We tested Tower 28’s skin care and makeup for months — here’s what’s actually worth buying

If you’ve heard of hypochlorous acid spray, you’re likely familiar with Tower 28 Beauty’s viral SOS Spray, which is a summer skin care mainstay among our NBC Selected editors. While a few of us have tried (and loved) some of Tower 28’s products here and there, we were curious about the rest of the lineup — so we decided to put them to the test. To see if they live up to the spray’s hype, four NBC Selected editors tested some of the brand’s most popular products for over two months. Our verdict: Tower 28 makes some excellent everyday staples, particularly if you prefer lightweight, natural-looking makeup, but not everything impressed us equally.Below is a breakdown of what we’d buy again, what we’d skip and who we think the brand is best for. Selected.Our top picksBest skin care product:Learn moreBest for complexionLearn moreWant more from NBC Selected? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.Our honest review of Tower 28 BeautyBest skin care products we testedThis is one of the most popular hypochlorous acid sprays available and frankly, it’s not hard to see why. I use it as a toner in between my cleanser and serums, and I love that the fine mist soothes my skin, particularly after I use an exfoliating cleanser (which is business as usual for my acne-prone skin). I also like bringing it to the beach because the fine mist feels cooling and refreshing in hotter weather, plus soothes irritation after a long day in the sun (just make sure you use an SPF, too). Tower 28 Beauty is known for both skin care and makeup, with the SOS Spray being one of our favorite products.Lily Foster / NBCI’ll admit, I was definitely skeptical about this cleanser at first. I didn’t really have any expectations; I figured it would just be a run of the mill face wash that I’d switch off after I finished testing. However, I ended up really loving this wash. Not only does it leave my skin feeling comfortable rather than tight after washing, but I also noticed that some of my post-acne marks looked less noticeable over the course of testing. My favorite part, though, is how well it removes my eye makeup. I usually have to use an oil-based cleanser to take off my mascara and eyeshadow, but this cleanser removes it in one go without me having to tug or pull at my skin. NBC Selected commerce editor Mili Godio, who has dry, sensitive skin that’s prone to rosacea, usually tends to avoid full-coverage foundations since they can break her out. However, since trying this tinted sunscreen for the first time a few years ago, it’s been a staple in her routine. “It has the perfect serum consistency, so it doesn’t feel heavy or sticky in the slightest,” she says. “It also has enough coverage to even out my skin tone and cover up my redness, which means I can use it on its own without any other makeup,” she says. However, don’t expect it to give you full coverage: “I usually wear a heavier foundation when I’m going out for the night or want to cover any acne or dark spots,” says Godio. The packaging is on the smaller side, but the tip is a plus for our testers. “It has a thin, needle-nose tip, so it doesn’t get everywhere when I apply it,” says Godio. Although the shade range isn’t as extensive as the Swipe Serum products (more on those below), the tinted sunscreen does have broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection, making it a great lightweight option for warmer days. BETABest makeup products we testedEveryone on the NBC Selected staff knows by now that I’m a huge hoarder of lip products, including glosses, oils and balms. That’s why you should trust me when I say that this is one of the best gloss formulas I’ve tried. It’s hydrating, non-sticky and I especially love how long it lasts on my lips. I’m a chronic reapplier regardless, but it was nice to know that with this lip jelly, it wasn’t necessary to do it as often. The shades also have a great color payoff, so you can wear it alone, or pair it with a lip liner. The shades come in a range of nudes to suit different skin tones, so it’s easy to wear with nothing but a fresh face.Godio has this lip oil in multiple shades, and says she keeps them in every bag she owns. “It gives the perfect pop of color without feeling too heavy or sticky, and the texture is so smooth and buttery,” she says. She also likes that it keeps her lips from feeling dry even during the wintertime. Godio is also a fan of the brand’s other lippie, the Lip Softie, which is extremely lightweight, hydrating and gives the perfect sheer tint, she says.Godio owns the Lip Oil Jelly in multiple shades, and after trying it myself, I may have to join her.Lily Foster / NBCIn my opinion, this foundation is perfect for everyday wear: It doesn’t feel heavy on the skin and blends well enough to give you a glowy, very natural finish. I also liked wearing it for shorter periods of time, like when I’m running errands or going to lunch with a friend. However, after a few hours, the oiliness from my skin would seep through. NBC Selected senior editor Nikki Brown says the foundation feels extremely lightweight, but the coverage is a little lighter than she prefers. We both agree that you’ll need something heavier or more buildable to cover dark spots and blemishes.The foundation also has the brand’s widest shade range yet, with 36 total options across light, medium and dark/deep shades, along with warm, neutral and pink/red undertones. Since the range is so extensive, I was able to find a perfect shade match right off the bat (something that I’ve struggled with while using other foundations).Tower 28’s beauty lineup ranges across lip, eye and complexion products, including mascara, foundation, blushes and more.Lily Foster / NBCNBC Selected associate social media editor Caitlin Cusack doesn’t usually wear concealer, but says this product made her want to start wearing one consistently. “The formula is super lightweight, doesn’t crease at all under my eyes and blends seamlessly with the rest of my makeup,” she says. “It immediately brightens my under eyes and completely covers my dark circles.”When I used this concealer to cover my dark circles, I noticed the lightweight texture didn’t crease underneath my eyes. However, it did look slightly greasy and shiny after I’d worn it for a few hours. Like the foundation, it also has a wide shade range, although it’s available in only 28 shades, compared to the foundation’s 36.I only ever use smudge-resistant mascaras, since I’m prone to touching my face and eyes. I thought I’d officially found the one with Essence’s Lash Without Limits Tubing Mascara, but this Tower 28 mascara definitely shook things up for me.The brush has a curved handle and spaced bristles that help to separate the lashes and prevent them from clumping. Cusask, who’s been using the same mascara since middle school, felt similarly: “This mascara from Tower 28 is the first one I’ve tried that’s made me want to ditch my tried-and-true mascara,” she says. “My biggest issue with mascaras I’ve tried in the past is that they made my lashes stick together, so it looks like I have four big eyelashes (which is not a cute look). This helps them look so much fuller and darker.”We love the non-clumping formula of Tower 28’s mascara, which gives you length without sticking your lashes together.Lily Foster / NBCAs a fellow oily skin girl, Cusack’s biggest pet peeve is when her makeup seems to melt off her face soon after applying it. So, she’s always on the lookout for pigmented products with a lot of staying power, and this blush checks off all her boxes. “It’s super pigmented, and the matte powder keeps the extra oil on my cheeks at bay,” she says. We also both like that you really don’t need much product to get the full color payoff. “It’s a perfect example of a little goes a long way — I only need to tap my brush a couple times and my cheeks become a perfectly rosy pink,” says Cusack. The blush comes in seven core shades, most of which are varying tones of pink or nude, along with two brighter, limited-edition shades with red and orange bases. However, be sure to handle your blush with care; after dropping one of mine, the powder cracked and partially broke (but that hasn’t stopped me from using it afterward).I love layering multiple shades of the GetSet blush on top of each other to create custom colors for different makeup looks.Lily Foster / NBCI love using a cream blush as a base before a blush powder, and this one layers perfectly with any powder product I use. Cusack has always preferred a cream blush over powder, and says this one solidified that choice for her. “The texture is incredibly smooth and it practically melts into my skin,” she says. The blush (like many of Tower 28’s products) also comes in a wide shade range, which is great for somebody like me who likes to try different color combinations with my blush and eye makeup. Most of the colors are also great for everyday wear: “The Happy Hour shade is one of the best I’ve ever tried on my fair skin and makes me look like I have a perfect, natural flush,” says Cusack. Shimmer eye products are usually a hit or miss for me; they’re usually flaky, chunky or don’t stay on long enough. However, this eyeshadow stick did none of the above. The water-based formula is smooth and feels cooling on my lids. Although I did swipe it directly onto my eyes a few times, I preferred applying it by dipping my makeup brushes onto the top. Since the product is so pigmented, it showed up just as well, and this made it easier to blend out with other shadows. Godio is also a fan of this eyeshadow stick, which she wears when going out on the weekends. “I love a pop of shimmer when I go out to dinner or dancing with friends, and I usually reach for this eyeshadow to complete my eye look,” she says. “I have the bright purple color, which is even more fun to use. I love how easily it blends into my lids and works with both cream and powder eyeshadows underneath.” We were impressed by how pigmented the Tower 28 products are — for most, one swipe is more than enough for the color to come fully through.Lily Foster / NBCWhat to know before buying Tower 28Overall, we think Tower 28 lives up to the hype. However, there are a few things that, in our experience, can improved:Mid-range pricing: I wouldn’t exactly describe Tower 28’s prices as expensive, but they’re not exactly affordable. While the lip products start at $16, the complexion products hover closer to the $30 mark, making it pricier than drugstore alternatives, especially for skin care products you may have to replace more often.Some complexion products may look shiny on oily skin: Though the blushes held up well during testing, the complexion products weren’t our favorites for oily skin. After a few hours of wearing these products, our oily skin testers experienced separation, greasiness and shine. If you have oily skin, you may want to pair them with setting powder or wear them for shorter periods of time.Intense sensation on the ShineOn Plumping Jelly Lip Oil: Although we loved most of the Tower 28 lippies we tried, we didn’t feel the same about the ShineOn Plumping Jelly Lip Oil. Although the formula is lightweight and hydrating, the tingling, plumping sensation is very strong, to the point where our testers felt it on their tongue if it touched their lips even slightly. Some testers found it fairly uncomfortable to wear, especially those with sensitive skin or lips.How we tested Tower 28 BeautyFour NBC Selected editors tested Tower 28’s makeup and skin care lines for two months, although many of us were already familiar with the brand’s offerings and have been using them for years. We included skin care like cleansers and toners in our testing pool, along with beauty products like lip oils, blushes, foundations and concealers. While testing, each editor paid special attention to how the products worked with their specific skin type and needs. We also kept these factors in mind:Efficacy: Does the product perform as advertised? Does it address the issues it’s designed to?Ease of use: Is it easy to apply? Are the instructions clear and easy to follow?Packaging: Is the packaging travel-friendly? Does it come in a tube, jar, wand, pump etc.? Is an applicator included?Pricing: Does the product feel worth the money? Is this something you would repurchase on your own?Tower 28’s products are accessible and great for everyday wear, since the formulas are lightweight and suitable for all skin types.Lily Foster / NBCWho is Tower 28 Beauty for?Tower 28 is best for people who prefer lightweight makeup with natural-looking finishes, particularly those with sensitive or reactive skin. The products are beginner-friendly and easy to apply, and experienced makeup users who prefer sheer, everyday formulas will also find plenty to like. However, if you prefer a lot of coverage, have extremely oily skin or primarily shop at drugstore price points, the brand may be less appealing. One of the biggest standouts from Tower 28’s skin care line is that it’s great for people with sensitive skin due to its gentle, anti-inflammatory ingredients. Many Tower 28 products have received the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance, which identifies products suitable for people with eczema or sensitive skin. The Swipe Serum Foundation is among them, making it one of the first foundations to get the designation, according to the brand. If price is a concern, there are some meaningful alternatives available. For example, I like the Magic Molecule Hypochlorous Acid Spray (which comes in at $17.99 compared to Tower 28’s $28 spray), the Essence Lash Without Limits Tubing Mascara ($4.97) and Maybelline’s Cheek Heat ($9.99) for a natural, rosy color on my cheeks. While those picks aren’t necessarily identical to Tower 28’s formulas or finishes, they’re worth considering if the brand’s mid-range prices are more than you want to spend. Why trust NBC Selected?I am an associate SEO reporter for NBC Selected covering skin care, hair care, wellness and more, including stories on the best sunscreens for dark skin, the best night creams and the best K-beauty skin care. For this story, Myself and four other editors tried Tower 28 products over the course of two months to see whether or not we think they’re worth buying.Catch up on NBC Selected’s in-depth coverage of tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.