Everyone knows the usual suspects, but what about those beauty brands that fly under the radar? Here are eight brands that you absolutely have to know in 2015, and the products that make them standouts. I’ve tested out a slew of new products and these 8 are the most impressive! Check them out in the slideshow above.
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Breakout Beauty Brands You Need to Know in 2015
Charlotte Tilbury // killer cheekbones
Makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury is renowned for her work on celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Rihanna, so it was only a matter of time before she brought her gift to the masses. Her eponymous brand includes color cosmetics and skin care products. One of the essentials: Filmstar Killer Cheekbones ($110), a dual palette that includes a bronzer and highlighter in a sleek compact, plus a tapered sculpting brush. Use the deeper color to enhance cheekbones, and the elegant highlighter to add a natural glow to the complexion.
Kari Gran // organic cleansing oil
If natural and organic beauty products intrigue you, get acquainted with Kari Gran. The self-proclaimed “beauty junkie” set out to formulate her own line of better-for-skin products after experiencing health issues. The result was an eponymous line of makeup, skin care, and lip products, including the heavenly Cleansing Oil ($30). This personal favorite is designed to be used once a day, and leaves skin wonderfully soft and dewy. Not only is it effective, it’s also a bit indulgent, mirroring the feel of skin after you’ve spent a day lounging at the spa.
Belif // potent moisturizer
Straight from Korea comes Belif, a skin care brand with a serious interest in improving your skin’s overall health. Maybe that’s why the label’s True Cream Moisturizing Bomb ($38) is such a hot seller. It’s no wonder it’s one of Korea’s most hyped and beloved beauty products---this potent hydrating cream works best on dry skin that can benefit from a little extra TLC. One of its key ingredients is comfrey leaf, which is formulated to detoxify and smooth skin.
Buly 1803 // fine perfume
There is truly almost nothing as magical as an old-world apothecary. It conjures up images of historic remedies, quaint bottles, and a distinctive charm that’s sorely missing from today’s drugstores. (Sorry, CVS, you just can’t compete with ye olde pharmacy of the 1800s.) Enter Buly 1803, named in part for its inaugural year. The perfumery features fine perfumes, skin care, body care, candles, and more, which are made from natural ingredients like coconut oil and green desert clay. The Parisian boutique itself is hauntingly beautiful and certainly worth a visit the next time you’re in France. Until then, nab yourself a bottle of Huile Antique dry oil ($38) from the website.
Colour Prevails // lip gloss & stick duo
Colour Prevails is the long-awaited mass market cosmetics company founded by former butterLONDON creative director Nonie Creme. The collection is sold exclusively at Walgreen's stores and is touted as a creative line of products that offer multiple benefits. The wildly artistic packaging alone is impressive, and I’m particularly impressed with the Classic Lip Duo Lipstick/Lip Gloss ($14), which pairs a satiny lipstick on one end with a brilliant lip gloss on the other. Always in search of the perfect nude, I found a match in Vintage Rose---its pinkish-brown tone is natural, flattering, and perfect for any occasion.
CIRCA Beauty // cream blush
There’s definitely a market for extraordinary mass market brands that go above and beyond the call of beauty duty. The newest is another Walgreen's offering, CIRCA Beauty. The collection was designed in collaboration with Eva Mendes, and is formulated to cater to all skin tones. While the line is certainly value driven, there’s an overall glamour about the packaging that gives it a distinctly (non-garish) 1980s appearance. I especially love the Ultrasuede Cream Blush ($13), which has a light texture and sinks right into the skin to deliver a healthy pop of color.
KITA Skincare // moisturizing serum
What’s your element? You’ll find out at KITA Skincare, a new skin care brand that embraces the healing and receptive energies of the Chinese philosophy of the Five Elements (Earth, Fire, Metal, Water, Wood). Plug in your name, gender, and date of birth, and the KITA system will deliver your element result within seconds. Mine is Water, and the corresponding Moisturising Serum Complex ($265.05) purports to invigorate my skin, re-balance my energy, and give me an enviable complexion. Do these promises actually hold, er, water? Yes, thanks to ingredients that protect skin from harmful free radicals, encourage the production of elastin, and revive skin to elevate it to its best possible state.
Stowaway Cosmetics // flight-friendly products
Oh, the drama of toting around that hefty makeup bag! The sheer annoyance associated with packing TSA-compliant beauty products! We’re all familiar with these first world problems. Stowaway Cosmetics set out to eliminate such travesties by creating a range of cosmetics that's minimal, easily portable, and wonderfully versatile. The collection includes a beauty balm, concealer, creme lipstick, lip and cheek rouge, eyeliner, and mascara---and that’s it. And really, that is all you need, when you really think about the gallons of products that sit neglected in the back of a drawer somewhere. I love Radiant Complexion Beauty Balm ($22), available in four flattering shades that bring out your skin’s best features while moisturizing and, over time, diminishing the appearance of fine lines.