Best Skin Care and Beauty Launches to Try in November 2020
The Best New Skin Care, Makeup, and Hair Care Launching in November 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, 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.
November 2020 is not like every other month, however. We are into our eighth month of the coronavirus pandemic, and the nation has gone back into lockdown, with all spas, salons, and nonessential shops closed for the month. Couple that with the fact that many people are out of work or back on furlough, and rushing out to purchase beauty products – even online — probably isn't at the top of a majority of people's lists right now.
But for some people, 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"). And many brands — in addition to donating products to NHS workers and using their production lines to make hand sanitiser — 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.
Pai System D Cooling Eye Serum
Incredibly soothing and supremely gentle, the Pai System D Cooling Eye Serum (£39) is a lightweight gel that contains hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and an ingredient called schisandra, which helps protect the skin from itchiness and irritation. High demand means this little tube is already sold out on its website, but the brand promises a restock very soon.
Lumene Hydra Moisturising Prebiotic Oil-Cocktail
The new Lumene Hydra Moisturising Prebiotic Oil-Cocktail (£25) is a biphase skin treatment, which means it contains an oil-based component and a water-based component. To use it, you need to shake the bottle to mix it up before applying it to your face.
The oil phase contains Nordic bilberry seed oil, which is full of hydrating vitamin E, while the water phase is made up of a mix of organic Nordic birch sap, pure Arctic spring water, and a new ingredient called Nordic oat xylitol, which acts as both a humectant (an ingredient that helps your skin retain moisture) and a source of prebiotics.
Sarah Chapman Skinesis Meso-Melt Infusion System
If you're familiar with microneedling, then you're probably also familiar with the microneedling devices that you can use at home – which offer similar line-smoothing, skin-tightening results but using larger, duller needles than the ones used by professionals. Well, we thought we'd seen it all until Sarah Chapman launched her innovative microneedling system that actually features roll-to-activate dissolving needles. Yes, you read that correctly.
Here's how the Sarah Chapman Skinesis Meso-Melt Infusion System (£138, which includes three single-use microneedling tips and three ampoules of the Pep Stem Cell Serum) works. Rather than using stainless-steel needles, the Meso-Melt Infusion Roller needles are made up of the brand's Platinum Matrix-EM serum, which contains both peptides and hyaluronic acid. To start, you simply roll the tool over your face and décolletage for 10 minutes, the same as you would with any roller. Once you've finished rolling, then you massage the Pep Stem Cell Serum, which included in the set, over the skin. Wait 10 seconds, then roll the device over your face again — and this is when the magic happens. Thanks to the Pep Stem Cell Serum, the needles on the roller begin to dissolve, and the ingredients in the needles get released into the skin. Prepare to be amazed both at how it works – and how your skin looks afterwards.
Perricone MD Hypoallergenic CBD Nourishing & Calming Moisturizer
Perricone MD's new Hypoallergenic CBD Sensitive Skin Therapy range is perfect for people with sensitive slom, with a stamp of approval from the National Psoriasis Foundation in the US (so yes, you can use it if you have a skin condition like psoriasis or eczema, although as with any product, we recommend always doing a patch test).
The product we most have our eyes on for the winter months is the Perricone MD Hypoallergenic CBD Nourishing & Calming Moisturizer (£59), which in addition to being formulated with 450 mg of pure cannabidiol (CBD), contains licorice-root extract and buriti oil, ingredients both known for their ability to calm and soothe dry, irritated skin.
Heraux Molecular Anti-Inflammaging Serum
Before you go and roll your eyes, inflammaging is not a new word made up by marketing execs. It's actually a medical term that refers to chronic low-grade inflammation that develops with advanced age and contributes to the development of age-related diseases. The Heraux Molecular Anti-Inflammaging Serum (£200) was actually a byproduct of research being done by stem-cell scientists around inflammaging and arthritis.
Whilst developing a lipid-based molecule that targeted inflammation in the joints (which leads to arthritis), the scientists realised the same molecule could have the same anti-inflammatory affects on the skin, resulting in younger-looking, more resilient skin. The molecule, called HX1, works by targeting the one protein on the surface of your stem cells that regulates the ageing process (think of it like the master regulator on your stem cells that maintain the balance between healthy and unhealthy cell activity in your body). HX1 binds to that protein and shifts the balance from degeneration to regeneration, promoting healthy cell activity and slowing down the inflammaging process going on in your cells.
So does the serum actually work? After three weeks of using it, I'd have to say . . . yeah! My skin looks smoother and more radiant, and the rosacea on my cheeks has faded significantly. And because it's made to absorb fairly instantaneously (HX-1 is a teeny tiny molecule, which means it can get to the dermal layer quite easily), you can layer your favourite day or night cream over it with no problem.
Fenty Beauty Instant Reset Overnight Recovery Gel-Cream
The newest addition to Rihanna's Fenty Skin range is the Fenty Beauty Instant Reset Overnight Recovery Gel-Cream (£36). The gel-cream feels ultra light, whilst still being incredibly moisturising, thanks to dermatologist-approved ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, as well as kalahari-melon oil and baobab extract. And sure, the formula is certainly the star in this case, but the fact the jar is refillable and all the different bits are recyclable really makes this night cream a must try.
Starface Hello Kitty Hydro-Stars
The Starface Hello Kitty Hydro-Stars (£12) may be really, really adorable, but they're also super effective at calming and soothing your spots. The hydrocolloid pimple-protectors help absorb fluid, block bacteria, and keep you from picking. And when you use up the patches, the cuter-than-cute Hello Kitty case can be repurposed to hold your jewellery or vitamins whilst travelling (you know, when we can do that again).
Bybi Bright Eyed Eye Cream
Feeling a little tired? Grab a cup of coffee and the Bybi Bright Eyed Eye Cream (£14), which will at least help your eyes look less tired. The made-in-the-UK formula contains algae and arnica (to brighten and calm the skin), hyaluronic acid and squalane (to pump and hydrate), and sustainably sourced peach mica particles that will help counteract the appearance of purple-and-blue dark circles under your eyes.
Alya Skin Vitamin C Supercharge Serum
Alya Skin's newest launch, the Alya Skin Vitamin C Supercharge Serum (£24), is made with four different plant-based ingredients, all of which are native to Australia and full of vitamin C. The brightening and hydrating serum contains kakadu plum, desert lime, finger lime, caviar, and pilly nilly extracts, as well as hyaluronic acid to leave your skin looking more radiant and rejuvenated after regular use.
Face Gym Multisculpt High-Performance Gua Sha
With spas and skin clinics closed this month, if you love getting facials, it may be a good time to invest in some skin-care tools you can use at home. The new stainless-steel Face Gym Multisculpt High-Performance Gua Sha (£45) is definitely one to consider, as it's basically like the most tricked-out gua sha tool we've ever seen. Whether you're looking to sculpt your facial muscles or relieve muscle tension, the unique, multifaceted shape of the Face Gym tool means that it fits snuggly around cheekbones and jawlines, versus some of the traditional ones that we find can be a bit too wide for targeting smaller areas of the face.
Augustinus Bader The Lip Balm
Throughout 2020, Augustinus Bader has been slowly working its way toward becoming a comprehensive, all-encompassing skin-care range. The brand launched back in 2018 with just two moisturisers (The Cream and The Rich Cream), but this year we've seen the additions of a face oil, body lotion, cleansing balm, and exfoliating toner, to name a few. This month, the brand adds Augustinus Bader The Lip Balm (£30), which uses the same proprietary ingredient as the rest of the products (TFC8, an amino acid that helps cells amp up their repair and renewal processes), as well as shea butter, candelilla wax (a vegan alternative to beeswax), and vitamin E, as well as a variety of oils.
Vieve The Essentials Palette
This month, makeup artist Jamie Genevieve debuts her first makeup collection that's full of gorgeous neutral colours that are both easy to use and easy to wear. And while the lipsticks, lip liners, and highlighters are definitely worth your attention, it's the Vieve The Essentials Palette (£42) that's truly got us excited. The 12-pan palette contains pretty much every neutral eyeshadow shade you'd ever need, in both matte and shimmery finishes, to create a wide variety of looks for both day and night.
Huda Beauty Gold Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette
Just in time for the festive season, Huda Kattan gifts us with a palette that she's created exclusively for Cult Beauty. "Cult Beauty has fiercely championed Huda Beauty for five years, so I wanted to say thank you to my fans by letting them know that they are gold and invaluable to me. Gold Obsessions is for you," the beauty entrepreneur said in a statement.
From butterscotch to peach quartz, the Huda Beauty Gold Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette (£27) features nine shades in a wide variety of textures, including matte, shimmer, and high-shine metallic, as well as a brand-new texture best described as a "gold flake metallic shimmer" that features dazzling gold flakes blended into light pink shimmer base to give your lids an exponential amount of shine.
Byredo Eyeshadow 5 Colour Compact in Sciomancer
Just a month after introducing its cosmetic collection, Byredo adds three powder eye shadow palettes designed by makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench. Designed as an homage to American electronic musician Yves Tumor, the palette we can't wait to try is the Byredo Eyeshadow 5 Colour Compact in Sciomancer (£56), which features an electric blue, a vivid metallic violet, a sumptuous forest green, an iridescent orange, and a biodegradable black-and-silver glitter topcoat.
Westman Atelier Eye Pods Eyeshadow
Makeup artist Gucci Westman has introduced powder eyeshadow into her range in the form of Westman Atelier Eye Pods Eyeshadow (£80 for set of 3). Available in two sets — Les Jours and Les Nuits (shown here) — each set contains three shadow shades in the chicest, most adorable little pots.
"I created each Eye Pod palette with one classic 'core' shade that's a seamless base or smudgy liner; one "accent" shade for an amplified pop of colour; and one "highlight" shade to brighten lids and tear ducts," Westman says of the launch via press release. "I love the idea of a perfectly edited palette that clicks together and apart: Throw one in your bag and take it with you, or layer all three shades for more intensity."
Nars Soft Matte Complete Foundation
Inspired by the brand's bestselling Soft Matte Concealer, this month Nars Cosmetics introduces the Nars Soft Matte Complete Foundation (£28), which is a long-lasting, full-coverage, velvety-matte formula that is especially ideal for those with oily skin. Available in 34 shades, you can read our review of the new formula by clicking here.
Chanel Sublimage L'Essence de Teint
On the opposite side of the foundation spectrum is the new Chanel Sublimage L'Essence de Teint (£110), which is a serum foundation that is all about giving your skin sheer, glowy coverage. Somewhere between a tinted moisturiser and a lightweight foundation, the L'Essence de Teint contains both hydrating ingredients (inspired by the brand's Sublimage skin-care range) and light-reflecting particles, as well as enough pigment to even out your skin tone and conceal minor spots.
Clé de Peau Beauté Radiant Fluid Foundation Matte
The Clé de Peau Beauté Radiant Fluid Foundation Matte (£110) isn't a new launch per se, but this month more people can try the long-lasting matte formula as they expanded the range to 31 shades.
BareMinerals Strength and Length Serum-Infused Brow Gel
Adding to its Strength and Length collection, Bare Minerals introduces the BareMinerals Strength and Length Serum-Infused Brow Gel (£18), which contains the same red-clover flower as the mascara, as well as a potent peptide complex that helps keep brow hairs soft, hydrated, and stronger — all of which means your brows generally look healthier and fuller over time.
Glossier Cloud Paint in Eve and Spark
November sees Glossier expanding its Glossier Cloud Paint (£15) shade range for the first time since the product launched back in 2017. There's Eve, which is a rich mulberry hue (a brownish-red) and Spark, a warm poppy red shade, both of which "look great on dark and olive skin tones," said makeup artist Celia Burton. "In the past, I used to mix some of the Cloud Paint shades to get colours I needed, but these two new shades fill in those gaps."
Speaking of why she likes the Cloud Paint formula in general, Burton told POPSUGAR that "because they're matte, they give you a lovely powder effect, but without having to put a heavy layer of makeup onto the skin. Traditional blusher can feel quite old fashion. The Cloud Paint texture gives blush a new lease on life and really gives you that natural flush — like you've just exercised or come out of the bath. Plus, one tube will last you for very long time."
Axiology The Balmies Lip Cheek and Eye Balm Shimmer
Axiology is making it easier to curate a more sustainable makeup routine with the new Axiology The Balmies Lip Cheek and Eye Balm Shimmer (£12 each), which are multitasking shimmery creams that can be used as a highlighter or an eyeshadow — or really, however you please. The zero-waste makeup crayon comes in four shades: Chestnut (bronze with copper sheen), Caramel (warm shimmery gold), Champagne (literally the colour of champagne with a golden sheen), and Frosting (a pearly white hue).
Fenty Beauty Diamond Bomb All-Over Diamond Veil
To help you get your glow on this winter, Fenty Beauty's released two limited-edition shades of their all-over highlighting powder. The Fenty Beauty Diamond Bomb All-Over Diamond Veil in Rosé Rave (£31) is a rose gold shade, whilst the Fenty Beauty Diamond Bomb All-Over Diamond Veil in Royal Icing (£31) is a gorgeous golden champagne colour that's exclusive to Fenty Beauty's website.
Aussie Nourish & Repair 3 Minute Deep Treatment
Infused with Australian macadamia nut oil, the new Aussie Nourish & Repair 3 Minute Deep Treatment will not only help save your strands (by adding moisture and strengthening strands), but also help save the planet. From 4th Nov., the brand will donate £1 for every bottle of Aussie Nourish & Repair 3 Minute Miracle sold (including the Christmas gift sets!) to the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), with the money going directly to the Australian bushfire recovery efforts. Each £1 will help restore one square metre of Australian wildlife habitat in the 'Koala Triangle'.
Nexxus Keraphix Damage Healing Shampoo and Conditioner
There's never been a better time to give your hair some TLC, and Nexxus's new range for severely damaged hair is a great place to start. The Nexxus Damage Healing Keraphix Shampoo (£14) and Nexxus Damage Healing Keraphix Conditioner (£15) both contain black rice extract, keratin, collagen, and elastin that together all help hydrate and strengthen fried, tired strands.
John Frieda Volume Lift Weightless Conditioning Mist
If you've got fine, thin hair that's been highlighted or bleached in any way, the John Frieda Volume Lift Weightless Conditioning Mist (£7) is a great way to keep strands silky and knot-free, without making them heavy or super greasy.
Bleach London Gobby Pink Super Cool Colour Cream
Bleach London Gobby Pink Super Colour Cream (£6.50) is the brand's newest semipermanent at-home hair dye that can best be described as a mid-tone bubblegum pink. "Gobby Pink is the most requested custom shade in Bleach salons, so we've bottled our best-kept secret blend," Bleach London founder Alex Brownsell said in a press release of the new hue. "This is the perfect pink for anyone wanting a punchier colour than our pastel Rosé, but softer than the electric shade The Big Pink creates."
Sunday Riley Clean Rinse Clarifying Scalp Serum
Appropriate for all hair types, the ingredient list of the new Sunday Riley Clean Rinse Clarifying Scalp Serum (£42) reads like a serious skin-care treatment. The rinse contains glycolic acid, salicylic acid, niacinamide, witch hazel, rose clay, zinc salt, essential fatty acids, and jasmine essential oil, all of which work together to break down dead skin cells and product residue, clear out any gunk in your pores, and hydrate and soothe your scalp. The fact that it has a micellar-water base and a small nozzle means it's great to use if you wear your hair in a protective style.
Charles Worthington Shine Plex Vitamin C Serum
The Charles Worthington Shine Plex Vitamin C Serum (£8) is an oil-serum blend that helps add shine, whether you use it on towel-dried hair before you blow dry your hair (or air dry it for that matter), or use it atop dry hair when your strands look a little dull and frizzy.
Mawena Rose Moringa Detoxifying Cleansing Oil
Launching in the UK via Cult Beauty, Mawena is a luxury skin-care brand centred around "tepezcohuite" (which translates to "skin tree" in English), an ingredient sourced from the bark of mimosa tenuiflora, a perennial tree native to Mexico and Brazil. Used by Maya women for centuries, who swear by its skin-soothing and rejuvenating properties, tepezcohuite is now used by the Mexican Red Cross for the treatment of severe burns. The ingredient is found in every Mawena product, and it's ethically sourced, purchased directly from the Maya community who grows the plant. In an additional effort to support the community, the founder of the brand founded The Skin Tree Project to help support education and development in the area.
There are four products currently available on Cult, but we can't wait to try out the Mawena Rose Moringa Detoxifying Cleansing Oil (£50), which in addition to the brand's signature ingredient, also includes tamanu, baobab, sandalwood, and sesame oils that together remove your makeup and leave your skin super smooth.
Frank Body Limited-Edition Fizzy Body Scrub
Made with sugar, citric acid, sodium bicarbonate, and grapeseed and almond oils, the Frank Body Limited-Edition Fizzy Body Scrub (£15) actually foams and fizzes as you massage the pink-tinted exfoliator over your limbs, leaving your skin silky soft and your mood instantly uplifted.
Molton Brown Hand Sanitiser Gel
With hand sanitiser such an integral part of everyday life this year, we love to see some of our favourite beauty brands coming out with hand sanitiser gels that are a bit more luxurious than your average bottle from the pharmacy. Case in point: the Molton Brown Hand Sanitiser Gel (£10), which come in chic little bottles and three scents: Orange & Bergamot, Delicious Rhubarb & Rose, and Coastal Cypress & Sea Fennel (shown here). And just in case you were wondering, the gel is formulated with 64.7 percent alcohol, which means it complies with the amount recommended by the World Health Organisation.
L'Oréal Paris Hand Sanitiser Gel
L'Oréal Paris has also launched hand sanitiser this month, which is the same 70 percent alcohol formula that the brand donated to key workers and medical staff across the UK and Ireland back in March. Starting this month, they are available to purchase in four different sizes: 390ml (with a pump), 400ml, 200ml, and the L'Oréal Paris Hand Sanitiser Gel 125ml (£2.50), shown here.
Carex Anti-Bac Hand Cream
The next time you're at Sainsbury's or Morrison's, pick up a bottle of the new Carex Anti-Bac Hand Cream (£3.50), which helps hydrate your hands whilst also providing antibacterial protection.
Byredo Altar Candle
Byredo takes us to church this festive season with its Byredo Altar Candle (£59). The smoky, clove-y scent also features a floral accord of ylang ylang and carnation, as well as Haitian vetiver and guaiac wood, which is a note taken from the Palo Santo tree. The unique combination of notes ensures this candle smells prettier and more complex than your average scent.
Boy Smells Rhubarb Smoke Candle
We're obsessed with the chrome lavender jar that houses the new Boy Smells Rhubarb Smoke Candle (£45). But this bougie parfumée is more than just pretty to look at. The scent is a combination of papyrus, incense, black tea, birch, and violet-leaf notes, filling your home with the most enticing and unique smoky, floral aroma.
Sister & Co Amber Candle
Warm up your home this winter with the new Sister & Co Amber Candle (£25), which features woody and citrus notes and is made from natural coconut and rapeseed wax (which means it's paraffin and phthalate free). Even better, the candle itself is refillable (you can buy a refill for £23), and for every candle sold, Sister & Co. will donate £1 to Solace Women's Aid, a London-based charity that provide refuge for women and children in London.
Soap & Glory 'In The Glow How' 5% Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Tonic
Soap & Glory now has its own glycolic toner. As the name suggestions, the Soap & Glory 'In The Glow How' 5% Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Tonic (£12) contains 5 percent of the Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) glycolic acid, which helps to exfoliate the outer most layer of dead skin — ideal for those with blemish-prone skin.
