Our reviewers have spoken! 16 brand new Glossy Picks that seriously impressed the team

SJ CORFIELD-SMITH

Our beauty director has a powder for people who don't like powder

Bareminerals Mineral Veil Daily Dose Setting Powder, £34

“The original Bareminerals powder foundation, launched in 1995, was brilliant but it had one flaw. You tipped the powder into the lid, swirled your brush and tapped off the excess, but inevitably you poured in too much and wasted it. This new setting powder fixes that with a handy doser button that dispenses the perfect amount every time. And the powder itself is impressive. It’s for people who don’t like powder as it’s super fine, reduces shine, visibly blurs pores and feels hydrating rather than drying. Choose from fair, medium, dark or a brightening shade.”

The Philosophy Of Perfume by Alice Du Parcq, £10.79

“Du Parcq is a British journalist who specialises in fragrance, a subject she has adored since childhood. Now she’s channelled that passion into a brilliant book. My favourite chapter is titled ‘You Did What With a Sperm Whale?’ and I will not spoil the surprise, but chances are some of your favourite scents get a name check. Part of the British Library’s Philosophy Of series, these pocket-sized books make perfect gifts. This one is ideal for your beauty-obsessed friend, and it will look chic on your own shelf too.”

Nip+Fab The Fix UVA Day Shield SPF 50+ PA++++, £59.95

“Nip+Fab has launched The Fix, a new premium sub-brand of three products (a serum, cream and this SPF). The three products have been through seriously impressive amounts of multi-method clinical trials so that The Fix can make claims about their efficacy. They’re all good but I’ve been really enjoying the SPF. It has the highest possible protection, but feels like a lightweight silky cream. It doesn’t leave a residue on the skin or a white cast. This is a high performance range that you need to check out.”

Eve Lom Renewal Treatment Oil, £60

“It’s unusual to find an eye treatment in oil form but this one really works – trust British brand Eve Lom to absolutely nail it. It honestly isn’t greasy, doesn’t migrate into your eyes and sting, and it’s fine for contact lens wearers (trust me, I am one). It’s packed with ingredients that soften fine lines, reduce puffiness and strengthen the skin barrier, so skin looks smoother. I usually lose interest in eye products after a few weeks, but I’ve used this consistently. It’s a joy to apply due to the texture and the subtle herbal scent, and my eyes definitely look more refreshed.”

INGEBORG VAN LOTRINGEN

Buttery but won't budge – our contributing beauty editor eyes up the ultimate liner

Mac Kajal Excess Longwear Smoky Eye Liner, £22

“Smudgy rock chick eye pencil is all good and well but, as anyone with hooded lids knows, liner that melts and transfers so much it creates dark circles is not a great look. Thankfully, new-gen pencils have cracked the code to creating butter-smooth formulations that set in seconds to become entirely transfer-proof – and Mac’s latest launch is a great example. Available in 12 shades – half of them neutral browns and greys and the other half eye-catchers like peacock blue and eye line-brightening ecru, they stay in place and never let you down”.

Skin Diary Pro-Helix-C Collagen Peptide Brightening Serum, £98

“Milky-light, delicate and delivering an instant glow, this is a vitamin C serum with a difference: it’s guaranteed to not just brighten your skin, it will soften lines and boost elasticity as well, much like a retinoid. The Skin Diary is setting a new standard for clinical skincare trials, deploying biopsies of living skin to prove its formulas improve skin structure – and this is its third launch to do so. Using a non-irritating form of vitamin C alongside collagen-signalling peptides and antioxidants in an unscented base, expect noticeably better-looking skin without any flaking or itching”.

Herbar The Lip Butter in Mooncake, £16

“Imagine the smell of a hot sponge cake fresh out of the oven. Now apply this balm and tell me it’s not exactly the same scent. I’m not a fan of endless, cloying ‘dessert’ fragrances in everything, but this one is glorious and can fix any craving. The balm itself is intensely moisturising and long-lasting despite its light texture and lip gloss finish, and it’s packed with mushrooms, peptides and ceramides to rejuvenate and plump lips. I even like the sheer brown shade, which is more flattering than its sounds”.

Skin Rocks The Support Serum, £85

“We’ve come a long way from having to treat upset skin with greasy unguents like E45. With so many suffering irritation or inflammation (from product over-use, stress, peri-menopausal or post-treatment conditions, or simply genetics), soothing skincare is officially sexy – especially now that we all know calm skin ages a lot less fast. This feather-light, silky cream-serum (no thick layers of paraffin but plant oils, peptides and botanical soothers instead) will bring down redness fast and improve barrier function within two weeks. ‘Like a plunge pool for reactive skin,’ says its creator, Caroline Hirons. She’s right. ”

FLORENCE SCORDOULIS

Our contributing editor is going early on Christmas candles

Lords Fragrance House Yala Luxury Scented Candle, £43.95

“If classic Christmas scents feel a little overpowering, this is the festive candle for you. It’s warm and spicy, with the usual trimmings like cinnamon, cardamom and frankincense, but bright grapefruit and black pepper give it an extra kick. The experience is comforting, sweet and zesty. Plus, the joyful hand-painted glass is worth keeping for next year. Lords is a female-founded fragrance house inspired by travel and culture, and everything is handmade in Oxford”.

Absolute Collagen Hydrate 2 Glow Electrolytes, £16.99 for 7 sachets

“This collagen and electrolyte powder is ideal for slimming down your supplement regime into one, zero-faff morning drink. Each sachet contains the optimum dose of marine collagen for healthy skin, hair and nails (plus skin-boosting hyaluronic acid). The electrolytes handle hydration, with a sodium-potassium balance formulated specifically for women and added energy-boosting vitamin B. The latest strawberry and raspberry flavour is sweet and fruity, but still low in sugar. At £2.43 a day, it’s cheaper than your daily cappuccino”.

Huda Beauty Bronze Filter Palette Medium, £40

“This bronzing compact by celebrity MUA Huda Kattan is an SOS for your fading summer glow. It contains four highly pigmented, blendable powders for bronzing, contouring, rosy warmth and radiance. Swirl your brush over all four for a sun-kissed bronze, or apply individually to define and sculpt (I find that the powders double as day-to-day eyeshadow, too). Try their fluffy double-sided Huda Beauty Bronzing & Sculpting Brush, £19 for a soft, natural finish”.

Jo Malone Vanilla Scotch Cologne, £60

“Unlike the trend for intensely sweet gourmand vanillas, this unisex festive cologne is darker and richer, and more grown-up. Tonka beans bring an earthy sweetness, while notes of cosy amber and Scotch whiskey add a smoky warmth that whisks you off to the wintery Highlands. The affordable midsize bottle makes it a perfect seasonal treat in the run up to the holidays”.

Marie Louise Pumfrey

Our contributor is lighting up her life

Cowshed The Log Cabin Scented Candle, £45

“This limited edition candle is Christmas in a jar, with a wonderful blend of warming cinnamon, fresh pine and juniper that conjures up images of a roaring log fire. It’s woody and aromatic rather than overly sweet, and comes in a chic burgundy glass jar with gold detailing. With around 40 hours of burn time, it’s a lovely little luxury for yourself or a fabulous Christmas gift. Although I’ll struggle to give this one away.”

RevitaLash Peptide Complex+ Time Release Eyelash Conditioner, £62

“As someone whose lashes have wilted with age, I’ve relied on Revitalash growth serum for years. It’s a miracle cure for me but some people can’t tolerate it because of the ingredient prostaglandins. Present in most lash serums, it can cause redness. This new launch has been formulated with a peptide complex instead, to deliver the same growth results without causing irritation. You do have to apply both morning and night though and its’ not recommended if you suffer from dry eyes or some other conditions so do read the label.”

Dedcool Mocha Magic, £71

“Comforting but with a decadent twist, this Dedcool scent could be your new winter favourite. It opens with rich notes of espresso, mocha and cream, followed by an indulgent combination of biscotti, toffee and bourbon, before settling into a warm blend of vanilla, tonka bean and sandalwood. Think cosy cashmere and cocktails by the fire. It’s sweet, but with enough depth to feel sophisticated. And the beauty of it is that it’s completely gender neutral – my twentysomething son took one sniff and promptly nabbed it for himself. So much for my new winter favourite!”

SBC Skincare Arnica & Wintergreen Comfort Balm, £20

“This is one of those clever little buys that has earned a permanent place in my handbag. This week I went flying on my way to yoga, badly bruising my hand and knee. Luckily this balm came to my rescue and I could do the class as normal. You rub it into any bruises, or tired muscles for instant relief. With arnica for swelling, and camphor and menthol to cool and comfort, the rich texture melts easily into an oil.”