There is nothing more maddening than wasting your hard-earned cash on a beauty product that falls flat.
This year, I've swatched, slathered and spritzed, making my way through the mountain of launches that land on my desk each week and putting them each through their paces.
Making the cut is no mean feat, but there are a few new products that I welcomed into my personal beauty arsenal, joining heroes that I come back to year upon year.
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How we chose:
Performance and personal testimony: The buys chosen below are products that I (Hello! Fashion's resident beauty obsessive Orin Carlin) personally really rate. Some launched this year whereas others are old favourites that I have found myself reaching for, but they are united by the fact that I have scrupulously tested (and loved) each of them.
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Hello! Fashion shares the best beauty products of 2023:
Satin Kajal Eyeliner
How to use…
Glide along your upper and lower lash lines and soften with a smudger brush.
What I love…
- Creamy and easy to blend
- Excellent shade range – I love 'Sequin Green' and 'Gold Lamé'
Victoria Beckham Beauty has knocked it out of the park with its Satin Kajal liner. When I'm in a hurry and don't have time for eyeshadow, I only need one product to create depth and definition. Using a fluffy brush, I buff the pigment out into a sheer wash of colour all over the lids and then tightly line my upper and lower lash lines, softening the look slightly with a smudger brush. The formula is pigmented, supple and stays in place all day, and the metallics in particular are so wearable and well-thought-out. My only vexation is that the tip gets blunt quite quickly, more so than other liners, so don't get caught out without a sharpener.
Brightening CC Liquid Blush
ByTerry
How to use…
Simply click the pen mechanism and dab some of the colour onto the apples of your cheeks.
What I love…
- Dewy, hydrated feel
- Gorgeous, flattering shimmer
This summer, I practically lived in 'Sunny Glow', a super pretty cosy copper. Terry de Gunzburg's signature clicky pen format reigns supreme yet again, this time, in liquid blush form. Glowy and revitalising, the hydrating formula delivers a healthy-looking warmth. Brush the product onto the apples of your cheeks and pat it in with your third and ring fingers.
Perfect Canvas Smooth, Prep and Plump Essence
Ren Clean Skincare
How to use…
Douse a cotton pad in the essence and swipe it over your face, followed by a hydrating day cream.
What I love…
- Instant plumped feel
- Makes makeup look fresh and dewy
I usually opt for a facial mist for an extra layer of hydration, but this year I've found myself reaching for a slightly gloopier formula by Ren, and I'm totally here for it. Packed with glycerin, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and microbial extract, the brand's Smooth, Prep and Plump Essence makes my skin instantly look bouncier and layers beautifully under makeup.
B-Goldi Bright Drops
Drunk Elephant
How to use…
Blend the skincare-makeup hybrid into your base of choice for a sheer, pretty glow.
What I love…
- Super versatile
- Flattering, non-glittery glow
Drunk Elephant's B-Goldi Bright Drops is the beauty gift that keeps on giving. I wear it alone on errand days, blended into a skin tint and even dabbed over the high points of my face over makeup. It's a total multi-use powerhouse. The glow-infused serum is so pretty and subtle – radiant rather than glittery which means it can be used all over. Plus, it layers really nicely under a light base.
All of the Above Shadow Stick
Rare Beauty
How to use…
Smooth over your lids for a super quick hit of colour.
What I love…
I love cream eyeshadow sticks, and Rare Beauty's version is one of the best I've tried in terms of staying power. It takes mere seconds to apply, and yet it lasts for hours. After initial application there is enough playtime for blending, but once the formula has locked in place, it seriously doesn't budge. I wear 'Adventure', a lovely deep gold, constantly – although it always seems to be out of stock. Alternatively, the champagne-hued 'Integrity' is great for a lighter, brighter daytime look.
Digital Shield Day Cream
Sarah Chapman
How to use…
Sandwiched in your skincare routine between serum and SPF.
What I love…
- Packed with high-performing antioxidants
- Skin appears more energised
Early studies indicate that excessive blue light exposure can lead to oxidative damage in the skin – bad news if, like me, your job involves being sat in front of a screen all day. This year I've reaped the benefits of Sarah Chapman's Digital Shield Day Cream which works to boost the skin's natural luminosity. Combating oxidative stress, its hero ingredient is the antioxidant Astaxanthin. I suffer from dullness all year round but especially during the colder months, and I have found that layering the day cream under makeup makes my skin look less fatigued and more tonally balanced.
How to use…
Slick a layer over your lips for a plumped shine.
What I love…
- Non-greasy
- Long-lasting hydration
This product by Kosas has recently made it into my lip care product rotation, and I am seriously impressed. The skincare-focused oil isn't sticky or drying, and the surface of my lips feels genuinely smoother after use. Some formulas don't target uneven texture, but I have noticeably less flakiness and a more plumped pout thanks to the peptides. A no-brainer.
How to use…
Break the seal with the end of an eyeshadow brush and then dab the product onto the high points of the face – or anywhere you want a pretty glow.
What I love…
- Natural glow
- Skincare-centric ingredient list
Makeup powerhouse Bobbi Brown is all about beautiful, subtly enhanced skin, and her Miracle Balm, from her new brand Jones Road, makes that goal all the more achievable. The glimmery multi-purpose balm is packed with fatty acids and enriching oils, making it the perfect summer accompaniment. It's also super easy to gift as the shades are so sheer and forgiving on all skin tones.
Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour
Chanel
How to use…
Apply two coats of the nail lacquer for a rich colour.
What I love…
- Great shade range
- Luxurious feel
Chanel's iconic Le Vernis range underwent a makeover earlier this year, resulting in higher concentrations of pigment and a super shiny finish, owing to the brand's unique camellia eco-ceramides. I am obsessed with 'Rouge Noir', a slightly vampy wine shade with a brownish depth. Clearly all nail fanatics are in agreement, because it's constantly out of stock.
Ormonde Woman
How to use…
Spritz on the pulse points.
What I love…
Featuring Ormonde Jayne's house signature black hemlock, Ormonde Woman is such a clever creation, adored in perfume circles, but niche enough that it's not instantly recognisable to the masses. Energising and radiant, the blend of musky jasmine alongside verdant grass oil is deeply comforting and it's one of my most-worn fragrances of 2023.
Why you should trust me:
Orin Carlin is Hello! Fashion’s SEO Content Writer. Promising to leave no stone unturned in the name of fashion and beauty journalism, she is the proud creator of our ‘Try The Trend’ series. With a particular interest in formula innovation, microtrends, royal and bridal beauty, perfume, rituals, treatments, fashion history and vintage icons, she can either be found interviewing major industry names (previous subjects include Georgia May Jagger, Mary Greenwell and Sam McKnight) or scouring the internet for must-have pieces. It's not just a job; it's a personal quest to unearth noteworthy pieces that resonate with style and beauty enthusiasts.
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