From Chanel’s gorgeous new Illuminating Face Powder that will instantly banish winter pallor to the new super serums that will perk up tired, dull and dry complexions, here are how tried and tested picks to shop now
As we make our way further into November, everything is starting to feel that bit more festive. This week the Oxford Street lights officially go on, meaning listening to Christmas music and snaffling the odd mince pie is perfectly acceptable. Let’s face it, we could all do with something to look forward.
And what better way to get into the silly season spirit than a little pick-me-up of the beauty variety? Whether you're shopping for yourself, or are the kind of organised person who has already started their Christmas shopping (not us), we’ve done the leg work for you and scoured the internet for the best new makeup and skincare launches this week.
From Chanel’s gorgeous new Illuminating Face Powder that will instantly banish winter pallor to the new super serums that will perk up a tired, dull and dry complexion here’s what to shop now.
The winter glow-in-a-compact: Chanel Eclat Lunaire Oversize Illuminating Face Powder, £68
"The Chanel Holiday 2022 collection is here and together with the summer Les Beiges sun-kissed skin launches, it’s an annual drop I always get excited about. There’s always at least one gem in there that I resolve to buy two of in case they never bring it back. My pick from this collection is this glowy face powder with its gorgeous embossing of a No5 bottle. It’s oversize (huge in fact - I won’t need a backup purchase) so you can swish your big fluffy brush into it and dust it all over. It adds bronze too and warms up my pasty winter face. Rather than delivering shimmer (which makeup artist Mary Greenwell reminded me this week can add years – she never uses it on herself), this has a lustre that’s like your best lighting. My shade is rose, and there’s a golden one too. It’s particularly brilliant on eyelids together with the Chanel Duo Lumiere Multi-Use Illuminating Eye Gloss, £40 also part of the collection." Victoria Woodhall, GTG Editorial Director
The brightening powerhouse: Allies of SkinTranexamic & Arbutin Brightening Serum, £90
"If there’s one product to invest your money in, it’s serum. Always view this as the powerhouse of your skincare regime and this new one from Allies of Skin combines some very resourceful skincare ingredients in one. There’s 3% Tranexamic Acid which works on pigmentation and brightens, 2% Alpha Arbutin which also evens skin tone without causing sensitivity, 5% niacinamide which works on reducing the appearance of pores and firms up the skin. There’s also a hefty dose of mushroom extract, which is a powerhouse of an antioxidant to help skin regenerate. It’s basically everything a mid-30 year old onwards is looking for in one serum. Allies of Skin is the type of brand that puts together very sophisticated formulations that means a little goes a long way and it genuinely works so whilst it is an investment, it is a safe and solid one. You can use this day and night but I’ve been using it just in the morning so I can use my retinols and acids at night, but also to make it last as long as possible" Sarah-Jane Corfield Smith, GTG Beauty Director
The high-tech toothbrush: Oral-B iO10 Cosmic Black Electric Rechargeable Toothbrush, was £800 now £375
"It’s not every day I’m blown away by a toothbrush, but this smart electric one definitely takes the cake. This pocket rocket is like having a mini hygienist in your bathroom (and with the faff of trying to get an appointment these days, I can’t complain!). It’s designed to re-teach you how to brush your teeth properly through the use of 'live coaching'. You pair the brush with the Oral B app on your phone, alongside the iOSense Charger (a smart charging hub), which provide real-time insights into your cleaning techniques and alerts you if you’re brushing well or badly using LED lights. The data is synced to the app and you can set yourself goals and challenges from whitening to gum health (who doesn’t love a bit of gamification?!). Although it does have a hefty price tag, since using this I actually look forward to brushing my teeth and can definitely notice the difference in my oral hygiene. Plus, there’s an early Black Friday deal saving you a whopping £425 - not a deal to miss!" Jemma Thompson, Design and Social Media Manager
The dewy skin tint: Vita Liberata Beauty Blur Face, £20
"Vita Liberata is one of the most iconic tanning brands out there and, incidently, it was the first ever fake tan I tried (from my mum's friend's bathroom cupboard). It made me fall in love with the art of fake tanning. It recently had a complete rebrand and the packaging is now much chicer. Beauty Blur Face is like a tinted moisturiser/primer - although skin tints were all the rage during summer I am still using them in the colder months. They are more hydrating than the average foundation and look more like real skin. This product is perfect alone or under other makeup (bronzer, blush, mascara, etc.) It evens out your skin tone and is perfect for no-makeup-makeup days." Amy Rostas, GTG Beauty and Social Media Assistant
The CBD-infused sensual oil: Jomo London CBD Arousal Oil, £48
"If you’re looking for a chic intimate massage oil or lube that’s a step up from Ann Summers, then I can’t recommend JOMO enough. JOMO, or Joy Of Missing Out, is all about staying in and enjoying some self-care either by yourself or with a partner. The brainchild of Liv Bentley (of Made in Chelsea fame) and celebrity makeup artist Bella Campbell, it’s a lube for people who don't like the word lube. The hero ingredient is CBD (cannabidiol) which can help to increase blood flow to intimate areas, increasing sensitivity… and I can confirm that it does. Warming black pepper and the heady scent of ylang-ylang make this a sensual experience when used as a massage oil, and it doubles as a body oil too, soaking into the skin, leaving it silky smooth with no stickiness. It may be on the pricey side but bear in mind that this is also essentially tailored skincare for your vulva." Christina Callaghan, GTG Commercial Director
The healing eucalyptus-scented cleanser: Rhug Estate Wild Beauty Deep Cleansing Balm with wild berries, £65
"Sixty-five quid is a lot for a cleanser, but this big pot of sumptuous oil-balm jelly works hard for the money. Definitely one for a self-care cleansing ‘moment’, its texture demands to be massaged in at leisure while its scent invites you to breathe deeply: packed with eucalyptus and verbena, it clears the airways like a very posh Vicks Vaporub. The calendula, rosehip and vitamin E-rich safflower oil base will nourish and heal skin while a whole fruit salad of wild berries provides brightening and antioxidant benefits. You can take it off with a warm muslin cloth but it emulsifies well with water, leaving only a very fine hydrating layer that’s not too heavy or oily. So if you want to be lazy and just rinse off the melted-away grime, that’ll work fine as well." Ingeborg van Lotringen, Beauty Editor
The nourishing natural deodorant: Typology Natural Deodorant Rose & Vanilla, £14.30
"My favourite French beauty brand has just launched this divine-smelling natural deodorant - if you’re not already on the bandwagon, here are plenty of reasons to switch to a natural deodorant. Dinky in size (making it perfect for popping in my gym bag), it's aluminium, alcohol and talc-free, instead containing antibacterial diatomaceous earth (a natural drying agent) and anti-inflammatory sodium bicarbonate to mop up any unwanted odours and leave you smelling faintly of rose and vanilla essential oils. I would have preferred this to be refillable, but the tube and cap is made of 83 per cent of recycled plastic at least."Rosie Fitzmaurice, GTG contributor
Buy now
The indulgent cleanser: Gatineau Age Benefit Cleansing Elixir, £49
"If your face feels dry after washing then you need to upgrade to a balm cleanser. The new Gatineau Age Benefit Cleaning Elixir has been a game-changer for me. It’s gorgeous to massage into the skin, melting away make-up and dirt. You just wipe it off with a warm damp cloth and it leaves my face feeling nourished and heavenly. It’s been ophthalmologically tested too and I can confirm it gets rid of stubborn mascara and eye makeup. It contains plenty of great hydrating ingredients including pea peptide, oat lipids and algae oil for an at home spa-like cleansing experience." Marie-Louise Pumfrey, GTG contributor
The sustainable skincare advent: Neal’s Yard Remedies 12 Days of Beauty and Wellbeing Calendar, £89 worth £187.50
"I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t love this selection of 12 natural and sustainable seasonal self-care heroes, including six full-size, plus a £15 off therapy voucher thrown in too. I’m excited to see it has one of the Frankincense Intense products, too – NYR’S most potent age-proofing range in the form of the Frankincense Intense Hand Serum (quite literally the best hand treatment around), as well as goodies to share for all ages, from a pillow spray to shower gel, eye cream and a full size Rejuvenating Frankincense Hydrating Cream that's perfect for winter dryness, and is worth £32 by itself. I’m keeping the beautiful reusable cardboard box with drawers to refill for next year." VW
The humidity saviour: Static Jam Seriously Good Styler, £12
"At the slightest hint of humidity my hair expands sideways, leaving me looking like little miss mushroom head. Now, while nothing is infallible I have to say this has done a very impressive job at keeping my hair near perfect during drizzly walks and humid school runs. You apply to damp hair and then blow-dry or style as normal, although I have actually applied a little to dry hair to tame some flyaways and that seemed to work a treat too. It doesn’t have fancy packaging but sometimes the true gems are in the bottles that don’t shine too hard. Give this a go." SJCS
The colour-changing candle: Candlemeleon Pink Leopard Candle, £30
"This heat-reactive, colour-changing candle makes for the most unique Christmas gift for any of your friends or family. Candlemeleon is a new small brand specialising in delightful candles that make for a sensational sensory experience - from the colour-changing effects to the gorgeous scents that smell so fragrant you’ll want to wear them. As the candle holder gets hot it starts to change colour which is so fascinating to watch. There are currently six different candles in the collection and I hope there are more to come - my current favourites are the Miami Art Deco (Bergamot, Rosewood & Citrus) and the Pink Leopard (Amber, Orange, Flowers & Mint), both sweet yet musky and sexy - the smell fills my room and makes for such an inviting environment and for £30 you get a large candle that has a burn time of over 25 hours, making it a very affordable competitor to others on the market." AR
The gamechanger pillowcase: Slip Gift Set - Blossom Nights, £85 worth £104
"Before joining the Get the Gloss team last month, I had never tried a silk pillowcase, and had dismissed them as being overhyped. But since I got my hands on this limited edition Blossom Nights sleep set, which also comes with a matching skinny and large scrunchie, I’ve been eating my words. Whereas before I’d wake up with creases across my cheek and under my eye from my cotton pillowcase, now I do not. And as for my hair, I’ve also seen reduced static frizz and less of a messy bedhead. I have actually been using Slip scrunchies for years - they don’t leave kinks and are gentle and delicate on my long, thick hair. I’ve also got my eye on The Icons Edit, £142 which comes with a sleep mask that’s perfect for protecting my eyelash extensions." CC
The intense shot of hydration: Kate Somerville Hydrakate Recharging Serum, £67
"When LA-based aesthetician Kate Somerville drops a new skincare product, beauty editors jostle to be first to try it - and her latest HydraKate range is no exception. If dull, dehydrated skin is the bane of your life as it is mine then this serum will answer all of your needs, and then some. It has some pretty clever tech behind it too, including a dual-weight hyaluronic acid that can penetrate deeper into the layers of the skin to give an intensive shot of hydration, and blue light-activated algae extract which is supposed to help fight the effects of blue light (both from the sun and digital devices) while improving the look of dark spots. The texture is ultra soft and soothing, I found it almost a bit like a milky lotion, yet despite the lightweight consistency, you can really feel it getting to work, deeply moisturising multiple layers of the dermis after just one use - a little goes a surprisingly long way on my skin that drinks up hydration. If your skin starts to play havoc this time of year thanks to the unhelpful combo of chillier temps outside and central heating inside, this is worth the spend." RF