April’s Best Beauty Launches Will Be by My Side All Summer
I’ve tried over 50 newly released items—these 11 are the best.
April showers bring notable beauty launches, evidently. Serena Williams, tennis star turned beauty founder, announced her aptly named line, Wyn this month. It features 10 SKUs, all of which are naturally waterproof or water-resistant. Charlotte Tilbury, my favorite makeup brand of all time, also added a new lip plumper to its PillowTalk range. I made every Marie Claire team member try it.
We saw summer-friendly fragrances hit shelves, notably an Acne Studios collaboration with Frederic Malle and a new pear-scented Nette eau de parfum. Not one, but two silky new sunscreens infiltrated my routine—just in time for summer. I’d be remiss not to mention that ColorWow’s Money Mist, a deeply hydrating leave-in conditioner, came into my life per Kim Kardashian’s hairstylist, Chris Appleton. I'm so grateful the gentle mist defrizzed my hair in an instant.
These new launches just scratch the surface. Collectively, the Marie Claire team tried over 50 new products. Our 11 favorites, ahead.
“Chris Appleton created this new product in tandem with the ColorWow team—and I’m confident it's what’s behind Kim Kardashian’s incredibly glossy hair. It’s a super-fine mist that gives my hair deep hydration, seals split ends, and provides heat protection. That’s all behind the scenes. Up front, I notice my hair is unbelievably shiny, soft to the touch, and entirely frizz-free. It’s easily my favorite hair launch of the year.” — Samantha Holender, Beauty Editor
Money Mist gave Holender's color-treated hair a healthy shine.
"I am not one for a plumping gloss, but this Charlotte Tilbury Gloss changed my mind. The consistency is shockingly creamy and gives my lips a literal mirror-like shine. I used the Medium Deep shade and it was the perfect level of pigment without overpowering the rest of my everyday makeup. The tingling feeling was noticeable, but not painful in any way. It was similar to the cooling feeling you get when you chew minty gum instead of a traditional plumping gloss.” — Julia Marzovilla, E-Commerce Editor
Marzovilla wears Plumpgasm in shade Medium/Deep.
"I had high hopes for Serena Williams's Wyn Beauty. So far, all the products I tested found a place in my routine, but there was a clear MVP in my starting lineup: the tubing mascara. In just a few coats, I look like I'm wearing the most natural set of false lashes. The formula doesn't transfer to my eyelids or go runny after a light workout or a speed walk to the subway, yet it comes off with an oil cleanser at the end of the day. I may have just found the greatest mascara of all time." — Halie LeSavage, Senior News Editor (Beauty and Fashion)
LeSavage has on a full face of Wyn products, including the mascara.
Additional Editor Favorites
"I love wearing braids in the spring and summer, but it's so easy for my edges to look frizzy and unkempt. After two weeks I'm desperate for help! For sleek and pulled-back edges, I look to this hair wax stick that offers a gentle hold without breaking my strands. Coincidentally, Sofia Richie Grainge is a fan, too. 'I’m sure I’ll be wearing the bun 24/7 when I become a new mom,' she told me via email. 'I’ve updated this look with the Slick Stick—it's perfect for taming those flyaways and baby hairs while keeping my hair healthy.'" — Deena Campbell, Beauty Director
“I love an essence, especially when I’m struggling with dry or inflamed skin. This option from Farmacy is just the ticket, particularly as we come upon the summer months when sunburn, dehydration, and redness are particularly top of mind. The formula contains honey, chamomile, and other natural ingredients meant to soothe irritation and give skin a burst of hydration. Plus, it’s the perfect primer for makeup, with a finish that’s smooth and glowy rather than wet and sticky.” — Gabrielle Ulubay, Beauty Writer
“They say don’t judge a perfume by its bottle, but that’s exactly what I did here. The gorgeous bottle—with a hot pink base—caught my eye, but once I smelled what was actually inside? Well, I was hooked. Despite it being a floral-first fragrance, it’s bright and airy moreso than powdery. The pear provides a light and bright note, whereas the rose and patchouli are centering.” — Samantha Holender, Beauty Editor
“No, this sunscreen isn’t technically new. But, it did get a sleek new packaging update—just in time for summer. The new, elongated and narrow bottle isn’t as chunky as its predecessor and comes with a targeted application nozzle, so I can apply the formula directly to my face. The formula inside is exactly the same: An elegant, mineral zinc oxide formula that imparts a subtle glow and no white cast.” — Samantha Holender, Beauty Editor
"I travel to Copenhagen twice per year for fashion week, and spend the other 50 weeks of the year wishing I could move there. Transplanting my New York life to the Nordics isn't quite in the cards yet. Still, a few whiffs of Acne Studios's collaboration with Frédéric Malle is as close to taking a morning walk along the canals in Denmark (or Sweden, where Acne was founded) as I can get from home. This is the label's first-ever fragrance, and its notes of violet, rose, and peach skin capture the same unpretentiously elegant yet approachable vibe of my favorite cities." — Halie LeSavage, Senior News Editor (Beauty and Fashion)
“I’ve waxed poetic about Kjaer Weis’ OG mascara—it’s a soft finish that defines each individual lash. No matter how many layers I apply, there’s no clumping. This month, the brand announced that they would be releasing my holy grail formula in a soft brown shade. Long story short: It didn’t disappoint. The brown shade complements my blue eyes. I’ve been reaching for it on every no-makeup makeup day.” — Samantha Holender, Beauty Editor
“It’s no secret that I love Shiseido’s sunscreen formulas—the brand won a 2023 Skin Award. While I still love Urban Environment SPF, I’m reaching for the brand’s latest launch on repeat. It has a bit more SPF (60 as opposed to 42) and a lightweight, invisible formula that goes on like a silky primer. It wears incredibly under makeup, blurring over pores and lines, while keeping my skin hydrated throughout the day.” — Samantha Holender
“I have never tried a moisturizer that dries down as fast as this one. There’s no greasy residue, slick finish, or oily sheen—within five seconds of rubbing in the cream it’s completely invisible and untouchable. At the same time, it leaves skin feeling deeply hydrated and nourished with a blend of hyaluronic and rosehip oil. It smells like lavender, lemon, and geranium, a soothing combo that helps me decompress before bed.” — Samantha Holender, Beauty Editor
“I don’t leave the house without mascara. It’s a rule I live by. Clearly, I’ve developed a bit of a thing for brown mascaras. They’re the ideal, barely-there accent. Grande’s latest launch is in my good graces not just for its color expansion though—it’s peptide-packed formula leaves my lashes conditioned and strong. The brush is also uniquely designed with hard and soft bristles to lift and lengthen my lashes non-aggressively.” — Samantha Holender, Beauty Editor
