Welcome to I Tried It Month, where we’ll be publishing a new fashion, beauty, or wellness article every day that features a first-person account of shaking up an old habit, pushing beyond a comfort zone, or simply trying something new. Follow along for 31 days of storytelling, including everything from trying new beauty treatments to copying the most risqué runway looks of the season.
As an editor, I regularly cover fashion but on occasion, I cross over into beauty. As a former Allure editor, I learned from the best when it comes to finding the most noteworthy products on the market and testing them out. Recently, my social feeds have been flooded with recommendations spanning the range of makeup hacks like the Mary Phillips foundation technique to beauty items celebrities stock in their medicine cabinets. The thing that made me stop scrolling recently, though, was the beauty brand I started seeing everywhere: Macrene Actives.
Interestingly, I saw the brand endorsed by fashion insiders including Moda Operandi Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer, Lauren Santo Domingo, and Khaite Creative Director and Founder, Cate Holstein. Their endorsements carry weight and were so compelling that I immediately wanted to test-drive the beauty brand myself. The brand is founded by Dr. Macrene Alexiades—a renowned board-certified dermatologist and laser surgery specialist with three degrees from Harvard—who developed a skincare line with plant-derived ingredients to target aging and preserve a youthful complexion. Below, I’m sharing my honest thoughts on all of my favorite products from Macrene Actives.
While I tried a range of products from Macrene Actives, the High Performances Lip Filler is one I can’t recommend enough and a standout favorite from the product line. The formula provides a subtle plumping effect without the intense stinging that can often accompany a volume-boosting lip treatment. I noticed increase fullness each time I applied the treatment—both in the overall shape of my lips and in the ability of the product to fill in the appearance of lines. Aside from the plumping effect, I’ve also been using this as a daily gloss because the hyaluronic-packed product has such a beautiful sheen, hydrating effect, and a formula I want to apply over and over again because it isn’t sticky or tacky. The $125 price point is steep, but if you’re looking to splurge on a beauty product that you won’t want to leave home without, this is it.
The Macrene Actives eye cream is a product I was excited to try after seeing Cate Holstein name it the “best best best”. It’s packed with a pearl spoon for application, which immediately makes it feel like a luxurious experience. A little goes a very long and the rich cream instantly leave my skin feeling dewy and hydrated. My biggest concern is fine lines, which practically disappeared after using this. I didn’t notice a major difference in darkness under my eyes, though that is another area they are supposed to treat.
Recently, I’ve been wearing less foundation, so I was intrigued to test out the Macrene Actives High Performance Tinted Moisturizer. Though it is called a “tinted moisturizer”, I found this product to be closer to a foundation because of it is much more full coverage and has a more matte finish than tinted moisturizers from other brands. What sets it apart from a regular foundation, though, is that it doubles as both makeup and skincare. The combination of ingredients such as peptides and hyaluronic acid even out skin tone, soften fine lines, and diminish dark spots. It’s also worth noting that this product doesn’t contain an SPF, so you’ll want to make sure you’re layering sunscreen underneath if that is something you’re accustomed to in a tinted moisturizer.
Hands down, the best sunscreen to wear on your face. I ordered this a few years ago after I spotted Hailey Bieber using it and won’t leave the house without putting this on.
I just finished my first jar of Chantecaille Future Skin Gel Foundation and cannot say enough great things about it. If you want skin that truly glows, this is the ultimate investment makeup product to own.
Yet another celebrity favorite that is truly worth the hype.
When Chrissy Teigen posted about how much she loves the Le Prunier Plum Beauty Oil, the product instantly sold out. You no longer have to sit on a waiting list for it now, though.
When I want to achieve the perfect contour, I always turn to Merit’s bronzing stick. What sets this apart is the shape, which is perfect for drawing on contour with precision.
This is a cult product for a reason. The best of the best in mascara.
I started using this when I wanted to clear some bumps on my skin and it worked so well that it’s easy to see why it has over 79,000 ratings on Amazon.
Next: Chanel Makeup Artists Told Me the 15 Products They Always Use on Celebs
