In recent years, the beauty industry has grown exponentially, with new launches, lines, and collaborations coming at us in rapid succession. Every casual scroll through your Instagram feed presents you with new beauty products, and don't even get us started on all those targeted ads you never asked to see. So if you're someone who loves beauty, how do you keep track of all of the latest and greatest? And more specifically, how do you know which items you can buy in the UK (without paying exorbitant shipping fees, that is)? Well, that's where we come in. Every month, we round up the most exciting launches coming to the UK, from classic brands to indie newcomers [1] and all the creams, sprays, and conditioners in between.
December 2020 is not like every other month, however. We are into our ninth month of the coronavirus pandemic, and the UK has just emerged from a nationwide lockdown with a new tier system [2] that is being reviewed by the government on 16th Dec. And whilst shops remain open in all of the different tiers, the fact that we have Christmas and Hanukkah to prepare for, and that some people may still be out of work or furloughed, means the idea of rushing out to buy beauty products – even online — probably isn't at the top of a majority of people's lists right now.
For some people, however, beauty (and, by extension, beauty products) may act as a distraction or a way to maintain some semblance of normalcy right now (a phenomenon known as the "lipstick effect" [3]). And many brands — in addition to donating products to NHS workers [4] and using their production lines to make hand sanitiser [5] — are continuing to roll out new products for anyone who is interested or has the ability to buy. Keep reading to check out the newness — even if it's just to do some virtual window shopping from your living room, or to pick up some last minute beauty gifts for your friends and family.
BeautyStat Universal Pro-Bio Moisture Boost Cream
Cosmetic chemist Ron Robinsons's first product, the BeautyStat Cosmetics Universal C Refiner, quickly made it to the top of every beauty editor's must-have list for its innovative encapsulation technology — and for the fact that it worked really, really well. It's why we're so excited for Robinson's second launch, the BeautyStat Universal Pro-Bio Moisture Boost Cream [6] (£60), which arrives this month in the UK via Cult Beauty.
Light as air, but exceptionally hydrating, the Universal Pro-Bio Moisture Boost Cream contains all the dermatologist-backed hydrating ingredients you'd expect it to, like hyaluronic acid and ceramides. But it's the cream's cocktail of bio-fermented ingredients that's the really exciting bit. Robinson has included an extract derived from a rare mushroom and a probiotic called bifida ferment lystate, that together not only help to heal and soothe the skin, but also protect it from external damage. Combine those ingredients with the HA and ceramides, and you have one seriously hard-working and effective moisturiser to get your skin through the harsh winter months.
Vichy Neovadiol Rose Platinium Eye Cream
Caffeine, rose extract, and mineral-enriched thermal water come together in the new Vichy Neovadiol Rose Platinium Eye Cream [7] (£27) to help the skin around the eyes look brighter, tighter, and smoother with regular use.
Typology Formule Serums
This month, Typology launches four new concentrated serums the brand calls the Formule range, each of which are composed of anywhere from 92% to 98% naturally-derived ingredients. There's the Typology 3 Peptides Complex, to help smooth and strengthen the skin, the Typology 5 Vitamin Complex, for brightening, the Typology 3 Pre and Probiotics Complex, to help hydrate and reduce redness, and finally, the Typology Sensitive Skin Serum 5 Mineral Complex [8] (£34), which we have our eye on. Suitable for all skin types — even the temperamental, stressed out kind — this serum contains sodium, calcium, manganese, and zinc to help both calm the skin and help stimulate cell activity for a stronger, more resilient complexion.
HIGHR Collective Lipstick
The HIGHR Collective Lipstick [9] (£22) collection is setting the bar high for what it means to make sustainable cosmetics. Every aspect of the lipstick has been thought about in terms of sustainability and its affects on the environment, from its clean, vegan formula (they don't use any ingredient that can harm the environment or animals), to the packaging (which prioritises metal over plastic, and means the boxes are made entirely from recycled and biodegradable packaging and printed with vegetable and water inks). The brand is also incredibly conscientious about its carbon footprint. They formulate the lipsticks using 100% solar energy, and help to offset all remaining carbon to be 100% Carbon Neutral by actively tracking all daily operational carbon. "To date we have saved and offset a total of 13.1 metric tons of greenhouse gases. These funds are supporting the Honduras Coffee Growers Clean Water Project, which has both a personal and planetary health impact," the brand explains on its website.
So what about the lipsticks themselves? They're incredibly comfortable to wear (thanks to rosehip oil and hyaluronic acid in the formula) and come in five user-friendly shades. There's Mercy (rosebud pink), Bravado (a cool, scarlet red), Truest (a blue-based medium pink), Chateau (a pinky beige), and Chiltern (a vibrant orange-red).
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops
Niacinamide has been one of the most-talked about skin-care ingredients of the year. Countless brands have launched products starring the dermatologist-recommended ingredient, the latest being the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops [10] (£31).
A quick recap: niacinamide is a type of vitamin B3 that, when applied topically, helps reduce the appearance of fine lines, revive your skin tone, and, most notably, decrease inflammation, which helps with issues like acne and rosacea. In addition to niacinamide, Glow Recipe's new gel-like serum features watermelon (hence the name), which is full of antioxidants, as well as hyaluronic acid, and moringa oil. Non-comedogenic (which means it won't clog pores), the illuminating formula can be used before your makeup as a glow-enhancing, redness-reducing primer, or even on top of makeup, serving as a very dewy highlighter.
By Terry V.I.P Expert Palette in Paris Mon Amour
Your trip to Paris this year cancelled because of COVID? The By Terry V.I.P Expert Palette in Paris Mon Amour [11] (£48), which is inspired by the City of Light, will help transport you there — at least while you're using it. The 10-pan palette features a gorgeous range of shimmery neutral powder shadows, including a pearly white, ballet pink, twinkly garnet, and a range of browns and bronze hues, some of which are embossed with Paris's most iconic monuments like the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe. It's one of the prettiest, but also most utilitarian eye shadow palettes we've seen in a while.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir in Berry Bliss
The original Charlotte Tilbury Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir [12] (£28) gives you the best thing about lip balm (the hydration) and the best thing about lip gloss (the shine) but minus any stickiness or hair getting stuck to your lips. We've been obsessed with the product ever since it launched, which is why we're delighted that the brand decided to launch two limited-edition shades of it for the festive season: Berry Bliss (shown here) and Rose Lust (a sheer light pink).
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Cream Color Drip Lip Cream
Available in five shades (shown here in Fruit Snackz), the Gloss Bomb Cream Color Drip Lip Cream [13] (£17) is a new shimmer-free lip gloss formula with lots of pigment — we're talking liquid lipstick levels — and even more amounts of shine.
Chantecaille Le Matte Stylo
The new Chantecaille Le Matte Stylo [14] (£36), which comes in four easy-to-wear pink and red shades, doesn't just come packed with a lot of pigment. It also contains sustainably-sourced Fair Wild-certified baobab oil, meaning the creamy lip crayon is also incredibly hydrating.
No7 HydraLuminous Fixing Mist
In addition to setting your makeup, the No7 HydraLuminous Fixing Mist [15] (£12) gives skin a dewy, luminous finish. And while you're meant to spray it on your face right after you've finished your makeup, you can also spritz it on throughout the day to refresh and lock in your base.
Batiste Dry Shampoo for NHS Charities Together
Batiste's new launch will not only make your hair look good, but will make you feel good, too. The brand created two limited-edition cans of its Batiste Dry Shampoo [16] (£3) in Fresh and Pink Pineapple, decorated with rainbows to show support and gratitude to the NHS for all of their tireless work this year during the pandemic. And for every bottle purchased, Batiste will donate 40p to NHS Charities Together [17], the membership organisation that represents, supports, and champions the NHS charities across the UK.
Quantum Botanika Face & Scalp Massage Rollers
These spiky 24-carat balls are neither a Golden Snitch nor some sort of medieval torture device. The Quantum Botanika Face & Scalp Massage Rollers [18] (£34) are magnetic spheres that are actually meant to help you relax. Rolling them over your face for just five minutes helps to relieve muscle tension and potentially stimulate collagen production.
Bleach London Rosé Shampoo Bar
This month, Bleach London launches its first-ever plastic-free hair dye in the form of the Bleach London Rosé Shampoo Bar [19] (£9). "We have wanted to develop a plastic-free formula at Bleach for some time, so we're very excited to introduce our new Toning Shampoo Bar," the brand's founder and creative director, Alex Brownsell, said via press release. "It's our mission to create a spectrum of hair products for people to experiment with at home, but it's also our goal to continue improving our environmental impact. This is a new option for our most popular pink, with zero plastic."
Summer Fridays Babymoon Belly Balm
The new Summer Fridays Babymoon Belly Balm [20] (£22), a rich, water-free moisturiser, was inspired by co-founder Lauren Ireland's own experience with pregnancy. Becuse of that, the formula uses only pregnancy-safe ingredients, including sunflower and avocado oils (both full of omega fatty acids), vitamin E, and calendula oil, the latter of which not only gives the balm its herbal scent, but also helps soothe overstretched skin. A quick note: whilst you only see the US price on the brand's website, be rest assured that the product ships from the brand's website to the UK.
CBII CBD Balm Muscle + Skin
We've been fans of CBII's CBD oils and capsules for a while now, so we can't wait to slather the new CBII CBD Balm Muscle + Skin [21] (£39) all over our limbs this month. Ridiculously silky and lightweight, the balm contains 300mg of CBD and cannabis sativa oil, plus additional hydrators like shea butter, olive fruit oil, sweet almond oil, and sunflower seed oil. It smells of eucalyptus and lavender, which means the scent is incredibly relaxing (great right before bed), whilst the cannabidiol helps soothe sore muscles, whether you're achey because of a workout or because you spent all day working on your sofa.
Seed to Skin The Devotion Vetiver Body Balm
Luxurious Italian skin-care brand Seed to Skin has expanded its body balm range to include the Seed to Skin The Devotion Vetiver Body Balm [22] (£79). The balm itself is made from a mix of shea butter, macadamia oil, thermal water, and olive leaf extract, whilst the scent is a combination of essential oils like clary sage, pink pepper, mandarin, and of course, the smoky, woody scent of vetiver.
The Organic Pharmacy Antioxidant Hand & Body Lotion
Between the chilly temperatures and constant hand washing, we can't wait to invest in a bottle of the new The Organic Pharmacy Antioxidant Hand & Body Lotion [23] (£35). Lightweight in texture, yet supernourishing, the all-natural formula contains nourishing shea butter, soothing calendula, and sweet orange oil, the latter of which gives the lotion its subtle-yet-uplifting scent.
Byredo x Travis Scott Space Rage Eau de Parfum
The Byredo x Travis Scott Space Rage Eau de Parfum [24] (£175) and candle sold out a day after the rapper revealed the products on his Instagram. According to a press release from Byredo, the top notes of Space Rage are cosmic dust and antimatter particles, while the the heart notes of "starlight and the scent of supernova." We're not quite sure what any of that smells like (slightly metallic, perhaps?), and unfortunately we may never find out as the brand has not confirmed whether they will restock the two products.
Holm Liquid Gold Bath Oil
HOLM is a London-based nail salon who recently expanded into wellness products. Vegan, cruelty free, and packaged in the chicest glass packaging, we can't wait to have a soak using the Holm Liquid Gold Bath Oil [25] (£28), which is made with avocado, coconut, sweet almond, and hemp seed oils (all of which are hydrating and soothing for the skin), as well as pink pepper and rosemary essential oils.