Craving a beauty treat? We can certainly help with that. TikTok’s favourite lip oil and the maddest shower wash you’ve ever seen are among our top buys this week. Enjoy!
Any products in this article have been selected editorially however if you buy something we mention, we may earn commission
From the wellbeing manual that helps you seek out joy to the cute candle we’ll be gifting to all our friends and the lip liner that’s converted our lifelong refusenik, we’ve got something for everyone in our weekly roundup of team favourites. We reckon they should be on your radar too – happy browsing!
SJ Corfield-Smith, GTG beauty director, has sniffed out a skincare dupe
L’Oreal Paris Age Perfect Le Duo Serum, £37.99
“Dupes are really not my thing however if you’re looking for a more affordable version of Clarins Double Serum, £65, then this is it. In one side of the dual-chambered serum is a combination of collagen and peptides to firm and lift, and in the other a cocktail of vitamin C and vitamin B3 to even skin tone and reduce pigmentation. The two formulas mix on application to create a slightly dewy effect and it feels really hydrating. Pair with SPF and this is your daytime routine sorted.”
Wildsmith Skin Stillness Nourishing Body Butter, £48
“The mix of 10 essential oils in those body butter is so soothing it convinces me I’m going to have a good night’s sleep before I’ve even climbed into bed. The texture is buttery but it sinks in quickly to leave a velvety finish. No stickiness or waiting around to put clothes on. And it’s packed with ingredients that actually do something. There are probiotics to strengthen, a chamomile extract (grown at Wildsmith’s own Heckfield Farm) that works as an anti-inflammatory and shea butter to nourish. Use it any time to relax, but I recommend using this at night to maximise the impact of the de-stressing scent.”
Cornish Sea Salt Co Smoky Sea Salt Candle, £28
“This is the candle collaboration I didn’t know I needed until it landed on my desk. Salt maker Cornish Sea Salt has teamed up with fellow Cornish candle brand Keynvor, to create two candles – the Sea Salt Candle, £28 smells like you’re walking along a coastal path with the wind in your face, but it’s the smoky version that has caught my heart. It smells like a crackling fire on a cold winter day – exactly what I want to smell at this time of year. The throw is brilliant – I burnt it in my small home office and my whole house was filled with the oaky, salty and smoky scent. It’s also well-priced and would make a wonderful gift.”
Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair, £86 and The Indigo Cleansing Balm, £40
“If you have stressed skin that needs its beauty sleep this duo is for you. The Indigo Night Repair cream has been on Tatcha’s roster for a while and is a serum in a cream that anyone with dry skin will love. Now, there is a new Indigo Cleansing Balm to complete the nighttime routine, which like the cream is a beautiful violet-blue colour and has the hero ingredient of Japanese indigo to calm distressed skin. A little pot of joy.”
Ingeborg van Lotringen, GTG contributing beauty editor, has finally found a lip liner she likes
Refy Blur Liner, £16
“Oh, this is clever. If you don’t want your lip liner to look like it’s been done with a Sharpie (unless you like the ’80s throwback look), the trick is to blend it inwards for a diffused and optically plumping ombre effect. The best way to do this is with this liner that instantly defines and blurs, thanks to a slim domed bullet (not sharp pencil) shape and a firm but silky texture. Refy’s blur liners have converted me to using lip liners (way too high-maintenance for me before) and I particularly like their latest plum shade, which works well with red lip colours and with Refy’s plum lip gloss – get them as a set in the Plum Lip Collection, £28.”
Makeup by Mario Ethereal Eyes Palette in Moonlight, £69
“Eyeshadow palettes to me are either over the top (with 80 percent of them shades I’ll never use) or boring – who needs to launch another set of nudes? This one, however, is both wearable and imaginative, grown-up and playful. With muted shimmers and cool, creamy mattes, the super-saturated colours take you from dusk to midnight skies with sheeny platinums and pale golds lighting up your eyes. Lovely.”
Virtue Flourish Thickening Styling Treatment,
£44
“My newly chopped hair takes really well to this cream, which normally doesn’t like textures heavier than serums because it’s so fine. A small dollop of it, massaged into my lengths and particularly my ends, does what it says it will, providing instant bulk without weight, and amping up my natural waves. Packed with strengthening keratins, it makes my ends look freshly snipped and healthy and will protect them against future damage.”
Loopha Body Wash, £12
“This new sister brand to The Ordinary brings you body products with all the boutique hotel-chic and skin-caring formulas that usually command four times the price. The body washes – there will be three, with this one scented to bring the forest into your bathroom – feature suds that won’t dry out skin and ingredients (glycerin and jojoba esters) that actively hydrate it. Body creams and serums (hopefully in the same generous 400ml sizes) will follow.”
Isla Huffadine, GTG content coordinator, rates TikTok’s favourite lip oil
Glow For It Lip Oil, £18
“Glow For It is back with a revamped version of its OG lip oil. (If you’re on the beauty side of TikTok, you’ve probably seen the impressive results surrounding their lash serum too). Shea butter and coconut oil moisturise, while vitamin E and hyaluronic acid hydrate and plump. The thick applicator makes it easy to swipe on and the clear shade means it’s versatile for daily wear or as a glossy coat over your favourite lip colour. Plus the chic minimalist packaging is giving ‘Dior Lip Oil on a budget’!”
Babyliss Air Power Pro, was £150 now £120
“With the end of warm days for air drying, I need a hair dryer with decent oomph – no one wants the chill of damp hair. This offering from Babyliss has three airflow settings and four temperatures, and provides everything you need. It includes two styling attachments and a curl diffuser, making it adaptable for various hair types. And it hasn’t left my hair straw-like or frizzy. The swivel cord means zero cable tangles. And while not completely silent, it’s noticeably quieter than others I’ve tried. This means I can get away with an early morning blow-dry without waking the whole house!”
Morphe Crowd Pleaser Eyeshadow Palette, £12
“The festive season is the perfect time to embrace shimmery makeup looks and I’m obsessed with this palette from Morphe for several reasons. It features six shades, offering a mix of soft pink mattes and bold metallics, perfect for creating a variety of looks. The pigmentation is impressive and you can dampen your brush for a more intense shimmer – total game-changer. Its compact size makes it easy to toss in your bag, perfect for transitioning from day to night glam. Plus it’s super affordable at just £12.”
Trinny London Take Back Time, £65
“Although at 26, I might not be the target market for eye cream yet, I’m exploring preventative options to reduce future fine lines and combat dark circles. Late nights and early mornings are taking their toll, but this hydrating formula has become my go-to for looking more awake and less puffy. It’s packed with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid for hydration, hexapeptide-8 to reduce inflammation and the signature ‘mini protein’ which helps slow the onset of wrinkles. The spatula is a lifesaver for those with long nails and gently massage in – a moment of self-care in itself. Fingers crossed this is a routine I thank myself for in years to come!”
Florence Scordoulis, GTG contributing editor, is now friends with a jelly octopus
Lush Monster Octopus Shower Jelly, from £10
“Lush loves to play trick or treat, but are you ready for the new 2kg version of this viral Halloween shower jelly? The wibbly wobbly whopper is inspired by the Scandi Kraken legend who terrorised sailors – but, it’s far more likely to give you the washday giggles. This octopus only has five legs (presumably for structural integrity, as mine is still intact). You sweep its light pink jelly over your body, and it contains skin-softening seaweed extract, as well as a Chambord-esque lather of blackcurrant, passion fruit and vanilla that lingers long after. There are three sizes: Monster Octopus, £10; Octopus Prime, £18; and the Big Monster Octopus, £40 and in-store only.”
Women Living Deliciously, by Florence Given, £20
“If SAD is setting in now that the clocks have gone back, the latest best-seller by Gen Z feminist activist Florence Given should really be on prescription. Her first cult book – Women Don’t Owe You Pretty – was all about smashing the patriarchy, and this time she’s inviting women to rediscover joy. She takes you on a gluttonous, feel-good journey which begins by uncovering the blocks that are holding you back, from self-doubt to shame and perfectionism. She then shares practical strategies that empower you to fall back in love with your life, ASAP: from building your agency in small ways (like not asking for anyone’s opinion on your outfit), to romancing yourself every day, diarising your me-time and much more. And, of course, it’s crammed full of her signature illustrations and no-bullshit quotes: ‘Flirt with your dreams’ anyone?”
Tangle Teezer The Ultimate Detangler Chrome, £17
“I’m a magpie for shiny things, so obviously the new chrome Tangle Teaser collection caught my eye: my favourite shade being this sparkly champagne gold – but there’s also a chocolate bronze and mauve copper. The classic two-tier teeth technology helps you to battle through stubborn knots without causing extra breakage, it’s even easier with a longer handle and is especially flexible on wet hair. As a curly girl, I usually dread brushing my hair: but this one is suitable for all types – from straight to curly – and makes it very hard to resist⦔
Oribe Cote d’Azur Body & Fragrance Collection, £192
“You know that feeling of wanting to smell as good as your hair? Well, fancy hair care brand Oribe has bottled their signature Cote d’Azur scent into a perfume (75ml), body cream and wash – think sensual, citrusy and floral notes that whisk you off to far-away luxury. Now, the trio come in a limited edition festive gift set designed in collaboration with the award-winning Kenyan art photographer Thandiwe Muriu. She’s known for her exuberant textile patterns and portraits that celebrate African culture, and you’ll find a poster of her latest prints (with Oribe stylists behind the iconic hair looks, and the product packaging up-cycled into bold eyewear) inside the vibrant box, along with the African proverb: “When your sister does your hair, you do not need a mirror”. (Not sure mine would agree!)”
