I feel like everyone preps their beauty routines for summer, but not fall. I get it. Fall is when you cover up your skin, ditching shorts and sundresses for sweaters and sweatshirts. You’re back from vacation and maybe you’re not all that focused on whether your skin has a sun-kissed glow. Instead of trendy hairstyles, you’re back to an office claw clip situation. However, I think we should flip the script. After all, summer isn’t all sunshine and roses. We get dull, damaged strands from salt and chlorine. We get sun damage from long beach days. You get the picture.
That’s why, each fall, I go into repair and restore mode. I douse my hair in moisturizing hair masks. I break out my best brightening skincare products. I invest in comforting body care products. But why wait til fall? Why not have a pre-fall glow-up so I’m not playing catch-up when the cold weather hits? By then, I want to be enjoying the crisp weather and a warm latte without summer-battered skin and hair.
Lucky for me, Ulta is having a “Set for School” sale that runs from July 22 through July 25. There are so many top-rated and editor-approved products on sale. I scoured them all to find the ones I’m snagging as part of my pre-fall glow-up. And I’m sharing them with you. Keep scrolling to see my picks!
Skincare
COSRX
Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
You can’t scroll on TikTok without seeing a bottle of this snail mucin essence. And yes, it’s just what it sounds like. With 96% snail mucin—the slimy stuff excreted by literal snails—it wraps the skin in soothing, hydrating, and barrier-supporting comfort. Over time, it strengthens the skin, minimizes signs of aging, and even fades dark spots. It’s no wonder it’s a K-beauty and TikTok-viral icon. So, yeah, I’m getting in on the action while it’s on sale.
CeraVe
Renewing SA Cleanser
I swear by this salicylic acid cleanser for smoothing my skin, keeping my pores clear, and even doing away with keratosis pilaris and ingrown hairs. Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) meaning it can penetrate the pore lining to remove blockages. Its gentle formula does what it’s supposed to without causing excess dryness or irritation on my sensitive skin.
PEACH & LILY
Glass Skin Refining Serum
Behold: one of my favorite skincare brands in the whole wide world. Yep, I said it. Peach & Lily has been a staple in my skincare routine for years—ever since I was lucky enough to get a facial from the brand’s founder Alicia Yoon. She was so knowledgeable, and the products were so effective. The latter made a visible difference in the state of my skin by the time the appointment was over. Ever since, I’ve been obsessed.
The brand’s Glass Skin Refining Serum is the ultimate multi-tasker. Using peach extract, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and peptides, it firms, brightens, smooths, evens, and plumps the skin. It’s like a facial in a bottle.
PEACH & LILY
Matcha Pudding Antioxidant Cream
Speaking of Peach & Lily, the Matcha Pudding Antioxidant Cream is in my top three favorite moisturizers of all time. It’s packed with antioxidants, so it soothes, brightens, and protects the skin from environmental aggressors. I find the formula so soothing. In fact, it does more for my redness-prone skin than any other formula I’ve tried.
DHC
Deep Cleansing Oil Facial Cleanser
I swear by double-cleansing to dissolve dirt, sunscreen, makeup, and whatever else is sitting on my skin at the end of a long day. Seriously, use this silky cleansing oil, follow up with a foaming cleanser, and your skin will never feel better. It creates the perfect environment for expensive toners, serums, and moisturizers to *actually* penetrate through to the skin and do what they’re supposed to do.
belif
The True Cream – Aqua Bomb Hydrating Moisturizer
You’d be hard-pressed to find a beauty editor who doesn’t love this lightweight moisturizer. It’s clinically tested to boost hydration levels by over 200%, so it really is like a tall drink of water for the skin. I can’t think of a better product to add to my pre-fall skincare glow-up routine.
St. Tropez
Luxe Whipped Self Tan Crème Mousse
Because I’m a beauty editor, and I’m serious about sun protection, I don’t feel right lying in the sun all day long. So, to get a sun-kissed look, I rely on self-tanner. This luxe, whipped formula makes my skin look amazing—golden and glowy without a single streak or smudge in sight. Did I just get an expensive spray tan or did I wear this at-home formula under a baggy t-shirt? Hint: it’s the second one.
Patchology
Flashpatch Rejuvenating Eye Gels
I’m the biggest fan of eye patches. Toss them on while drinking your morning coffee, and your under-eye area is getting treated to skin-perfecting ingredients while you wake up. What’s not to love? These are a staple in my skincare collection. With caffeine, collagen, and hyaluronic acid, they’ll make you look like you got eight hours of sleep even if that’s not the case.
BeautyStat Cosmetics
Universal C Skin Refiner
Hailey Bieber loves this vitamin C serum, and so do I. With 20% L-ascorbic acid, this serum works like a charm to brighten dullness, fade discoloration, and minimize signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles. There’s no other vitamin C serum I’ll count on for a serious late-summer glow-up.
cocokind
Chlorophyll Discoloration Serum
Speaking of discoloration…I have a lot of it. Blame it on the carefree days of my youth during which I’d spend all day in the sun without proper sun protection. While I’ve long since changed my ways, I still struggle with signs of sun damage—most notably, dark spots and discoloration. So, I’m snagging this internet-loved discoloration serum while it’s on sale. Using 1% alpha arbutin, chlorophyll, licorice root, and panthenol, it whips away signs of UV skin damage.
Kate Somerville
Eradikate Acne Spot Treatment With 10% Sulfur
I experience the most breakouts in late-summer and early-fall. I’m not sure why, but maybe it can be blamed on a shift in weather. Whatever it is, I’m going to make sure I’m stocked up on blemish-busting treatments like this one. With 10% sulfur, salicylic acid, and zinc oxide, it’s clinically proven to reduce the appearance of breakouts in as little as one hour. Yep, I’m sold.
Peace Out
Oil-Absorbing Pore Treatment Strips
Breakouts and excess oil go together like peanut butter and jelly, thunder and lightening, Monday mornings and coffee. You get it. I’m stocking up on a set of these oil-absorbing strips to mitigate that problem. The hydrocolloid strips soak excess oil up and out of my pores to prevent shine and, most importantly, minimize the look of my enlarged pores.
Makeup
CoverGirl
Clean Fresh Yummy Lip Gloss
Sometimes, a fresh swipe of lip gloss is all it takes to look and feel put-together. Covergirl’s Clean Fresh Yummy Lip Gloss is one of my favorite drugstore formulas. It feels lightweight and hydrating—never thick, goopy, or sticky. Plus, all the shades are on-point. I like this sheer nude shade, called Coconuts About You.
L.A. Girl
Pro Sculpt Concealer Palette
Take it from me, color-correcting can go so far. Seriously, though. I highly doubt you need a more full-coverage foundation or concealer. You might just need some targeting color-correcting. This palette is my go-to. Not only can I customize my own concealer shade, but I can boost it with yellow, pink, and green tones. Use yellow to even out skin tone and correct dark spots. Use pink/peach tones to neutralize dark circles. Use green to fix redness.
Covergirl
Simply Ageless Skin Perfector Essence Foundation
I’m all about fresh, natural-looking skin, so I’m snagging a bottle of this hydrating foundation while it’s on sale. (It’s important to note that while it’s called a foundation, I consider it more of a skin tint due to its lightweight coverage and glowy finish.) A skincare-makeup hybrid, it’s formulated with 0.5% bakuchiol, a plant-based retinol alternative that reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It’s also incredibly hydrating. When applied to the skin, the small pigment beads burst to deposit a dewy, skin-perfecting tint.
FLOWER Beauty
Desert Lights Shadow Palette
I love adding a touch of shimmer on the inner corners of my eyes and right above the lash line for a subtle, something-something. This palette is about to be my new go-to. I love the finely milled shimmer, the warm neutral shades, and the way they all match for a foolproof result.
It Cosmetics
Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing & Lengthening Mascara
What’s a glow-up without mascara? I love the way this one lengthens and volumizes in one swipe. Plus, thanks to a stretchy, “elastic” formula, this mascara never flakes or crumbles (if you know, you know). It even doubles as a lash serum, as it contains collagen, biotin, and peptides to condition lashes. Did I mention it’s ophthalmologist-tested?
Ardell
Soft Touch Trios False Eyelash in Short & Medium Length
Even if I’m wearing a truly stellar mascara, I still crave a little extra lash definition from time to time. In those cases, I’ll apply one or two false eyelash trios to the outer corners of my eyes. It’s subtle, but it makes my lashes look slightly more dense and fluttery.
Hair
Viviscal
Hair Growth Supplements for Women
I have fine hair. I’ve tried volume-boosting hair products and extensions to varying degrees of success, but lately, I’ve been wanting to boost my hair density at the source. So, I’m trying these hair growth supplements. They the best-selling clinically tested hair growth supplement in the US, and they’re scientifically proven to improve thickness in as little as three months.
Revlon
One-Step Volumizer Hot Air Brush
I can’t talk about volume without talking about a hair dryer brush. These babies smooth, style, and volumize the hair in one shot. While there are multiple options on the market, I chose this Revlon one. It has two heat and speed settings, as well as a cool shot to seal in shine and style.
LolaVie
Glossing Detangler
If Jennifer Aniston’s hair products can give me hair that’s even remotely similar to, well, Jennifer Aniston, then I’m going to use them. The first one on my list is this multi-tasking spray that detangles, primes, protects, and boosts shine. I’ll use it before I style my hair to prevent heat damage and prep my strands for a long-lasting style.
Nails
Le Mini Macaron
1-Step DIY Glossy Gel Manicure Kit
I love gel manicures, but they’re expensive and time-consuming. So, when I want to save money or avoid sitting in a nail salon, I use this little at-home kit. Yes, it’s adorable, but it also contains all the tools and equipment you need to get a long-lasting, professional-looking gel manicure (it even has an LED light that looks like a little macaron—how cute!).
Kiss
Dashing Classy Ready-To-Wear Fashion Nails
If I crave the look of gel extensions or acrylics, I turn to these press-on nails. I love the almond shape and the classic French manicure design. It never fails me.
Fragrance
Ellis Brooklyn
Vanilla Milk Eau De Parfum
I can’t imagine heading into autumn without this bottle of Ellis Brooklyn’s Vanilla Milk Eau de Parfum. The addictive scent is soft, warm, and sweet with two different types of vanilla extract, cocoa shell, and milk accord. I feel cozy when I wear it like I’m sipping a warm latte while walking down a sunlit street that’s swirling with fallen leaves.
Ellis Brooklyn
Florist Eau De Parfum
Another Ellis Brooklyn fave, this perfume is basically a bouquet in a bottle. Notes of Italian bergamot, lily of the valley and pear mingle with tuberose, gardenia, jasmine, and honeysuckle. The traditionally feminine, garden-fresh scent is grounded by notes of cedarwood, sandalwood, and ambrox.
Clean
Classic Skin Eau De Parfum
If your vibe is understated, soft-girl scents, you’ll love this perfume. With notes of lotus blossom, dewy petals, and creamy vanilla, it’s a barely-there whisper of fragrance that reminds me of clean skin and my boyfriend’s freshly laundered sweatshirts.
DKNY
Be Delicious Eau De Parfum
DKNY’s Be Delicious Eau de Parfum is Y2K-coded, and maybe that’s why I love it so much. The nostalgic scent is made up of apple, magnolia, and sandalwood notes, so it’s just as fresh as it is floral and fruity. I know everyone’s talking about having a “Brat-girl summer,” but I’ll be using this for a “Brat-girl fall.”