Latest news with #JacquelineKilikita
Refinery29
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Refinery29
Beauty Charms Taking Over Our Bags — & We Love These The Most
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. Call it the Labubu-fication of beauty, but it seems like the most covetable charm might already be sitting at the bottom of your handbag. Lip balms-turned-keychains are everywhere right now — and show no signs of slowing down. From clever add-ons that transform your favourite tube into an accessory to teeny-tiny charms made just for your go-to products, we're collectively living quite the charmed life these days. But it's not just about squeezy tubes. Logo keychains — including the 'bootleg' kind found on Amazon and Etsy — for brands like Bubble, Dior and Glossier — have become modern-day collectables. Repping your favourite sports team or designer label? That's cute. But we'll take a plush Tatcha fob, thank you very much. With everyone from high street to prestige brands getting in on the beauty charm game, scroll on to see which ones R29 editors are adding to their purses, keychains, belt loops and beyond. Bubble Tell All Lip Balm, £9 'This adorable pill-shaped balm is so cute I almost didn't want to use it. It lives on my work backpack, so whether I'm at the office or a coffee shop, I know I've got a balm on hand. I'm partial to the mint flavour — it's refreshing and cooling, especially on a hot day. Unlike some of the other lippies in this bunch, it's not tinted and doesn't have a glossy finish; it's just a lip balm — but a really good one.' — Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer Dior Addict Lip Glow Butter, £33 ' Whenever I pull this balm out of my bag, people flock — and I think the dainty Dior charm has something to do with it. A friend of mine even attached hers to her car keys and I'm obsessed. But it's not just about looks. The formula is packed with skin-strengthening peptides and moisturising ceramides, plus cherry oil for a glossy, non-sticky finish. My favourite shade is Black Cherry — a muted merlot that looks amazing with a darker lip liner. It's replaced my Rhode Peptide Lip Tint in Raspberry Jelly (which says a lot).' — Jacqueline Kilikita, Beauty Director Glossier Balm Dot Com Keychain, £18 ' I've never had Magnolia Bakery's famous banana pudding, but do I need to? This is the tastiest lip balm I own — I can't get enough. Dry lips? Don't know them (that's the magic of castor oil, beeswax and lanolin). The keychain, complete with a bunch of bananas and a screw-on metal cap, makes it even better. It's cutesy, kitsch and exactly the kind of fun my bag was missing.' — Jacqueline Kilikita, Beauty Director "This gloss is giving major nostalgia in the cutest way. The formula is everything you'd expect from Fenty — juicy, non-sticky and super flattering — but it's the Smurfette keychain charm that sealed the deal for me. It's playful, collectable and perfect for tossing on your bag or keys so you're never without a little gloss (and a lot of cuteness)." — Sara Tan, Global Beauty Director 'I love Dunkin' and I love Tarte, so this collab felt like it was made just for me. (It wasn't.) Like the rest of TikTok, I count the Maracuja Lip Plump as one of my most-used lip products for its hydrating, glossy and subtle plumping properties. This rosy mauve looks great on everyone, alone for a hint of tint or layered over liner for a lip combo moment. I didn't think the formula could be improved and then the brand added a tiny golden Dunkin' cup charm. Now it's a collector's item. ' — Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer Cocokind Ceramide Lip Blur Balm Hydrating & Smoothing Lip Treatment, £15 'I recently wrote a story about 'blurred' makeup, which led me to try this balm. The tint payoff is spot on; the shades are universally pretty and it feels plush and hydrating — there's truly not a meh one in the bunch. It's also one of the more affordable ones I've tried. I clip it onto a carabiner or my jumbo Baggu key chain.' — Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer This story was originally published on Refinery29 US.
Refinery29
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Refinery29
These Noyz Body Mists Are So Unique — & Linger On Your Skin All Day
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. ICYMI, body mists have very much re-entered the chat. What used to be a teenage beauty staple has emerged as one of the fastest-growing categories in fragrance. It's not hard to see why body mists have received so much love on TikTok: they present a low-commitment and affordable way to trial a scent — something many perfumes don't offer. But among the sea of body sprays that will make you smell like tropical fruit punch and sugary desserts, there's one editor-favorite brand that has unveiled something decidedly edgier and more grown-up. Enter: Noyz. Advertisement ADVERTISEMENT They're just as interesting and complex as the brand's eaux de parfum — only breezier, more affordable, and far more wearable for summer. Ahead, three R29 beauty editors each picked their favorite from the lineup. 'I am not speaking from personal experience here, but I can only imagine that Listen, Honey smells like what it felt like to be popular in high school. It reminds me of an elevated version of the beloved Victoria's Secret body mists, which is to say that it's sexy, feminine, but also a little unexpected. Personally, I find that gourmand scents can go from delicious to overpowering very quickly, but Noyz has really nailed the blend of honey, caramelly notes with amber, jasmine, and cardamom for a hint of spice. It lingers beautifully on my skin, hair, and clothes all day, and lasts longer than most other body sprays I've tried. It's warm and sensual, but not heady whatsoever. Plus, the 8.1 fluid ounce bottle will last me ages before having to repurchase.' — Karina Hoshikawa, senior writer Advertisement ADVERTISEMENT Salty Hair & Body Fragrance Mist 'The office erupted in compliments when Venus sprayed this last week, and I think that tells you everything you need to know about this body mist. I was thrilled to be the one taking it home to test. Beachy fragrances are my go-to; anything that smells like sipping a piña colada while wrapped in a sun-warmed towel after a dip in the ocean gets my vote. This one's fresh, thanks to pink sea salt and marine accord — like sea spray in the air — but golden waterlily and pineapple add a lusher, lightly floral edge. Salty reminds me so much of Floral Street's Arizona Bloom, but it's a touch more wearable — lighter, airier, and perfect for hot, humid days when you want to feel (and smell) clean but not soapy. While the staying power isn't as impressive as the brand's eau de parfum range, it sticks around much longer than most mists I've tried. I can't get enough.' — Jacqueline Kilikita, beauty director 'I normally steer clear of citrus scents since I find the smell too similar to cleaning products, but Juicy Chaos surprised me in the best way. By injecting spicy ginger extract and earthy vetiver into the mix, perfumer Jérôme Epinette has managed to capture the energizing aspects of Spanish orange and mandarins while giving it dimension. There's a slightly bitter zestiness to the scent — like biting on an orange rind straight from the fridge — which makes it refreshing without being too basic or saccharine. After the juicy top notes fade, the grounding moss and warm amber keep you company for the rest of the day. The dry-down unfolds with the nuance of a high-end eau de parfum, which makes this an absolute steal at $42. If you're the type of sophisticated adult that stocks your bathroom with hand wash from Aesop or Malin + Goetz, this one is very much up your street.' — Venus Wong, senior writer Shop Noyz's body mist collection Advertisement ADVERTISEMENT
Refinery29
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Refinery29
Beauty Charms Are Taking Over — These Are Team R29's Favorites
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. Call it the Labubu-fication of beauty, but it seems like the most covetable bag charm might already be sitting at the bottom of your purse. Lip balms-turned-keychains are everywhere right now — and show no signs of trending down. From clever add-ons that transform your favorite tube into an accessory to teeny-tiny charms made just for your go-to products, we're collectively living quite the charmed life these days. But it's not just about squeezy tubes. Logo keychains — including the 'bootleg' kind found on Amazon and Etsy — for brands like Bubble, Dior, and Glossier have become modern-day collectibles. Repping your favorite sports team or designer label? That's cute. But we'll take a plush Tatcha fob, thank you very much. With everyone from drugstore to prestige brands getting in on the beauty charm game, scroll on to see which ones R29 editors are adding to their purses, keychains, belt loops, and beyond. The Ordinary The Lip & Lash Set, $17 ' When The Ordinary announced it was entering the lip category with the Squalane + Amino Acids Lip Balm, I was positively giddy. I knew whatever they launched would have that signature The Ordinary focus on ingredients and innovation. Sure enough, this has become one of my favorite balms — especially now that she lives on my keys! The texture is lighter than some of the others I use, which I actually prefer for daytime. (My husband also loves it.) It's teeny enough to fit in the palm of my hand, and the little tear drop shape pops in a sea of squeezy tubes.' — Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer Bubble Tell All Lip Balm, $9 'This adorable pill-shaped balm is so cute I almost didn't want to use it. It lives on my work backpack, so whether I'm at the office or a coffee shop, I know I've got a balm on hand. I'm partial to the mint flavor — it's refreshing and cooling, especially on a hot day. Unlike some of the other lippies in this bunch, it's not tinted and doesn't have a glossy finish; it's just a lip balm — but a really good one.' — Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer ' Whenever I pull this balm out of my bag, people flock — and I think the dainty Dior charm has something to do with it. A friend of mine even attached hers to her car keys, and I'm obsessed. But it's not just about looks. The formula is packed with skin-strengthening peptides and moisturizing ceramides, plus cherry oil for a glossy, non-sticky finish. My favorite shade is Black Cherry — a muted merlot that looks amazing with a darker lip liner. It's replaced my Rhode Peptide Lip Tint in Raspberry Jelly (which says a lot).' — Jacqueline Kilikita, Beauty Director Glossier Balm Dot Com Keychain, $18 ' I've never had Magnolia Bakery's famous banana pudding, but do I need to? This is the tastiest lip balm I own — I can't get enough. Dry lips? Don't know them (that's the magic of castor oil, beeswax, and lanolin). The keychain, complete with a bunch of bananas and a screw-on metal cap, makes it even better. It's cutesy, kitsch, and exactly the kind of fun my bag was missing.' — Jacqueline Kilikita, Beauty Director tarte x Dunkin' Maracuja Juicy Shimmer Glass Lip Plump + Free Charm, $27 'I love Dunkin', and I love Tarte — so this collab felt like it was made just for me. (It wasn't.) Like the rest of TikTok, I count the Maracuja Lip Plump as one of my most-used lip products for its hydrating, glossy, and subtle plumping properties. This rosy mauve looks great on everyone — alone for a hint of tint or layered over liner for a lip combo moment. I didn't think the formula could be improved… and then they added a tiny golden Dunkin' cup charm. Now it's a collector's item. ' — Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer Cocokind Ceramide Lip Blur Balm Hydrating & Smoothing Lip Treatment, $11.99 'I recently wrote a story about"blurred" makeup, which led me to try this balm. The tint payoff is spot on, the shades are universally pretty, and it feels plush and hydrating — there's truly not a meh one in the bunch. It's also one of the more affordable ones I've tried. I clip it onto a carabiner or my jumbo Baggu key chain. ' — Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer
Refinery29
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Refinery29
We Wore e.l.f.'s New SPF Skin Tint & It Seriously Impressed Us
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. There has never been a better time to shop for a skin tint. A slew of new options have hit the shelves recently, each promising to impart a natural, 'your skin, but better' finish without any streakiness. Some feature buzzy ingredients with skincare benefits (MILK Makeup Hydro Grip Gel Tint, which contains brightening niacinamide, comes to mind). Others, like Merit's The Uniform, pull double duty by offering SPF protection, guarding the skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays. The latest to join this ever-expanding product category? e.l.f. Cosmetics' Halo Glow Skin Tint SPF 50, $38. If you're familiar with e.l.f. Cosmetics, you've probably already heard of the brand's Halo Glow Liquid Filter Foundation, $29. This bestseller has cultivated a dedicated following as a more affordable alternative to Charlotte Tilbury's Hollywood Flawless Filter Foundation, $74. Now, the brand promises to bring the same glow-boosting benefits in a featherlight format which also includes SPF 50 protection. After wearing this new skin tint over several hot and sweaty days, our editors share their honest thoughts on whether it lives up to its glowy promises. Jacqueline Kilikita, beauty director 'Sound the klaxon! I think I've found the best skin tint for girlies with light olive skin. Most shades lean too yellow or too pink for me, but 6 Light Cool is just right. It makes me look fresh and alive. Texture-wise, it applies more like a light-coverage foundation than a typical tint, which in my experience tends to be a bit more watery. This one's got more substance; it easily covers breakouts and acne scars, yet still feels like minimal makeup. I blend it in with a fluffy brush in seconds, and my skin just drinks it up. So much so, I actually look forward to using it every morning. I love the finish too: matte and glowy in all the right places. I'm always pleasantly surprised when I check my makeup in the lift mirror at the end of the day — it's still perfectly intact, with hardly any movement or creasing. I already know I'm going to use this down to the last drop. In fact, I've shelved or given away every other tint in my makeup bag. This is the one.' L'Oréal Blackett, Unbothered UK Editor 'I now have a lovely collection of skin tints, after years of not quite trusting the shade match of many tints on the market. They've now replaced my foundations as the makeup I wear daily, so e.l.f. Cosmetics' new skin tint had a lot to live up to. This is a very light formula but with buildable coverage. It's sheer enough to feel lightweight on the skin but helps to even out the skin tone. My skin tone is gradually shifting to its summer shade, so if you're my 'shade twin', I would pick a few shades darker. The result isn't my perfect match — but close — and I feel good that there were plenty of other options for me in the shade range, from 'tan' to 'deep' with options of cool, neutral and warm undertones (this amount of choice is always a win for an affordable brand). The formula is sheer enough to blend into my skin and look undetectable. It feels just like skin. All in all, this is a great skin tint at an accessible price point — and a handy one to pack in your hand luggage for your next holiday.' Venus Wong, senior writer 'Let's start with the positives: I'm very impressed by the formula, which melts right into the skin and casts a healthy, glowy filter. I wore shade 8 Medium Neutral to a party and got non-stop compliments about how lovely my skin looked. I attribute this to niacinamide, an ingredient that helps brighten the skin and reduce oil production. The coverage is sufficient enough to blur some of the spots around my temples and even out patches of discolouration without feeling like an oil slick, which is always a bonus when I barely feel like wearing makeup in the summer. It has a slightly thick texture, so the application looked far more natural when I stippled the product with a foundation brush, compared to just using my fingers (this is worth keeping in mind if you prefer using your hands). The one letdown for me has to do with the shade: For some reason, Light Cool was far too fair on my skin, while Medium Neutral appeared almost orange. I've seen creators like Golloria and The Lipstick Lesbians discuss their struggles with the shade range, saying that the product can oxidise and appear more orange on the skin. Medium Neutral looked great after I mixed it with my go-to highlighter drops (Glow Recipe's Watermelon Hue Drops in Rosy Glow), but I definitely think the brand can benefit from a shade expansion.' 'Many skin tints and foundations claim to have a skin-like finish, but e.l.f's Halo Glow Skin Tint has exceeded my expectations with flying colours. It's truly undetectable on skin, even when I build up coverage. While anything with 'glow' in the product name tends to read as greasy on my oily skin, this stuff miraculously looks incredible. It has a filter-like finish that blurs imperfections but looks like I don't have any makeup on. I mix shades 5 and 7 to get a perfect match, but I could definitely use either one alone based on the time of year and how tanned I am. The fact that it has SPF 50 protection (it's mineral, but doesn't appear ashy on my skin) easily makes this my new go-to complexion product for summer. If it came in a Costco-sized jug, I'd be the first in line to buy.'
Refinery29
27-06-2025
- Health
- Refinery29
13 The Ordinary Products Beauty Editors & Experts Can't Live Without
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. Since its inception nine years ago, The Ordinary has come to define affordable, no-nonsense skincare. Firmly committed to ingredient transparency and reasonable pricing, the brand consistently delivers innovative products at a fraction of the cost you would normally pay elsewhere. It's no wonder that each new launch and restock from the brand has become a highly anticipated event, with waitlists often stretching into the thousands (recent successes like the GF 15% Solution and Serum Foundation come to mind). Ahead, we've asked our international community of beauty editors and experts to share their all-time favourite products from The Ordinary — the ones they'd gladly repurchase with their own money. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to the brand, these are the standout heroes that deserve a spot on your bathroom shelf. The Ordinary GF 15% Solution, $26.90 'I maintain that this serum ended my Botox obsession. Hear me out: the star ingredients are growth factors — a type of peptide or protein known to kickstart and encourage skin cell growth over time. Besides being used to heal wounds, they have another major skincare benefit: boosting collagen and elastin, the two things that make skin plump. Collagen-rich skin shows fewer fine lines and wrinkles. Don't get me wrong — those are totally natural and a normal part of aging, but I suspect mine are down to my own doing, thanks to too much sun exposure when I was younger, not to mention dehydration. (I'm terrible at drinking water.) This serum smooths my skin without making it feel tight, and since using it, I've noticed a significant difference in the depth of my forehead lines. They're more filled out, and my forehead is noticeably smoother, as are my under-eyes. I'm already on my third bottle and love layering it under sunscreen or a nourishing night cream before bed. Even better? It's nowhere near the price of Botox — and there are no needles involved.' — Jacqueline Kilikita, beauty director 'I've been using this milky toner religiously since last September and haven't looked back — my skincare routine would be nothing without it. I've tried a lot of hydrating toners over the years, and this one is by far my favourite. It delivers long-lasting hydration for my normal-to-dry skin type [thanks to squalane, an emollient that helps trap moisture in the skin]. Meanwhile, saccharomyces, a type of yeast ferment, gently exfoliates the skin and leaves a radiant glow. It also makes for the perfect skincare base before applying makeup.' — Vanese Maddix, contributing beauty writer The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner, $20.50 'Full disclosure: my skin doesn't usually do well with chemical exfoliants. It almost always ends in irritated skin and rosacea-related flare-ups. Yet this glycolic acid toner from The Ordinary is one of the very few formulas that has never failed me. I've been steadily relying on this clever formula for improving my skin texture and achieving a radiant complexion. What I love most is that this water-based AHA exfoliator also features a Tasmanian pepperberry derivative, which is a plant extract that helps soothe the skin in the process, ensuring minimal irritation (if any).' — Denise Primbet, freelance beauty writer The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion Serum, $25.50 'This is easily the best retinoid I've ever tried, especially for the price. I've gone through two tubes of this already and have the brighter, smoother skin to show for it. If you're a retinoid newbie, this may be a bit much to start with and might cause some purging [breakouts, redness, and sensitivity]. I didn't experience any irritation or flaking after integrating this product into my routine. In fact, I found this serum to be one of the gentler, high-strength retinal serums I've tried, thanks to synthetic oat analogues that soothe and calm the skin. I've seen a visible reduction in my dark spots and texture, and at just over $25, it easily beats products that cost quadruple.' — Karina Hoshikawa, senior writer The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, $10.70 'I have fond memories of this product, as it was my go-to face cream when I lived and worked in Hong Kong at the start of my career. The city has a subtropical climate, so it's hot and humid for the majority of the year, and most moisturisers are just way too greasy in that type of weather. Not this formula, though. Ingredients like urea, ceramides, and fatty acids strengthen and moisturise the skin's natural barrier without clogging pores, while hyaluronic acid adds further hydration. I enjoy the airy, fast-absorbing texture so much that I also use this under my eyes, in place of heavier eye creams. The budget-friendly price was much appreciated when I was earning an entry-level paycheque, and it's still very much a staple for me now.' — Venus Wong, senior writer The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser, $19.70 'Whenever I get to the bottom of this cleanser, I feel a bit sad — that's how good it is. It's one of the most gentle and moisturising face washes I've tried (that'll be the glycolipids; more on them in a sec), yet it dissolves foundation, sunscreen, and even thick mascara in moments, leaving my skin clean but never squeaky. It manages all that without lathering, which usually dries my skin out and leaves it feeling like it might shatter. The star ingredients are glycolipids. Without taking you back to science class, a lipid is a fat that occurs naturally in the skin. Glycolipids are fats with carbohydrates attached, and they help care for the cells that form tissues like skin. In this cleanser, they soothe and moisturise — exactly what I want from a face wash. Better still? It's just $19.70, so I'm not too annoyed when my partner steals it from the shower.' — Jacqueline Kilikita, beauty director The Ordinary Serum Foundation, $12.70 'I'll always have a soft spot for this serum foundation as it was one of the first I ever tried that matched my dark skin tone exactly. I have such fond memories of visiting The Ordinary's pop-up store years ago and being perfectly shade-matched. While I'm yet to try it again since its return, the brand has confirmed that the formula is the same as when it was discontinued back in 2022. From what I remember, it was one of the OGs of the no-makeup makeup look. It glides seamlessly onto the skin and feels incredibly lightweight. As someone who can't stand the feel of heavy foundation or skin tints, this serum formula is a dream. Here's hoping it becomes a permanent fixture in The Ordinary's product line.' — Vanese Maddix, contributing beauty writer The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum, $39.50 'This is somewhat of a sleeper hit in The Ordinary's catalogue. I'm solidly team eye serum, since they tend to be lighter in texture and absorb much more readily than a thicker cream. My main goal with my eye area is to hydrate and brighten; this serum does all that, and feels like heaven to apply. It feels so refreshing and cooling (I don't even leave it in the fridge!) when I gently tap it underneath my eyes, and it doesn't create a slip-and-slide effect for any makeup that goes over it. It's an easy, no-frills essential in my routine.' — Karina Hoshikawa, senior writer The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque, $22 'I love putting on this charcoal and clay clarifying mask on a Sunday; it's part of my end-of-week reset ritual. This is a fast-acting product due to salicylic acid [a gentle BHA that helps dissolve blackheads and dead skin cells]. I turn to this product every summer, when breakouts happen more often due to sweat and heat, and it always helps keep my skin in check. Of course, it's important to always follow with sunscreen and a sun safe routine.' — Tanyel Mustafa, senior writer The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum, $29.10 'As someone who has rosacea and dry skin, focusing on barrier repair is a must when it comes to curating my skincare routine. I've sworn by this serum from The Ordinary for over a year now, and I still haven't found a formula that manages to soothe, hydrate, and nourish my skin as effectively. Not only does it have an aesthetically pleasing pink hue, but it genuinely does a great job at calming my redness and treating sudden flare-ups. It's also packed with my favourite barrier-loving ingredients, like centella asiatica, ceramides, and niacinamide.' — Denise Primbet, freelance beauty writer The Ordinary Squalane + Amino Acids Lip Balm, $16.30 'I'm shouting out this lip balm on behalf of myself and my husband. It's lightweight (a key factor for men who simply can't cope with anything resembling a gloss) but really hydrates and smooths rough, cracked lips. I think it's more like a lip serum, personally, since the texture is much thinner than other balms in my rotation, which I love for the daytime. (I prefer something more occlusive at night.) I'd also be remiss not to mention the packaging, which I find positively adorable — also small purse/pocket friendly.' — Karina Hoshikawa, senior writer The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser, $18.30 'A creamy, hydrating cleanser is the only way to go when you have dry, sensitive skin like mine. This one is by far my favourite. Once massaged into your hands, it applies like a buttery oil which effortlessly cleans my face of makeup, dirt, and grime (yes, even the most stubborn of products). It does so without leaving skin feeling parched or making me feel greasy, like I need to double cleanse, as many oil cleansers can do. Better yet, it's less than $20. Who says you have to shell out big bucks for good quality skincare? Not The Ordinary!' — Esther Newman, affiliate writer The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil, $18.90 'When I started my gua sha routine a couple of years ago, I searched far and wide for an inexpensive face oil, and this was the winner. It has the perfect consistency for the practice, since it has a rich consistency (but not too rich) and provides enough slip for the tool to glide over the entire face without absorbing too quickly. Rosehip seed oil is rich in antioxidants and omega fatty acids, which can help reduce the visible effects of environmental stressors, such as pollution and UV damage. I tend to switch to this oil when I do gua sha in the winter, and notice my skin tone becoming more even as a result.' — Venus Wong, senior writer
