The Best New Beauty Buys For January

Bobbi Brown Crushed Jelly Balm, £29.95

Just the name ‘Crushed Jelly’ had us at hello. With the hydration of a balm, the pigment of a lipstick and sheerness of a gloss, it offers everything in one easy-to-use stick. You can scribble these on liberally without any need for a mirror – try using a small amount on your cheeks, too. The dewy texture (thanks to fruit oils and hyaluronic acid) keeps the skin looking smooth and plump, too. 

Launching Mid-January At BobbiBrown.co.uk

Beauty Pie Cream Blushers, £25

Here at SL, we love a cream blush and are constantly on the hunt for new formulas. Beauty Pie’s latest launch now has a firm place in our beauty bags thanks to its incredible texture. Use your fingers or a brush to buff it in – either way, the cream-to-powder texture will melt into your skin and stay put for hours. The in-built oils offer a natural finish, too, with just a hint of sheen we love.

Available At BeautyPie.com

Benefit POREfessional Setting Spray, £26

Adding to their cult POREfessional line, Benefit have now dropped their first ever setting spray. Using a very fine mist, spritz it on all over without leaving any sticky residue behind. While it’s refreshing and uplifting, you’ll find it also locks make-up in place for the majority of the day, simultaneously working to blur the appearance of enlarged pores and smooth out any uneven tone. Just like every other Benefit product, it provides impressive results, and is entirely waterproof, too. 

Available At LookFantastic.com

Shiseido Controlled Chaos Mascara Ink, £25

If you’re looking for a new mascara in 2021, check out this one from Shiseido. Incredibly versatile, it stays wet for a little while after you apply it, so you can build up the layers swiftly without dry, flaky results. It also has two sides – one with an hourglass shape to build volume and the other that’s flat to help lift and extend. Great for full, wide-eye effects, but also a subtle flutter more appropriate for daytime. We love the new colours, too – notably ‘Blue 02,’ which is surprisingly flattering and great for enhancing blue and green eyes. 

Available At SpaceNK.co.uk

Kerastase Blond Absolu Intense Post-Procedure Shampoo-In-Cream, £36.40

If you’re someone that dyes your hair, you’ll want to have this latest innovation on your radar. Sitting somewhere between a cleansing shampoo and a hydrating mask, use it when hair is freshly washed by massaging it onto lengths and ends and leaving it on for five minutes (or ten if you want stronger results). Harnessing the benefits of hyaluronic acid and edelweiss flower, it hydrates the hair, strengthening it directly from the root for a healthier finish. With regular use (once or twice a week) you’ll notice brassy tones are gone, and replaced with a cooler, more luminous shade of blonde.

Available At Kerastase.com

Garnier Shampoo Bars, £7.99

Continuing to pursue their zero-plastic waste pledge, Garnier have now launched four shampoo bars that not only smell incredible, but also yield impressive results. Made with all plant-based ingredients, each one focuses on different needs – from softening to strengthening – while giving your strands a thorough cleanse, without stripping the hair of essential moisture. Even the box they come in is eco-friendly – they’re 100% recyclable.

Available At Boots.com

Bondi Boost Wave Wand, £57.99

We spied this hair tool on Instagram and immediately wanted to give it a go ourselves. With three large barrels, it works to create loose, beach waves. Put simply, the smaller the section of hair, the deeper your crimp will be. For a softer wave, take wider sections and work through them quickly. And don’t be put off by the larger size – this actually means quicker styling as it can cover such a broad surface area.

Available At BondiBoost.co.uk

Apothem Labs Multi Skin Balm, £40

Dubbed ‘game-changing’ by industry insiders, this calming balm uses hemp-derived CBD to soothe, soften and nourish skin. Added mango butter is great for keeping dryness at bay, while the lack of fragrance means even those with sensitivities can use it confidently. Keep one handy at all times – it’s brilliant for sore, cracked lips, as well as dry elbows and flaky shins.

Available At ApothemLabs.com

Dr Sam’s Flawless Body Therapy, £29

Dr Sam Bunting is one of the top dermatologists in the UK, so you know you can rely on her own product range to yield impressive results. Her latest launch is this firming body treatment that’s brimming with bakuchiol (plant-based retinol), niacinamide and lactic acid, all of which work together to smooth and exfoliate dead skin, and refine the appearance of uneven texture. It’s incredibly silky and lightweight, too, so it absorbs fast without leaving behind a greasy sheen. A must-try if you suffer with dry, tight or problematic skin.

Available At DrSamBunting.com

Healist Joint Soothing Balm, £32

Whether you’ve been going hard with exercising, or your joints are just aching, this soothing balm is guaranteed to help. Using CBD, arnica and camphor, a small amount rubbed into the skin will regulate and calm any inflammation within the body. There is menthol inside, too, which soothes weary, aching muscles quickly with a satisfyingly tingle. We love that it’s completely plant-based and totally recyclable, too.

Available At CultBeauty.co.uk

Drunk Elephant T.L.C Sukari Babyfacial, £67

Previously only available in the US, this cult Drunk Elephant product has finally dropped here, and you’ll want to join the waitlist. Dubbed ‘the ultimate resurfacing treatment’, it contains an impressive 25% AHA and 2% BHA formula – think glycolic, lactic and salicylic acids. This potent mix works at surface level to provide deep exfoliation that removes dirt from your pores, while also smoothing the skin and blurring the appearance of early fine lines. Expect brighter and more supple results after just a few tries. Worried about sensitivity? This has been crafted with an ideal pH of 3.5, which means you get all the results without the redness and sensitisation.

Available At CultBeauty.co.uk

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream, £47

If you’re prone to oiliness, but still want to give your skin some hydration, look no further than Kiehl’s brand new cream. Oil-free, it’s been designed with grease and breakouts in mind, using amino acids to reduce the sebum levels in our skin, while still delivering some much-needed moisture. The jelly texture is so lightweight that, as you apply it, you’ll find it melts into the skin with zero shine – there’s almost a mattifying finish that comes with a cooling sensation, so you get the best of both of worlds.

Available At Kiehls.co.uk

Leaves & Flowers Skin Sleep Cream, £65

This luxurious, overnight cream also includes the soothing benefits of CBD. Designed to calm the senses and the skin, massage a good amount into skin post-cleanse and let the essential fatty acids inside get to work as you sleep, plumping, moisturising and calming any inflammation. It includes zinc, too, which is known for its antibacterial properties. We’ve used this a couple of times, and are seriously impressed with how soft our skin feels come morning, with a dewier glow to boot.

Available At LeavesAndFlowers.co.uk

Versed Sunday Morning Antioxidant Oil-Serum, £18

Many believe they can’t use oils on their skin, but this serum hybrid has been designed with all skin types in mind. Great for anyone seeking extra hydration, Versed’s latest launch is full of nutrient-rich plant oils, fatty acids and antioxidants to protect against daily damage like UV and pollution. Shake it up, let the two phases mingle and then apply a small amount onto cleansed skin – try morning and night for the best results. If you just want to boost your radiance, experts recommend patting one drop onto the highest points of your face after you’ve applied your moisturiser. A one-stop-shop.

Available At CultBeauty.co.uk

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops, £31

Straddling skincare and make-up, these new Dew Drops have been created to give you good glow, while still caring for your complexion. A mix of niacinamide and vitamins keeps skin smooth and hydrated, while the texture instantly highlights for a wet-look luminosity. Tap a little on under or over your make-up and build up to your preferred intensity. Alternatively, try using a little on top of eyeshadow or on bare lids for a light-catching sheen. Whatever you decide, the texture sets quickly with zero tackiness or grease, so the rest of your make-up won’t slide or suffer from any interference. One of our favourite products of 2021 so far.

Available At CultBeauty.co.uk