There's a definite summer glow theme to our picks this week, which include a great new non-greasy vitamin C moisturiser from Sunday Riley, a tanning primer from Ole Henriksen, a brightening toner from Charlotte Tilbury, a biodegradable take to make hair wash days last longer. You'll be needing a fragrance or two to take you into the night. Oh, and did we mention a washbag that doubles up as a cross body from Trinny Woodal l's favourite designer?
"Sunday Riley’s C.E.O. vitamin C range is iconic; the brand was were an early adopter of the benefits of this brightening antioxidant vitamin in skincare , but until now the moisturiser in the range C.E.O Glow Rich Hydration Cream , £60 has been on the rigger side (I love it!). Now comes a non-greasy gel moisturiser with the same high-strength and highly stable form of vitamin C, THD ascorbate, and laced with hyaluronic acid and blue-light busting algae. It's perfect for oilier skins or simply warmer weather when we want something a bit more cloud-like. It gives a gorgeous glowing finish and although it contains silicone, it doesn’t pill under makeup or suncream . Plus the bright yellow colour and uplifting but subtle scent is summer right there in a tub.” Victoria Woodhall, Editorial Director
"If Charlotte Tilbury is known for anything, it’s her ability to create glowing skin, and this toner’s powerful formula does just that. Formulated with skin-loving ingredients like niacinamide, prickly pear cactus, and sodium hyaluronate — an even harder-working version of hyaluronic acid which all work together to give you radiant, hydrated skin. It is very gentle, as there is no acid in it. As a result, it doesn’t overwork my skin’s barrier when I use it every day, morning and night, after cleansing. If you think toners are an unnecessary step in your routine, think again. You really can notice a difference with this, it refines enlarged pores and uneven skin texture, while delicately balancing and resurfacing the skin. Yes, it might cost £40, but a few drops were enough to cover my entire face" Jemma Thompson, GTG Design and Social Media Manager
“These biodegradable hair cleansing cloths were made for me. I don’t like to wash my hair too often and normally turn to dry shampoo, which works, but it can cause buildup. Just a quick wipe with one of these (they feel slightly damp but not as wet as a face wipe) through your roots and the first few inches of your hair, leaves it impressively refreshed (one is enough for my long hair). Sam McKnight is all about the smell and the gorgeous slightly floral fresh scent should really come in a bottle. These wipes biodegrade within six weeks and with 20 cloths in a pack, this lasts me a couple of months using one or two per week. Although they are more expensive than most dry shampoos, these are a more natural, non-aerosol, way of perking up your hair. A great innovation.” Amy Rostas, GTG Beauty and Social Media Assistant
"It's finally here! The highly anticipated restock of Rhianna’s Eau de Fenty, after immediately selling out twice in 2021. She can do no wrong in my book, her skincare, beauty and lingerie lines are on point. And Rhianna has blown my mind once again with the launch of her fragrance, Eau de Fenty. In a sultry and intoxicating blend of magnolia, musk and Bulgarian rose, this amber bottled liquid is less a perfume and more an accessory. At first scent, you would be forgiven if you couldn't quite put your finger on it. And this is because, as each person wears it, the notes change, creating a unique, one-of-a-kind fragrance for the wearer. Tangerine, blueberry, geranium and hints of patchouli are blended subtly enough to allow all humans to express themselves through the scent. Are you feeling sexy? Layer it with musk for date night. Are you feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed? Keep the spritzing light, allowing the floral and fruity notes to rise to the top." Hattie Sloggett, GTG contributor
"Clarins is a brand hugely trusted by women all over the world and was creating products for menopausal skin long before that became all the rage. For their latest additions to the Super Restorative franchise, they’re relying on the power of gorse and harungana extracts from Madagascar, which their research has shown to have elasticity-boosting and retinol-like powers respectively. There are three textures for day and two for the night: a light-ish cream and rich butter, depending on your hydration needs, while the night creams have the additional benefit of microcirculation-boosters to make sure you wake up with a glow. Subtly scented and a pleasure to use, they allow you to pamper your way to far less tired-looking skin." Ingeborg van Lotringen, GTG Writer
“For adding mirror-like shine to my dry and fragile hair, these new drops are a game-changer. Normally anything labelled ‘oil’ makes my fine hair limp but this lightweight liquid, containing Jonathan Van Ness’s signature ingredient hemi-squalane (a nano version of the skin-identical lightweight oil) has an almost watery texture that tames flyaways and frizz and makes a very smooth blow-dry. Most shine enhancers contain silicone but this is completely silicone-free. It's my new favourite, from JVN Hair, which landed in the UK earlier this year, alongside the Complete Instant Recovery Serum , £24, a genius lightweight cream for for heat protection, dry ends and styling. Both have become much-loved re-buys.” VW
"It’s very rare that I get excited over a pencil liner. However, when I met up with Glossier ambassador and MUA Celia Burton at the launch of the No.1 Pencil range last week, I was blown away. The 10-shade collection, which replaces the Glossier Play Technogel range, features a mix of bold colours from rustic orange to your classic kohls such as black and brown. What I love most is the demi-matte formula. It’s creamy and soft (but not too soft) so it’s easy to apply in seconds without tugging or unintentionally smudging. You can see in the below tutorial how easy it is to apply a statement liner or seamlessly blend for a smokey eye before it dries down. As a serial eye rubber, I’m also a big fan of the next-level longevity of the pencil. Not only did it survive me but also 26 degrees heat on a hot bus with no budging at all. Hats off Glossier." JT
"Florence by Mills was created by Stranger Things actress Millie Bobby Brown, after her great grandmother Florence who ‘embraced herself and did things that made her happy all her life’. Millie’s makeup style has grown with age (she's still only 19!) and she is now known for her no-makeup-makeup looks, her graphic liner and gorgeously contoured cheekbones. This cool-toned marbled bronzer gives the perfect glow without looking muddy or orange. It warms up the face while creating shadows which can enhance your cheekbones, acting as both a bronzer and contour. My go-to bronzer is Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer , but at £50 I'm always on the lookout for a dupe, and this does a great job for just £12." AR
“I really feel like I am getting bang for my buck with a two-in-one, so I was thrilled when I discovered Ole Henriksen had merged the popular vitamin C-enriched primer, Banana Bright, with a subtle natural-looking self. You apply it you would the original primer, under your makeup. This love child works in the background to gradually give you a sunkissed bronzy tan (max results after two to three days).The power of the primer instantly brightens, hydrates and blurs the look of pores, fine lines and wrinkles, all the while enhancing the staying power of your makeup.” HS
“A friend asked me over the weekend what cleanser recommend to get eye makeup off without leaving an oily film. She’s a nutritionist and yogini so I knew she’s love this new cleansing emulsion by natural Greek brand Korres. Even lighter than a cleansing milk, this creamy formula made with skin-identical oil squalane and aloe vera, plus a high anti-oxidant Olympus tea extract, is the perfect weightless but effective cleanse for summer skin. It whips away SPF and makeup (although for waterproof mascara you’ll need a micellar water). I like this as a morning cleanse, when I’d normally be lazy and just use a splash of water. Now I massage this into dry skin, do my splash and any overnight dryness disappears and my serum goes in like a collagen-seeking missile – all in a subtle whiff of Mediterranean mountainside.” VW
"For someone so obsessed with makeup you'd think I'd have a lipstick/gloss wardrobe but I've never found a product that suits me so only ever use lip balm. Vieve must have heard my troubles because they have answered my lip wishes with this vibrant lip oil-gloss hybrid that has been an absolute game-changer for me. It satisfies my balmy hydration needs with the lip oil aspect and then leaves a gorgeous bright pink glossy hue on my lips – without any stickiness! I am convinced this colour would suit everyone as it enhances your natural lip colour underneath. It also wears off really well, I haven't had any smudges or remnants left on my teeth." AR
“When I picture model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, I immediately think of her signature plump lips. So, when I found out that her brand Rose Inc was releasing its first lipstick range, I knew the bar would be high. The ten-shade collection is a slew of neutrals from coral to mauve and deep berry (Rosie’s take on nudes, she says). Each one delivers serious pigment and hydration to lips and stays put without transferring or feathering. The moisturising satin finish comes courtesy of a blend of hyaluronic acid, squalene, and vitamin E. It’s a classic lipstick with a hardworking skincare twist. Like most Rose Inc products, it’s refillable (refills cost £15) with an easy click-in bullet. It makes you wonder why more brands switch to refills. Less costly for the consumer, and the planet.” JT
“We are now aware of Faace and their sustainable user-friendly face masks and cleansers. Well, their newest release is our much-loved faves bundled into a two-step say-what-you-see kit. First, there is a kit for the gym, one for the morning-after-the-night-before and one for when we travel. As a person that spends a lot of time on planes from one place to another, I can verify just how dry and grubby the skin can get when exposed to high altitude, early mornings and long airport queues. Luckily, the double pack of dirty and tired Faace cleanser and mask are the perfect travel buddies. First, dirty's creamy gel cleanser rids pores of make-up, sweat, dirt and SPF while gently exfoliating and calming any inflammation. Then Tired Faace helps bring your skin's natural glow back with a powerful combo of caffeine and vitamin C. A must-have for any summer holiday this year.” HS
"Refy’s Gloss Highlighter for face £18, has quickly become my go-to summer illuminator for glowing dolphin skin . So when I discovered that a body version, the Body Glow skin finish, was on the horizon, I knew I had another obsession brewing. The lightweight universal shade adds a vibrant and sheer glass-like finish to arms, legs and chest. Don’t worry, it doesn’t look sweaty at all. I like to apply it to the high points of my body; shoulders, decolletage — to be honest, all over my arms and legs too! Because it just leaves my body looking hydrated, healthy and sun-kissed. Most body ‘perfectors’ eventually transfer to my clothes. I put it through a sweat-proof test at a hot and sweaty gig and it didn’t leave a trace. Plus my skin looked top-notch too." JT
"I was a teenager in the 90s and the launch of the original L’Eau D’Issey had a huge impact on my life. It was essentially the scent soundtrack to every handsome boy I met who never liked me back. And I think because of that I’d left it in the past. But this version has brought me well and truly into the present and healed me in the process. It’s still very much a watery scent but it has a modern intensity to it. I’m currently wearing it in the sunshine, but it will sing on a crisp autumn night. It also has some good eco stats for a fragrance, which is a rarity. The bottle is made from 20 per cent post-consumer recycled glass and the wooden lid is recyclable. It’s familiar to the original but different enough to set it apart." Sarah-Jane Corfield Smith
“Fashion designer Serena Bute has an incredible eye for cut and colour - if you love a splash of neon and a side-stripe, she does them in such a grown-up way. No wonder Trinny Woodall is such a fan. Now she’s collaborated with The Organic Pharmacy to create two cross-body bags full of best-selling summer skincare, one for the face (blue/pink) and the other for the body (orange/pink). The strap is removable in case you want it as a wash bag. I spied the orange and pink bag last week in the Houses of Parliament no less, on British Beauty Council founder Milly Kendal OBE at the lunch of the Menopause Mandate attended by the great and the good. It popped against her black jacket.
"It comes with the, in my opinion, best-smelling body oil on the planet: Advanced Retinoid-Like Body Oil, plus the Resculpting Body Serum and the Cellular Protection Sunscreen SPF 50 for Face and Body, a mineral SPF for all skin tones. But hurry, they are limited editions!” VW
"I never used to get overly excited about blushers – that was until I realised how much the finish –not just the shade – can make a difference to my entire complexion. Case in point: this iridescent beauty instantly lifts and brightens my skin without the need for a separate highlighter. It's not just the shimmering flecks that make it look as though I'm permanently sitting in front of a flattering ring light. It uses 'gel-to-powder' technology and is infused with buriti and jojoba oils that make it feel silkier than most. My skin looks bouncy and perky. It's also made from 75 per cent PCR, refillable and available in six shades including a deep magenta-plum and a more vibrant coral." Amber Voller, GTG Contributor
"My dry face can take very rich products, but when it comes to daily SPF, which I apply over serum and moisturiser, I prefer one that’s light and milky. I want a good blend of next-generation sun filters (stable, kind to the skin, and kind to the environment), no fragrance (too irritating), and a nice, indulgent feel that isn’t too oily. It also has to be light and gentle enough to apply to my eyelids. This latest handbag-friendly tube by Caudalie hits 5 stars on every front and is my new favourite: elegant and a pleasure to use, full of powerful antioxidants for added UV defence, and as ‘reef-friendly’ and biodegradable as sunscreen can be." IvL
"An essence is a bit like magic water. It's a potent tonic applied after cleansing and before serums, nourishing the skin and making any products applied after more effective. Omorovicza has claimed the crown with the release of their new Queen Essence. Famed for their Queen of Hungary Mist , £59. This potent fluid feels like liquid silk when it hits the skin. It delivers the deep hydration of snow mushrooms, the biomimetic anti-pollution response of tomato stem cells, and hyaluronic acid's plumping power. My complexion has never felt so smooth and supple. Add to the palms of your hands, then pat into your face and neck for an instant and rejuvenating glow. Allow it to dry for a few minutes until tacky, then follow with your chosen serums and moisturiser. You won't be disappointed, I promise." HS
Editors Picks: Things we're loving