With autumn approaching, the Vogue beauty team is reflecting on the beauty products that have gotten us through the year so far. From nostalgic makeup products that blew up on TikTok and sustainable skincare innovations that reshaped our routines to the latest buzzy launches, 2024 so far has been a playground for our beauty editors to rediscover old formulas – and fall in love with new ones.
Vogue’s top picks
- The face serum: Dermalogica Pro Collagen Banking Serum, £89
- The fast false lash: Kiss imPRESS Falsies Press-on Natural False Lash Kit, £19.99
- The modern lipstick: Merit Signature Lip, £28
- The glass skin essential: Dior Forever Glow Star Filter, £45
- The liquid blush: NARS Afterglow Liquid Blush, £33
- The blue eyeliner: 3INA The Colour Pen Eyeliner 850, £13
- The hair removal device: Braun Silk·expert Pro 5 IPL Hair Removal Device PL5347,
£760£364 - The fuss-free manicure: Chillhouse Chill Tips Press-On Manicure Kit, £15
For starters, senior beauty editor Margaux Anbouba seemingly can’t get enough of Prada Beauty’s just-debuted foundation. European beauty and wellness director Jessica Diner says she’s “seriously impressed” with the firming, plumping benefits of a Dermalogica serum. A trial run of Kiss’s false lashes garnered commerce writer Tracy Achonwa a bevy of compliments during fashion week. Then there’s beauty editor-at-large Arden Fanning Andrews, who has been relying on a BareMinerals powder to create soft-focus skin. Beauty shopping writer Kiana Murden is finally ready to ditch her lip gloss obsession in favour of Merit’s grown-up lipstick.
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Below, all these and more beauty finds (both new or old!) that have been truly game-changing for our Vogue beauty editors here in London and New York. From high-tech gadgets to new signatures, read on to discover our picks.
Dermalogica Pro-Collagen Banking Serum
I have been seriously impressed with the cumulative results of this serum. Having seen the results of the clinical trials at the launch (collagen preservation, firmer cheeks and jawline, a more hydrated, plumper-looking complexion), I committed to using this morning and night to see if it would work for me and one month later, I would say I concur with all the aforementioned benefits. If you’re looking for a new serum to switch up your skin-care routine, you’re looking at it. – Jessica Diner, European beauty and wellness director
Merit Signature Lip
I’ll admit that, when I first heard of Merit’s new lipstick, I was not immediately intrigued. I am a gloss girl through and through, so why should I be interested in a matte lip? But, when I saw makeup artist Yumi Lee paint model’s pouts backstage at Diotima’s latest show, I was impressed with how comfortable it looked. Not dry, patchy, or stiff like the matte lips I’d become accustomed to. Armed with samples of each shade, I took it for a go. I am shocked at how weightless this feels on, how modern the shades look, and how nourished my lips remain even after all-night wear. Merit, you’ve converted me! Kiana Murden, beauty shopping writer
Adwoa Beauty Melonberry Spray Leave In Conditioner
Under my extensions, I’m all about protecting the length and strength of my natural coils. Adwoa Beauty’s milky spray is like an essence for scalp and strands, silky, nourishing, and easily spritzed on cornrows between wefts. What’s more, its blend of berry seed oils leaves your hair smelling incredible, and when you take down your braids, you’ll find super soft and detangled tresses. – Tracy Achonwa, commerce beauty and wellness writer
L’Oreal Paris Volume Million Lashes Panorama Mascara
L’Oreal’s latest mascara launch has one of those brushes that delivers well-defined eyelashes but allows you to load up on the formula, if you prefer your mascara on the chunkier front – like me! – Lauren Murdoch-Smith, senior beauty and wellness editor
Hair by Sam McKnight Love Me Do Nourishing Shine Oil
A featherlight dry hair oil, this new formula from hairstylist Sam McKnight ticks all my boxes. It’s not just the happy-making packaging I love, it’s also brilliant at taming flyaways, reducing frizz and lending a subtle healthy shine on mid-lengths and ends. With argan, sunflower, and camellia seed oil, it also smells delicious. – Hannah Coates, beauty and wellness editor
Prada Beauty Reveal Skin-Optimizing Refillable Foundation
I didn’t think the world needed another foundation – even if it was in glamorous metallic packaging – but Prada’s high-performing formula had me make room in my makeup bag. It’s one of the lightest formulas I’ve ever used, which makes the coverage payoff (somewhere between light and medium) so incredibly impressive. And the stay-all-day effect, which controls my shiny forehead but always looks skin-like, means I look good from morning meeting to evening face wash. – Margaux Anbouba, senior beauty editor
Simple Repairing Rich Cream Face Moisturiser
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: you don’t need to spend lots of money on expensive moisturisers when the right formulation arises. I’ve never really been a Simple skincare girl, but this formula has converted me thanks to a ceramide-rich formula, which nourishes and fortifies the skin barrier, alongside soothing cica and vitamin B5. A delight to apply, it’s under £10 – and what could be better than that? – Hannah Coates, beauty and wellness editor
Dior Forever Glow Star Filter
Whether you wear it as a foundation, bronzer or alone on a bare face, one thing is for sure: Dior’s Star Filter grants glass skin. New for 2024, it has that elusive quality of being illuminating without obvious glitters (or perceptible pearly shine) and transforms even the dullest complexion under its hydrating, filter-like finish. Infused with antioxidant-rich iris extract, it’s also as good for the skin as it looks. I like to stipple a shade deeper than my skin tone over the forehead and under the cheeks, where it melts in like butter and gives skin a sunkissed, just-had-a-facial glow. For dewy, dumpling cheeks, combining it with the glow maximiser in Rosy is a must – it has a plush doe foot applicator that gets you the most precise blush placement. I’ve never used another product like it. – Tracy Achonwa, commerce beauty and wellness writer
Ouai Hair Gloss
Feeling like your hair has lost its lustre or shine? Or are you due a haircut but just haven’t quite found the time to get around to it? Step in the Ouai Hair Gloss that in one pea-sized drop (or two-pea sized drops for thicker or textured hair) will smooth and add instant bounce and shine. Think of it like a weightless, undetectable top coat for your hair. – Jessica Diner, European beauty and wellness director
Braun Silk·expert Pro 5 IPL Hair Removal Device PL5347
This summer I decided to try at-home hair removal. Braun’s latest technology links the high-tech laser to an app and tracks and guides your at-home treatment — like you would if you were visiting a clinic. It also adapts its intensity according to your skin tone, so it’s a pretty smart machine. – Lauren Murdoch-Smith, senior beauty and wellness editor
3INA The Colour Pen Eyeliner in 850
With its precise tip, fluid formula and crumble-free matte finish, 3INA’s blue eyeliner makes electric eye looks incredibly easy. Plus, it’s pretty affordable, boasting a pigment and colour payoff that belies its modest price tag. I’m obsessed. – Tracy Achonwa, commerce beauty and wellness writer
BareMinerals Illuminating Mineral Veil
Believe me when I say this is the best soft-focus filter in my bag, I carry it everywhere and it’s with me at Paris Fashion Week as we speak. – Arden Fanning Andrews, beauty editor at large
Ilia Perfecting Buff Brush
There’s not much to say about this Ilia makeup brush except that it truly is perfect (excellent naming on Ilia’s part!). The Perfecting Buff Brush is a compact tool featuring soft densely packed packed bristles just fluffy enough to blend creams and liquids expertly into the skin. It’s my go-to for bronzer and blush. – Kiana Murden, beauty shopping writer
Haus Labs PhD Hybrid Lip Glaze
If at least 10 people give you a compliment on the product, I feel like it belongs on this list. That’s what happened to me the day I wore this lip gloss-oil hybrid in Macaron – it’s just good and I like it. Clearly, other people did, too. Nothing else to say. – Margaux Anbouba, senior beauty editor
Dior Baby Bonne Étoile Scented Water
Not that I’m one to deprive my children but when it comes to Dior beauty, I’ll make an exception. With perfumer and Dior Perfume Creative Director Francis Kurkdjian behind the Baby Dior’s scent, I’ve made sure I’ve kept hold of the scented water for myself. A gentle, soft smell that reminds me of newborn skin. – Lauren Murdoch-Smith, senior beauty and wellness editor
Susanne Kaufmann Hayflower Bath Oil
Is there anything better than a bath at the end of the day? Personally, I don’t think so, and I’m currently obsessed with this essential oil-infused bath oil by the queen of them, Susanne Kaufmann. A blend of Alpine hayflower and natural antioxidant astaxanthin, it’s a quick ticket to calm – I finish by wrapping myself in one of Baina’s checkerboard robes. Peace personified. – Hannah Coates, beauty and wellness editor
Summer Fridays Lip Butter in Birthday Cake
I’m a huge fan of Summer Fridays’s Lip Butters and their latest shade, Birthday Cake, is a celebration of the brand turning six. It’s the same hydrating, non-sticky formula in a very subtle, sugar icing pink tint. A new obsession. – Lauren Murdoch-Smith, senior beauty and wellness editor
Kiss imPRESS Falsies Press-on False Lash Kit
Pressed for time but still want to look put together? Kiss’s imPress under lashes are an absolute godsend. Because the clusters are self-adhesive, there is zero faffing or fiddling with tweezers and glue, and the natural set has become my go-to for a lifted feline eye. I’ve taken a tray of the Natural style with me on my travels throughout fashion month and the results have won me endless compliments everywhere I’ve been. Undetectable and ultra-comfortable, trust me when I say you won’t want to waste time with mascara ever again. – Tracy Achonwa, commerce beauty and wellness writer
Nars Afterglow Liquid Blush
My blusher obsession knows no bounds, and this is my current favourite. A sheer, ever-so-slightly-shimmery peach liquid in texture, it can be built up for the intensity of blush required, but it’s also the large doe-foot applicator that makes it a dream to apply. Consider this your Spring flush in a tube. – Jessica Diner, European beauty and wellness director
Dior Addict Lip Glow
I wrote in our March issue “Quick Change” story about how this product is one of my favourite of all time – I wore it to my wedding, I wear it all over my face! At their FW24 show, models wore the clear version on their lips and now I want that, too, though… – Arden Fanning Andrews, beauty editor at large
Chillhouse Chill Tips Press-On Manicure Kit
To know me is to know I love press-on nails! I am simply too impatient to get my nails done professionally, and oddly rough with my hands – meaning nail chipping and breaking is frequent. So, I’ve embraced press-ons fully and have gotten so good at them, people are shocked to hear they aren’t a full-on manicure. The Chillhouse Chill Tips have garnered me the most compliments. The designs are chic, they’re easy to apply, and the featured glue is strong, meaning one application can last weeks if you do it right. This week’s set is “Chill At The Disco” – a funky, glimmering silver I applied after seeing models grace the LaPointe runway sporting the design. – Kiana Murden, beauty shopping writer
Byredo Liquid Lipstick Matte
I had forgotten about my love of lipstick until this Byredo number got delivered – now I’m obsessed all over again. If you’re after a formula that cocoons the lips, while still maintaining excellent pigment and staying power, this is it. The Marriage shade is sexy and vampy and looks great with a minimal complexion and mascara. Add to basket! – Hannah Coates, beauty and wellness editor
Tom Ford Concealer Stick For Men
The men’s makeup category is home to some hidden gems, and Tom Ford’s concealer stick is a fine example. Super precise, the slim stick is the perfect diameter for snatching your under eyes and sculpting the face, plus easy to slide in your purse for on-the-go touch-ups. What makes it a winner is the self-setting formula that merges with skin for a seamless, natural finish, which covers razor cuts and leaves your under-eyes impossibly smooth. – Tracy Achonwa, commerce beauty and wellness writer
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Scroll on for Vogue’s favourite products of 2023…
Jessica Diner, European beauty & wellness director
Firstly, there is the Pierre Hardy-perfect packaging that is tactile and satisfyingly weighty. Then there is the wand, that by some happy coincidence is shaped like the letter “H” to act as a reservoir for the seriously good formula that it dispenses, which if it weren’t the best mascara I have tried in years (seriously, years), I would feel was too gimmicky. But it isn’t. Because it’s incredible. And I have been telling anyone who will listen ever since I have had it in my possession.
Merit Beauty can do no wrong. Arguably the make-up launch of the year, there are very few brands that can, or have, staged a takeover of my make-up bag in the way that this one has. There is Flush Balm (which our dear Georgia Day had ring-fenced as one of her favourites so I chose to spotlight another), the Highlighting Balm and then the Bronze Balm, a radiance-inducing stick that delivers the healthiest of warm glows in a few simple swipes. It’s my new daily staple.
To know Bobbi Brown’s original Vitamin Enriched Face Base is to love it. I was introduced to it during the trial for my wedding day make-up and I have been hooked ever since – it acts as the perfect nourishing base for make-up that won’t slide or pill. So when this tinted version launched I knew it would be an instant favourite, and it was. Ten out of ten, hard recommend.
This high-tech cream, made in Japan, is everything that I look for in a face moisturiser. It’s lightweight, sits amazingly under make-up or SPF, and is ridiculously hydrating. I started using it over the summer, when a gel cream is beneficial for oilier skin types.
Smoky eyes in a sweep. This finely-milled eyeshadow powder has fast become one of my go-tos for getting ready in a hurry for a night out. Using the ergonomically designed dauber, it dispenses just the right amount of product needed to smoke out each eyelid, so no need for a separate brush, which saves time.
Lauren Murdoch-Smith, senior beauty & wellness editor
Not only has this range improved the health and texture of my hair, but it also smells like a boutique fragrance and leaves a trail of scent whenever I swish my hair. Inspired by skincare serums, it’s also pretty smart and rebuilds the molecular structure of your hair fibre to keep it strong and smooth.
Dyson has reinvented the hair clip, dissecting and reimagining how a simple hair clip should function. They installed silicone bands into the sectioning clip, which keep the hair securely in place, and added padding for extra scalp comfort. The wide hair clip, meanwhile, can hold a large section of hair securely (it really doesn’t budge), which means sectioning – and then styling – is easier. You won’t go back to bog-standard clips again.
I really enjoyed discovering Victoria Beckham’s trio of new fragrances, which launched towards the end of this year. My favourite, San Ysidro Drive, is inspired by her time in California. It’s an intense, unapologetic fragrance which is not my usual vibe, but there’s something about the notes of pink peony, rose and black amber that I can’t resist for an evening out.
Australia’s much-loved sunscreen (one sells every minute) finally hit our shores this summer and boy, did it make an impression. It feels like skincare thanks to the lightweight, non-greasy formula, which works in harmony with make-up. Finally: a daily SPF I can get on board with.
Mascaras come and go, so it’s rare when one makes its way permanently into my make-up bag. Estée Lauder’s Turbo Lash is what I refer to as an old-school mascara: it boasts a big chunky brush with bristles, plus the thick, effective formula doesn’t flake. A winner.
Hannah Coates, beauty & wellness editor
Consider this clever hair tool a one-stop-shop for easy curls. It does all the hard work for you, thanks to an automatic barrel which pulls hair in, curls and then cools it, helping each wave hold strong throughout the day. I am obsessed.
If you know me, you know I love a cream blusher. This one is my new favourite, delivering a dewy, naturally flushed finish. It’s your quick ticket to effortless, outdoorsy skin that radiates health.
From retinoids to vitamin C, I’ve tried all sorts of skincare in my time, but nothing has visibly improved my skin’s texture, tone and overall health quite like Klira’s The Special. A dermatology service by Dr Emma Craythorne, the platform – and its team of dermatology nurses – analyses your skin and subsequently prescribes you the right actives for your skin type. And they really do get it right. I cannot recommend it enough.
If you like a soft, smudgy feline flick, this gel liner – from Selena Gomez’s make-up line, Rare Beauty – is waterproof and really effective. A great formula to work into your lash line, it lasts on greasy eyelids and it’s super easy to apply. Everyone should have one in their make-up bag.
I don’t really suffer from period pains, but when I did get taken down by a cripplingly bad back this year, acupuncturist Ross Barr’s Period Patches were one of my saviours. Infused with warming herbs, each patch heats the affected area, dispelling tension and pain. Whether it’s cramps, nerve pain or just some comfort you’re in need of, they’re well worth trying.
Twiggy Jalloh, beauty & wellness contributor
The colder months are my chance to slather my body in oils and butters, and I can’t get enough of this one from Ava Estelle. If you prefer a heavier moisturiser that melts into skin, this is the one for you. It gives skin an otherworldly glow and protects it from the elements, plus the tea tree oil adds a refreshing twist.
I very much understand why the beauty guru, Ateh Jewel, named her blush collection as she did. These blushes really are a dream product. As a melanin-rich woman, the shade “Love Plum Plum” caught my eye first. It complements my skin tone like no other, has brought life to my skin on days I’ve felt tired, and has the most gorgeous scent. Packed with ingredients like marshmallow extract, cocoa butter and aloe vera, it is also great for the skin.
I don’t think I’ve fallen in love with any other skincare product quite as quickly as I did this one. I have oily, acne-prone skin that needs some extra TLC, and my skin can’t get enough of this sulphur-based clay mask. It absorbs excess oil, targets new breakouts without drying the skin out, and comes off easily with lukewarm water and a muslin cloth. I love it.
Another product my acne-prone skin can’t get enough of. It is gentle, helps regulate my sebum levels so I don’t break out as often, and the bottle is massive so it lasts a while. Its acne-fighting 2% salicylic acid formula reduces inflammation and redness, as well as removing dead skin cells. Don’t be afraid to use it on your body if you break out there, too.
I love body oils with all my heart and soul, especially during cold weather, and this has slotted its way into my all-time top three. Have you ever used a product that puts a smile on your face as you apply it? If you haven’t, you need to experience this formula from Sol de Janiero. It smells divine and feels luxurious to the touch. It will always have a place in my beauty cupboard.
Georgia Day, contributing beauty & wellness editor
It’s hard to pick a favourite from Merit’s standout range, which promises a low-key luxe “no make-up make-up” look, but this blusher really is incredible. Beverly Hills is the perfect dusty pink colour which I think would suit all skin tones, while the texture is sublime – enough pigment so as not to require constant touch-ups but dewy enough to really bring the skin to life.
Everything about this cream bronzer is great. The pigments – although they may look intense – hold really well on the skin, while the melting texture does more than just add colour, it conditions skin as well. The result is a really healthy glow – I love using it on my eyelids as well, for a tonal “latte” look.
It takes a lot for me to introduce a new fragrance into my life, but as soon as I encountered this, it was game on. It’s musk-based with a sensual, skin-like quality, and unusual notes like mimosa, blond woods, sesame and rice steam all combine to add an intensely creamy, nutty undertone which is just so moreish. A forever fragrance.
Our skin goes through so much on a daily basis, it can be hard to know where to begin in protecting it. This beautifully textured cream has become a staple in my skincare routine, as it combines a host of active ingredients to defend against oxidative stress from pollution and blue light, as well as anti-fatigue ingredients to energise the skin.
I’m a huge fan of these creamy eyeliners generally, but the latest shade in VB’s collection is just perfection. The warm toffee hue has the familiar buttery-soft texture, and adds depth and definition to eyes without being too intense. It works just as well for daytime as it does for evening, and doesn’t budge.
Funmi Fetto, contributing beauty & wellness editor
Industry anticipation around the launch of Prada Beauty was sky high. Thankfully, it didn’t disappoint. I fell head over heels for the lipsticks – super matte but simultaneously super hydrating, with punchy pigments in the most delectable reds, oranges and pinks. The eyeshadows are also worth a mention: even if you don’t wear it, it’s tempting to buy for the aesthetic alone. Inspired by the Prada fashion print archives, they could easily be cool art pieces, but this isn’t a style over substance situation. The formulations are so innovative, the entire range literally feels like skincare – just with colour.
One of the privileges of being in this job is getting to try beauty products months and months before they launch – which is how I first experienced The Steam Bar. I was immediately hooked. This haircare range is essentially skincare for the scalp and it is so good. Created by former fashion and photography agent, Judy Koloko, the compact line up – shampoo, conditioner, serum and mask – is chock-full of oils and super nourishing vitamins that work wonders for your hair while also prioritising your scalp. Special shout-out to the divine conditioner, which softens and deeply hydrates baby hair.
The quality of my cleanser affects everything else that follows on my skin – be it moisturiser or make-up. That means I have very high standards for them. This one from MyBlend is easily one of the best I’ve used. Don’t be alarmed: it is foamy, but unlike most of its frothy counterparts, it doesn’t strip the skin. As well as thoroughly cleaning the skin, it also combats dullness – thanks to enzymes which essentially eat the dead skin cells on your face – so you are left with an envy-inducing glow. And if you want to take that glow to the next level, try its corresponding facial at Harrods. But be warned, it is magnificent and addictive.
I think what Buly founder Ramdane Touhami has done with this brand is just so clever, cool and left of centre. The Les Jardins Français De L’Officine range is an exquisite example of this. It’s a line-up of scents – fragrances, lotions, soaps and oils – based on a very global garden of vegetables and herbs. There’s Indian Cucumber and Syrian Mint, Scandinavian Redcurrant and Peruvian Tomato, Caribbean Sweet Potato and Afghan Carrot, Iraqi Beetroot and Egyptian Rhubarb… They are every bit as delicious as they sound. A glorious melting pot of fragrant cultures that has been magnificently translated into the most fabulous, off-the-beaten-track products. Obsessed.
The products I tend to love are, yes, a lot to do with how efficacious they are (because if they don’t work what’s the point?), but I’m also inspired by the authenticity of a brand’s values. When those two elements align, it is magic, as is the case with the skincare brand Naturally Tiwa. The Nigerian-born founder, Shalom Lloyd, conceived the brand as a response to her children suffering from eczema and nothing on the market working. It grew from there. The skincare range is cruelty-free and vegan, all the packaging is recyclable and every ingredient is sustainably and ethically sourced. The brand also makes a point of regularly collaborating with charities, such as cancer foundations, and helps create employment for women in rural African areas. A game-changing ethos with excellent products that work on even the most sensitive skins.
Kathleen Baird-Murray, contributing beauty & wellness editor
Yes please to Tina Chen Craig’s tinted moisturiser. The shades and undertones work on all skin tones, and all the potent skincare benefits you’d expect are there, as well as her signature scent and glow. This is great for those days when you don’t want to look “made up”.
Known first and foremost for her staggeringly beautiful jewellery, Kiss My Lips is Solange Azagury-Partridge’s third fragrance, and celebrates her iconic red Hotlips ring. The bottle is, if you’ll pardon the pun, scent-sational – the scent spritzes through the lips lid as if blowing a perfumed kiss. It smells like hot, buttery sugar, with a hint of lemon, bergamot and grapefruit, and some white cedar from the Atlas Mountains.
Magic Cream is such a great, forever moisturiser, but it was always a little on the heavy side for me, so I was excited when this new, lighter version was introduced. It has a gel cream, lightweight texture, which is easily absorbed, and doesn’t compromise on any of the hydrating brilliance of the original, but leaves skin looking moisturised and glowing.
This tiny little bottle, unprepossessing, somehow makes a big impact in the bath. Just a few drops of the natural essential oils, and I’m immediately feeling better about the world. It’s got Siberian fir, rosemary and lavendin in it, amongst other delicious things.
A good all-rounder for anyone who loves a serum but whose skin is feeling fatigued. Great at restoring your skin’s resilience, it’s big on biotech ingredients (good for the planet) and is packed with bio-fermented actives to soothe and restore skin that needs a pop of radiance.
Tracy Achonwa, commerce beauty and wellness writer
Creamy, weightless and with customisable coverage, Huda Beauty’s concealer is something of a beauty holy grail. Whether used under the eyes or to spot conceal, it delivers a flawless, budge-proof finish. I keep the compact bottle in my handbag in case I need to touch up – I rarely do as it lasts all day. A winner for photo ops at evening events, too.
I’ve already raved about the wonders Mielle’s Rosemary Oil has done for my hair – mostly because it actually works. The product is by no means new, but with strengthening biotin, scalp-refreshing peppermint extract and restoring rosemary, it will always have a place in my arsenal. One of the best hair growth oils of all time.
As the kind of woman whose pockets and purses contain a multitude of lip products at any given time, I really didn’t need to be tempted by Mrs Bieber’s lip launches this year. Alas, I’ve been through two tubes of the colourless Peptide Lip Treatments already, and am completely enamoured with the (now sold out) Peptide Lip Tints. Nourishing and flattering with a formula that smooths lines on the lips, this non-sticky balm has not only made it into my existing lipgloss roster – it’s replaced it entirely.
I’ve tried nearly every LED mask on the market, but in my opinion, none compare to Therabody’s newest addition. It delivers the trifecta: quick treatment time, full face coverage, and best of all, relaxing massage. Nodules at the temples and through the head strap provide nine minutes of utter bliss, which you can switch on and off during your LED treatment or use alone for tension relief. What’s more, the bulbs cycle through red, near infrared and blue light in a single, streamlined session, so it’s a no-faff way to target fine lines, dull skin and acne that the time-poor will love.
GHD Duet Style
This is a hair tool that has saved me on countless hurried occasions. Between the broad plates and the game-changing wet-to-dry technology, the time I spend on hairstyling has been cut dramatically. On my natural coils, the hot air creates a silk press finish, and on my longer hair extensions, it gets similarly sleek results without the need to section hair off. I would love to see a slimline version that can get right in at your roots, but as 2023 hair launches go, this styler is hard to top.
Kiana Murden, beauty shopping writer
I’ve really levelled up my make-up game this year – cheers to that! – thanks to great technique and even greater products. It was hard to choose my favourite for this story, but I realised my biggest win was in the eyelash realm. Over the last two years, I’ve been religious with eyelash growth serum application, and I finally have fluffy lashes to show for it – lengthened and voluminous with Victoria Beckham’s Vast Last mascara. Funnily enough, it is the first – and only – mascara that’s scored me eyelash compliments. And I do not take that lightly!
The hype around the K18 hair mask is valid: this stuff really works! Launched in 2021, it fell off my radar for a bit – buried beneath newer haircare solutions on my “to test” list. But one fateful day this summer I found a bottle. To strengthen and repair my mane in between braids appointments, I gave it a go. Beloved for its bond repair technology, the formula is designed to improve hair’s resilience, bounce, softness and shine in just four minutes. Plus, it’s known to work on every hair type. (I have thick 4B curls, for what it’s worth.)
Getting my nails done is rarely an enjoyable experience, so I’ve taken my nail-care in-house – I do my nails myself. Whether I do press-ons or a simple manicure, I prioritise formulas and treatments that will promote stronger, smoother nail beds. One of my favourites is JINsoon’s Cuticle Oil. The impressive elixir contains 20 natural, nutrient-rich oils and extracts to restore damaged, weak nails. The fact that it’s lightweight and fast-absorbing is an added bonus.
I first started using an LED face mask because they look cool, and at the gentle recommendation of various facialists. But after learning how impactful they are when it comes to diminishing the look of fine lines, hyperpigmentation and acne, I now make sure to incorporate a session at least once a week. Dr Dennis Gross’s is my personal favourite, not just because of its futuristic appeal, but due to the blue light it emits, which destroys acne-causing bacteria and helps limit future breakouts.
No serums or potent treatments are going to work if you don’t start with clean skin. So, as someone who wears make-up over half the week, I swear by a double cleanse. I am not into the messiness of an oil, and instead prefer to use a cleansing balm. Of the best, Tatcha’s relatively new formula is incredible. It boasts an impressive (and sensorial) balm-to-oil texture that genuinely lifts make-up and dirt off your skin – leaving your face softer and smoother in the process.
Margaux Anbouba, senior beauty editor
My hair has never felt softer or looked smoother post-blow dry. Typically, leave-in products weigh my hair down in a bad way, making it feel sticky or stiff, but this goes on like water and makes my hair behave in the best way.
I find deodorant so annoying, mostly because even the ones that claim to be invisible transfer to black T-shirts. This clear liquid, which comes in a roll-on, has never done me wrong. Even better, instead of covering up scent it uses acids to balance the flora and fauna of the armpit. It smells like a glamorous perfume (cough cough, Le Labo), not a classic single-note deodorant.
The term “lip kit” makes me shiver, but Refy’s Lip Collection is the opposite of overly matte. A three-piece set, the idea is to choose your own beauty combo: it offers everything you need to achieve the endlessly sexy ’90s supermodel lip, as well as a classic monochromatic look, and a simple glaze of gloss.
This perfect gel-blush started out as a limited-edition product, but the people (including myself) demanded more – and now it’s here to stay! It’s adaptive, which means the shade changes to a bespoke colour once it glides across your cheeks. On me, it lends a perky shade which makes it look like I went on a run (I would never), and the finish is gorgeously glossy.
Arden Fanning Andrews, beauty editor-at-large
Sarah Brown, the queen of Violet Lab and the OG Vogue beauty editor who brought me into the fold, recommended this serum to me (Angela does Amal Clooney’s facials), and it keeps selling out. They just restocked it so I can finally sing its praises. I love anything with wound-healing capabilities, and this is full of growth factors that skip any creepy sounding ingredients.
On days where I don’t want to put anything on my face, just three drops of this makes me look angelic.
After I covered Sofia Richie’s (exclusive to Vogue) wedding beauty look earlier this year, I tried some of the products she mentioned. The packaging doesn’t thrill me, but the product inside does look very natural on the skin.
I’ve been spraying this in as a first styling step and it practically doubles the thickness of my fine toddler hair, without feeling sticky.
I love that Manucurist is non-toxic and dries quickly, and this Moon shade is the perfect one-coat polish to use when I need to get out the door fast. During couture week in Paris this summer, they came to my hotel room for one of the best manicures I’ve ever had! Recommend!
