2026 Beauty Haul of Fame! The Year’s Best Performing Foundations, Worth-It K-Beauty & The $10 Drugstore Hair Steal We Both Adore

0:00The following podcast is a dear media production.

0:08Welcome to Breaking Beauty, the podcast all about the breakthrough people, products, and moments in beauty. We're your hosts, Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins.

0:21Welcome back to Breaking Beauty podcast, everyone. I'm one of your co-hosts, Carlene Higgins, and I'm here with my friend and your other co-host, Jill Dunn. Hey, everyone. Hey, Carlene. Hey. How's your summer been? It has been excellent, especially when we're here in New York. I'm so ready to do some shopping. Heck yeah. Well, a little behind the scenes, it was Carlene's birthday week this week. So she's celebrating for a few extra days here in the city. Leo season. So she's going to be the star of the show for this week. Yeah, I'm going to be treating myself and treating myself right. I can't wait to get the text.

0:57I got this for 80 % off. I know. But if you are new here, welcome. We are two longtime magazine beauty editors turned beauty podcasters. And if you've been around for a while, you probably know that we are more than 450 episodes deep at this point. And we're chatting about the breakthrough people, products and moments in beauty. Join us on YouTube. Join us on Instagram. And today we are doing a hashtag damn good episode, which is where we sort of put our editor hats on. Not sort of. We do put our editor hats on to review products in market. what we deem to be hashtag damn good. So we do the damn goods episodes once a month.

1:34And every year we do a Hall of Fame episode, which is what we are bringing you today. And the Hall of Fame is a compilation of the very best products from our damn goods that stayed in our rotation. Yeah. And some new products that we may have missed throughout the year. So we are so happy to bring you our 2026 Hall of Fame. Updates. Updates. You're going to hear about the latest skincare that we deem worthy of the crown, the Hall of Fame crown. Yes. We're also going to be talking about makeup and hair. Yeah. Lots of hot topics to cover also in the mix of it. And of course, you can shop every single thing that we talk about on BreakingBeautyPodcast.com.

2:16We'll also link it here below in the YouTube description. So let's dive in, Carlene. Yes. Let's start with skincare. because we know that's what you really love probably the most out of all the categories. So Jill, what is topping your Hall of Fame list? Well, I think you can't talk about 2026 skincare and not talk about K-Beauty. Absolutely. We did a whole episode a few months back about Olive Young arriving here in the States, and they're going to be within Sephora soon enough, coming in Canada as well in 2026. So K-Beauty is everywhere. It's not going away. And one brand that has just exploded.

2:51I feel like there's a handful that are just viral machines. MediCube being one, Anua being the other one, Biodance being another one. And they are just launching products that go viral all the time. So one product that I've been really loving and it has gone viral is the Anua Azelaic Acid 10 Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum. That is$23 in the U.S., which is incredibly affordable, and$31 in Canada. I'm holding it up. I'm sure that most of you have seen it online. And so the whole point with azelaic acid, as we know as beauty editors, we've been told by dermatologists, azelaic acid is really great for soothing, reducing redness.

3:33And this has made it onto my top shelf. I have emptied one of these already. I really love how nonsticky it is, how it really does calm everything down. And it's just been a go-to ever since I tried it. I also feel like azelaic acid is the ingredient of 2026. We were kind of saying earlier in the year it was PDRN, but the ingredient that all the cosmetic chemists and everyone is talking about is azelaic acid. It's basically gone viral. The reason that it's in the news is because there's a creator who is Irish and did a post and basically said that azelaic acid in its raw ingredient form is a powder, kind of like zinc, like a white powder, where it's always going to have that quality to it, which is why it typically is in a cream.

4:23And so the point that they were making was if it's in a clear formula, there's some kind of marketing trickery going on because you cannot have the amount of azelaic acid that they're claiming is in the formula in a clear serum. Right. So this creator, I'm going to give them credit. The handle is at Skinecologic. So it's like S-K-I-N-E-C-O-L-O-G-I-C. And I agree with this creator. I've used the ordinary azelaic acid before. What really is often the signature of azelaic acid in that type of over-the-counter formula, it's gritty as fuck. Right. It's gritty. You put it on your face and you're like, therefore you don't want to use it.

5:05Yeah. So all I can speak to is my anecdotal experience using this product. And I know a lot of makeup artists use it as well. I do notice the reduction in redness. But yeah, I'm sure that basically the bottom line was when I, because a lot of people pushed back on this and they were like, well, I've had great results with it. And this creator was not refuting that. They're like, you could. Yeah. But it may not be in thanks to the azelaic acid. Right. Because there's probably other ingredients in it as well, which I don't have the inky in front of me. Right. They said, this particular creator said that it's about this neutralized dead, it's what they call a dead salt version of azelaic acid.

5:47And the salt, which is called sodium azelaic, isn't a different ingredient. It's the same azelaic acid molecule with its protons temporarily removed, whether it's in an acid or a salt. That's the debate. And if it's acid or salt, the form is purely a function of pH. And so that swaps back and forth in water. And so it really, the azelaic acid barely dissolves in water, like we just said. So a light serum, instead of that gritty paste, you have to solubilize it. Solubilize. Correct. So that is what the difference is. It's a different form of azelaic acid in this serum to make it that pleasant. It's funny because I see so many people are on to this following this narrative.

6:37So now if anyone recommends an azelaic acid serum online, like I'm seeing regular, you know, Jane in the comments and she's like commenting. But what's the pH, though? I think the point made is a fair point because it is a tricky ingredient to work with. If it's working for you and you think it's great, it's in our Hall of Fame, baby. Yeah. And I also think the price point, I'm very mindful that a lot of the things that I'm talking about today are not super budget friendly necessarily. And I just think that that is the beauty of K-Beauty is how many affordable products there are. And without hesitation, I would recommend this.

7:16Okay. For the products, efficacy and whatever. But I would love to speak to this creator also. They have so many great videos. I know. Call us. Yeah. you know exactly so on that note k beauty we're definitely giving a hat tip to in 2026 for our hall of fame and the product that i am nominating or anointing yes hall of fame worthy is the metaheel metacascoside blemish pad it's 24 us and 32 in canada so um what it is these are square toner pads and they have centella asiatica and niacinamide to soothe irritation, calm redness and fade post acne dark spots. Right. So I know what you're thinking, Jill.

8:04Why are you putting a blemish pad into the Hall of Fame when you don't have any blemishes, which is true. But I now officially have a tester in my household and that is my daughter. And, you know, one of the things with my daughter is that she's been really frustrated because she has her mother's beauty cabinet to raid, yet the acne has persisted. Yeah. And she's 16. She's 16. Yeah. And that's one of that's one of the challenges is that, you know, being on acne journey, you really do need consistency. You need to be using the products that are right for you and then using them over time to see results.

8:44And so it's not about just grabbing every single product out of the closet, right? So I have asked her, okay, over the past year, out of all the products that you've used, what do you think is the one that you actually saw at least some kind of difference with? And this was the product. Great. So I had to shout it out. I think it's great that she's seeing results, it was awarded New Beauty's 2026 award for best acne pads. And we know that this brand MediHeal, it has like a record breaking streak, maintaining its number one position at Olive Young for two consecutive years. And with this specific blemish pad leading the global trend category.

9:27I feel like toner pads are a huge trend, obviously, and MediHeal, they've been, they were an advertiser on our show several years ago talking about that. And I think, I don't know if it's totally coincidental or why, but, or what, but like MetaCube came on the scene after MetaHeal. I know. I always get the two confused. But I'm just saying, was that by design? Because MetaHeal was already a well-known name. But I find the brand name, I'll be honest, pretty mind-blowing that they can call it MediHeal. Yeah, it's true. In North America, I do not think that that would necessarily get past. Well, you would know as a brand founder, like, yeah, do they, do they stipulate what words you can or cannot use?

10:10A lot of this stuff is just about who's going to take them to task. If nobody does, then it's not a problem. MediHeal, baby. Because we know like you can't use the word heal in cosmetics, right? So exactly right. So what did Ines notice? Was it blackheads or? She just noticed clearing. So she has sort of deeper, like dark spots along her jawline and along her forehead as well. And then she also has like clogged blackheads in her nose. So she just noticed an improvement in all of that with the pads. Less congestion. Yeah, exactly. All right. Love a K-Beauty find. Love it.

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13:09It is never too late to change direction and rediscover the strong, wise, and beautiful woman within. That's why I created Over 50 and Flourishing, a podcast to help us navigate the changes, the challenges, the joy, and the freedom in this season. Here you're going to find honest conversations where we might laugh and cry all in the same hour. Let's flourish together in mind, body, and spirit. Nothing's off the table. New episodes every Monday, wherever you watch or listen.

13:53What's next for skincare? Okay. French Pharmacy. Of course, we're always talking about French Pharmacy. I'm introducing you to a new to me brand. It's called Mimitique. French Pharmacy brand. is the Skin Restore face cream that I love. They have two different versions. Unsurprisingly, I like the normal to combo skin. And then they have one for dry skin as well. And this was founded by a French pharmacist. Her name is Fabien. It's her first name. She's a trained cosmetic chemist and her parents are dermatologists. Okay. And I don't even really know what magic she put in this cream, but this is the third one that I've almost emptied.

14:32That says a lot. It's just there's some she has a proprietary complex in here, which I always find it's interesting when brands talk to us about a proprietary complex that's named like 14 letters. It's like to the consumer, what does that really mean? Right. But it is proprietary to the brand. It has squalene in there. It has glycerin. It's just very plumping and juicy. And I find as I've gotten older, you definitely just need more of that hydration. But as an oily skin person, it's hard to find something that's just not greasy and that is just juicy and plumping. Yeah. And she crushed it. What is the biomimetic mean?

15:10That is like because of her background in cosmetic chemistry, it's like this complex is meant to mimic the skin's lipids layer. and I guess that binding that you were talking about on another day. Okay. And she sells it at Violet Gray now, at Goop, Living Beauty. I was first put onto this brand from Sally Hughes at The Guardian. She was talking about the Cloud Cleansing Balm, which is also amazing. But the moisturizer in particular, I think is very much a winner and is 85 US dollars. Okay. And then in Canada, like 110. Yeah, I need to try this. It's also Bon Marché. Yeah. So like all the big materials.

15:52in France. Yeah. Cool. Yeah. All right. Well, on that note, I agree with you. French pharmacy, I'm a big fan of as well. And so the product I'm putting into the Hall of Fame is the Bon Jout Le Balm. Yeah. This is a luxury purchase. It's$130 US,$180 in Canada. It's available at Credo. This is the beautiful little box. So the branding is on lock. It's very like an Hermes orange if you're not watching this. And the product itself is very unique. And that's why I wanted to feature it because it's in, like you untwist it and it basically is a bomb inside. So kind of like a Jones Road type of idea, you're meant to like crack it.

16:38I just use my fingernail and then you... So it's like a solid serum. That's right. And you melt it with your fingers and then you apply it. And what I think is really great about it, which we haven't talked about a ton, is that it is a waterless formula. Yeah. And so the beauty of a waterless formula is that everything that is... Can I try it? Yeah. Everything that is in there is doing something. There's actually 68 concentrated actives in this serum, which would explain the price. And they are... Smells familiar. Does it? Yes. It's such a pretty, like, gentle floral scent. It's not overwhelming at all.

17:26Like, I find, I always say I can't use perfumed moisturizers on my face. Right. But when it tends to be these more, like, natural essential oils, my face doesn't, like, react in a negative way. I'm not saying that's universal for everyone, just for me personally. But I met the founder. Her name is Natasha Bonjout, hence the name of her brand. Yeah, is it Bonjout or Bonjou? It's probably Bonjou. Yes, it's B-O-N-J-O-U-T. That's right. Okay, so probably Bonjou. Yeah. Yeah. So she is a French pharmaceutical doctor. So she is legit. This is what's happening, right? They're just like, oh, you want to talk about French pharmacy?

18:08We're going to actually be in the pharmacist. Yes, exactly. like a relationship or like tie on to that. But it's like we're going to see more dermal cosmetic brands coming out. Right. But what I appreciate about a brand like this is that this is the part of French pharmacy that people don't talk about a lot is that even though it's a pharmaceutical product, they really respect botanical ingredients. There's a homeopathic element to some of these formulas. It's the idea of like bringing science to homeopathic remedies. Yeah. And I think that's what I appreciate about French pharmacy is that they have the data that it works, but it still is kind of they still have this natural component.

18:55To me, they're blending old world knowledge with new. And like when you asked me about Mimitique and what they actually say the Mimitique speaks your skin's language and the formulas match skin's biology for optimal absorption. But you're right. Like when you read the ingredients on the label, they may be familiar. You've seen them a long time. Yeah. Calendula, arnica, aloe. Those are very popular ingredients. Those are ingredients that are in my formula as well. For Cassatt Beauty, Carleen's wine. Which is inspired by French Pharmacy, but also just... That will make the Hall of Fame this year too.

19:30Oh, I'm not I'm not putting it in myself, guys. I wouldn't dare. And so anyway, she what I love about this is like I met with Natasha and she genuinely goes to the south of France, like these 68 active ingredients. She meets with the ingredient suppliers. Love it. You know, she is I'm not going to say it's handcrafted. I have no idea if it is, but it's like that special French approach that you get with like fine perfumes almost is what she's brought into this skincare, very conscious, every step of the way she's involved in. So it's a very beautiful line. And it's said to be a solid serum. So they say it can replace many steps in your skincare routine because it's a serum, it's a moisturizer, it's a primer, it's all these things in one.

20:24for myself. I like to think of it as a bomb. So I would use it at night and I like to use it on a plane. I like an occlusive layer on the plane, just that kind of barrier feeling. Yeah. So I love it for that. Have you been using it? Yeah. Okay. It's just that taste level. Yeah, exactly. You know it when you see it. Exactly. Yeah. But the other thing I love about this, this solid serum is that she went to market with one hero product, which again is kind of like I'm doing with Cassatt, it requires a little bit more education. So it is, I appreciate that the credos of the world are bringing this in and taking the time to educate the consumer.

21:06Yeah. Amazing. I want to introduce another affordable find to our Hall of Fame. And this is the Personal Day Soft Slip Priming Milk. This is 32 US dollars. It's only available in the US right now. It's at Ulta and it's at personalday.com. This is Lily Reinhart's brand. And color me shocked that I'm putting this in the Hall of Fame. I know. But it is wonderful, especially for people who are acne prone. I believe I talked about this recently in the episode we did about celebrity beauty favorites. Yes. And this is just a standout from her line. Yeah. And then it's a very good line. A lot of people are talking about it like in that are not they don't even know she's associated with it.

21:53So the formulas are great and it's kind of like the road glazing milk, but better if you are acne prone. It's lighter weight. It's not as sticky. And it also has this like squeeze. It's really easy to travel with and you can squeeze it out versus the road, which you have to tap out. Yeah, this is easier. OK. And I really like it. And then another quick induction. Let me just put this on. Another quick induction is from Sophie Pavitt. Last year, I inducted her Mandelic Acid Serum for breakouts and it's great. I've emptied that. I've continued to use it. Where did it go? So I want to shout out her Omega Moisturizer.

22:37This is the Omega Rich moisturizer. Again, I've emptied several of these. Great for the winter. Really great as a barrier cream for everybody. But especially just with her, everything is formulated. So, you know, you're not going to break out. Yeah. Exactly. She is the acne whisperer after all. Precisely. And what's interesting about her, and I hopefully will be able to review it soon enough, but she just came out with a microdermabrasion scrub. Remember I said I thought that scrubs are coming back. So I'm interested in that. When an esthetician's bringing out a scrub? Yes. We haven't seen a lot of that recently.

23:16Yeah. Okay. Anyway, so that is, and just to give you the price, everybody on that, it's 64 US dollars at Sephora. Okay. Well, I was going to go ahead and put Sophie Pevitt's Micellar Cleansing Pads in the Hall of Fame. So the hits just keep on coming, I guess. These are 24 US dollars. These are non comedogenic, biodegradable micellar pads. And, you know, they're designed to remove makeup and SPF without leaving any residue. And that's what I love about them. And I think that, you know, we were always so anti-wipes in the past because they have alcohol in them. They're terrible for your skin. So these are just so handy to have for travel.

24:00They are excellent. Like I'm always going to have them with me. And I am a big fan of micellar cleansers as well because there are no rinse. So you don't need the alcohol in them that you would find in these other formulas. And they're really just they're not leaving a residue on your skin. Right. By the way, everybody, she's not officially in Canada yet. OK. Doesn't ship to Canada, but I'm sure she'll be at Sephora Canada soon. Oh, definitely. Yeah. Right. Yeah. Would love that. Please come.

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26:38I'm sure a lot of you have as well, but I will never forget the experience when I was in a big department store here in Toronto and I booked a fitting with a proper expert in the field and she was from Wacol and she knew exactly what she was doing. The bras I took home that day fit like a glove. Fast forward and I was just able to do that experience virtually. This was a couple of weeks ago. The person who helped me was so nice. I was able to do my own fitting just by having her walk me through the process. It was really easy and I cannot wait to get my new bras because they're really pretty, but also I know they're going to fit again.