For the last decade or so, I’ve been in a fragrance desert. Unlike the ‘90s heyday of scent that I recall from my youth, when a girl could choose from an expensive designer bottle (think Thierry Mugler’s Angel or Gucci Rush) a mid-tier scent, like Candies, BCBGirls, Britney Spears Curious, Tommy Girl or Abercrombie & Fitch (all core memories) or the cheap-yet-delectable offerings of the local Bath & Body Works, our options as of late have felt rather … limited.

These days, I can choose to smell like Ariana Grande or Billie Eilish (hard pass), show my age with some Coco Chanel or take my chances on an affordable “dupe” of the $335 Maison Francis Kurkdjian du jour. And honestly? None of them are resonating. Every time I find a fragrance that I do really, really like, it’s discontinued. (Thanks a lot, Gucci.)

So when influencer Lucy Whims, who has impeccable taste in just about everything, began to rave about Vanilla Skin, she opened up a longstanding dark cloud in my fragrance sky. I jumped at the chance to test it, along with three of Phlur’s other gourmand scents: Heavy Cream, Coconut Skin and Caramel Skin.

18 of Phlur’s best sellers later, I’m officially a brand stan. More days than not, I’m reaching for one of the top five scents below (though I occasionally mix it up with one of the others, as well).

Trust me when I say that these are the best Phlur scents worth spending every cent of your hard-earned cash on—and the ones you might be better off checking out in the Discovery ($39) or custom sampler set ($65).

The 18 Best Phlur Scents I’ve Tried

1. Vanilla Skin

Vanilla Skin is the first Phlur scent I ever tried, and it’s still my absolute favorite. (It’s also a crazy hot seller.) Unlike the BBW Warm Vanilla Sugar body mist we all remember from seventh grade, this vanilla fragrance has depth. It’s inviting and cozy-smelling, enveloping you like a warm hug without being overpowering. Still, it lingers. After a full day’s wear, I was left sniffing my shirt like a fiend because it still smelled so damn good. Needless to say, it’s become my new go-to.

2. Vanilla Nectar

If the newest addition to the Phlur lineup is the first one you try, you won’t be disappointed—this stuff is an orange creasmcicle sherbet dream. Released in June 2025, it’s the type of scent that makes your eyes roll up into the back of your head with hedonistic delight. Like all of Phlur’s mists, it wears off a little quicker than the perfumes, but trust me—it’s worth the respritz. The only downside? You’ll be sniffing your wrists with wild abandon, onlookers be d*mned.

3. Beach Skin

This was another instant favorite for me. Released just in time for summer, it fully captures the essence of what it’s like to spend a day lounging in the sand while listening to the ocean waves (or if you’re in Florida, the laughing gulls). While it does feature sandalwood and bergamot, which tend to dominate most “ocean air” candles, it also leans into other ingredients, like pink pepper, salted tiare flower, coconut milk, lily of the valley and straight musk, for an unexpected twist. Currently, it only comes in a body mist, which does wear off rather quickly, but I would be all about a heavier perfume version. And in the meantime? I’ll be alternating my mist with my Vanilla Skin.

4. Strawberry Letter

This is a complex perfume. Sure, it has the sweet strawberry smell you’d expect, but it’s also full of earthy woods, tonka bean and sugared amber base notes that make it extra special. At the slightest hint of a breeze, the unexpected layers start to shine through, reminding me that I’m wearing a really good perfume. (And if you’re anything like me, who wears it as much for myself as for others, that’s clutch.)

5. Rose Whip

Rose Whip is floral fragrance perfected. It’s like they removed all of the powdery, grandma-like notes that typically accompany flowery scents and replaced them all with a spicy-yet-soft leathery element that’s rather intoxicating, if I do say so myself. I tend to wear this one on days I’m feeling *extra* girlie.

6. Missing Person

One of the brand’s most popular scents, Missing Person is also one of the hardest to describe, as It’s not particularly spicy, floral or sweet. A blend of white musk, jasmine and orange blossom, its tagline is “if nude were a perfume,” with the brand calling it “delicate, yet addictive.” Indeed, it is both light and alluring—my only gripe is that it’s a little *too* light. An hour into wearing it, I feel like it’s already faded away. That said, If it had just a smidge more staying power, it would be a great everyday scent.

7. Soft Spot

Soft Spot is, well, soft. It’s baby powder freshness in a bottle, hold the powder. I don’t think it gives off the sultry vibe that the brand suggests, but rather a very clean, airy scent reminiscent of fresh bubbles, silk and Clairo. In other words? It’s a vibe, and a rather whimsical one at that.

8. Dragon Fruit

Here, we have a scent that equates to “exactly what I want to spritz on immediately after stepping out of the shower.” The fruitiest scent in Phlur’s roster, Dragon Fruit is bright, uplifting and reminiscent of the Herbal Essences shampoos you loved in high school, only better. And it’s bright pink! What’s not to love?

9. Mango Wood

Peach Skin may be new, but if you ask me, Mango Wood still reigns supreme when it comes to the brand’s stone pit fruit scents. The former is more nuanced, taking your nose on an olfactory journey as time goes on, but I’d really rather it stayed true to the sweet fruity smell that’s dispensed at first spray. Mango Wood does just that, giving me tropics in a bottle (yum!)—and keeping it that way.

10. Heavy Cream

“If your favorite laundry soap had a baby with a bakery”—that’s how I’d describe Heavy Cream. Heavier on the fresh scent than the gourmand notes, it definitely makes for an interesting mix. It’s also a nice detour on the confectionary fragrance front should you ever get sick of the vanilla. (As if!)

11. Moonstone

Moonstone is a nice, juicy mixture of green apple, pineapple and black currant topped off with lemon zest, mandarin orange, jasmine and geranium, with sandalwood, vanilla and amber thrown in for good measure. It’s one of the most even, balanced scents of the bunch—not too light, not too strong—and sans for its staying power, which is shorter than that of the heavier perfumes, it’s a good day-to-day scent contender.

12. Mood Ring

The second I sprayed this on myself, I thought, ‘This smells like a gummy bear.’ And generally, gummy bears smell pretty good. But as it turns out, they can also be pretty intense as a perfume. It’s kind of like the toothache you get after eating too much candy, only in scent form. It tastes great, and you enjoy it, but then, it starts to hurt, urging you to exercise caution upon future consumption.

13. Father Figure

This one is heady. The first few spritzes will make you feel like you’ve buried your nose in your boyfriend’s sweatshirt (a.k.a. heavenly). While you might be inclined to douse yourself in its comforting musk, however, I must advise against it. Like Mood Ring, this is a scent that’s best sniffed in small doses. Spritz it on too thick, and you might find yourself with an overwhelming Drakkar Noir-style headache (IYKYK)—less is more.

14. Golden Rule

File this one under “über-sultry.” One of the heaviest scents in the Phlur line, Golden Rule is bold, and rightfully so—the perfumer’s goal in creating it was to “capture the magnetic, alluring, energy of a person with confidence.” It’s a scent I probably wouldn’t have bought for myself (I was gifted all of the bottles on this list), as it’s rather potent. Still, it’s not so much that it’s over the top. All in all, it’s a strong, sexy fragrance I’m glad to have in my arsenal for special occasions.

15. Coconut Skin

If you were expecting this one to smell like suntan lotion, you’d only be half correct. Rather, it’s a twist on your standard coconut fragrance thanks to the addition of several floral notes (frangipani, tiare blossom and jasmine absolute). The problem? I actually prefer the former. I was really excited to smell like a straight-up coconut! Luckily, Beach Skin has that hint of coconut milk to satiate my needs.

16. Peach Skin

Released in mid-May, Peach Skin is one of the brand’s newer scents. While the fruit part is lovely and comes through in the first few seconds after being sprayed, it’s quickly overwhelmed by the underlying sandalwood, which gives it a woody smell that I didn’t care for. It reminded me of walking through a freshly laid pile of cedar chips. Ironically, Mango Wood, which has a similar fruit profile, was far less woody than I found this one to be, making it my preferred pick.

17. Caramel Skin

Caramel skin is ultra-rich—in fact, I’d go so far as to call it sickeningly so. As such, as much as it pains me to admit it, the scent I thought I’d love the most is one of my least favorites. It’s simply too much of a good thing, cheapening the brown sugar, caramel and vanilla notes that would otherwise be irresistible. That said, it may be just enough for fans of the Sol de Janeiro line, which I find to be too sweet but the world seems to love.

18. Vanilla Smoke

One thing about me: My favorite smell in the world is the smell of a bonfire. Maybe it’s linked to memories of growing up in Michigan, or maybe it’s just what I like, but the instant I get a whiff of smoke, I’m in heaven. Unfortunately, Vanilla Smoke did not recreate that experience for me. Something about it is extremely overpowering. I actually had to wash this one off because it disagreed with me so badly—and it’s only a body mist! To be fair, however, I saw a review that claimed it was “not very strong” at all, so maybe my nose is just overly sensitive? Can’t win ’em all. *Shrugs*

Which Phlur scent is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!

Xo, Nicole

The post I Ranked 18 of the Best Phlur Scents—and This One Reigns Supreme appeared first on nicolebjean.

Please note: This post contains affiliate links. You can learn more about my product selection process here.

Every job has its hazards. As a commerce director and editor, mine is that I’m often sent amazing beauty products to test. Which is great! Until I inevitably fall in love with whatever it is and promptly run out of it, leaving me with an often pricey new addiction. (Check out my full list of favorites here.). The biggest drain on my wallet? Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin foundation (4N). At $49 a tube, it’s beautiful, yes, but not exactly economical. So you can imagine my surprise and delight when a newly launched $10 tinted serum came close to dethroning it entirely. World, allow me to introduce to your new (affordable!) hero product: the Catrice Nude Drop tinted serum.

What Is Catrice Nude Drop Tinted Serum?

As its name suggests, Nude Drop is a tinted serum foundation that offers lightweight coverage. Launched by Catrice in October 2023, its goal of being light-as-air is hardly revolutionary. Unlike the typical “your skin, but better!” offerings, however, which tend to give you little more than a dewy finish, this one goes above and beyond in the coverage department. Just a few drops can color correct your redness, balance an uneven complexion and fully disguise your problem areas. What’s more, it does it all with a nearly weightless finish. Loaded with vitamin E and hyaluronic acid, a.k.a. the buzzy beauty ingredient of the moment, it’s super hydrating to boot.

Why Is Catrice So Cheap?

I know what you’re thinking. “If Catrice is so great, how come I haven’t heard of it before? And why is it so dang cheap?” According to the company, it doesn’t bother with a whole lot of advertising. In fact, that’s the reason it’s able to offer its products at such a low cost despite the high quality. In other words? Catrice would rather keep its cost low for customers and build its brand through word of mouth than plaster its sh*t all over your Instagram feed. And all of this translates to an affordable yet little-known secret weapon in your beauty arsenal.

How Well Does the Catrice Nude Drop Tinted Serum Work?

After putting this product to the test in three different shades that I was sent by the company, I can attest that it absolutely lives up to its claims to perform like a foundation while feeling like a serum—and a very light one at that.

I rated it on everything from its application (stellar) to its shade range (decent) to come up with my final verdict below. Keep reading to find out where this serum excels, where it falls short and if it’s worth the $10 add-on to your Amazon cart.

The Application

• My Rating: 5/5

One of my favorite things about this product is the applicator. True to serum form, it comes with a little dropper that allows you to easily dispense the product across your cheeks, forehead and chin before blending it in, Meredith Duxbury style. Unlike other tinted serums I’ve used, however, this dropper actually works. It sucks up a nice amount of product on the first try, every time. It also holds it shape well—no half-deflated squeezer tops here. What’s more, it doesn’t leak or gush out anywhere, creating a mess for the next time you open the bottle.

The Shade Range

• My Rating: 4/5

In total, there are 16 different colors of this tinted serum to choose from.  

I was sent three different shades to try on my super fair skin with pink undertones—005W, 010N and 020N. While the differences in all three were extremely subtle— to the point of being almost interchangeable—010N is the one that suited me best, as I found it to have ever-so-slightly less of a yellow tint. That said, I can wear any one of them without making my face a different color than my neck.

Interestingly enough, if I use the site’s shade finder tool, which allows you to enter your normal foundation to find your perfect match, it says I should be using 040N, which apparently offers a little more color. This leads me to believe I could get away with wearing even more shades than the ones I already have.

While this certainly makes it easier to shop for in my case, such subtle differences in the colors make me wonder if the line will truly be diverse enough for all skin tones to wear. Still, there are a respectable amount of options for a launch, and I’ve seen other companies work just fine with less.

The Wear

• My Rating: 4/5

After substituting this for my regular foundation on several occasions (namely, when I’m too lazy to do a full face), I’ve found that its performance largely depends on the shape your skin is in when you put it on.

If my normal-to-combination visage is well-hydrated, I can use this everywhere except for my under-eye area, where the product tends to settle in my fine lines and crease. If my skin is dry, however, it also gets a bit patchy in other areas, like my T-zone, after an hour or two.

For that reason, I not only moisturize the heck out of my skin before I put the Nude Drop serum on (I’ve been using Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream, $100), I avoid using it on my under-eye area altogether, opting for a quick concealer (I’m a big fan of this one from Kaja, $19, or this bareMinerals option, $28) instead.

You don’t have to use a lot of this stuff to get great coverage: Just a dab will get you a full face of makeup’s worth. It’s so light, however, that even if you did slather it on, you wouldn’t feel it on your skin. Basically, the second you apply it, it soaks in like magic, leaving behind a gorgeous and dewy—never shiny—finish. (See: the photo above, in which I’m wearing it.)

It also stays put fairly well. While you may need to reapply it in the event of say, a good cry fest (something I definitely put it to the test against), I was otherwise pleased with its staying power. I can’t cosign the brand’s claims that it will last for a full 24 hours, but it did get me through to the end of the day relatively intact. All in all, the performance was far better than I had anticipated.

The Value

• My Rating: 5/5

Look, I’ll be honest: For $10, I didn’t have very high expectations of this serum, particularly since it was my first time trying the brand. A true makeup snob, I thought its price tag was a clear indicator that it would be runny, greasy and chalky at best. After just a few swipes, however, it became clear to me that Catrice was no run-of-the-mill drugstore find. This stuff is good—like, shockingly good—and on par with some of the best, most expensive products in my beauty bag.

That fact is made even more impressive when you consider that all of Catrice’s products are vegan, which means they’re fully free of animal products, and have a cruelty-free PETA-backed label indicating that they’re not tested on animals during any part of the manufacturing process.

This serum is not only worth every godd*mn penny—it’s worth a whole lot more.

The Final Verdict

• My Rating: 18/20

At the end of my tests, I wasn’t quite ready to throw away my beloved Charlotte Tilbury. That said, this has certainly been a welcome addition to my beauty roster—and my wallet, considering it’s about one-fifth of the cost of my typical go-to foundation. It applies like a dream, it comes in a decent range of shades and it wears impressively well, as long as I’ve moisturized my T-zone and kept it away from my under-eyes. Throw in the fact that it’s $10, vegan and cruelty-free, and my mind is completely blown. Catrice, you’ve truly outdone yourself with this one.

Other Products Used

What are your thoughts on tinted serums? Let me know in the comments below. 

Xo, Nicole

The post This New $10 Tinted Serum Is *Almost* As Good As My $50 Foundation appeared first on nicolebjean.

Please note: This post contains affiliate links. 

I’ll admit it — I’m a bit of a makeup snob. There’s a handful of drugstore staples I swear by (Essence Lash Princess Mascara is an actual gift from the Gods), but for the most part, it’s all Clinique, MAC, Chanel, Kylie Cosmetics, Stila, Smashbox and Benefit, all the time (acquaint yourself with some of my all-time faves here). Still, I’m not above a good checkout line special, especially when it’s presented on clearance in insanely eye-catching packaging. In fact, that’s exactly how I happened to stumble upon what I have since deemed the Holy Grail of lipgloss at Walgreens: the Balm lip gloss.

Yes, you read that right. My new favorite lipgloss — the one I now hold dear above all my Kylie Lip Kits ($35), MAC Dazzleglass ($23) and Lancôme Juicy Tubes ($25) combined — can be purchased for the low, low price of $15 (or less — mine was on clearance!) at Walgreens.

Having been burned by many a cheap gloss before, I wasn’t expecting much, despite the insanely cute comic book-style box. My last two purchases of Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Oil and Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick turned out to be thin, cakey and wholly disappointing, respectively. But after just one swipe of theBalm Read My Lips gloss in POW!, I knew I had found a diamond in the rough.

For starters, the pigment this bad boy packs is in a class of its own. I get just as much color from this little guy as I do from my beloved hot pink Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet L’Exuberante lipstick (discontinued) — and that’s saying a lot.

Typically, my most concentrated lip colors tend to come in the form of mattes (like the aforementioned Chanel) or stains, courtesy of Victoria’s Secret, Kylie Cosmetics or Colour Pop, which, TBH, is a big reason why I favor them — you get the most bang for your buck.

The few glosses I’ve found that do manage to really punch up your pout tend to slide off easily, sometimes in a matter of minutes —and yet, nearly four hours after I applied this theBalm formula, it was still bright as could be.

Speaking of the formula, let’s discuss for a minute! I appreciate a good, sticky gloss as much as the next girl — in some weird way, it gives me nostalgia to have my hair continually plastered into my lips the same way it was in middle school — yet the smoothness and moisture of the Read My Lips line cannot be denied.

Somehow, by some miracle, the good folks at theBalm have managed to concoct a gloriously shiny, non-sticky mixture that has jusssssst the right consistency and ultimate staying power, making the act of applying it akin to Goldilocks settling into Baby Bear’s chair.

According to the brand’s website, it’s also infused with ginseng for a little jolt of mental stimulation, and who couldn’t use a little of that at any given time?

Needless to say, I’ve already placed an order online for another color (VA VA VOOM!, ICYWW), and I’ve got a sneaking suspicion I’ll be stocking up on the rest of the colors before too long.

It just goes to show, you should never judge a book by its cover … unless that cover is utterly adorable.

Tell me: Have you tried more theBalm products? Thoughts? 

Xo, Nicole

The post This Walgreens Lip Gloss Is Better Than All of My Designer Glosses Combined—and It’s Only $15 appeared first on nicolebjean.