Glossy Picks: the 16 hot summer beauty buys we loved this week

9 July 2024

From the pear juice that will beat a pounding hangover, to Zara's new haircare line and a cheat's workout guide to 'exercise snacking', check out our favourite new beauty and wellness steals

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

One of our aims here at GTG is to introduce you to finds that make life easier in our regular edit of new beauty and wellness buys. Whether that’s SPFs that double-up as your daily moisturiser, cookery books jam-packed with delicious and healthy ideas or hair products that cut down on time and maximise results. This week we've found a delicious new juice that reduces the effects of a hangover, gradual tans that leave you looking golden and glowy and a wellbeing and fitness book that all busy midlifers need to read. Enjoy!

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SJ Corfield-Smith, GTG Beauty Director

By Terry Tea to Tan Face & Body, £22 for 30ml travel-size

"Terry de Gunzburg, founder of By Terry, created the first version of this instant tan over 20 years ago, inspired by a makeup hack of her mother’s, where she used soaked tea leaves to tint her skin. Terry took the skin-caring benefits of tea and infused them into a makeup product to create a liquid that could be easily sprayed all over the body and blended in for an instant bronze effect. After a few formula tweaks to make it even better, it now comes in this handy travel-sized spray with a more natural-looking matte finish (the previous version had quite a lot of shimmer). It’s an absolute lifesaver if you want to warm up skin in seconds and is completely transfer-proof so will only come off when you wash it off with warm soapy water."

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Mecca Cosmetica Sun Series To Save Face SPF 30 Facial Sunscreen, £32

"Mecca, if you’re unfamiliar, is the Aussie equivalent to Sephora and while they stock many other brands they also have their own range of SPFs. And if there’s something the Aussies know how to do it is very good sun cream, thanks to strict regulations. There are a few to choose from in the range and I am really enjoying this oil-free SPF 30. It is a cream but it feels so light you won’t know it’s there. It leaves no cast and contains hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid. This serves as a really good everyday sun protector that’s easy to apply and wear."

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Diptyque Ilio Summer Face & Body Fragrance Spray, £42

"For days where perfume seems too heavy (the midst of a heatwave or on hot, balmy holidays) but you still want to smell gorgeous and feel refreshed, may I introduce you to this face spritz-meets-fragrance hybrid. Sprayed all over your face and body it gives an instant hit of hydration, thanks to moisturising glycerin. It wafts you with a heady (alcohol-free) mix of summery jasmine and bergamot. It smells like summer in a spray and now that it’s in my life I never want to be without it."

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Footmender All In One, £28.99

"As much as I love foot peels and exfoliating socks, the lizard-like skin shedding two weeks later can be a lot. That's where this nifty foot cream comes in. It tackles dry and cracked skin, treats calluses and corns and exfoliates too. Slather a thin layer at night (it will leave the soles of your feet slightly slippery so pop some socks on) and let the combination of urea, glycolic acid, lactic acid and tartaric acid exfoliate, smooth and rejuvenate the tired skin on your feet. It does have a slight muscle-rub scent, but the results are worth it. I noticed a huge difference after one application and two weeks down the line my feet have never looked better."

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Kerry Potter, GTG Contributing Editor

So Good by Emily English, was £25 now £17.97

"I spend far too much time drooling over Em The Nutritionist’s mesmerizing meals on Instagram, so I’m thrilled that there’s now a book. It entirely lives up to its title, crammed with protein-packed, healthy and delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners and sweet treats that explode with flavour. She totally gets that most of us want to eat well but have neither unlimited hours nor funds: the ‘I have no time’ tuna salad, for example, makes me feel seen. Meanwhile, the prawn and sriracha burger, morning tacos and glow bowl make me feel hungry. Very hungry."

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Zara Hair Sea Spray, £15.99

"The fashion retailer made a foray into haircare late last year and this is my pick of their new summer drop – alongside the sea spray, there’s a wet-look mousse and a de-frizzing foam for use when air-drying. Zara isn’t messing around here – the products are formulated by top London stylist Guido Palau and scented by French perfumerJérôme Epinette, whose CV includes Byredo. The Sea Spray smells divine and gives just the right amount of texture and heft. Add in the mega-chic bottle, and this feels like a luxe treat rather than a high street steal."

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Merit The Evening Set + free Tove bag, £119 (while stocks last)

"Both cult Californian makeup brand Merit and equally cult London fashion label Tove excel at elegant minimalism, so this collaboration makes perfect sense. Spend over £100 with Merit and you get a free silky, ‘90s-esque Tove bag, that works as a clutch or on the shoulder, depending on how you tie it. I’d plump for Merit’s Evening Set (as it’s an evening bag), which comprises a lipstick, a highlighter stick, a serum, and, my favourite, a balm blusher. Every product works like a dream, and, used together, create a polished, grown-up glow."

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The Feel Good Fix by Lavina Mehta, was £18.99 now £11.99

"As someone so time-pressed that I get twitchy during my electric toothbrush’s two-minute cycle (surely it could be quicker?!), this wellbeing manual by PT Lavina Mehta is appealing. She recognizes that midlife women have way too much to do and think about – yet this is the life phase when we most need to look after ourselves. The answer? A series of fitness and mental health ‘snack’ ideas that you can fit into your day. I love how there’s a clock symbol denoting how long each practice takes – it turns out that I can spare one minute to do a neck stretch."

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Victoria Woodhall, GTG Editorial Director

Living Proof Scalp Care Density Serum, £54

"Thicker hair and less greys in 90 days - that’s the bold claim from this lightweight scalp serum based on a trial of 30 people using it every day. I’m all for scalp serums, as anything you can do to make the hair stronger in its root and reduce shedding is helpful - and this does just that. It won’t stop you going grey or bring back your original colour, but it will help stop the hair oxidising and looking so grey. This is one of the easiet-to-use scalp serums I’ve tried. Its watery texture means I’ve never had build up. You apply a couple of dropperfuls to to a dry or damp scalp - and can use it on chemically treated hair too."

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The Governor Limited Edition Extra Virgin Olive Oil, £49.95

"Fifty quid for a bottle of olive oil? You gotta be kidding! But wait, this isn’t just any oil, it’s ultra high in polyphenols - those antioxidant plant compounds that are anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antimicrobial and offer neuroprotection (FYI a high polyphenol count is one of the main selling points of the new Zoe supplement), and that form a core part of the healthy Mediterranean diet. Think of this as a health supplement that happens to taste great (deliciously grassy in fact). I was recommended it by nutritionist Pippa Campbell after functional testing (a stool test if you must know) showed that I needed more polyphenols in my diet - something everyone can benefit from. This is the limited edition version for EVOO nerds, but there’s a less pricey one too (£39.95)."

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Deramologica Phyto Nature Lifting Eye Cream, £115

"If you need something to do the heavy lifting for sagging eyelids and wrinkles, it needs to be strong and well-formulated so as not to irritate the delicate skin around the eyes. Dermalogica’s Phyto Nature biotech range already has the best liquid moisturiser on the planet (Oxygen Cream, £109.65) and the new eye cream is packed with firming peptides that create a tightening film so you get a small but immediate uplift too (remember though it’s a cream not surgery). I like that it’s a serum in a cream texture, so my eyes never feel dry. It’s pricey but you only need a grain of rice dot to do both eyes."

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Raaie Morning Dew Vitamin C Serum, £110

"How beautiful is the glass packaging from New Zealand natural skincare brand Raaie? The whole range – comprising a retinal night cream, a ceramide day cream, a tinted SPF50 liquid and this high-strength vitamin C gel cream serum – looks like a Zen stone balancer’s backyard and I can’t stop staring at it. But what’s inside packs a punch; the vit C is a great dupe for the cult Skinceuticals CE Ferulic Vitamin C Serum, with the same percentages of actives but moderately cheaper, without that ‘bacon’ smell and with added eye-appeal. I love everything in the range."

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Isla Huffadine, GTG Content Coordinator

Ella and Jo Hydrate and Glow Gradual Moisturiser, £20

"The unpredictable English weather is putting a dampener on my plans of achieving a natural tan this summer - so I’m on the hunt for shortcuts to a sun-kissed look. My latest discovery is this gradual moisturiser that takes away the hassle of marinating in sticky formulas. Apply like a regular cream and let it dry quickly before getting dressed. As a moisturiser, it’s packed with nourishing ingredients such as squalane, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E. Plus, the watermelon scent is summer in a bottle. Just remember to wash your hands after applying to avoid spilling your tanning secrets!"

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Grace and Stella Restoring Eye Masks, £17.50 for 24 pairs

"There are many things that concealer can do but hiding puffy eyes is not one of them. That’s where taking 15 minutes to slap these eye patches comes in. Not only do they feel cooling, but the combination of retinol, hyaluronic acid and sea moss works to smooth, moisturise, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and minimise dark circles - a powerhouse of ingredients! I've been known to pop on a pair on during the day when working from home - with the purple shimmer adding a touch of glam to our GTG Zoom calls!"

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Mecca Cosmetica Lip De-Luscious SPF20 Lip Balm, £20

"Like SJ I'm also adding Mecca Cosmetica to my haul of newness I love. This is their SPF lip balm. The blend of shea butter, vitamin E and pomegranate seed oil ensures that your lips stay plump, hydrated and smooth. Plus, the SPF 20 provides added UV protection - lips need sun protection too. It has quickly become a staple in my handbag, thanks to the marshmallowy aroma, subtle pink pop and just the right amount of gloss."

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Prepear Juice, £18 for 6 pouches

"With festival and holiday season upon us, so too is the dread of impending headaches. Enter Prepear, a drink made from 100% Korean pear juice. You drink the entire sachet 20 minutes before your first alcoholic beverage (perfect for pre-drinking, while you get glam for the night ahead) and the antioxidants help your body process alcohol far better. I woke up without a pounding headache, and felt less dehydrated than usual, which was a win. Of course you can't expect any product to work complete miracles, but this one certainly helps. Just remember to enjoy those cocktails in moderation!"

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