January’s Best New Beauty Buys

Some blemish treatments can be quite harsh, with many designed to dry out spots. But this gentle-yet-effective serum by Medik8 takes a different approach, addressing congestion without compromising your delicate skin barrier. Instead of starving your skin of moisture, this prioritises hydration thanks to hardworking peptides and uses a combination of niacinamide and zinc PCA to refine pores and regulate sebum levels, restoring comfort and balance. Apply after cleansing for the best results. 

Available at MEDIK8.COM

Chapped, rough patches are no match for Gisou’s latest lip innovation. If harsh weather and central heating have left yours looking and feeling worse for wear, make this your new go-to. Rich and buttery-smooth, this restorative mask makes your lips feel luxurious, cocooned and touchably soft. Layer it on as the last step in your skincare routine before bed for maximum benefits. We also can’t get enough of the mellow buttercream scent.

Available at GISOU.COM

Dior’s new bronzing stick has grab-and-go appeal – it’s the lazy girl’s best friend. Soft and balmy, this high-performance stick melts into the skin seamlessly, creating lasting, flattering warmth. Application is intuitive: simply swipe onto the areas of the face where the sun would naturally hit. This is the easiest way to cheat a believable, off-season glow.

Available at DIOR.COM

Start your year right with a new signature scent – and Ffern’s Winter 26 gets our vote. If anything’s going to get you out of bed on a gloomy January morning, it’s this. Sparkling and verdant, this combines oakmoss and citrus rinds with honeyed mimosa and violet leaf, forming an energising botanical blend with year-round appeal. Ffern rarely misses – and this certainly doesn’t disappoint. 

Available at FFERN.CO

Dr Sam’s rave-reviewed Flawless Neutralising Gel now comes in a larger size with a metal roller for more precise application. Powered by a hardworking trio of azelaic acid, salicylic acid and bakuchiol, this is brilliant for treating congestion, from all angles. Not only does it reduce redness, it also has antibacterial properties, so it helps to prevent future breakouts. Plus, the cooling effect of the metal roller feels really soothing on inflamed areas.

Available at DRSAMBUNTING.COM

It takes a lot to impress us in this category but YSL Beauty’s Lash Latex has caught our attention for good reason. Delivering that holy-grail combination of both length and lift, it creates a clump-free, fanned-out flutter, while the ultra-fine, micro-bristle wand allows for easy separation. Plus, the conditioning formula is infused with iris florentina root extract, so it’s kind on your natural hairs. 

Available at YSLBEAUTY.CO.UK

K-beauty brand Laneige is known – and loved – for its skin-quenching formulas, so we’re pleased to report that its new Aqua Facial serum lives up to expectations. Boosted with hyaluronic acid, PGA, PDRN and ceramides, this instantly relieves parched skin, resulting in a plump, pillowy-soft effect. Plus, the precision dropper is extremely satisfying. 

Available at SPACENK.COM

Heat styling, chemical treatments and environmental factors can all take a toll on your hair. If you’ve not already cottoned onto the benefits of a fast-acting, in-shower mask, you’re missing a trick. Full of biomimetic ingredients, this new formula by Living Proof is worth trying. Deeply hydrating, it makes your hair look noticeably shinier and feel silky-soft, without adding any extra weight. We also love the clean, citrussy scent that lingers long after you rinse it off. 

Available from 26th January.

Coming soon to LIVINGPROOF.CO.UK

If your skin is having an SOS moment, you need this in your arsenal. Super Barrier Balm, the latest addition to Votary’s line-up, is full of reparative plant-derived ingredients, including golden kelp, bisabolol and squalane, each carefully chosen to bring your skin back from the brink. Designed to ease inflammation and soothe dry, chapped patches, this is great if your skin is crying out for something nourishing and rich. 

Available at VOTARY.CO.UK

We all know we should be wearing SPF on the daily but half the battle is finding one that feels comfortable and won’t cause your make-up to slip. We’re adding CeraVe’s to our fits-the-bill list of high-street SPFs. Hydrating, non-sticky and kind to your skin, this is a no-brainer – especially if you’re jetting off for some winter sun. 

Available at CULTBEAUTY.CO.UK