Our Favorite Beauty Products For the Summer to Fall Transition

Hot (literal) take: I’m a summer girl, through and through. Sure, I can appreciate the cozy sweaters and gorgeous foliage that make autumn such a fan favorite. But ultimately, I like my days long, my temperatures high, and my evenings outside without a jacket. As such, when the season starts to wind down, I’ll take a mood boost wherever I can get it. One such source of joy? New beauty products, particularly those that come with the stamp of approval from my colleagues. I asked Team Byrdie to share some of their hair, skin, makeup, and fragrance picks for the summer-to-fall transition. Read on for what they shared.

Ami Colé Lip Treatment Oil

Ami Cole

“Ami Colé knows how to make a lip oil, and its newest shade, Witty, is the perfect product to carry my lips from summer to fall. The high, nonsticky shine and hydrating ingredients are what make me keep one lip oil in every bag so I never leave the house without one. Witty is a very pretty neutral soft mauve that I typically wouldn’t gravitate toward, but I love how it looks against my skin tone, as I do all of the other Ami Colé shades.” — Jasmine Phillips, editor 

Benefit Cosmetics The Porefessional Foundation

Benefit

“I try to hold on to my summer skin tints for as long as I can, but when fall rolls around, I always transition to a complexion product with slightly more coverage. This new matte foundation from Benefit Cosmetics has answered the call. It marries a weightless formula with medium coverage that stays put through fickle temperatures. I love that I can trust this product to get me through the unexpected heat waves and early chilly days to come without being cakey or splotchy. If, like me, you prefer a slightly dewier finish, prep your skin with a heavy moisturizer for the perfect balance.” — Adelaide Giesey, editor 

Personal Day Emotional Support Lip Balm

Personal Day

“As someone with multiple lip balms on hand at all times, I consider myself an expert in the category. So trust me when I say the Personal Day Emotional Support Lip Balm is one of the best lip products I have tried in a long time. It has the perfect consistency—thick enough that it hugs your lips but not sticky or drying. This product perfectly combines a healing formula with an aesthetic, shiny finish that compares to a fancy gloss. The time between seasons is when my lips need the most TLC, and this salve will be a clear favorite.” — Adelaide Giesey, editor 

Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara in Espresso

Hourglass

“The Hourglass Unlocked tubing mascara has become a staple in my makeup bag. It stays put throughout the day, feels light on my lashes, and most importantly, comes off with ease. But by the end of summer, a traditional black shade feels too harsh for my go-to glowy look. That’s why the new espresso brown shade is perfect for this time of year. The pigment is still strong but not severe against my blue eyes and has all the qualities I love about the original formula.” — Adelaide Giesey, editor 

Sol de Janeiro Body Badalada Vitamin-Infused Lotion

Sol de Janeiro

“Amid the summer-to-fall transition, the temperature and humidity can still be a bit uncomfortable some days. I keep a lightweight lotion on deck precisely for this reason. The Body Badalada Lotion absorbs so quickly, feels weightless on my skin, and packs in a ton of moisture. With ingredients like Brazilian sugarcane, hyaluronic acid, and Brazil nut oil, my skin is thoroughly nourished every time I slather this on. On top of the skincare benefits, I’d be remiss if I didn’t call out the scent. This lotion boasts such a warm, spicy fragrance profile featuring notes of salted caramel, pistachio, and vanilla. Basically, your skin will smell good and feel good after using this.” — Olivia Hancock, senior beauty editor 

Oui the People Body Water Mineral-Infused Hair & Body Fragrance Mist

Oui the People

“Lately, I’ve been into hair and body mists. My current go-to? Oui the People’s Body Water Mineral-Infused Hair & Body Fragrance Mist. The brand’s newest product is inspired by founder Karen Young’s childhood. As a Guyanese American woman, she grew up watching the women around her drench their skin in a lemongrass-scented body fragrance after a bath. Body Water nods to this memory, refreshing your skin and hair with a lightweight fragrance and soothing French thermal water. You have your pick of scents—orange blossom or souk honey—but both work for this transitional time of year.” — Olivia Hancock, senior beauty editor 

Topicals Slick Salve Glossy Lip Balm in Papaya

Topicals

“I’m a proud Slick Salve stan and always get excited when a new shade rolls out. Papaya is the latest one to drop, and it’s perfect for your summer-to-fall lip combos. The shade is rich, warm, and can be layered to your desired intensity. Plus, the glossy balm features ingredients my lips love, like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, rice bran wax, and glycerin.” — Olivia Hancock, senior beauty editor 

Veronique Gabai Eau de la Nuit

Veronique Gabai

“If you really think about it, the transition from summer to fall is like the happy hour of the year. In that spirit, I find myself reaching for fragrances that balance the lightness of patio moments at sunset with the nostalgic warmth of a moody speakeasy. Veronique Gabai’s Eau de la Nuit strikes that balance beautifully: The Riviera-born fragrance has a lightness, thanks to bergamot, but it’s also full of spicy sensuality in the form of pink pepper, woody notes, and musk. The best part? It’s designed to layer well with other fragrances, so you can use it to transition from summer standbys to fall favorites.” — Ali Webb, associate style editor

Sacheu Eyeshadow Stay-n in Sp-Ice

Sacheu

“As summer fades into fall, I’m immediately ready to get more playful with my makeup again, but the changing seasons require a smart strategy to ensure products last. I’m already a huge fan of Sacheu’s Peel Off Lip Liner Stay-n, so I was thrilled to discover the brand decided to bring that same staying power to the eye shadow category. These single shadows deliver vibrant, crease-proof color complete with skincare benefits, and the red-brown matte shade Sp-Ice cultivates the exact type of black cherry moodiness I crave as autumn approaches.” — Ali Webb, associate style editor 

Manuela Picard Red Carpet Ready Vitamin C Peel

Manuela Picard

“The changing seasons tend to cause a bit of chaos for my skin, but having a good exfoliation routine helps. This at-home treatment uses vitamin C and a BHA/PHA/azelaic acid complex to improve tone and texture, boost radiance, and foster a calm and healthy complexion. I like to leave it on for 20 minutes once a week or as needed, and I find that it leaves me glowing while restoring much-needed balance.” — Ali Webb, associate style editor 

Penhaligon’s Babylon Eau de Parfum

Penhaligon’s

“I am an absolute sucker for a great story and stunning packaging when it comes to perfumes—give me a fragrance house with history and a flacon with character, and I’m already 90% in. Penhaligon’s Babylon delivers both (the house was founded in 1837), with the added benefit of the juice smelling absolutely divine. The combo of sandalwood, saffron, cedar, and vanilla is warm, woody, and just a little sweet. While it felt just a touch too cozy for me at the height of summer, expect to smell me in this one as soon as the thermometer drops below 80.” — Eden Stuart, editor 

Valentino Spike Valentino Buttery Matte Lipstick

Valentino

“Traditional lipsticks hold a special place in my heart: I just love gorgeous, gorgeous pigment. These buttery lippies from Valentino are perfect for the transition between gloss szn (summer) and true lipstick szn (fall/winter). They feel light on the lips, have a great wear time—can confirm they last through multiple seltzers and iced coffees—and fade really beautifully and subtly, instead of looking smudgy or patchy. Expect to find one of these in all my jacket pockets.” — Eden Stuart, editor 

Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 + Black Tea

Escentric Molecules

“Tea perfumes always tug at my senses, but this one is comfort distilled to a single breath. With just two notes—Iso E Super and Black Tea—Escentric Molecules has crafted a skin scent that feels effortlessly intimate, evoking hand-rolled Japanese black tea. One spray of this and I’m immediately enveloped in soft, soothing warmth.” — Derek Deng, associate content editor 

Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush

Dior

“If a Blythe doll were to come to life and use a blush, it’d be this one. More specifically, the Pink 001 shade is this irresistible baby pink shade that brightens and blurs my blush application without an overly warm undertone. More importantly, the packaging performs just as good as it photographs. Packaging this cute is meant to be loved.”— Derek Deng, associate content editor 

Qure Red Light Mask Q-Rejuvalight Pro

Qure

“It’s hard to believe I used to be a blue-light skeptic. This device might be intimidating to my fellow skeptics, but trust the process. I’ve noticed a tangible difference in my acne ever since using this consistently in my routine. It’s easier than you think, thanks to this device.”— Derek Deng, associate content editor 

Skin Gym Glass Facial Cup Set

Skin Gym

“This summer, I’ve been loving this Glass Facial Cups Set from Skin Gym. Recently, I’ve noticed some puffiness in the morning (nothing new), but lately, it stays throughout the day. I’ve had cupping sets before, but nothing works as well and feels as gratifying as this set. The glass nozzle helps the cup suction to my skin and move lymph around. Due to increased circulation, my face is pink for about three minutes after use, which I love because I see it working. Plus, it’s a Byrdie Beauty Award winner, so, of course, it’s earned a spot in my fall skincare routine.” — Star Donaldson, social media director

Innersense I Create Hold

Innersense

“This gel has been my secret weapon on washdays to withstand humid summer days, and I will gladly be keeping it in my routine come fall. I apply it on wet hair after cream-based styling products, and I can really feel this gel seal everything into place. Not only do my curls look defined and springy, but they also feel strong. This gel allows me to do very minimal daily touch-ups and extends the overall life of my wash-and-gos!” — Star Donaldson, social media director