floral notes, and the packaging is super-cute. The thing is, ODLR creative directors Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia aren’t cute, they’re cool, and so are their clothes. I wonder what kind of magic a fragrance that directly connects with their own vibes would bring.

Nails

On Apr. 4, Olive & June dropped three topcoats, including iridescent and gold shimmer and one sparkly flake called “Fairy.” Clearly, I must own this at all costs. Fortunately, the actual cost is $7.50.

And Finally

I know we said that sex care could be the new skincare. Still, your reproductive areas do not need a sheet mask, even if it’s packaged perfectly and you can grab it along with your Polaroid film at Urban Outfitters.

Welcome back to Haul of Fame, the weekly beauty roundup of new products, new ideas and one more excuse to listen to “Glee.” (Really!)

Included in today’s issue: Biossance, Bobbi Brown, Dr. Jart+, E.l.f., Diptyque, Elizabeth Arden, Face Gym, Fenty, Guerlain, Herbivore Botanicals, Huda Beauty, Irene Forte Beauty, Jackie Aina, Lanolips, Loewe, Mac Cosmetics, MCM, Nars, Neova, One/Size, Patrick Starr, Pat McGrath Labs, Rosen, Seen, Trudon, This Works and overexposed witches.

But first…

Dr. Lara Devgan wants to “find her people.”

The New York-based plastic surgeon and aesthetician doesn’t mean friends, romantic partners or especially clients — in fact, her Manhattan office is always booked, and her Instagram boasts an audience of nearly 1 million followers. She’s married with many friends, too, and a very gorgeous cat.

Instead, Devgan means the people who should know about her skincare line, but don’t yet. “It’s a crowded field, obviously,” Devgan said. “But you don’t just want awareness. You want connection, and a match between what people are searching for, and what you can actually give them.”

Enter Casa Cipriani, the hotel and members club whose chosen clique pays a reported $4,000 per year to hang with rumoured members like Leonardo DiCaprio, John Legend and Drew Barrymore. Taylor Swift was a patron, too, before she bounced to Zero Bond after a Cipriani paparazzi leak last summer.

Devgan’s latest product, Casa Cipriani Firming Serum, is designed for the club, and will be available on her website, in the hotel’s minibars and at the spa, where it will also be used in an exclusive treatment. A topical formula with Vitamin E, Vitamin C, omegas and a retinol, it promises to “tone and tighten” fight lines and dullness, and costs $200. The partnership officially starts on Apr. 9, and will also include on-location discussions with Dr. Devgan and select boldface names about the future of beauty.

The doctor hopes using the exclusive hub as a launch pad will get her brand into her customers’ headspace, and eventually their living spaces, too. “I’m trying to reach people where they relax, where they eat, where they sleep and where they exercise,” she said, noting that true luxury is “when people are being met where they are.”

In that way, this partnership isn’t so different from The Wing’s bathrooms packed with Glossier and Chanel samples in 2016, or The Colony’s current Palm Beach spa with Naturopathica. (Soho House’s Cowshed and Soho Skin ranges belong here, too.) The thinking goes, if you make a product an in-the–know exclusive — and place it in a locale where the clientele have already been vetted for cultural and actual capital — the work of capturing an influential buying class has already been done. It’s essentially the in-flight-magazine school of marketing: Potential shoppers are already strapped into your whole vibe with little distraction, and they’re looking to make their lives easier.

“People don’t want more and more stuff clogging up their medicine cabinets,” said Devgan. “They want help with curation and genuine expertise to find fewer better things,” like an expertly-formulated serum that brightens, tones and smooths all at once.

But you’ve got to be in the right place at the right time — and often with a member’s card — to find these opportunities, and today, many consumers claim they value inclusion over access.

Let’s see if that holds true here.

Skincare

It drives me nuts when brands drop new products on Apr. 1, because what if it’s a joke? (So many of them are. None are funny.) But Elizabeth Arden really did introduce its Eight Hour HydraPlay daily moisturiser on the first! It’s real! So did Irene Forte with its Pistachio face oil and This Works with its new Perfect Body Vitamin C Glow and Perfect Body Smoothing Wash.

On Apr. 2, Biossance introduced a new sheer mineral sunscreen. It’s an SPF 30 and like many new sunscreen launches this year, it also primes makeup.

On the breakout beat, Mar. 28 brought us Seen’s new Unseen pimple patches, which are meant for zits hiding under the surface. I tried one on a particularly angry red spot last night. It helped!

Neova’s new 5-Second Daily Peel pads hit shelves on Apr. 2. Single-use packaging makes me crazy, but if you’re a frequent traveller and your skin gets super oily or congested, I can see why you’d adore them. If you prefer travelling with full products, Dr. Jart+ debuted its Brightamin range — an ampoule serum and an under eye serum stick — on Mar. 26 that pack up nicely.

Did you think we’d make it through one Haul of Fame without a pond scum ingredient? Of course not. This time, it’s FaceGym’s new Active Collagen Wonder serum, with Phyto-Retinol “derived from sustainably grown Mediterranean microalgae.”

Finally, this month brings us our very first Sofia Richie beauty campaign sighting — in a Sol de Janeiro campaign. She’s promoting the brand’s Rio Radiance SPF 50 spray.

Cosmetics

Good news: One/Size has teamed with “Wicked” for an Apr. 2 launch. Patrick Starrr’s line includes a Wicked Unlimited Face & Eye palette, Spotlight Highlight, Popular Glitter setting spray and Off The Handle brush. Mac Cosmetics created the original looks for the Broadway musical, so it’s somewhat surprising this indie brand is getting some Elphaba merch magic. If you still want to be green with OG envy, Mac’s Chromacake pigment in Landscape Green is the actual stage shade.

Is spring always this heavy on blush launches? On Mar. 28, Nars debuted a new version of their Powder blush, a 16-hour formula with 20 new shades … four named some version of “orgasm.” (The more things change…?) On Apr. 1, Laura Geller introduced its Serum Cheek tint, which says it “dabs on smoothly without messing up makeup underneath.” Even Pat McGrath’s new Skin Fetish under-eye powder comes in a super-sweet baby pink.

Also on Mar. 28, Fenty Beauty dropped its Demi’Glow Light-Diffusing highlighter. But if you’d like a more Y2K approach to your subtly gleaming cheekbones, Guerlain’s Météorites powder pearls had a relaunch on Apr. 1. Fenty’s is $40; Guerlain’s is $72.

E.l.f. has a new Power Grip Dewy setting spray, which you could get on Mar. 31 if you hit TikTok Shop. Babe Original’s Intensifying Lash primer also debuted via TikTok Shop on Apr. 2.

Bobbi Brown introduced its Long-Wear Cream Liner sticks on Apr. 1, including shades that smudge easily, but set very firmly after about 20 seconds. If you rely on an easy smokey eye when you’re running late for a party, this is a very solid bet., even at $34 each. (This is a high price point for one eye pencil!)

And in “everything is a gloss now” news, Gisou premiered its Honey Infused lip oils on Mar. 28 and Herbivore Botanicals introduced its Dream Jelly strawberry lip balm on Mar. 29. Both are super-shiny, which of course I love.

If you have some smoothing to do before you get glossy, Lanolips new Coconutter scrub is made with “real, finely ground coconut shell pieces to smooth away dry, flaky skin.” This feels either extreme or amazing. Will test and get back to you.

Fragrance

I really like MCM’s new Crush eau de parfum, which dropped Mar. 28, because its packaging looks like a tiny little logo backpack. I wish it was actually a tiny little logo backpack, because honestly, how fun. (Also more sustainable, and easier to sell separately. Just a thought.)

On Apr. 1, Trudon introduced its Versailles Collection, which boasts “an atmosphere as refined as it is whimsical: a garden created from scratch to entertain and enchant a king, his court and his friends.” I guess we’re gonna leave the whole beheading thing out of the mood boards.

Casual French luxury is also on the menu at Diptyque, with its Parisian Café quartet including coffee, whipped cream, cookie and fruit confit scents. The bundle is a partnership with Paris hotspot Café Verlet, which has the kind of espresso that resets your entire list of life goals.

Cartier debuted two unscented perfume bases — Crème Pure (a cream) and L’Huile Pure (an oil) — on Apr. 1. They’re meant to make your fragrances last longer and have easier layering potential. It reminds me a bit of Future Society’s Optimal Habit “fragrance primer,” which launched in February, except Cartier’s comes in a ‘70s-vibing gold case.

Huda Beauty has turned the fragrance of its Easy Bake powder into an actual fragrance. It launched Apr. 1. Also in sweet smells, the “AI-driven fragrance house” Noteworthy debuted N.768 Golden Reign on Apr. 2. It smells like honey, and the name is because “it takes 768 bees to make 1 lb of honey.” Unless they’re Canadian bees, and then it’s 556.

Loewe’s best-selling scent family has a new little sister. Her name is Ivy and she comes in a solid soap, liquid soap and a body lotion. The brand calls it an “olfactory plant portrait” so … uh … it smells like really lovely leaves and flowers. Enjoy.

Jackie Aina rolled out four new fragrances on Apr. 2, but my favourite is NDA, with rum, tobacco, vanilla and the knowledge that we’ve all signed away a regrettable secret or two in the name of being pretty. Oops.

Welcome back to Haul of Fame, the weekly beauty roundup of new products, new ideas, and one Elliot Page encounter.

Included in today’s issue: Dieux Skincare, Donna Karan, Elemis, Glossier, Hermès, Huda Beauty, It Cosmetics, Make Up for Ever, Morphe, Smashbox, Skylar and going to therapy (or not).

But first…

A few years ago, fashion started taking up more space. Simone Rocha and Molly Goddard inflated the humble circle skirt; Valentino and Cecilie Bahnsen made sleeves into statements; Luar and Saint Laurent jet-packed their power shoulders. The trend was an apt reaction to lockdown anxiety — “six feet apart” and all that — but now that shapes are slimming back down, hair is getting a literal boost.

In recent weeks, Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus have emerged with barrel curls and bouffants, and Janet Jackson and Becky G. have sported high-flying space buns. On the New York runways, Thom Browne and hair stylist James Pecis turned hair braids into menacing antlers while Sergio Hudson and Brandon Maxwell went for full ‘80s hair commercial vibes, with locks of hair that bounced as models walked. Even slicker hair stories, like the strict side parts at Tory Burch, came with extra-long plaits down the back.

It’s no coincidence — or at least it shouldn’t be — that these looks are converging with legal protection for all hairstyles. That’s thanks to The Crown Act, a national movement to ban race-based hair discrimination in the workplace that’s been passed in 23 states. In November, New York took it further, passing a law that all cosmetology schools must teach their students how to style “all hair types and textures, including, but not limited to, various curl or wave patterns, hair strand thicknesses, and volumes of hair.”

The market is already beginning to react. Spenders are flocking to Drybar, which sold out of its new hot roller set on Feb. 14. (Sephora still has a few, along with Amika’s curl-boosting Blowout Babe brush.) Nordstrom put Shark’s volumising hair tools on the very top of its homepage this week, above any clothes or accessories. And on Feb. 8, BondiBoost debuted the Infrared Bounce Brush to ensure “all-day volume.”

Why do we care? Because for anyone who’s been told their hair is “too much” by a stylist (or even a middle school classmate), this trend is more than a relief — it feels a bit like beauty justice. So does the visibility of bigger, bouncier hair on style icons like Lana del Rey and natural coils on starlets like Ice Spice. (Even Olivia Rodrigo’s once-goth strands had a nice big wave on the Grammy red carpet.) The fact is, when our hair is given breathing room, our psyches are, too — and maybe, just maybe, our beauty budgets loosen up as a result.

Product development teams, you’ve been warned.

What Else Is New?

Skincare

On Feb. 11, IT Cosmetics introduced its Bye Bye Redness serum, which is “clinically proven to reduce redness and improve clarity, skin texture, and tone evenness in just one week.” But you still have to drink your eight glasses of water a day.

Feb. 13 saw the launch of Rationale’s Décolletage creme, a neck-and-boob formula that further solidifies “body care” as the term of 2024.

On Feb. 14, John Legend’s skincare line LOVED01 (Get it? “Loved one?”) dropped at Amazon Beauty for the first time.

Congrats to Dieux Skincare, the beloved internet brand that landed on real-life Sephora shelves on Feb. 13! They celebrated with a big dinner and cake. Two days later, Elemis launched their own skincare line there. And on Feb. 16, Kate McLeod’s water-free Daily Stone moisturiser appeared for the first time in Sephora stores.

Cosmetics

Huda Beauty launched her new Creamy Obsessions eyeshadow palette the old fashioned way: She put it in every single gift bag at the LaQuan Smith show on Feb. 12. Let’s hope front row guests like actress Kiki Layne and dancer Misty Copeland enjoy it!

Also at New York Fashion Week, Jason Wu’s ombre manicures were a simple standout, thanks to nail artist Jin Soon Choi, who used a makeup sponge to dab a deep maroon shade onto the nail beds for an airbrushed effect.

Make Up For Ever launched their HD Skin setting powder on Feb. 10. It’s got the same skin-blurring qualities as a good primer, but in powder form.

Speaking of good primers, Smashbox’s Photo Finish primer has enlisted Pam Anderson as its new face. Anderson is also a co-owner of Sonsie Skin, but I appreciate the bombshell admitting, and celebrating, the fact that she still wears makeup, too.

On Feb. 13, Glossier premiered their Cloud Paint Bronzer, an extension of their creamy blush pigments meant for a buildable sunkissed glow.

The new glitter tubes from af94 that you’ve likely spotted at Sephora? They’re Swirl’d liquid marble eyeshadow, and they officially dropped Feb. 13. Elsewhere in the Gen Z space, Freck Beauty launched their Makeout Club Nude Muse lip liner on Feb. 14.

Morphe’s Lightform Extended Hydration foundation debuted Feb. 15. It claims to “improve skin barrier function at 12 hours and one week.” (I would like my foundation to just make me prettier, but sure, let’s multitask!)

Fragrance

Skylar turned their best-selling Boardwalk fragrance, which smells like cotton candy and coconut, into a hair and body mist on Feb. 8.

Meanwhile, Hermès dropped a new fragrance called Oud Alezan that was “motivated by [creative director] Christine Nagel’s desire to overcome her innate fear of horses.” Sniffing it will not make you less terrified of going full gallop, but its “petal-like” rose hydrosol and rose oxide will make you smell quietly perfect.

And in the zombie beauty space, Donna Karan’s Cashmere Collection fragrances have risen from the licensing dead, with very pretty new packaging. This is the same week that Donna Karan’s ready-to-wear collection has reemerged with a campaign starring classic supermodels like Amber Valetta and Liya Kebede.

And Finally...

Are we obsessed with protecting our skin barriers because we still haven’t mastered personal boundaries, and this feels like a baby step? Discuss.

Welcome back to Haul of Fame, the weekly beauty roundup of new products, new ideas and at least one excuse to throw everything into the sea.

Included in today’s issue: Aerin, Antica Farmasista, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Armani Beauty, Grown Alchemist, DevaCurl, Drake, Estée Lauder, Hermes, Iconic London, Kate Somerville, Memo Paris, Nazuk, Nails by Mei, Noble Panacea, Lottie London, Pacifica, RŌZ Hair, Solawave, and adult ADHD.

But first …

Sometimes getting it wrong is the best thing that can happen to a brand.

Witness the fervour surrounding Pat McGrath’s “glass skin” at the much-gaped Margiela couture show on Jan. 25. McGrath transformed models like Hannah Motler and Colette Kanza (in her runway debut!) with a super-smooth and shiny coating that made their faces look like porcelain casts. The effect was jarring and eerie; it was also a viral sensation that sparked 9.3 million TikTok views on McGrath’s page alone.

The plasticine skin appeared to peel off like a mask after wear. It wasn’t pretty or easy; instead, it was art, and the makeup community went wild — which might be a great sign for Fashion Month, and more big beauty moments on runways beyond a celebrity trend.

As for the play-and-peel Margiela look, makeup sleuths on Reddit played “Clue,” except instead of murder weapons, they were trying to find skin sprays. Popular theories: It was Kryolan Liquid Glass, a stage makeup spritz that’s often used on The Nutcracker’s dancing snowflakes. Or maybe it was Skin Illustrator Clear gloss, as seen on Jude Law’s android in the movie “AI.” What about Undetectable Sealer spray gloss from Bluebird FX, which is rumoured to be in the “Barbie” movie? Elsewhere, makeup artist Erin Parsons tried to create her own version of the look and even used the middle school sleepover staple Freeman’s Cucumber Mask with an airbrusher.

Were any of these theories correct? Nope. McGrath is launching her own glass skin situation today at 3pm EST and the whole thing will be livestreamed. But even though these guesses were wrong — and called out by the makeup artist herself within hours of posting —it hasn’t stopped the products from selling out, and from Parsons herself from scoring over 4 million TikTok views overnight.

A same-same-but-different effect is happening on Topicals’ TikTok account, where founder Olamide Olowe made a video addressing criticism over the brand’s Slick Salve lip balm. The super-shiny gloss launched in late December, but many complained the formula was sticky and thicker than expected. Olowe faced her detractors head-on — like, literally, her TikTok frame is basically a headshot — and explained they’d developed the formula specifically for high-needs skin, like eczema-prone skin, which demands extra protection. The video was well-received, and the Topicals product totally sold out. (The brand made a separate video about that too, plugging other Black-owned beauty lines to buy in the meantime, which was extremely cool.)

In both McGrath and Olowe’s cases, the narrative went a little off the rails. A cool-headed founder using humour and grace instead of defensive tactics got the story back on track, and sales eventually followed. Hopefully, the algorithm does, too, because snark and sneering are deeply boring online … and now we have numbers to prove it.

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Mental Health

Obsessed with Lottie London’s Twisted Heart duo lipstick and gloss, which launched on Jan. 29. The double-ended product was designed as a fidget toy to help those with ADHD and sensory needs. Lots of brands support mental health initiatives (hello, Rare Beauty) but this is the first time I’ve seen a mainstream product intentionally designed for the neuroatypical community. (Although I’ve been using Simi Haze’s magnetic lipstick tubes as click toys for years.) This strategy could unlock a new revenue stream for other brands, especially if they design products in partnership with mental health experts. Hopefully, they’ll ensure the actual makeup formula is perfect. Otherwise, it’s just a toy and not a tool.

HAIR CARE

We’re going big. On Jan. 25, Mara Roszak launched her new Rōz Hair Root Lift spray. It’s designed to give major volume and hold to blowouts, and it’s been tested — like everything Roszak does — on her number one client, Emma Stone. (It also smells divine.) DevaCurl is also launching their Curl Heights collection at Ulta Beauty, so go “boing!” or go home? Sorry.

On Jan. 29, Nazuk Beauty introduced its Usma Extract eyebrow mask and Usma Hair Flourish soap. Created with usma grass from China, the products are based on ancient Uyghur herbal remedies for hair loss.

SKINCARE

On Jan. 29, Pacifica dropped its Future Youth Super Cream and Gravity Rebound face mask. Kombucha is listed as an active ingredient.

Are we done with our collagen obsession? We are not, says Kate Somerville, who debuted the KateCeuticals SuperCell Rejuvenating serum on Jan. 30.

Two new additions in the don’t-add-water space: Grown Alchemist introduced a Meltaway Gel-Milk cleanser on Jan. 29 that can be used with or without H20. Meanwhile, Noble Panacea continues their beauty-in-a-pod model with their Exceptional Overnight Chronobiology peel, which reports shoppers will see a “100 percent reduction of pigmentation and 81 percent reduction in scarring or the appearance of scars.”

On Jan. 30, Uma Oils relaunched their website as an “Ayurvedic learning platform” with tutorials and explainers from founder Shrankhla Holecek about the wellness practice. On the one hand, this seems tricky, because no one brand owns ancient wisdom. On the other, it is useful to have an ayurvedic cheat sheet as the practice seeps further into the modern beauty world.

Solawave’s new Skin Therapy and Activating Serum dropped on Jan. 31. It was created to “deeply hydrate and optimise the performance of LED light therapy, galvanic current and microcurrent technologies,” which links to the trend we’re seeing of topical skincare designed to enhance medical-grade treatments.

FRAGRANCE

Aaron Taylor-Johnson is the new face of Armani Beauty’s Acqua de Gio. He said he loves “that elusive combination of masculinity and sensitivity - an almost magical connection to nature and to the rejuvenating power of the sea.” Okay?

Elsewhere in hot-guys-with-scents, Drake released his first-ever fragrance oil on Jan. 31: Better World Fragrance House Caraby Musk Oil. And Ken — the doll, not Ryan Gosling, unfortunately — is now a cologne at Urban Outfitters with notes of sandalwood and sea salt, because his job is still Beach.

Meanwhile in the land of femme fragrance, effort seems to equal desire. Aerin’s new Mediterranean Honeysuckle Tiaré scent, launched on Feb. 1, is made with tiaré, a French Polynesian botanical that’s traditionally harvested by soaking flowers in oil for 15 days. Meanwhile, the new Memo Paris Cappadocia scent (also a Feb. 1 launch) is made with “saffron picked by groups, then placed in their aprons or baskets and taken home in baskets and takes place from sunrise to sunset for 20 to 25 days.” This seems like a strange flex for a luxury perfume, so maybe now would be a good time to ask the brand copywriters to blink twice if they’re okay.

Hermes H24 Herbes Vives launched Feb. 1 with notes of sorrel, hemp and parsley. It recalls Loewe’s tomato leaves franchise and its dupe, Antica Farmacista’s tomato vine range. Maybe true luxury right now is smelling like a salad?

NAILS

On Jan. 30, Manicurist Paris launched its Space Odyssey Collection, including a jade shade that’s mirrored in Dashing Diva’s latest all-green manicure set for Ulta. I guess it’s always Saint Patrick’s Day somewhere.

Those looking for more colour options might want to zoom through Nails By Mei’s new drop for Heaven Marc Jacobs, though; it includes a rainbow press-on manicure for all your rave baby needs. I’m in love with it, obviously.

Welcome back to Haul of Fame, the must-read weekly beauty roundup of new products, new ideas and reasons to keep watching Ayo Edebiri.

Included in today’s issue: Beekman 1802, BondiBoost, Ellis Brooklyn, Emily Ratajkowski, GHD, Goldfaden MD, Hanni, Jao, Kaja, Kerastase, Lanolips, Laneige, Mango People, Mara, Maui Moisture, Naked Sundays, Oribe, Paul Mitchell, Quiet Hours, Saie, Saint Jane, Shea Moisture, Sol De Janeiro, Sydney Sweeney, Tarte, Urban Decay, Urban Outfitters, Wander Beauty and Ziwe. But first …

Last September, a powder compact became a viral powder keg. It came from a German drugstore brand named Essence and it was filled with soot … at least, that’s what it looked like. But on TikTok, girls in Rome, Zurich and Frankfurt were dusting the charcoal onto their cheeks, and bam — the powder changed colour and became a flush, post-orgasm pink. Predictably, TikTok went wild.

Four months and 5 million views later, Essence released the black blush in the US. It hit Ulta Beauty as an exclusive on Jan. 10 with a $6 price tag, cheap enough to buy as an after-school shopping dare or an impulse click before Sunday brunch. Doubtless, Essence is counting on it … especially since reviews of the actual product aren’t all stellar.

Stunt beauty seems like a no-brainer for brands, since quick tricks are a fast pass to online spectacle. But while stunt fashion can push a brand message forward (think Alexander McQueen’s spray-paint gown in 1999 or Coperni’s silly string dress in 2022), cosmetics brands are having a harder time. That’s partly due to product obsessives chatting across online message boards, proud of their extra-picky discernment and buoyed by ready access. Most shoppers can’t procure a McQueen corset, much less test and review it online. A $6 blush is a much easier score, even if its consumer buzz doesn’t match its TikTok hype.

Of course, that hasn’t stopped brands from trying to create their own stunt beauty moments. On Jan. 14, Paul and Joe released new lipsticks that look like pastel-striped cats. The very next day, AppleDoll dropped kissy-shaped tubes of cream blush that resemble Push Pop candy. Lancôme’s new L’Absolu Rouge Drama Matte lipsticks are imprinted with tiny, perfect pixelated hearts. On Jan. 11, a Weibo channel in China posted new Hermès lipstick with horses sculpted into the base. (It will be available in the US come May.) And you can’t swipe more than five times on TikTok before hitting one of the Sacheu peel-off lip tattoos, which get painted onto the lip line like nail polish, then peeled off in a satisfying reveal to show a deeper, more defined pout.

The whiz-bang of it all is a stark contrast to Prada, which officially launched skincare on Jan. 15 as a Nordstrom online exclusive. The product quartet includes a cleanser, mist, moisturiser and serum, with ultra-minimal packaging created to convey future-forward beauty and pure, simple luxury. (It also looks a bit like L’Oréal Paris but hey, L’Oréal is Prada’s licensing partner.) The Prada range also has “Adapto.gn Smart Technology” designed to help your skin adjust to its environment, no matter where you are. In that way, it’s not so different from the Essence blush, except you see your skin colour change with the $6 powder right away. The $410 Prada serum will take just a little more time.

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

SKINCARE

Shea Moisture launched its first deodorants on Jan. 16 “specifically designed to meet all the needs of rich melanin skin.” Created with input from Black dermatologists and gynaecologists, the line will be promoted by Fisk University’s (amazing!) gymnastics team, with a $25,000 grant.

On Jan. 9, Hanni dropped Good Aura, an “anti-oil” of jojoba, baobab and coconut that promises all nourishment, no grease. The indie body care brand founded by former L’Oréal executive Leslie Tessler also hit Urban Outfitters a week later, which might speak to its Gen Z intentions.

More eye creams! Goldfaden MD released its Eye Defy Radiance Restoring Eye Treatment, an intensive overnight formula with Meadowfoam, on Jan. 16. Meanwhile, Beekman 1802 made Mushroom Milk Eye Cream on Jan. 12. The upstate New York brand is located on a historic working farm, and would you like a fun fact? They also sell Goat Poop Chocolate.

On Jan. 15, Mango People released a Juicy Glow Prep & Hydrate Balm Stick. Its key ingredients are celery and basil, which is why I will be calling it The Salad Stick until further notice.

Sleeper hit Saint Jane dropped its Star Flower Serum on Jan. 14. The formula contains “micro pearls that burst on contact, delivering the freshest actives directly into the skin.” It’s recommended for post-laser recovery, making it part of the “skincare to boost your med spa procedure” trend that’s already surging this year.

The “multipurpose modern apothecary” Jao unveiled a new Skin Salve on Jan. 15. The package and logo look quite a bit like Lanolips Miracle Salve, but the formula gets its moisture from sunflower seed oil instead of lanolin.

Quiet Hours dropped its architectural ice rollers at SSENSE and Violet Grey on Jan. 15. They look like the kind of sleek “objets” that you buy at the MOMA store without ever visiting the actual museum. They will likely be a huge hit.

On Jan. 16, Mara launched the SeaDream Firming Algae Crème Moisturiser, a very dense formula created for dry skin. It joins the “pond scum superfood” trend of 2023, because besides being loaded with nutrients, algae is relatively cheap and low-impact to harvest. Rather stick with hyaluronic acid? Eucerin’s new Immersive Hydration Collection has it in everything, even a facial sunscreen.

GoPure introduced its Superfruit Enzymes Cleansing Balm on Jan. 17. It claims to “do what other makeup removers can’t – it effortlessly dissolves long-wear makeup.” I love a cleansing balm for its moisture-retention properties, but I also want this copywriter to meet Bioderma micellar water because it’s been doing the effortless dissolve thing for a decade.

COSMETICS

Tarte’s new Maracuja Juicy Eye & Cheek Palettes hit Sephora on Jan. 12. The line’s corresponding Maracuja Juicy Lip Balms (which launched in December) were the only makeup item on my too-cool-for-everything niece’s Christmas list. I expect the teens will go big on this product extension, too.

The double-end trend continues! On Jan. 15, Kaja revealed a Wink Dazzle Dual-Ended Eyeshadow Stick so you can delicately spread shimmer into the corners of your eyes without needing a saline wash. Wander Beauty’s Lipsetter pens, which dropped Jan. 16, include a liner and lipstick in one for grab-and-go Uber touch-ups. The formula has a lasting grip, so really stays put once it’s on.

Saie extended its Dew Blush line to include three new shades on Jan. 16: Cutie, Baby and Sweetie. I love the colours, but if you call me any of those words in a DM and we’re not actual friends, you’re automatically blocked. That’s just, like, the rules of feminism.

On Jan. 17, Naked Sundays launched its Cabana Glow SPF 50 Mineral Tints to “blur and perfect” the skin with a radiant finish. Suki Waterhouse wore it at the Emmys, but she’s both pregnant and gorgeous, so it’s hard to know if the glow was coming from the product or just, you know, her.

HAIR CARE

It’s a fun week for tools. Ghd dropped its Chronos hot iron, with “3x faster styling in just one stroke” on Jan. 17. It retails for $329. For something more affordable, BondiBoost revealed an aloe-infused flat iron on Jan. 11 for $119.

Paul Mitchell has extended its Bond Rx range with a Leave-In Treatment and Reparative Oil; both launched on Jan. 15. The duo promise to “reduce breakage by 84 percent and protect hair from heat damage up to 450°F.” If you’re a blonde, try Oribe’s new Bright Blonde Radiance and Repair Treatment, a reformulation that tames dryness and nixes red undertones. It launched Jan. 17.

On Jan. 12, Sydney Sweeney became Kerastase’s newest ambassador. Sweeney has gorgeous hair and an aloof-but-friendly vibe that makes her both a compelling actress and a sell-through beauty face. (Laneige already has her on its roster.) Kerastase tells me current muse, Emily Ratajkowski, will remain a brand ambassador, too, which is smart. Ratajkowski can (and does) turn almost anything into a buyable media trend. Related: Ratajkowski’s BFF Ziwe announced her first big beauty contract with Urban Decay on Jan. 17; she’s the face of their Big Bush brow gel.

Also in the celeb space, it’s cool that Ayo Edebiri paired her Louis Vuitton dress at the Emmys with Maui Moisture shampoo and conditioner, which costs about $8 per bottle.

FRAGRANCE

Body Mists are a thing. As a fragrance commitment-phobe, I support this. Ellis Brooklyn introduced Peaches Body Spray on Jan. 11 and Sol de Janeiro introduced Cheirosa 59 Perfume Mist, which smells like vanilla to me, on Jan. 16.

NAILS

Do people actually want their manicure to match their iPhone? Chillhouse is like “yeah,” and they’ve paired with Otterbox on matching press-ons and cases that dropped Jan. 16. The one issue: You need someone else to snap a pic of your nail-on-case moment, because … uh … you have to hold your phone to activate the trend.

Included in today’s issue: Ariana Grande, Benefit Cosmetics, Charlotte Tilbury, Drybar, Espresso Martinis, Khloe Kardashian, Kiehl’s, Luxe Brands, Mac Cosmetics, Rare Beauty, Seen, Simi Haze, Subtl Beauty, Too Faced, and the chic aliens from “Arrival.”

But first…

For introverts, black sheep, and those with excellent personal boundaries, the holiday season’s forced cheeriness and nonstop magic can be rough. Enter “Creepy Christmas,” the Times-approved vibe that swaps cobwebs for snow and black velvet bows for red satin trim.

In holiday terms, Creepy Christmas looks like Jack Skellington invading Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion, and Travis Barker throwing a skeleton next to his Christmas tree. In beauty terms, it looks like in-demand Tim Burton sets by Melt Beauty, pierced black lip glosses at Isamaya French, and totally sold-out black lip gloss at Urban Decay. (It also looks like #NightmareBeforeChristmas trends getting 3.7 billion TikTok views, and searches for HoloGrave Cosmetics — which has a cartoon coffin as a logo — spiking on Google Trends in November and December, instead of tanking after October.)

Much of this is just common sense. Halloween is a billion-dollar driver for brands, and continuing its Goth Lite vibes helps keep “spooky” products like spider-lash mascara and blood red nail lacquer from hitting the clearance bin. But Creepy Christmas also allows creatives to subvert the holiday’s gooey goodness — to spike the eggnog, if you will — appealing to beauty’s ability to help us transform ourselves, even if we can’t transform our family dynamics. (And anyway, the excuse “I have to go fix my eyeliner” will buy you at least 10 minutes away from a Feast of Seven Fishes and Eight Questions About When You’re Getting Married.)

One more reason Creepy Christmas is a benefit to brands, especially smaller ones: These new witchy products can transition beautifully from a spooky holiday gift into woo-woo New Year’s charm. Throw the Ash + Ember Incantation shadow from Rituelle de Fille in with Kaleidos Elixir Lip Glaze and Alicia Keys Aura Mist, and you’re basically just spell-casting in a Miu Miu clutch instead of a cauldron.

Plus! Celebrity Beauty

Lip gloss is the new band tee! On Dec. 18, Madonna and makeup artist Jerrod Blandino launched highlighter, plumping lip gloss, and red lipstick on her Celebration Tour. Other beauty offerings on pop star’s official merch sites: nail gems from Taylor Swift, hair bows from Olivia Rodrigo, and perfume from Beyonce.

Plus, it’s not on her merch site, but On Dec. 18, Selena Gomez and Rare Beauty unveiled four body care items with “no pressure for perfect self-care regimens; it’s the tiny moments of comfort that go a long way.” The lineup includes a body cream, hand cream, aromatherapy pen, and hair and body mist.

Khloe Kardashian announced plans for her new perfume on Dec. 19. It’ll be under the Luxe Brands umbrella, which makes fragrances for Ariana Grande and also for Hummer, like, the automobile. I think this is frankly amazing and really hope Khloe promotes the scent by pumping it from a beige-on-beige SUV through the streets of Beverly Hills. Truly, I would cry with excitement.

Hair

Buzzword alert! “Scalp care” is the new “skin biome” and yet another brand is entering the category. On Dec. 18, Dr. James Kilgour launched KilgourMD, “a revolutionary skincare brand targeting scalp health.” The ethos is similar to SEEN, created by dermatologist Dr. Iris Rubin in 2014.

Drybar will be the official hair partner of the Emmy Awards on Jan. 15 , where they’ll be “working wonders behind the scenes, ensuring impeccable hair touch-ups for everyone who graces the red carpet and Emmy Award winners in the media center.” What I wonder is, will nominees with other major brand deals — like Jenna Ortega and her Dior gig, or, uh, Rihanna — be cool with Drybar hanging onto their coattails / ponytails? Drybar also just signed Bryce Scarlett, who did Margot Robbie’s hair for her Barbie tour, as an ambassador.

Meanwhile, Better Natured dropped their tress trend predictions for 2024, including a color shade called “Espresso Martini.” It’s basically just brown (sorry) but it’s a smart bid for buzz after #StrawberryGirl and #TomatoGirl became Big Things on TikTok. FWIW, #espressohair has about 310,000 views already, while the tag #espressomartini has half a billion. Yep.

Cosmetics

Charlotte Tilbury’s Queen of Luck Luxury Palette drops today, Dec. 21. It’s an eyeshadow quad to “gild your eyes with the lucky glow of the moonlight,” and at $55, it’s best enjoyed after winning a blackjack round.

Too Faced released their new “kissing jelly” on Dec. 15; it’s the lip oil/lip gloss hybrid model we’ve seen a lot this season… But I think Too Faced is the only one making a very sheer blue tint (theirs is called “Sweet Cotton Candy”) which brings out rosy skin and lip undertones. It’s expensive, though — $22!!!

On Dec. 18, Benefit Cosmetics unveiled Whoop Lash, their lash-enhancing serum. For less permanent results, try MAC’s new “stackable” mascara bundle.

Speaking of stackables, Subtl Stacks makeup just closed a $5 million Series A fundraising round with Cult Capital, which has Supergoop and Act + Acre in their portfolio. Subtl’s makeup disks remind me of Simi Haze’s clever packaging, most recently their coaster-like Skin Suede bronzers.

Flirte Beauty created an app to match your nipple color to their lipsticks, thereby finding the (allegedly) perfect shade. I don’t love the idea of a brand being like, “Hey, send nudes” but I do think this idea of nipples-as-final-beauty-frontier is gaining traction, thanks to fashion’s insistence on “freeing” them every spring season. (Rachel Tashjian’s got some good intel on this if you’d like to learn more.)

Skincare

On Dec. 18, Dove and Nike announced a partnership — complete with a Superbowl commercial — aimed at keeping girls involved in sports! This is the first time Dove has done a Superbowl ad in 18 years; it’s connected to their BodyConfidentSport initiative.

Murad’s Cellular Hydration Repair Mask hit Sephora on Dec. 19, just as Kiehl’s released a stick version of their Ultra Facial Barrier Balm. Between the two of them, your skin should endure winter’s recent wind storms just fine.

Geske German Beauty Tech launched a new “AI Powered App” on Dec. 14 that “analyzes the unique needs of each individual’s skin … guiding them towards a personalized skincare routine tailored to their specific needs.” The first step is putting this tiny little spaceship on your cheek. The second step is probably getting Amy Adams to translate your alien letters from inside a NASA tank. Good luck!

Fragrance… Kind Of

New Balance would like you to smell like super-fresh new sneakers. If you shopped at their Sydney, Australia store on Dec. 19, you could have taken home one of 100 bottles of their new, limited-edition fragrance. Otherwise, do you guys know about this insanity?

And Finally...

Wanna buy a beauty brand? Karen and Tom Benjamin, the founders of Mountain Ocean skincare, are selling their indie business and heading off for the mountains… or the ocean… or both. If you acquire it, please send me some of their Skin Trip coconut lotion as a finder’s fee.

Welcome back to Haul of Fame, the beauty roundup of new products, new ideas and a sneaking suspicion that “hair mist” is just tap water with a flower petal floating around. (Right?)

Included in today’s issue: Biossance, Bread, Cartier, Drunk Elephant, Gisou, Mirabella, Nerra, Ouai, Pat McGrath Labs, Peace Out, Prequel, Redken and Sofia Richie Grainge.

But first…

My neighbour Jaime Delane is a TikTok star. She makes videos about the dogs and cats she babysits, which are engaging and hilarious. Because she is young, cool, and extremely online, I can often see a trend coming because I see Jamie first; a month before Pantone screeched out its Peach Fuzz Colour of the Year, she was wearing a vintage Gap dress and matching sweater the shade of a bellini. So last week, when this Gen-Z avatar was running errands wearing Florence by Mills under eye patches, I was intrigued.

The under eye skin care category has exploded since 2020, thanks to work-from-home skincare routines hitting overdrive. But although social media is flooded with patch posing (indie cool girls prefer Dieux Skin, Alix Earle and her acolytes go for Peter Thomas Roth, etc), they’ve always been an indoor activity. Thanks to TikTok clips from Selena Gomez, who makes her own under eye patches at Rare Beauty, and Sydney Sweeney, under eye patches are starting to look like normal — and even cool — attire for the young and the restless (but who want to look well-rested) outside of the house.

Obviously, there’s precedent for this, even if it’s a little smaller: zit stickers are now so visible that they’re being used as New York Fashion Week runway accessories, in Victoria’s Secret ad videos and, of course, paparazzi reels. If under eye patches are the next private-to-public beauty ritual, they already have a template for possible brand extensions.

Now all we need is a cool TV show or movie to give the fad a push. Because frankly, once Emma Corrin’s beauty team on “A Murder at the End of the World” swaps their pale pink hair dye with some green Pixi swirls, it’s all over.

What Else Is New…

Peace Out makes under-eye patches, too, but their latest release — out Dec. 13 — is an Early Stage Acne Dot. It does not come in cool shapes like clouds or unicorns, but it does come with over 400 microneedles and 2 percent salicylic acid.

On Dec. 12, Drunk Elephant dropped a new deep moisturiser, Bora Barrier Repair Cream. It’s $69, but that won’t stop the teen girls in my family from buying it for wrinkles they do not have.

Prequel is launching their Lucent-C Brightening Vitamin C Serum on Dec. 13. It’s $23, and comes in a no-nonsense navy bottle with ingredients — niacinamide, inulin, ferulic acid, and 15 percent Vitamin C — labelled clearly on the box. (Can you tell an Insta-famous dermatologist made it?)

Also on Dec. 13, Biossance released their new Squalane + Ectoin Overnight Rescue, meant to “strengthen your skin while you sleep.” It includes magnesium, which is often in sleep supplements for deeper rest. The Biossance team says the mineral “inhibits the release of neurotransmitters that trigger stress” but many scientists aren’t psyched on that claim. Smooth skin, though? Great.

For skin not found on the face, Nerra just introduced a line of four body care products inspired by the Hammams of Turkey and Morocco. They pay special attention to the oh-so-satisfying practice of a deep body scrub.

Ouai released an in-shower hair gloss on Dec. 12 made with hyaluronic acid and rice water. I haven’t tried it yet, but the photos make the end result look super shiny. Redken dropped their own Acidic Hair Gloss range on Dec. 4. Now that red carpets are back to normal, I can see shiny starlet hair coming back in a big way.

On Dec. 14, Gisou premieres a bedazzled, honey-infused hair oil at a special NYC pop-up event. There will also be chances to score it in London, or win it on the Gisou website. Elsewhere in hair news, Bread released a clarifying shampoo and a ceramide conditioner on Dec. 8 with packaging cute enough for gifting. Cartier just dropped a hair mist, too, but this one doesn’t smell like self care, just gardenias and zero student loans.

And in makeup news, Pat McGrath Labs unveiled a collaboration with the Emma Stone movie Poor Things on Dec. 8; Emma’s character wears Matte Trance Lipstick in Forbidden Love throughout the film.

Mirabella launched their Bulletproof Matte Setting Spray on Dec. 14. I’m an Urban Decay loyalist, but a good matte finish is hard to find!

And finally, Sofia Richie Grainge just revealed to Porter that she’s planning to release beauty products under the name SRG. I’ve checked the US trademark database and haven’t found any claims yet, but it’ll be fascinating to see if she can spin her influence with other brands into tangible gold for herself. She already has a deal with Nudestix, but personally, I would buy something from her that would get me one of her signature smooth ponytails, one with no bumps!