The Best New UK Beauty Products of February 2020
The Best New Beauty Products Launching in the UK in February 2020
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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 being revealed (especially if you follow someone with the last name of Kardashian or Jenner), and let's not even get started with all those targeted ads you never asked to see. So how do you keep track of all of the beauty newness going on? 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.
We got the inside scoop on what's hitting the shelves — digitally and in-store — of Space NK, Cult Beauty, Superdrug, Boots, and beyond to find the best new beauty launches of the month, rounding them up in one place to make it easy for you. Maybe you're in the market for something specific — like a new foundation formula or a new body lotion to help soothe your dry, Winter-ravaged skin — or maybe you just want to peruse the new innovations in skin care and makeup. And there's a whole lot of newness to peruse in February, including a high-tech blow-dryer from GHD, a full-coverage, non-drying concealer from Revolution, and Ted Baker's first foray into cosmetics. Keep reading to learn about these and all of other beauty newness launching this month.
GHD Helios Hairdryer
The GHD Helios Hairdryer (£159) is the lightest and fastest blow dryer from GHD yet. The ionic technology (developed by GHD's UK research and development lab in Cambridge) reduces frizz and flyaways, giving hair up to 30 percent more shine, all while drying the hair incredibly fast with the 2200 watt motor. "The GHD helios Hairdryer gives you the perfect flow of air when drying to create a natural fullness, stunning shine, and smoothness," says GHD ambassador Zoë Irwin, who broke out the new tool backstage at Olivia Rubin's Autumn 2020 show at London Fashion Week. "It's my new kit bag essential as it's so fast and really minimises drying time, therefore limiting damage to your hair."
Amika High Tide Deep Waver
We are so excited for the Amika High Tide Deep Waver (£90) to finally make its way across the pond and into the UK. When it launched, American beauty editors and influencers couldn't get enough of the multi-tong tool for its ability to create cool, relaxed-looking waves with very little effort — just keep clamping it along sections of hair from just below the roots to right above the ends. No awkward wrapping, twisting, and contorting your arms required.
Glossier Skywash Sheer Matte Lid Tints
Like the brand's other cosmetic offerings, the Glossier Skywash Sheer Matte Lid Tints (£15) are all about ease — both in terms of application and aesthetic. The cream-to-powder formula gives you the soft, diffused look of a powder shadow but without having to faff about with lots of brushes and blending. Just dab the doe-foot applicator on your lids, tap the pigment on with your fingers, and you have a beautiful veil of colour over your lids. Available in seven shades — inspired by inspired by unglazed pottery, David Hockney paintings, and Southwest landscapes — our favourite of the bunch is Pool, a gorgeous cornflower blue with the teensiest hint of grey to give the sweet pastel a bit of an edge.
With Ted Cosmetics by Ted Baker
This month, legendary fashion designer Ted Baker launches his first foray into makeup. Ted Cosmetics is a truly comprehensive makeup range that includes all of the basics — mascara, lipstick, lip liner, eye shadow quads, lip gloss, liquid liner — plus a few fun items like dual-ended shadow crayons, liquid glitter shadows, and a massive eye-and-face palette, all of which comes in packaging decked out in bespoke, art-deco-inspired designs. Our favourites of the bunch? The With Ted Regents Satin Lipsticks (£22 each), which have a smooth-as-butter consistency and are loaded with pigment. Available in 10 shades, we're especially partial to Poised, an exceptionally pretty pinky-taupe that's neither too rosy nor too pale.
Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primers
Laura Mercier does base products really, really well. The brand's Tinted Moisturiser and Secret Camouflage concealer are two of the most iconic makeup items of all time. It's why we're superexcited for its newest launch, the Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primers (£32 each), which are a collection of makeup primers meant to help your foundation and concealer — to quote Kanye West — work harder, better, faster, stronger.
As pictured, there are six products in the range. There's the Perfecting Primer (which is the most similar to the brand's original foundation primer), Blurring Primer, Hydrating Primer, Illuminating Primer, Protecting Primer (with SPF 30), and the silicone-free Power Primer Supercharged Essence (£46), which isn't a primer in the traditional sense, but is still meant to be used as a makeup prep as it both smooths the skin and contains light-reflecting particles - just in a thinner, milkier texture.
Florence by Mills 16 Wishes Eyeshadow Palette
For her 16th birthday, Brown is celebrating by giving us a gift: a new beauty launched aptly named 16 Wishes. The collection includes two shimmering peel-off masks, three limited-edition lip gloss shades, and a 16-pan eye shadow palette where the individual shades are named for each of her wishes for the world, including Freedom, Love, Hope, and Justice, to name a few. What's really neat about this palette, though, is that it splits apart into three pieces, which means you don't need to take the entire palette with you for mid-day touchups or when you're going on holiday.
The Florence by Mills 16 Wishes Eyeshadow Palette (£34) launches on boots.co.uk on 9 Feb.
By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Foundation
As the name suggests, the By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Foundation (£49) formula contains hyaluronic acid, the molecule that our skin produces naturally to help retain moisture. That means this light-coverage formula (which can be layered to become nearly full-coverage), keeps skin feeling soft and looking fresh throughout the day (versus dry and cakey, which often happens around 3pm at the office). The dropper bottle resembles a serum, as does the formula itself, which is quite thin and is best applied with a brush. We absolutely love how radiant it makes our skin look, but were initially hesitant about the limited shade range. However, the brand promises to be release more hues in Summer 2020.
Urban Decay Wired Eyeshadow Palette
Just a quick scroll through all the daring makeup looks from the Autumn 2020 runways and it's clear that bold, colourful makeup isn't going anywhere. Urban Decay's Wired Eyeshadow Palette (£39) will help you jump on the trend with eleven, nearly-neon powder shadows plus one pure white shade (Glitch), which you can use to transform the others into pretty pastels.
Nars Cosmetics Afterglow Eyeshadow Palette
We can't wait to dip into every gorgeous shade in the Nars Cosmetics Afterglow Eyeshadow Palette (£46), which is full of rich, warm hues in a variety of decadent finishes — from smooth mattes to foiled metallics, and one dazzling chunky gold glitter. The palette is part of the brand's Afterglow Collection and reminds us of a bronzier version of the Wanted Eyeshadow Palette from a few years back. Buy it now, and you'll have your Summer 2020 makeup sorted.
Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Concealer
We knew when Mother launched her foundation system back in July, a concealer wasn't too far away — and this month, it finally arrived in the UK. The Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Concealer (£26), which is a full coverage cream concealer with a naturally radiant finish, comes in 36 shades across five different shade categories: light, light medium, medium, medium deep, and deep. And similar to the Skin Fetish Foundation, you can either purchase the concealer on its own, or part of McGrath's concealing system, which also includes an under-eye setting powder and angled concealer brush.
Sisley Phyto Hydra Teint Beautifying Tinted Moisturizer
A really good tinted moisturiser is hard to find. You need one that's not too shimmery, not too sheer, and not too greasy (so that you actually put other makeup on top of it). It's why so many people are still so loyal to Laura Mercier's iconic formula — myself, included — and why I was so excited when I slathered the new Sisley Phyto Hydra Teint over my face recently. It's checks all the boxes: It doesn't contain any sparkly particles, but rather mica crystals that give your skin a bit of a glow and help even out tone. It has enough pigment to cover up any underlying redness, but not so much that it becomes streaky as you spread it over your skin with your fingers. And because the formula contains a touch of powder in it, it actually dries down to a velvety-matte finish, meaning it plays nicely with any makeup you decide to put on top of it.
The Sisley Phyto Hydra Teint Beautifying Tinted Moisturizer launches on 1 Feb.
Ciaté Fruit Burst Lip Oils
Available in four juicy flavours (shown here in Lychee & Açai Burst), the Ciaté Fruit Burst Lip Oils (£14) are like a high-shine lip gloss and supernourishing lip balm in one adorable tube.
e.l.f Hydrating Camo Concealer
February is certainly looking like the month to stock up on concealer. The e.l.f Hydrating Camo Concealer (£6) is an updated version of the brand's Camo Concealer, showcasing a silkier, lighter-weight texture that — while still offering plenty of coverage — won't flake or settle into lines and creases throughout the day.
Chanel Le Blanc Rosy Light Drops
Chanel's makeup range has long provided excellent ways to get your glow on (it's Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base is a product on the top of loads of makeup artists' must-have lists), and this month, they're giving us one more option. The Chanel Le Blanc Rosy Light Drops (£38) is a sheer liquid highlighter in a pearly, ballerina-pink hue. Tap it on top of cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose, and along the Cupid's bow, or swirl it over cream blush for an otherworldly, allover sheen.
The Chanel Le Blanc Rosy Light Drops launches on 7 Feb.
L'Oréal Paris Limited Edition Valentine's Day Paradise Mascara
L'Oréal Paris Limited Edition Valentine's Day Paradise Mascara (£12) is something to celebrate. The original formula is hailed as one of the best by makeup artists around the world, due to its "perfect brush size, full volume, and zero clumping," says British makeup artist Hannah Martin. Well, this year, it's getting an adorable makeover for Valentine's Day. The formula and brush will stay the same, but for February, it'll get a new heart-embellished design.
Revolution Conceal & Define Infinite Longwear Concealer
Revolution is known for making affordable, good-quality base products, so we couldn't be more excited to try their latest concealer launch: the Revolution Conceal & Define Infinite Longwear Concealer (£6). Long-wear and full coverage, the brand claims the formula boasts 20-percent more pigment and 20-percent more coverage than their existing concealers, as well as 16 hours of wear. The formula comes in a staggeringly impressive 60 shades, at a price point that's so low, it's shocking. And because of the cushy doe-foot applicator, you can use this concealer to highlight, contour, or even stand in for your foundation in a pinch.
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in Hot Chocolit
When Rihanna launched her original, universally-flattering Gloss Bomb, people lost their mother-loving minds. This month, Fenty Beauty has introduced three more shades of the fan-favourite lip gloss, including Glass Slipper (clear), Sweet Mouth (a shimmery soft pink), Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in Hot Chocolit (£17), a sparkly cocoa hue that is a perfect, modern way to try out the '90s makeup trend.
Nudestix Magnetic Lip Plush Paints
Inspired by the blurred lip trend popular in K-beauty, the Nudestix Magnetic Lip Plush Paints (£24) are a line of seven, semisheer, matte pigments that are meant to be dotted, smudged, and blurred over cheeks and lips (although, you can layer it onto your lips to get quite an opaque finish if you'd like). Our favourite shades of the bunch are Fresh Fiji (shown here), which is a peachy-coral, and Bahama Mama, a pink-tinged taupe, both of which would be great to throw in your makeup bag for your next holiday.
Zoeva Authentik Skin Perfector Retouch Concealer
What did we say about this month being a good time to invest in a new concealer? German brand Zoeva also dropped a new range called the Zoeva Authentik Skin Perfector Retouch Concealer (£15). Available in 30 shades, the velvety formula blurs away imperfections and offers medium coverage (but can be layered to be full coverage if you want). It also includes rose hip oil, which means it has a nice amount of slip to it (although, it may be a bit too slippy for oily skin types).
The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm
This month, The Inkey List adds six new products to the range, each one filling a gap in the collection — like a retinol-based eye cream, a rich peptide moisturiser, and our favourite of the bunch, The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm, which is the brand's first face cleanser formulated for sensitive skin. The rich balm contains ceramides, as well as 1-percent colloidol oatmeal and 3-percent oat kernel oil, to help both soothe and keep skin hydrated, even as it breaks down and washes away leftover makeup and grime on your face. I've been using it after overdoing it with my prescription retinol, which made my skin tight, sensitised, and flaky, and it's helped turn my skin right around.
The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm launches on 17 Feb.
Codex Bia Wash-Off Cleansing Oil
Made in Ireland, the Codex Bia Wash-Off Cleansing Oil (£67) whisks away all of your makeup whilst leaving your skin soft and hydrated, thanks to ingredients like blackcurrant seeds, chia seed, and oat lipids. Natural and chemical-free, the product also boasts several certifications, including PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification), Cruelty Free International, and The Vegan Society's only official UK Vegan Trademark.
Victoria Beckham Beauty by Augustinus Bader Cell Rejuvenating Power Serum
Beckham's first product launch of 2020 marks her second time collaborating with German skincare brand Augustinus Bader. The Victoria Beckham Beauty by Augustinus Bader Cell Rejuvenating Power Serum (£180) contains a mix of heavy-hitting skincare ingredients including hyaluronic acid, niacinimide, glycerin, vitamin E, and olive fruit extract, as well as Dr. Bader's proprietary TFC-8 ingredient, which the brand promises helps spring skin cells into action, resulting in a smoother, glowier, firmer, and all around more youthful-looking complexion.
La Prairie White Caviar Eye Extraordinaire
La Prairie's White Caviar Eye Extraordinaire (£440) is not meant for someone on a budget. (In fact, it's probably not meant for many of our budgets.) It is, however, made for people who are concerned about their eye area who maybe aren't ready to invest in aesthetic surgery.
The formula, which includes golden caviar extract (which the brand promises helps to increase collagen production), the brand's proprietary Cellular Complex (which it promises restores firmness and elasticity to the delicate eye skin), and a new molecule called Lumidose, which helps brighten the eye area. With the included ceramic pearl applicator, you also get a depuffing tool, which means this fancy little does-it-all jar truly is extraordinary.
Yves Saint Laurent Beauté Pure Shots Night Reboot Serum
At the end of the month, YSL Beauté debuts a brand new skin-care range that's all about treating "overworked skin," or in other words, skin that's dry, dull, and constantly being subjected to the dirt, grime, pollution, stress, and general lack of sleep that comes with living in a busy city like London, New York, or Paris.
The range consists of a face cream, a hydrating essence, and four serums (the "shots," which are all refillable, by the way). There's one for fighting dullness, one for smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, one for firming, and one for helping revive your complexion overnight, called the YSL Beauté Pure Shots Night Reboot Serum (£59). The bi-phase serum, shown here, is the star of the line and contains cactus oil, which according to the brand mimics the effects of melatonin on the skin, and 3.4-percent glycolic acid, to remove dead skin cells. Shake the bottle to mix the two phases together, slather this on before bed, and your skin will look like you actually got eight hours of sleep a night.
The Yves Saint Laurent Beauté Pure Shots Night Reboot Serum launches on 22 Feb.
Weleda Aknedoron S.O.S. Spot Treatment
Weleda's two Aknedoron products for spot-prone skin have been around for years, but in 2020, the brand is expanding the range with three new products: a gentle gel cleanser, a refining lotion, and the Weleda Aknedoron S.O.S. Spot Treatment (£11), which we can't wait to add to our skincare arsenal. The entirely organic formula is made up of sulphur, willow extract, thyme essential oil, and witch hazel to help calm and reduce the appearance of spots and blackheads overnight.
Trilogy Hydrating Jelly Mask
The POPSUGAR editors are big fans of Trilogy's Certified Organic Rosehip Oil and Very Gentle Moisturising Cream, so you can imagine how excited we are about the new Trilogy Hydrating Jelly Mask (£20.50). The leave-on and wash-off formula combines the brand's signature ingredient, rose hip, with hyaluronic acid (for hydrating), and manuka honey, which is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties. Combined, this mask promises to leave your skin soft, supple, and looking like you've just left the spa after you've rinsed it off.
Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus + CBD Active Serum Concentrate
The original Perricone MD Cold Plasma Cream launched in 2009 and instantly became a bestseller for its ability to hydrate, smooth, and brighten the skin all at once. This month, the brand celebrates the iconic face cream with a limited-edition version infused with the hottest ingredient of the moment. Like the original, the Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus + CBD Active Serum Concentrate (£135) contains vitamin C ester (for brightening and smoothing) and omegas 3, 6 and 9 (for plumping and moisturising), while also including 100mg of the purest form of CBD they could find (it uses CBD isolate, versus full-spectrum, which means it includes cannabidiol and absolutely nothing else) to help calm inflammation.
The Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus + CBD Active Serum Concentrate launches on 17 Feb.
Eve Lom Rescue Peel Pads
Eve Lom is known as a brand that treats your skin with some serious TLC. Its classic Cleanser is probably one of the first balm cleansers on the market — if not the first. With this in mind, we're excited for the Eve Lom Rescue Peel Pads (£55). The peel itself is made up of marshmallow flower, vitamin B3, and a blend of alpha, beta, and poly hydroxy acids — the latter of which is a cousin to AHAs that works solely on the skin's surface and that's also rich in antioxidants and helps to stimulate epidermal growth and repair. The combination of ingredients helps break down dead cells that have piled up on the skin's surface leaving it dull-looking and potentially congested, but without stripping your skin to hell or feeling stingy. And because we knew you'd ask: the pads themselves are 100-percent biodegradable.
Too Faced Hangover Pillow Cream
If, when it comes to makeup and skin care, you like to be extra at all times, you're going to love the Too Faced Hangover Pillow Cream (£32). Aside from it being hydrating (thanks to the sea kelp and avocado oil), this moisturiser is infused with "stardust," according to the brand, which leaves a pearlescent finish for the glowiest bedtime skin.
The Too Faced Hangover Pillow Cream launches 14 Feb.
Herbal Essences Bio Renew Hemp and Potent Aloe Sulphate-Free Shampoo and Conditioner
Herbal Essences is launching its first ever sulphate-free shampoo and conditioner — Herbal Essences Bio Renew Hemp and Potent Aloe Sulphate-Free Shampoo (£6) and Herbal Essences Bio Renew Hemp and Potent Aloe Sulphate-Free Conditioner (£6) — finally providing an option from the range that is ideal for those who prefer to wash without the ingredient. Additionally, the colour-safe formula promises to help leave your hair soft and smooth.
Aveda Nutriplenish Leave-in Conditioner
Aveda's new Nutriplenish range is all about moisture, using organic pomegranate oil (which is rich in omega 5) to help hydrate dry strands. There are four products in the line: a shampoo and conditioner that are best for straight and wavy textures, as well as an oil and the Aveda Nutriplenish Leave-in Conditioner (£27.50), which are both rich and hydrating enough for hair types ranging from 2C to 4C.
Wishful Yo Glow Enzyme Scrub
Beauty entrepreneur Huda Kattan started off the new decade with a bang by introducing the world to Wishful, her new skincare line. The first product launch of the range is the The Wishful Yo Glow Enzyme Scrub, which is one-part gentle scrub, one part chemical exfoliant. Made with a base of glycerin and almond oil, the formula breaks down dead skin cells on the surface both physically and chemically: with tiny granules made from cellulose floating around in the milky base, but also with AHAs, BHAs, and pineapple and papaya enzyme-extracts in the formula. Massage it over your face and you'll be left with smoother, brighter-looking skin in minutes.
The Wishful Yo Glow Enzyme Scrub launches at UK retailers on 18 Feb.
BeautyBio The Quench Eye Balm
BeautyBio's The Quench Skin Recovery Cream is one of the best-selling moisturisers on the market. So you can imagine how thrilled we were upon finding out they've gifted the world with the BeautyBio The Quench Eye Balm (£95), a unique, lightweight balm (yes, a "lightweight balm" is basically a beauty oxymoron, but it's true) that is like one tall glass of water for your eyes. Applied morning and night, the rich, oil-and-lipid-spiked formula not only promises to hydrate, but also to slightly fill, firm, and lift the overall area. It's a great investment whether you're just starting to see a few fine lines form or looking to tighten up already sagging skin.
Milk Makeup Vegan Milk Cleanser
On the heels of their popular Vegan Milk Moisturizer, comes the new Milk Makeup Vegan Milk Cleanser (£27), a fragrance- and sulfate-free face wash that removes makeup and grime from the day without totally destroying your skin. Safe for all skin types, the formula contains various vegan milks (fig, oat, argan, for example), grapeseed oil, olive-derived squalene, as well as jojoba and aloe vera extracts.
CBII CBD Oil
These days, you can pretty much cover yourself in CBD oil from head to toe, whether that's an CBD-infused body cream, hand salve, or lip balm. But one of our favourite ways to use the ingredient is still in its pure form, as an ingestible, to both chill our nerves and potentially cut down on internal inflammation. CBII CBD Oil is a new, luxury brand that offers full-spectrum CBD Oil (that means it uses all the cannibidoid compounds found in the cannabis sativa plant versus just cannibidoil), which some believe to be more effective that CBD isolate (a recent study from Israel showed that CBD isolate didn't work as well for pain as whole plant extract). We're especially fans of the brand's 500mg offering, which, when placed under the tongue for a minute, immediately helped one of our editors relax after a particularly stressful day at the office.
Burt's Bees Hemp Body Lotion
Speaking of cannabis, Burt's Bees launched a full range of hemp products this month, including the Burt's Bees Hemp Body Lotion (£11). It's important to note, however, that these products do not contain cannibidoil (CBD), but rather hemp seed oil, which is a genius ingredient for calming and soothing dry skin.
Jo Malone London Silver Birch & Lavender Cologne
This year, Jo Malone London is asking us to rethink lavender for Spring. The brand has launched an entire lavender collection which includes a pillow mist, a diffuser, and three lavender-based colognes: Lavender & Coriander, Wisteria & Lavender, and Jo Malone Silver Birch & Lavender Cologne (£50 for 30ml), which is a personal favourite over here at POPSUGAR. With additional notes of grapefruit and fennel, the scent is meant to evoke a morning spent walking in a garden, versus our reality, which is trying to cram onto the Victoria line at 8:00am.
Aime x Agent Nateur Aime Probiotic Deodorant
The Aime x Agent Nateur Aime Probiotic Deodorant (£20) doesn't contain any aluminium, if that's an ingredient you're trying to avoid. What it does contain are strains of lactobacillus and saccharomyces, which are two kinds of good bacteria found on your skin that help to fight off the bad kinds of bacteria that can make you stinky. It also contains coconut oil (a natural antimicrobial ingredient), sodium bicarbonate, as well as caster and orange essential oils.
The Aime x Agent Nateur Aime Probiotic Deodorant launches on 1 Feb.
Nails Inc Crystals Made Me Do It Nail Polish Duo
Let's be real: there's no scientific evidence that the crystals floating around the bottom of this nail polish bottle will do anything for your nails — but how can you not love a top coat full of calming amethyst-coloured gems? The Nails Inc Crystals Made Me Do It Nail Polish Duo features a beautiful bronze-gold metallic nail polish and crystal-infused topcoat, launching 7 Feb.
Pat McGrath Labs Opulust Gloss
The newest addition to Pat McGrath's epic makeup range is the Pat McGrath Labs Opulust Gloss (£28), a collection of eight lip glosses full of iridescent shimmer that sparkle like diamonds on the lips. Expect to see some of these glittering glosses make appearances on the BAFTAs and Oscars red carpets this month.
