Best Skin-Care and Beauty Launches to Try in March 2021
The Best New Skin Care, Makeup, and Hair Care Launching in March 2021
As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work.
In recent years, the beauty industry has grown exponentially, with new launches, collaborations, and celebrity lines 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 and all the creams, sprays, and conditioners in between.
However, March 2021 isn't like any other month, as we are still very much dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. As vaccines are being administered in rapid succession, this month, the UK government is slowly easing lockdown restrictions, with schools reopening on 8 March, the "stay at home" order lifted on 29 March, and nonessential shops set to reopen next month on 12 April. And whilst there are people who will be eagerly planning their reentry back into society, there are others who may find rushing out to buy beauty products — even online — not feasible at the moment, and that's completely understandable.
But if you find yourself in the former group — those who are planning outfits, dusting off their hair tools, and dreaming about all the eyeshadow and lipstick they're going to be wearing over the late spring and summer months — then there's loads of new beauty products for you to peruse and consider adding into your routine. Keep reading to check out the newness, even if it's just to do some virtual window shopping from your sofa.
— Additional reporting by Tori Crowther
L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Laser Pure Retinol Night Serum
Potent enough to target deep-set wrinkles, the L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Laser Pure Retinol Night Serum (£25) contains 0.2 percent retinol, but it's not really the amount that's important here. The brand created something it calls the Retinol Stabilisation Technology, which helps protect the retinol and keep it stable in the formula. Because of this new proprietary technology, the brand did not need to add anything to the retinol to protect it or use another derivative of vitamin A, meaning it's a pure form of retinol and not an ester like retinyl palmitate and retinyl propionate, for example. Additionally, the brand also added in hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and three different types of oils to further help stabilise the formula and keep skin happy and hydrated whilst the retinol gets to work.
CeraVe Hyaluronic Acid Serum
The CeraVe Hyaluronic Acid Serum (£17) has finally made its way across the pond to the UK and is exactly what you'd expect from the brand — gentle, effective, fragrance free, easy-to-use, and recommended by derms. What else could you ask for? A glowing complexion you might add . . . well, use it regularly and you'll get that, too. Click here to read our full review of the serum.
Wishful Eye Lift & Snatch Instant Sculpting Masks
Inspired by the brand's Chin Lift Sculpting Sheet Masks, Huda Kattan set to work developing something that would do the same thing for your under eyes. The result? The Wishful Eye Lift & Snatch Instant Sculpting Masks (£4), which leave the skin underneath your eyes looking brighter and firmer, like you just got eight hours of sleep and had time to leisurely enjoy a cup of coffee (sounds wonderful, right?). The hydrogel eye masks (which feature slime green-coloured fabric on one side) have an immediate cooling and soothing effect, whilst the ingredients — plant stem cells from the calanthe orchid, sweet almond oil, rose extract, and peptides — get to work hydrating, depuffing, plumping, firming, and brightening your under eyes. And because of the fabric/hydrogel combo, these masks are mess-free and truly stay put. We bet you could wear them during a spin class and they wouldn't slip down your face.
Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream
When the Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream (£205) launched in 2018, it took the beauty industry by storm, with celebrities and editors jumping on the Bader bandwagon and shouting praise for its hydrating, skin-soothing effects from the rooftops ... well, Instagram to be exact. Three years later, the brand has decided to give The Rich Cream an upgrade, reformulating the moisturiser so that's it vegan, in addition to being gluten- and GMO-free.
According to Allure, the non-vegan ingredients cut from the INCI list include lanolin, beeswax, and lactic acid, whilst the brand added in hyaluronic acid, hydrolysed rice protein (to soothe irritation), and sisymbrium irio seed oil (which apparently promotes cell turnover, firms the appearance of skin, and helps reduce eczema). Don't worry though, if you're a fan of the spenny moisturiser (we definitely are here at POPSUGAR!), nothing about its texture or how well it works has changed. It still leaves skin clearer, smoother, brighter, plumper, and softer thanks to its proprietary TFC8 complex that helps your skin's stem cells repair and regenerate.
Emma Hardie Midas Touch Super Serum
The Emma Hardie Midas Touch Super Serum (£58) is a does-it-all serum — the first the brand has had clinically trialled — that promises to boost hydration and leave skin looking smoother, firmer, softer, and glowier over time. The jam-packed formula contains bakuchiol (a botanical extract that helps promote cell turnover and support collagen production), vitamin C, niacinamide, vitamin E, as well as soothing ingredients like aloe vera, grapeseed oil, shea butter, and squalene.
"I felt that we needed something much more intense [in the Midas Touch range] that's really targeted at those first signs of ageing, or ageing generally, which tends to be the dehyradation and the fine lines and wrinkles," brand founder Emma Hardie said of the serum in a video filmed for the launch. In addition to all of the vitamins and the derm-loved ingredients, the formula also includes something called "ultra-filling spheres", which, according to Hardie "go in through the top layers of the skin and then they suck up the moisture from the deeper layers and release it. So as the skin plumps up, the fine lines and wrinkle start to disappear."
Bare Minerals Ageless 10% Phyto-Retinol Night Concentrate
There's a lot that isn't in the Bare Minerals Ageless 10% Phyto-Retinol Night Concentrate (£52), which is part of the brand's Phyto-Retinol collection that launches on 10 March at Boots and bareminerals.co.uk. In addition to being cruelty-free, the brand explains that, like the rest of its products, this new range is "free of parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, chemical sunscreens, triclosan, triclocarban, propylene glycol, mineral oil, coal tar, and microbeads."
So what is in the Phyto-Retinol Night Concentrate? An extract from the picão preto plant to be exact, which is a well-known medicinal plant that's native to South America. Like bakuchiol, picão preto extract is thought to be a natural alternative retinol, helping to smooth lines and even out skin tone and texture over time. The concentrated serum also contains hyaluronic acid and peptides to help with hydration and collagen production, leaving skin looking completely refreshed with continued use.
The Nue Co. Barrier Culture Moisturiser
The Nue Co.'s latest launch brings its ethos of body and environmental wellness to the field of skin care ... or skin "supplements" as the brand calls them. The "Barrier Culture" supplements, which include a cleanser and the The Nue Co. Barrier Culture Moisturiser (£45) are all about pampering the skin and balancing the skin barrier with the help of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics — and in the moisturiser's case, with the addition of ceramides, niacinamide, squalane, peptides, glycerin, and cica (centella asiatica). Housed in glass bottles, the moisturiser formula is pretty cool, as it was developed using an innovative process that allowed the brand to stabilise the bacteria cultures without damaging its cellular structure. What does that mean for your complexion, though? Damaged bacteria basically does nothing when it comes into contact with your skin. The fact the bacteria (or probiotics) is not damaged mens the skin recognises it as "live" and will therefore start working to strengthen the skin barrier and its natural protective processes.
Philosophy Nature in a Jar Skin Rehab Balm With Wheatgrass
The Philosophy Nature in a Jar Skin Rehab Balm With Wheatgrass (£33) is basically a green juice in a tube, packed with ingredients like broccoli, barley leaf, ginger, and of course, wheatgrass, which is high in antioxidants. And like any good balm, this one can be used in a variety of ways: as a skin-coddling overnight mask, an on-the-go treatment to soothe dry, flaky patches both on face and body, or as an after-sun treatment if you leave it in the fridge. And all of that skin goodness comes in eco-responsible packaging.
By Terry Hyaluronic Global Face Cream
Vegan and fragrance-free, the new By Terry Hyaluronic Global Face Cream (£60) is a formula jam-packed with gold-standard skin-care ingredients loved by dermatologists. As you probably deduced from the product name, it does contain hyaluronic acid — eight different forms, to be exact, all varying in molecular weights. It also contains five percent niacinamide to improve skin's tone and texture and phytosqualane for antioxidant protection and to help stimulate collagen product. The result is an incredibly rich and skin-coddling cream that will leave your complexion feeling hydrated and looking plump and glowing.
Shiseido Vital Perfection Intensive Wrinkle Spot Treatment
Packaged in an air-tight tube, the Shiseido Vital Perfection Intensive Wrinkle Spot Treatment (£90) contains retinol and the brand's proprietary ReNeura Technology++ (which it claims helps jump-start skin cells into action to ward off the signs of ageing). The cream can be applied like an eye cream (under and along the sides of the eyes), around the mouth and sides of the nose, over the neck, or anywhere you have deep wrinkles, dark spots, or sagging that you want to treat.
Pai The Light Fantastic Ceramide Facial Oil
It's fair to say that our skin has suffered from the last few winter months. Not just from the cold, but also from the stress that lockdown has brought. For many people, their skin has been dryer, more irritated, and prone to flare-ups in conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Whilst there's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to skin care, there are ingredients that can help, like ceramides. The new Pai The Light Fantastic Ceramide Facial Oil (£44), launching 1 March, is packed full of ceramides, an ingredient that helps to repair the skin barrier and intensely hydrate. Plus, the oil texture makes it feel like an absolute treat to use.
Elemis Pro-Collagen Renewal Serum
The Elemis Pro-Collagen Renewal Serum , which launches on 9 March, utilises a unique blend of ingredients that the brand claims replicates the line-reducing, skin-firming, tone-evening benefits or retinol without ... retinol. Gentle enough to be used every day, the concentrated serum contains Stevia extract (you know, the natural sweetener you use if you can't have sugar), galactomannans (which are polysaccharides extracted from alfalfa plants), along with red microalgae, which all together act like a vitamin A derivative without any irritation. Whilst we won't be ditching our dermatologist-recommended, prescription retinol anytime soon, we're intrigued at the new ingredients in this formula.
Verso Facial Cleanser
Looking for a no-frills, good quality face wash that gets the job done and leaves skin feeling clean and refreshed? The new Verso Facial Cleanser (£32) may be just what you're after. Dubbed a "universal cleanser" by the Stockholm-based brand, the gel formula contains skin-coddling ingredients like shea butter to ensure your face doesn't feel tight and uncomfortable after you've washed it, as well as fruit enzymes, which very gently exfoliate dead skin cells on the surface, leaving pores cleaner and your complexion brighter overall.
Bad Habit Eyes Open Caffeine & Peptide Eye Cream
Bad Habit Eyes Open Caffeine & Peptide Eye Cream(£19) is the instantly refreshing lockdown pick-me-up we didn't know we needed. The newest product for the brand is formulated with caffeine and peptides, which helps to reduce puffiness and the appearance of inflammation. Plus, it has a peachy tone with very light shimmer particles, which gives it an instant brightening effect without being glittery or too shiny.
Florence by Mills Hit Resent Moisturising Mask Pearls
The Florence by Mills Hit Resent Moisturising Mask Pearls (£34) is fun to use and good for your skin. Inside the tube are dozens of squishy pearls — which feel and look a bit like caviar (if caviar was white). Shake out two pearls from the container, squish them between your hands, and then apply the balm-like cream to your face before you go to bed. The mix of hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and apricot kernel oil will leave skin plump and glowy.
Wildsmith Skin Dual-Action Exfoliating Treatment
The Wildsmith Skin Dual-Action Exfoliating Treatment (£55) is both a chemical and physical exfoliant, with the aim of leaving skin brighter, softer, and supersmooth. Inside the glass (recyclable) jar is a gel-based scrub that contains finely-milled cherry stone powder, which helps to buff and polish the top layer of your skin. The formula also contains pineapple fruit extract, which is an enzymatic exofoliant, as well as poly hydroxy acid (PHA), a gentler, less aggressive form of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA).
"The pineapple fruit extract very much works on the surface of the skin and is responsible for giving you a smoother, brighter complexion; not only that, but it also reduces inflammation in the skin," facialist Fiona Brackenbury said in a Zoom event for the product. "PHA, on the other hand, has the ability to go deeper and dissolve the bonds that are keeping dead skin cells hanging onto the skin. The PHA also helps with the cellular renewal process and with attracting moisture to the skin."
Dr. Hauschka Soothing Day Lotion
German beauty brand Dr. Hauschka centres on being organic and using medicinal plants in all of its products — and the three new additions are no different. Launching 1 March is the Balancing Day Lotion, the new Soothing Day Lotion, and the Revitalising Day Lotion, all silky smooth in texture but formulated to support different skin conditions. Our particular favourite is the Dr. Hauschka Soothing Day Lotion (£27.50), which is designed especially for sensitive skin as it's packed full of dog rose fruit extract, lady's mantle, and borage seed oil to help hydrate and reduce irritation.
Ole Henriksen Wrinkle Blur Bakuchiol Eye Gel Crème
The Ole Henriksen Wrinkle Blur Bakuchiol Eye Gel Crème (£42) is only the brand's second eye cream, and Henriksen took the opportunity to go big when it comes to the ingredients that are packed into it. The dual phase formula — with each phase kept separate inside the tube until you press down on the pump — contains peptides and bakuchiol, the latter of which has been dubbed a natural alternative to retinol thanks to its ability to increase cell turnover and improve both skin clarity and texture. The Wrinkle Blur eye cream also contains soy and rice proteins, as well as sandalwood, liquorice root, and chamomile extracts, which, when combined all together, help the delicate skin under the eyes look brighter and less puffy almost immediately, and smoother and less crepe-y over time.
Kat Burki Dual Exfoliating Clay Mask
The Kat Burki Dual Exfoliating Clay Mask (£72) is another physical and chemical exfoliator that promises to leave skin smoother and brighter, and your pores clearer. As you massage the mask over your face, small botanical beads — made from cranberry fibres and hibiscus petals — (very) gently break up debris on the surface of your skin. At the same time, glycolic acid is also helping to clear away lingering dead skin cells on the surface of the skin, as well increasing cell turnover, and stimulating collagen production. And finally, as the mask sits on your skin, the kaolin clay in the formula helps absorb any excess oil.
Quantum Botanika Cryo Depuffer
The Quantum Botanika Cryo Depuffer Spoons (£72) may look like fancy golden ladles, but they're actually handy skin-care tools to help depuff your skin and leave you glowing. Made from stainless steel, the Cryo Depuffer Spoons are meant to be kept in the fridge and used after you've washed your face along with your favourite oil, balm, or very rich serum. Whenever you feel like your face is looking a little bit puffy, or your skin is looking a little dull, pop the spoons out of the fridge and massage them over your face in circular motions. The cold stainless steel, coupled with the curved shape of the spoons, will help reduce swelling, calm redness, and boost circulation — giving your skin a little pick me up when you're done.
Kate Somerville KateCeuticals Total Repair Cream
The new KateCeuticals range consist of three peptide-packed products that are inspired by the most popular skin-care treatment sat Kate Sommerville's clinic in Los Angeles. We have our eyes set on the Kate Somerville KateCeuticals Total Repair Cream (£105), which combines peptides and ceramides to help plump the skin and keep the skin barrier happy and healthy.
Starface Exfoliating Night Water
Now available at Superdrug, the Starface Exfoliating Night Water (£10) is an oil-free liquid exfoliant that contains a whole of skin-brightening and complexion-smoothing ingredients, including AHAs, BHAs, PHAs, and niacinamide (for a refresher on all the different types of skin-care acids, click here). Swipe this on before bed (after you've washed your face, that is), if you're looking to keep your pores clear and your skin glowy.
Tanologist Day Glow Hyaluronic Radiance Self-Tan Serum
The Tanologist Day Glow Hyaluronic Radiance Self-Tan Serum (£13) is a hydrating skin-care serum, luminising primer, and gradual self-tanner for the face all in one bottle. The HA-spiked serum can be worn alone, or under makeup, and leaves skin looking dewy, whilst the DHA in the formula gradually gives your face a long-lasting bronze glow.
Spectrum x Katie Jane Hughes The Brush Set
The Spectrum x Katie Jane Hughes The Brush Set (£160) was quite possibly the most anticipated beauty launch of the year, so it's no surprise that the comprehensive makeup brush set sold out in just two hours when it went on sale on 26 Feb. But don't worry; according to to the brand's website, another drop is coming soon. And that's good news for whoever didn't nab one the first time, because this set is worth every single bit of the hype. It contains 25 cruelty-free brushes housed in a travel case that, when opened up, becomes two brush holders that you can place on your vanity. It also comes with a microfibre towel, which you can use to wipe off your brushes as you're doing your makeup to remove pigment from the bristles without having to wash them entirely (one of KJH's great hacks).
"It is absolutely a makeup-artist-worthy brush kit in my opinion, as a working makeup artist, but I also wanted it to be something that if you're not a makeup artist and you just want to have a beautiful brush set, it's absolutely sufficient and fits that bill as well," Hughes said of the set during an Instagram Live.
Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint
When Rihanna comes out with a new complexion product in her Fenty Beauty range, it's time to start saving up. Her new Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint (£22) is the brand's lightest base product, offering light-to-medium coverage and a diffused, airbrushed finish. The formula contains sodium hyaluronate, to keep skin feeling soft and hydrated, but that doesn't mean it will leave you feeling greasy. In fact, the formula is both non-comedogenic (meaning it won't clog pores) and, like all of RiRi's base products, it's sweat, humidity, and transfer resistant — so basically, it's the perfect product for summer (layered over your SPF of course). And since we know you were wondering, the Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint comes in 25 "flexible" shades that the brand covers all 50 shades of its iconic Pro Filt'r range.
Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation 25hr
Available in 20 shades, the Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation 25hr (£10) is a liquid foundation that promises long wear time (25 hours, to be exact, although we would not recommend wearing your makeup for that long) and a natural finish thanks to the addition of hyaluronic acid and vitamin E in the formula — ingredients that also help the foundation to blend better and ensure those with dry skin can wear it, too.
E.l.f. Cosmetics Camo CC Cream
With ingredients like collagen, peptides, and niacinamide in the formula, the E.l.f. Cosmetics Camo CC Cream (£14) sounds more like skin care than makeup, but we're not complaining. As if that wasn't enough, it delivers natural-looking full coverage and SPF 30 protection and is available in 20 shades.
KVD Beauty Good Apple Skin-Perfecting Foundation Balm
We are obsessed with the new KVD Beauty Good Apple Skin-Perfecting Foundation Balm (£29), which is a full coverage cream foundation that's been formulated with hydrating ingredients (like sodium hyaluronate) so that it won't look cakey or crusty on dry skin types. The best part is, the cream is so silky and (surprisingly) lightweight that it spreads over the skin like butter when you use a brush — for the past week we've been slapping it on in two minutes before our morning Zoom meetings and we haven't noticed one unsightly streak. Available in 40 shades, this is definitely a full coverage foundation — it's so pigmented it can even cover tattoos, something makeup artist Erin Parsons demonstrated on her Instagram account.
Tan-Luxe Super Gloss Illuminating Bronzing Drops SPF 30
If there was ever a perfect product to whip out for the big day on 21 June, it's the Tan-Luxe Super Gloss Illuminating Bronzing Drops SPF 30 (£35). Launching on 7 March, these multitasking drops are the key to the fake-it-till-you-make-it holiday glow. It's the brand's first ever DHA-free product (DHA is the ingredient that darkens your skin in a tanning product), which aims to add some bronze to your makeup routine with the added benefit of extra SPF; although, you'll need to apply a separate SPF underneath to be sure you're protected.
Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Brighten & Correct Duo
Laura Mercier created the iconic Secret Camouflage in 1996, before the days of Photoshop, because she needed a product that could conceal and even out the skin in photos without looking like makeup. Twenty-five years later, in 2021, the brand has introduced a new version of Secret Camouflage, inspired by the original, that promises to be more user friendly for us non makeup artists out there (don't worry, though, the OG compact isn't going anywhere).
Like the original, the Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Brighten & Correct Duo (£28) includes two shades — one for brightening and one for correcting — but instead of coming in a pan, this new version is a dual-ended pen, "which makes it a lot easier for consumers to use," makeup artist Hung Vanngo said about the product in a masterclass for the brand. Not only that, but the formula is creamier and contains more moisturising ingredients so you can use it all over your face, whether you want to brighten up undereye circles, cover up spots or pigmentation, or even out any differences in texture.
Morphe Hide & Peek Concealer
Morphe Hide & Peek Concealer (£12) promises a "natural-looking finish", and much to our delight, it delivers exactly that. It's super easy to blend, and although it has a lightweight formula, it delivers a medium level of coverage, which successfully conceals dark circles and redness. The doefoot is also perfect to get right along the inner corners of the eyes, which is great if you're a little lazy like us and just want to dab on, blend with your finger, and go.
Bare Minerals Original Liquid Mineral Concealer
Inspired by the brand's iconic Loose Mineral Foundation that features the bare minimum when it comes to ingredients, the Bare Minerals Original Liquid Mineral Concealer (£24) is formulated without silicone, parabens, talc, or oil, making it supremely gentle and light as a feather on your skin. Available in 17 shades, the creamy formula offers medium coverage that can be built up to full if you want, and is great for both covering up spots and brightening dark circles, the latter of which is made possible thanks to the inclusion of mineral-coated pearls that help diffuse light. "It's the best night sleep ever and put it in a tube," Hailey Baldwin said of the concealer during a Zoom event celebrating the launch (she's the face of brand). "I love that it has a naturally luminous finish that complements the foundation."
Kevyn Aucoin Indecent Mascara
Kevyn Aucoin's The Volume Mascara is truly an iconic beauty product, so we expect great things from the new Kevyn Aucoin Indecent Mascara (£22). The volumising formula promises to bulk up lashes with a flexible, creamy formula that's meant to be layered, whilst the cone-shaped brush and fibre bristles make sure each individual lash hair stays nicely defined and separated.
Uoma Beauty Black Magic Coming 2 America Makeup Collection
The newest launch from Uoma Beauty — which just launched into Boots very recently — was created in collaboration with Coming 2 America, the sequel to the 1988 movie starring Eddie Murphy, which premieres globally on Amazon Prime Video on 5 March, 2021. The limited-edition makeup collection is called Black Magic Coming 2 America, and includes nine products that celebrate African beauty and the continent's diverse cultural heritage.
We're drooling over the rich, decadent jewel tones of the Uoma Beauty Good Morning Zamunda Mini Colour Palette (£25), but make sure to check out the entire collection for yourself by clicking here.
Nars Air Matte Blush
Available in 8 shades, the new Nars Air Matte Blush (£26) is a sheer, matte cream blush with an innovative mousse texture. Inspired by the brand's Air Matte Lip Colour, the blushers offer the same soft-focus, diffused finish on your cheeks for a flush that looks like it's coming from within, versus caked on by makeup. Read our review of the range, as well as see how the shades look on different skin tones, here.
Carolina Herrera Velvet Lip Liquid Lipstick
Available in 20 shades and two luxurious finishes, the Carolina Herrera Velvet Lip Liquid Lipstick (£21) is painfully chic, yet incredibly comfortable to wear — formulated with a non-stick emollient oil that keeps it from drying out your lips. Super long-lasting and incredibly pigmented, "with the new Lip Liquids, you're getting the most extreme colour punch Herrera Beauty has seen yet, in two stand-out textures: a mirror gloss Vinyl and a powdery, intensely matte Velvet," Lauren Parsons, Herrera Beauty global makeup consultant, said via press release. To top it off, quite literally, you can accessorise your lipstick with one of the three Animal Caps (£9) — either a lion, a turtle, or a beetle, depending on your preference or mood.
Charlotte Tilbury The Look of Love Lipstick in Nude Romance
This month, Charlotte Tilbury hopes to give the world yet another iconic neutral lip colour with the Charlotte Tilbury The Look of Love Lipstick in Nude Romance (£28). Not too warm, and not too cool, the new shade is a peachy taupe colour that the brand promises is universally flattering. Whilst we can't possibly confirm it will look amazing on every single person who tries it, what we can tell you is this: compared to Pillow Talk, Tilbury's best-selling pinky-taupe hue, it's definitely peachier, with barely any pink to it (Pillow Talk is mostly pink with a hint of taupe), which means on lips it looks less like your-lips-but-better and more of a cool '90s neutral tone but in an elegant, moisturising formula perfect for 2021.
Bobbi Brown Luxe Defining Lipstick
Available in 11 shades that range from pale neutrals to warm brick red, the Bobbi Brown Luxe Defining Lipstick (£29) is a incredibly easy to apply thanks to the sharp, crayon-like tip that allows the product to double as a lip liner. A matte formula that's ridiculously creamy, our favourite way to apply it is by using the fine tip to line our lips, and then using the sides of the tapered point to colour them in. It's a great option if you're someone who likes to subtly overdraw your lip shape.
M.A.C. Glow Play Balm
Available exclusively at ASOS this month, the M.A.C. Glow Play Balm (£17.50) is a tinted lip balm that comes in five shades — including one clear option. Surprisingly hydrating, these glossy balms are the perfect swipe-and-go product for those who want to add a hint of colour to their lips without having to do any work.
Lottie London Sweet Lips Overnight Lip Mask & Balm
The Lottie London Sweet Lips Overnight Lip Mask & Balm (£7) is a real treat for your lips, and not just because the three dessert-inspired flavours include Minted, Totally Coco, and Just Juicy. The formula contains shea butter and jojoba seed oil that help leave lips soft, smooth, and flake-free.
Illamasqua Hydra Setting Spray
Illamasqua Hydra Setting Spray (£20) is the newest launch from the cruelty-free makeup brand, launching on 9 March. The formula locks in makeup whilst leaving the skin feeling hydrated — all without that dreaded sticky or stiff feeling that setting sprays can sometimes leave. The setting spray contains a high concentration of film formers to set makeup in place, as well as pea peptides and amino acids to keep skin feeling moisturised throughout the day. Plus, the setting spray is fragrance-free, cruelty-free, and vegan.
Ouai Curl Crème
When Ouai launched its first product, a curl jelly, they missed the mark, something the brand fully admits. It's why for the brand's latest launch, they reached out to 150 curly-haired Ouai fans all over the US (pre-pandemic) and listened to their top hair concerns and desires, and then developed a new product based on their feedback. The result? The Ouai Curl Crème (£15), which comes in both a fragranced and unfragranced version (so that you can use a gel over it without layering too many different competing smells), and in a large recyclable tube.
Tested on curl types 3A to 4C, the rich hydrating and shaping cream doesn't contain silicone, but it does contain a slew of oils including linseed, chia, babassu, coconut, and soybean, which together help to leave curls and coils soft, shiny, moisturised, smooth, and defined.
Living Proof Curl Collection
Living Proof has just unveiled its brand new selection of curl products to suit every curly, coily, and wavy texture; since the brand knew that when it comes to curly hair, there's no one-size-fits-all. For the Living Proof Curl Collection, the brand teamed up with hairstylist and curl expert Ursula Stephen to create a solid seven product line-up comprising of: Shampoo, Conditioner, Curl Definer, Curl Defining Gel, Curl Elongator, Curl Enhancer, and Curl Moisturising Shine Oil, with each of the products going through rigorous testing to get the perfect formulas. This included 650 curl tests in the lab, insights from over 250 consumers with curly hair, and over 10,000 developmental hours in the lab.
The end result is a collection designed by those with curly hair, for those with curly hair with the aim of making your hair three times stronger, as well as encouraging curl groupings for enhanced definition, frizz protection, and shine.
Shedid & Parrish Afro Butter
Shedid & Parrish is a new hair product range for all types of curly and textured hair, created by entrepreneur Jessica Parish, who grew up struggling to care and style for her spirals. "I am mixed race and adopted, so my parents didn't really know how to look after it," Parrish told POPSUGAR over Zoom, adding that she developed the line because she wanted to see salon-quality products for curly hair on the high street that would be clear and easy for people to use. The result is a well-edited selection of six products that are all natural, vegan, and scent-free; they also come in aluminium containers, which are sold both with pumps and without pumps, allowing consumers to save the pumps from a previous purchase instead of buying a brand new one. Included in the line is a shampoo, conditioner, leave-in conditioner, curl serum, cur styler, and the Shedid & Parrish Afro Butter (£29), which is a deeply nourishing product that contains shea butter, sunflower extracts, and coconut and castor oils.
Dove 1 Minute Super Conditioner
Dove is the latest hair-care brand to jump on the quick conditioner trend with its Dove 1 Minute Super Conditioner (£2, originally £4). This thick, creamy formula promises to hydrate, smooth, treat, and detangle your hair in just 60 seconds, using ingredients like glycerin and dimethicone, as well as sweet almond oil, coconut, and sunflower seed oils.
Head & Shoulders Deep Cleanse Shampoos
Head & Shoulders has always been the go-to brand if you've dealt with dandruff or a sensitive scalp. This month, it's gone and launched an entire range dedicated towards keeping your scalp happy and healthy, whether it's oily, itchy, or in need of a deep clean. All three formulas — including the Head & Shoulders Deep Cleanse Itch Relief Anti Dandruff Shampoo (£6), shown here — contain the brand's hero ingredient, piroctone olamine, which helps reduce the flaking associated with dandruff for up to 72 hours, as well as a new proprietary "deep pore cleansing technology" that, according to the brand, helps decongest the scalp.
We Are Paradoxx Super Fuel Face, Hair + Body Oil
The newest launch from the plastic-free hair brand is the We Are Paradoxx Super Fuel Face, Hair + Body Oil (£30), which is a dry oil treatment that combines maracuja, abyssinian, and argan oils to create one supremely hydrating and all-natural formula. The multipurpose oil can be used to sooth dry skin (whether it's on your face or your arms and legs) and soften and smooth dry and damaged hair, and whilst the aluminium container looks like a fuel canister (hence the name), don't worry, the oil won't pour out all over your hands. The brand has fitted the canister with a stopper that allows the oil out one nourishing drop at a time.
Amika Hair Blow Dryer Brush
The Amika Hair Blow Dryer Brush (£70) launches at Selfridges this month but has been available in the US for quite some time now — and it's gained an impressive fan base. Hairstylist Bridget Brager — who works with celebs like January Jones, Kate Bosworth, Lucy Hale, and Millie Bobby Brown, to name a few — is a fan, dedicating an entire IG post to it. "I've been trying a TON of tools lately," she wrote in the caption of the post. "In the spirit of quick and easy, this @amika Blow Dry Brush towed [sic] the line . . . Fine to thick and curly hair. This sucker is strong! I especially liked the cool shot for my last pass through each section, which is so essential to a good blowout." Needless to say, we can't wait to add this to our arsenal of hair tools.
Hershesons The Everyday Essentials Brush
Hairstylist Luke Hersheson has added two new hair brushes to his curated range of products, including the Hershesons The Everyday Essentials Brush (£26), which we've already added into our arsenal of hair tools that we use, well, everyday. And according to Hersehson himself, that was the point with this launch. "It's a prep brush — made from a mixture of nylon and boar bristles — that gets out knots and that is really nice to use in the morning and really nice to use in the evening," he told POPSUGAR. "It's that classic brush that you can have for years."
GHD Max Hair Straightener
The GHD Max Hair Straightener (£179), which is currently available for pre-order, features large styling plates (the biggest the brand has ever created, in fact) that promise to cut your styling time in half, whilst still leaving hair smooth and shiny. It also promises not to fry your hair, thanks to a patented heater system inside the tool that constantly monitors the temperature, ensuing the temperature stays at 185°C across the entirely of each plate.
"The GHD Max is incredible for styling thick and naturally textured hair, wigs, and hair extensions," said GHD brand ambassador Charlotte Mensah via press release. "It styles large sections of hair quickly, which makes it user friendly, and it styles with integrity as it maintains the temperature of 185° for safe heat styling. With GHD Max, getting a sleek finish on all hair types is easy to achieve," she added.
Bumble & Bumble BB Bond Building Repair Treatment
2021 is the year that iconic hair product brand Bumble & Bumble leans into the bond-repair category, with three new products that promise to help repair the bonds that make up your hair and build new ones. The brand does this with its proprietary Honey Bond-Building Complex, which combines wildflower honey and honey ferment, the latter of which helps increase strands elasticity to keep them from snapping. In addition to a shampoo, conditioner, and the existing styling cream, the range also includes the Bumble & Bumble BB Bond Building Repair Treatment (£26), a concentrated treatment for damanged hair that's meant to be once a week to help repair, strengthen, and protect ravaged strands.
Hello Klean Clarifying Scalp Shampoo
From the brand that makes our favourite sustainable shower filter is a new scalp treatment aimed at balancing the scalp's pH level. A little biology lesson: your scalp is naturally slightly acidic, and when the scalp's pH becomes more alkaline due to things like hard water, shampoos, and styling products, the skin is therefore more prone to irritation. The Hello Klean Clarifying Scalp Soak (£25), which launches on Cult Beauty on 23 March, has been formulated with an acidic base pH of 4.0, so not only does it gently break down product build-up and wash away excess oils with the help of apple cider vinegar and phytic acid, but it also helps restore your scalp to its natural pH level
Aussie SOS Supercharged Moisture Hair Mask
The first ever vegan formula from the brand, the Aussie SOS Supercharged Moisture Hair Mask (£10) is a rich, creamy formula that's infused with both macadamia nut and avocado oils to help hydrate parch strands. But this mask isn't just doing something good for your hair. From 10th March to 4th May, Aussie will donate £1 from every Aussie SOS Supercharged Hair Mask purchased to tge WWF's Australian bushfire recovery fund. "For every mask sold, Aussie will be restoring 1m² of Australian habitat, providing nourishment and protection for those animals native to the brand's heritage," the brand said via press release, continuing on to say that "Aussie hope to donate an amazing £100,000 from this campaign, having already donated over $150,000 Australian dollars from sales of their SOS range back in 2020, to continue supporting WWF's recovery project and to further protect Australia's wildlife from bushfire destruction."
Sol de Janeiro Triple Brazilian Butter Hair Repair Treatment
From the brand that brought us the Bum Bum Cream comes theSol de Janeiro Triple Brazilian Butter Hair Repair Treatment, a rich hair mask that promises to smooth, detangle, and strengthen strands in 10 minutes. As the name gives away, the Brazilian-inspired formula contains three different butters — cupuaçu, murumuru, and tucumã — which help not only infuse the hair with moisture, but also help lock that moisture in to prevent breakage and smooth frizz. The tropical-scented treatment also contains a proprietary ingredient complex that uses plant-based keratin to treat damaged hair and help split ends not look so dried and frayed.
Charles Worthington Ultra Violet Intensive Treatment
Calling all blondes whose hair colour is looking a little less lustrous these days thanks to nearly three months in lockdown. The new Charles Worthington Ultra Violet Intensive Treatment (£10) not only neutralises brassy tones in the hair — making your blonde look brighter and sparklier — but it also helps hydrate your hair, leaving your strands not only looking nicer but also feeling softer and more manageable.
Sanex Nourishing & Gentle Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
This month, Sanex introduces its first shampoo range to the UK, and they feature the same gentle formulas and low price tags as the rest of the brand's offering. The shampoo comes in two formulas, a 2-in-1 shampoo/conditioner, and the Sanex Nourishing & Gentle Anti-Dandruff Shampoo (£2) that's ideal for those who are managing a dry, itchy scalp.
Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Butter
Launching on 5 March, the Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Butter (£16) is about to become your BFF this spring and summer. The newest product from the tanning brand aims to give a gradual tan whilst hydrating your skin and leaving it with a luminous finish. Used just like a regular body moisturiser (but you have to remember to wash your hands with this one!), over time, the colour-correcting formula will give you a glow with zero orange-y tones in sight. What's more, the newbie is fast-absorbing, nongreasy, vegan, and cruelty-free.
Fenty Beauty Body Sauce Body Luminizing Tint
Fenty Beauty Body Sauce Body Luminizing Tint (£40) will come in handy as the weather starts to warm and we swap out our jumpers and joggers with t-shirts and floaty dresses. The shimmery body makeup — which comes in seven shades and features a silky gel-cream texture — gives skin a subtle, holiday-like glow, without having to spend days at the beach.
Bali Body Clear Self Tanning Water
Water-based and made with naturally-derived DHA (the molecule that helps turn skin bronze in self tan formulas), the Bali Body Clear Self Tanning Water (£25) is a water-to-foam fake tan formula that's completely clear when you apply it, developing into a light-to-medium tan after four-to-six hours. The transfer-free foam also contains ingredients like coconut oil and chamomile extract, ensuring your skin stays hydrated in the process, making this self tanner both good for your skin and good for the life of your bed sheets — a winner in our books.
Sana Jardin Incense Water Eau de Parfum
A deep, intoxicating sense, Sana Jardin Incense Water Eau de Parfum (£95) is centred around rose water, rose centifolia, and rose oil, all of which the brand sources from Morocco, where they have created a cooperative for women flower harvesters (they also teach the women how to upcycle the byproducts from perfume production, allowing them to sell candles and orange blossom water, of which they keep 100 percent of the profits). Created by Carlos Benaïm — the perfumer behind Calvin Klein Euphoria, Elizabeth Taylor's White Diamonds, Ralph Lauren Polo, and Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb to name a few — Sana Jardin Incense Water combines the three rose-based notes with bergamot, raspberry leaf, sandalwood, and patchouli, that oddly smells spicy and sweet and sparkly at the same time, meaning it's a dark, heady scent that we could still see ourselves wearing in the spring and summer months.
Jo Loves Cobalt Patchouli & Cedar
If you're old enough to remember when Davidoff's Cool Water cologne was a big deal, then you'll know what we mean when we say that the new Jo Loves Cobalt Patchouli & Cedar (£75) fragrance is like a fresher, sparklier, more modern take on the classic Cool Water scent. If you don't get the reference, Cobalt Patchouli & Cedar smells woodsy but in a very clean and crisp way, thanks to a mix of notes like vetiver, patchouli, and cedarwood — all of which is housed in an eye-catching Yves Klein-blue bottle.
Malin + Goetz Strawberry Eau de Parfum
Launching exclusively at Liberty, the Malin + Goetz Strawberry Eau de Parfum (£75) is the perfect fragrance to start spring off on the right foot. Inspired by the strawberries found in founders Matthew and Andrew's garden, the scent is meant to evoke the berry's full life cycle — from flower to bud to green, white, and finally red. Fresh and fruity (thanks to notes of bergamot, strawberry, and jasmine petals), there's a sensual quality to the fragrance thanks to the addition of pink pepper, cedarwood, musks, and orris root.
Aerin Mediterranean Honeysuckle in Bloom Eau de Parfum
Getting ready for summer, Aerin gave its best-selling Mediterranean Honeysuckle a warm, sunny makeover. The Aerin Mediterranean Honeysuckle in Bloom Eau de Parfum (£99) — which still includes honeysuckle (obviously) and citrus notes like bergamot and grapefruit — sees the addition of a new tuberose absolute accord and honey sourced in the South of France, helping the perfume capture the scent and heat of sun-drenched flowers on the Mediterranean coast.
Skin & Tonic Slow Down Bath Soak
Launching on 25 March, the Skin & Tonic Slow Down Bath Soak , is an epsom salt-based bath soak that's inspired by forest bathing (which is exactly what it sounds like, taking a bath in a forest). Along with the salts, the brand has also included cedarwood, eucalyptus, and rosemary oils for a restorative and relaxing bath that will not only soothe your mind and soul, but will also help soothe any muscular aches and pains you might be experiencing.
Hawaiian Tropic Mineral Sun Milk SPF 30
The new Hawaiian Tropic Mineral Sun Milk SPF 30 (£15) is silky, lightweight mineral sunscreen (the active ingredient is zinc oxide) that is not only reef friendly, but also sensitive skin friendly (although, we still always recommend patch testing any formula if your skin is ultra-sensitive). And thanks to the addition of coconut and kukui nut extracts, this liquid sunscreen also helps lock moisture into the skin.
Vaseline Instant Dry Skin Rescue Body Lotion
Sort out your dry, dull, flaky skin from the past few months with the help of Vaseline Instant Dry Skin Rescue Body Lotion (£6), which contains glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and Vaseline Jelly to not only hydrate your skin, but then lock that hydration in place.
Soap & Glory Best Washes Uplifting Body Wash
The Soap & Glory Best Washes Uplifting Body Wash (£6.50) is a foaming shower gel that the brand promises will do more than leave you feeling fresh and clean — it may also help boost your mood. The bath-and-body brand partnered with fragrance company Givaudan to create a scent that would leave people feeling happy and uplifted. The brand's Uplift scent combines sweet, fruity, and citrusy notes — including grapefruit, bergamot, rhubarb, red fruits, peony, rose, raspberry, and vanilla — and was tested by Givaudan measuring alpha-wave activity and monitoring people's physiological response to the scent. Whilst we can't monitor brain activity in our flats, what we can tell you is that the body wash, which smells a bit like sugary pink lemonade, does make you want to stay in the shower a bit longer, and leaves you feeling brighter and refreshed long after you've towelled off.
Nailberry Clean Bi-Phase Nail Colour Remover
Nailberry's fans asked for an acentone-free polish remover and this month, the brand delivered. The Nailberry Clean Bi-Phase Nail Colour Remover (£18) is a bi-phase formula that uses organic solvents to dissolve nail polish, and ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids, muscat rose tree oil, and glycerin to leave your nails in tip-top shape once you're done.
Max Factor Masterpiece Xpress Quick Dry Nail Colour
With over a month until nail salons reopen, we're still on our own when it comes to having our nails painted. The Max Factor Masterpiece Xpress Quick Dry Nail Colour (£6 each) makes it easy to DIY at home, and this month, the brand introduces new spring shades, including this vibrant orange-y red hue (Coral Me) that will add a fun pop of colour to your nails.
Colgate RecyClean Toothbrush
Every bit of the Colgate RecyClean Toothbrush (£4) was created with sustainability in mind. The packaging is plastic free, meaning it can be easily recycled. The bristles are BPA free and made from renewable plant-based materials, whilst the handle is made from 100 percent recycled plastic. The new eco-friendly brush is one small part of Colgate's 2025 Sustainability & Social Impact Strategy, which aims to cut the amount of toothbrush plastic waste in half by 2025, and to eliminate one third of new plastics used in the manufacturing process to eventually be able to rely on 100 percent recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging.
Dose & Co
Last year, Khloe Kardashian teamed up with Dose & Co, a brand that makes collagen-infused supplements that range from protein powders, like the Dose & Co Pure Collagen Protein Powder Vanilla (£30), to non-dairy creamers — all of which you can use in baking or in your daily cup of coffee. This month, the brand that Kardashian swore by post-pregnancy to help with hair loss, arrives in the UK.
As with any dietary supplement or vitamin, however, it's imperative that you check with your GP before taking one to make sure you don't risk adverse reactions or any interactions with medications you're taking.
