A Sephora-like Beauty Hub For Women of Color is Coming to Dupont Circle - Washingtonian - Hello friends Beauty tools and beauty tips, In the article that you are reading this time with the title A Sephora-like Beauty Hub For Women of Color is Coming to Dupont Circle - Washingtonian, we have prepared this article well for you to read and take the information in it. hopefully the contents of the post what we write you can understand. all right, have a nice reading.
Kimberly Smith of Marjani Beauty and Amaya Smith of the Product Junkie. Photo courtesy of Brown Beauty Co-Op.
WhenKimberly SmithandAmaya Smith talk about why they started their respective businesses, they both tend to use the same key word: frustration. Kimberly Smith is the founder of Marjani Beauty, an online retailer that sells a curated selection of skincare and makeup products for women with darker skin tones. Similarly, Amaya Smith runs a start-up called the Product Junkie that helps women find hair products and tools for natural hair. This winter, the long-time friends—no relation—are teaming up to introduce a new kind of store to Dupont Circle.
Brown Beauty Co-Op aims to bring a mix of skincare, hair, and beauty products for women of color to a 1,000-square foot store at 1365 Connecticut Avenue Northwest.The space is slated to open in December and will feature soothing rose pink tones, evoking a Sephora or Bluemercury-style environment with polished finishes. The pair are going for a modern look that they feel are missing in today's brick-and-mortar market. "We are not a beauty supply," explains Kimberly Smith. "We want it to feel luxurious and high-end."
Patrons will be able to browse a curated selection of products from up-and-coming and established brands at a variety of price points, all designed with darker skin tones in mind, including labels such as Marena Beauty, Hue Noir, Christal Cosmetics, and Joliette by Afrodeity. Designed to better serve and complement darker complexions, these products will range from high-quality foundation, to blushes, eyeshadows, and various lipstick shades. The co-op will predominately stock natural and organic products, which are often more challenging to find for women of color as well.
Kimberly Smith and Amaya Smith are quick to point out that when they say "brown beauty," it includes all skin tones and ethnicities, not just black women. "We want to be able to serve a lot of other women who are underrepresented in the market like Indian and Latino women," they explain. "It's important to acknowledge there are a lot of similar experiences across cultures."
The boutique will have a salon space for makeup application and hair tutorials, open for both appointments and drop-ins (so you can get a quick touch up on your lunch break). The founders are stacking up the calendar with rotating pop-ups and events as well, positioning the store as a community space where women of color can feel empowered. They also plan to serve as an incubator space for independent beauty companies trying to get a foothold in the local market. The co-founders are hoping that the space will fill a vacuum in DC's beauty scene.
"Having lived and worked here for the past ten years, it has always just surprised me how culturally diverse it is, yet when it comes to beauty, I can still go into stores and not find products for me," says Kimberly Smith. "To me that's quite unbelievable. It's not like we are in middle America. In this region we make up a huge percent of the population at all different levels of socioeconomic status."
The soon-to-be storefront of Brown Beauty Co-Op 1365 Connecticut Avenue Northwest. Photography courtesy of Brown Beauty Co-Op.
Kimberly Smith is originally from Philadelphia and Amaya Smith grew up in Silver Spring. Kimberly Smith has been running Marjani Beauty for two years now, and Amaya Smith is just getting the Product Junkie off the ground, but the collaboration was a natural fit. Putting all the products and options under one roof was key: Rather than schlepping from specialty store to specialty store, they wanted to create a Sephora-style hub, a one-stop shop for all women of color who struggle to find products that actually work for them or address their skin tone in traditional department stores.
"I've gone to the ethnic aisle in Target or CVS… and it is like chaos and comedy in there," says Amaya Smith. "Women of color have always sort of been relegated to this random aisle where people are like picking up paper towels and toilet paper, meanwhile, you're trying to figure out what product works for you. We wanted to create a store that said 'this is for you.' A space that carries beauty products that affirm you and actually meet your needs."
It's not an uncommon experience, of course. Women of color have been pushing for more inclusivity— and representation when it comes to products like foundation shades—for years. The past decade has seen some progress as the fashion and beauty industries finally seem to be taking baby steps towards inclusivity and diversity, terms that have long been given lip-service but have less often seen meaningful realization. This year alone, we've seen the ascent of dark-skinned models like Eniola Abioro and Adut Aket, the ad campaign domination of British model Adwoa Aboah, the reign of Rihanna's Fenty Beauty offering 40 shades, and an increase in representation in the fashion industry—all encouraging signs of a much-needed shift that make Brown Beauty Co-Op feel especially timely. "It's not as white-washed as it was and we are starting to embrace different complexions and tones and cultures being represented," says Kimberly Smith.
But the founders are focusing on doing the work here on the ground in DC, bringing change to the area in a tangible way so that women of color can pop into the Dupont Circle location for makeup services or a beauty fix on their way to work and know they will find products that work for them. It's not just a social cause—they are part of a booming demographic of black women-owned businesses hoping to harness some of the estimated $1.5 trillion in black spending power by 2021.
"There is the emphasis on black women not just as a consumer but as a driver of consumer trends and dollars and also as a generator of revenue as the largest group to start small businesses. You have this movement of 'black girl magic' where black women are excelling at a lot of different things—business is just one of them—but there is a lot of emphasis on how we grow black consumer brands and businesses and how we invest in them. We are at a really opportune moment with Brown Beauty Co-Op and fulfilling a consumer need that I think has always been there," Amaya Smith explains.
"The girls are wanting it," says Kimberly Smith, referring to the women who have been introduced to the brand on social media and at pop-ups. "They are excited for it because they need it."
Brown Beauty Co-Op; 1365 Connecticut Avenue Northwest, Suite #100; brownbeautyco-op.com.
*Correction: A previous version of this article listed the store address incorrectly as 135 Connecticut Avenue West.
Assistant Editor
Hayley is an Associate Editor at Washingtonian Weddings. Previously she was the the Style Editor at The Local Palate, a Southern food culture magazine based out of Charleston, South Carolina. You can follow her on instagram @wandertaste.
Our Good Housekeeping Institute beauty experts evaluated over 1,000 skincare, hair and makeup products to find which ones really work. From GH Seal stars to breakthrough innovations and the year's hottest picks — here are the top 75 our experts stand behind.
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How We Tested
The Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab's chemists, Ph.D. director, and beauty team experts evaluated thousands of skincare, hair, and makeup products using both consumer and Lab testing with state-of-the-art scientific instruments to find which products on the market really work and stand above the rest. The Good Housekeeping Beauty Awards encompass the Beauty Lab's best-tested products, GH Seal stars, breakthrough innovations, and the year's hottest new picks.
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Multi-Benefit SPF Day Cream
Mary Kaymarykay.com
$32.00
More than a moisturizer, Mary Kay's lightweight day cream boasts actives like antioxidants and peptides for high- level hydration, brightening, and line-fighting benefits.
TESTER NOTES Both formulas (for combination-to- oily and normal-to-dry skin) got absorbed fast and were non-greasy, users said.
LAB LOWDOWN Clinical studies showed that 80% of testers saw an increased glow and 70% perceived minimized facial lines.
Youth-Boosting Moisturizer
RoCamazon.com
$21.82
A Beauty Lab favorite, this luxe- feeling Roc cream is based on the research-verified ingredient retinol, which speeds up skin cell turnover to reduce dark spots and wrinkles starting in as little as seven days.
TESTER NOTES In clinical tests, volunteers' skin looked 32% smoother and more radiant after one week of daily use.
LAB LOWDOWN The formula improved the look of wrinkles and dark spots by 46% over eight weeks and kept skin moisturized for a full 24 hours, data revealed.
Supercharged Serum
Olayamazon.com
$34.99
With concentrated quantities of the powerhouse brightener niacinamide and smoothing peptides, Olay's silky serum delivers almost instant results.
LAB LOWDOWN The potent 5% niacinamide effectively sped up skin cell regeneration, and cheek and eye lines were visibly smoothed 10 minutes after application, evaluations found.
Firming Neck Treatment
NO 7amazon.com
$29.99
The best in the Beauty Lab's neck cream test, No7's serum effectively tightens notoriously stubborn crepey and sagging neck skin.
TESTER NOTES "My neck was more firm," one reported, and another was impressed by the same effect on her jawline.
LAB LOWDOWN Our before-and-after digital imaging revealed the most improvement in lifting and tightening neck skin of all products tested over 12 weeks of daily use.
Wrinkle-Smoothin Night Cream
Neutrogenaamazon.com
$17.97
Starring a special fast-acting form of retinol plus skin-plumping hyaluronic acid, this Neutrogena overnight lotion tackles all types of facial creases while you sleep.
LAB LOWDOWN In a test on 120 women, an impressive 100% had noticeable results after one week; it diminished the look of deep forehead, cheek and crow's-feet wrinkles as well as brightened skin tone in eight weeks.
Age-Fighting Face Peel
Dermalogicadermalogica.com
$85.00
The winner of the Beauty Lab's at-home facial peels test, this lactic acid formulation rated best with testers for evening skin tone and reducing lines, with 100% confirming that they'd use it again.
All-In-One Eye Cream
L'Oreal Parisamazon.com
$11.93
Made with softening botanical oils and depuff- ing caffeine, the light yet mighty cream is proven to hydrate, firm and smooth crepey eye skin and crow's-feet plus lessen the look of dark circles and bags.
Pro Laser
This in-office treatment is the first to combine two types of lasers in a single session for better results in less time. Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Sabina Wizemann reported a noticeable improvement in dark spots and pore count after one visit, with minimal downtime.
Line Filler
No. 7amazon.com
$34.60
Zero in on etched lines with this peptide-packed serum; 70% of users saw visible reduction in forehead wrinkles, 73% in lip area lines and 66% in creases between brows after two weeks.
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Powerful Moisturizer
$28sephora.com
A gold standard, the Clinique lotion stands the test of time, effectively hydrating skin for hours in Lab assess- ment despite a featherweight feel.
LAB LOWDOWN Measurements with the Lab's Corneometer device, which gauges skin hydration levels, showed that it increased moisture by an impressive 41% over six hours
Balancing Face Wash
Cetaphilamazon.com
$15.18
With a powder-fresh scent and mild suds, Cetaphil topped the Lab's face wash test for cleansing thoroughly yet leaving skin soft.
TESTER NOTES Several remarked that it was gentle and great for sensitive skin. "It didn't overdry, strip or irritate," one raved.
LAB LOWDOWN Testers ranked it highest of all cleansers, with 86% saying they'd continue using it. Plus, it scored well for rinsing off easily and making skin feel hydrated.
Reviving Face Oil
Lancomelancome-usa.com
$49.00
Infused with a bouquet of botanical oils (rose, evening primrose, geranium), Lancôme's translucent blend was a winner of the Lab's facial oil test thanks to its subtle floral scent and hydrating effects.
TESTER NOTES The "luxurious" liquid was "soothing and calming," and it made skin look "more radiant and feel "fresh and alive."
LAB LOWDOWN It increased skin's moisture content by 11%, nearly the highest level of all face oils evaluated, over six hours in Lab testing.
Purifying Face Scrub
Acureamazon.com
$8.81
Number one in the Beauty Lab's face scrub test, Acure's formula clarifies skin with a blend of walnut shell powder and green clay.
TESTER NOTES Fans called it the best they'd ever used. "My skin looks so refreshed and smooth, I didn't need makeup," one marveled.
LAB LOWDOWN It earned a perfect score for complexion cleansing in a test of full-coverage makeup removal and rated highest with testers for clearing impurities and brightening.
Nourishing Cleanser
POND'Starget.com
$9.99
This unique face wash in solid balm form morphs into an oil on skin and doubles as makeup remover; it left one tester's complexion feeling "supple, as if I'd applied moisturizer."
Glow-Giving Primer
Aveenoamazon.com
$18.11
Shake up the innovative dual-phase makeup primer/serum hybrid, then pat it on skin to instantly look "luminous," one tester said, thanks to a cocktail of natural oils, vitamins and kiwifruit water.
Brightening Cream
Olayamazon.com
$20.40
A cloud-like moisturizer with 5% niacinamide and green tea, it quickly soaks into skin, ups radiance through an eight-hour day and fades and shrinks dark spots and pores over time, Lab data confirmed.
On-The-Go Skin Fix
L'Oreal Parisamazon.com
$11.59
Lab experts loved this portable silkening shea butter–and-honey balm for fast relief of uncomfortably parched, flaky skin, as a rich overnight face "mask" and on rough cuticles.
Makeup Remover
Garnieramazon.com
$6.59
Swipe Garnier's 2-in-1 micellar water makeup remover/face wash on skin with a cotton pad (no rinsing!).
LAB LOWDOWN The formula thoroughly cleanses and clears makeup, yet is nondrying, Beauty Lab evaluations found.
Radiance-Enhancing Face Wash
Freshamazon.com
$48.00
Naturally scented with cucumber and blended with nourishing botanicals like sunflower oil, Fresh's nearly foamless wash was mildest on skin and best at boosting radiance.
TESTER NOTES "I have extremely sensitive skin and had no reactions to this," one marveled. It also left skin "brighter" and with "a glow," others said.
LAB LOWDOWN A rare 100% of testers, including those with sensitivity, said it didn't irritate.
Detoxifying Face Mask
Mary Kaymarykay.com
$24.00
Treat your complexion to this rinse-off charcoal and clay Mary Kay mask, which is proven to nix grease and clarify.
LAB LOWDOWN The formula reduces skin's oil 89% and shine 84% in 15 minutes, Lab data evaluation showed.
This state-of-the-art SkinCeuticals technology allows you to get a face serum custom-made (and labeled!) for your skin on the spot at a dermatologist's office.
LAB LOWDOWN "The service combines pro assessment with an advanced algorithm to tailor specific concentrations of science-backed ingredients like glycolic acid and retinol to an individual's skin needs. These are then mixed by a machine in a base for your skin type," says Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Sabina Wizemann. "It's superior to all other personalized skincare on the market."
Affordable Face Oil
Palmer'samazon.com
$9.87
The lowest-priced of the face oils the Good Housekeeping Beauty Lab tested, Palmer's 10-botanical-oil blend (with argan, apricot and almond oils) was also a hero skin hydrator.
TESTER NOTES Skin had a "healthy glow" and "... the lines are gone!" two said.
LAB LOWDOWN In testing using the Beauty Lab's Corneometer device, which gauges skin hydration levels, it measured an 8% skin-moisture uptick without feeling heavy.
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All-Star Mascara
Maybellineamazon.com
$6.00
The top of the Lab's mascara test, this buildable Maybelline New York magic wand won for giving lashes natural-looking definition.
TESTER NOTES Eyelashes looked "thick and lush" and "long," and it "lasted through Zumba sessions without smudging or flaking."
LAB LOWDOWN The formula scored highest at separating lashes, brushing on smoothly and not clumping.
First-Place Foundation
GIORGIO ARMANIamazon.com
$79.85
This luxurious satin-finish Armani Beauty base proved worthy of its best-seller status (and high-end price): It earned the top rating in the Beauty Lab's test of label-masked foundations for gliding on feeling like— true to its name—silk.
LAB LOWDOWN Professional-makeup-artist evaluators gave the "good for all skin types" formula, in a selection of 30 shades, the highest overall score. They found that it had the smoothest texture and was best for spreading on and blending into skin.
Budgeproof Brow Definer
L'Oreal Parisamazon.com
$13.96
To fake full, well-shaped brows that stay put, look no further than L'Oréal Paris's water-resistant tinted gel, in five shades with a dual- sided blending brush.
LAB LOWDOWN In a 100- woman test, 85% said their brows looked thicker and 93% said it wore well for a full day, data showed.
Waterproof Mascara
La Roche-Posayamazon.com
$25.00
Even H2O won't mess with La Roche-Posay, the Beauty Lab's winning waterproof mascara.
TESTER NOTES "The first one that didn't smudge through crying, sweating or rubbing," with "volume so noticeable, I could skip eyeliner."
LAB LOWDOWN It scored high for not running or smearing in the Lab's splash test, which involves vigorous repeated exposure to warm water.
Longwear Eyeliner
Physicians Formulaamazon.com
$5.95
Physicians Formula's retractable liner hit the mark for best pencil, drawing bold lines that lasted at the most affordable price.
TESTER NOTES It delivered "really rich color" that "glided on easily and stayed all day," several said. "I got many compliments!"
LAB LOWDOWN100% of testers reported that the liner didn't fade during wear, better staying power than all others evaluated.
Powder Foundation
Bare Escentualsamazon.com
$15.00
One of the trailblazers of mineral makeup, BareMinerals lived up to its legacy, out- performing all other powder foundations in the Lab's test, providing versatile coverage that's buildable from sheer to full in 30 shades.
TESTER NOTES "You can't make a powder much better than this," one marveled. "It's great for taking away redness," another remarked.
LAB LOWDOWN The matte- finish powder earned points on par with liquid formulas for smoothness and effortless uniform dispersion on skin.
3-in-1 Base
COVERGIRLamazon.com
$12.48
Swirled with skincare ingredients like brightening vitamin B3 and softening vitamin E, this cream foundation goes on like face moisturizer and can double as cover-up, our Lab expert says.
Full-Cover Concealer
IT Cosmeticsitcosmetics.com
$26.00
Find the perfect match for your skin tone among this dense cream's huge range of 48 hues; it scored a rare 100 for flawless coverage of all types of skin issues in the Lab's concealer test.
Smooth Cover-Up
ESTEE LAUDEResteelauder.com
$29.00
Tied for tops in Lab testing, the silky light- weight liquid evens out skin tone effectively and rated best for texture, easy application and spreadability.
Steal Concealer
NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUPamazon.com
$14.50
This easy-to-apply NYX formula, in six shades, was the most budget-friendly of the Beauty Lab's concealers test winners.
LAB LOWDOWN Ideal for lighter coverage (sheer to medium), this ranked well for dispensing, applying and spreading, in a wide variety of color options.
Eyes to Kill Proliner Eyeliner
GIORGIO ARMANInordstrom.com
$36.00
The user favorite of the Beauty Lab's eyeliner test, this Armani Beauty liquid formula glides on effortlessly and stays on all day.
TESTER NOTES "I didn't need to touch it up at all throughout the day," one marveled. "I shy away from liquid eyeliners because they're hard to apply, but this was the first I've used that went on effortlessly," another said.
LAB LOWDOWN It scored well in Lab evaluations for creating smooth lines that didn't move once set.
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Long-Lasting Makeup
Bobbi Brownsephora.com
$37.00
Worth the splurge, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics' extra-rich full-coverage lipcolor won "gold" in the Beauty Lab's long-wear lipstick test.
TESTER NOTES Users rated it highest post-application and were most likely to con- tinue using it after testing. "The color lasted five hours, through eating lunch, drinking beverages with straws and even biting nails!" one marveled. "I forgot I had it on," another commented.
LAB LOWDOWN It was best at not smearing and retaining vibrant color in the Lab's evaluation of transfer to cups after sipping a hot drink.
Nondrying Matte Lipstick
YSLyslbeautyus.com
$39.00
For a shine-free finish that won't parch lips, kiss up to one of YSL Beauty's 17 jojoba oil–infused shades.
TESTER NOTES They "got many compliments" on the "beautiful" and "flawless" color. "The coverage was so full, I didn't need lip liner like I normally do," a fan said.
LAB LOWDOWN The lipstick earned the highest score for not drying out lips and performed well for even and vivid color, including through the Beauty Lab's hot-drink transfer test.
Sculpting Blush
COVERGIRLamazon.com
$3.44
In an array of 18 wearable shades from nudes to pinks, peaches and plums, the classic velvety CoverGirl powder defines cheeks in one sweep for less than a latte.
LAB LOWDOWN The blush is proven to be easy to apply and blend on skin and impart a soft, natural look.
Revolutionary Polish Remover
The Sign Tribeulta.com
$14.99
Dissolve lacquer sans irritating chemicals with The Sign Tribe's innovative cream.
LAB LOWDOWN "The formula has a special solvent that's non-sensitizing to skin plus conditioners like botanical oils," says Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Sabina Wizemann. It had a pleasant scent, removed up to four layers of polish effectively and even made nails look more hydrated in Lab assessment.
Nail your manis and pedis with CND's new no-damage, fast-removal pro gel nail polish service, available in a rainbow of 65 colors.
TESTER NOTES 100% of testers gave it a perfect score for drying quickly, and several said it left nails "healthy" and "stronger" after it was removed. LAB LOWDOWN The two-step treatment didn't damage testers' nails and improved their condition on average, the Beauty Lab's test confirmed, and it took only 60 seconds to remove (versus up to 15 minutes for other gels).
Multi-Use Tint
Shiseidoshiseido.com
$25.00
These weightless, bouncy cream colors can be used as eyeshadow, over lipcolor or as highlighter on cheek- bones and more. Tester's take: "Foolproof application with fingers, and the subtle shimmer enlivened my face."
Genius Lip Gloss
Marc Jacobsmarcjacobsbeauty.com
$28.00
A first-of-its-kind formula that solves every gloss issue: Housed in a twist- up stick, "it swipes on and feels conditioning like a lip balm with no gooey mess or stickiness," a tester enthused.
Fresh Cheek Color
Elizabeth Ardenelizabetharden.com
$26.50
Made with cool tech — literally — this blush's water-gel texture feels slightly chilly on contact and melds into skin, leaving a sheer wash of color that "makes me look awake and revived," a fan said.
Standout Liquid Lip
CHANELamazon.com
$49.98
This unique lip "powder" delivers bold powder pigment with the slip of soft cream. "The squeeze tube's sponge tip glides it on in seconds, and the formula gives lips a diffused, stain- like effect that feels like satin," our Beauty Lab expert says.
Bargain Longwear Lipstick
No7amazon.com
$15.50
This creamy No7 lipstick—the most affordable of the Beauty Lab's longwear lipstick test winners—lived up to its name, staying put for several hours in Lab evaluations.
TESTER NOTE "The lipstick stayed so bright throughout the entire day and didn't come off at all," one enthused. "Huge fan!"
LAB LOWDOWN It tied for best with two high-end brands for color that stayed vibrant through the Lab's test of transfer after sipping a hot drink and scored high with testers for smooth application.
LipColor Enhancer
Almayamazon.com
$7.99
Give your lipsticks new life with Almay's sheer golden topcoat for lips: Apply over any shade to add a subtle gleam, or on top of lip balm or alone for a subtly luminous neutral look.
TESTER NOTE "The hint of shimmer added a flattering dimension to all the lipsticks I tried it with, from nude shades to bold fuchsias," one fan said.
Next-Gen Highlighter
Revlonamazon.com
Not your basic highlighter, this unique Revlon cream has a fun Jello-like texture that melds into skin to give a fresh-faced glow.
TESTER NOTE "The rose gold shade I tried made my skin looked sun-lit and revived in seconds, and the subdued shimmer didn't appear fake like some highlighters can," one remarked.
Perfect 10 Nail Polish
Essieamazon.com
$7.84
The classic Essie formula nailed the Good Housekeeping Beauty Lab's polish test, producing the shiniest finish and fast-drying full color of all formulas tested. It resisted chipping, was easiest to remove and didn't stain nails.
LAB LOWDOWN Our scientists' measurements revealed that the polish alone dried in six minutes on average and delivered the highest gloss score of the category.
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Refreshing Body Wash
Olayamazon.com
$5.47
Lather up with this lush, creamy Olay cleanser that leaves a soft fruity-floral scent on skin.
LAB LOWDOWN The body wash produces a silky lather and contains cleansing agents that are milder than those in regular bar soap, Beauty Lab evaluation confirmed.
Ultra Hydrating Body Lotion
Doveamazon.com
$13.98
Dove topped the Beauty Lab's body lotion test with one of the highest skin moisturization scores ever recorded in Lab history.
TESTER NOTES 100% said that it left their skin looking hydrated, without flaking or ashiness. "My skin stayed smooth all day, even after washing several times."
LAB LOWDOWN Skin hydration increased by a near-record 57% over six hours post-application, calculations showed. The easy-to-spread fragrance- free lotion also rated highest with testers for leaving skin feeling soft all day long.
Skin-Smoothing Sunscreen
Banana Boatamazon.com
$15.22
Banana Boat's light lotion, with a beachy, slightly sweet scent, shone in the Beauty Lab's sunscreen test for being absorbed well and not drying out skin or feeling tacky.
TESTER NOTES "It went on like a moisturizer—no stickyor slick feeling," one reported. "My skin felt hydrated in the sun and heat," another said. LAB LOWDOWN The SPF protected skin and received near-perfect marks for flawless application in Lab analysis.
Ingenious Deodorant
Secrettarget.com
$7.99
Like a night cream for your underarms infused with skin-conditioning ingredients and a calming lavender scent, Secret's smart new antiperspirant lets you soak up protection from sweat and odor as you doze.
TESTER NOTE "I was skeptical that it would work through the next day, but it kept me feel- ing and smelling fresh, with no worry about residue or marks," our Lab expert tester said.
Healing Hand Cream
Aveenoamazon.com
$6.88
Transform hands from parched and cracked to silky and soft with Lab test winner Aveeno's glycerin-rich, fragrance-free hydrator.
TESTER NOTES Many praised its nongreasy feel. "My hands were less chapped," one said.
LAB LOWDOWN The formulation raised skin's moisture levels by 31% in Lab testing with the Corneometer device, which measures hydration, and it scored highest with testers for making hands look smooth.
Easy-On Sunscreen Spray
Neutrogenaamazon.com
$11.05
Great for touch-ups, the Neutrogena mist went on quickly and didn't leave white residue on skin or stain clothes in tests.
LAB LOW-DOWN It ranked near perfect for effectively protecting skin from the sun.
Fast Skin Perfector
Jergensamazon.com
$10.39
A shea butter body lotion that takes its cue from makeup, it contains sheer rosy pigments that instantly brighten skin and even tone. "Pastiness disappears," one user raved.
Itch Relief Lotion
Curelamazon.com
$10.94
This inventive body moisturizer, made with calming oat extract and nourishing ceramides, has special technology that helps it soak into wet skin post- shower. "My flaky, irritated limbs felt soothed," a tester said.
Body Bronzer
Sally Hansenamazon.com
$8.50
Fake sun-kissed skin in seconds thanks to this subtly shimmery body bronzer with a twist: a handy roller-ball applicator that glides it onto legs, arms and more with "zero effort or mess," plus color that "doesn't transfer."
Moisturizing Hand Cream
Eucerinamazon.com
$13.47
For heavy-duty repair, reach for Eucerin's glycerin-rich cream, the most moisturizing of all evaluated in the Beauty Lab's hand creams test.
TESTER NOTES A number commented that it was easy to apply and to spread. "This left my hands actually feeling moisturized," one marveled. "It particularly helped with my cuticles," another revealed.
LAB LOWDOWN n Lab tests using the Corneo- meter device, which measures skin's moisture levels, it increased hydration a near-record 51%.
Multipurpose Body Oil
Bio-Oilamazon.com
$23.99
Not your basic body oil, fast-absorbing Bio-Oil, a blend of natural oils and retinol, is a true treatment, helping improve the look of old and new scars and stretch marks, uneven skin tone and dehydration on both face and body.
LAB LOWDOWN A study on scars up to three years old showed 62% improvement in color and 42% in width and height after twice-daily application for 12 weeks. After eight weeks of use on stretch marks, 90% of testers reported reduced pigmentation and up to 82% saw a reduction in size.
Lip & Beyond Balm
Aquaphoramazon.com
$14.26
Aquaphor's iconic all-purpose ointment with nourishing glycerin and panthenol is proven to heal skin from head to toe.
LAB LOWDOWN The ingredients help protect skin's barrier and prevent water loss, Beauty Lab data evaluation showed. Clinical studies found that the salve was effective for healing wounds, and 91 of consumer testers agreed that it repaired extremely dry, cracked skin.
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Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner
Garnieramazon.com
$19.91
Get bigger, bouncier hair with this Garnier pair, which tied for best in the Lab's volumizing shampoo and conditioner test.
TESTER NOTE "My hair felt fuller after just one use."
LAB LOWDOWN These came in highest for notice- ably upping hair's volume.
Color-Protecting Shampoo & Conditioner
TRESemmeamazon.com
$15.19
The Tresemmé duo passed the Beauty Lab's test of color-preserving formulas with, well, flying colors.
TESTER NOTE "Like expensive salon products."
LAB LOWDOWN Post-use, hair sample color faded least after 20 washes and 10 hours of UV exposure.
Dual Hair Mask
Head+Shouldersamazon.com
$8.09
This next-level Head & Shoulders mask treats hair and scalp, softening strands with coconut oil and fighting flakes with the active pyrithione zinc.
TESTER NOTES Many praised its scalp-itch relief. "Flakes disappeared" and "hair was softer than it's ever been."
LAB LOWDOWN It scored high for reducing scalp and hair dryness in tests on women with textured strands.
Frizz-Fighting Serum
Goldwellamazon.com
$22.65
Goldwell's dry oil-like serum was a strong smoother and the top shine booster in the Lab's anti-frizz styler test.
TESTER NOTES "It actually works—and wasn't greasy!" Hair was "very shiny" and "never frizzy over many uses."
LAB LOWDOWN The oil blocked frizz on hair samples in the Lab's test and tied for #1 at keeping users' hair frizz-free all day.
Hair Color Touch-Up
Clairolamazon.com
$14.14
Extend the time between salon visits or DIY dye jobs with Clairol's permanent color root fix kit, in a 28-hue range.
LAB LOWDOWN With a brush for easy application, it blended seamlessly with users' current color and gave 100% gray coverage, testing showed.
Detangling Leave-In Conditioner
Garnieramazon.com
$5.47
This milky Garnier mist melts through knots and nourishes hair with botanicals like oat and rice extracts and aloe juice.
TESTER NOTE "It was feather- light, and I could comb damp hair with almost no effort."
Salon -Style Deep Treatment
Panteneamazon.com
$4.97
Pantene's pro-style ampoules contain concentrated lipids to repair hair.
TESTER NOTE "I used the full tube on my dye- and hot tool–damaged hair — it felt stronger and even looked healthier once dry."
Speedy Smoother
Nexxustarget.com
$7.99
These handy hair wipes are infused with argan oil for instant frizz taming anytime. Testers loved that they were "so small, they could be tucked in a pocket" and "discreetly tamed fly- aways during the day."
This inventive brush, with a bendy head that hugs head contours for less tugging, earned a rare near-perfect score in Lab testing for gently detangling wet or dry hair of all textures. "By far the best brush I've ever used on myself or my clients," a pro stylist tester raved.
Stellar Dry Shampoo
Kenraamazon.com
$17.00
A novel powder-free dry shampoo in a light water- based foam form, it absorbed oil and volumized strands for an average of three days without leaving the look or feel of residue on hair, Lab testing found.
Cutting-Edge Styling Tool
Dysonamazon.com
$770.18
Like a blowout in a box, this state-of-the-art blowdryer/curler/ smoothing iron hybrid uses strong targeted airflow to shape strands. "It gives salon-level styling using lower heat, which can minimize damage," says Beauty Lab Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D.
Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner
Kerastasekerastase-usa.com
$33.00
A salon splurge that's worth it, Kérastase's indulgent duo tied for best in the Beauty Lab's volumizing shampoos and conditioners test for plumping strands using skincare ingredients like peptides and hyaluronic acid.
TESTER NOTES Testers "loved" this fine-hair "Holy Grail" that "truly worked" for "all-day body." "I have at least 10 bottles of 'bodifying' shampoo, and this is the best I've found for my super-straight hair," a fan raved. "It never felt weighed down and didn't go limp midday," said another.
LAB LOWDOWN These won for thickening strands and making styles fuller compared with regular shampoo and conditioner, data revealed, and also earned top points for weightlessness.
Hydrating Conditioner
Herbal Essencesamazon.com
$5.92
Herbal Essences' infusions, made with coconut extract and aloe, boasted the highest level of conditioning in the Beauty Lab's test of hydrating shampoos and conditioners.
TESTER NOTES "My dry hair was much more moisturized," one marveled.
LAB LOWDOWN When used with the matching shampoo, this performed best in a test with the Lab's Instron machine to gauge combing force through wet hair, proving strong conditioning benefits.
Groundbreaking Haircolor
Clairolamazon.com
$7.99
Clairol's game-changing color kit solves the biggest dye gripes with a gentler, less chemical-scented, conditioning formula.
TESTER NOTE "Easy to apply and left hair extremely soft, even without conditioner."
LAB LOWDOWN In Lab evaluation, testers found that the color gave a natural look and good gray coverage, 79% said it left hair soft and shiny and 90% said it didn't cause irritation.
Double-Duty Curl Styler
Suavetarget.com
$4.99
This time (and money!)-saving 2-in-1 Suave styler combines the hold of a gel with the smoothing of a serum for curl and wave shaping sans crunchiness.
TESTER NOTE "I applied this on my damp hair before drying, and loved how well it defined and boosted my curls—and the subtly sweet scent," one said.
Hydrating Shampoo
Dovewalmart.com
$9.96
Refreshing Dove was by far the tester favorite in the Beauty Lab's test of moisturizing shampoos.
TESTER NOTES100% said they'd keep using it. "Wondrous effects my hair was silky and flowing."
LAB LOWDOWN With the matching conditioner, it was best at leaving hair clean and easy to style.
Light-As-Air Shaping Mousse
Not Your Mother'samazon.com
$40.36
This airy, feather-light Not Your Mother's styling foam made with coconut water helps enhance hair's natural shape and bend.
TESTER NOTE "I'm not a regular mousse user, but this converted me," a user revealed. "My hair felt bouncy and fuller, and there was zero sticky or stiff residue."
April FranzinoBeauty DirectorApril Franzino is the Beauty Director at Good Housekeeping, part of the Hearst Women's Lifestyle Beauty Group.
The next stop on the international beauty tour: Germany.CreditRyan Jenq for The New York Times
K-Beauty got us hooked on Korean BB Creams and jelly cleansers. J-Beauty convinced us of the benefits of Japanese essences and sake ingredients. Probably we were bound to grab our beauty passports and move on to another country. And so we did: Now there's G-Beauty.
In the last few years, German beauty brands have begun to inhabit nearly every beauty aisle, including Whole Foods and high-end beauty retailers like Bluemercury.
But unlike, say, K-Beauty, which started as a concerted effort by the Korean government to market Korean brands abroad, G-Beauty is less about pushing novel routines than it is about making clean beauty — a confusing space with many conflicting definitions — more approachable.
"Our customers like that Germany beauty follows the European standards for clean, which automatically means they don't include many toxins," said Jessica Richards, the founder of the influential Brooklyn boutique Shen Beauty. German brands also tend to have fairly minimalist, straightforward packaging, which is a good thing in today's noisy beauty aisles.
Cassandra Grey, the founder of Violet Grey, a luxury beauty retailer in Los Angeles, is even more emphatic. "Customers now look for the Made in Germany stamp on skin-care products the same way we look for the organic sticker on our tomatoes," she said. The three top-selling skin-care lines at her shop are from Germany.
In German beauty, clean, efficacious skin care can mean taking a farm-based, organic approach, as is the case with Weleda, a natural skin-care pioneer with Swiss-German roots that was founded in 1921; and Dr. Hauschka, a natural skin care and cosmetics line that has been around since 1967. Both have had decades to build out their biodynamic farms, labs and manufacturing processes.
"We have a lot of control over our ingredients, which is key for a natural beauty brand," said Rob Keen, the chief executive of Weleda North America. "You don't know where some of these companies are getting their naturals from."
Weleda is experiencing a resurgence in the United States and gaining a cultish following for its classic Skin Food moisturizer ($18.99), a staple for many top makeup artists and, InStyle reports, for Rihanna, Julia Roberts, Victoria Beckham and more.
Last year, sales in the United States were up 19 percent, Mr. Keen said. (According to the market researchers Spins and Nielsen, German natural personal-care brands are up 13 percent in the United States compared with 11 percent for all natural personal-care brands.)
And while the German government is not helping its companies market abroad, "the country truly does support biodynamic farming and this idea of sustainability," said Martina Joseph, the chief executive of Dr. Hauschka Skin Care. "If you look across many different categories and businesses in Germany, it's about quality and ingredient integrity."
For the most demanding clientele, though, the exciting brands are the ones that offer not only clean formulations, but also new science. That includes such German skin-care darlings as Augustinus Bader, Dr. Barbara Sturm and Royal Fern.
Timm Golueke, the dermatologist in Munich who is behind Royal Fern, thinks of his line, which includes an ingredient patented from fern extract, as "marrying wellness with German engineering."
He points out that German brands are particularly transparent. The packaging is clear, the ingredients are laid out simply, and claims are backed up with science (in his case, his patent and decades seeing patients as a dermatologist).
"The patients I see in London and in Germany, they want the same thing," Dr. Golueke said. "They want skin care that works, but they also want things to be nontoxic. That's what German brands are building trust in."
As a retailer, Marla Beck, the co-founder and chief executive of Bluemercury, has bought in. "German beauty is known for science-backed, clean formulas that deliver highly effective results," she said, noting her particular admiration for the Dr. Barbara Sturm Brightening Serum, which features cress sprouts extract as well as shimmer particles that give a glow. (Bluemercury is the largest retailer of the Dr. Barbara Sturm line in the United States.)
Ms. Beck also mentioned the high quality of the ingredients, especially important when customers are shelling out $310 for said brightening serum.
Barbara Sturm, an aesthetic medical doctor in Düsseldorf, became the talk of social media for creating custom-blended creams with blood drawn from the patient. She created her highly regarded line based on the philosophy of eliminating all damaging ingredients.
"Clean beauty, which I take to mean nontoxic, nonirritating and noninflammatory, is at the center of my approach to healing the skin," Dr. Sturm said.
Then there is the professor and scientist Augustinus Bader, who founded his namesake skin-care line two years ago. According to the company, it closed out last year with $6 million in revenue with just two products (moisturizers called the Cream and the Rich Cream). In February the company appointed a new chief executive, Maureen Case, a veteran of Estée Lauder, and has plans to introduce a new product this summer.
Dr. Bader, who has serious science credentials in stem cell research, took years to develop the two products. He approached his formulas from an epigenetics point of view — that is, using ingredients to stimulate repair signals inside the body.
"The stem cells, they work, but they work too slowly," Dr. Bader said. "I thought, 'How can we use the body's own repair mechanisms?' We have some inner clock as our skin ages that shuts down the repair mechanisms. My idea here is you can jump-start skin healing with the right triggers."
"It's a different form of treatment," he said.
A last thought from Dr. Sturm, who, for all of her momentum, cautioned that G-Beauty is a marketing concept and that nationality doesn't tell you if a product is "clean." "Skin care is not the Olympics," she said.
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