13 Best New Beauty Launches For December 2023, From Editors
13 New Beauty Products Our Editors Are Loving This December
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.
Even though the start of fall feels like just yesterday, in a blink, it's already December. Halloween and Thanksgiving have come and gone, and it's time to start (and for some, wrap up) your Christmas shopping. Checking off every name from your list can be daunting, but the latest launches from some of your favourite brands make it a whole lot easier.
Month after month, brands have impressed us with new innovations across the hair, makeup, skin, nail, and body categories, and they certainly didn't take the month of December off. From new skin-care tools that make indulging in a little self-care oh-so-easy to festive makeup palettes that have us audibly gasping with every pigmented swipe, our editors have found no shortage of exciting beauty products to test — and rave about — this month. On this list, not only will you find serums, candles, lip gloss, perfumes, and even a few limited-edition sets, but you also may just find the perfect beauty gift for someone on your list (or yourself). Whether you're looking to revamp your existing beauty routine or need some stocking stuffers for your upcoming holiday celebration, we've got you covered.
Keep reading to dive into the beauty products our editors are loving for December.
Best Eyeshadow Single
KVD Beauty Dazzle Gel Hyper-Metallic Vegan Eyeshadow (£23)
"The KVD Beauty Dazzle Gel Eyeshadow is one of the coolest products I've come across in a while. The metallic finish in the product intensifies as you blend it, so you can start out with a normal purple or blue liner or shadow but by the time you are finished, you'll have the most gorgeous shimmer on your eye. It's like the product is working double time." — Ariel Baker, assistant editor, Beauty
Best Lip Balm
Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment in Lingonberry Jam (£17)
"I'm already obsessed with the Ole Henriksen lip balms but this Christmas version might be my favourite yet. You still get the same hit of hydration thanks to its kokum and mango seed butter and cloudberry oil, but it has a festive lingonberry jam scent." — Chloe Dunn, Senior Social Content Producer
Best Powder Highlighter
Chanel Les Symboles de Chanel Oversize Illuminating Powder in Warm Gold (£68)
"Highlighter is the number one makeup product I always reach for. Even if I'm going completely makeup-free otherwise, I'll still swipe a little highlighter on the top of my cheekbones and nose. Lit from within and all that, you know? The new Chanel Illuminating Powder in the warm gold shade is just what I've been needing as my skin begins to lose some of its summer glow. It adds just the right amount of sun-kissed-ness with just a hint of shimmer — it's a two-in-one subtle bronzer and highlighter that has become a staple in my everyday." — Aviel Kanter, director, branded content
Best Face and Eye Palette
Danessa Myricks Beauty Lightwork V: I Am Palette For Eyes And Face (£137)
"The Danessa Myricks Beauty Lightwork V: I Am Palette is a masterpiece. From the incredible duo-chrome colours to the richly pigmented formula, it feels like a treasured jewel in my collection. Not only is it stunning on the eyes and on any vanity, but the names of each shade are inspired by affirmations that the brand encourages you to say when you are using each colour, which I absolutely love." — AB
Best Matte Lipstick
Violette FR Petal Bouche Matte (£29)
"Violette FR's Petal Bouche Matte Lipsticks are hands down one of my favourite lipstick formulas of all time. The brand only releases one colour every year and this year's was Cerise Désir, a gorgeous burgundy shade. Not only can you see the nuance in these colours (they truly do work on every single skin tone) but they feel like a rose petal on the lips, (seriously). This product is always a delight to use year-round." — AB
"I'm not much of a lipstick wearer, but when I do decide to swipe some on, I like to go heavy on the pigment. Not only is the buildable colour of this new Petal Bouche shade absolutely exquisite, the matte finish stays put for hours. I can personally attest to this as I just wore it to a wedding that started with a ceremony at 4 p.m. and ended with dancing barefoot at my hometown bar at 2 a.m. I may have been a little worse for the wear by the time I rolled into bed, but my lipstick was still picture-perfect." — AK
Best Water-Gel Moisturiser
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Water Gel Moisturiser (£9)
"I've come to accept that I should be using moisturisers that cater to my oily skin instead of looking like a dewy dumpling 24/7. While you won't be able to pry some of my thicker top-shelf formulas from my hands, I did get a chance to try the new Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Cream and it was an immediate hit. My skin felt hydrated and supple, and the glow on my face looked like it came from within and wasn't just sitting on top of my skin. I've already added it to my skin-care rotation and I'll definitely be buying more once I finish it up." — AB
Best Brow Serum
Nu Skin Lash + Brow Serum (£56)
"Of all my questionable decisions growing up, I'm proud that I never succumbed to the overplucking trend of the late 90s. Imagine my surprise, then, that in the last few months, I've noticed my brows looking more sparse than ever. Very few products I've tried in the past have worked in a meaningful way, so I've been pleasantly surprised that the Nu Skin Lash + Brow Serum has helped fill in some patchy areas of my eyebrows over this last month of testing, thanks to its blend of peptides that work to boost hair growth." — KC
Best Face Oil
Herbar The Face Oil (£37)
"In the winter months, I'm all about adding extra hydration into my skin-care routine. Herbar's Face Oil has been a lifesaver when it comes to fighting off dry patches, especially around my nose. It's formulated with a calming mushroom blend that soothes my skin in minutes. I love applying it at night before bed and doing a facial massage with the brand's Gua-Shroom, a mushroom-shaped gua sha tool." — RR
Best Pre-Shampoo Treatment
Leonor Greyl Paris L'Huile de Leonor Greyl (£34)
"Pre-shampoo treatments are a new thing for me. I never used to do them, and now, I can't get enough and I've noticed a huge difference in my hair. The Leonor Greyl Paris L'Huile de Leonor Greyl is formulated to deeply hydrate and smooth dry hair with jojoba, coconut, sesame, and sunflower seed oil. You simply leave it on for 10 minutes before rinsing it out in the shower and it gives you ultra-shiny, glass-like hair." — JH
Best Body Lotion
Sol de Janeiro Biggie Biggie Brazilian Bum Bum Cream (£82)
"OK, I was planning to give this as a gift, but OMG when it arrived, I couldn't let her go. She's large, she's definitely in charge, and she smells freakin' delicious. I go through the normal-sized tubs of the Bum Bum cream way faster than I'd like to admit, so this XL baby is just what I needed. I like to slather it on before I go to bed so I can fall asleep wrapped in the glorious scent of deep summer. If you can stop yourself from keeping it, it makes a great holiday gift." — AK
Best Essence Perfume
Gucci Gulity Elixir de Parfum Pour Femme (£126)
"I'm not typically a fan of perfumes that include vanilla, but the Gucci Guilty Elixir formula has proven to be the exception. The Elixir products in the Gucci line are slightly more intense — elixir is the strongest concentration of fragrance and has a higher percentage of aromatic compounds. What comes through for me here, more than the vanilla, are the cosy tonka beans and elegant violet accord. This fragrance just wants to be taken out on a hot date." — AK
Best Floral Perfume
Creed Carmina Eau de Parfum (£165)
"Anyone who knows me knows that I often utter the words 'I don't like floral perfumes.' Thankfully, through my job I've come to realise that all floral scents are not created equal and that the top and bottom notes matter in a scent just as much as the middle ones. One floral perfume that has absolutely blown me away recently is Creed's Carmina. Its heart notes include rose de mai, violet, and peony, but the addition of black cherry, saffron, and amber musk add touches of depth and fruitiness that I honestly didn't expect to love this much. This one is a luxe buy, but it is so worth it." — AB
Best Winter Perfume
Byredo Animalique Eau de Parfum (£140)
"I've been wearing Anamalique for days and still haven't been able to pinpoint quite what it is that makes it so lovely. Is it the blend of both warm (amber, suede, and tobacco leaf) and floral (lemon, mimosa, and violet) notes? Perhaps. Maybe it's the quiet brightness of bergamot that suddenly catches your nose? Whatever it is, it's got me hooked — like the brand says, it taps into the primal instincts and authentic essence inherent in every human being." — AK
