It's almost July 4th, which means it's the season to indulge in all things brazenly American. You’ve got a holiday weekend in front of you filled with fireworks, red, white, and blue patterned cutoffs, and an excuse to listen to Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” as many times as you want without fear of being judged. So what about your beauty products? Here are the stories behind some of our favorite picks from the best beauty brands made right here in the USA.
Tata Hopper Lip & Cheek Tint
Who doesn’t love a good two-and-one product? Tata Harper’s Lip & Cheek Tint in Very Charming is made in Vermont from 13 all-natural, high-performance ingredients like sunflower oil, beeswax, and green tea. Perhaps what’s more impressive is what it’s not made of: you won’t find any synthetics, fillers, gluten, or synthetic fragrances in this tint. Get an instant bohemian lush that screams summer with this tint, which will youthfully color your face and lips while also filling in fine lines. Plus, it’s so easy and quick to use that it will completely streamline your morning routine—meaning less time in front of the mirror and more time on the beach!
Kiehl's Ultra Hydrating Overnight Masque
$35, KIEHLS.COM
Is your face in some need of TLC as we hit mid-summer? This mask is great because it won’t intrude on your busy schedule. Just apply it right before bed and you can expect to wake up with hydrated, softer skin in just one night. This potent, plant-based formula is made in the USA by Kiehl’s, a national skincare institution since 1851. Founded by John Kiehl, a first generation American, in Manhattan’s East Village, Kiehl’s has gone through many incarnations (it’s now owned by L’Oreal), but what better way to celebrate the American Dream that to purchase a product that totally embodies it?
Merle Norman Luminous and Semi-Matte Eye Shadow
Around $11, Merle Norman stores
This July 4th, celebrate independent women with Merle Norman’s Eye Shadows! Merle Nethercutt Norman founded her company in 1931 out of her kitchen in Santa Monica, California. It’s since grown to an international beauty institution, and although it’s 84 years old, this is not your mother’s eye shadow! These powders are crease and smudge resistant and made of a very smooth formula that glides on your eyes seamlessly. For July 4th, we recommend rocking the eye shadows in Rosewater, Cloud Nine, or Sky—red, white, and blue!
Philosophy Miracle Worker Anti-Aging Liquid Makeup SPF 30
$40, Philosophy.com
This medium-weight liquid foundation will protect you from the sun, which is one of the main contributors to premature aging. It’s guaranteed to take five years off your complexion (seriously, it made us look like we were 12), and keeps working even after you take it off to enhance your natural glow and radiance! Plus, 1% of your purchase will be donated to community-based mental health efforts. This means you can help the one out of eight women who can expect to develop clinical depression during their lifetime.
Meow Meow Tweet Natural Perfume
$45, Meowmeowtweet.com
This small-batch, vegan skincare company is definitely one to support. Founded in Brooklyn, NY but now headquartered in the Catskill’s Hudson Valley, Meow Meow Tweet makes natural perfumes that stand out among the many artificial fragrances out there. We love the Wild Heart scent for summer, as it’s floral, woodsy, and fresh—three things we love about July! Meow Meow Tweet also recommends wearing the fragrance in your hair to prolong its effects, which is a hack we're obsessed with: no need to keep applying throughout the day!
Tarte Poppy Picnic Limited-Edition Clay Eye & Cheek Palette
$38, TarteCosmetics.com
Founded out of Maureen Kelly’s one-bedroom apartment back in 1999, Tarte has been a trailblazer in providing healthy, cruelty-free, and environmentally-responsible beauty products. Their limited-edition palette is as bright and splashy as your new Lily Pulitzer sundress, and comes with an equally beautiful case to match. We love the palette’s full mirror—no squinting to double check your eye makeup required! Plus it’s long lasting, so no need to reapply throughout the day. The colors have a subtle shine that’s totally worth celebrating. We especially love the Barefoot in the Grass shadow. It’s the perfect way to rock the no makeup-makeup look that's perfect for summer and was recently perfected by Elisabeth Moss at the Tony Awards.
Burt’s Bees Beeswax & Royal Jelly Eye Cream
$12, Burtsbees.com
In 1984, Maine single mom Roxanne Quimby first used the leftover beeswax from her friend Burt Shavitz’s bees for her homemade products. Thirty-one years later, Burt’s Bees is a leader in nationally recognized all-natural, American-made beauty products. Their Eye Cream is made especially for the uber-delicate skin beneath your eyes.
It Cosmetics Vitality Lip Flush Butter Gloss in News Anchor Blue
$24, ITCOSMETICS.Com
Put the WHITE in red, white, and blue with this ingenious product by It Cosmetics. This brand was founded by Jamie Kern Lima, a former news anchor who suffers from Rosacea, so it's perfect for sensitive skin and will make you feel confident and radiant both inside and out! Developed by plastic surgeon and infused with collagen, peptides, and hylauronic acid, this gloss is proven to hydrate your lips and whiten your teeth. If you've ever envied news anchors' ridiculously pearly whites, here's the chance to get yours that way, all while filling in fine lines and plumping your lips at the same time.
Red Flower Pearl Topped Candles
$38, RedFlower.com
From their New York City boutique, Red Flower creates 100% biodegradable, vegan, and botanical beauty products with a sense of spiritual and holistic medicine in mind. Founder and CEO Yael Alkalay uses her Turkish heritage to inspire her agricultural-chic sensibilities. We love Red Flower’s Petal Topped Candles, which can burn for up to 50 hours and give off the lush smell of just-picked wildflowers. We love the Ocean Candle, which is refreshing, cleansing, and will definitely mask the intense BBQ smell lurking around your kitchen that you’ll be totally done with come July 5th.
