There’s no doubt that the best part of being a beauty editor is getting to try the latest beauty innovations. Beauty journalists are among some of the (very lucky) first to test out new launches, often weeks or even months ahead of a product’s launch date. Whether it’s the latest high-tech skincare, the very best hairstyling tools or the most coveted Makeup and fragrance brands, there’s a real rush of excitement whenever a parcel arrives at the Who What Wear UK offices.
From bronzers and the best nail polishes to super serums and cleansers, between myself and our network of beauty experts, virtually no launch goes untested. But with so many new drops every single day, each with claims as groundbreaking as the next, how is anyone actually supposed to know what’s any good? Even as a beauty editor, it can often be overwhelming with the sheer amount of choice we’re now presented with.
To cut through the noise, I’ve put the latest launches and products to the test to see if they’re really worth your hard-earned money—because splashing out and ending up with a beauty dud is so disappointing. I dedicated some time this month to testing, trialling and monitoring every single launch that came my way so that I could put all of the best new products into one convenient space. So, if you want to find out which of the best new beauty products made a lasting impression on this tough-to-please editor this month, then you’ve come to the right place.
Ahead, keep scrolling for the 10 best new beauty products of the month.
At this time of the year, I’m all for curated kits that I can rely on if I’m jetting off on holiday, and this chic edit from Stella McCartney Beauty is the ultimate skincare travel kit. Containing travel-sizes the brand’s cult Alter-Care Serum, Reset Cleanser and the Restore Cream, the kit comes in a chic pouch which you’ll reuse time and time again. I’ve been using this routine over the past week and they’ve become firm favourites in my routine. What’s more, all of Stella McCartney Beauty’s products are refillable—something I can definitely get on board with.
Speaking of travelling, does anyone else find travelling with makeup brushes a nightmare? They either get squashed in transit or ruin the inside of my makeup bag. So imagine when Chanel Beauty launched the chicest solution to my problem via this covetable brush kit, complete with a leather case, which comes in 9 shades to choose from. Inside the zip-up case is a foundation brush, blusher brush and a dual-ended retractable eyeshadow brush. It’s limited edition, so move quickly if you’re after a set. But if you do miss out, you can also find a corresponding compact mirror and nail file in the same hues.
I’ll be honest; I’m yet to meet a U Beauty product that I don’t love, but The Plasma Lip Compound might be one of my favourite lip products that I’ve tried yet. I’m something of a lip balm obsessive (you’ll find them dotted all over my home and in every bag I own) and this lightweight and silky texture fits the bill for when I want a hit of hydration that is lightweight yet still nourishing on the lips. Yes, it is expensive for a lip balm, however my parched lips have been restored since using this, and they look plumper and fuller too. There are four shades to choose from, but I know the deep berry tone of Cassis will see me through to autumn, too.
Whenever I give my friends a telling off for skipping SPF underneath their makeup, their usual response is that SPF feels heavy and cloying on the skin. And I get it. Some SPFs feel dreadful to wear, and particularly so under foundation. However, I’m telling everyone I know to try this brilliant SPF from Mecca Cosmetica. It’s Australian-made, and those in the know will tell you that Aussie SPFs are highly regarded as the best around due to the country’s strict regulation on sunscreens—more so than anywhere else in the world—so you know it offers great protection from damaging UVA and UVB ray. This one is particular feels amazing to wear underneath makeup, I’d liken it to a primer. It hydrates, but leaves skin with a matte finish that actually makes your makeup look even better.
During the summer heat, the last thing I want to do is whip out my hairdryer so I usually let me hair air-dry, however, I like to use product to enhance my hair’s texture as it dries. However, most products like salt sprays leave my hair feeling knotting and gritty instead of tousled and effortless. However Hershesons has created an air-drying spray that is formulated without salt, meaning you get none of the dreaded crunchiness. Instead, my hair is left with movement and body that I can still easily run a brush through. It’s become a summer hair staple.
I’ve started to take my body care routine more seriously, which entails giving my skin more regular exfoliation. Nudestix’s Exfoliating Butter Body Wash is as luxe to use as it sounds. The salt crystals are suspended in a buttery texture that polishes and replenishes the skin as it exfoliates. You’ll also find papaya enzymes, glycolic acid and salicylic acid which work in tandem to nibble away at dead skin cells to unveil glowing skin underneath. Honestly, my skin has never felt so soft.
Team Who What Wear are big fans of Ultra Violette—and its latest launch has seriously impressed me. It’s the most lightweight SPF I’ve ever tried. It has a water-like texture that sinks in immediately and practically disappears entirely on contact with the skin, making it great worn alone or underneath makeup during sweltering weather, but year-round too.
I’m encouraging myself to make more sustainable beauty purchases, so I’m bidding farewell to disposable emery boards and investing in glass nail files, which last for far longer and provide a better result in my opinion. This set contains both a mini glass file and glass cuticle pusher, which are perfectly sized to carry in your bag and come in a sleek pouch.
Vieve’s new bronzer launch is heavenly. Its creamy texture buffs beautifully into the skin to leave the skin with a believable sun-kissed warmth. It has a matte yet radiant finish—no glitter here—and it has an inclusive shade range that spans from deep to fair.
Without wanting to jinx the current wave of warm weather we’re having, I’m fully into Summer Rain, Byredo’s latest candle launch. Byredo founder Ben Gorham is the master of taking a specific feeling and capturing it in scent form, and this smells exactly like the atmosphere after a summer thunderstorm, when all the oppressive heat has relinquished and the downpour of rain makes the air smell cool and fresh. This will be down to the notes of basil and spearmint that give this scent a herbaceous feeling with a twist of grassy green fig and earthy sandalwood. If you like the smell of a forest after rainfall, then you’ll adore this. It’s the perfect summer evening candle, and the invigorating scent makes it a great one to burn if you want to feel focused or energised.
Sticking with the theme of fragrance, Loewe’s Aire Anthesis has also captured my nose this month. By the time July rolls around I like to have switched up my fragrance wardrobe to summer scents, and this chic addition is now among them. It’s aquatic and refreshing, with notes of pear, rhubarb, peony and sandalwood, alongside “Loewe accord”. Crafted by the brand’s in-house nose, Nuria Cruelles, this combination of notes is based on rockrose, a flower native to Spain that has an amber quality. Put simply, it smells delicious. It’s like biting into a ripe pear while feeling the breeze in your hair by the waterfront.
Dermalogica’s new Micellar Prebiotic Precleanse is a dream. It’s designed to make light work of removing makeup, and the gentle milky texture glides over the skin, lifting even heavy eye makeup. without leaving your complexion feeling stripped. That will be down to the murumuru butter, apricot kernel oil and cotton seed protein that work in tandem to nourish the skin, leaving it feeling cushioned and prepped for a second cleanse. It also helps to reinforce the skin’s microbiome barrier to encourage healthy skin.
I’m usually a bit sceptical of supplements, especially when they make big claims. However, I’ve been really impressed with Anatome’s Cognitive Focus + Memory Support Supplements, which I feel have made a significant difference to my focus during the day. I take these twice a day (once in the morning, and again in the afternoon) and I’ve noticed my concentration and focus are much sharper—I’m even coasting through my usual 3pm slump, when I’d usually reach for a sugar fix to tide me over. They contain a mix of “brain enhancers” called nootropics, including mushrooms such as lion’s mane and cordyceps along with vitamins B5, B6 and B12, which work in tandem to improve focus, boost memory and improve brain health. I’m now flying through my to-do list, so consider me a convert.
I’ve long been a fan of Philip Kingsley’s products (its shampoos have rescued my scalp health), and I’m just as impressed with the latest launch. This overnight serum soaks into the scalp to give instant relief from irritation, making it great for in between hair washes. The formula isn’t at all heavy, sinking in so well that you can apply it without having to worry about waking up with greasy roots come morning. It contains lactic acid to slough away dead skin, witch hazel to reduce irritation; and soothing aloe vera, which cools on contact with the skin. The pipette also makes it easy to target any areas of concern on your scalp, too.
With the launch of Rhode in the UK last month, Hailey Bieber surprised us with another drop: Enter Glazing Milk, a lightweight essence that you apply after cleansing but before moisturiser to add another layer of hydration and comfort to the skin. The milky consistency sinks in quickly, delivering skin-restoring ceramides, hydration-boosting beta-glucans and a blend of zinc, magnesium and copper that help to defend against environmental aggressors. I’ve been reaching for this whenever my skin is parched for an instant hit of hydration, and it leaves it feeling soothed and cushioned.
Not many shampoos have impressed me lately. It may be because I’m long overdue a haircut—my ends have seen better days—but I’ve been looking for something to make my dry hair look healthier while I get a cut in my diary. This has given my dull lengths a new lease of life, making them incredibly shiny and bouncy. Used with the matching conditioner, my roots feel lifted and my ends swish with health and gloss.
Each year, Diptyque brings back its seasonal collection of summer fragrances. Ilio pays tribute to the Mediterranean—sun-drenched landscapes and glittering seas that meet the sky on the horizon. When I passed this around the Who What Wear UK office for a sniff, we all fell in love. The initial spritz is fresh, with bergamot and prickly pear, while jasmine and iris give it a creamy, sun-on-skin quality; with an earthy, woody dry-down. It smells like a day spent basking in the sun on a Greek island.
Lady Gaga’s makeup brand has finally reached UK shores in Sephora, and I’m really impressed with the formula of this highlighter. It has a gel-powder texture, which applies like a powder but somehow manages to blend like a cream, magically melting into the skin to leave a radiant finish. I’ve been wearing the Rose Quartz shade as a blusher and it gives the most amazing glow to the skin without looking glitzy or shimmery. It’s also highly pigmented and long-lasting.
Summer heat calls for lightweight moisturisers that hydrate without the heaviness, and this new drop from Peter Thomas Roth is it. With a cream-to-water consistency, it melts into the skin, flooding your face with quenching hyaluronic acid and drying down to a non-greasy finish. The addition of SPF 30 is a bonus, and it would make a great summertime moisturiser to wear alone or underneath makeup without clogging pores.
My lips tend to suffer as a result of air conditioning in the summer, so I usually reach for an occlusive lip balm to lock in moisture and prevent dryness, and this one fits the bill. It has a luxuriously thick texture that glides on like a gloss but hydrates like a lip mask. It lasts for hours on the lips too, making it great if you’re prone to dryness or find that waxier lip balms don’t quite cut it. It has hyaluronic acid and vitamin C to plump, hydrate and shield the lips.
This isn’t a drill—Chanel’s cult Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream now comes in the cutest travel size I think I have ever seen. The classic gel-cream formula is adored among beauty editors, makeup artists and beauty lovers alike, and I know this travel-sized compact will come in handy for holidays this year—I can’t bear to be without it when I go away. The miniature size comes in the same three shades as the full-sized version: Soleil Tan Bronze, Soleil Tan Medium Bronze and Soleil Tan Deep Bronze.
Celebrities and makeup artists alike fawn over Weleda’s cult Skin Food moisturiser, so when I heard that four new additions were being added to the line, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on them. Among the new additions is the Skin Food Nourishing Cleansing Balm, which now has a permanent place in my bathroom. I’ve tried many spendy cleansing balms, but honestly? This one is up there with the luxury cleansers out there. It has a jelly-oil texture that melts into the skin, making taking off your makeup more of a pleasure than a chore. It also removes eye makeup without stinging my eyes, and the balm emulsifies into a milk on contact with water which is easily washed away. The additions of sunflower oil and botanicals calendula and chamomile make it a sensorial experience (it smells amazing too) and leave skin cleansed but not stripped. And the fact it’s only £13 makes me love it even more.
When I received a cryptic email saying that an exciting, mysterious launch from Japan was making its way over to the UK this month, my interest was piqued. One Bioré Aqua Rich SPF sells every 15 seconds in Japan and it has 68.7 million views and counting on TikTok. It’s proving to be popular here in the UK too—it was Superdrug’s most popular waitlist launch ever. And I can confirm it is worth the hype. I know many don’t like wearing SPF because it feels heavy, clogs pores or doesn’t sit well underneath makeup. But this SPF is incredibly lightweight and is basically undetectable on the skin—no white cast here. It is very hydrating but has a velvety finish that lends itself well to makeup prep and is ideal if you tend to get shiny now that the weather is starting to warm up. It comes in both SPF 30 and SPF 50.
Chanel has relaunched its iconic Le Vernis nail polishes with a new and improved formula and a new wider brush that makes perfectly a home manicure even easier. There are 17 new colours in the collection and, it’s hard to choose a favourite from the wearable neutrals and iconic reds, but I’m really feeling this lilac Immortelle shade. I recently had a manicure with nail tech extraordinaire, Harriet Westmoreland, who used this hue for my pastel French tips. I’m happy to report it’s incredibly long-lasting and stayed chip-free for a good five days.
A skincare mist or setting spray can sometimes feel like an unnecessary step in a routine, but, I implore you to try Lisa Eldridge’s Skin and Makeup Enhancing Mist. When misted over makeup, it melts everything together for a seamless finish—perfect if you have overdone powder or simply want to perfect your makeup as a final step. It’s very hydrating and leaves the skin looking dewy and fresh, and the atomiser delivers a fine mist that doesn’t leave your face drenched like some mists can. I’ve been spritzing it over my makeup throughout the day and I love how it refreshes my makeup and makes it look freshly applied again.
I recently reviewed this clear blusher from EspressOh and I’ve been captivated by it ever since. First things first, it’s totally transparent. Upon contact with the skin, it reacts to your complexion’s pH and transforms into the perfect hue for your skin tone. I’ve always been sceptical about products that magically transform but I’m pleasantly surprised by this one, which also leaves the skin with a glassy sheen that’s so pretty and dewy, but still lets your natural skin shine through, so it looms like the perfect natural flush. It works both on bare skin and over makeup too. I’ve not been able to stop wearing it since I tried it.
I’ll hold my hands up. While I’m good at looking after the skin on my face, my body is neglected in contrast. So, I’m now pledging to regularly treat the rest of my skin below my neck in the same way I religiously treat my complexion. It was as if U Beauty read my mind when this exfoliating body serum landed on my desk. It has a gel consistency with an efficacious formula of antioxidants vitamins C and E and retinol to resurface the skin, leaving the body silken and brightening pigmentation and dark spots in its wake. I use it a couple of times a week and my skin has never felt softer. I also love that this gel texture sinks in quickly (I hate sitting around feeling greasy) and it also works brilliantly if you want to buff away stubborn self-tan that may be lingering.
When this landed on my desk, I could practically smell it before I even opened the box. This new body oil launch smells absolutely divine. It has the same scent as the brand’s Cheirosa ’62 scent, which exploded on TikTok for its holiday-transporting scent of vanilla, pistachio and salted caramel. It’s marketed as a firming oil (which IMO, nobody ‘needs’, and I’m not convinced that there is any body oil out there that can truly firm the skin) but I’m slathering it on for the hydrating effects and addictive scent. It really has brought out the silken potential of my skin, and I like that the oil sinks in well without feeling sticky.
Allow me to be a little extravagant, because my beauty-editor heart raced when these arrived in the beauty post. I know no one needs Dior blotting papers, but I’m enamoured with the monogrammed blotting sheets and the chic case they are housed in. They’re not just pretty, though. They work so well at mopping up excess oil—without disturbing your makeup underneath—to help reduce shine and refresh your makeup throughout the day. Plus, you’ll feel ever so fancy pulling these out of your bag whenever you are freshening up your complexion.
Shoutout to RiRi for creating an eye cream with packaging designed in mind for those with long nails! The twist-up dispenser allows the product to be scooped from the top of the stick, and the formula itself is rich, cushiony and ultra-hydrating to use around the eyes. I’ve been using it to prep my eye makeup and I’m finding my concealer sits much better after using it.
If you find any of Chanel’s Baume Essentiel Stick shades in stock—run, because they won’t hang around for long. These sheer cheek sticks are so popular because they impart a perfect dewy highlight and come in a range of shades, from a glitter-free transparent hue through (ideal when you want a glossy sheen) to champagne gold and pink. But right now I’m besotted with the latest shade from the Spring/Summer 2023 collection, Rouge Frais, a shimmering red that sheers out on the cheeks for a dewy flush of colour. I’ll be wearing it all spring and beyond.
You’ll have no doubt seen La Roche-Posay’s Cica Baume on your feed, which has glowing reviews for healing dry and irritated skin, and now, the brand has come out with a serum in the range. If like me, your skin barrier is prone to irritation, but you find heavy creams too cloying, then this is the ideal delivery system to get all the benefits of cica into your skin without the greasiness of a cream. It soothes, plumps and hydrates without leaving a greasy film.
Now we’re (finally) enjoying some warmer weather, I’m reaching towards lightweight bases that I can rely upon to throw on and go when the sun is shining. So it couldn’t have been better timing when Dr Jart+’s Premium Beauty Balm landed on my desk. And seriously, I’m so impressed. I find many BB creams a huge let-down, but not this one. It offers medium coverage but is in no way heavy; it manages to feel incredibly light and silky on the skin while smoothing over texture with its cushiony, hydrating formula. It leaves skin radiant but not overly glowly, so I’m certain it can stay put on even the warmest of commutes.
Yes, I know this is a big skin investment, but I’ve been using this for only a couple of weeks and I’m already seeing real results. Acne scarring from a hormonal breakout is disappearing promptly, my fine lines look plumped out and my skin looks far glowier since I started using it. Even on the first night of using it, I couldn’t believe just how calm and even my skin looked. As someone who is quite sensitive to retinol, I’ve not found this one the slightest bit irritating, even when I’ve been using it every other day, which is a rare occurrence for my sensitive skin. The brand also has some impressive before and afters, so I’m excited to see the full effects after a couple months of use—I already know I’m going to very sad when this runs out.
You’ll have heard many a beauty editor or influencer rave about Eccentric Molecules—specifically its Molecule 01 scent, which is formed of just one perfume note, Iso E Super, a molecule which uniquely reacts with your natural scent chemistry to make you smell incredible with compliments aplenty. Think your skin, but better. Now the brand has launched three new versions of the scent, each with the addition of a second perfume note for a little something extra. There is Black Tea, Ginger and Guaiac Wood to choose from, but the former is my favourite. Far from a humble brew of PG tips, this tea-leaf fragrance is an elevated take on black tea. It has a bitterness that is also so refreshing—both in the sense that it is unusual, but also fresh and light—and it has a subtle floral note that has me repeat-smelling my wrists.
Hyaluronic acid is an ingredient I use most days. It’s the bread and butter of my routine to deliver some much-needed moisture into my skin and Kiehl’s latest drop is a great formula. It’s fast absorbing, super-hydrating and leaves my skin looking juicy and plump with 1.5% hyaluronic acid. It has minimal ingredients (just seven are listed) so if you’re nervous about potential irritants, or just want a simple, no frills hydrating serum that gets the job done, then you’ll enjoy using this.
Where to start with this? I’m a sucker for any fancy bath product, but I have a soft spot for Ouai in my bathroom. The brand creates so many great-smelling products and its St Barts scent, which comes in a body scrub, body moisturiser and shower gel, smells just like you put your out of office on. The concoction of dragonfruit, orange blossom, tuberose and musk smells like a holiday cocktail and this sugar-based scrub is drenched coconut and hibiscus oils, which polish skin to perfection. I’ll be scooping every last grain out of this tub.
Celebrity facialist Shani Darden can do no wrong when it comes to her skincare formulations. I’ve become obsessed with everything I’ve tried from her range, and the new Hydration Peptide Cream is no exception. I’m all about the lightweight moisturisers that don’t compromise on hydration, and this one also includes peptides, which help to address skin firmness, texture and elasticity. Not only is it silky smooth on the skin, but it does a great job at sinking in beautifully and instantly plumping the skin. I’ve been using it both at nighttime and for my skincare prep, and I love how supple it leaves my skin.
On the days when I’m not using the Dr Jart+ BB Cream and require a little more coverage, I’ll be keeping Kosas’s foundation on standby. The brand is recently new to the UK, and comes highly acclaimed from both the U.S. Who What Wear beauty team and celebrities such as Hailey Bieber, who is often seen using the products on her TikTok. Full disclosure: I get the hype around the foundation entirely. It offers medium, buildable coverage, but somehow resembles a second-skin—it’s almost undetectable. It’s dewy without being a slipping and sliding situation, and because it’s jam-packed with skin-loving ingredients (squalane, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5, peptides, caffeine) I feel like my skin itself looks better after wearing this. I rate this a 10/10.
Enzyme exfoliators are having moment. They’re not new, but, after a decade-long buzz of aggressive chemical exfoliants via the form of toners and serums, many of us are feeling like are skin is worse for wear. Take it from me. When I first became a beauty journalist I overused exfoliating acids, and it did my skin more harm than good. Don’t get me wrong, there is still a time and a place for liquid exfoliants, but these days I’m all for the gentler options. Which brings e to Monday Muse’s enzyme powder exfoliator. This is one that you mix with water to create a paste before buffing over the skin. It’s in no way gritty or abrasive, it just gently nibbles away at this dead skin cells to reveal softer skin, improved texture and reduced congestion. The formula contains colloidal oatmeal, enzymes, turmeric and zinc to gently polish lacklustre skin without compromising the skin’s delicate barrier.
Key Notes: Toasted sesame seeds, white musks, mimosa, blond woods accord, rice steam accord. Diptyque has done it again. I tested the newest fragrance launch from the brand, L’Eau Papier, before the launch, and it is now a firm fixture in my perfume collection. The first time I wore it, I had two people ask what I was wearing. It’s both clean yet cosy, with warm, nutty toasted sesame seed with the creaminess of mimosa and rice, with an addictive musk and blond woods base. I predict this is going to become a favourite of many who love those clean-smelling skin scents. Read my full Diptyque L’Eau Papier review here.
Okay, this foundation blew me away. It has a silky formula that really melts into the skin with a buildable medium coverage. I would liken the consistency to Armani Luminous Silk foundation, so if you already love that, I think you would love this. It has a satin finish that makes your skin look radiant, but not overly dewy, and it somehow manages to look even better as the day goes on—truly makeup sorcery. This is probably more suited to those with dry, normal or combination skin, but the overall finish isn’t greasy, just lovely and hydrating.
Milk Makeup relaunched its Sculpt Sticks in a new size. They are teeny tiny, but that’s why I love them. They are the perfect nimble size for targeted application, whether to carve out cheekbones or define the jawline, and the compact size is ideal for travelling or throwing in your bag for on-the-go touch-ups. The formula itself is really impressive. They blend out perfectly with barely any effort—they really are fool-proof. They’re currently available in four cool-toned shades that can flex across different skin tones, but I’m hoping for more shades to come.
Next Up: A Makeup Artist Just Showed Me How to Avoid These 5 Common Mistakes
