12 Fall Beauty Products You Need Right Now

It’s a whole new season of hero makeup and skincare products

It’s that time of year when we’re all itching to buy new supplies—and makeup counts. Whether you’re looking to prevent makeup transfer onto your mask, scrub the summer out of your hair or finally start an anti-aging routine, these new products will set you up for success.

Take a deep dive into our favourite dozen fall makeup and skincare items…

1. Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray by Charlotte Tilbury

This is one of the strongest setting sprays on the market. The vegan formula has a polymer film-former that creates a weightless, flexible and breathable barrier over the skin, locking in your makeup. It’s created without alcohol or oil, but does contain a good amount of fragrance, which dissipates completely over time, so if you’re sensitive to fragrances, be aware.

It’s also fantastic at minimizing makeup transfer onto masks. And it can be used as a mixing medium: mix into some eyeshadow to create a budge-proof eyeliner. Just be sure to use the same corner of the eyeshadow pan each time you do this technique, as the polymers will change the texture of your eyeshadow. To get rid of this film, use a clean spoolie brush to gently scrape the top off.
Available online, starting at $24

2. Unlocked Instant Extensions Lengthening Mascara by Hourglass

This mascara promises “more definition, more lift and more length” and it delivers on every point. For anyone struggling with mascara smudges, especially during these humid days, you want a tubing mascara and Unlocked is a fantastic one. Instead of being wax-based (which melts and smudges), tubing mascaras coat each lash with a flexible polymer—literally, forming tubes—and stay in place until released with warm water and gentle pressure. This formula is a deep, rich one and truly manages to lengthen your lashes to extensions-level. While tubing mascaras generally struggle to deliver volume, Unlocked has definitely improved that aspect as well.

This is a vegan, cruelty-free mascara and as announced on their Instagram feed, five percent of every sale will be donated to the Nonhuman Rights Project.
Available online, $36

3. Retinol B3 Serum by La Roche Posay

From cult French pharmacy brand La Roche Posay, this is their first retinol serum and it’s worth the wait. This serum combines 0.3 percent retinol complex to target fine lines, wrinkles and overall skin texture, along with Vitamin B3 to repair the moisture barrier keeping skin soft, plump and supple. Coming from a brand known for its clinical skincare, this serum is of course non-hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and safe for sensitive skin. Traditional retinol treatments are notoriously drying and can often leave skin shedding, but between the Vitamin B3 and 10 percent glycerin, this serum keeps skin comfortable while the retinol works its anti-aging magic. Use only at night and follow up with a high SPF sunscreen during the day.
Available online, $59

4. Your Skin But Better Foundation and Skincare by IT Cosmetics

Compared to its cult CC Cream, IT’s new foundation is far lighter in texture and has a buildable medium coverage (versus full coverage). Because of its watery consistency, it blends like a dream to beautifully even out skin tone. And, with 40 shades in three distinct undertones available, there’s a good chance almost everyone will be able to find a suitable match. The formula was developed with a clear base, unlike many others that start with a white base, so colours remain true and clear without having to compensate for potential ashiness.

As the name suggests, there are skincare benefits to this formula: hyaluronic acid and aloe vera for hydration, hepes acid for exfoliation and vitamins B5 and E to fight free radicals. This truly is a foundation that will give you very pretty skin, but keep in mind because of its satin finish and hydrating formula, it won’t be mask-proof. This is best kept for days when you’re making digital or distanced appearances.
Available online, $52

5. Verbena Deodorant Balm by L’Occitane

This is L’Occitane’s first balm deodorant and features their best-selling scent, Verbena, a fresh, citrusy aroma that’s naturally uplifting. The texture is a firm creamy-powder, which absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave a sticky residue. A little goes a long way, and while you can use your fingertips, a spare makeup brush (like a powder, kabuki or even blush brush) makes for quick and easy application. Keep in mind this is a deodorant, not an antiperspirant, so while tapioca and corn starches do help limit moisture, it’s not going to keep you dry during a workout. This is free from aluminium salts, alcohol, silicones, phthalates and preservatives.
Available online, $29

6. Sweet Cheeks Soft Cheek Tint by NYX

This is more than your average cheek tint. The lightweight mousse-y texture delivers so much pigmentation it’s advisable to use the doe-foot applicator to apply this to the back of your hand or palette first, then distribute the product over a buffing brush or makeup sponge before tapping onto cheeks. It layers beautifully, so build up slowly. While there’s ample playtime with these, once set these provide long-lasting sweet cheeks for hours and hours.

Available in six shades that provide options for every skin tone. The orange Almost Famous will stretch out your summer glow a bit longer, while merlot Showgirl is perfect for those ready to jump into autumn hues. And Nude’Tude is a nicely balanced pink-brown that’s gorgeous on its own or can be mixed to any of the other colours to soften their vibrancy. These are 100 percent vegan, cruelty-free and PETA-certified.
Available online, $11.99

7. Purity Vitamins Bronzing Water Body Mist by St. Tropez

Extending your summer glow couldn’t be easier with this new body mist. It’s a clear formula, so there’s nothing to wash off or to transfer onto clothes or sheets. The effect is more of a light glow, but it’s buildable with repeated applications. The key is to keep the spray moving so it’s not focused on one spot. You want to spray and move at the same time. The spray makes it really easy to get to even hard-to-reach areas. If you’re just doing a light, single-pass spray, you can easily apply, then wait a minute or two for it to absorb, and move on. If you’re doing a heavier application, it’s best to spray then buff over gently with a tanning mitt to ensure there aren’t any uneven patches or drips.
Available at London Drugs, Shoppers Drug Mart and Sephora, $54

8. Ultraplant by LUSH

If Ultraplant sounds familiar, it’s because up until recently it was Ultrabland, the cult cleanser from Lush. The reformulation makes this a completely vegan products now, swapping out the beeswax for sunflower and candelila waxes, and the honey for agave nectar. Just like the original, less is more with Ultraplant. Use the smallest amount you need, then warm it between your fingertips before massaging onto skin and watch makeup and environmental pollutants literally melt away. This is an extremely gentle yet effective cleanser that most skin types will find soothing, and has been fantastic at removing sunscreen, helping to keep pores clear. However, there’s no emulsifier in this, so if you normally double cleanse or if you want to follow-up with a water-based product (essence, serum etc.), you’ll need to use a second cleanser.
Available online, $18.95

9. Overnight Anti-Pollution Treatment by Neostrata

This gel-cream treatment is targeted for overnight use because that’s when our skin repairs itself, when we’re sleeping. Along with the usual skincare powerhouses that Neostrata’s known for (antioxidants, amino acids), this also contains polyhydroxy acids, or PHAs. Very similar to alphahydroxy acid (AHA) and betahydroxy acid (BHA), PHA is their cousin—similar in molecular structure, but different enough that it has its own identity and purpose. PHA will still exfoliate the skin, helping to resurface texture and even out skin tone, but because the PHA molecules are larger, they can’t penetrate the skin as deeply as AHAs and BHAs, meaning they can still do all the work on the surface but won’t cause any irritation. For anyone who’s ever previously tried acids and found them too stimulating or who has particularly sensitive skin, this is for you. With eight percent PHA, this treatment will gently release the day’s pollutants while you sleep, leaving you with softer, clearer skin in the morning. Use this at night after cleansing, before moisturising.
Available online, $58

10. Coffee Break Eau de Toilette by Maison Margiela, Replica Collection

The name, Coffee Break, is both misleading and completely accurate. If you’re expecting a rich, heady hit of coffee aroma, you’ll be disappointed. Instead, you’ll discover a creamy, cozy scent that’s led by lavender, supported by a mix of mint and orange blossom. The coffee is there, as a gentle undercurrent, unifying everything into a lush, foamy hug. So, no, it’s not coffee, but it’ll impart the kind of warmth and relaxation you get while on a coffee break. This is the perfect scent to make you happy that autumn is just around the corner.
Available online, $159

11. Waterless Skincare by aN-hydra

This new Canadian skincare system is completely anhydrous (without water), developed by Susanne Langmuir, founder of the iconic Bite Beauty. There are three products in the initial launch: microbiome cleanser, hyaluronic acid serum and vitamin C serum. Each come in small frosted glass bottles and are water-activated. That means there are no fillers, no preservatives, no fragrances—nothing but actives. Just put a few drops or sprinkles of the product in your hands, add equal amounts of water, mix to emulsify then apply to skin. Each small jar should last approximately three months.
Available online, starting at $55

12. Complexe 5 by Rene Furterer

This is a pre-shampoo hair treatment that everybody needs after a hot, sweaty summer. It has concentrated amounts of plant extracts designed to thoroughly detoxify and stimulate the scalp. Whether you suffer from product build-up, psoriasis of the scalp, or hair that’s prone to breakage, this kind of treatment is designed to address these issues at the root—literally. By thoroughly cleaning out the base of hair, it promotes healthier growth and gives hair a chance to grow long and strong. It’s a highly aromatic oil filled with botanicals including orange and lavender that’s so uplifting you’ll be tempted to put this in your diffuser.

The bottle comes with a metal-tip applicator to help distribute the oil, and the side of the glass bottle has indicator marks to show how much to use each time. Use one or twice per week.
Available ?online, $53