I’m sure I’m not the only one that’s excited for the weather to cool down as the official start of autumn approaches. Besides being able to layer and wear clothes I haven’t thought about in months, I can go back to being a maximalist with makeup now that the scorching weather won’t melt it all off. As such, I have been testing out a lot of makeup products and steps that I can but would prefer not to, live without. This includes primers, setting powders, concealers, etc — things I forgo when there’s 100 percent humidity. 

In the four weeks of August, I tried 61 makeup products with no discrimination made between newer launches and older products. Below are the four products I liked the most, including a new lash conditioning mascara and a glow-inducing primer I wish I tried earlier.

The Best Editor-Approved Makeup of Fall 2023:

• Victoria Beckham x Augustinus Bader Cell Rejuvenating Priming Moisturizer, $60; augustinusbader.com
• Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DermInfusions Plump + Repair Lip Treatment, $45; nordstrom.com and sephora.com
• About-Face Matte Fluid Eye Paint, $16; ulta.com
• Estée Lauder Turbo Lash High Powered Volume + Length Mascara, $34; ulta.com

Victoria Beckham x Augustinus Bader Cell Rejuvenating Priming Moisturizer

This Priming Moisturizer from a collab between Victoria Beckham and luxe beauty brand Augustinus Bader sits somewhere between a skincare and makeup product (though I think of it as being in the latter category). I like to apply it after my skincare routine, right before my makeup.  Honestly, I’m kicking myself for being three years behind. The primer is thin, very subtly luminous, and instantly self-setting. It makes my skin look like porcelain by hiding my cavernous pores, and I love the touch of glow it adds when my face catches the light without having to cake on highlighter. 

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DermInfusions Plump + Repair Lip Treatment

I was socially influenced to try this lip treatment. I actually gasped when a friend and fellow beauty editor posted a picture of herself wearing it; I texted her immediately: “Does it really work that well?” The answer is yes, Dr. Dennis Gross’ DermInfusions Lip Plumper really is that girl. It plumps your lips with a slight tingling sensation, leaving behind a glossy, full, hydrated, and plush pout. 

Whenever I seriously contemplate getting filler, it’s because I want my lips to look the way they do when I have this Dr. Dennis Gross treatment on. My lips are fuller, bouncier, and a tiny bit larger. Plus, I’m obsessed with this plumper’s color, or perhaps lack thereof. It’s a clear formula that enhances your natural lip shade once applied. I like the color and finish so much that I just skip adding any lip color altogether when I wear this. Seriously, if you walk away from this article with just one product, let it be the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DermInfusions Plump + Repair Lip Treatment. 

Wearing Victoria Beckham x Augustinus Bader Priming Moisturizer, Dr. Dennis Gross Plump + Repair Lip Treatment, About-Face Matte Fluid Eye Paint in Watermelon Pink, and Estée Lauder Turbo Lash Mascara. 

About-Face Matte Fluid Eye Paint

This isn’t the first time I've tried About-Face’s Matte Fluid Eye Paint, but it’s the first time I’ve used it in a while, and the first time I’ve tried this particular color, La Zona Rose (watermelon pink). This liquid eyeshadow stayed on all night — to the point where trying to take it off later was a little bit of a challenge. It sticks to my lids like spackle, and the color retains its vibrancy regardless of the hour. Plus, I’m able to smear it on with my fingers and build it up to be bold and vibrant. 

Estée Lauder Turbo Lash High Powered Volume + Length Mascara

I am not easily impressed by mascaras. My eyelashes are short and sparse, and while length is great and everything, I don’t care for spidery lashes. I want my lashes to look feathery, fluttery, and full — and Estée Lauder’s new Turbo Lash Mascara delivers all of that. The effect is like my natural lashes, but definitely bolder and better. Since this formula includes conditioning oils like argan and castor, I’ve noticed that I experience less lash fallout and shedding than I do with other formulas, too.