Glossy Empties: 16 beauty and wellness buys the team have used to the very last drop

27 August 2024

From hair transformers to tan prolongers to a novelty squirty cream shower gel (ooh!), here are the buys that we love so much we now need refills

Any products in this article have been selected editorially however if you buy something we mention, we may earn commission

Pots have been scraped, bottles have been squeezed and our beauty director SJ even took a pair of scissors to one tube to confirm there really wasn’t anything left. For us, this is the sign of a truly brilliant product. We are lucky to be sent hundreds of samples to try each month, but only a few lotions and potions make it from our desks to our bathrooms and into daily use, until there's not a single drop left. Here are the 16 beauty and wellness buys of which we need an urgent refill. We think you'll love them too.

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Victoria Woodhall, GTG Editorial Director, has been gorging on greens powder

Shanti Hydrating Shampoo, £18

"Award-winning hair stylist Angelo Vallillo had used all the major hair brands professionally, but after a cancer scare sought a cleaner lifestyle. When a friend introduced him to Ayurveda – with its rich heritage of plant-based body-mind medicine – he developed Shanti (‘peace’) a range of shampoos and conditioners with ayurvedic growth-supporting ingredients for volume, hydration and curly and Afro hair, housed in recycled plastic packaging, plus a clever supplement called Hair Skin and Mind, £25. The hydrating shampoo and conditioner went down a treat in our house. Buying the duo on subscription works out considerably cheaper at £26 in total (as opposed to £18 each)."

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Pippa Campbell Health Super Greens, £35.73

"I love the way functional nutritionist Pippa Campbell formulates supplements in response to the issues she sees in her clients – mainly women in search of better hormone balance. (Side note: her newest launch Ener-Boost is for the many of us who are tired all the time.) This is my umpteenth empty of Super Greens which is, in my opinion, one of the best greens powders. I add a scoop to smoothies or soups to make sure I get all the hormone and gut-balancing benefits of spirulina, turmeric, flaxseed, kelp barley grass etc, which are so nutrient-dense. "

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Ipsum Spa Body Oil Native Plums Sandalwood, £68

"Did you know that Australian plums such as kakadu found in this ‘multi-plum’ body oil are one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C? This brightening antioxidant, anti-inflammatory body serum (it’s more than just an oil) comes from an Aussie brand that makes bodycare with the same efficacy as face care – they house it in dark glass to protect the ingredients, not something you see with most body oils. I loved the elevated scent (jasmine, patchouli, bergamot) that feels both like a fine fragrance and a hug. If your body and mind need a post-summer reset, consider this an investment in future you."

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Elixseri Skin Meditation Stress Neutralising Cellular Energy Complex, was £105 now £52.50

"Elixseri saw ‘yoga-me’ coming when they named this calming and balancing serum Skin Meditation. As the name implies, it brings calm to skin that’s stressed through a compromised barrier, being out in the sun or post-tweakment (I used it after Moxii laser when I started to peel). It’s deeply hydrating with ceramides and probiotics and more like a mosturising lotion than a serum. I keep one on my desk at work for mid-afternoon dryness relief. With a delicate smell of cucumber and whopping 50 per cent off right now, it’s a great time to try it."

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SJ Corfield-Smith, GTG Beauty Director, has discovered her entire family steals her shower gel

Typebea Strength + Length Shampoo and Conditioner, £23 each

"If you have fine hair that gets weighed down easily or you find your regular shampoo leaves your hair with that plastic-coated feeling, I’d highly recommend giving Rita Ora’s haircare range, Typebea a try. The shampoo contains salicylic acid which helps regulate oil production on the scalp and the conditioner contains keratin which helps strengthen hair. Both contain the brand’s star ingredient, Baicapil which has been trialled and proven to aid hair growth. It’s important to mention that they don’t contain parabens or silicone - which is what can make hair feel coated - and have been designed to truly work for all hair types. It won’t leave fine hair looking limp or curls and coils feeling dehydrated. I have particularly enjoyed using it post-swimming as it removes any scent of chlorine and conditions without feeling heavy leaving my hair feeling soft, smooth and bouncy. "

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Elizabeth Arden Retinol + HPR Ceramide Rapid Skin Renewing Water Cream, £75

"Calling all sensitive skin types that find retinol too aggravating - this may be the product you need. HPR is a retinol variety that does all the skin smoothing and refining that retinol is known for but with none of the aggravation. It's teamed with hydrating hyaluronic acid and skin-strengthening peptides and ceramides, so while the HPR gets to work on wrinkles the other ingredients are working to improve the quality and integrity of your skin. The pump pot delivers the perfect dose, while the cream is lightweight with a velvety matte finish. I've used this twice a week for almost a year so it has been excellent value for money."

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La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50+ Anti-Shine Mist, was £17.90 now £14.32

"This has lived in my handbag all summer. While it does deliver excellent sun protection I don’t use this as my base layer SPF but rather to top up over makeup or to deliver extra protection on areas that may need it - backs of necks, hairlines and feet being the main culprits. It has a slightly matte finish so it is a great option for spraying over makeup and I can confirm it is completely transparent and doesn’t leave a trace of its existence."

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Sundae Body Whipped Shower Foam, £13

"These whipped cream-style shower gels have been a huge hit in my household. My daughters love the novelty factor in the design, the fact that the product comes out looking identical to whipped cream and the fruity scents. There are 10 to choose from, Coconut Cream and Pomegranate Fizz being our favourites. If you have children who you struggle to persuade into the shower or bath, these may help. But my husband and I have enjoyed them too. They have a gorgeous creamy consistency that cleans without stripping and the scent really lingers. They're also excellent to use when shaving legs. But our unanimous feedback is that these bring a moment of happiness and fun to your morning - and sometimes that's all you need."

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Isla Huffadine, GTG Content Coordinator, has finally learned to clean her makeup brushes

Arkive The Veil Aerosol Hairspray, was £13 now £10.40

"Lately I’ve been experimenting with different hairstyles, but have noticed my hair doesn’t hold. I came across this bottle lying around the office in an attempt to revive my drooping curls. I was pleasantly surprised by how well it worked, the lightweight mist providing long-lasting hold without that crusty, rigid feeling you can sometimes get from hairspray. As the name suggests, it feels like a light veil over your hair - keeping it flexible and able to fall naturally. It was hard to toss this empty, but I’m thrilled to have discovered it!"

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Refy Lash Sculpt Mascara, £20

"I have to admit this wasn’t a product I fell in love with right away. I thought the curved wand seemed gimmicky, so it got pushed to the back of my makeup drawer. However, recently I gave it another try and I’ve been converted. The curved design is actually genius - fitting along your lashline, ensuring an even coat with each swipe. It’s long-lasting throughout the day and the non-clumpy formula makes it ideal for daily use. It does take some getting used to, but my tip is to hold the wand at an angle when inserting it back into the tube to avoid frustration!"

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Stylpro Makeup Brush Cleansing Solution, £14.99

"I was shocked when SJ told me how often I should be washing my makeup brushes. It always seemed like a tedious chore that I couldn’t muster the motivation for - until I discovered this innovative cleaning solution that only takes 30 seconds to remove even the most stubborn of makeup from your brushes. You can use it with Stylpro's makeup cleaning tool, pour your solution into the bowl, attach a brush to the spinner and watch the bristles whizz around, or you apply it using cotton pads or a cloth. Once you get into the habit of cleaning your brushes more frequently, you'll feel slightly disgusted that you weren't doing it sooner. Plus, your skin will thank you for it."

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Grown Alchemist Exfoliating Hand Wash, was £29 now £23.20

"My housemates and I have seriously upped our bathroom routine with this fancy handwash. The gel formulation not only feels like you’re getting a thorough clean but the added pumice and eco beads gently exfoliate dead skin cells. Your hands aren’t left feeling dry or stripped, as the exfoliating granules are gentle and aloe vera adds extra hydration. The blend of orange peel and vanilla creates a refreshing scent - who knew washing your hands could be so therapeutic?"

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Marie Louise Pumfrey, GTG Contributor, has a tan that'll last until December

Revitalash Advanced Sensitive Eyelash Serum, £109

"Sadly I wasn’t blessed with thick, lush lashes and during my fifties, they’ve got thinner and shorter. Fortunately I discovered the wonders of this lash serum a couple of years ago, which is an investment product, but worth every penny. One tube lasts about three months and is very easy to apply. You paint a small amount on the rims of your lashes every night and the growth and thickening results are really spectacular. You have to be patient for the results, which can take up to eight weeks, and you need to be consistent to maintain the lash length."

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Joonbyrd Daydreamer Body Serum, £90

"Joonbyrd body products is my newest beauty obsession and this wondrous body serum came with me for my two-week summer holiday this year. It makes the a heavenly, soothing after-sun with the its musky caramel fragrance, and has a transparent gel texture which, when massaged in, transforms into a rich oil to leave skin buffed, hydrated, nourished and gloriously glossy. There’s some serious science behind all the Joonbyrd products (the range is the brainchild of top derm Dr Alexis Granite) and this contains botanicals, peptides and antioxidants to firm, tighten and tone the skin. At £90 it is a special treat, but one that won’t disappoint."

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Gatineau Tan Accelerating Lotion, £55

"I use this tan accelerating lotion all year round. It’s my go-to post-shower body cream and comes in large 400ml bottles that last at least three months. It’s fresh, soothing, and deeply conditioning with the additional benefit of stimulating the skin’s natural sun defences and accelerating the production of melanin. If you want to boost your tan, they recommend using it two weeks before you go on holiday and when you return it will make it last at least four weeks longer. And it really does work. I’ve been slathering it on following my holiday and my body is still glowing!"

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Jan Marini Transformation Face Cream, £109

"If you suffer from dry, sensitive skin and want an intensively hydrating day cream that's not rich and greasy and comes with a side of complexion smoothing and skin strengthening, let me point you in the direction of this. Formulated by dermatologists it contains collagen-boosting peptides, hydrating hyaluronic acid and growth factors which supercharge the skin's ability to heal and repair itself. It didn't aggravate my sensitive skin at all but also sunk in beautifully leaving it feeling really soft and hydrated and there was no annoying peeling under my foundation either."

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