New Ulta Beauty Launches Summer 2018
The Very Best New Summer Launches at Ulta, According to Beauty Editors
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After a Winter that seemed like it lasted an eternity, it's finally Summer and we can't wait to perfect our beachy waves and braids, shimmery skin, and self-tanner technique. If your paycheck is burning a cosmetic-bag-shaped hole in your pocket, it's time to head to your local Ulta, where the store's warm-weather products have just launched.
Our beauty editors have tested out the most buzz-worthy new products and picked their favourites so you can know that you're spending your self-care fund wisely. Check out what they have to say about these editor-approved picks and enjoy your Summer looking bronzed, smelling fresh, and glistening all over.
Drybar The Kicker Finishing Spray Wax
"I like to wear my hair in curling-wand created waves, but it's hard for me to keep the ringlets from sticking together and forming one giant Shirley Temple curl. Spritzing the Drybar The Kicker Finishing Spray Wax ($26) on to my hair as a final step has added the separation I need and helped my hairstyle look more effortless and natural." — Sarah Siegel, assistant editor, Beauty and Shopping
Urban Decay Cosmetics Beached Eyeshadow Palette
"I was delighted the first time I laid eyes on the Urban Decay Cosmetics Beached Eyeshadow Palette ($34). The sunset-hued colours reminded me of another eye shadow palette I used liberally in high school, that has since been discontinued. Luckily for me, Urban Decay revealed a palette to fill my orange and blue shadow dreams. True to Urban Decay form, these shadows are gorgeous, easy to blend, and full of pigment." — SS
St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Mousse
"I've been using the St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Mousse ($42) for about a month now, and it's by far my favourite self tanner that I've ever used. It's completely clear (so I don't end up staining my sheets with guide colour) and smells like a tropical holiday." — SS
Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Honey Mask To Purify & Nourish
"I was intrigued to try the Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Honey Mask To Purify & Nourish ($34). Honey contains antibacterial properties that are beneficial to acne, so I was excited to see if this mask would clear up my breakout. I'm delighted to see my skin looking much clearer a few days later, without any signs of the mask drying out my face." — SS
Morphe 8W Warm Master Blush Palette
"There's nothing I love more than blushed, bronzy skin. Instead of travelling with multiple compacts of rosy tones, I'll be packing the Morphe 8W Warm Master Blush Palette ($20) in my suitcase. It comes with eight matte and glitzy shades that range from light apricot to punchy poppy. Some shades double as highlighters on brown skin, too, making it great for multitasking makeup lovers and pros alike." — Aimee Simeon, Social Media Editor and Contributing Writer
Nudestix Nudies Tinted Blur Stick
"When I want a to perfect my complexion without using heavy product I've been turning to the Nudestix Nudies Tinted Blur Stick($30). The latest from the brand is a lightweight stick that blurs out imperfections and provides sheer, glowing coverage. I simply pop the top off, apply to my face, and blend in with my fingers. It's also small enough toss in my purse so I can touch up on the go. This is definitely a must have for anyone who just can't deal with heavy foundation when it's hot out." — AS
Sun Bum Tinted Lip Balm SPF 15
"I am pretty good with applying SPF to my face and body, but I am guilty of always forgetting my lips. Thankfully Sun Bum has made it easy to apply colour and SPF at the same time. Its latest balm, the Sun Bum Tinted Lip Balm SPF 15 ($6) comes in a variety of colours so you don't have to sacrifice your style for sun protection. I personally love the shade Bonfire, which enhances my natural lip colour." — AS
T3 Single Pass Curling Iron
"I love my old $12 Conair wand, which is the same device I've used for at least a decade. I lost it during a move (my heart will go on), so I begrudgingly tried out the T3 Single Pass Curling Iron ($160) instead. I'm so glad I did, as this curler gives me perfect second-day waves that makes it seem like you didn't try at all (even though you totally set your alarm an extra 30 minutes earlier so you could get the look). I'm obsessed with how precise, but not prom-y, this makes my hair look, and it lasts all day, even through some gross NYC humidity."— Alaina Demopoulos, editorial assistant, Beauty
Fatboy Spray Putty
"You know that crushing feeling when your blowout starts to fade around day 3, and you realise you'll never be able to style your hair as well as a pro does? Well I don't, because I got myself a tube of Fatboy Spray Putty ($28), which is the easiest hair product I've ever used — seriously. I'm kind of a putty-phobe — I find it dirties up my super silky, straight hair — but now that it's in spray form it spritzes onto my strands in a lightweight, but effective, hold. Fatboy's founder Tyson Kennedy says it gives your hair 'boogie,' so use it on nights out when you want to channel a '70s rocker (and if you're me, that's every damn day)." — AD
Mac Prep + Prime Fix + Shimmer
"Come Summer's intense heat and my corresponding sweat, setting spray isn't just an extra step to lock in makeup — it's a necessity to cool me down. I love how the Mac Prep + Prime Fix + Shimmer ($26) gives off a highlighter-esque shimmer that makes me look like I have my shit together even on days when it feels like my life is falling apart. It's also kept me looking flush and healthy during a gross bout with a nasty cold, and I'm so glad I can walk around New York without looking like a tragic heroine from some Victor Hugo novel." — AD
Morphe High Impact Highlighter in Spark
"My favourite highlighter recently had a tragic run-in with my unforgiving countertop, and I was on the lookout for an affordable interim replacement before pay day when I discovered Morphe's High Impact Highlighter in Spark ($14) is now at Ulta. Spark is the perfect warm, rosy gold to give me a Summer glow, and I've gotten SO many compliments both on Instagram and in real life. I don't even feel the need to go back to my old, expensive highlighter now that I've found this." — Brinton Parker, assistant editor, Trending
Gucci Bloom Acqua di Fiori Eau de Toilette
"I've been heavy-handedly hinting to my husband about Gucci Bloom Acqua di Fiori Eau de Toilette ($112) since I first sniffed the display sample at Ulta. Its scent has the perfect blend of fresh blooms and sharp greenery that it smells just like a bouquet from my hometown's Summer farmers market. Plus, it doesn't hurt that the bottle is absolutely stunning!" — BP
Tangle Teezer Pinapple Styler
"Because I've used too many hair brushes with teeth that feel like a strike of lightning to your scalp, I can truly appreciate a flexible, more compact iteration like the Tangle Teezer Pinapple Styler that's just as good at detangling snarls — and looks cute as hell, too." — Kelsey Castañon, senior editor, beauty
Clarins Water Stain
"This bright and colourful formula may look like just another addition to Clarins' lip oil lineup, but slather it on and you'll quickly learn that it's actually a stain — and a damn good one at that, because it lasted through three cups of coffee, a glass of rosé, two Champagne spritzers, and my most recent realisation that maybe I'm not putting the best kind of liquids in my body." — KC
Peter Thomas Roth Thermal Water Moisturiser
"There are bioengineered botanicals, fancy fatty acids, and thermal water that's been marinating half a mile under earth's crust packed inside the Peter Thomas Roth Thermal Water Moisturiser ($58), but the reason I love it is far more basic: its creamy texture feels like giving your skin a big, hydrating hug. And that's good enough for me." — KC
