These are so good we’ve used up every last bit – and that’s not always the case when it comes to our fussy editors
Any products in this article have been selected editorially however if you buy something we mention, we may earn commission.
Jump To
We test out hundreds of new beauty, health, fitness and wellbeing launches each month but there’s only a select few that make it into our beauty bags or onto our bathroom shelves as a permanent fixture. The ones where we use up every last drop. The absolute winners that we order on repeat. The ones we can’t wait to tell our friends – and of course, you dear reader – about. So here are this month’s Glossy Empties. Do grab them now before we buy up the lot.
View this post on Instagram
VICTORIA WOODHALL
Our editorial director's serum wins her compliments
MZ Skin Bio-Placenta Hyaluronic Acid Serum, was £125 now £100
“It’s easy to forget the marked difference decent hydration can make to wrinkles. My absolute favourite thing to plump out lines in just 30 minutes is this surgeon-formulated hyaluronic acid serum that’s so much more. Yes, you can get cheaper HAs but, so many of them pill – unlike this, no matter how many layers I apply. It’s two serums in one (which goes some way to justifying the price). As well as hydration, vegan bio-placenta and peptides improve texture and collagen over time. This is a serum that gets you compliments.”
SHOP
GF Fabulosity Hair and Scalp Recovery Elixir, £53
“This hair and scalp elixir sells out repeatedly because it’s unlike anything else on the market – and once you know, you know. Massage the milky liquid into the scalp and through your entire hair, pre-wash, and leave for an hour or, ideally, overnight. It soothes and nourishes my scalp, and makes my hair super soft and shiny. It’s silicone-free with circulation-boosting plant extracts such as amla that block DHT, the hormone that can cause pattern baldness (a male friend applies it nightly 10 minutes after minoxidil). This bottle will last you months.”
SHOP
Medshrum Organic Reishi Tincture, £41
“Medshrum’s liquid functional mushroom tinctures stand out in every possible way – potency, extraction, packaging, third-party testing – which landed them Gold in the Get The Gloss Wellness Awards 2026. Since then, I’ve been taking their reishi extract (known as the ‘mushroom of immortality’, but also the heavy hitter for sleep and anxiety) and would not be without it – one pipette in the morning and one at night – for calm in a stormy time. If you don’t like it neat, you can hide it in any drink including coffee.”
SHOP
Alumier MD Eye Rescue Pads, £30 for 4
“I keep these masks for when my under-eyes need the big guns – after a bad night, before a good one. They are immediate wrinkle erasers that give an (albeit temporary) wow. I’m talking immediate brightness, smoothness and depuffing, with the knowledge that the wrinkle-busting peptide matrixyl is helping long term. In between patches, their Alumineye cream keeps up the good work. Alumier MD is mostly available in aesthetics clinics – practitioners love it, as it’s potent but ‘clean’ and great post-treatment. There’s currently 15% off at checkout.”
SHOP
INGEBORG VAN LOTRINGEN
Standout sunscreen? Our contributing beauty editor knows the one
Ultrasun Photo Age Control Fluid Tinted SPF50+, £17
“In a market crowded with new sunscreens, Ultrasun still makes the best. Photo Age Control Fluids are their fasted-absorbing face formulations yet – less creamy than the Face Fluids, yet deeply hydrating. I’ve always been a fan of their adaptive golden tint; it’s as good as a tinted moisturiser, making this often the only skincare I use in the morning. As a dedicated suncare brand (not a beauty brand throwing in a sunscreen) its protection is second to none, with the best, broadest-spectrum UV filters and oodles of antioxidants.”
SHOP
Wonderskin 1440 Longwear Eyeliner in Brown, £16.50
“Hallelujah, I’ve found and finished a brilliant eye pencil that won’t budge once it’s on. It glides on like silk so fine-lining couldn’t be easier, and if you fancy any blending or smudging, you have 20 seconds or so to do so before it sets. And it comes in no less than 12 shades.”
SHOP
Niod Hydro-Ester Cleaning System (HECS), £42
“This is a cleansing oil that’s not a cleansing oil: it melts off grime, smells like rosehip and feels like oil, but isn’t actually greasy and leaves no film, just comfort. It’s one of the best one-and-done cleansers I know, with nourishing fruit lipids and gentle cleansing agents working admirably together to get rid of my eye makeup and a day’s worth of dirt in one fell swoop.”
SHOP
Evernutri Magnesium Complex, £21.67 for 90 servings
“I judge the quality of a magnesium supplement by how much it does NOT function like a glorified laxative, because it means it gets properly absorbed instead of going right through you. This filler-free blend of magnesium bisglycinate, malate and citrate – types especially good for sleep, performance and recovery respectively is the most bio-available I’ve ever tried. And good value given it lasts you three months.”
SHOP
ISLA HUFFADINE
Our content coordinator and self-tan queen has a new favourite
Bali Body Clear Self Tanning Gel, £27.95
“I’m not exaggerating when I say I’ve tried every fake tan and this is the best all-rounder – even winning our 2025 Beauty Awards. It’s a game-changer if you hate the faff of tanning. The clear formula develops into a natural-looking bronze within five hours, won’t transfer onto clothing and doesn’t need rinsing off. Don’t be put off by the clear colour – the thick gel consistency makes application surprisingly foolproof, allowing you to feel where it’s been absorbed. It also lasts longer than most tans and fades more evenly.”
SHOP
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Contour Duo in Fair, £22
“Being self-conscious of my thin upper lip meant I rarely reached for lip liner in the past, until trying this clever dual-ended pencil. The darker sculpt side defines and contours the lip line, while the lighter fill shade has a creamier texture that blends through the centre – creating the illusion of a naturally fuller pout. The two-tone design offers more depth and dimension than a traditional lip pencil, and I top with gloss for a plump finish.”
SHOP
Bouf Flouf Factor Growth Tonic, £21.95
“Admittedly, I first tried this hair growth serum because of the online buzz. The dramatic before-and-after photos seemed too good to be true, but after two bottles, I’ve been proven wrong. The new growth around my hairline is undeniable – long enough to resemble a fringe when pulled forward and fuller when up in a ponytail. A patented protein helps keep hair in its growth phase for longer. Use two pipettes down your middle parting and hairline twice daily. Sounds like a commitment, but keeping it next to your toothbrush makes it easy to remember. Plus, the lightweight, non-greasy formula works well on dry hair.”
SHOP
Fenty Skin Butta Drop Hydrating Body Milk, £29
“When this sold out across UK retailers after influencer Molly-Mae Hague called it one of the best she’d tried, I was intrigued. She’s not wrong. The lightweight, milky formula is perfect for summer, absorbing quickly and delivering long-lasting hydration without leaving a sticky residue. And because the fragrance is subtle and fresh, it doesn’t compete with your perfume.”
SHOP
FLORENCE SCORDOULIS
Our contributing editor is won over by a viral hair primer
Lush Super Milk Conditioning Hair Primer, £28
“This multi-tasking leave-in conditioner is viral for a reason. The ultra-hydrating blend of almond, coconut and oat milks, plus nourishing natural oils, is still super lightweight. You can spritz it onto wet hair (it also creates great curl definition on its own), or as SOS to revive dry, second-day hair. And the addictive, creamy, citrusy scent has proved so popular, you can now buy it in standalone fragrance form.”
SHOP
“This is my top pick from budget (and vegan) makeup brand Elf’s latest drop. It’s a tinted serum, like liquid bronzer, that is also plumped with nourishing antioxidants including vitamin E and sunflower seed oil. You can mix it into your facial or body moisturiser (in buildable fair, rose, gold and copper shades) — although I prefer to add it directly to my foundation for a subtle, daily glow-up (no shimmer here).”
SHOP
Curlsmith Awestruck Definition Cream, £27
“I’ve tried countless styling curl creams, but this is my current favourite. The gel-in-oil emulsion formula is the perfect consistency for adding definition, without weighing down the hair or being too crunchy or sticky. You can scrunch into wet curls, or I also recommend reapplying throughout the diffusing process to boost volume without losing curl definition. Plus, it contains UV protection. The effect is soft, defined curls with plenty of bounce.”
SHOP
“If you don’t like a facial oil that is too heavy or greasy, this one is worth splashing out on. It’s expensive, but a few drops go a long way (and you get 10% off your first order) — plus you can use it to add shine to your hair, too. It contains polysaccharides from antioxidant-rich seaweed to firm the skin and reduce fine lines, as well as calming essential oils. I’ve swapped out my night cream and serums for this nourishing one-step combo in the hot weather. You can massage in or apply with a gua sha for a me time moment.”
SHOP
