Hundreds of products come across our desks every month, but not all of them deliver on their claims or live up to the hype. (Not everything that goes viral on TikTok is a miracle worker.) This is our exclusive curation of the best-in-class makeup products receiving rave reviews from our team and hitting shelves right now.

R.E.M. BEAUTY Essential Drip Lip Oil ($16)

Available in four juicy shades—Pickin Petals (pictured here), Lavender Kiss, Mint Condition and Raspberry Drip—this nonsticky lip oil offers megawatt shine and a very sheer wash of color (they’re all four essentially clear). Two things I love: After the coconut oil–infused shine wears off, my lips still feel smooth and moisturized, not dry, and the cooling applicator is unique (the rollerball is inside the doe foot) and feels good when I apply it, especially on a hot day.

ONE/SIZE Fantasize Ultimate Lifting & Lengthening Mascara ($25)

With the goal of giving lashes a fanned-out, “wind blown” effect, Patrick Starrr and the one ONE/SIZE team created a six-pointed fan brush and blackest-black formula that define and volumize every tiny hair with each swipe. It’s also sweat-proof and contains a flexible peptide gel that helps lift lashes up high and keep them there throughout the day.

And perhaps the best part, it’s infused with a trio of nourishing oils—coconut, argan and castor seed—that help strengthen and condition lashes as you wear the mascara. Who doesn’t love a good two-in-one?

Rare Beauty Kind Words Matte Lip Liner ($15, launching July 7)

As a teenager/young adult, I remember my mom applying lip liner every day as part of her makeup routine and I thought she was crazy. It was pretty much considered a “mom” product back then. Fast-forward many years, and it’s one of my must-have beauty essentials (though I am a mom now too, the product type just generally skews younger now, with Gen Z also being big fans of lip liner). My purse has about five in it at all times—hey, you never know if one will break or melt or get lost under the seat in your car (this seems to happen a lot).

This formula is uber creamy, but also waterproof—it really does stay on—and comes in 10 shades. “Worthy,” which is described as a “muted mauve,” is my go-to for that “your lips but better” effect. Founder Selena Gomez and her team also created 10 matching matte lipsticks so you can easily create a full look.

ITEM Beauty Hey Hi Halo Highlighter ($18, launching July 20)

Addison Rae is introducing a new category to her lineup with this liquid highlighter that comes in three shades: Electric, a pink champagne; Bolt, a golden peach; and Zap, a golden bronze. We love the addition of skin-care ingredients, too: Australian lemon myrtle extract and glycerin controls oil production so oily skin can wear it without looking greasy; schisandra berry for a firming effect; and amino acids for keeping moisture levels balanced.

Shake it up and sweep it on with a brush Nam Vo style, or mix a little into your foundation to give your skin a dewy glow.

essie Gel Couture Matte Top Coat ($13)

Though it’s not makeup, I’m including nails this month because this product is so unexpected. Personally, I choose a gel manicure for not only its durability, but also its superior shine. However, I’ve recently learned there are also many people who want a mattified gel look, hence the demand for this new topcoat. According to the brand, it was inspired by “the timeless look of suede with a luxurious, soft matte finish.”

Though it doesn’t require curing with a UV lamp, in a consumer study, 91-percent of testers agreed it looked like gel polish, but it removes like regular nail polish, which is a big bonus.

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