As a beauty editor I review hundreds of products every year, and these are the skin, make-up and fragrance launches that have impressed me the most over the last 12 months
With so many products constantly launching in the beauty aisles, it can be hard to know exactly what is really worth spending your money on. Luckily, that’s where beauty editors like myself are here to help. We test out all the newest products as soon as they launch – or often even before they launch – and give you our honest reviews, letting you know if we think they’re right for you.
2024 – like every year – has seen loads of new products go viral, from smart hair styling tools to much-hyped new perfumes, and myself and the rest of the Mirror shopping team have been diligently trying them all out. There have been a lot of brilliant things launching this year, but here are my favourite skin, make-up and perfume products of the last 12 months that I would 100% buy again…
Coleen Rooney shares her I’m a Celeb skincare secret which she uses everyday
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A beauty editor’s pick of the best products of 2024
Lumene Invisible Illumination SPF30 Vegan Collagen Serum in Foundation
£39.90 from Lookfantastic
You’ll often find a foundation in my favourites list (keep reading for another, but this is one of the best I’ve ever tried, and the one I reach for the most. It’s just so effortless; it blends seamlessly, never goes dry or cakey throughout the day, and makes skin look so good: dewy, natural and healthy. My one criticism is that it doesn’t come in many shades, however they are very ‘flexible’.
Rhode Pocket Blush
£24 from Rhode
There was a lot of commotion in the beauty world when Hailey Bieber’s beauty brand dropped these earlier this year, but they’re so worth the hype; as someone who never liked wearing blusher they’ve made me fall in love with it for the first time. They melt into the skin and the shades are just so flattering, even ones that look rather bold in their tubes. I love Piggy and, surprisingly, Toasted Teddy, while head of shopping Zoe likes Spicy Marg.
DedCool Xtra Milk Eau De Parfum
From £24 for 15ml from Space NK
Not a brand new launch globally but a fragrance brand that’s fairly new to the UK, and a scent that I tried for the first time this year after seeing no end of beauty editors rave about it. If, like me, you love light, cosy, comforting perfumes like fan favourite Glossier You, you’re going to love this DedCool scent too – the perfect skin scent, it’s unobtrusive yet utterly addictive.
CurrentBody LED Light Therapy Face Mask: Series 2
£399 from CurrentBody
Despite writing about the skin benefits of LED masks for years and owning one of CurrentBody’s popular devices, I’m a little ashamed to admit that I never used it regularly, finding that it didn’t fit very comfortably around my head, and hindered my boxset binge-watching. That was, however, until I tried CurrentBody’s new and improved Series 2 mask, which fits much better on me (closer around the eyes and tighter around the head). Now I’m using it almost every night before bed, and I’m already seeing improvements in my skin.
LED masks are an investment, yes, but if you can commit to regular use, you’ll see results.
VIEVE Skin Nova Complexion Balm
£34 from Sephora
Another 10/10 foundation from this year, this feels really buttery on the skin, and it blends beautifully with both fingers or a make-up brush, sitting well over primers like Skin Nova or your regular moisturiser or SPF.
Whereas I apply the Lumene foundation all over my face with a brush, I like to press this VIEVE Complexion Balm in just to areas where it’s needed with my fingers, almost as if it’s skincare.
MAC Pro Locked Brow Gel
£24 from MAC Cosmetics
I often find that brow gel formulas are either not strong enough to lock my hairs into place all day, or if they are, often leave white, flaky bits on the hairs as they dry. MAC’s new launch, however, ticks both boxes. I also find that the unusual-shaped brush with its comb-like bristles are long enough to get right in between my dense brow hairs, separating and lifting them up then securing them in place.
If you’re after a cheaper option, I also really rate L’Oréal Paris Brow Lamination, currently reduced to £7.98 on Amazon.
