12 Innovative Beauty Products That Have Made My Life Infinitely Better This Year

In the beauty realm, there’s always a new product launch to test out. As someone who gets nearly every new beauty product delivered straight to her desk, I know better than anyone that most products are kind of disappointing. Many beauty products over-sell and under-deliver! 

Lately, however, a few innovative products have downright wowed me to the point of gaining a permanent spot in my routine. As someone who hardly even finishes a beauty product, that’s a major feat. Keep reading for all the products that have made my life better this year. 

Selahatin is one of the more interesting beauty companies I’ve come across—the brand is essentially high-end fragrance, but for your mouth. Forget everything you know about oral care, because Selahatin flips it on its head and turns mouthwash, toothpaste, and other oral care products into luxe experiential products. I have personally been obsessed with the brand’s oral sprays. I’m not really a gum or a mint person, and this spray fills a void I didn’t even know I had. It’s the chicest way to freshen up your breath—it leaves your breath smelling absolutely divine after just one spritz. 

Only Glossier could make a matte liquid lipstick that I actually want to wear and that actually fits seamlessly into my makeup routine. On a daily basis, I’m a fairly no-frills when it comes to makeup, and lipstick is one of my least favorite products, even though I love how it looks—it always settles into the fine lines of my lips or makes them feel like the desert. This one feels cushiony and blurring, and it’s so easy to swipe on in a flash.

I’ve only been taking Nutrafol’s new vegan supplements for a month now, and my hair has already grown like crazy before my eyes. Last week, my best friend commented on how quickly my hair had grown and asked if I had a secret—I pointed her in the direction of these supplements. Nutrafol’s new vegan formula has been clinically proven to promote hair growth and strength, and let me tell you, I’ve never seen results like this before in just one month from any other hair growth supplement (including the OG Nutrafol pills). 

IMO, every hand cream should come with an SPF option. Hands are one of the first parts of our body to show signs of sun damage, and there aren’t many products formulated with protecting them in mind. Though this hand cream has a low SPF (only 15) it’s better than nothing, which is the usual option. I keep it in my bag to use on-the-go. It sinks in easily and doesn’t leave a sunscreen-y film on skin. 

In one of our recent Deep Reviews, a group of eight editors gave this blush a whopping 4.7 out of 5 stars. We’re obsessed with the effortlessly blendable powder-to-gel formula, the knock-your-socks-off pigmentation, and the dreamy, versatile colors. We all agree: this is the powder blush that has made us love powder blush again. 

Here’s my qualm with vitamin C serums: they smell weird, and I’m convinced a lot of them don’t actually do much. This vitamin C serum not only packs a major skin-brightening punch, but it also smells like oranges. Putting it on my face in the morning doesn’t feel like a chore at all. 

I’m not going to mince words: my nails are damaged. My last gel removal left me with thin, peeling nails that look like a cat scratching posts. This treatment nail polish has saved me—it fills in lines, it smooths my nails, and it gives me that clean-girl nail aesthetic that everyone’s after right now. Plus, it helps heal damage. 

The Rhode Peptide Lip Treatments have revolutionized my lip game. Instead of dealing with a sticky gloss, I put on a coat of this non-stick lip treatment and run out the door. It’s hyper reflective while also giving my lips a major dose of nourishment. 

This super light, hydrating gel has changed my life when it comes to slicking my hair back or putting it up. With an aloe vera base instead of water, it’s much more nourishing than most gels of its kind. Plus, it gives hair tons of shine and keeps every stand in place. 

I’ve long been a Glowscreen fan, but I’ve always felt that the original color didn’t quite suite my skin tone, particularly in months when I didn’t see the sun much. Now that Glowscreen comes in four different shades, however, it’s easier than ever to use the celeb-favorite, pearlescent sunscreen that delivers the most covetable glow.

Day two or three hair is tricky for me. I’m normally not a fan of dry shampoos because of their filmy residue and white cast, but this one has changed my opinion of dry shampoos for the better. It leaves my hair feeling lighter, more refreshed, and, most importantly, like I just washed it—and there’s never any leftover buildup to battle with. 

When I want to amp up the glow factor, I add a pump of this into my sunscreen or foundation. It’s downright dazzling—every time I use it, I get at least three compliments on my skin. A little goes a looong way, or else you might end up looking like a Twilight vampire (though that’s not the worst thing, TBH). It’s also hydrating and brightening thanks to vitamins that help your skin glow from within.