September 26, 2023

Coun Cilex

Beauty What Else

The best new beauty products for summer

The FT’s style team, along with experts from the world of beauty, deliver their picks for the season.

Carola Long

FT deputy fashion editor

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Age Correct SPF50+ Cream
£25, boots.com

With moisturising hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, the French brand’s new addition feels nourishing, and protects my sensitive skin well on a sunny Devon beach.

Faith in Nature Grapefruit & Orange Hand & Body Lotion
£5.79, faithinnature.co.uk

Anya Hindmarch’s recent pop-up hair salon used Faith in Nature products. The subtly scented lotions come in recycled and recyclable packaging, and also in 5-litre refill bottles to reduce waste.

Lancaster Sun Sensitive Face and Body After Sun Repair Balm
£20.10, feelunique.com

Lancaster’s non-sticky aftersun is calming and moisturising with a warm solar scent that evokes a chichi beach club.

Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Waterproof Mascara
£29, dior.com

This mascara survived a swim and a shower without smearing and gave longer thicker lashes. It takes a bit of effort to remove though, so best saved for a pool party rather than every day.

Supergoop Glow Screen, SPF 30
£32, cultbeauty.co.uk

“It’s like if Glossier Future Dew and an SPF had a baby,” declares one reviewer. This SPF primer makes the complexion look glowy and even, and takes the place of make-up.

Tan-Luxe Super Glow Night Repair
£39, spacenk.com

One vial contains a serum fake tan with naturally derived DHA enriched with moisturising peptides, the other a blend of oils. Mix them together and voila, post-holiday glow in a bottle.

Ultra Violette Sheen Screen Hydrating Lip Balm SPF 50
£16, netaporter.com

Lip protection has moved beyond chalky, opaque formulations. Ultra Violette’s version feels silky thanks to lanolin, cacao seed butter and shea butter, and comes in four shades.

Upcircle Coffee Body Scrub with Lemongrass
£14.99, upcirclebeauty.com

Upcircle have just tweaked the packaging on this popular scrub so it’s plastic-free, and launched a service whereby you can post empties back for refilling. Made using repurposed coffee grounds and combined with natural oils, this feels like a caffeine kick and leaves skin smooth.

Funmi Fetto

British Vogue and Observer magazine contributing editor, author of ‘Palette’, the Beauty Bible for Women of Colour, host of ‘On Reflection’ beauty podcast @orbpodcast

Hourglass Equilibrium Broad Spectrum SPF 30 day fluid
£101, libertylondon.com

I was initially cynical about skincare from a make-up brand but this is a triumph. The light milky texture is intensely hydrating, supports the skin barrier and it doesn’t leave a white cast so is appropriate on all skin tones.

Jo Malone Tangy Rhubarb Cologne
£55, jomalone.co.uk

The idea of a signature scent or one you wear according to the climate has never appealed. I rotate fragrances and wear what I like, when I like. This is my most recent scent addition and addiction. It really does remind me of rhubarb in the wild but the dash of cedarwood adds a wonderfully smoky dimension.

Drunk Elephant TLC Sukari Baby Facial
£67, cultbeauty.co.uk

When this resurfacing treatment landed in the UK earlier this year, it was a big deal in the beauty world. It’s a blend of exfoliating acids that de-clogs pores, resurfaces skin texture and makes you look more alive. It’s formulated in a way that sidesteps the sensitivity associated with acid products and has made a significant difference to the quality of my skin.

Zara Cult Satin Lipstick
£11.99, zara.com

Make-up artist and catwalk show stalwart Diane Kendal is the creative genius behind the formulas, all the products are refillable and the red, high pigment lipstick lasts all day without reapplication.

Dior Eden-Roc Candle
£80, dior.com

The distillation of the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on the French Riviera — a medley of florals, woods, citruses and pine wafting by the sea — is especially welcome at a time when travel abroad is restricted.

Davines Momo Shampoo Bar
£14, davines.com

Momo is particularly good for dry or dehydrated hair — which many of us battle with in summer. The formula, from the B Corps-certified beauty brand, is as good as its liquid counterparts but comes with just paper wrapping.

Dr Barbara Sturm Good C Serum
£110, spacenk.com

Vitamin C serum is great for getting rid of hyperpigmentation, sunspots and combating uneven tone. That said, not all vitamin C serums are equal. There’s a belief that the higher the concentration of vitamin C, the better the product, but fundamentally it comes down to a good formulation. Dr Barbara Sturm’s is one of the best vitamin C formulations on the market.

Teo van den Broeke

Style and grooming director, British GQ

Paris–Édimbourg by Chanel
£112, chanel.com

Inspired by Gabrielle Chanel’s love of Scotland and described by the maison’s in-house perfumer Olivier Polge as “the fragrance of a tweed jacket borrowed from the men’s wardrobe”, it’s light, woody and woven through with threads of juniper berry, cypress, lavender, cedar and vetiver.

Tom Ford Research Intensive Treatment Emulsion
£153, tomford.co.uk

A lighter take on a traditional moisturiser, this features the signature ingredients from Ford’s Research skincare line: white porcelain cacao, energising caffeine and Gyokuro, intended to refresh and recharge the skin. The result? Minimised redness and optimal hydration.

Dermalogica Smart Response Serum
£130, dermalogica.co.uk

A clever all-rounder with a light texture, designed to adapt to every individual skin type’s specific needs. Left my skin firm, nourished and matte, without feeling dry.

Sisley Black Rose Beautifying Emulsion
£120, sisley-paris.co.uk

The Paris-based skin maestros’ glow-inducing emulsion does exactly what it says on the tin. It beautifies. Containing padina pavonica extract, camelina oil and aqueous black rose extract, the ultralight liquid hydrates while reducing shine.

Haeckels 60% H2O Ocean Cleanse Concentrate + Allantoin — 1 year supply
£120, haeckels.co.uk

Eco-aware British brand Haeckles uses water-free concentrate to cut down on the extra energy used to transport liquid. Simply take three pills, add boiling water, et voila, shower gel. Scented with lemon, geranium and beetroot, consider this the bright new future of your mornings.

Flora Macdonald Johnston

FT Fashion & Luxury

111skin, Y Theorem Concentrate
£125, 111skin.co.uk

I loved these little ampoules which encourage collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid production (all of which help repair the skin and decrease fine lines). I used the Y Theorem over seven days, blending each ampoule with my moisturiser and after two days found my skin firmer and more hydrated, but the real benefit was a more even complexion.

Essie Tangerine Tease Nail Polish
£8, boots.co.uk

A tangerine-hued nail polish which was quick drying, glossy and suffered minimal chipping after several days. A limited edition, it’s available until September.

Dr Michael Prager Urban Protect Acid Peel Mask
£80, pragerskincare.com

If you want a glow up this is a good one. Ingredients such as salicylic and glycolic acid remove dead skin cells and reduce blemishes.

Dior Mono Couleur Couture eyeshadow in Rouge Trafalgar
£27.50, dior.com

On first glance this shade of eyeshadow is alarming, a plummy, bruise-hued purple. But upon application, it is more of a rusty red — and to my surprise I liked it a lot. Applied above and below the lash line I was transported to my teenage fantasy: think Megan Fox and J Lo in the early noughties.

Votary Brightening Hyaluronic Serum, Narcissus and AHA
£75, votary.co.uk

Containing narcissus extract and glycolic acid, this mighty serum accelerates skin renewal and improves brightness. Plant extracts such as bilberry fruit and neroli flower improve hydration and help to protect the skin’s natural barrier. I’ve noticed more “glow” and improved skin texture.

Rok n Dol, Large Ultimate Scrunchie (pack of three)
£39.50, rokndol.com

Rok n Dol’s scrunchies made from cruelty-free silk and plastic-free elastic are kind to hair and don’t rip it when you undo your ponytail (a common occurrence with bleached and dyed tresses).

Louis Vuitton On the Beach eau de parfum
£200, louisvuitton.com

Incredibly light and refreshing with citrus notes, a hint of salt, and cypress, this is a wearable day-to-day scent.

Find out about our latest stories first — follow @financialtimesfashion on Instagram