Click ahead to shop the very best products from my beauty routine in June, and why I think they are total game-changers.
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This isn’t new but in my honest opinion as a makeup obsessive, no liquid eyeliner pen compares. The tip is soft but sturdy so you can draw the most seamless flick in seconds. The best part is that the pigment doesn’t budge. It stays jet black for hours, unlike some others which can turn to a disappointing shade of grey.
If you’re looking to introduce salicylic acid (otherwise known as a BHA aka beta hydroxy acid) into your skincare routine for the first time, start with this. It’s a really gentle, non-sticky exfoliating serum which keeps breakouts at bay and tackles blackheads. I used this every other evening and alternated with a stronger acid (more in the next slide) on days when my spot-prone skin needed more of a boost.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+ Ultra Concentrated Serum, $, available at FeelUnique
No one knows skincare acids like Alpha-H. The star ingredients in this exfoliating toner are salicylic acid and tea tree, which gives the product a slightly medicinal smell. Salicylic acid is kind to skin but exfoliates deep inside pores to prevent spots and blackheads, while tea tree is antibacterial. Used every other night, it helped keep my hormonal whiteheads under control and worked wonders to smooth out my skin texture, all without stinging like similar exfoliating toners I’ve tried. For me, applying products like these with a cotton pad can be a waste and I always end up with cotton fibres on my skin. Instead, I patted it on with my fingertips (you can follow with moisturiser) and I’m certain this yielded better results!
Alpha-H Clear Skin Tonic, $, available at Cult Beauty
I can’t get over how amazing this CBD body scrub smells, like lavender, sweet oranges and herbs. It revolutionised my shower time. A daily slather helped keep my body breakouts away thanks to the physical exfoliating beads and lactic acid, which also works well on keratosis pilaris (KP) or bumpy arm texture. I just wish the tube were bigger.
This Works Stress Check CBD Body Polish, $, available at Sainsbury’s
If you’re a fan of CeraVe’s Hydrating Cleanser, you’ll love this. The silky, creamy formula melts away face oil and grime without making skin feel tight or dry afterwards. It’s the ultimate gentle morning cleanser and I really liked the subtle frangipane scent.
Caudalie Vinoclean Cleansing Almond Milk, $, available at FeelUnique
Anti-frizz products can be hit and miss, often weighing hair down and making it feel greasy, but not this. It helped smooth down my frizzy roots and broken hairs and made my lengths smell so good. Top tip: use a hair mask in place of conditioner. I always do so after I’ve dyed my hair as it tends to need a bit more moisture and protection.
Pantene Hair Biology Mask De-frizz & Illuminate, $, available at Boots
I recently wrote a love letter to Gucci Beauty’s foundation but their mascara is just as excellent. The thin, malleable, plastic brush makes it easy to separate lashes so that they look naturally fluttery and the formula can be built up to add drama. The packaging is so chic that I can’t bear to throw it away, but it’s come to the end of its lifespan.
Gucci Beauty Mascara L’Obscur, $, available at Selfridges
Lately, I’m into anything that makes my mundane shower experience feel more like a spa and this gel-to-foam shower gel does exactly that. The lather is indulgently creamy and moisturises skin as it cleanses. It smells like a sunny holiday, too.
Rituals The Ritual of Jing Foaming Shower Gel, $, available at Boots
This foaming cleanser only just launched at Cult Beauty but I was lucky to get my hands on a tube in January and it’s already gone. Fulvic acid (in the form of tiny pieces of peat suspended in the gel) is the mainstay ingredient, soothing skin instantly and brightening over time. I used this as an evening cleanser (I always double cleanse) as it quickly cuts through heavy makeup and makes skin feel so clean. I’m convinced it has reduced my breakouts, too.
The Inkey List Fulvic Acid Brightening Cleanser, $, available at Cult Beauty
I can’t get over how well this stuff works – and in just a few seconds! Used in place of conditioner, the clever formula takes dry, damaged, split hair and makes it soft, shiny and manageable. While the label says it’s best for longer lengths, it worked brilliantly on my mid-length hair. I’ll be stocking up, for sure.
L’Oreal Paris Wonder Water Dream Lengths 8 Second Hair Treatment, $, available at Boots
This brow setter gel has lasted me such a long time when others tend to dry out quickly. The flat comb makes it easy to brush even the unruliest brow hairs into place. It dries completely clear without any dreaded white coating or flakes, which some brow gels leave behind on darker hair.
Benefit Cosmetics 24-HR Brow Setter, $, available at Cult Beauty
I couldn’t love this foundation any more than I do. It’s featherlight but somehow blankets hyperpigmentation, redness and spots in a way that looks natural and radiant. It’s one of the very few foundations which don’t break me out and it stays put for hours without obviously collecting in dry patches or creases. While I’m no longer getting any product out of the pump, I’ve got to cut open the tube to make the most of what’s left.
Kevyn Aucoin Stripped Nude Skin Tint, $, available at Beauty Bay
Body breakouts can be just as exhausting and upsetting to deal with as facial acne. This affordable body gel really helps, though. Star ingredients include salicylic acid (which exfoliates deep inside pores to prevent spots), niacinamide (also known as vitamin B3, which reduces oil) and tea tree, an antibacterial ingredient which dermatologists rate for quelling acne-causing microbes. It feels a little sticky at first but it absorbs quickly and has improved the spots and red scars on my chest and back.
The Solution Salicylic Acid Clear Skin Body Gel, $, available at Superdrug
This is actually a summer shampoo (hence the ‘soleil’) but similar to the way it moisturises sun-zapped hair strands, I’ve found it totally transforms hair which has been exposed to central heating and freezing cold weather. It has made my thick, dried-out hair feel like silk and cut straightening time in half. I love that it smells like holidays, too.
Kérastase Soleil Bain Apres Soleil Shampoo, $, available at LookFantastic
This foam smells so much like a mango and passionfruit smoothie, I was almost tempted to drink it. Please don’t do that, though. Instead, take the most refreshing bath ever. A little goes a long way to create bubbles and thanks to the moisturising ingredients, it makes skin feel soft, not scaly. If you don’t have a bath you can also use it as a shower cream.
The Body Shop Mango Bath Blend, $, available at The Body Shop
This is the only nail polish remover that doesn’t make my nails and cuticles flaky, and it’s all thanks to ingredients collagen and glycerin. The soaked sponge dissolves polish in a quick twist, making removal so much less of a chore, and it can be used on feet, too. I have a spare tucked away in a drawer at all times – it’s that good. Screw the lid on properly and it should last you months.
Nails Inc. Nail Polish Remover Pot For Hands & Feet, $, available at FeelUnique
A really gritty body scrub is my shower must-have and the exfoliating particles in this Soap & Glory newbie are invigorating. On contact with water, the product creates a creamy lather, so it doubles up as body wash. I really enjoyed the energising smell – like a retro sweet shop filled with rhubarb and custards.
Soap & Glory Scrub For Joy Body Polish, $, available at Boots
This is the best lip scrub I’ve tried. The sugar micro-crystals are gritty enough to lift away all flaky skin, while shea butter, beeswax and almond oil make lips feel so nourished and soft afterwards that following with lip balm is optional.
New from Caudalie, this daytime moisturiser made my skin appear dewy and radiant thanks to olive squalane, which quenches thirsty skin, and the brand’s star ingredient viniferine, said to rival vitamin C on the brightening front. My skin is a lot more even in tone and texture, and I love the silky soft feel; it sits perfectly under makeup.
Caudalie Vinoperfect Instant Brightening Moisturiser, $, available at LookFantastic
Lately, my hair has felt flat and looked limp but this shampoo has breathed life into it. Cucumber water, rosemary oil and peppermint extract cleanse, nourish and revitalise scalp and strands. I can’t get enough of the fresh, zippy scent, which lifts my mood instantly.
Aveeno Volumising+ Fresh Greens Blend Shampoo, $, available at Boots
Where has this concealer been all my life? The button on the end of the pen pushes the product (packed with hydrating, fine line-smoothing hyaluronic acid) through the flat brush, so all you need to do is paint it on to your skin and dab to conceal spots or dark circles. Unlike lots of others, it doesn’t cake, separate from the skin or collect in creases. An all-in-one, it’s great for on the go.
By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Concealer, $, available at FeelUnique
This teeth whitening pen is easy to use and doesn’t require clunky trays or fussy strips. While I didn’t notice a massive difference, it has definitely helped tone down the yellow (I’m a big tea drinker) by a couple of shades.
Spotlight Oral Care Whitening Teeth Whitening Pen, $, available at LookFantastic
I can’t speak highly enough of this serum and what it has done for my under-eyes. Here are some impressive before-and-after pictures; since then, it has virtually eradicated my noticeable eye creases. If you have mature skin or you’re thinking about starting an ageing routine, it’s the one. Team it with a nourishing eye cream to maximise the moisturising results.
No7 Laboratories Line Correcting Booster Serum, $, available at Boots
Calling all those with very oily skin: you need this cleanser. It cuts through face grease (a culprit for breakouts) and heavy makeup in one wash, making skin feel squeaky clean and fresh.
Bioderma Sebium Purifying Cleansing Foaming Gel, $, available at Escentual
Everyone needs a posh soap, seeing as we’re all washing our hands a hundred times a day. Basil, black pepper and barley make this smell divine and it doesn’t leave hands feeling stripped or sore, as it’s free from sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS). Still, it lathers up a treat. The amber glass bottle can be refilled, too.
MONTAMONTA Basil + Parsley + Black Pepper Hand Wash, $, available at MONTAMONTA
I’m obsessed with the original version of this cleansing balm and the rose is just as incredible for the smell alone. On contact with water, the buttery formula transforms into a milk that dissolves stubborn, waterproof makeup and makes skin feel so soft.
Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm, $, available at Cult Beauty
I thought no brow pencil could rival Anastasia Beverly Hills’ Brow Wiz; then I tried this. The nib is ultra thin, so mimicking fine brow hairs is easy. The product itself isn’t too soft or too hard, and teamed with the spoolie brush on the other end, it makes light work of filling in and defining sparse brows.
I’m on my third tube of this stuff because it works wonders to calm painful, cystic spots. Tea tree is the main ingredient, which is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. It nixes acne-causing microbes and brings down swelling and redness quickly.
Versed Nix It Spot Solution, $, available at Cult Beauty
Calling all coffee lovers! This almond milk body scrub is incredible. With coffee seed oil and chunky sugar granules, it’s on the right side of gritty and feels super invigorating. It woke me up in the morning and made my skin smooth and moisturised. It smells so good, I’m tempted to keep the empty tub…
Drunk Elephant Sugared Koffie Almond Milk Scrub, $, available at Cult Beauty
This hair mask was dreamed up by Chris Appleton, celebrity hairstylist to Ariana Grande, J.Lo and the Kardashians. The texture is really unusual (somewhere between a bouncy jelly and a nourishing cream) and I’m convinced it’s magic. Used in place of conditioner, it took my recently bleached, straw-like hair and made it feel like silk. I was genuinely gutted to finish the tub. I love the smell, too, like a fresh ocean breeze. Sign up to the newsletter here so you can get first dibs when it lands this summer.
Formulated by hairstylist to the stars George Northwood, this is the only shampoo that thoroughly cleanses my hair and scalp without causing any dry skin or flakes. It does contain SLS, though, so isn’t suitable for everyday use on coloured hair, but it’s great for a ‘detox’ every once in a while.
Undone by George Northwood Unpolluted Shampoo, $, available at Boots
I can’t speak highly enough of this lip serum as it healed my perpetually dry, dehydrated lips. The texture is more like a balm and it’s available in a number of pretty, wearable shades. I used the clear version right down to the very end and I’m already on to my next.
Avon Anew Revival Serum Lip Treatment, $, available at Avon
There’s a reason why so many professional hairstylists only use Crazy Color: it really is that good. I recently had my hair dyed midnight blue and I’m topping it up with this. The bottle is small but the colour is mighty, vibrant and nourishing and a little goes a very long way. Even better, the brand offers a multitude of trending shades, from rose gold to silver.
Crazy Color Sapphire Hair Dye, $, available at Just My Look
My skin has improved drastically since I started using this oil-free moisturiser. My breakouts (and skin staining left behind by said spots) have improved, as has the appearance of my large pores and my issue with excess oiliness. Star ingredients are vitamin B5 (which moisturises deeply) and vitamin C and E, both antioxidants which protect against the environment and brighten dull skin.
Bad Habit Daily Dose Multivitamin Moisturiser, $, available at Morphe
I get through one of CeraVe‘s Hydrating Cleansers (sometimes the supersize bottle!) every other month. Whenever my skin feels dry or I’m experiencing breakouts, it’s the gentlest, most moisturising cleanser and doesn’t strip my face or make things worse. It’s affordable and works well to eradicate all traces of makeup, even the heavy stuff.
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, $, available at LookFantastic
This body wash is especially great for people with sensitive skin. It’s sulphate-free so won’t exacerbate dry skin but still lathers up a treat, smells lovely and leaves skin feeling fresh and soothed thanks to aloe vera.
Frank Body A Clean Body Wash, $, available at Frank Body
If you haven’t tried a ‘tubing’ mascara yet, you’re missing out, especially if you’re a little lazy (guilty) when it comes to taking off your makeup at the end of the day. Not only does this lengthen, define and thicken without a single clump in sight (that’ll be the teeny tiny plastic bristles), you can use your fingertips to gently pinch the product off your lashes using just water. No micellar water or makeup remover needed.
Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara, $, available at Cult Beauty
By now, you probably know that I get through a handful of body scrubs a month (they really help keep my body breakouts at bay) and this is another winner. Okay, so the pulpy texture feels a little like rubbing jam all over yourself but the raspberry seeds are brilliant for exfoliating away dull, dead skin, and it smells amazing.
The Body Shop Fresh Raspberry Gel Body Scrub, $, available at The Body Shop
£25 for a hand soap is steep but the bottle is enormous and the exfoliating beads make washing your hands constantly feel less of a chore and more like a spa treatment. As you can see, I had to remove the pump to get every last drop of it out!
This cleanser smells divine! The texture is very milky so it doesn’t lather up but it works really well to remove tough makeup like mascara and lipstick, and makes skin feel hydrated and dewy afterwards.
Florena Fermented Skincare Milky Cleanser, $, available at Boots
This is the only hand cream I’ll use from now on. It absorbs instantly and banishes parched knuckles sans greasy film so you can continue scrolling TikTok without leaving oily fingerprints on your phone screen.
Bad Habit Palm Reader Adaptogen Nourishing Hand Cream, $, available at Morphe
Since TikTok convinced me to ditch my eye cream, I’ve been using this featherweight gel instead. It’s so moisturising, any fine lines and wrinkles are instantly filled out and it doesn’t clog my pores.
Fresh Rose Hydrating Eye Gel Cream, $, available at Cult Beauty
I get through one of CeraVe’s cleansers every couple of months, they’re that good. This creamy version foams up on contact with water and makes my skin feel so clean and soft. If you struggle to find a cleanser that’s suitable for combination skin, look no further.
CeraVe Cream to Foam Cleanser, $, available at LookFantastic
I’m obsessed with this slightly tinted sunscreen and as you can see, I’ve used it right down to the last drop. It absorbs quickly and doesn’t make skin feel chalky or cause breakouts. It’s more or less like a lightweight moisturiser with boosted protection against the sun.
Ultra Violette Clean Screen Sensitive Skinscreen SPF 30, $, available at Space NK
Under-the-skin bumps and pesky whiteheads don’t stand a chance against this spot treatment, which has cleared up my skin dramatically. Two percent salicylic acid brings down inflammation and redness fast while exfoliating inside the pore to unclog. It’s my secret weapon.
Murad Rapid Relief Spot Treatment, $, available at LookFantastic
The hype around this brow pencil is justified. It’s very soft and creamy so it makes light work of defining brows and mimicking fine hairs. The smart spoolie brush on the other end helps soften and perfect brows.
This pen liner is really easy to use (that’ll be the ultra sharp nib) and stays intensely black for hours. If you like a bold feline flick, add it to your shopping list ASAP.
PAT McGRATH LABS Perma Precision Liquid Eyeliner, $, available at Net-A-Porter
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