From an unsexy but brilliant face cream to a pair of cosy pyjamas via some great beauty staples that will donate some of your money to breast cancer charities, here are this week’s product launches most loved by our editors
It’s lovely to know that even in times of major crisis and financial worry, us Brits never shy away from supporting a good cause. With Breast Cancer Awareness Month upon us once again, this is the time to stock up on beauty and fashion staples and perhaps invest in a few new finds whose purchase benefits the ongoing search for a cure alongside vital support for breast cancer sufferers. We’ve selected the ones we’re most keen on, alongside a bunch of products we just think you should know about. Whether you’re in the market for a nail mask, a tummy butter or a deodorant that doubles as a body cream, it’s all just a click away.
The eternal favourite: Estée Lauder Breast Cancer Campaign Advanced Night Repair Serum, £86
“If you’re in the market for an age-proofing radiance serum, this is one classic that can’t be beaten, with hyaluronic acid, peptides, barrier-building ferments and moisturising squalane, antioxidant vitamin E and de-puffing caffeine. Yes, it’s pricey but in buying this Breast Cancer Campaign Limited Edition, you’re putting more than £20 in the coffers of a worthwhile cause, as Estee Lauder gives a generous 25 per cent of the purchase price to Breast Cancer Research Foundation. It’s called Night Repair but you can use it both day and night after cleansing and under moisturiser. My skin definitely has a glow-up when I use this regularly. Its clever formulation does the thinking for you and I guarantee you’ll love it to the last drop.” Victoria Woodhall, GTG Editorial Director
The lip-nourishing gloss: Bobbi Brown Proud To Be Pink Crushed Oil-Infused Gloss Duo, £32
“There are so many great things about these gorgeous lip glosses. First up, they are ultra-wearable shades - one a rosy pink and the other a slightly golden peach. They have just the right amount of sheen to them and don’t feel sticky in the slightest. And if you like your beauty products to come with a side of philanthropy then you’ll be pleased to know that they are part of the annual Estee Lauder global fundraising initiative for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. For every duo sold, Estee Lauder will donate the full RRP, minus the VAT. These are seriously worthy products in every sense of the word.” SJ Corfield-Smith, GTG Beauty Director
The stretchmark slayer: Mama Mio Limited Edition Pink Tummy Rub Butter, £24
"This tummy-loving cream is made to hydrate and nourish your growing baby bump. Despite the fact that I’m not expecting any time soon (I will be giving a tub to a friend who is), I've been using it myself to lessen the visibility of stretch marks. Shea butter, aloe vera, and sweet almond oil are combined in the rich vegan cream to help improve skin elasticity (also known as firmness) and hydration. Applying it morning and night has almost become a self-care ritual. While working in this potion with its natural uplifting citrus scent for a while, I lose track of time. Luckily, the texture isn't too thick, so it doesn't feel like an arm workout! For each purchase of the limited-edition cream, 20% of the price will be donated to breast cancer awareness charity CoppaFeel! who strive to educate every young person to check boobs and pecs regularly from a young age." Jemma Thomspon, GTG Design and Social Media Manager
The choker of dreams: By Alona Future Dreams Necklace, £115
"This gorgeous choker-style necklace is a collaboration between jewellery brand By Alona and Future Dreams charity who help those affected by Breast cancer. Founder Alona Shelemy is herself a survivor of breast cancer so wanted to help others in her own special way. This necklace features half rose quartz beads and fresh water pearls and can be personalised with your own initial for that special touch. It works perfectly layered alone and suits every skin tone. Knowing the total proceeds of every necklace sold will be donated to the Future Dreams charity makes it even more enjoyable to wear and a good incentive to spend the money." Amy Rostas, GTG Beauty and Social Media Assistant
The girliest straighteners: GHD Gold Hair Straightener in Orchid Pink, £179
"GHD does the best hair straighteners in my opinion. Stylists favour them for good reason, and I personally think the tools offer the best way to create a natural-looking beach wave from home. If you’re considering making the investment, now is a good time to do so, as for the recent launch of the Take Control Now 3.0 collection in partnership with Breast Cancer Now, GHD will be donating £250,000 to the charity. The Orchid Pink Gold model is one of two straightener products featured in the lineup (this being the slightly more affordable version) and features a clever heat sensor for optimum styling at 185ºC , a rounded barrel for fluid styling and a breezy 25-second heat-up time. The vibrant coloured straighteners, which come with a heat-proof pouch in a matching hue, are a welcome reminder to self-check regularly." Rosie Fitzmaurice, Health and Wellness Editor
The multi-functional natural deodorant: Meder Body-Day Prebiotic Deodorant Body Cream, £29.1
"This is a cream in a pump bottle that you apply under your arms (or anywhere else; it’s conditioning enough to work as a body cream) to eliminate smelly pits. Why not just choose a ‘normal’ (and far cheaper) deo, you ask? I’m not concerned about aluminium in antiperspirants: there is no proof it’s linked to breast cancer, despite what is often insinuated. But antiperspirants work by making the pores in your armpits swell up so they release less sweat, and I don’t think that’s the most pleasant idea. So I often reach for deodorants instead which don’t do this – except my skin is very reactive to fragrance. It’s a catch-22 and it's led me to try this. The cream has no fragrance but it has pro and prebiotics alongside plant stem cells that together stop underarm bacteria metabolise sweat, which is what causes smelliness. It seems to work pretty well, and it doesn’t have that powdery texture most cream deodorants have and that ends up all over your clothes. Best of all, all this month, 25% of the purchase price will be donated to the Breast Cancer Now charity, so now’s the time to pay up!" Ingeborg van Lotringen, Beauty Editor
The comfy-but-classy pyjamas: Eberjey Gisele Relaxed Short PJ Set, £165
"My favourite PJ brand Eberjey has created a pink edit this month to donate 20% of sales to the Susan G Komen foundation which does great work in the USA to prevent and cure breast cancer. You can choose from their pretty lace bralets, snug slipper socks, robes and my beloved favourites, their iconic Gisele PJ sets. This boyfriend style is made in sustainable jersey Tencel, and is wonderfully comfortable. It’s one of those aww pieces, which kisses the skin after a day of workwear clobber and heels. Eberjey is at the epicentre of ‘off-the-grid’ chic, perfect for a sofa bound box-set binge to a romantic weekend away. No surprise, there are talented women behind this Miami brand which has been leading the way in comfy sleepwear and lounge sets for over 26 years. It’s won awards and garnered a stack of A-lister fans – from Megan Markle, Kylie Jenner to Oprah. If you don’t have a pair of Eberjey PJs, it’s the season to invest: you can shop the Breast Cancer Care collection here." Marie-Louise Pumfrey, GTG Contributor
The ‘What-on-earth?!’-massage tool: Hayo'u Bian Stone Body Massager Self Acupressure Tool, £49
“Get your guffawing over with, this amusing looking gizmo is the Bian Stone self-acupressure tool that’s already a firm favourite with Trinny Woodall, who just yesterday I saw smoothing out her cheeks gua-sha style with it to relieve jet-lag face. Stemming from the traditional Chinese art of self-care (or yang sheng) it serves both face and body, allowing you to get into acupressure points with the pointy end, and aid drainage and balancing your energy channels as you glide it over the body. Its creator, TCM expert and healer Katie Brindle, has oodles of videos on her Tiktok and Instagram channels to show you how to use it and it comes with a guide. I love to press it into the ten key acupressure points on the body for a 30-second wellness routine. I spend a bit longer on a release point between my index finger and thumb if I have stuff to let go of (or am constipated). It’s also fantastic for massaging your own feet. Katie even showed me how it can cure hiccups.” VW
The nail nourisher: Sally Hansen Spa Collection Revive Peel-Off Nail Mask, £6.40
"I’m the first to admit that I had never heard of a nail mask before so when I was introduced to this I was intrigued. It comes out like molten gold and you use the sponge applicator to press it on and around the nail. You then wait a few minutes for the hyaluronic acid and vitamins to get to work on hydrating cuticles and generally improving the condition of your nails, before very satisfyingly peeling it away. It’s a great addition and very simple step to add to your at-home mani and it left my nails looking much shinier." SJCS
The pout perfector: Generation G in Fuzz, £14
"Glossier came out with the iconic Generation G lipsticks in 2018 and added three new shades to the collection this September. I’ve only just tried these and I now know what the hype is about. They glide onto lips like a satin lipstick but have a moisturising sheer-matte finish that concentrates in the middle and softens around the edges - they’re meant to leave you looking ‘like you’ve just been kissed’, with lips that look like yours, but better. They’re soft and lightweight and are perfect for everyday wear or, with some layering to build up the pigment, for a sexy night out. With nine shades in total, there's one to suit everyone. I went for Fuzz which is a soft rosy taupe that looks on the brown side but with hints of pink peeking through." AR
The eczema saviour: The Inkey List Supersolutions Dry and Rough Skin Solution 10% Urea Moisturizer, £18.99
"The least sexy of the Inkey’s List’s new collection of turbo-charged, derm-approved skin problem solvers is my favourite – it’s a silky, lightweight cream despite its deep-moisturising credentials. Urea is a really good but under-used moisturising agent, probably because it’s naturally found in wee (don’t worry, it’s the synthesised version you’ll find in your skin creams). It’s also naturally found in skin (as part of your Natural Moisturising Factor) and acts as a humectant (binds water), emollient (softens skin) and keratolytic (gets rid of dead skin cells). So it’s an all-round soft-skin hero, particularly helpful for eczematic, rough and cracked skin. It also has soothing oats (always a bonus) and nourishing squalane and safflower oils. A really good barrier-building face cream for the most sensitive of skins, at a fair price." IvL
The upcycled toner: Dr. Craft Purifying Toning Mist, £18
“Tinned mandarins may remind you of a naff 90s dessert your Nan would make, but over 10 million tonnes of mandarin waste is created in China every year. The peels don’t biodegrade very easily so up until now there hasn’t been a lot that can be done. Step in the team at Dr. Craft. They have been shipping (to help reduce the carbon footprint) peels over the UK and have been able to extract highly active and skin-benefiting ingredients from the peel and have created a skincare range from it. There are four products in total; a cleanser, exfoliator and serum, but it’s this toning mist that I’ve been really enjoying. It contains exfoliating AHAs and BHA and soothing and hydrating aloe vera. I’ve been using it first thing in the morning before applying my serums and the zesty scent is quite uplifting. I’ve also been enjoying a mid-afternoon skin pick-me-up spritz to energise my skin and my soul.” SJCS
The multitasking oil: Alpha-H Golden Haze Face Oil, £40
"As soon as autumn hits, my face needs extra nourishment. Cleansing with water is so drying and every morning I wake with tight, taut feeling skin. For the last week, I’ve been trying the new Alpha-H Golden Haze Face Oil at night, before my night cream. It’s proving a bit of a game-changer. It’s a lightweight blend of 9 botanical oils, all rich in omega fatty acids and formulated to strengthen the skin barrier. There’s vitamin F, jojoba oil to lock in hydration and camellia seed oil to help with the elasticity of the skin. It is lightweight, designed for all skin types and has a silky texture that sinks into the skin in seconds. You can also massage into cuticles and work through the ends of your hair. A great multi-tasking product that works. It’s vegan, cruelty-free and from Australia." MLP