Best Beauty Buys of 2024

By Rachel Howard

It’s good to tell we’re heading into the second half of the year – the leaves are starting to turn, the nights are drawing in, and pumpkins and ghosts are popping up to give us a fright at every turn.

Summer (if there even was one!) is starting to feel a distant memory – but there’s something to be said for September and getting back to routine. It’s a great time of year to reset – be it your diet, lifestyle or beauty habits, and luckily for the us, the beauty industry has a plethora of products at the ready to help. So here are a selection of the very best:

Skincare

Good skincare practices are the foundation for glowing, healthy and young looking skin. With the global skincare industry being worth more than $135bn, the range of products on offer can be perplexing at best, but here are a few that promise to get you glowing.

Dermaroller – Lipopeptide with Vitamin A (£62) – a night cream that promotes cell repair and nourishment. Unlike many night creams, this is lightweight but still retains hydrating and moisturising properties, thanks to ingredients including shea butter.

This is Silk – Power Up Silk Barrier Booster (£24) – a really interesting take on skincare, this is a potent serum containing a high percentage of silk that has been designed to be added into your existing skincare products. Created to help with issues including ageing, dry, sore skin and sensitive skin, it’s a comforting and refreshing addition to any skincare routine.

Hydropeptide – Solar Dew Sheer Mineral Melt (£58) – we may well be leaving summer behind, but SPF is something we should be using every day of the year, to protect against harmful UV rays and premature ageing. This sheer formula melts seamlessly into the skin, doesn’t leave a white cast, and provides 100% mineral protection from the sun. Skincare benefits include peptides and CellRenew-16, and to top it all of, it works beautifully as an under-makeup primer.

Naked Sundays – Cabana Glow Mineral Glow Serum Drops (£34) – when is a sunscreen not just a sunscreen? When it’s Cabana Glow! This beautifully lightweight serum not only provides excellent UV protection with SPF 50, but it also jam-packed with buildable pigment, helping to perfect uneven skin tones and give you a lit-from-within glow. Goodbye greasy, white sunscreen, and hello glowy, tinted, protected and healthy looking skin.

Ishga – Hydra+ Marine Cream (£130) – the list of ingredients in this beautiful moisturiser is certainly impressive – hyaluronic acid, shea butter and argan oil are all well-known for their skin benefits, but Ishga’s unique ingredient is Hebridean seaweed extract, which is rich in antioxidants and sourced from the purest Scottish waters. What results is a lightweight yet velvety smooth cream that absorbs quickly but delivers long-lasting hydration and glow.

Carol Joy London – Everyday Moisturiser (£105) – this may be called Everyday Moisturiser, but it certainly doesn’t feel “everyday” – more of a special treat. From the luxurious packaging, to the product itself, this is a “Joy” to use! This is another lightweight offering, but there is an Intense version for those who require something richer. Although lightweight, it gives fantastic hydration and makes a perfect base for makeup. It’s calming on sensitive skin and provides an illuminated finish that is ideal even for no-makeup days.

Makeup

Lumene – Serum In Foundation (£39.90) – skincare infused makeup is all the rage, and it makes perfect sense. Why should you have to pick one or the other? This foundation is a superb example – it gives beautiful silky coverage, but also contains vegan collagen, triple hyaluronic acid and SPF 30. This is one of the nicest foundations I have tried in a very long time. The glow it provides is insane, the coverage is buildable and it lasts all day. Ten shades are available and it’s suitable for all skin types.

Doll Smash – Ultimate Coverage Concealer (£21.99) – finding a good concealer is not an easy job. Get the wrong one and it can be drying, chalky and ageing. It can even draw attention the very thing you’re trying to conceal. But Doll Smash’s Ultimate Concealer really is that – the ultimate. Not only does it effectively hide blemishes, dark circles and shadows but it provides all-day hydration at the same time. Available in 8 shades, it also has a large doe foot applicator, allowing straightforward application.

Doll Smash – Supreme Cream Liner (£19.99) – eyeliner is a universal product, whether you go for a subtle shadow under the lashes or a full wing, chances are there is an eyeliner in your makeup bag. But cream liners are infamously hit or miss. They need to be silky smooth, wet enough to glide but not so wet they smudge within a minute of applying it. Doll Smash has “smashed it” with this liner – it has an easy-glide formula and is non-transferable, meaning it will last all day without smudging. It’s the holy grail of eyeliners!

Lavera – Multi Balm (£11.95) – multi-use products are becoming more and more popular and it’s easy to see why. We all lead busy lives, and sometimes we just don’t have the time for 15 different products in our makeup routine. Lavera have tapped into this and brought us the Multi Balm. Packaged like a lipstick, this balm acts as an eyeshadow, blush, highlighter and lipstick all in one. It has a moisturising texture, allowing it to blend seamlessly without leaving an oily residue. I particularly like Sunset Red, which sounds a little alarming but is actually a subtle bronzy red. It works perfectly on tanned skin to provide a flush of colour and light. Sundown Gold is a more gentle pinky gold that gives the skin a glow with a touch of illumination.

Benecos – Natural Jumbo Lipstick (£5.95) – infused with organic coconut oil and vitamin E, this jumbo-sized crayon-style lipstick provides pigmented colour pay-off alongside a soft and moisturising formula. I found the staying power particularly good and loved Rosy Brown – a really wearable nude that can be applied lightly for a wash of colour, or more heavily for a deeper effect.

Mavala – Yummy Colours Collection nail varnish (£6.40 each) – I have always been impressed by Mavala nail polishes… they have a colossal range of colours and the formula is totally foolproof. It’s quick drying, goes on smoothly and lasts better than any other traditional nail polish I’ve tried. This summer, Mavala brought out the Yummy Colours Collection, which consists of six shades inspired by all things sweet, that can take you from summer through to autumn and winter. My personal favourite is Yummy Pomelo, a really wearable baby pink, closely followed by Yummy Berry, which is a stunning and unusual cornflower blue that has been adorning my toes for most of the summer! Completing the collection is Yummy Matcha, a pale green that looks amazing against tanned hands and feet; Yummy Mango, a vibrant coral that works just as well in the autumn months as the summer months; Yummy Coco, a light beige with an iridescent quality that could even be used for a French manicure effect; and Yummy Diabalo, a pomegranate red with a hint of burgundy. This is a true all-year-round colour and will look equally good on your fingernails on Christmas Day as it will on your toenails on the beach.

Dr Pawpaw has teamed up with Percy Pig to bring younger members of the family a treat in the shape of a tinted lip oil with natural pawpaw and a Percy Pig fruit scent (£10). In fact, this may have been designed with younger consumers in mind, but I was seriously impressed with this lip oil. It felt amazing to apply, so smooth and hydrating, gave a subtle pink tint and left me with a fanastically shiny pout. I’m sure this will be making its way into my handbag any day now!

Haircare

Hair Gain – Peptide Puff Dry Shampoo (£14.99) – if you’re busy and constantly on-the-go, I’m fairly confident that dry shampoo is already your best friend. Squeezing an extra day or two out of freshly washed hair can save a huge amount of time – not to mention giving hair a rest from heat in the form of hairdryers, straighteners and curlers. Most dry shampoos are aerosol based and carry the risk of depositing a white, powdery residue in your hair if not applied correctly. But don’t fear – Hair Gain is here! Using a revolutionary peptide puff, which allows for targeted application and minimal waste, it features a blend of complex peptides and advances haircare actives, including biotin, caffeine and red clover extract. Not only does it care for your scalp, it absorbs oil and adds volume, body and texture, allowing for great hair every day of the week.

Hair Gain – Scalp Foam (£32) – the quest for fuller and thicker hair is one many of us are on – no matter what age we are. Hair thinning can occur as you get older, but thin hair can also plague younger members of the family. I tried this scalp foam on a little 9-year-old helper who has beautiful long hair which is thin in texture and prone to tangles and breakages. First of all, it’s such a simple procedure, wash and dry hair as normal, apply the foam directly to the scalp and hair line, massage in and leave well alone! I was concerned that by the morning, the hair would be sticky and oily but it was actually the opposite! The hair was left full, smooth, silky soft and looking really healthy. For a simple, one-stop-shop for thicker, healthier hair, look no further than this scalp foam.

Hair Gain – Hair Mask (£14.50) – I had another little helper to try out this product, and this head of hair was completely different – thick, naturally wavy and very long. This mask seemed like the perfect product – it’s intensely hydrating, nourishing, it protects and strengthens, reduces breakage and promotes increased lustre and shine. I can confirm that the hair was significantly more manageable after using this mask, the texture was improved, the shine was beautiful and there were far less tangles – surely a win in all households, especially those with children!

Alterna – Alterna is a luxury haircare brand using botanicals and high-performance ingredients to transform hair from root to tip. Caviar, sea silk, bamboo and kendi oil are just a few of the ingredients that help to deliver clean results at the same time as providing a spa-like experience. Caviar Restructuring Bond Repair Shampoo (£39.90) and Caviar Restructuring Bond Repair Conditioner (£39.90) are colour-safe products that gently cleanse and condition the hair, removing daily build up and adding shine with each use. The conditioner protects and repairs damaged hair and reduces frizz, making it shiny, healthy and more manageable. For a special treat, the Caviar Restructuring Bond Repair Mask (£52.10) is perfect for any hair type and provides a deeply moisturising, reparative treatment that mends split ends, prevents breakage and deeply conditions. Not to mention it smells divine!

Urtekram – Nordic beauty company Urtekram specialise in natural products for the face, body and hair. The hair products are grouped into hair types and requirements, meaning there really is something for everyone. I tried out the Ultimate Repair Shampoo (£7.25) and Ultimate Repair Conditioner (£6.85), both fragranced with spicy orange blossom, which really helps to wake you up first thing in the morning! Tailored for dry and damaged hair, these products are superbly nourishing, you can really feel the ingredients, including jojoba oil, going to work as you lather the shampoo and comb through the conditioner. My hair felt silky yet manageable and the shine was evident for all to see.

It’s not only shampoo, conditioner and masks that help to get your hair in tip-top condition. There are wide variety of tools available to utilise too. Two of the best are the Straand Exfoliating Scalp Brush (£14) and the Manta Original Brush (£30). Designed to stimulate the scalp and hair follicles, these handy little gadgets increase blood circulation, promote hair growth, help to remove product build up and allow your shampoos and conditioners to work more deeply and effectively. The Manta even comes in a Pulse edition (£70), which gently vibrates. Not only does it relieve stress and tension, it also stimulates the scalp to an even deeper level and exfoliates any dead skin, reducing the risk of dandruff. Straand also offer The Detangler Comb (£12) which helps to evenly distribute conditioner and/or hair masks. The wide teeth glide through the hair effortlessly, reducing the chance of tangles and breakages. Hang it in your shower and those painful and irritating knots will soon be a thing of the past.

A Little Something Extra

Last but not least are two products that don’t quite fit into my other categories, but are too good to miss out… Murdock Black Tea Cologne (£51) has to be one of the nicest colognes I have experienced in a long time. An evocative mix of spices, cedar wood and amber, it’s heady but not overpowering. Top notes of black tea and bergamot help to create a masculine, sensual fragrance that is beauti-fully unique. Other products including body wash and deodorant are available in the same scent.

Row & Ma Paris – Speciality Teas from €17 – now this may be a little left field for a beauty review, but what could be better than having a pamper night and sampling gorgeous new products at the same time as having a lovely cup of tea… but I don’t mean a cup of Yorkshire (not that there’s any-thing wrong with that!). Row & Ma Paris aim to provide a unique experience with their teas, offering high-end organic ingredients of the highest quality. These are like no other tea I have tried before, the depth of flavour is astounding. The selection includes chamomile, verbena and matcha, but my per-sonal favourites have to be La Minthology Verte – an organic green tea with mint; and Midnight Treasure – an organic apple verbena infusion.

Conclusion

I think it’s safe to say the beauty industry has not been sleeping when it comes to launching new and exciting products throughout 2024. We really have no excuse not to refresh our skincare, revamp our makeup and transform our haircare. By the time winter kicks in, we’ll be more than ready for the glitz and sparkle the Christmas party season promises to bring!