16 Glossy Picks we really rate – including the fancy new AI Ghd straighteners

VICTORIA WOODHALL

Longevity skincare? Our editorial director is in

Beauty Pie Youth Bomb Intense Skin Renewal Serum, £59 for members

“Longevity skincare may sounds like a PC term for ‘anti-ageing’, and to some extent that’s true but serums like this help your skin to function better for longer by boosting cell mitochondria (energy batteries) and combatting cellular senescence (‘zombie’ cells that no longer divide but hang around causing inflammation or inflammageing). This serum is a truly impressive cocktail of the latest longevity ingredients: PDRN for skin barrier, microspicules for deeper delivery (it feels prickly) and exosomes for skin signalling, as well as Rejuvenad, a NAD-booster shown to turn back the skin clock eight years. If this is the new anti-ageing, I’m in.”

July 80/20 Checked Suitcase, £315

“If your luggage gave up the ghost over the summer like mine, then I recommend July, the up-and-coming Australian brand giving the chic Away Travel range a run for its money, with its option of a built-in lost luggage tracker. These are hardshell wheeled cases, in stylish matte shades and an impressive range of sizes. I went for the 80/20 which lets you pack both the lid and the base, making clothes less creased and packing more efficient than my usual the ‘one giant lump’ approach.”

Jane Iredale Skintuition Undereye Concealer, £29

“Undereye concealers can make dry skin look old and cakey, but not this luscious skincare pen with blurring pigments and brightening peptides from clean mineral makeup brand Jane Iredale. The brush reminds me of the YSL Touche Eclat, which we all used as concealer in the noughties, when it was actually only an undereye brightener. This is the pen I wish I’d had then: it moisturises, conceals and brightens seamlessly, and knocks the spots off all others.”

Nimbi Rich Slip Saving Oil, £19.99

“If you’re a shaver, British female-founded shaving brand Nimbi (now also in Boots) is worth exploring, especially if you want to reduce plastic waste or have sensitive skin. The big hit in our house is the shaving oil, which lets you see what you are doing (unlike foam), gives a great glide and moisturises at the same time. My son loves it for manscaping. We both love the eco aluminium-handled five-blade Body Sculpt refillable shave sets replaceable heads, £11.99.”

SJ CORFIELD-SMITH

Our beauty director tries the new Ghds

Ghd Sculpt, £369

“Ghd has used AI technology to create their smartest tool yet – this ‘reads’ your hair as you style it. It measures how much hair is loaded between the plates, its thickness, your styling speed and the angle you’re working at, and then adjusts the temperature accordingly. More heat when you need it, less when you don’t – so you’re never just blasting hair on one generic setting. Ghd says there’s zero damage to hair’s natural structure and 2.5 times less frizz. It’s fast too, making my hair straight and sleek in minutes. It heats up in under 20 seconds and shuts off after 10 minutes of no activity, so there’s never the worry that you’ve left it on when you’re running for the bus.”

MdLondon by Michael Douglas The 7 Humidity Shield, £15

“If you’ve ever stepped outside on a drizzly day only to watch your blow-dry balloon into a frizzy mess within minutes, you’ll understand my desperation for a genuine humidity fix. This is it. The ightweight spray mists on without weighing hair down or leaving it stiff, yet it forms an invisible barrier against moisture in the air. Even on properly soggy commutes, my strands stay smooth. And there’s a bonus: it smells gorgeous. A frizz-fighting essential from a hair stylist who knows his stuff.”

Tanzee Barrier Repair Express Tanning Mousse, £34.95

“What I love most about this tanning mousse is the flexibility. You can rinse it off after an hour for a subtle, sun-kissed hint, leave it for three hours for a solid glow, or sleep in it overnight for the deepest, richest colour. It’s all down to you and your plans. The tinted formula makes application genuinely foolproof. You can see exactly where you’ve applied it and avoid streaky patches. The formula contains niacinamide and ceramides, which means skin feels hydrated, and the finish is beautifully natural.”

Bareminerals Gen Nude Dew In One Cheek & Lip Stick, £17

“I love a genuine multi-tasker so this caught my eye. The consistency is creamy, it glides onto lips without a hint of dryness and blends into cheeks for a dewy glow that doesn’t look shiny or feel sticky. It’s the kind of finish that looks like your skin having a brilliant day, not like you’re wearing makeup. True to form, Bareminerals has nailed wearability here too, with five shades spanning nude, rosy, pink and berry tones.”

INGEBORG VAN LOTRINGEN

Our contributing beauty editor would like to give you a scalp massage

Scandinavian Biolabs Scalp Massager, £25

“This scalp massager is made from solid medical-grade silicone, a material that’s mould-resistant and free from contaminants like phthalates. It has rounded, bendy, non-scratchy bristles and, importantly, is quite weighty so it’s easy to exert deep, soothing pressure, making scalp massaging quite pleasurable. My colourist Zoe Irwin works a lot with clients struggling with hair loss and tells them all to massage as a rule: in her experience, it’s one of the keys to combating hair fall, and keeping it strong and healthy.”

Hair By Sam Mcknight Cool Girl Body Plumping & Volumising Cream, £23.20

“Can a cream add volume to your hair without leaving it sticky? This one proves it does – it definitely leaves my strands feeling and looking thicker after blow-drying it in, without adding weight. It also has a conditioning complex and heat protectant. It does seem to knock out my natural waves, which must be down to the humidity-resistant polymers – something to keep in mind if you like your hair wavy or curly.”

Delo The Brightener Anti-Pigment Serum, £175

“You’ve got to really want to invest in your skin if you’re going to pay this much, but this is a very good serum, rigorously formulated to fade pigmentation and dissolve dullness. Fresh, water-light and unscented, its short ingredient list consists of all the good brightening stuff, including tranexamic acid and high levels of anti-pigment peptides. And because Delo skincare is designed with mature breakout-prone and sensitive skin in mind, it comes as an innovative mist-on spray for ultra-hygienic application – a first for an active treatment product.”

The What Supp Co Lock In 15 Focus Patches, £18

The latest in a line of innovative wellness patches, which use the same proven delivery method as nicotine and HRT patches, these are designed to sharpen a foggy mind and deliver a boost of focus when you don’t have any. I asked its creator whether such a quick effect is possible given that most supplements need to build in the blood over weeks to have an effect. She explained that this is true for some of the ingredients (eg 5-HTP and magnesium), but the green tea caffeine and B vitamins really can perk you up in about 15 minutes when applied transdermally. That must be why I’m currently typing so fast.

FLORENCE SCORDOULIS

Don't like foundation? Our contributing editor has just the thing

Drunk Elephant Kamo Triple-Peptide Cover Drops, £36

“If you don’t like foundation, Drunk Elephant’s first liquid skin tint is a barely-there-makeup dream. Infused with nourishing skincare benefits from peptides and amino acids, it helps to boost firmness and elasticity. You can customise the coverage by blending solo or mixing into your moisturiser, with 25 shades to choose from. One pump from the luxurious glass bottle (a first for the brand) goes a long way. The overall effect is an ultra-light, silky airbrush effect that still looks natural — without being too glowy nor matte.

Jo Malone Sea Salt & Bergamot Cologne, £125

“This new unisex fragrance is inspired by the British coast with sparkly citrus notes of bergamot, woody driftwood and salty freshness. The refreshing sensory jolt is designed to evoke that feeling of plunging into cold water — and as a hardy sea swimmer, I’m a fan. It’s clean and sophisticated without being overpowering, ideal if you don’t like anything too sweet or floral, but you can layer with other scents, too.”

K18 Future IQ Biomimetic Hair Longevity Serum, £110

“Biotech-powered K18 has launched a multitasking serum to target premature hair ageing, aimed at those in their thirties and forties (who have less than a third of greys and minimal thinning). It harnesses a hardcore combo of biomimetic peptides and antioxidants to reduce greying and shedding, as well as boost scalp health. The daily treatment is easy to use (a few drops into the hairline, massaged in) but expensive, with one bottle lasting a month. However, after three, the results can be dramatic.”

Elemis Future Restore Eye Serum, £95

“The trusted British skincare giant’s bestselling Pro-Collagen Future Restore Serum, £115, now comes in a more lightweight, sensitive formula suitable for the delicate, thinner skin around your eyes. It contains the same opal skin algae complex: a blend of marine microalgae for deep hydration, firming and elasticity — plus, added goodness for targeting dark circles and fine lines. It doesn’t come cheap, but you can see noticeable smoothing in a few days.”