Glossy Picks: 20 new beauty buys to kick off April

8 April 2024

From new-season scents to lightweight complexion enhancers. Meet the newest beauty arrivals that have impressed the team this week

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

With lighter, longer and balmy days on the horizon, our minds have firmly turned to beauty newness that will boost the appearance of our skin from head to toe, protect our skin (hello new season SPFs) not to mention make us and our homes smell of spring and summer. So, as you scroll down that’s exactly what you’re going to find. The brightest and the best of the latest launches that will get you prepped and primed for spring and summer. Enjoy!

Victoria Woodhall, GTG Editorial Director



Lisa Eldridge Skin Enhancing Skin Tint, £37

"My makeup bag is almost exclusively Lisa Eldridge these days (in fact my actual bag is a chic little Denim Pouch, £19 by her too, which comes as a gift with purchase). Now I’ve added this Seamless Skin Enhancing Tint in 18 stretchy shades to the collection. You shake the lovely pebble-shaped bottle to mix the pigments with the skincare ingredients; these include squalane to moisturise, prickly pear seed oil, which has tons of vitamin E and - unusually -  salicylic acid, for smoothing. As a makeup artist, Lisa is all about the perfect natural canvas, and this liquid formula, which I put onto my hand then dot all over my face before blending, adds natural blur without creasing - a great face day every time."

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Murad Retinal Resculpt Eye Serum, £92

"The thin skin around the eyes is the first to show signs of age and when you get my ripe old age, it’s your biggest vanity bugbear and you start contemplating a tweakment such as polynucleotides (tick!) and even surgery (both my mum and my grandma had an upper eyelid blepharoplasty to take the sag out of genetically hooded lids - it worked brilliantly). But what’s the next best thing in a jar? This retinal eye serum tackles both upper and lower lids without the sensitivity of classic retinol and with greater efficacy as your body needs fewer steps to convert to the usable retinoic acid form. Yes retinal is generally pricier, but I prefer to save on moisturiser (see my pick this week) and spend bigger on where you really need something cleverly formulated with measurable results."

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Super Facialist Vegan CollagenSiuper Smooth Day Cream, £20

"As an affordable yet beyond basics moisturiser that’s widely available, this gets my vote as it combines age-proofing copper peptides with a lovely no-pill finish and a mild fresh scent (pleasantly less scented than many of Super Facialist’s other products). Collagen as an ingredient is essentially a very good moisturiser - the animal-derived molecule is too large to go deep - and while vegan collagen creams are said to penetrate deeper (it’s man-made) the jury is still out on just what else it can do. But if you have mature skin like mine, you’ll enjoy this peptide moisturiser to the last drop."

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Cecred Fermented Rice and Rose Bundle, £63

"Beyonce describes her new haircare range Cecred as “prioritising the needs of textured hair like mine, along with other types and textures that need more moisture and strength’. The Fermented Rice and Rose Protein Ritual ritual appealed to my dry, breakage-prone curly hair. It’s based on the traditional Asian practice of rinsing your hair in rice water and you do it every six weeks to add strength and shine - you get four in the pack. It’s a two-step ritual of rice water and a silk cream that adds an extra ten minutes to your shower as you leave each treatment on for five. Combined with the rich Hydrating Shampoo, £29 it really did smooth my curls and gave me a great air-dry finish. The range is pretty rich and if you have textured hair it’s definitely worth a try."

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SJ Corfield-Smith, GTG Beauty Director



Erborian Super BB Concealer, was £35 now £28

"A medium to full coverage concealer that not only combines skincare goodness - there’s niacinamide to work on dark circles, spots and pigmentation plus hydrating power from Korean white ginseng - but also has all the blurring and skin perfecting capabilities of a BB cream. It also contains SPF 25. The applicator wand with a ‘dabber’ end makes it easy to apply under the eyes but the creamy consistency makes it very easy to blend all over the face. There are only 5 shades to choose from but each stretches a few’ so this will work for more than it sounds like it will."

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D.S & Durga Dream Lychee Candle, £60

"Looking for spring in a candle? Well this is it. Gorgeously housed in a light pink glass jar it blends notes of rose water, lychee and sandalwood. All D.S & Durga scents (they’re a very cool New York fragrance house if you’re not familiar) summon up the purest scent of the ingredient they’re championing. Here, you feel like you have a bowl of lychees right in front of you. As you would hope for with a candle at this price point (but it’s not always the case) it burns evenly and the throw of the scent is magnificent."

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Jo Malone London Musk Memento Cologne, £58 for 30ml

"Inspired by the eclectic scents of a British antique market comes this new cologne that is one of a collection of four. It’s always a slight worry with perfumes that are inspired by the past that they’re going to smell old-fashioned but thankfully this doesn’t. I would also argue that this is quite a different interpretation of what most might think when they see the word ‘musk’. It has a light musk note that has been paired with aldehyde which makes perfumes feel sparkly and a little bit soapy (in a good way). Very much a modern day interpretation housed in a bottle that looks traditional."

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Evolve Organic Beauty Age Defying Hydrating Mist, £30

"Face mists are a great way to add an extra layer of hydration into your routine - best applied after cleansing and before any other products - to prep the face before applying makeup or as a pick-me-up (for skin and soul) in the middle of the day. And this is a great new option for anyone looking. Containing soothing organic rose water and hydrating glycerin and hyaluronic acid it comes in home compostable packaging and a recycled bottle, for those wanting to make an environmentally conscious choice"

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Ingeborg van Lotringen, GTG Contributing Beauty Editor



Skinsense AP Perfecting Body Elixir, £32

“After a raft of body retinols, we now have our first anti-pigmentation body lotion – not with the use of acids but through a proper, synergistic pigment reducing formula usually reserved for face serums. The blend of actives – niacinamide, n-acetyl glucosamine and hexylresorcinol – is very similar, and in some ways even more concentrated, than the one you find in ‘sister’ product AP (face) serum. It also contains ingredients that block and clean up pigmentation every step of the way, so will definitely see a difference with consistent use. Will also tackle acne scarring and redness, and leave treated skin silky - you’re supposed to use it on areas of concern, not slap it all over.”

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Armani Privé Blanc Kogane Edp, £290

“These fragrance prices are definitely out of control, but if you want something intriguing and different yet hugely wearable and very long-lasting (it had better be at almost £300!), this could certainly be it. Spritz it on and immediately it veers from aquatic to floral to cream-powdery to vaguely tangy-animalic – like four seasons in one perfume. Described as a ‘floral musky aldehyde’, it settles on the soft milkiness of jasmine and musk but without losing their slightly sexy edges, while the aldehydes, always most redolent of Chanel No5, give the scent a classic vibe. Like a real lady with hidden depths.”

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NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum 3 1:1, £46

“This bright blue, watery liquid has gone through several iterations to improve its stability and potency. Thought up by the peerless Brandon Truaxe (who created NIOD as his cutting-edge counterpart brand to the more straightforward The Ordinary), CAIS was one of its first formulas. This third instalment is even better at restoring healthy skin function, resulting in smoother, more even-toned, calmer, more poreless skin. It’s so weightless it can beaded under other serums AND moisturiser, or relied upon all by itself.”

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No7 Pure Retinol Triple Action Day Cream Duo, £39.95

“You get a lot for your money with this clever one-two in a single pot. One half is a fresh cream-gel that you apply first, spiked with collagen-boosting heroes retinol and vitamin C alongside barrier-strengthening ceramides, antioxidant vitamin E, and soothing ingredients. Over the top goes an essential SPF30 protective moisturiser with added all-purpose niacinamide. It truly ticks all the boxes, and both creams come in a generous 50ml to boot.”

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Isla Huffadine, GTG Content Coordinator



Haus Labs Phd Hybrid Lip Glaze Plumping Lip Gloss, £22

"Haus Labs is the makeup creation of Lady Gaga  and the latest addition to the lineup is this versatile 4-in-1 gloss that combines a balm, oil, gloss and plumper. It feels very comfortable to wear - no stickiness here - and I didn’t experience the usual tingling sensation, typical of plumping glosses, and yet my pout did seem to look fuller. It comes in six shades, which look on the dramatic side but they're quite sheer."

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Mylee Fondant Fancies Gel Polish, £8.99

"Looking for a convenient and budget-friendly gel manicure you can do at home? Look no further. Mylee have introduced a fresh array of pastel hues just in time for spring - I'm particularly enjoying Fondant Fancies. It’s as simple as applying and curing the base coat (they sell lamps if you don't have one), adding the polish and finishing with a top coat. I’ll spend less time and money at the salon and more time experimenting with new nail designs at home!"

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Pai Fade Forward Dark Spot Serum, £59

"Designed for those experiencing dark spots and pigmentation, this serum not only targets existing discolouration but also works to prevent the formation of further spots. Infused with marine algae and vitamin C, it combats hyperpigmentation at its root, brightening your complexion. For optimal results apply morning and night to freshly cleansed skin, followed by your preferred SPF and moisturiser. Its lightweight formula effortlessly absorbs into the skin, leaving a smooth finish."

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Hair Proud Shine Sauce, £9.95

"Achieving soft and silky hair is always the dream and I know there are in-shower glossing treatments that work in seconds but sometimes it's quite nice to leave a treatment on and let it work its magic. This is packed with ceramides, rice protein and macadamia oil and smells and feels far more expensive than its price tag. Apply all over, leave for 10 minutes and rinse away."

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Becki Murray, GTG Contributing Editor



IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness Serum, £27

“As someone with rosacea, where has a redness serum like this one been all my life? I love that it contains three really-proven ingredients for knocking redness and irritation on their heads – namely, colloidal oatmeal to strengthen your skin barrier, centella to calm sensitivities and soothing peptides too. I wonder whether the slight green tint will go a little ashy on Black skin, but for paler complexions like mine it’s perfect for knocking a little extra redness out of my cheeks.”

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Lancaster Limited Edition Protecting Body Milk SPF50, £28

“In good news, the iconic Lancaster broad-spectrum body SPF, which happens to be my holiday essential year-on-year, hasn’t been reformulated, but it has got new packaging and it’s a sustainability win. Created in partnership with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the tube now uses over 50% less material due to a reduced sleeve and cap. In practical terms, it’s also now lighter in your suitcase, which is a win-win.”

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Heliocare 360° Water Gel Color in Beige, £31

“The original Heliocare Water Gel was the facial SPF I always recommended to anyone who said they hated wearing sunscreen – this updated formula is somehow even better. Like a foundation and SPF in one, you get full UV coverage you can trust, plus a really flattering glossy finish. I’d like even more shades, but at least there’s two options, rather than claims of a ‘universal’ tint.”

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Isle of Paradise Daily Self-Tan Lotions, £9.99

“Calling all fake tan-phobes who would like to be a little more tanned and glowy right now. This fast-acting gradual tanner is what you need. Super hydrating with skin tone-smoothing vitamin C and niacinamide included too, the non-sticky formula is fuss-free to use because you don’t have to wash it off. Plus, you can get a subtle colour boost in just six hours.”

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You may also like

‘This acupuncture facial was so effective friends thought I’d had filler’
7 of the best foundations for oily skin - for a flawless and shine-free finish
From celery juice to sauna blankets: welcome to supermodel Miranda Kerr's wellness routine
25 autumn nail designs you’re going to want to wear this season


Editors Picks:
Things we're loving

Hair by Sam McKnight Lazy Girl Dry Shampoo, £22
Nudestix Nudies Bronze in Sunkissed, £28
JVN Hair Nurture Deep Moisture Mask, £21
Cleopatra Hair Ties, was £30 now £25.50
ASOS DESIGN soft touch twist front maxi dress, £35
Dr.PAWPAW YOUR gorgeous SKIN Hydrating Sheet Mask, £4.99

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