As the colder months roll in, we often all feel that seasonal urge to refresh our routines. That once summer skincare staple might no longer cut it when the air turns crisp and dry or maybe you're looking for a sexier winter fragrance that matches the darker, longer nights.
Autumn is the perfect opportunity to clear out your make-up bag, give your beauty shelf a seasonal overhaul and bring in a few luxurious, rich staples to help you face the changing elements. As beauty editors, we also take this transition seriously. Of course, we're in the privileged position to have an endless stream of new beauty products land on our desks each month. But when something is truly great, it ends up in our own personal collection – and that’s when you know it’s really worth shouting about.
From skincare staples to wellbeing indulgences, each one of these products has earned a place in our beauty team’s daily rotation. Whether it's the comforting fragrance of a wellbeing pod filling your space or a game-changing serum that gives you a glow even in the darkest months, we've tried and tested them all. Below, we’ve rounded up the 16 standout products we simply couldn’t keep to ourselves. Trust us, these are the ones worth your investment…
Perdita Nouril, Women's Health beauty editor
1/ Origins Youthtopia Refining Apple Peel
This super gentle peel is a winner if you're looking to minimise pores and smooth over bumpy skin. Brimming an extract of 100,000 apple stem cells, it's mega gentle so you don't have to worry about redness or peeling.
2/ Dr David Jack Yellow Peel
Fight pigmentation with this potent home peel. The evidence-based blend of antioxidants and acids helps break down dark spots and even out skin tone.
If you were lax with SPF over the summer, then this could be your knight in shining armor. Created by an esteemed aesthetics doctor (whom most beauty editors keep on speed dial), it contains three potent forms of Vitamin C, as well as mandelic acid and kojic acid, all of which work to stop pigmentation in its tracks, reduce existing brown spots, and boost your glow.
3/ Oskia Midnight Elixir
Rejuvenate skin with the Oskia Midnight Elixir Regenerative & Multi-Peptide Night Serum, a facial serum that works overnight with the body's circadian rhythm, helping to support repair and regeneration. This potent peptide serum works to smooth and brighten the skin while helping to improve skin firmness.
This serum is powered by a mix of 30 different actives, including biomimetic growth factors, mushrooms and vitamin C, all of which help to calm and brighten the skin. It also contains a blend of niacinamide, oats, amino acids, glycerine and pro-vitamin D to help hydrate skin and support the skin barrier.
Rejuvenate skin with the Oskia Midnight Elixir Regenerative & Multi-Peptide Night Serum, a facial serum that works overnight with the body's circadian rhythm, helping to support repair and regeneration. This potent peptide serum works to smooth and brighten the skin while helping to improve skin firmness.
This serum is powered by a mix of 30 different actives, including biomimetic growth factors, mushrooms and vitamin C, all of which help to calm and brighten the skin. It also contains a blend of niacinamide, oats, amino acids, glycerine and pro-vitamin D to help hydrate skin and support the skin barrier.
I'm a big fan of Oskia (their cleansers are next level), so I was excited about the prospect of their new serum, which is packed with peptides to help boost skin elasticity. While it's only been a few weeks, so far, I'm mightily impressed. Epidermal growth factors (which signal cells to produce more collagen) have helped calm down hormonal breakouts, and my skin feels as though it's got more bounce and glow.
4/ Parfums de Marly Palatine
Initially, I thought this scent might run the risk of making me smell like a grandma with a penchant for Parma Violets. Pleasingly, I couldn't have been more wrong. While violet might be the 'Marmite note' of the fragrance world, the noses at Parfums de Marly have tempered it beautifully with creamy sandalwood, mouthwatering pear, and zesty mandarin. It's truly exquisite.
5/ Chanel Rouge Allure L’extrait Lipstick
HIGH-INTENSITY LIP COLOUR. CONCENTRATED RADIANCE AND CARE. REFILLABLE.
Nuit Pourpre is one of the gorgeous new shades from Chanel's latest winter collection and is the perfect marriage of purple and brown. Giving lips a bold hit of color, the deep cherry hue doesn't leave my lips looking flat and warms up my olive skin tone nicely. I've worn it non-stop all week.
6/ Aesop lavender hand balm
As the temperature cools the skin on my hands tends to run dry quicker than a free bar at a wedding. Happily, this soothing and rich balm pumps my skin with long lasting moisture so that my hands stay happy and hydrated.
Chloe Burcham, freelance beauty journalist
1/ Byredo Desert Dawn
I'm picky when it comes to fragrances – but this new one from Byredo ticks all the boxes. With its blend of aromatic spices and musky undertones, feels both grounding and luxurious – kind of how you'd imagine an A list celebrity smelling. While it's definitely not a 'summery' fragrance, it definitely brings a sense of warmth throughout those chilly months. I can't stop spritzing it.
2/ Kat Burki Calming Gel Cleanser
If your skin is feeling the seasonal change (dry, sensitive or just irritated), the Kat Burki Calming Gel Cleanser is the soothing antidote. Formulated with lavender water and aloe vera, this cleanser gently removes dirt and make-up while leaving skin feeling soft and calm, not stripped. It’s perfect for morning and evening routines, giving your skin that extra TLC it needs as the temperatures drop.
3/ Skin & Me Hydration & Glow Serum
Having recently launched into Boots and John Lewis, the Skin & Me range is something I'm really excited about. For me – it's all about hydration right now, and the Skin & Me Hydration & Glow Serum is like a tall drink of water for your skin. With ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, this serum deeply hydrates and boosts radiance – so you can keep that summer glow going long after the sun sets early.
4/ Vieve Skin Nova Complexion Balm
I love this face base so much that I've already finished one tube of the stuff. Hydrating, smoothing and long-lasting, it gives your skin that lit-from-within glow and just enough coverage while still looking like skin. It creates a dewy, flawless complexion – without looking shiny – and is perfect for building up during the colder months. Obsessed.
5/ NEOM Matcha Wellbeing Pod
I work from home 90% of the time, so creating a work space which feels productive and yet cosy can be a fine balance – especially when it's starting to go dark so much earlier. This electric diffuser is my new desk-side essential. Not only does it look chic (the lamp also acts as a gorgeously warming mood-light), it allows me to scent my space with whichever wellbeing need I crave – right now, that's focus. It's my must-have for creating a serene, stress-free atmosphere at home.
6/ Soho Skin Hydrating Gel-Cream
If you're after a more luxurious feeling moisturiser for the colder months but are worried about your feeling heavy or greasy, this is a brilliant choice. Its gel texture feels refreshing, but the hydration it provides is still super long-lasting. (It also has brilliant slip for carrying out an at-home facial massage or gua sha evening routine.)
7/ WelleCo The Evening Elixir
Think of this as your beauty nightcap. WelleCo’s The Evening Elixir is a cacao-based powder that helps you unwind and supports better sleep – in the form of a delicious hot chocolate supplement. Packed with magnesium, mushrooms and vitamin C, it works to calm the nervous system and promote a restful night’s sleep – while boosting collagen.
8/ Skincycles Glycolic Cleanser
Over the last couple of months, my skin has been through the wringer dealing with hormonal fluctuations and breakouts – and this exfoliating cleanser has really helped ramp up its recovery process. Formulated with glycolic acid, it works to gently exfoliate and remove dead skin cells, leaving you with a brighter and clearer complexion. It's ideal for those days when your skin needs an extra boost, helping to improve texture and tone, especially when winter dullness sets in.
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