I Tried the Cult Beauty Brand Every Fashion Person Is Suddenly Raving About

Welcome to I Tried It Month, where we'll be publishing a new fashion, beauty, or wellness article every day that features a first-person account of shaking up an old habit, pushing beyond a comfort zone, or simply trying something new. Follow along for 31 days of storytelling, including everything from trying new beauty treatments to copying the most risqué runway looks of the season.

As an editor, I regularly cover fashion, but on occasion, I cross over into beauty. As a former Allure editor, I learned from the best when it comes to finding the most noteworthy products on the market and testing them out. Recently, my social feeds have been flooded with recommendations, from a range of makeup hacks like the Mary Phillips foundation technique to beauty items celebrities stock in their medicine cabinets. The thing that made me stop scrolling recently, though, was the beauty brand I started seeing everywhere: Macrene Actives.

Interestingly, I saw the brand endorsed by fashion insiders, including Moda Operandi Chief Brand Officer Lauren Santo Domingo and Khaite Creative Director Cate Holstein. Their endorsements carry weight and were so compelling that I immediately wanted to test-drive the beauty brand myself. The brand is founded by Macrene Alexiades, MD—a renowned board-certified dermatologist and laser-surgery specialist with three degrees from Harvard—who developed a skincare line with plant-derived ingredients to target aging and preserve a youthful complexion. Below, I'm sharing my honest thoughts on all of my favorite products from Macrene Actives.

Macrene Actives High Performance Lip Filler

While I tried a range of products from Macrene Actives, the High Performance Lip Filler is one I can't recommend enough, as it's a standout favorite from the product line. The formula provides a subtle plumping effect without the intense stinging that can often accompany a volume-boosting lip treatment. I noticed increased fullness each time I applied the treatment—both in the overall shape of my lips and in the product's ability to fill in lines. Aside from the plumping effect, I've been using this as a daily gloss because the hyaluronic-packed product has such a beautiful sheen, hydrating effect, and formula I want to apply over and over again because it isn't sticky or tacky. The $125 price point is steep, but if you're looking to splurge on a beauty product that you won't want to leave home without, this is it.

Macrene Actives High Performance Eye Cream

The Macrene Actives eye cream is a product I was excited to try after seeing Holstein name it the "best, best, best." It's packed with a pearl spoon for application, which immediately makes it feel like a luxurious experience. A little goes a very long way, and the rich cream instantly leaves my skin feeling dewy and hydrated. My biggest concern is fine lines, which practically disappeared after I used this. I didn't notice a major difference in the darkness under my eyes even though that is another area the product is supposed to address.

Macrene Actives High Performance Tinted Moisturizer

Recently, I've been wearing less foundation, so I was intrigued by the Macrene Actives High Performance Tinted Moisturizer. Though it is called a tinted moisturizer, I found this product to be closer to a foundation because it has a more full-coverage finish compared to other tinted moisturizers I've tried. What sets it apart from foundation, though, is that it doubles as both makeup and skincare. The combination of ingredients—such as peptides and hyaluronic acid—evens out skin tone, softens fine lines, and diminishes dark spots. It's also worth noting that this product doesn't contain an SPF, so you'll want to make sure you're layering sunscreen underneath if that is something you're accustomed to in a tinted moisturizer.

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