Beauty Best Bits
That’s it! Fireworks have lit up the sky, Big Ben has rung in a new year and a new decade. It is 2020 folks! With that, here’s my list of top beauty products of 2019, and boy! What a year it was for beauty! Makeup and skincare truly ruled the roost and we had much, much to play with. Follow me, as I take a journey through memory lane of the product launches that entered my beauty desk and never left.
Lisa Eldridge Lipsticks
As regular readers will know, I was blown away by the True Velvets at their first launch in 2018, well I was knocked off my feet yet again by new velvets who joined the collection in 2019 in the shades Muse and Beauty. The same gorgeous finish, that velvet coat and new beautiful hues: heaven. It would be remiss of me to not mention the Summer Pinks collection which was an utterly delightful mix of vibrant, punchy pigments and simply stunning wearable tones.
Lisa Eldridge True Velvet Lipsticks
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Vanish
Me and my makeup bag love anything that is quick, easy and does the job and Magic Vanish from team CT is all of that. Simply put, it’s a corrector to lift unwanted darkness in the skin. So, if you’re like me and suffer dreaded darkness under your eyes, if you find that your concealer looks ashy, then this little guy might be for you. Simply apply with your ring finger before your concealer and the magic of using a peachy or orange tone (depending on your skin tone) lifts and corrects the bluey hues. With its light texture and ability to brighten it’s a product I reached for time and time again in 2019.
You can check out my full review with pictures here!
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Vanish
Chanel Baume Essentiel
Please don’t hate me for mentioning the highlighter that sells out with every restock! The thing is, it really is that good! If you’re a fan of a glossy, grown-up glow to your cheeks, as opposed to a disco highlight, well then this balm might be right up your street. I just love it. It’s ease of use, it’s quick and effortless, it doesn’t emphasise my fine lines (yes, I’m talking to you glittery highlighters…), simply put, it’s rather beautiful. Yes, I know it’s out of stock, but this little bird has heard rumours of a relaunch this month, so keep your eyes peeled…
Other great and very similar options that also launched in 2019 are:
Beautyblender Glass Glow Shinelighter (no pigment, clear)
Perricone MD Growth Factor Firming & Lifting Serum
Essentially a serum to help combat signs of ageing, this is a great little number from Perricone MD. It does a great job at delivering encapsulated retinol to the skin aiding skin renewal. We know that vitamin A aka retinol (and all its derivatives) is the only proven anti-ageing ingredient (next to wearing daily SPF) and an encapsulated retinol allows for a serum to be applied during the day as well as at night and can be less irritating to the skin. This serum has a host of other ingredients to aid firming and to protect the skins moisture barrier. I have loved using it and yes, while it is pricey, I really have noticed results. And, I have to say that that’s quite impressive given that I’m a prescription Retin-A user (which I have stopped using to trial this serum). I didn’t think I’d be as impressed as I am but I’m so happy with it I’ll be continuing till the bottle’s empty as it is truly making a difference. What kind of difference you might ask? Well, the texture of my skin has improved, it smoother. My lines, the finer ones appear less evident-perhaps that’s wishful thinking? Who knows. My pores are clearing out, bye-bye blackheads and my skin has a wonderful glow to it. Look, I know it’s pricey, but it is one of the skincare beauty items I haven’t been able to miss this last few months and I believe that says something.
Perricone MD Growth Factor Firming & Lifting Serum
*Gifted
No7 HydraLuminous Water Concentrate Serum & Hado Labo Super Hydrater Lotion
A double whammy for you! Two of my favourite hydrating skincare serums to hit the market in 2019! First, we had the wonderful Hydraluminous range launched by Boots No7 which included their hyaluronic acid serum HydraLuminos Water Concentrate. Packed with hyaluronic acid and natural mosturising factors like glycerin this is a great serum for an instant hit of hydration and gives the skin a lovely boost. It’s perfect for those who like a slightly thicker but lightweight, non-heavy HA textured serum. I for one am a big fan. Plus, the fact that you can regulary get £5 off with the Boots vouchers makes it all the more appealing.
No7 HydaraLuminos Water Concentrate Serum
Hello Hado Labo!
2019 was the year we finally got our hands on this incredible Japanese skincare brand as it launched in the UK! Hooray! The first product I had to try was the one I’d heard all the talk about, their hyaluronic acid serum. I’m a bit of a HA serum addict guys! So I ordered the Hado Labo Super Hydrater Lotion (it’s not a lotion, it’s a serum) toot suite and thank heavens, I was not disappointed!! First things first, it’s a huge 150ml bottle! The texture of the serum is uber lightweight, I mean incredibly so and it sinks into your skin in no time. Skin is left feeling hydrated and with that wonderful glow which a good HA serum gives. Call me a fan.
Hado Lado Super Hydrate Lotion
DR Sam Bunting Daily Sunscreen SPF50
I couldn’t talk about the best beauty launches of 2019 without mentioning Dr Sam Bunting’s Daily Sunscreen SPF50. It is a great all-round sunscreen. Broad Spectrum, SPF 50, hydrating without being greasy and leaves the skin with a beautiful glow, whilst of course giving the much-needed protection. It is non-comedogenic and fragrance free. Enough said.
Dr Sam Bunting Daily Sunscreen
Eyeshadow palettes
For eyeshadow I have three offerings, in three price points.
High End: Huda Beauty Mercury Retrograde Palette simply because it’s good fun. It’s a palette that you can unleash your most creative self with. With glitter and shimmer galore and matte shades to play the night away; it’s fun, it’s playful, and it’s great quality. With so many shades and textures, you can really get your monies worth. Find my full review with plenty of makeup inspiration in this post!
Huda Beauty Mercury Retrograde
Affordable: I chose Zoeva Spice Of Life. The quality of the shadows is amazing for the price point and the shade range is really pretty. I’ve a full review of the palette here!
Luxe: Victoria Beckham Beauty Smoky Eye Brick. Simply put this palette is stunning. It oozes charm and sophistication. The packaging is divine whilst being environmentally conscious. The eyeshadows themselves perform very well and are beautiful in texture and tone. VBB has been a very welcome addition to the clean beauty market. There’s an indepth review of VBB here!
Victoria Beckham Beauty Smoky Eye Brick
No 7 HydraLuminous Moisturising foundation
Well, haven’t No7 pulled it out of the bag to get two mentions in this best beauty round-up?! The Hydraluminous foundation has been one of my foundation highlights of the year and that is saying something in the year that foundation went under a major rehaul and new foundation launches flooded the market. We have been inundated with foundation in 2019! So what is it about this little highstreet number that got my attention and kept it?
Well, it’s hydrating and plumping without being greasy. It leaves a beautiful glow to the skin which is youthful and healthy looking, not glittery. The foundation doesn’t sit in pores or fine lines and lasts well throughout the day. Coverage is a medium finish which can be thinned out during application if desired.
Refhr Makeup Brushes
My new friends! I’m a makeup brush addict I can’t lie! So, I backed Rephr on Kickstarter and have also tested a couple of their prototype brushes before receiving my full kit. And boy what a joy they are! Handcrafted Japanese makeup brushes made by people who listen to makeup professionals and their needs. The brushes are amazing quality. They just work. If you are a brush addict or a makeup artist and wish to invest then I encourage you to check them out.
Rephr Handcrafted Makeup Brushes
SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser + CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser
I’m going to finish with two new cleanser launches. First is new from SkinCetuticals and my new favourite cleanser! A cleanser with 8% glycolic acid and 1% phytic acid which help to promote cell turnover and brighten skin. This gel formula massages very nicely into the skin, gently exfoliating. The ingredients help to clear out blackheads and any clogged pores and leave the skin with a beautiful glow without drying or stripping the skin thanks to a blend of glycerin and aloe vera and well balanced acids. I recieved this to test in the last few weeks of 2019 and I’m in love, watch out for this UK launch via the SkinCeuticals instgram page!
*Gifted
SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser
Thank heavens for CeraVe! So far, CeraVe can do no wrong! I was over the moon when they finally launched their salicylic acid cleanser in the UK. The CeraVe SA Skin Smoothing cleanser is a gentle cleanser that’s perfect for anyone who suffers breakouts or blocked pores. It is hydrating with added hyaluronic acid and is fragrance-free and non-comedogenic. It’s also accessible and affordable.
Alex Steinherr For Primark Pollution Solution Pads
Ok, here’s a Brucey bonus (you know I love one of those! Let’s face it, picking just ten items was always going to be difficult!), one extra that I couldn’t leave out. In 2019 Alex Steinherr launched her skincare range for Primark and it contained some great bits. A standout from the collection is the Pollution Solution Exfoliating Pads. Quick and easy, on the go, these pads contain lactic acid, the more gentle of AHA and gluconolactone which is a Poly Hydroxy Acid making this a lovely blend for working slowly and causing less irritation while still providing all of the good that we want from any exfoliating acid product; cell turnover, improved texture and glowing skin. These are a gem and one I cannot live without!
Alex Steinherr For Primark Skincare
Beauty launches 2019
So there you have it! A round-up of some of the best products that I think launched in 2019 in the UK. They are beauty, makeup and skincare items that I have reached for time and time again and believe I will continue to do so. I am always excited for new launches and love to keep my eye on what brands are up too, with that, I’m excited for 2020 and indeed this new decade. What product did you pick up that you can’t put down? Let me know below!
Happy new year! May it be filled with beauty!
If you enjoyed this post you might like ‘Building A Basic Skincare Routine’ and ‘What I’m Grateful For As 2019 Comes To An End’.
I haven’t picked up anything new yet, but I’m eyeballing that hydrating moisturizer! I’ve been getting so drythe last year my old moisturizers aren’t cutting it. Thanks for sharing this list!
Adding a HA serum into your routine is a great way to add a shot of hydration to your skincare routine! Glad it’s helpful 🙂
Love this article and love that No7 Luminous got a mention. The rest of the recommendations are on my to try list. Thanks, Celine x
Thanks! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! And so pleased to hear another fan of the No7 Luminous, I think it’s very underated! x