Our Top 8 Products from Ulta Beauty to Shop Right Now

Our skincare regimen during the pandemic? Waking up, rolling out of bed, splashing water on our face and trying not to pick anything to the point of leaving a scar (hey, it’s harder than it looks). But now that summer’s here, vacations are booking up and our social calendar is back on, which means we should probably give skincare another shot. Here are the eight products we’re stocking up on this season, from sunscreen to serum, all at Ulta Beauty.

This trendy, countertop-worthy cleanser is from Alicia Keys and dermatologist Dr. Renée Snyder, and just arrived to gently remove dirt, makeup and impurities with antioxidant-rich Manuka honey. It’s free from over 1,600 harmful ingredients (following the super-strict EU cosmetics regulations) and has a delicate, enticing scent of oat milk and sage.

If you invest in one skincare product this summer—and by “invest,” we mean spend a little more than the cost of an oat-milk latte—let it be this 10-minute serum. It gives skin a fresh start by sloughing off dead skin cells, evening tone and unclogging pores while also reducing signs of aging. But, beware, exfoliants can be too much of a good thing: Do a patch test and start with just once a week (leaving it on skin for seven to eight minutes instead of the full 10 is a good idea, too).

Cousin to the viral self-tanner sensation on Tiktok, this post-tan lotion not only helps rehydrate salt-, wind- and sun-kissed skin, it’s also got macadamia nut oil and aloe for extra moisturization to stop flaking and peeling before it even starts. Oh, and did we mention it smells like warm brown sugar and the beach?

Haven’t landed on a daily sunscreen yet? (Girl, come on.) This clean, reef-safe gel sunscreen adds a natural glow either under or over makeup without leaving any white-cast. It’s also moisturizing and contains probiotic extracts, pineapple and papaya to simultaneously smooth and even out skin tone.

This face-and-body sunscreen goes on sheer with its proprietary super-lightweight formula made for melanated skin. Don’t let the color out of the bottle fool you: It has a translucent finish and actually moisturizes while it protects against harmful UVA and UVB rays. Plus, it’s water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.

Dubbed “one of the best moisturizers on the market” by our very own social editor, this lightweight cream repairs the skin barrier while adding immediate hydration to dry or sun-damaged skin. Perfect for summer, it soaks in immediately, so it never feels like you need to run a cold hair dryer over your face after applying.

Millie Bobby Brown has an enviable glow, and now we know why (well, besides being, like, a teenager). Her deliciously scented face wash removes dirt and buildup, leaving skin soft and clean, but is still gentle enough to not leave your face feeling stripped and sanded.

Buy it ($15)

A lactic acid treatment that does double duty by hydrating and exfoliating at the same time is one of the most buzzed-about products at our office (no, seriously, half our team is obsessed and the other half has already added it to their wishlist). It also instantly plumps the look of fine lines and wrinkles in just three minutes, and can be used morning or night.