If 2023 were on fire and you were in your bathroom, which beauty and wellness heroes would you grab for 2024? That's the challenge we set our staffers – of all the things things we'd tried, which stood out for us most? Here are the 23 that made the cut.
“If you have dark circles and habitually reach for concealer, you'll be all over this eye cream, which has bubbles of pigment that burst as you blend them in, matching to your skin tone. It’s oil-free, packed with humectants such as glycerin and damage-fighting antioxidants plus silicone to lock in moisture and smooth over lines. Miracle by name and by nature - the best eye cream of the year."
"Why have I picked such a spenny LED mask when there are more affordable ones available? Answer: it trumps all others on usability, which is key because to get the skin benefits of LED devices (eight wavelengths here for multiple concerns) you need to use them at least three, preferably five, times a week for up to 15 minutes. Who has the time? No wonder so many gadgets languish in cupboards or people complain they don’t work – they are probably not being used enough. This lightweight one allows you to be truly mobile and see what you are doing, so you can work, cook, and watch TV in comfort. A winner."
"This is affordable body care made fun with shelf appeal and a gorgeous buttery smell. Fans of Sol de Janeiro’s pricey but cult Brazilian Bum Bum cream will love this scent dupe. My dry skin laps up the rich but not greasy lotion with ceramides for essential age-related repair. This year, I’ve enjoyed all of Q&A's new body care range of scrubs, shower oils, and smoothing lotions and urge you to check them out."
"At this time of year, spare a thought for your liver, which will love you back if you treat it to these nutritionist-formulated capsules that help lighten the load with hangover-busting N- acetyl-cysteine as well as detox-promoting amino acid taurine, plus herbs (milk thistle, artichoke, turmeric) and antioxidants. As one of six (ish) per cent of the population with Gilbert’s Syndrome - our liver pathways don’t work as well, meaning alcohol and hormones hang around longer – this is a year-round hero for me by a brand that’s always at the cutting edge of optimum nutrition."
“When it comes to foundation, I like lightweight textures that deliver good coverage and give a great glow. Yensa BC Foundation (all the benefits of a BB and a CC cream) comes from the US with Asian heritage and uses superfood skincare ingredients to care for the skin as it covers. It lives permanently in my makeup bag alongside my beloved It Cosmetics CC Nude Glow and I blend the two for (in my opinion) the best base in existence.”
“Blonde brow pencils are not created equally with many of them being too dark or too grey however this one from Kosas is an absolute winner and being naturally fair, I have to pencil in the illusion of brows every day. I use the taupe shade and the super slim lead on this means you can create fine brow-like strokes that look natural.”
“Most rose scents remind me of Turkish Delight, however, when I sniffed this back in January I had to rethink, because here was a rose that was like no other I had smelled (there’s a Shakespeare line in there somewhere) and I fell instantly in love with it. The fragrance is inspired by what roses would smell like in the moonlight. It’s less obviously rose and more seductive and sexy thanks to earthy and woody oak moss at the base and a zing of pink pepper that cuts through preventing it from being too sweet. Please go and sniff it, you won’t be disappointed.”
“I’m not sure I’ve ever seen so much excitement over an eye cream as when this launched this year. And for good reason, it has with clinical strength retinal that’s suited for the more delicate skin around and under the eye. It is available in three different strength levels and has been combined with ceramides to fortify and hyaluronic to plump and hydrate. Dr Sonia Khorana gave it a gold medal in our Get The Gloss Beauty Awards 2023."
"It’s quite amazing how hard it is for a lip balm to have just the right texture and colours I’m after, but this is pretty close to perfect. With the feel of a long-lasting (and therefore slightly sticky) lip gloss mixed with a comforting creamy balm, it pampers lips while making them look lush and plump. I like all four shades (there’s also a clear), but the cherry red and purpley grape are particularly spot-on. They brighten your face while keeping lips shielded from the elements."
"I love the idea of a hair mask but barely ever come across one that delivers more than a conditioner. Until this year, Kiehl’s’ Olive Fruit Oil Mask was the only one I could mention. But now we have this intense mask from Kerastase, and it really does soften, smooth and glossify my very fine hair. Importantly, it does so without weighing it down and flattening it. It says it restores the hair fibre with proteins, vitamins, humectants, lipids and niacinamide, and it seems to be working. There was a Nutritive mask before but this is an updated, more ecologically packaged version that nonetheless looks awfully like its predecessor, so make sure you get the exact name right."
"I’ve used this cream stick blush all year and it still looks like I’ve barely touched it, so little of it do you need. It’s so dense in pigment that just pressing it to each cheek and buffing out the colour with the brilliantly dense brush at the other end gets you plenty of flush. There is no oiliness or heaviness, and the colour stays. If you’re useless at cleaning your brushes, (I am), the fact that this one has a lid is a bonus. I love the deep wind-burned red Plumberry, but there are five good shades to choose from."
"So many doctors and nutritional therapists extol the immune-boosting, skin-plumping, supernutrient benefits of functional mushrooms that I’ve really bought into supplementing with them this year. Often formulated in powders you can add to drinks or food, I like bunging a hefty scoop into my Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser hot chocolate machine for the perfect mix of health and indulgence. Mushroom dust doesn’t turn the texture of your drink all slimy (unlike many collagen powders) and many taste very neutral. This one, though, is a ‘hot chocolate’ mix featuring organic cocoa, hops, stress-relieving ashwagandha and immune-supporting reishi mushroom alongside cinnamon, baobab and beetroot for flavour. It works by itself if you don’t have a sweet tooth but adding it to classic hot chocolate, as I do, means the whole thing just turns less sweet, and that’s just how I like it."
"Imagine how annoying it is when you’re in possession of the dreamiest bath product of the year and your husband nails the entire 40 quid bottle within the week? Let’s just say he won’t make that mistake again. This silky magnesium milk, blended with lavender, chamomile and patchouli, makes the entire house smell like a spa and works wonders on my sore knees after I’ve been for an overly ambitious run. I know it’s expensive but if you’re in the market for an indulgent treat, you’re in the right place."
"I’ve been religiously using a selection Dr Sam Bunting’s well-priced potions for a year now and the improvement in my skin has been extremely pleasing. Turns out dermatologists do actually know what they’re talking about! This new launch immediately became a key component of my arsenal – rich and ultra-nourishing, it’s especially welcome during the winter months, yet crucially doesn’t congest my blemish-prone skin. Instead, it calms it and evens out the tone. Bingo."
"I wasn’t immediately convinced when cool girl US brand Merit arrived here but now I’m a total convert. It’s all very low-key and not that thrilling on first inspection, but you soon realise that these are grown-up products laser-targeted at busy women, that do exactly what you want them to, and fast. Case in point: the single eyeshadows. I love the cream-to-powder texture, the matte ‘90s neutral shades and the fact they’re a cinch to apply. I actually wear eyeshadow, like a proper lady, now."
"This CC Water left me speechless when I first tried it this summer. In the past, I’ve had no time for CC creams as they rarely complimented my warm skin tone and left me looking quite chalky. However, this light gel formula amazed me, with its micro-pigment capsules that magically shift from grey-silver to a shade to match your tone, in order to colour correct and blur, as a good CC cream should. The result is a natural, radiant finish that's ideal for daytime wear. If, like me, have oily skin but like a lighter texture with decent coverage, this product is a perfect match."
"This blemish serum has been my saving grace for my pregnancy-induced hormonal acne. It takes a completely different approach to tackling breakouts than most other products that sanitise and strip, by using a patented live probiotic (100 million live cells per dose!) that lives within and supports and repairs your skin's microbiome. It's a dual pump system - the probiotic in one side and. the activating creme in another, which you mix in your palm. I've seen a balanced complexion with minimal breakouts, reduced oiliness, and an incredible glow — no wonder this product scooped up gold in our 2023 Beauty Awards. It has been so reassuring to find a blemish product that's pregnancy and breastfeeding-safe and that really works."
"Everyone has been obsessed with the Drunk Elephant bronzing drops, but for me, this skin-caring highlighting liquid is 'the one'. I mix it with my favourite serum (Emma Lewisham, above) and the shimmering (but not glittery) formula instantly boosts the skin’s brightness. It is rich in niacinamide - great for controlling excess oil - and it can help to minimise dark spots over time. The perfect way to add instant and long-term pep to your skin."
"Phlur is a brand that's taken the fragrance world by storm since its launch in the UK last year. If you haven't tried their cult warm musky floral Missing Person, it's the epitome of cool. My new personal favourite that's perfect for everyday wear, is Father Figure, a gender-neutral scent that smells like a lush green fig-tree garden with warm undertones notes of wood and vanilla."
“This vegan brush set by professional makeup artist, Donna May has been a game changer for me this year improving my technique while not breaking the bank. I’ve watched Donna’s excellent how-to-use videos on her Instagram and my eye makeup has never looked so good. The eight brushes in this set look great on my dressing table too.”
“My eyelashes are now twice their previous length and thickness thanks to this wizard of an eyelash serum. When I hit menopause, my eyelashes became so thin and weak but now, it’s a different story. It takes about three months to work so you have to be patient. You need to keep using it for the length and volume to remain. But if your lashes need a boost, then it's worth the time, commitment and investment.”
"I only discovered The Organic Pharmacy this year and was impressed at how they integrate herbal and homeopathic ingredients into their science-led high-performance products, all made in their London laboratory. This antioxidant face gel is my hero product. I use it morning and night, it smells divine and is packed full of collagen-boosting vitamins and herbal extracts. Importantly, it sits well under make-up too.”
“My evening cleansing routine has been transformed thanks to this collagen-rich cleansing balm. I was the laziest remover of makeup, relying on a quick swipe of micellar water to remove the day’s grime. But now, my face is treated to a deliciously soothing cleansing massage with this heavenly moisturising balm, which melts everything away. It functions as a treatment too, with ingredients that protect the skin barrier and reduce fine lines, so to get the most out of it, I spend time working it in. A treatment that's a real treat!
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