The Best Makeup Products Launching in May 2021
The Best New Makeup Products Launching in May 2021
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Many of us haven't been wearing a whole lot of makeup over the past year. While lockdown provided us with the opportunity to get our skin-care regimes sorted and indulge in sensory beauty experiences as a way to manage stress and anxiety, it didn't offer a lot of opportunity — or reason, really — to meticulously apply foundation or break out the bold eye shadow and bright lipstick (although, if you did manage to wear a full-face of makeup during lockdown, we seriously applaud you). My WFH makeup look consisted of three products: concealer, mascara, and tinted lip balm, and that was on a good day. Some mornings, I barely had the will power to wash my face.
As the UK starts to open back up, however, and we can finally hang out at pubs and restaurants with our friends (even if it is outside for most of the month), many of us are excitedly taking our makeup out of hibernation. Not only that, but beauty brands are gifting us with loads of new launches, so much so that it's hard to keep track — but not to worry, that's where we come in. Every month, we round up the most exciting makeup launches coming to the UK, from classic brands to indie newcomers and all the liners, lipsticks, and mascaras in between.
When it comes to what's arriving in the UK in May, it's a good month to invest in bronzer, with new offerings from Trinny London, Guerlain, Huda Beauty, Dior, and Victoria Beckham Beauty (which the POPSUGAR editors are officially obsessed with). Brands like Fresh and Anastasia Beverly Hills are also helping us get in the mood for summer, with the former launching tropical-flavoured lip balms and the latter delivering a face palette that will help you look like you just got back from holiday to somewhere sunny and warm.
Keep reading to discover all of the makeup newness arriving in the UK this month.
Glowish by Huda Beauty Multidew Skin Tint
Lightweight and buildable, the Glowish by Huda Beauty Multidew Skin Tint (£27) is the first product from Huda Kattan's new range of makeup that is geared at those who prefer a more no-makeup makeup look. The Skin Tint is available in 13 shades and contains skin-care ingredients like red bell pepper extract and rose oil to help moisturiser and protect the skin. It's also incredibly long-lasting, with a 12-hour wear claim (we've found it lasts around 7 or 8, or the entire work day).
"Most tinted moisturisers are just moisturisers with pigments, and some of them do have added polymers, which is what makes them last a little bit longer," Kattan explained of the formula over Zoom. "We added a lot of polymers in Multidew, and avoided some of the ingredients that can make tinted moisturisers a little bit more fluid and interact with the staying power, things like SPF." Because of that, you should make sure to apply your sunscreen before you put on the Multidew Skin Tint (if you need some recommendations for great face sunscreens, click here), which you can either do with your fingers, or with the Glowish Airbrush Finish Brush (£27), which is sold separately.
Nars Radiant Tinted Moisturiser
The Nars Radiant Tinted Moisturiser (£33) is far from new. In fact, it's one of the brand's best-selling products. What is new, however, are the 10 new shades in the range, a majority of which are for medium-deep and deep complexions. To celebrate the shade extension, the brand also unveiled a campaign that boldly asserts there is no such thing as conventional beauty (which for too long in the beauty industry unfortunately meant white, young, thin, cisgender, and able-bodied). The "Your Skin Turned On" features a cast of 16 diverse models — one for each of the shades — who represent different ages, bodies, ethnicities, genders, and gender presentations, all of which you can see here..
Fenty Beauty Bright Fix Eye Brightener
This month, Fenty Beauty offers up its version of a brightening under-eye concealer that helps both conceal dark circles and hydrate the delicate skin underneath the eye. Available in 16 shades, the Fenty Beauty Bright Fix Eye Brightener (£18) has a serum-like consistency, which means the coverage is buildable; and like all of RiRi's excellent base products, this under-eye concealer is a long-wear formula that's both humidity- and sweat-proof.
Dior Forever Natural Bronze Powder
Housed in the chicest quilted compact, the new Dior Forever Natural Bronze Powder (£40) is available in eight shades, the lightest of which is Fair Bronze, and the darkest being Deep Bronze suitable for very dark skin tones. The powder itself is incredibly silky and feels like velvet if you run your finger across it. And it has the perfect amount of pigment — enough to make you look naturally sun-kissed, but not so much that you look splotchy and orange.
Victoria Beckham Beauty Beauty Matte Bronzing Brick
Housed in Victoria Beckham's signature brass, tortoise-shell compact, the Victoria Beckham Beauty Beauty Matte Bronzing Brick (£52) is incredibly chic (and refillable). But this powder bronzer is more than just a pretty package. The POPSUGAR editors tried the formula before it launched and are officially obsessed, due to the silky texture and high pigment payoff, all whilst being extremely blendable (which means it's easy to avoid harsh streaks or splotches). We also love the shade range. There are six shades, but each one contains two different colours of pressed powder. They include: 01 (a light-amber duo for fair to light skin tones), 02 (a golden-tan duo for light to medium skin tones), 03 (a golden-brown duo for medium skin tones.), 04 (a golden-brown duo for dark to deep skin tones), and 05 (a deep-amber duo for deep to rich skin tones) — with each containing a lighter and darker hue. All of the POPSUGAR editors who tried the bronzer found that, thanks to the colour payoff, the shades were a perfect match for their skin tone.
Guerlain Terracotta The Bronzing Powder
The Guerlain Terracotta The Bronzing Powder (£39) launched in 1984, and ever since has been considered one of the best powder bronzers on the market — loved by makeup artists and beauty editors alike. This year, the brand introduces a new-and-improved formula that now uses 96% naturally-derived ingredients and includes few drops of argan oil sourced via the Targanine network of cooperatives located in Agadir, Morocco, which helps protect the local resources and works to create job opportunities in rural areas. Available in six shades, the formula is still just as silky and natural-looking as ever.
Huda Beauty Glow Obsessions Highlighter Palette
In May, Huda Kattan gifts us with another Obsessions palette, but this time, it's all about highlighter. Available in three shades (Light Glow, Medium Glow, and Rich Glow), each of the Huda Beauty Glow Obsessions Highlighter Palettes (£27) contains four different luminising powders, which have been reformulated to be silkier and glowier, consisting of 40-50% ultra-fine pearls than the original.
Vieve Skin Dew
Dubbed the "glow multi-tasker", Vieve Skin Dew (£19) is the newest product from Irish makeup artist Jamie Genevieve. The liquid highlighter — which contains hydrating squalane in the formula — is a soft golden tone that can be sheered out and layered depending on the level of glow you want on your skin. Regardless of how much you apply, the result is always beautifully dewy versus very shimmery for an incredibly natural-looking highlight.
& Other Stories Face & Body Dew
The & Other Stories Face & Body Dew (£27) is a champagne-coloured liquid highlighter than can be tapped directly onto cheekbones (and cupid's bow, bridge of the nose, eyelids, you name it), or mixed into your foundation or moisturiser for a little extra all-over glow.
L'Oréal Paris x Elie Saab Eyeshadow Palette
On 6 May, L'Oréal Paris debuted the "Power of Grace" collection in collaboration with French fashion designer Elie Saab. The beautiful makeup range is inspired by Saab's dreamy and intricately-embellished gowns and contains lots of beautiful pink and nude lip colours. The product we're most obsessed with, however, is the L'Oréal Paris x Elie Saab Eyeshadow Palette (£16), which contains a dazzling array of neutral metallics and dramatic jewel tones that we promise you'll be dipping into both morning and night, and all year round (the bronze hues are perfect for summer!).
Charlotte Tilbury Look of Love Instant Look in a Palette
As part of her "Look of Love" spring/summer collection, this month Tilbury has launched the Charlotte Tilbury Look of Love Instant Look in a Palette (£55) in two shades, Glowing Beauty (shown here, which is a collection of bronzy-gold hues), and Pretty Blushed Beauty (a range of softer rose tones). The palettes are meant to make creating a full look fast and simple, with three eye shadows, a bronzer, highlighter, blush, and finishing powder, all of which are numbered so you know which order to apply them.
Lottie London Palette Raspberry Ripple
Always wanted to experiment with pink and red shadows? Then this might be your month. The Lottie London Palette Raspberry Ripple (£5) is a great options as the colour are gorgeous, the powders are pigmented and creamy, and it costs less than a glass of wine at the pub.
Barry M Colour Glide Eyeshadow Wands
Available in six shades, the Barry M Colour Glide Eyeshadow Wand (£4), shown here in Blue Skies, is a matte liquid shadow with a powdery, soft-focus finish — a pretty close dupe to Glossier's Skywash shadow, if that formula isn't in your budget.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Face Palettes
Available in three colour ways, the new Anastasia Beverly Hills Face Palette includes a bronzer, highlighter, and blusher (all powders), making it a great kit to throw in your purse on the weekends or in your suitcase for a weekend getaway (even if it's just somewhere here in the UK). Shown here is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Face Palette in Off to Costa Rica (£54), which features a champagne-coloured highlighter and peachy-pink blusher, but we're also obsessed with the Tropical Getaway palette, which is exclusively to anastasiabeverlyhills.com and includes a mahogany-coloured bronzer, a soft gold highlighter, and a berry-toned blusher.
Hermès Beauty Silky Blush
The Rose Hermès collection that launches this month includes eight pretty shades of powder blush, two brushes, three rosy-hued lip colours, and chic refillable blush case. We have our eyes set on the Hermès Beauty Silky Blush in Rose Pomette (£63), shown here, which is a gorgeous, cool-toned medium pink that promises to perk up your complexion in one sweep.
Trinny London Golden Glow Bronzer in Naomi and The Right Light Highlighter in Firelight
In May, Trinny London introduces two new additions to its range specifically for those with deeper complexions. The Trinny London Golden Glow Bronzer in Naomi (£25) is a deep mahogany-bronze colour that is perfect for warming up the skin, whilst the Trinny London The Right Light Highlighter in Firelight (£25) is the newest shade of the brand's best-selling cream highlighter — a shimmery apricot colour that gives skin a sun-kissed glow when dabbed on the high points of the face.
Bobbi Brown Highlighting Powder in Pink Glow
Part of the brand's Pink Glow collection, the Bobbi Brown Highlighting Powder in Pink Glow (£36.50) is a limited-hue of its iconic shimmer brick. Swirled together, the various twinkly hues create a gorgeous opalescent pink shade that can be dusted across cheekbones (and cupid's bow, and inner corners of the eyes) and layered on top of blush.
Disney Cruella Collection by MAC
To celebrate the release of the live-action film Cruella, which hits theatres on 28 May, MAC teamed up on a makeup collection inspired by the iconic 101 Dalmatians villain. There are so many amazing pieces in the range, but the one we'll be investing in is the the MAC Matte Lipstick in De Vil in the Details (£17.50), inspired by Cruella's signature lip shade (which matches her gloves and lining of her coat, of course).
Glossier Ultralip
Glossier Ultralip (£14) is the brand's first lipstick launch since it introduced the Generation G formula back in 2016. Available in nine shades (all of which you can see here), Ultralip is a hybrid formula that boasts the hydrating capabilities of a balm, the sheen of a gloss, and the buildable colour of a lip tint, taking the pigment from sheer to saturated the more you layer it on.
Fresh Sugar Hydrating Lip Balms in Mango
Just in time for summer, Fresh releases three new tropical flavours of its hydrating lip balms (the ones in the tin, not the tinted formulas in the twist-up tubes). The new additions include Lychee, Passionfruit, and our personal favourite, the Fresh Sugar Hydrating Lip Balm in Mango (£15).
Carolina Herrera Mini Tint Balm
Part tinted lip balm, part stylish accessory, the Carolina Herrera Mini Tint Balm (£24.50) is our latest makeup obsession. Like all of the lip products in the Caroline Herrera beauty range, you are able to customise the tube, choosing from a range of colourful caps and bases (so for instance you could choose a yellow cap and a blue base). And if you're buying this as a gift, you can also pick up a key ring and charms to accessorise your miniature lip tint ... or tints. We're fond of Carolina, a juicy sheer red, and Fearless, a transparent hue that reacts with your pH to create a subtle pink tint.
L'Oréal Paris Brilliant Signature Plumping Gloss
The new L'Oréal Paris Brilliant Signature Plumping Gloss (£10) doesn't just make lips appear fuller, it also to hydrate them, thanks to the addition of hyaluronic acid in the formula. The comfortable, smudge-proof gloss comes in nine shades — some with shimmer and some without — and has a cooling sensation when you swipe it across your lips (the feeling fades after a few minutes). But what we like about this formula most of all is the fact that it's not the least bit stick or tacky.
Kjaer Weis Matte, Naturally Liquid Lipstick
Launching on 10 May is the new Kjaer Weis Matte, Naturally Liquid Lipstick, which comes in six shades and contains good-for-your-lips ingredients like hyaluronic acid, certified organic shea butter, and and a trio of certified-organic oils (sunflower, jojoba, and castor seed). The formula is the perfect addition to your makeup kit, especially if you try to stick to more natural formulas.
MAC Love Me Liquid Lipcolour
The MAC Love Me Liquid Lipcolour (£19.50) is a long-lasting liquid lipstick with a satin finish and a whole slew of ingredients that are aimed at making it comfortable to wear and conditioning for your lips (think argan oil, coconut oil, shea butter, and carnauba butter). It comes in 20 shades that all fall under four different colour categories: reds, oranges, purples, and pinks/nudes.
"Love Me Liquid Lipcolour feels like a total innovation compared to cream formulas in the past, which felt oilier and more unstable," Terry Barber, MAC director of makeup artistry, said via press release. "It glides on with a very satisfying amount of coverage and pigment and then sets to a long-wearing finish, which looks plump, balmy and hyper-luxurious."
NYX This Is Milky Lip Gloss
Launching exclusively at Superdrug this month is the NYX This Is Milky Lip Gloss (£9). The vegan formula, which is already trending on TikTok in the US, is a long-lasting, highly pigmented gloss that comes in nine shades including Cherry Skimmed (shown here).
By Joy Adenuga Solid Brush Soap
Guaranteed to make cleaning your makeup brushes more efficient and sweet-smelling (seriously, they smell incredible!), By Joy Adenuga's new Solid Brush Soap (£18) is your answer to an easy and faff-free process. The solid soap — available in two delicious scents: Vanilla Essence and Tangy Orange — comes in a stylish tin with a textured rubber disk to insert into the lid. To clean, wet your brush, swirl directly into the soap tin then swirl into the rubber disk to gently remove product build-up and rinse in water. Simple!
