Everyone has a unique, magical beauty formula that makes them feel perfectly them in their skin. And the only thing better than that is discovering a new way to elevate that look. A new highlighter, a mascara wand with 500 bristles, a serum to make the skin a smooth canvas — the discovery is half the fun of makeup and skincare shopping. Here’s what people around our office are obsessed with, specifically from Ulta Beauty’s 21 Days of Beauty event (a.k.a. three weeks of fun like half-off Daily Beauty Steals, buy-two-get-one mini products, and shiny new launches of all types).
Tori Young
Copywriter
Tori loves her lips and considers them her strongest feature. As she puts it: “Who needs kissing when you have a soft smile that stops train traffic?” Below, her favorite Daily Beauty Steals from 21 Days of Beauty, including a vegan lip paint and lots of prep products for perfectly colorful lips that can go with any spring outfit.
Lancôme La Base Pro Oil Free Primer
For me, it all starts with getting that good glow. This is mainly so my skin can relax and my lips can take the driver’s seat. I love this primer (available half-off as a Daily Beauty Steal on March 25): It’s light, easy on my sensitive skin, and gives my face a satiny-soft light that tempts me to wear it by itself.
Laura Geller Supreme Lip Spackle
Before picking a lip color, I want to set myself up for all-day wear. Lip Spackle (an April 1 Daily Beauty Steal) is the perfect first coat, as it works with any color and glides on with a weightlessness that almost makes me forget how effective it is, thanks to the Vitamin E and rose hip oil.
Tarte Tarteist Quick Dry Matte Lip Paint
I love the colors of this product (April 4’s Daily Beauty Steal). They’re very me, mainly pinks, purples, and browns. The lip paint is vegan (!), which is fun for some reason even though I’m not vegan. But seriously, I love it because it hits me with this bold look without it being a whole ordeal.
Julia D’Orazio
Designer, Branded Content
For Julia, it’s all about a bold brow — forget about a lip. A downtown-Manhattan girl, she’s focused on keeping her brows and lashes full enough to feel “put together” without any makeup at all. She uses liner and brow gel every day, but she’s expanding her arsenal with a few Daily Beauty Steals.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz
This product (March 23’s 50-percent-off Daily Beauty Steal) has been a staple in my brow routine for years. I love using it to fill in any sparse areas. The tip of the pencil is so fine that it really helps create a more naturally-filled-in look. The spoolie brush on the other end helps to comb the hairs into shape and to blend out any pencil strokes.
Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel
I also love this product (a Daily Beauty Steal on April 6) for so many reasons. I get my brows tinted every month, and I use a dark brow gel for the in-between periods. I like to layer it on the outer edges since this is where I lack some fullness.
Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum
I’m obsessed with skincare, and I’m really excited to try this Vitamin C serum (an April 5 Daily Beauty Steal). I love Mario Badescu products. I’m thinking this will help brighten and smooth my skin to give me a great canvas — giving my complexion *an extra* boost so my brows stand out more.
Aydah Albaba
Director of Production, Branded Content
Aydah — no joke — has real eyelashes that touch her brows. She’s a more-is-more woman who can take up to two hours to get ready in the morning. Although she loves a good trend, it’s always all about the lashes here. (And come on, who can blame her?) Here’s what she’ll be snapping up from Ulta Beauty’s buy-two-get-one-free mix and match minis deal, specifically to stash in her bag for evenings out.
Tarte Travel Size Maneater Voluptuous Mascara
Not going to lie, I originally tried this Tarte mascara because of the name. I’m a sucker for good packaging! I was really pleased with how my lashes separated, as the wand has more than 500 bristles.
Urban Decay Travel Size All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray
I never leave the apartment without this in my purse — I’m obsessed with it. The spray keeps my highlighted eyes set and illuminated. It also keeps my foundation looking flawless throughout the day.
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter Mini in Champagne Pop
I like to add this highlighter under my brows and in the inner corners of my eye to help frame the lashes and illuminate my lids. It’s so easy to tuck into my bag and reapply when I need a little extra bit of shimmer.
Katie O’Donnell
Branded Content Editor
Katie is always striving for a razor-sharp black cat-eye, paired with flawless, radiant skin. Here’s what she’ll be using to upgrade her beauty routine this spring: some brand-new products debuting during this season’s 21 Days of Beauty event.
Too Faced Better Than Sex Eyeliner
Three things I look for in the perfect liquid liner are: that it’s waterproof (i.e, lasts longer!), that it’s smudge-proof (key for those of us with monolids), and that the tip is easy to control. This new one from Too Faced looks like it’ll check all the boxes, so I can’t wait to try it.
Too Faced Tutti Frutti You’re So Jelly Highlighter
When I go more dramatic with thick, winged-out liner — which I often do — I’ll keep the rest of my face pretty minimal. I’m excited to try this because it’ll diffuse light without heavy sparkle, and the jelly texture shouldn’t feel too makeup-y.
Urban Decay Naked Reloaded Eyeshadow Palette
One reason I’m loyal to the just-liner look is that I’m intimidated by eyeshadow. But I’ve been craving that copper-y, orange-toned eye look I’ve been seeing everywhere. Because Naked palettes are so well-loved, I’d start experimenting here.
Kiefer Roberts
Senior Integrated Marketing Manager
Each and every week, Kiefer has a dedicated “skincare night” to relax and mask. That glow takes hard work! “Given the skin is the biggest organ, taking care of it first and foremost leads me to feel better health-wise,” he says. Here are the new products that’ll keep him at his smoothest, glowiest, and most-hydrated.
Dermalogica Prisma Protect SPF 30
I just got back from a vacation in the Dominican Republic and accidentally left my sunscreen at home. It was the only thing I missed. I can’t wait to try this one on my next trip, or really anytime: I expect it’ll leave me feeling super-hydrated, protected, and with just an extra bit of glow.
Smashbox Crystalized Shimmer Drops in Moonstoned
I’m trying to get my skin to glow naturally, but when it needs a little help, I love some highlight. I’m excited to try these new Smashbox shimmer drops, just for an extra boost wherever my skin seems to need it.
Philosophy Anti-Wrinkle Miracle Worker+ Moisturizer
My skincare routine is all about trying to preserve the skin I was given, and as such, I have to adore this product. It keeps the skin super-moisturized, and it’ll fit well into a nighttime ritual to make me love my skin even more in the morning.
This is paid content produced for an advertiser by New York Stories. The editorial staff of The Cut did not play a role in its creation.