It used to be that we sought a glowing complexion in winter, when the cold weather and shorter days played havoc with our tired, grey skin. Now, though, we want radiant skin year-round; luckily, brands are creating innovative products to do just that.
From acid cleansers to use every day to illuminating primers that give you a superstar glow, these are the new, tried-and-tested products to add to your bathroom shelf.
Kiehl's says its new product is a 'facial moisturiser' but we've been using it as an illuminating primer. The Glow Formula Skin Hydrator is one for grey days that make your skin look dull – two pumps kickstarts a glow without any unnecessary glitter or shimmer. It doesn't pill, glides on smoothly and has perked us up on the most British of April days. The clincher for us? It doesn't sit in and draw attention to your pores, as some other illuminating products do.
Kiehl's Glow Formula Skin Hydrator, £30, available at Kiehl's
A pre-coverage primer that gives your base a healthy glow, and a setting-spray that keeps makeup in check all day, this two-in-one is a desk staple that saves our skin come the 3pm slump.
ICONIC Prep Set Glow, £18.50, available at ICONIC
This new drop from SkinCeuticals has the stats to back up its claims: it's clinically proven to give a 36% improvement in skin’s overall radiance and 37% improvement in texture in just 8 weeks of use. How? 10% glycolic free acid encourages cell turnover, meaning sayonara to grey, tired, dull skin.
SkinCeuticals Glycolic 10 Renew Overnight, £80, available at SkinCeuticals
When Rihanna posted about her first foray into body products, it caused a frenzy. And rightly so: This gel-based body highlighter leaves skin dewy thanks to its cooling texture, and delivers a healthy glow without that '90s school disco just-rolled-in-a-shitload-of-glitter look. Slick onto bare legs now as the weather starts to improve, and arms and décolletage come summer.
Fenty Beauty Body Lava Body Luminizer, £46, available at Harvey Nichols
The king of skincare acids has created the cleanser of our dreams. This alpha hydroxy-driven saviour goes from gel to foam when water is added, sloughing away dead skin while tackling grit and grime. It can be used alongside your usual acids and doesn't disturb the skin's micro-biome – meaning no stripping or redness, just glowing skin.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Pore Perfecting Cleansing Gel, £46, available at Cult Beauty
Charlotte Tilbury used this wonder product on actresses on the BAFTA red carpet and backstage at London Fashion Week. A primer-highlighter hybrid, the thick formula can be worked three ways: mixed with moisturiser as a lit-from-within primer; added to your coverage for extra iridescence; and patted on the high points of your face for a natural-looking highlight. This will see us from spring all the way through to winter.
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter, £30, available at Cult Beauty
These individually packaged jumbo cotton swabs are soaked in 20% Glycolic Acid Complex (AHA). They are super convenient, travel friendly and effective for achieving a professional glow with at-home exfoliation. Simply glide a swab across your face after cleansing to minimise fine lines and uneven skintone. (AHAs increase skin sensitivity, so be sure to apply suncream the following day.)
Peter Thomas Roth Face Care 20% Complex Glycolic Solutions Jumbo Peel Swab x 8, £24.95, available at AllBeauty
This cream is expensive. A-month's-rent-in-London kind of expensive. If you're a beauty obsessive on the hunt for eternal youth, however, it's a good place to start, thanks to its 15-years-in-the-making formula. La Prairie screened 50,000 different ingredients before coming up with Lumidose, a mega powerful illuminating molecule that targets dark spots by supporting the inhibition of melanin.
La Prairie White Caviar Crème Extraordinaire, £519, available at Selfridges
Hourglass is our go-to brand for glow-giving products – one buff of its Ambient Lighting Power and you have yourself a lit-from-within complexion. So we were thrilled when its new launch, the Veil Retouching Fluid, landed on our desk. A serum-like formula, it refreshes tired skin while illuminating, tackling dark under-eye circles as well as working to highlight the face's high points. We've been using it in our morning routine, but thanks to the hyaluronic acid, it's the perfect 3pm pick-me-up (and doesn't smudge pre-applied makeup, either).
Hourglass Veil Retouching Fluid, £25, available from 20th April at Space.NK
Essentially a facial in a bottle, this cult hit from Kate Somerville has long been used by our US cousins, but only hit UK shores a few months ago. Using a two-pronged approach to exfoliation - both physical and enzymatic - skin is left squeaky clean without being stripped. Leave on for two minutes in the shower for a morning-fresh face that makes your serums work harder and your makeup glide on smoother.
Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment, £72, available at Cult Beauty
Vitamin C is one of our staple ingredients due to its anti-ageing and brightening properties. Combined with hyaluronic acid, this serum recharges skin while boosting collagen – the ultimate glow-giver – encouraging a radiant finish. Use a retinol every other evening and this every morning for a just-got-back-from-holiday glow.
Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Glow Boost Skin Serum, £16.99, available at Boots
The cult favourite is back, better and bigger than before. Its 5% glycolic acid, which is derived from sugar cane, gently exfoliates skin, meaning you can use it every day without irritation. The alpha hydroxy acid dissolves the bond holding dead skin cells together, leaving skin super fresh rather than grey. One pump on a cotton pad post-cleanse and you'll have a year-round dewy visage.
Pixi Supersize Glow Tonic, £32, available at Cult Beauty
Stop the search: We've found your warm weather coverage. It Cosmetics has reformulated its bestselling product, which also contains SPF50 and an anti-ageing hydrating serum to keep skin smooth and soft. It's like your skin, only better, and requires minimal concealer afterwards. Perfect alone in summer, or with an extra hydrating primer in winter, we've fallen for this do-it-all gem. The only downside is the limited shade range, which caters to paler skin tones but could do with some extra options for women of colour.
It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+, £30, available at It Cosmetics
Scandinavia's favourite skincare brand just recently launched in the UK, and our pick of the bunch is this vitamin C-based radiance-giving serum. It also contains arctic cloudberries from the northern hemisphere that contain 4x more vitamin c than oranges, so your skin will be glowing after several uses.
Lumene Nordic C Glow Boost Radiance, £29.90, available at Feel Unique
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