The empties edit is back: from the immune-boosting gummies to the serum that smells so gorgeous it ought to be a fragrance, to Trinny's new foundation, which updates a cult classic. Everything we love from £4
It’s that time again where we share with you the products that we deem so spectacular that not only have they been used beyond initial testing stage, we’ve loved them so much we’ve finished them up entirely. And we think you're going to love them too. In the mix this month there is a bargain face mist from Boots which exceeded expectations, a Dragon’s Den approved natural deodorant that has seriously impressed as well as the new Elizabeth Arden retinol that is so good it was shared on the team WhatsApp chat. Enjoy!
Victoria Woodhall, GTG Editorial Director
De Mamiel Brightening Cleansing Oil, £62
“As I’ve got older I’ve looked for cleansers that are more nourishing. And yes they are a bit pricier because they do much more than just clean (also you need about a quarter of the amount of a cleansing oil than a regular gel cleanser). They give back, and in Annee De Mamiel’s heavenly antioxidant, this takes the form of vitamin C and ferulic acid (the two boost each other for brightening and environmental protection) with a gazillion more plant actives, perfect for my pigmented, dry, and mature skin. It’s an absolute treat too, calming inflammation, never irritating, smelling beautiful.”
Trinny London BFF Rebalance, now BFF All Day, £39
“I finished my regular Trinny London BFF Rebalance Serum Foundation and went to replace it only to find it rebranded as BFF All Day Foundation, with the same skincare ingredients (ceramides, niacinamide) in new yellow packaging and an extended range of 18 ‘stretchable’ shades. They have renamed the shades, so you will have to take a bit of time to re-find your match, but the website makes it easy. It has a matte-ish finish and true to the marketing lasts all day without feeling ‘cakey’. If you love Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation, this will impress you too.”
Etto Tea Tree Micro Dart Patches, £16.80
“Have you ever thought of putting an acne patch on an insect bite? When Etto – an Australian brand now in Sephora, based around pure tea tree and eucalyptus oils, widely used for their antibacterial and antifungal properties – suggested this, being a mosquito bite magnet, I made sure to take this on holiday. The invisible dots stop both itching and prevent you from scratching and work a treat on spots too (their main function) taking down redness without drying.”
Elizabeth Arden Retinol + HPR Ceramide Rapid Skin Renewing Water Cream, £75
"Retinoids can be so confusing (unless you read our experts guide to retinol ) so what I like about this day and night moisturiser is that it's simple. It has a lovely water texture with two types of retinoid ( + HPR, is a next-generation retinoid, 10x more potent than retinol) delivering two modes of skin activation and a stability that means you can wear it during the day, with SPF of course. It claims to be suitable for first-time retinol users too. I apply on to clean skin; this is how the consumer tests were done, reporting a reduction of dark spots and lines. Putting a serum underneath it, as you might with any other moisturiser, would make it less potent."
SJ Corfield-Smith, GTG Beauty Director
Reome Active Recovery Broth, £75
“I have loved using every drop of this which I consider to be one of the best serums I’ve ever used. It uses bio-fermented ingredients which means it’s super potent in its ability to reduce redness, boost brightness, increase hydration levels and strengthen the skin barrier (all of which it has been clinically proven to do btw). The scent is utterly gorgeous (when can we get it as a stand alone perfume, Reome?) and the serum sinks in quickly leaving skin feeling velvety. Dry skin may need a moisturiser on top but if you have oily skin like me this is all you need. Apart from a great face SPF of course.”
Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel, £33.69
“If you love the deep cleansing ability of a cleansing balm but find them a bit too oily, then this may strike the perfect note of cleansing the skin super efficiently without feeling too greasy. It starts life as a delightful pink gel and then melts into a milk and makes light work of getting rid of makeup, skincare, SPF etc. I rub it straight into my eyes and it doesn’t sting (but I don’t have particularly sensitive peepers). It contains lots of skin-caring vitamins and gentle exfoliating enzymes and leaves skin feeling clean and plump not dry and stripped.”
Zelens Power A Retexturising and Renewing Serum, £105
“Combining liposome-encapsulated retinol (less irritating, sinks in more efficiently) along with two retinoid esters (a very stable form of vitamin A ), you get one per cent of retinol in this effective retinol serum. But would you expect anything else from a product created by one of the best brains in the beauty business, plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Dr Marko Lens? It has quite an oily consistency, which drier skins will lap up, and that also makes it a pleasure to massage in.”
Fussy Deodorant, £10 (refills are £15 for 3)
“There is still a lot of rhetoric around natural deodorants not being as effective as their ‘non-natural’ counterparts, but it’s time to rethink this (although remember a deodorant is not the same as an antiperspirant). And I write that as a very sweaty person! And this one, which is backed by Dragon's Den Deborah Meaden, has been brilliant, keeping my underarms dry and, most importantly to me, smelling good. It’s refillable, the refills are plastic-free, and there are seven scents and one unscented. I really like ‘Forest Haze’ which smells like pine.”
Kerry Potter, GTG Contributing Editor
Boots Skin Edit Hydrating Cooling Mist, £4.75
“Everyone in the GTG office is obsessed with facial mists. Rarely five minutes go by without someone spritzing a new one that’s arrived for testing. We see endless prices, fancy ingredients and chichi packaging but how’s this good ol’ Boots one for an absolute bargain? It cools me down, hydrates my skin (it contains hyaluronic acid), refreshes my makeup when it’s gone cakey, and isn’t overly scented. The dinky 100ml bottle fits in both my work makeup bag and flight hand luggage. Basic but brilliant.”
Rimmel London Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Brown, £4.95
“When I can’t justify spending 25 quid on a Victoria Beckham Beauty eyeliner - which is almost always tbh – this Rimmel number does the job equally well (you just don’t get a smudger at the top of the pencil). I scribble and then blend it along my lashline every morning. The flattering brown has a pleasing hint of glimmer, it’s easy to work with and it stays put. I’ve never found better at this price point. NB: this is a soft kajal so don’t expect a fine line and do pop it in the fridge before you sharpen it.”
Kollo Premium Liquid Marine Collagen, £29.87 for a 14 day supply
“I religiously take a daily collagen supplement to help manage the joint pain from arthritis in my toes (read about how turmeric and collagen helped me run again) and this is by far my favourite. Tropical flavoured, it tastes nice, unlike some others on the market that make me gag. It contains 10g of marine collagen - the magic number, according to studies, in terms of maximizing health benefits. And Kollo founder TV presenter Jenni Falconer is a keen marathon runner who knows a thing or two about exercise and achey joints. Eight months in, I can confirm it absolutely works for me and my skin, hair and nails are now in ruder health too.”
Ingeborg van Lotringen, Contributing Beauty Editor
Starpowa Ouka Manuka Honey 525MGO+ Monofloral Gummies, £49.99
“I find vitamin gummies all a bit much to chew on (I’d rather just swallow a capsule) but I make an exception for these manuka-powered ones, which I love. They have a high concentration of monofloral organic Manuka honey from New Zealand, which is prized for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antibacterial properties (and not just by alternative therapists). I’ve had a problem with my throat for months and these gummies noticeably soothe it, while added vitamin D3, B12 and C enhance the honey’s immune-boosting ability to boot. They’re pretty delicious, too – so sadly I have powered my way through the pot way too fast.”
Etro Messe de Minuit EdT, £98.90
“This fragrance is not all that easy to come by anymore so please don’t buy it as I want to buy up the stock. The closest you’ll get to walking into an ancient Italian church in high summer, Messe de Minuit (Midnight Mass) is shed loads of incensey myrrh, patchouli and resiny labdanum, but brightened with citrus notes and sweetened with honey so it doesn’t give you a headache and it makes you think of a happy summer wedding instead of a Protestant funeral. These ‘church’ notes have been used through the ages for their calming and hypnotic effects and that’s certainly what they do. It’s also somehow very sexy.”
Dr Sam’s flawless Lip Tint, £15
“This is one of the lip balms I constantly reach for, thanks to its ultra-hardy yet creamy and non-sticky consistency that could withstand an arctic blizzard and does a seriously good job at keeping lips in peak condition. A blend of lanolin and ceramides, it also has a neutral-ish tint that gives you just a bit of a lift – I’m still waiting for a full range of shades, particularly a nice cherry-red one (hint).”
Indeed Labs 10Balm Body Lotion, £24.99
“I had no idea Indeed did body products but I’m glad I discovered this. The colour and consistency of soft butter but without the oiliness, it’s rich and nourishing with buriti, marula, baobab and tamanu oils but still manages to sink in fast. It’s also unfragranced and packs bisabolol, allantoin and arnica extract so it’s properly calming and soothing for limbs that suffer from irritation and eczema. A real hidden gem that’s been a pleasure to use.”
Marie Louise Pumfrey, GTG contributor
Advanced Nutrition, Skin Moisture IQ, £88
"Baffled by what supplements to take for your skin? I swear by the Advanced Nutrition smart supplement system and their Skin Moisture IQ vitamins in particular. Each daily pod contains five capsules which contain all the ingredients you need for your concern. These are all focused around getting moisture into the skin so there’s hyaluronic acid, ceramides, manganese, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, plus vitamins A and D. But there are ranges targeted to help with acne and pigmentation too. Super handy for travel too as you can just tear off the number of pods you need."
Sanctuary Spa, Mousse-to-Oil Moisturiser, £14
"A foaming body cream that melts into an oil as you massage it in is a new one on me, and boy do I love it. Great for nourishing dry skin or if you want a sweet-smelling body moisturiser that won’t break the bank. It squirts out in satisfying foaming mountains and easily massages in, leaving your skin feeling wondrously soft and not greasy in the slightest. It’s made with coconut oil and cocoa butter and the fragrance is warm and delicate with a mix of sandalwood, freesia and black pepper."
Revitalash Advance Eyelash Conditions, £116.10
"I was not blessed with long lashes, but that has changed thanks to this genius eyelash serum. It is pricey but give it a couple of months of nightly use and you will be astonished at the results. My lashes have never been thicker, and with a touch of mascara, they make quite a statement. There are loads of eyelash serums out there but Revitalash has some serious techy science behind it that proves it strengthens and protects lashes against breakage. They also do loads of great work for breast cancer and throughout October will be donating $2 to their Pink Sleeve charity. It’s safe to use with eyelash extensions, hypoallergenic and oil-free."
No7 Restore and Renew Serum Foundation, £20.95
"This is my favourite everyday foundation. It gives a natural smooth finish, creating a light coverage with a stack of skin-loving ingredients such as brightening vitamin C and skin-strengthening ceramides. There are 18 shades, all containing SPF30. It feels really hydrating to wear and doesn’t budge and slide throughout the day."