MY TOP BEAUTY LAUNCHES OF 2023

 

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Today we're talking through my absolute favourite beauty launches of the year, so without further ado...

Let's start with makeup, because I only have one entry! For whatever reason, new launches have felt a little bit loaded towards the latter half of the year and I just don't feel like I've given the ones I've tried a good enough go to include them here. But, one launch that easily makes it onto my list is Merit Beauty's UK launch | full review. This is a brand that's all about foolproof, natural makeup; think creamy cheek products and a do-it-all complexion stick, so it was right up my street. I do think it's a little pricey, if I'm keeping it real but a handful of products are well and truly part of my everyday routine: the Minimalist Complexion Perfecting Stick* (Suede) | £40 | which works as a hydrating-but-not-greasy, decent-coverage-but-not-heavy concealer and / or foundation stick, the Day Glow Highlighting Balm in Citrine | £34 | which gives a dewy, natural glow with a golden peach undertone and the Blush Balm Cheek Colour in Terracotta* | £32 | which is another cream formula, this time a natural tan-nude blush.

Obviously, the main event is skincare! And there are a few new releases that have stayed on heavy rotation for me this year, so let's start with a cleanser and a toner. The first is Skin Rocks the Cream Cleanser* | £32 | full review. This is just everything I want in a cream cleanser, to be honest! It's rich but not too thick, so it can be spread easily across the face and becomes lotion-y on contact with water. It leaves my skin feeling fresh, but also soft and completely nourished after use. It's perfect as a morning cleanse and will even remove light makeup if you use it alongside a cloth. Ingredients include squalane and jojoba oil, which is probably why my dry face loves it so much... I also have to shout out the new version of the Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide Toner and Moisturiser* | £29.50 | full review. I was definitely nervous when I heard this cult classic had been reformulated, but ultimately: I got to breathe a sigh of relief. This is fundamentally everything that's great about the original version (a lightweight, milky layer of hydrating and skin-softening goodness with ingredients like glycerin, Vitamin E and meadowfoam seed oil) but with added benefits, since ceramides and peptides are now included. This has barely left my skincare shelf since I got it a few months ago and I recommend it to anyone who'll listen!

In terms of serums, three formulas have really stood out to me as amazing new releases in 2023. The first is the Glow Recipe Pomegranate Peptide Firming Serum* | £41 | full review. This is a great AM all-rounder that's had me reaching for this over Vitamin C, which has been the mainstay in my morning routine active slot. This is a great all-rounder with a little hydration, a little bit of antioxidant goodness and plenty of peptides. These short-chain amino acids help to plump and hydrate the skin and also seem to increase collagen production. This serum always leaves my skin healthy, plump and hydrated. I also really enjoyed the Ordinary's Soothing & Barrier Support Serum* | £17.30 | full review. This is a lightweight milky serum (bright pink in colour!) that contains B vitamins, ginger extract, ceramides and bisabolol to help keep your skin barrier in harmony. I've loved using this when my skin has felt a little sensitive but also as a part of my everyday routine when I've used an intense active like an exfoliating peel or a retinoid, to help keep things nice and calm. Speaking of retinoids, one was launched this year that strikes a fantastic balance between efficacy and price: the Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum* | £32 | full review. Until the past 12-18 months retinal (my favourite form of retinoid, which in turn is the most proven class of ingredients for boosting collagen production and reversing existing signs of ageing) was not easy to get hold of and was pretty expensive. However, this formula provides an effective 0.05% of retinal in a moisturising but lightweight base that delivers results for my skin without any irritation. 

I also have two sunscreen favourites. On the budget-friendly side of things, I really have enjoyed the Garnier Ambre Solaire Super UV Invisible Face Serum SPF 50+ | £14 | full review | as an 'every single day' formula. Firstly, it's travel-friendly and has been on some hand luggage only trips with me. Secondly, it provides a high level of SPF protection with elegant filters that won't leave a cast and absorb easily into the skin and also don't cause irritation to most skin types. Thirdly, it works under makeup and has added skincare benefits. Plus, it's under £15 - what's not to love? The product that acted as my summer all-rounder is the Ultra Violette Fave Fluid Ultralight Skinscreen SPF 50+* | £37 | full review. This is a high-protection, super-fluid sunscreen milk that feels like nothing on the skin! It's so breathable, disappears pretty instantaneously into the skin and is both sweat-resistant and also works really nicely under makeup. It's so easy to apply and reapply; if you struggle to get sunscreen into your daily routine or you know someone who does: this is the one! 

We also have a few body care entries in the mix. First up, Naturium launched their body care range here in the UK and I'm obsessed! The two products representing the range in this post are the ones I reach for pretty much daily: the Glow-Getter Multi-Oil Body Wash* | £18 | full review | and the Bio-Lipid Body Lotion* | £16.50 | full review. This body wash is formulated with boatloads of hydrating glycerin and a cocktail of plant oils that my facial skin loves, so work beautifully for my dry body skin too. It's the perfect non-stripping body wash for dry skin, and it still gets the job done. I like to follow it up with the body lotion from the same range, which is so quick and easy to grab for in the morning, but nourishes my skin (in a non-greasy way) just as well as a thick, difficult to spread butter with ingredients like glycerin, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, rosehip oil, panthenol and more. More recently, I've also been really enjoying the new Aveeno Skin Renewal Smoothing Cream* | £14.99 | full review. I use this once or twice a week before bed; it's a nourishing creamy-lotion with oat and niacinamide, plus PHAs for gentle exfoliation. It's great if you have dry or ashy skin this winter, and it even helps reduce my KP (those itchy red bumps on the arms and legs) and gives me seriously smooth skin.

Have you tried any of my top picks? What were your favourite new beauty launches of 2023?

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