The Strategist Beauty Brief

A weekly newsletter where our beauty writers share what they really think — including first impressions, quick takes on what’s trending, and deep dives into the products they use every day. Read the full archive here, then sign-up below to get it in your inbox first.

  1. eyes
    The Mascaras Our Writers Actually Buy“When I discovered this mascara, I knew it was over for the rest.”
  2. eyes
    A Monolid-Friendly Felt-Tip Liner“It’s the only felt-tip liner I’ll ever buy.”
    By Kitty Guo
  3. beauty
    How Can You Tell What The Good Beauty Advent Calendars Are?The intel on the best ones to buy (right now, before they sell out).
    By Tembe Denton-Hurst and Rachael Griffiths
  4. moisturizers
    The Body Lotions Our Writers Actually Buy“Over the past few months, it has been a sleeper hit in my routine.”
  5. face
    A Beauty Brief Blush RoundtableWe discussed the state of blush — and shared a few products we’re eager to try.
  6. hair treatments
    Just Buy the Minoxidil“After starting it in February, I noticed regrowth around the temples by June and thicker, stronger hair overall by August.”
    By Erin Schwartz
  7. lip balms and treatments
    A Non-Drying Lip Stain That Actually Lasts“It felt like I wasn’t wearing anything — no tackiness and no spidery lines around my mouth.”
    By Arielle Avila
  8. bath and body
    The Body Washes Our Beauty Writers Actually Buy“It lathers beautifully and lasts forever.”
  9. suncare
    Finally, a Mineral SPF for Brown Skin“For the first time ever, my holy grail, Black Girl Sunscreen, has some real competition.”
    By Tembe Denton-Hurst
  10. eyes
    Urban Decay’s Still Got It“It’s simple, properly smoky, and has a luxury feel at a decently affordable price.”
    By Rachael Griffiths
  11. moisturizers
    I Found a Brazilian Bum Bum Cream Dupe“It’s exactly what I was looking for: a microdose of my favorite sweet scent that keeps me moisturized all day long.”
    By Arielle Avila
  12. cleansers
    The Face Washes Our Writers Actually Buy“My skin never feels tight after washing, which isn’t the case with most other cleansers.”
  13. face
    This Setting Spray Kept My Makeup Intact in 98 Percent Humidity“It stands up remarkably well to sweat and exertion and keeps even non-waterproof formulas from budging in high humidity.”
    By Kitty Guo
  14. beauty tools
    Consider the Eyelash Separator“Since discovering this separator about a month ago, I now use it as faithfully as I do my eyelash curler.”
    By Rachael Griffiths
  15. eyes
    My Lash Extensions Last Almost a Month With This Serum“I won’t do lash extensions anymore without it.”
    By Crystal Martin
  16. face
    The Foundations Our Writers Actually Buy“It gives that even, healthy glow that I want from a foundation.”
  17. beauty
    The 6 Products Under $30 We’re Loving This WeekThe glosses, mascara, and nail polish we’ve been testing (and loving) this week.
  18. bath and body
    Ask Me About My Once-Weekly DeodorantThe best, most reliable deodorants, according to the Strategist’s Beauty Brief writers.
  19. acne treatments
    I Faded My Acne Scars in 6 Weeks“I’d recommend putting in the effort. Because after six weeks, there’s no denying it works.”
    By Rachael Griffiths
  20. beauty
    The 7 Products Under $30 We’re Loving This WeekIncluding a $6 conditioner and a $9 liquid eyeliner.
  21. self-tanner
    Paris Hilton’s Self-tanner Is Good, Not Great“If I’m going to drop $50 on self-tanner, I want it to be as close to perfect as it gets.”
    By Rachael Griffiths
  22. skin-care
    The 3-Step Routine That Turns My Dry Skin Glowy“I’m unceasingly glowy but not at all greasy.”
    By Tembe Denton-Hurst
  23. moisturizers
    The Moisturizers Our Writers Actually BuyOur favorite picks for every skin type.
  24. face
    This Glittery Setting Spray Might Not Be a Gimmick“I’m 100 percent going to pack it in my makeup bag for Glastonbury.”
    By Rachael Griffiths
  25. shampoo and conditioner
    This $12 Conditioner Lets Me Stretch My Time Between Haircuts“I can get a full three days post–wash-and-style before my hair starts to go feral.”
    By Crystal Martin
  26. skin-care treatments
    I Found a Dupe for the Drunk Elephant Sunshine Drops“It’s virtually the same as the Sunshine Drops and half the price.”
    By Arielle Avila
  27. suncare
    The Face SPF Our Beauty Writers Actually BuyOur tried-and-true picks with no white cast.
  28. eyes
    I’ve Tried 5 Brow Gels, and This Oil One Is the Best“My brows look so good it’s like I just left a lamination appointment.”
    By Brenley Goertzen
  29. skin-care treatments
    Can I Exfoliate My Tattoos? And Other Questions About Tattoo Care“What’s good for your skin — specifically, hydrating and protecting yourself from sun damage — is good for your tattoos.”
    By Dominique Pariso
  30. lip balms and treatments
    The Lip Balms Our Beauty Writers Actually Buy“Each time I get seduced by a new fancy lip balm, I always end up coming back to Vaseline. It’s cheap, it’s classic, and it works.”
  31. hair
    A Shower-Filter Face-off“I could have gotten the same results with a good hair mask — and those are far less expensive than either of these filters.”
    By Arielle Avila
  32. skin-care treatments
    I’m Face Basting With Butt Paste, Thanks to TikTok“I was honestly dazzled by the results. My skin woke up feeling hydrated and even looking a little glowy.”
    By Rachael Griffiths
  33. hair tools
    This Curling Iron Is Better at Curls Than the Airwrap“The ceramic plates distribute heat evenly so the curls are smooth from root to tip, and my hair never smokes or smells like it’s burning.”
    By Dominique Pariso
  34. lips
    I Found the Only Two Multi-Sticks You’ll Ever Need“They’re not getting the love they should. But trust me, if you buy them, they will not end up at the bottom of your makeup bag.”
    By Ambar Pardilla
  35. fragrance
    You Don’t Need More Fragrance; You Need a Stronger Fragrance“Eau de parfums, or just parfums, have the greatest concentrations of perfume oils and are therefore stronger and last longer.”
    By Tembe Denton-Hurst
  36. skin-care treatments
    I’ve Been Doubling Up on Retinoids — and My Skin Has Never Looked Better“Though conventional wisdom dictates this would lead my skin down a path of ruin, it’s glowier than usual, and I’ve had fewer breakouts.”
    By Crystal Martin
  37. makeup
    Don’t Sleep on Victoria Beckham Beauty“I was stunned by the close color match and felt a little emotional about how seen I felt.”
    By Tembe Denton-Hurst
  38. makeup
    Don’t Sleep on Victoria Beckham Beauty“I was stunned by the close color match and felt a little emotional about how seen I felt.”
    By Tembe Denton-Hurst
  39. beauty
    The Beauty Stuff We’re Bringing Into 2024With a new year upon us, we asked our team to share their beauty breakthroughs from 2023.
  40. fragrance
    A Perfume Primer From Our Fragrance FanaticHow to pick, wear, and store fragrances, according to the Strategist’s in-house nose.
    By Tembe Denton-Hurst
  41. skin-care treatments
    Can I Get Robert Pattinson’s ‘Twilight’ Sparkle With SK-II Face Masks?I tested them for five days in a row to find out.
    By Rachael Griffiths
  42. hair tools
    This Dyson Dryer Dupe Turned Me Into a Blow-Dryer Person“Even though I didn’t use a drop of product, my hair had a smooth, sleek look to it — one that I’ve never achieved with simple air-drying.”
    By Kitty Guo
  43. skin-care treatments
    I Tried Gwyneth Paltrow’s good.clean.goop to See If It’s Good“It brought me back to my tween years when all I wore was a fruity and floral lotion from Bath & Body Works.”
    By Arielle Avila
  44. fragrance
    My Signature Scent Is Courteney Cox–Approved“Coming up with this combination has been a yearslong process. I get compliments anytime I leave the house with it layered on my skin.”
    By Tembe Denton-Hurst
  45. skin-care treatments
    Where Have All the Skin Barriers Gone?Tembe Denton-Hurst explores the skin-care damage-repair cycle.
    By Tembe Denton-Hurst
  46. fragrance
    How to Make Your Own Perfume (Even If You’re Not a Professional Nose)Not a professional nose, just obsessed with fragrance.
    By Kitty Guo
  47. face
    Yes, You Can Sleep in Youthforia’s Date Night FoundationSleeping in your makeup might not be so bad.
    By Kitty Guo
  48. face
    Did We Find a Tarte Shape Tape Dupe?Putting the claims of Sephora employees to the test.
    By Arielle Avila
  49. skin-care treatments
    Does This New Anti-Thigh-Chafe Stick Really Last 10,000 Steps?We tested it with a long walk in the park.
    By Dominique Pariso
`; // integrate Sub(x) scripts and elements if (hostname !== 'subs.nymag.com') { // do not integrate on this subdomain document.head.appendChild(trackingScript); document.body.insertAdjacentHTML('beforeend', subXAnimationElements); }