BIPOC and Queer Owned Must-Haves For This Fall Season

Written By: Mylène Dominicus @myld.ac

The days of the heatwave seem to be but a distant memory as this October has brought along a full 180 in weather. The change of season looms over many of us with a sense of sadness as we pack away our summer sets and reach for our coats in the morning. It always seems as though autumn brings with it all sorts of responsibilities. Whether you’re a student starting university again, or getting back to your 9-to-5 after a much needed vacation, the rain brings us back down to earth. But if you’re anything like me, the harsh winds won’t discourage you from getting ready and feeling good. That’s why we’ve collected a list of must-haves at The Sanxtuary that you can’t miss this season.

Haus Labs Color Fuse Glassy Blush Balm Stick (Spiced-Up Neutrals)

The drop in temperature always leaves many of us feeling pale in the face. It’s the time we have to say goodbye to our summer tans. Luckily, the Haus Labs’ Color Fuse Glassy Blush Balm Stick might be able to fill the tan-shaped hole in our hearts. Their Spiced-Up Neutrals line has four shades that can shift between a blush, bronzer, and lipbalm! Not to mention the stick-like design, making it an easy grab-and-go essential for touch-ups throughout the day. Just glide it on your cheeks and blend with your fingers. If you’re using it as lip balm, swipe it directly on your lips for full coverage, or dab it with your fingers for a subtler, more diffused look.

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The formula creates a hydrating and brightening finish. If the harsh weather leaves your skin red and dry, this is definitely the choice for you, because true to the brand’s core value for vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics, the balm’s natural ingredients give it a skincare effect, while keeping you toned all day. For an even glassier effect, you could layer it with a natural lip oil too!

Fenty Gloss Bomb & Butta Drop Body Milk

Speaking of glossy, Fenty Beauty’s Gloss Bomb is this fall’s ultimate lip gloss. Their Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer comes in seven shades, so whether you want a shimmering pink or just a clear, glimmering finish, Fenty’s got you covered. The formula includes shea butter, making for a conditioning and nourishing finish that’s both non-sticky and very shiny. The gloss will leave you with full, smooth lips and a sweet peach-vanilla scent.

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But we can’t talk about addictive scents without shining some light on Fenty's Butta Drop Hydrating Body Milk as well. The body milk comes in six different versions, all with their own unique, but equally addictive, scent—and all vegan and cruelty-free. It’s an extremely lightweight formula with a milky texture that absorbs into the skin effortlessly. It plumps and hydrates the skin, giving a moisture barrier boost by 41%. For those whose skin dries up skin during the harsh winds and cold temperatures, this body milk will help keep your skin hydrated all day. You can apply it on its own or layer it up with a body mist for that extra satin finish.

Huelley Huelley Sabrin Skirt (Olive)

For this Vietnamese womenswear brand, comfort comes first. Each piece is tailored to the body and flirts with elegance, while the soft fabrics of linen, silk, and lace make space for relaxed silhouettes. Designs are built around effortlessness and ease, with fabrics that feel as light as they look. Vietnam has been slowly carving out their own space on the global fashion stage, and Huelley Huelley is proving their place, with even K-pop star JENNIE wearing their top for her comeback ‘Less than a Lover’.

The Sabrin Skirt is what caught our eyes in particular this season. The midi skirt comes in black, brown, and deep olive. The soft lace and subtle sheers add to the fitted skirt’s feminine silhouette, while the fluid chiffon makes room for ease of movement. The deep olive softens the tailoring and provides an alternative to the common neutrals that come back each fall. Overall an excellent addition to the closet if you’re looking for day-to-night dressing and versatile occasion silhouettes. You can contrast it with a cropped top, or lean into a more professional look with a fitted shirt.

Gentle Monster

For the regular Sanxtuary readers, this recommendation won’t be shocking. But what can we say? Interesting eyewear just continues to call our attention. For this fall season, however, Korean eyewear brand Gentle Monster seemed to reel in the experimentation and instead revisited a much-loved shape: the aviator. 

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Kota 02(GRM)

One immediate standout for this season’s eyewear is metal. And no piece demonstrates that better than the Kota 02(GRM). These glasses sport an oval frame entirely of silver metal. They come in clear lenses and yellow-tinted ones, which every brand seems to be emulating these days. The minimalist design starkly contrasts the experimentation we know and expect from the brand, but we’re not complaining. They take up a space between futuristic and academic and are perfect for those who want something simple but not basic.

Hesse BRC13

What surprisingly wasn’t in their Fall Collection was the Hesse BRC13. Its square, deep brown frames carry a stronger visual structure. The brown lenses are exactly in line with the eyewear trends of today, yet provide a softer, subtler look. From their 2025 BOLD Collection, these glasses can give you that same professional look without the delicate feel of the metal. It’s perfect for someone finding a balance between the bold and the delicate.

M87 R6

These are for anyone ready to experiment with eyewear. The M87 R6 is showing us that the wraparound design is here to stay, and it does so in bright, tomato red. The sides are embellished with metal detailing and their signature BOLD symbol. And the oval-shaped frames might be the most ordinary thing about them, as the lenses also come in a deep red. Its slightly oversized silhouette and standalone colour play into the recent rise of retro colourblockings. It’s the perfect autumn statement piece for those looking to stand out.

haruharu wonder Black Rice Double-Cleansing Duo

And once your day is over, and all you want to do is cozy up in your bed, what better way to end the night than with haruharu wonder’s Black Rice Double-Cleansing Duo. Take off your make-up, sunscreen, and any built up dust and dirt with their Cleansing Oil. The oil contains nine natural ingredients aimed to hydrate the skin while minimising blackheads. The oil is meant to be applied onto a dry face, then massaged into the skin with a little water, and finally rinsed off with lukewarm water.

You can follow that up with theirTriple AHA Gentle Cleansing Gel. The AHA trio (Citric Acid, Tartaric Acid and Mandelic Acid) act as a gentle exfoliator, removing dead skin cells and brightening the complexion. Apply it onto wet skin and gently massage it into your face for 30 seconds before rinsing it off with lukewarm water.

Together, the duo improves skin sebum levels, ASI (Acne Severity Index), inflammation, skin texture, and irritation, while also strengthening your skin barrier. Its antioxidants leave your skin softened and nourished, perfect for weather that only leaves you cold and dry. We know it’s only going to get harsher from here on out, so this is the perfect duo to add to your autumn skincare routine.

A change in season is rough for everyone. The cold leaving your skin dry and your outfits hidden, work is more swamped than ever, and the shorter days don't help to boost your mood. Now more than ever, it's important we take care of our bodies and put in that little extra effort to make ourselves feel good!