Sharing some new and old beauty favorites that I am loving this month. It’s been awhile since I’ve had this many new beauty launches that I’m genuinely excited about and also some old favorites that have resurfaced in my rotation! You’ll notice some of these I have spoken about already Instagram— but I add quite a bit more info + nuance here (since I don’t have to squeeze my yapping into a reel!!)
PS - I know many are waiting on my health journey update and it’s coming next week via substack!
Jordan Samuel Skin Ferragosto - I talked about this fragrance just this week in this reel. This scent feels so special - the sandalwood, cardamom, apricot and fig! It’s warm, creamy, cozy with a little brightness and a perfect date night or fall/winter scent. If you’re curious how it compares to Phlur’s Father Figure, which is also a beloved Fig Scent that also features Jasmine and Sandalwood in the base. I think Father Figure is brighter, more green and a little more floral. I love them both, but I think Father Figure is better as a daytime or spring/summer scent (although I know this is very subjective, just my personal take).
Violette_FR Lippies - Plume Lip in Syrah Fume and Lip Nectar in Dahlia Noir - there is just something about Fall lip colors that SPEAK to me!! Syrah is a deep berry wine that is perfection and pulls neutral, slightly cool on me, I think— not too brown, not too purple! Dahlia Noir is in Violette’s lip stain formula that starts out with a jelly texture, and eventually as it wears off, leaves you with a gorgeous plum stain. It’s described as a warm plum, but I think it pulls pretty neutral on me which I love! Her shades always offer such nuance and look amazing on every skin color and tone. You can watch my try on of the Lip Nectar’s here and the Plume Lips here.
(L to R: Plume Lip in Syrah Fume + Lip Nectar in Dahlia Noir)
Tazorac .1% - I cannot believe I went six months without a prescription retinoid. I have been on some RX retinoid since I was 14ish, and I took a break when I was pregnant, but beyond that I had never really stopped. I ended up stopping this spring for two reasons: 1. I had tried a bunch of online compounding pharmacies and the textures were terrible, but I didn’t want to spend a ton of money to see a derm just for a prescription of the real thing. 2. I figured it would be kind of a fun experiment to see what my natural skin state is again— spoiler alert!! Very acne prone and oily. I’ve only used it four times and it got rid of a few clogged pores that nothing would touch. Magical! Definitely had a little purge, but we are already on the other side of it. I know many of us try to avoid Amazon, but I used their online virtual visit (which was $19) and was able to get my Rx the next day for $58 without insurance. I messaged with them and sent photos, but didn’t have to get on video. They will also run the prescription through your insurance if you want, but can take a bit longer to process.
Current Body Series 2 Mask - now that the chaos of summer is over, I’m so happy to be back in a routine— and I’ve committed into getting back to being consistent with my Current Body LED Mask. They recently also sent me the neck and décolleté mask as well. It’s 100% not necessary, as the regular mask lays flat and can also be used anywhere on the body— BUT!! When I am laying there, face and chest warm with light it transports me for ten whole minutes to feeling like I am laying underneath the warmth of the sun. It’s become something I really look forward to, especially as it gets darker and colder. And I also get the benefit of a more collagen + elastin production, a more even skin tone and sped up healing of my current tazorac purge! Code DEVAN gets you 10% off!
Saltair Driftwood Serum Body Wash - If you love a woody base like I do, but felt like Santal Bloom was too floral or powdery— you must give this one a try. It’s fresh, woody and a little warm with notes of bergamot, sage and driftwood. I can see Colin and I both using and loving this one as it definitely has more unisex vibes. It’s one of those bases that will smell wonderful with any fragrance you layer over it. Or if you prefer something more feminine like Santal Bloom, get this for the person in your life who loves a good scented body wash with more unisex notes!
Anfisa An-Gloss in Spice Cake - Anfisa makes one of my favorite lip treatments of all time, and they just launched it in a new color perfect for fall. This is what I use to prep my lips every day, and often wear it alone or with a lip liner. I think of this less like a gloss or lip balm, and more like a true anti-aging serum or treatment— it has five skin-identical ceramides and two plumping peptides. It deeply hydrates your lips, and isn’t something that is going to sit on top or occlude them. I love using the clear as my hydrating step at night, and topping with an occlusive lip mask. (My link here gets you free shipping on any order)
(L to R: Anfisa An-Gloss in Clear, Berry Crumble + Spice Cake)
Sofie Pavitt Omega Rich Moisturizer - (sponsored mention) - I had a tiny patch of skin around the right side of my mouth that got really dry and flakey from my tazorac usage. I applied my favorite Experiment Super Saturated, and locked it in with Sofie’s moisturizer and it cleared up this flakey and really irritated spot overnight. The new Versed moisturizer is fantastic, but for a really angry spot like this, nothing does it like Sophie Pavitt— it’s a reverse emulsion so it’s very nourishing and has a dewy finish. And I know I’m not causing more breakouts. Also shoutout to Sofie’s Mandelic Acid for being one of the few exfoliants gentle enough to use alongside my retinoid (using it 1-2x a week as I ramp up).
MAKE Beauty Cream Stroke Blushes - I was so excited when I saw MAKE launch some neutral and cooler tones in a soft matte formula. Their Heat Stroke formula is a dewy gel— and it sometimes felt too sticky and looked too wet on the skin. If you are more normal, combo or oily— or just prefer a matte blush and cooler tones, I think you’d love these! Major mauve has become a fast favorite. They blend really easily— and they’re pigmented so you don’t need a lot! I tap my brush onto the blush, then blend onto the skin vs swiping on. These have great longevity, lasting a full eight hours on my skin.
(MAKE Beauty Cream Stroke Blushes, L to R: Hypernude, Major Mauve, Chroma, Euphoric, Rouge Moon)
Merit Archival Lip Trio - I filmed a full try on of this trio here on Instagram and I can’t stop wearing them! They’re truly my perfect everyday mauve shades that just brighten up my entire face. I hope that they launch these colors as permanent because otherwise I don’t know what I’ll do with myself. What’s also special about this trio is that it has their gel lip liner, their lip blush which is a formula they only launched last year in a LE set, but have yet to launch an entire line of. It’s a sheer soft matte formula reminiscent of Violette’s Bisou balm. I love the diffused look! I loved the shade they launched last year, but this one is even better. You also get a lip oil, which is nice if you prefer a glossier lip.
Cyklar In-Shower Body Oil Balm - at this point you already know how much I LOVE their body wash. It’s my favorite ever. Made my favorites of 2024 and it is still my favorite and we’re this far into 2025. It’s a thick gel that lathers nicely. It’s loaded with glycerin, an oil complex and fatty acid water. It leaves skin hydrated, but not oily aka it rinses clean without making your shower a danger zone. The scents are luxe, and you get 16.5oz for $35 — this is sooo much more affordable than other high end body washes. I am a huge fan of their body oil, but the Body Oil Balm is replacing the body oil for me. I love that it’s in a squeeze tube and not glass, but it’s this luxe balm you apply on wet skin and it leaves my skin feeling just as nourished, if not more. I actually like to apply this while my shower is still running to prevent myself from getting cold (HA) and you can see it lock in all the moisture on your skin and repel running water. It has glycerin, ceramide NP, a lipid complex and coconut seed butter. Gone are the days of applying lotion while you stand freezing in your bathroom!
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the new make blushes are making me drool 🤤
Thank you for sharing your acne/retinoid journey! I finally went to the derm last month and now have tretinoin 0.025% and clindamycin in my arsenal. I wish I had gone back to the derm years ago.
I don’t know if the 0.025 tret will be enough, but it’s also been fine - a little purging, but no irritation or anything crazy (coming from daily OTC adapalene). It will be nice to figure out what ultimately is “enough” and works (but the derm investment is $$$ ridiculous!!) to stop the constant adjust periods. BUT I also feel like the retinoids are magical and helpful and I’m glad they’re an option.
I am also very selfishly enjoying this week on antibiotics for a sinus infection. I don’t want sinus infections, but *gah* the antibiotics clear my skin, so.