From the best-selling SPF from Japan that's just landed to the perfect shampoo and condition for swimming from a hot new brand that TikTokkers will love
Summer is just round the corner, which means it might be time to add a few beauty buys that will enhance and protect your hair and skin as well as giving your makeup bag a summer glow-up. In the mix of new beauty products the team have been trying out is a brand new powder bronzer from Kim Kardashian’s makeup artist, Mario Dedivanovic that creates a natural sun-kissed look as well as a new body oil from Sol de Janeiro with its iconic scent that will get your skin glowing and smelling amazing. As well as a clinical grade vitamin C skincare mask from Kate Somerville to blitz pigmentation and a supersized gentle eye makeup remover by Gatineau that is perfect for sensitive eyes or any suffering from hayfever. Enjoy!
The body retinol: Beauty Pie Youth Bomb Body 360 Repair Concentrate, £38 members £125 non-members
"Dr Andrew Markey, the renowned derm who created Beauty Pie’s premium age-proofing Youth Bomb range, calls this a ‘body lotion plus’ and for good reason. It’s a moisturiser and serum in one, with a two per cent granactive retinoid (it’s yellow for that reason – read our retinoids decoded explainer) five per cent niacinamide to help nix age spots which at my ripe old age are plentiful, plus exfoliating AHA acids. In short: it renews, buffs, brightens and moisturises. It feels silky and smells fresh and moreish, a clever way to make you stick to a good skin habit." Victoria Woodhall, GTG Editorial Director
The light-as-air SPF: Biore UV Aqua Water Essence SPF50, £15.99
“When you think of Biore your mind may go straight to your teenage years and sticking pore strips over your nose, but it’s time to have a rethink as they are now launching skincare and this SPF is really good. So good in fact that apparently one is sold every 15 seconds in Japan. It has a light gel texture that won’t leave any white residue and, fittingly for the brand, it also doesn’t clog pores so a great option for oilier and spot-prone skin types.” SJ Corfield-Smith, GTG Beauty Director
The new body oil icon: Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Body Firmenza Oil, £52
"Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Body Firmenza Oil is the body oil version of their iconic cream. It carries the same delicious scent; Cheirosa '62 - a gorgeous mix of salted caramel, pistachio, and vanilla notes. It absorbs rapidly, leaving no stickiness behind and it feels more hydrating than the original cream. Plus it leaves skin looking really glowy making it ideal for warmer weather when you want to reveal a bit more flesh. Infused with Brazilian olive oil and microalgae extract, it aims to even skin tone and texture, promoting a tightened appearance. It’s a bit too early to determine its firming effects, but my skin tone already appears more even. If you love the original cream then this won't disappoint." Amy Rostas, GTG Social Media and Beauty Assistant
The versatile scrub: Monday Muse The Powder, £45
"I recently discovered Monday Muse's The Powder, and it has quickly become my new hero product in my skincare routine. Powder exfoliators are super easy to use: you simply add a few drops of water and the fine powder transforms into a luxurious foam that you then massage onto the skin. The texture of this feels gentle and non-abrasive, perfect for those with sensitive skin like mine. It contains enzymes that are really effective at dissolving dead skin cells and unclogging pores, and turmeric to help tackle discolouration. I love how versatile it is. On days when you haven't got much time it can be used as a quick and gentle scrub, or on days when you've got longer you can leave it on like a mask for a more intensive treatment. A little goes a long way making the £40 initial spend a bit of a bargain." Christina Callaghan, GTG Commercial Director
The blow-dry protector: Only Curls Shower Cap, £16
"Now a shower cap may not sound overtly sexy but, let me tell you this is the best I’ve ever had. For anyone who fears even the tiniest drop of water between wash days then this fashionable, yet functional turban bonnet is just the thing. Available in five different kitsch patterns, it features a wide elastic which gives it a secure waterproof fit — great for those with super thick hair like me. It’s so reliable too, I use it day and night after styling and my hair never frizzes from the steam or water. I must admit initially I thought £16 was a little steep for a shower cap, but trust me, it’s worth every penny." Jemma Thompson, GTG Design and Social Media Manager
The bottled sunshine: Roja Dove Isola Blu Parfum, £75 (travel size)
"I’ve got nothing against a light zesty cologne in summer, but they do all get a bit same-y and insipid. Not so with maximalist perfumer Roja Dove, who’s bottled the Med with a dose of oomph that so many other holiday spritzes lack. Heavy on the citrus, of course (think lemon, lime and bergamot), he’s balanced the zest with sappy and earthy notes of grass, thyme, patchouli and oak moss, then softened the whole lot with sun-on-skin hints of soft coconut, vanilla, jasmine, orris and fruits. The result is a sumptuous summer scent that’s joyous and luxurious. It’s bloody expensive but, unlike most colognes, it lingers forever and you’ll need only a tiny spritz." Ingeborg van Lotringen, Editor
The cool concealer: Merit The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick, £40
"You need to know about this concealer, my latest beauty obsession and haggard eye lifesaver from cool-girl beauty brand, Merit. It has uber chic packaging and is the perfect handbag size. It works like a giant colouring pen, and can be easily scribbled across your face into to those hard-to-reach dark spots, so much so that you could use it all over as a foundation. The coverage is light to medium, with a sheer, buttery texture that's easy to blend and lasts all day. There are 20 shades and the dark ones are ideal for contouring. It’s been carefully formulated with some skin-loving ingredients like vitamin B5, and sea daffodil which will help diminish pigmentation and dark spots." Marie-Louise Pumfrey, GTG contributer
Turn any SPF into foundation: Katherine Daniels Pure Pigment Foundation Drops, £40
"Foundation drops, concentrated pigments that turn any moisturiser into foundation, were a thing a few years ago and for some unfathomable reason they disappeared. As a fan, I’m delighted to see that British facialist-led brand Katherine Daniels have brought out a new version in four flexi shades and they are far better than anything I used to use. Their messaging, very sensibly, is around mixing them into your SPF – namely their Daily DNA Defence SPF 30 (which won Gold in our Get The Gloss Beauty Awards). You use one drop for a BB-like blur or three drops for full coverage. You can use your preferred SPF of course, but this is definitely the way forward for staying sun safe and dewy all summer." VW
The glow treatment: Kate Somerville Mega-C 30% Vitamin C Brightening Facial, £62
“This is not for everyone thanks to the high clinical levels of vitamin C it contains. It’s actually a product that Kate uses in her LA clinic as part of her brightening treatments. But, if like me you are a seasoned vitamin C user you will love this. Containing 30 per cent (yes, 30!) vitamin C in the form of encapsulated ascorbic acid (which means it’s effective but also stable) you apply a thin layer either all over or just where you have pigmentation or discolouration, and leave for 20 minutes before rinsing away. It has quite a unique texture of being a bit of a paste, powder and balm all-in-one but it’s ‘sturdy’ enough that you can put it on, go off and do some other things without it slipping off your face.” SJCS
The summer bronzer: Makeup by Mario Soft Sculpt Bronzer, £32
"This gorgeous bronzer was created by Mario Dedivanovic, aka Kim Kardashian's makeup artist. It's a brilliant investment and certainly worthy of best powder bronzer status. What sets it apart? It has a really sheer formula that feels velvety and you can build it up to create a natural sunkissed look but it's also excellent for contouring. I like layering it over my cream bronzer to amp up the intensity. It comes with a handy mirror in the lid of the slick packaging and there are six shades from which to choose ." AR
The summer haircare kit: Maria Nila Head & Hair Heal Beauty Bag, £59
"Maria Nila has recently launched these stunning, limited-edition beauty bags, designed in collaboration with Italian artist, Daniela Pinotti. Each set has a different hair focus and unique design and the bags are made out of recycled materials and contains a full size shampoo, conditioner and hair mask – the perfect three step routine and at a fraction of the usual price of £91. This combo is specifically formulated to nourish and revitalize the scalp, creating the perfect foundation for healthy hair growth. I saw a noticeable difference in my scalp and hair after using these products consistently as the range helped reduce scalp irritation and itchiness. My hair felt softer, smoother, and more manageable, with some much needed added shine. And once you've finished the products you're left with a great washbag to take on holiday." CC
The under eye refreshers: Hello Skin Hydrogel Eye Mask, £9.99
"There something about an eye mask which always makes my pamper session complete. Clichéd yes, but it’s a must in my routine. These dermatologist-approved hydrating eye masks are just what my dark circles are calling out for. They contain hydrating hyaluronic acid and plumping collagen. In just 15 minutes my under-eyes feel refreshed and restored. Plus, you get 30 pairs in each tub which is an absolute steal for £9.99" JT
The redness slayer: Daniel Sandler A-R Anti-Redness Foundation Primer, £25.50
"Sage-coloured anti-redness bases always put me in mind of a colleague who didn’t quite know how to use them and routinely sported green blobs on her face to cover her blemishes. But this primer poses no such risk; a beautifully light cream, it fuses with skin and instantly tones down angry high colour from rosacea, irritation or acne. It also functions as a light and soothing moisturiser and it feels cool too, thanks to calendula and hyaluronic acid. You can actually get away with wearing it by itself, but the potion’s main party trick is that it’s a foundation-gripping primer that allows you get away with wearing much less base – as your redness is already neutralised, you won’t have to pile on the cover-up. Clever, and good for your skin." IvL
The super-sized skin cleanser: Gatineau Floracil Gentle Eye makeup Remover, £38
“As a gas-permeable contact lens wearer, I have to be careful when it comes to eye make-up remover. Anything oily is a no-no but I do need an effective cleanser as my lens reacts badly to any makeup bits in my eye. So when I was sent the most enormous bottle of Gatineau Floracil Gentle Eye-Makeup remover, which boosts a highly effective and non-irritating solution, I’m a good test case. They recommend dampening pads with the remover and then place gently on each eye, wait for a minute to let the product dissolve the make-up and then sweep it off. I found it excellent and especially love the size of this 500ml bottle which will last me a year or so! Its formulated with the same PH as tears so there’s no irritation and it's fine to use with lash extensions.” MLP
The hair must-haves for swimmers: LeaLuo Dip In Shampoo and Conditioner, £20 each
“There’s something quite pleasing about finding a product that’s not targetted at you whatsoever but it’s a perfect fit. That’s how I feel about this shampoo and conditioner from new Swedish haircare brand, LeaLuo. This is a brand aimed at the Gen Z market who want their products to look good, do good and be good so they can show them off on TikTok. And it definitely does that; the products look cool, they contain natural ingredients and no parabens or sulphates and the packaging is made from recycled aluminium and post-consumer recycled plastic. But it works for me because this shampoo and condition are ideal for swimmers. It cleanses chlorine away without stripping the hair and injects it with moisture-rich cannabis seed oil without overloading the hair. It’s also perfect for anyone with dry hair that puts their hair through quite a bit and if you want to share it with a Gen-Z’er then that’s just an added bonus.” SJCS
The red carpet bronzer: Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Divine Bronzer, £40
"Pat McGrath Lab’s first bronzer in eight inclusive shades is so fine and sheer that even those with dry skin like mine will find it ‘invisible’. Like the MUA’s Divine Skin Rose 001 The Essence, loved and used by every A-lister you can think of, this bronzer is surely already a celebrity staple. Because Dame Pat does a lot of editorial close up work (and because she’s a genius) her textures are impeccable. If you are wondering whether £40 is a fair amount to pay for a bronzer, my answer in this case, is yes. By way of example, when I forgot my makeup brush, I swiped it on with my fingers without looking blotchy. There are very subtle glowing pigments on an otherwise sheer finish. I use shade Nude Honey for every day and the slightly darker Bronze Dawn for an all-over tanned effect." VW
The good night sleep hero: Drowsy Sleep Mask Blue Belle, £69
"Every member of the GTG team has one of these and raves about them - and for good reason. It's incredibly comfortable and provides a blissful escape from light and noise. I'm now oblivious to my boyfriend's late-night TikTok scrolling, as you can pull it over your ears to reduce sleep-disturbing noises. It feels like a comforting hug on your face and this gorgeous soft blue is the newest shade." AR
The does-it-all oil: Dr Organic Ageless Overnight Recovery Oil, £14.99
"This is from a new range by Dr Organic consisting of four products all containing superfood seaweed, which is rich in skin-loving essential vitamins and minerals as well as a blend of powerful nutrients. My standout product is this overnight oil that acts as a plumping and hydrating mask as your sleep. It absorbs quickly into the skin leaving no greasy residue behind. I have also been using a small amount during the day, particularly on drier areas or under makeup for added hydration." CC
The eco innovation: Conserving Beauty Instamelt Day Dissolver Wipes, £24
"Most beauty products make a big noise about their ethical and environmental credentials these days, but not that many offer true innovation. So three huzzahs for Aussie brand Conserving Beauty, who’ve come up with something truly clever. Their 30 individually-wrapped (in compostable pouches) wipes feel a bit like soft gelatin sheets, and are infused with oils and oil-soluble actives. A single sheet passed over your face will melt your makeup away (it does leave quite a lot of oil on your face, so steer clear if you hate that). But the true magic comes afterwards: dunk the used sheet in some water and it will dissolve before your eyes – again, just like (vegan) gelatin. You can even flush it down the toilet. No mess, no waste, no pollution." IvL