Anyone who knows me knows that I love animals, so it's strange why it took me so long to look into cruelty-free beauty. Over the past several weeks, I've started buying beauty products only from brands who don't allow animal testing, here or in China. It's been a mixed bag. On one hand, resources from Cruelty-Free Kitty and PETA make it easy to discover new, cruelty-free brands. On the other hand, it's occasionally a major bitch to find cruelty-free dupes for the products — especially skin care products — you love. 

Recently, I switched from my normal serum to Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum, $33.99. It lingered in my Amazon "saved for later" basket for god-knows-how-long before I pulled the trigger. I'm glad I did. It's an affordable, cruelty-free alternative to the vitamin C serums from luxury brands (*cough* Sunday Riley *cough*) and mass-market pharma companies (rarely cruelty-free). In addition to vitamin C, this serum contains powerful ingredients like konjac root and ferulic acid that noticeably brightened my skin in less than a week — without burning or irritation.

Got any cruelty-free beauty products you love? Tell me in the comments! — Katie McCarthy

If you didn't know, most women are either #TeamBarSoap or #TeamBodyWash. While I enjoy the variety of scents body washes offer and the extreme lather you get when it's time to soap up, I've always preferred a bar soap to cleanse my body. That is until I tried the Klorane Cupuacu Flower Shower Cream. 

I never quite felt like body washes actually cleanse my skin. They smell good and all, but I never feel clean after using them. Not to mention, the extreme dryness I feel all over from the lack of moisturizing ingredients in body washes. That's why this new body cream surprised me! 

First, the scent is oh-so-enticing, yet warm and feminine with notes of cupuacu fruit, freesia blossom and cotton milk — I could douse myself in the scent alone. My second impression is how thick and moisturizing the formula is. Typically, I would purchase the $3 body wash and the formula practically oozed out of the bottle with ease. But this shower cream is exactly what it promises: creamy. Lather it onto your loofa or cloth and you'll see a creamy, decadent lather that won't dry out your skin. That may be due to the soap-free cleansing base, but it almost feels like a lotion upon application. 

I never thought I'd toss my bar soap for a body wash —or encourage women to spend $14 on a shower product — but this one is worth it. For the ultimate shower experience, head to KloraneUsa.com and get yourself a bottle... stat. — Andrea Jordan

Cover image via @kloraneusa

I was lucky enough to spend two weeks at the beach in August, but it turns out that much fun in the sun takes its toll. When I got back, my skin was wrecked. So, ever since, I've been trying to baby it with lots of TLC (i.e. masks) and this one has been my favorite. H2O+  Rapids Soothing Probiotic Bubble Mask, $6, goes on as a gel and then immediately starts fizzing up with bubbles as the champagne and yuzu extracts get to work. You leave it on for 10 minutes, then rinse it off with warm water. Afterwards, my skin felt super soft and looked noticeably clearer and brighter. Score!

(And FYI: These are single-use packets, but I got three uses out of this one.) — Alyssa Hertzig

Cover image via @h2oplususa

Chalk it up to disastrous encounters with early aughts-era super-strength astringents and salicylic acid-packed foaming gel cleansers that left my complexion drier than the Sahara, but I've always treated acne products with a little respectful fear.

Working as a beauty editor has gotten me to (slowly) embrace some of the harsher (yet often most effective) products like retinol serums and exfoliating treatments like glow tonics — I even consider them staples in my ever-more complex beauty routine. Still, I've somewhat irrationally continued to regard acne-specific treatments with trepidation; despite the fact that adult acne remains a daily struggle for me.

Three weeks with Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster, $36, and I'm singing an entirely different tune. The creamy gel product, which is designed to be layered or mixed with the rest of your skin care routine, has helped curb my breakouts and left my skin about as clear as it's ever been, without causing any irritation or dryness. It's also helping to eradicate the PIH (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation)  that's taken up a constant residence on my cheeks and chin since early adolescence.

What can I say? The stuff has already earned a place in my heart  — and medicine cabinet — right next to my beloved pimple patches. — Rosie Narasaki

Intro image via @paulaschoice

I am a self-proclaimed fragrance junkie and own more perfumes than I'd care to admit. As temperatures soar, it's tough to find a scent that continues to smell good without being altered by the heat and humidity. I recently attended an event with the brand Atelier Cologne and literally smelled the entire fragrance collection. One, in particular, stood out to me and I've been liberally spritzing it on ever since.

Trèfle Pur, $85, is that scent. It's a crisp, green fragrance with so much depth, and it is so SO good. Translated to "pure clover," the scent contains notes of bitter orange, neroli, basil, patchouli, cedarwood and violet leaves. The mint-basil-citrus-woodsy notes are cool and refreshing, which is perfect when the climate is not. A generous spritz will transport you to a dewy park in springtime where the scent of freshly cut grass and blossoming flowers fill your nose and instantly make you happy.

This unisex scent is totally boyfriend-approved, as mine likes to steal my bottle and spritz it on himself. If you're looking for a clean, fresh scent with impressive staying power, I encourage you to try this one. The end of summer may be hot, muggy and melty, but you'll be smelling fresh as a clover! To see more of my beauty favorites, follow me on Instagram @hannah_savin

Thumb via Atelier Cologne