The Best New Beauty Buys For December
Power Drops 7.5% CBD, £49 | OTO
These new drops from OTO are the easiest way to gain a sense of calm and alleviate tension throughout the body – ideal at this time of year. Benefitting from a large dose of 7.5% CBD, the formula combines quality hemp extracts with science-backed technology for instant results. Simply pop a few drops under your tongue for some on-the-spot grounding. You can take them anytime throughout the day but they work particularly well just before bed.
Available at JohnLewis.com
Bath & Body Soak, £25 | Vieve
Vieve is known for its make-up, but now it’s expanding into bath and bodycare. Just like everything else that’s come before, its new products don’t disappoint. There are candles, body gels and bath salts, but it’s this soak we can’t get enough of. It doubles up as a shower gel and a foaming bubble bath – and the musky scent is addictive, with notes of amber, santal and neroli lingering on the skin for hours.
Available at Vieve.co.uk
Beauty Sets, From £58 | Les Filles En Rouge
These pretty make-up sets from Parisian brand Rouje are guaranteed to please. The chic, printed clutches are enough on their own, but inside each one you’ll find a set of the brand’s bestselling products – from its cult face palette to its liquid lipsticks, there’s something for everyone and at every price point. The formulas are beautiful – think creamy, easy to blend and with long-lasting pigments that look more expensive than they are.
Available at Rouje.com
Burberry Kisses Matte Lipsticks, £35 | Burberry
Burberry Beauty is back and, to celebrate, it’s launched a pop-up in Selfridges. Our favourite product has to be its Kisses Lip Colours which are matte, smooth and velvety, providing a diffused, almost blurred wash of colour that gives you that ‘just kissed’ effect. There are plenty of shades to choose from, but we rate ‘The Red’, which is perfect for party season.
Available at Burberry.com
Souffle Eyeshadow, £42 | Surratt
These new soufflé shadows are the answer to a fool-proof smokey eye. At £42, they’re an investment, but given how a little goes such a long way, they’re worth it. Buttery soft, each one is malleable and easy to work with – even for eyeshadow novices – allowing you to create everything from a wash of colour to soft, feline flicks. They are subtly shimmery, offering a finish that’s almost glossy rather than sparkly. They don’t budge or flake either. ‘Matin Vert’ – a forest green – and ‘Pluie Mauve’ – a soft plum – make for nice alternatives to black.
Available at LibertyLondon.com
Hair Holiday Set, £35.99 | Zara x Guido Palau
Iconic stylist Guido Palau is teaming up with Zara on a haircare range in 2024. To tease it before the New Year, they’ve released a set of four new products for party season. The set includes a gold gel, a gold glitter spray, a gold bobby pin and a gold comb to help you create different styles. Guido wanted ‘make-up for your hair’ products that accentuate natural shine without being too heavy. The glitter spray is a favourite of ours. You can layer it up for better intensity or apply a gentle misting to give hair a subtle sheen – it catches the light so nicely. It also works well to add volume and texture, all while removing static.
Available at Zara.com
Maracuja Juicy Glow Tint, £36 | Tarte
This has received rave reviews for a reason. Despite being a ‘tint’, it offers impressive coverage, completely smoothing out uneven tone and texture to leave behind a luminous glow. Never heavy or cakey, it glides on, doesn’t settle into creases and lasts a full day without needing to be topped up. There’s hyaluronic acid and fruit oils inside to keep skin nourished and bouncy.
Available at TarteCosmetics.com
Gorgeous Illuminating Primer, £50 | Trish McEvoy
This feels more like a hydrating serum than a primer thanks to ingredients like niacinamide, vitamin E and peptides. Just the tiniest amount provides a veil of smoothness that helps other base make-up – like concealer and foundation – adhere properly to your skin. The biggest bonus, though, is the glow. Added vitamin C helps to wake skin up and breathe life back into dull winter complexions. You may even find this is enough without the need for any foundation on top. Use a little over the eyelids to enhance eyeshadow vibrancy and prevent creasing.
Available at Selfridges.com
Thrill Seeker Pitch Black Volumising Mascara, £7.33 (was £10.99) | Rimmel
Those on the hunt for a new mascara won’t be disappointed with this. It has an hourglass-shaped wand that gets right into the lash line for even, non-clumpy definition. It doesn’t flake either and the length is impressive given it’s a more affordable option – it even works wonders on stubby lashes.
Available at Boots.com
GlaziPlex Bond Repair Mask, £20 | Glaze
By now, you’ve probably heard about hair bonding treatments. Using a special technology, they work to repair damage at speed and, while we’ve tried several, few rival this one from Glaze – especially when it comes to price. It covers all the bases, working in four minutes to prevent damage from chemicals, colouring and heat styling. That’s all thanks to the bonding complex, as well as ingredients like citric and lactic acids. There are ceramides in there too, which latch onto hair and pump it full of moisture. Expect shinier, healthier and smoother-looking results from the off.
Available at GlazeHair.co
Hair Gloss, Coming Soon | OUAI
OUAI’s new Hair Gloss is well worth the hype. Promising to boost shine and sleekness – even on blondes – it works immediately, while ingredients like rice water, hyaluronic acid and panthenol minimise signs of damage and seal in moisture over the long term. The formula also latches onto strands, creating an invisible film that protects hair from heat damage up to 232°C, so you can get to work with your hot tools straight away. The results are impressive – up to 87% of testers agreed hair looked shinier and healthier with regular use.
Coming soon at TheOUAI.co.uk
Scented Candle, £75 | Santa Maria Novella
Italian pharmacy brand Santa Maria Novella is known for its comforting, nourishing formulas and soft, clean scents, which is why we’re excited to see it’s launching candles. There are three to choose from, each with a distinct – but never overpowering – fragrance that lingers long after it’s extinguished. Our favourite is Pot Pourri. With notes of orange clove, bergamot, rosemary, thyme and patchouli, it’s the scent of Christmas. They make for great gifts as well.
Available at SMNovella.com
The Wavemaker, £149.50 | Hershesons
Created with simplicity in mind, this new tool – as the name suggests – helps you create beachy-looking waves with ease. Simply turn it on, insert a section of dry hair into the barrel and then use the buttons to determine the direction you want the wave to spin. The tool then suctions your hair gently, creating soft, bouncy curls – ideal if you prefer a wave that’s subtle and not corkscrew tight. There are three heat settings to choose from, so it caters to every hair length and thickness, while the in-built cooling system seals your style into place. A great investment if you regularly curl your hair.
Available at Hershesons.com
Facial Cupping Set, £31 | Tata Harper x Lure
Facial cupping is a traditional practice in Chinese medicine which helps to increase blood circulation, stimulate collagen production and minimise puffiness. Some facial cupping sets can be fussy and overcomplicated, but this one from Tata Harper takes out all the guesswork. Following a useful and easy-to-follow guide, gently move the cups around your skin – post-cleanse – for a fresher smoother-looking complexion. Take a ‘glide and lift’ approach, always working upwards to boost lymphatic drainage. Done regularly, you can expect skin to look less congested, brighter and smoother.
Available at TataHarperSkincare.com
Plump Up Microneedle, £44 | Trinny London
This sold out within 30 seconds of launching. Why? Because the product has been put through its paces and tested rigorously to ensure the best results. With needles of 0.5mm in depth, it’s great for stimulating collagen. Complete with a sterilising spray and a scannable link to a demo video, it’s also easy to use – with instructions on hand to guide you through the process. Start by using it only in small areas and take a light-handed approach. For now, stick to using it only two to three times a week. Over time, you can expect skin to have better bounce, softness and a tauter feel. You’ll find your products absorb better, too.
Available at TrinnyLondon.com
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