From the body gadget that changed our Editor's opinion on body gadgets, to the multipurpose makeup gloss that will see you through every Christmas party to the genius show cap that washes your hair. Here are the new beauty buys that caught the team's eye.
The clocks have gone back, the nights are getting darker and Christmas is almost here (yay!) so whether you're looking to start your present buying early or looking to treat yourself to something new, we have a whole array of beauty wonders that tick all the boxes and cover every price point. There's the new CeraVe Retinol serum that will get even the most sensitive skin looking plump and smooth for the festive period, we've fallen in love with the Mermade hair waver for easy-to-create waves plus Khloe Kardashian is a fan. If you have a four-legged friend or are looking to buy something for a dog lover in your life the new George Northwood dog shampoo is a great shout. Plus, scroll down to find out why our Editor, Victoria has done a full 180 on her thoughts around body tools thanks to the new Foreo Body cleansing and vibrating tool.
The game-changing body tool: Foreo Luna 4 Body, £129
"It’s taken Foreo (the sonic cleansing device brand and makers of my preferred electric toothbrush) to persuade me to use anything other than a flannel in the shower, with the launch of its first body tool. Whenever I see those ghastly plastic loofa things that look like hairnets in people’s bathrooms, I think ‘Butlins for bacteria’ – entire colonies in there having a whale of a time. Foreo’s hygienic round silicone body tool is a major flannel upgrade; it’s easy to hold in the palm of your hand, the pulsations delivered through silicone nobbles make your body cleanser work harder and I’m told it’s great for keratosis pilaris, that chicken skin arm bumps too. You can use it anywhere below the face. The only thing you can’t do with it yet is scrub your back, although I’m sure they’re working on it for the next iteration. I held it around my hairline when I washed my hair which was very relaxing. It wouldn’t surprise me if a Foreo scalp massager was in the pipeline (if not, please could they make one?)." Victoria Woodhall, GTG Editoral Director
Get 20% off all tools at Foreo use code: GTG20
The instant skin transformer: Dr Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Camo Drops SPF35, £35
"I have a confession to make. I was one of the few people who did not get the hype around the first Dr Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment. I wanted to love it, but I just couldn’t see what the big deal was. However, I am very happy to scream from the rooftops how much I love the latest addition to the Tiger Grass family, the Camo Drops. It contains the same technology which transforms the green-tinged liquid into a universal skin-perfecting veil, taking away any redness and leaving your skin looking more flawless and even as well as containing ingredients like niacinamide to help balance and calm the skin. However, the big difference is that this comes in a much lighter serum texture that sinks in quickly and easily and it has SPF35 so it makes the perfect long-term skin protector, makeup primer or on days when you don't want to wear makeup you can put this on for a very light touch of colour correcting. I’m really impressed and I don’t say that often." Sarah-Jane Corfield Smith, GTG Beauty Director
The chocolate lovers lip balm: Balm Dotcom in Swiss Miss, £10
"If you haven’t heard of Balm Dotcom, where have you been? The iconic lip balm from Glossier comes in 11 flavours ranging from cherry to cookie butter. The newest addition is the ultimate collaboration with American hot cocoa brand Swiss Miss. This limited edition decadent hot chocolate-inspired balm smells like a winter's night in front of the fireplace with a nice big cup of hot cocoa. It smells so good you’ll want to eat it. We don't recommend you do btw! The texture is super hydrating and glides effortlessly on your lips, leaving you with a sheer chocolate-hued tint. You can wear this day or night and will make your lips look ever so kissable." Amy Rostas, GTG Beauty and Social Media Assistant
The a-list approved wave maker: Mermade Hair- Pro Waver The 32mm OG Waver, £69
"Like so many, I love the beachy hair look but struggle to do it myself at home with my existing hair tools, plus I have long, thick hair which takes ages to style. Enter the Mermaid Hair Pro Waver. I can’t express how quickly I have fallen in love with this styler. It creates big bouncy waves in seconds and is so easy to use. Simply take a section of hair, clamp it down for a few seconds and when you release you have perfect waves. On longer hair you will need to move the styler down the hair but for shorter hair one go should do it. The design feels luxe which I think explains why it’s loved by celebrities and stylists around the world (Khloe Kardashian uses it to get her signature beach waves!) and it heats up in 1 minute so there’s no waiting around. And for anyone who panics if they’ve left their styler on once they’ve left the house, this automatically shuts off after an hour." Christina Callaghan, GTG Commercial Director
The overnight complexion booster: Farmacy Beauty 10% Niacinamide Night Mask, £40
"Around this time of year, my complexion is prone to drying out and looking dull, so it needs a little extra TLC to perk it up and right now this overnight mask from Farmacy is a saviour. It’s formulated with 10 per cent niacinamide, aka vitamin B3, to even skin tone and nourish the skin barrier; ultra hydrating panthenol (another form of vitamin B) and beta-glucans to lock in moisture; plus a good dose of free-radical fighting antioxidants thanks to upcycled blueberry seed oil. My skin drinks up the gel-like consistency, which is gentle, non-clogging and fast absorbing so you won’t even notice it’s there as you snooze. By morning, it’s left feeling soft, supple, bouncy and awake. Farmacy’s sustainability credentials are impressive too, with its ‘waste-free’ packaging now made from 100 per cent recycled material and a ‘farm-to-face’ ethos which champions locally-sourced ingredients such as honey, figs and moringa. If you’re into eco-conscious brands that deliver (who isn’t?) this is one to have on your radar" Rosie Fitzmaurice, GTG contributor
The four-legged friend cleanser: George Northwood Undirty Dog Shampoo, £20 for 500ml
"Inspired by his sweet whippet, Willow, superstylist George’s mega bottle of doggie shampoo will keep her and Britain’s millions of other pet dogs fresh and silky - and protect and stimulate her hair and skin with antioxidants and wild sage, no less. Why, it’s so lovely I could use it on myself - and indeed, I can. I might even attempt to wash my cat Grumpy with it if he doesn’t scratch my eyes out first. It’s super-mild with no drying sulphates and smells of violets, and comes in George’s signature recycled and recyclable aluminium bottles. It’s an essential buy as much as it is a really good present for pet owners" Ingeborg van Lotringen, Beauty Editor
The contact lens friendly eye cleanser: Typology Bi-Phase Eye Make-up Remover, £16.40
"No matter how hard I try, whenever I’m removing mascara there’s always residue left on my lashes. As a contact lens wearer I have to be especially careful around my eyes and am always on the lookout for great eye make-up removers and this gets five stars from me. It’s super gentle and enriched with castor oil, pea peptides and soothing camomile. You have to give it a good shake to mix the two layers and then apply on a cotton pad, place it on closed eyelids for a few seconds before sweeping away all traces of mascara and eye makeup - no vigorous rubbing required. The pea peptides is said to stimulate and strengthen lashes, and the camomile is calming on the delicate skin around the eyes. As with all Typology products it comes in very stylish, chic and eco-friendly packaging and I think you get a lot of a great product for a good price-point too." Marie-Louise Pumfrey, GTG contributor
The digital world skin saviour: Sarah Chapman Digital Rest Night Cream, £57
"If you’re concerned about what your screen time is doing to your skin, facialist Sarah Chapman is with you. Since the pandemic she’s seen clients with increasingly stressed dull skin both from screen use and disturbed sleep which often go hand in hand thanks to the awakening effect of blue HEV screen light and the temptation of the sleep-robbing ‘next episode’ streaming button. The skin has a circadian rhythm, or body clock, which tells it when to repair, but which we seem intent on messing with. This light blue night cream, which can be used alone or over serum and before moisturiser, has compounds which address all these factors and help your skin not just to recover from screen exposure and lack of sleep, but to protect it from further damage. I found it very easy to slot in, it has a light texture and a slightly lower price than other Sarah Chapman products, as she wanted to make it more accessible to younger customers – a clever anti-fatigue treatment in the age of ‘digital pollution’" VW
The no shower required hair wash: Freshwipes No Rinse Shampoo Cap, £5.50 for 3
“This is the kind of genius product you don’t know you need until you need it. Brand founder, Liz, used to sell hygiene products to hospitals that were used to clean patients that couldn’t take showers and baths. Inspired by that she set up her own brand that offers the same sort of thing but with a little more of a beauty angle. And that’s where this genius shower cap comes in. It washes and cleans your hair without any water, bath or shower required. You simply pop the cap on tucking all your hair into it, massage for about 3 minutes and then take it off and throw it away. It has a fresh scent so you do feel like you’ve actually washed your hair and your hair is left slightly damp. It’s not the most eco friendly of options but this really is for those rare moments when washing properly is not possible such as festivals, camping or recovering from an operation.” SJCS
The 'essence of autumn' candle: Diptique Citrouille Pumpkin Candle, £54
"I realised I have a slight pumpkin obsession. I'm on tenterhooks until I can get my first pumpkin spiced latte of the season and I have this pumpkin curry batch-cooking at all times. My latest addition? The new pumpkin-inspired candle from Diptyque. The gorgeous scent is a heady mix of pumpkin pie, roasted chestnuts and cinnamon. Even before it is lit, the room is filled with its lovely autumnal fragrance and when you do spark the flame there’s an additional fireside smokiness that embodies the warmth of coziness of autumn. As with all Diptyque candles it has an impressive burn time of 50 to 60 hours but if you do want it you'll need to be quick as it is only available, whilst stock lasts- as it is a limited-edition candle!" AR
The multi-tasking makeup elevator: Guerlain Mirror Effect Gel Gloss in Rose Gold, £29
“I love a multi-purpose makeup product, you get so much for your money and this very clever gloss is part of Guerlain’s ‘Fly To The Stars’ Holiday Collection so if you want it, it won’t be around for long. It has been designed by the oh-so chic and extremely talented makeup artist, Violette - Guerlain’s creative director of makeup. It can be used over eyeshadow to create a glazed effect, over lipstick to give more shine, or on your cheekbones for that dolphin skin highlighter effect. The formula attracts and reflects light, think a selfie/ camera-ready finish and it comes in one universal shade of a gorgeous rose gold. I used it on my eyes and lips and it stayed-put all night and wasn't sticky in the slightest. If you’re looking for one product to elevate your regular makeup look this festive season, this is it.” CC
The skin caring retinol: CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum, £19
"If you can count on drugstore brand Cerave to do one thing, it’s formulated products responsibly with barrier-nourishing (rather than stripping) ingredients. Unsurprising then, that its first-ever retinoid product has been carefully thought out to include an encapsulated, time-release form of retinol, surrounded by a layer of fatty acid to both help it penetrates deeper into the skin and reduces irritation. Specifically targeted at those with acne-prone skin, who are concerned of scarring or pigmentation as a result, this is a brilliant beginner product if you’re only just starting to navigate the confusing world of retinol percentages. Speaking of, for simplicity, I’m pleased that the brand has chosen not to even include one on the packaging. All you need to know is this will encourage cell turnover and the exfoliation of dead skin cells, whilst calming inflamed skin and brightening the complexion while you’re at it.” RF
The ultimate lip product: Ruby Hammer Lip Serum Balm in Pink, £18
“Ruby has added three new shades to her collection of lip serum balms, which are stick balms that go on like intense lip glosses with the nourishment and hardiness of a balm. There’s a sheer gold, an intense berry and this almost-neon pink which will lift your look in seconds with its bright poppiness. It’s not like I need yet another tinted balm but this one’s just too good not to add to my ever growing stash. It’s got stuff like cannabis seed oil to fight inflammation and licorice leaf extract which apparently smoothes and balances - either way, it’s comfy and looks great.” IvL
The perfect gift: Gloved Room Diffuser, £48
"This gloriously grounding reed diffuser from British perfumer Tom Daxon’s ‘Gloved’ home scents range has everything you want from a niche fragrance house – chic packaging and a scent created in the hub of the fragrance world aka Grasse in the South of France. It's an elevated experience that makes everything seem more interesting, but that also makes you feel relaxed in your own home. This cedarwood fragrance, emanating from 14 rattan reeds in a recyclable glass bottle had me at ‘lime’ and ‘tea’, although I love the juniper and woody notes too. It says it lasts for three months, but I’ve had it for six weeks and barely a quarter of it has gone. Living in a house with two boys (and only one loo) I can’t tell you what a difference it has made. If you are already thinking of Christmas shopping Gloved is an online destination to know about." VW
The beauty collab for art lovers: Lancome x Be@rBrick limited edition Advanced Genefique, £89
“If, like me you’re a huge Lancome fan and a huge Be@rBrick fan then this is quite literally the collab of dreams. If you’re unfamiliar with Be@rBrick they are sculptural teddies all with different designs that have become collector’s items. As, undoubtedly, this collection will become too. Three of Lancome’s products have had Be@rBrick’s signature pattern emblazoned on the packaging, but the formula inside remains unchanged and if you haven’t ever tried Advanced Genefique then it’s worth the splurge whether you buy this version or the regular one. It contains pre and probiotics to strengthen the skin’s barrier, vitamin C to brighten and soften fine lines and hyaluronic to hydrate. And this one happens to double-up as a piece of amazing art too.” SJCS