Beauty Products I Love: Gift Ideas For Her
No7's Future Renew Serum, £39.95
First of all, I am somebody who has always suffered with undereye circles and fine lines — even in my teenage years. So, as I have gotten older, it's pretty unsurprising that this has become worse, and the day before I became acquainted with No7's latest product, I was genuinely overanalyzing my face in the mirror and wondering if the time had come to explore Botox and filler. And no, I'm not exaggerating. I was excited to give the Future Renew serum a go because, on paper, it sounded like a miracle worker; the product has been created to support and enhance the skin's natural self-repair process to rejuvenate your skin throughout the day and while you sleep. But, as with every product that makes these wild claims, does it actually work? And the answer is: Absolutely.I was immediately impressed with this serum because of how quickly it absorbed into my skin without leaving any of the sticky residue that can come with similar products. And after just a few weeks of twice-daily use, my skin is so much brighter and noticeably more even.I have also seen an impressive difference to my undereye fine lines – and while it, of course, isn't able to perform total miracles, it comes close enough for my finger to no longer be hovering over the phone number of my nearest Botox clinic.
Lush's Sticky Dates, Super Milk, and E.T. Bath Bombs, from £5
In honor of World Bath Bomb Day and Lush's 30th Birthday, Lush launched a whopping 30 new bath bombs last month, and obviously, I couldn't wait to try them out! While it is basically impossible for Lush to create anything that is less than amazing, I was particularly excited to see that two of their most viral scents were now available in bath bomb form: Sticky Dates (£5) and Super Milk (£7).In case you didn't know, Sticky Dates has been a seriously popular fragrance in the brand's shower gel and body lotion line, and it's about time that customers were able to fully immerse themselves in the decadent scent of date syrup and vanilla. While this fragrance may sound overwhelmingly sweet, it is actually a perfect balance that doesn't teeter into being sickly or overbearing. I genuinely can't get enough of this scent, and the new bath bomb left my skin smelling incredible. Meanwhile, Super Milk leave-in conditioner spray is one of Lush's cult items that is so in-demand that it is often sold out in my local store. In addition to hydrating and protecting your hair, Super Milk is renowned for its beautiful almond and candy-coconut scent that guarantees me compliments every time that I use it — so I was always going to jump at the chance to utilize that fragrance and the product's nourishing properties in a bath bomb. Needless to say, it didn't disappoint, and I'm sure that the Super Milk bath bomb will be just as viral as its hair-based predecessor in no time.Finally, I am totally in love with Lush's new E.T. bath bomb (£9.50), which frankly has no business being as adorable as it is. The craftsmanship on this product is second-to-none, and it looked more like the world's most famous extra terrestrial than I anticipated, which made it pretty hard for me to say goodbye and dissolve it in my bath. Thankfully, the citrus scent of lemon and bergamot made that goodbye more than worth it; who knew that E.T. smelled so good?
Baylis & Harding's Vanilla Seduction Body Wash, £4
Speaking of things that smell good, no matter how many other fragrance trends come and go, I will always be a hardcore devotee to the Vanilla Girl Aesthetic at heart, which is why I am so obsessed with Baylis & Harding's Vanilla Seduction range. Let it be known that I have tried and tested pretty much every vanilla-scented body wash over the past year, and it was pretty inconvenient that my favorite one is only available in the US, so I am over the moon to now have discovered one much closer to home – and with such an affordable price tag to boot!The difficulty with vanilla-based products is that it is so, so easy for the fragrance to veer into being too artificially sweet, but Baylis & Harding have overcome this by combining the vanilla scent with amber and sandalwood, which adds a grounding, warm undertone that perfectly balances out the sugariness of the vanilla. Vanilla Seduction is also available in handwash form, which is just as delightful, and a definite new staple on my bathroom sink.
Fenty Skin Jumbo Butta Drop - Vanilla Dream, £62
And the vanilla renaissance really is in full swing, with Fenty Skin recently launching a jumbo size of their viral Vanilla Dream Butta Drop, which is the perfect companion to the body wash.At 500ml, the jumbo tub is 2.5x bigger than the original, and because the whipped oil body cream is so thick and creamy, a little goes an incredibly long way — which means that this tub will probably last you a very long time. In addition to smelling really, really good (this scent avoids the 'sickly sweet' risk by blending the vanilla with coconut, which adds a beautifully summery vibe to the lotion), this product is full of essential oils that both hydrate your skin and leave it with a healthy, glossy sheen without being sticky. This gives your whole body a healthy glow, and will definitely be my go-to moisturizer when my legs are out in the summer months.
Revolution Wrap Lash Tubing Mascara, £10.99
Moving on to makeup, I can't get enough of Revolution's new Wrap Lash Tubing mascara, which I tried out in brown for a little something different, but it is also available in black and burgundy. As somebody who loves a dramatic eye look yet still hasn't finessed the art of fake lashes, I depend heavily on a mascara with a lasting wow factor, and this one certainly delivers. Just one coat adds instant length and lift to my lashes, and the impact lasts all day without needing to reapply. As if that wasn't enough, I've often found that a long-lasting mascara can be a bit of a red flag when it comes to makeup removal, and there have been countless times when I've been left scrubbing my eyes raw to get the product off at the end of the night.Thankfully, that is decidedly not the case with the Wrap Lash Tubing mascara, and I was pleased to see that it washed off easily with my usual cleansing routine — which makes its budget-friendly price point even more enticing.
Fenty Beauty Hello Extra Mascara-Boosting Lash Primer, £20
And if you wanted to give your lashes a little bit of extra TLC this month, then I can't recommend Fenty's new Mascara-Boosting primer enough. We prime our skin before applying foundation, and our eyelids before applying eyeshadow, so it makes sense that we'd want to prime our lashes before adding makeup to them, too. As mentioned, I'm pretty big on mascara, and my excessive use often leaves me worried about drying out my natural lashes — which can happen with even the best, most high quality brands because the very act of coating your lashes with a product limits how much air and hydration they are getting throughout the day, leading to breakage. This primer acts as the perfect barrier between your eyelashes and the heaviness of mascara because it is full of fatty acids that actively nourish and condition your lashes during wear. If you apply this before your usual mascara, it means that your lashes can be rejuvenated while looking just as show-stopping as ever.
TIRTIR Mask Fit Red Cushion Foundation, £21
We've all heard how good Korean skincare is, and now it's time to shine a light on Korean beauty, starting with TirTir's viral Red Cushion foundation that is finally available to buy in the UK!Less is definitely more when it comes to this product, and just a small amount of foundation gives me flawless, long-lasting coverage that genuinely makes my skin look airbrushed in real life. In addition to smoothing out my natural skin texture and concealing blemishes and imperfections, the Mask Fit foundation adds a healthy glow to my makeup look. And because so little product is needed to make an impact, it feels super light and breathable on my skin, too, which is perfect as we head into the warmer months. Needless to say, I can totally see why TikTok are so obsessed with this so-called 'Red Egg!'
Soap & Glory's Sexy Mother Pucker Fill Seeker Plumping Lip Gloss, £11.99
Soap & Glory have always been understated icons in the makeup department, and I couldn't be more here for their new Fill Seeker plumping lip glosses. I'm a sucker for trying out temporary lip plumping products, and this is definitely the best one that I have found so far. Anyone else who is familiar with these kinds of glosses will know that the plumping can only occur with an accompanying tingling sensation, which can sometimes be too intense to bear. Thankfully, that is not the case with Fill Seeker, and while the plumping sensation kicks in straight away, it feels more like a subtle warming on your lips than anything that is actually uncomfortable.It also gave my lips the perfect amount of fullness that actually lasted, with my lips getting enough of a boost for there to be a noticeable improvement without coming anywhere close to the dreaded swollen bee-sting vibe. In addition, I love when a lip plumping product also has color in it so that you're not having to layer too many products at once for the final look. While Fill Seeker is available in a clear shimmer so that it can be the final touch on your lipstick of choice, it is also available in three other shades, with my personal favorite being Hot Red, which adds long-lasting and attention-grabbing color to my lips in addition to the plumping.
Ayu Skin Cleansing Balm, £42
Irish-owned cosmetics company Ayu has finally made its way over to the UK, and I can't get enough of their super decadent cleansing balm.When rubbed between your hands, the balm transforms into a hydrating oil that basically dissolves every trace of makeup from your face, with no water required until it's time to rinse off. The cleanser is infused with shea butter, coconut oil, and Moroccan argan oil, and I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't initially concerned that this would lead to clogged pores and a whole ton of spots. Thankfully, that's not been the case at all, and I've actually been left with supple, glowing skin that feels so well-nourished I'm often tempted to skip the rest of my nighttime routine because the cleanser feels like it's done the work of treatments and moisturizer to boot!
Boots Berry Lip Sleep Mask, £4.50
Boots's very own Laneige dupe is back, and I couldn't be more excited!If you're not familiar with lip sleep masks, they basically lock your lips in a moisture-rich shield overnight for some seriously deep hydration and rejuvenation, with the Boots Berry Lip Sleep Mask nourishing your pout with coconut oil and shea butter to make sure that they are in tip-top shape by morning.In addition to being a deep treatment mask, this product can also be used throughout the day instead of lip balm, and can even work its magic to hydrate the lips when put over other lip products — including long-lasting stains. The berry scent makes this mask all the more delectable, and at just a fraction of the cost of its high-end rivals, you'd be mad not to add it to your shopping basket.
Philip Kingsley's Body Building Shampoo & Conditioner, £49.28
Over the years, I've become embroiled in a battle against my hair, which is seemingly determined to be as dry as possible, no matter what I do. Through desperation, I've trialed a whole bunch of products, which I like to think has made me somewhat of a shampoo and conditioner connoisseur.While I've found myself disappointed after paying out upwards of £100 for the most high-end brands that I'd hoped would be transformative, I've also been pleasantly surprised by other products, which includes Philip Kingsley's Body Building collection.It's worth noting that hydrating dull and dry hair is just a happy side effect of this product, which actually prides itself on boosting fine and limp tresses. The shampoo and conditioner are formulated with keratin to provide this extra volume, while copolymers help tame frizz and flyaways. Luckily for me, this collection does everything it says on the tin and then some, and it's been such a joy to to be able to add another trusted shampoo and conditioner that I know I can depend on to my fast-shrinking repertoire of haircare products. Thank goodness for Mr Kingsley!
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Do you have any viral videos or pictures that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@ and they could appear on our site.
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On the other hand, why are these signs of aging such a heightened source of anxiety among women who are less likely to have the fine lines or crow's feet that come with age? There are a few culprits. Bianca turned 26 during the early days of the pandemic and the consequent pivot to remote work and Zoom meetings. "Prior to that, I had never had anything done to my face," she tells me. "Not that I didn't think about it — quite a few of my friends who work in beauty had tried filler and Botox and raved about it, but I just didn't feel it was necessary yet. Then Zoom became a thing." All that time on camera had Bianca, who is now 31 years old, scrutinizing her looks. "I swear I started to see my face changing right before my eyes, which freaked me out a bit,' she says. 'I started to hyper-fixate on lines that hadn't been there before, especially on my forehead and around my eyes." She was 28 when she "finally bit the bullet and got Botox." While Bianca is happy with how it turned out — "I was worried it might make me look frozen or unnatural, but it simply smoothed out my forehead skin and made my eyes look more open," she says — the Botox wore off after just a couple of months. These days, she has a treatment once or twice a year to, she says, "feel more refreshed and look less tired." But, Bianca adds, "it's definitely a long-term investment and a part of me wishes I never started because now it's hard to stop." This shift to video meetings gave rise to not only "Zoom fatigue" — feeling drained after being on camera for most of the day — but also a form of facial dysmorphia some call "Zoom dysmorphia." According to Hilary Weingarden, a Massachusetts-based clinical psychologist with expertise in body dysmorphic disorder and body image distress, constant exposure to our on-camera selves can cause many of us to pick apart our appearance. I started to hyper-fixate on lines that hadn't been there 31 'We're looking at our own faces much more than we did before 2020,' Weingarden says. 'It's become really common to sit on video conference calls for hours of every work day. While we do this, we're often staring at our own faces. Naturally, looking at your face for hours a day leads to thinking more about your physical appearance than you might have done before, and it can be common to start comparing your appearance to those depicted in the media or ... peers. This constant self-viewing, self-judging and [comparison] to others can lead to body image dissatisfaction, stress and anxiety.' Some, like Bianca, turn to cosmetic procedures as a result. A 2023 commercial for Botox Cosmetic noted the Zoom effect. "I've been given the opportunity to work from home, so that means lots of video calls," a woman named Kim says in the ad. "I see myself more, and I definitely see those deeper lines." Instagram has evolved from a photo-sharing platform touting grainy filters into a slick, highly curated marketplace where most selfies appear to be filtered and Facetuned. Ads for skincare products claiming to turn back the clock on your face are pervasive, and many of the game-changing serums or night creams flooding your feed can be purchased right in the app with just a few taps. Click on those links, and the algorithm adjusts accordingly, sending more skincare content your way. And while beauty standards have always been unrealistic — I myself grew up comparing myself to actresses and models — social media has paved the way for even more comparisons. On YouTube, celebrities walk viewers through their personal beauty routines for Vogue, while paid influencers on Instagram and TikTok name-drop anti-aging retinols and skin-smoothing treatments and break down buzzy trends like glass skin (in which the skin is so dewy and radiant it looks like, you guessed it, glass). Dermatologist influencers have also entered the chat, normalizing preventative Botox for younger women. How could anyone consume this content and not become, well, influenced? 'We are definitely seeing an increase in younger women becoming more focused on skin aging and wrinkles, in part related to social media and the numerous products targeted for skin aging," says Dr. Marisa Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist. "Social media has made information more accessible and provided a platform for products to get more exposure." Seeing someone else — be it a celebrity or your favorite beauty influencer — try out a skin care product or treatment, she adds, provides a sense of "comfort and relatability." There's also a pressure to participate, and it skews even younger than 18. Speaking to Yahoo Life last year, dermatologist Dr. Nava Greenfield noted that "social media and trends play a large role" in the current obsession among many adolescents — the so-called Sephora kids who drop their allowance (and then some) on luxury creams "Young women are always looking for ways to improve their appearance, and media has convinced young people that focusing on skin care is a way to tweak their appearance in a way that gives them some feeling of agency," Greenfield said. Once upon a time, if you had a question about your skin, you had to turn to a professional or seek out advice from friends. Now there are not just search engines, but entire skin care communities (SkinTok, Reddit groups like Skincare Addiction, which has a whopping 4.8 million members, etc.) where you can express your concerns, ask for advice about specific products and treatments and commiserate with other young women about "premature aging." 'Are these lines normal for 22? Should I get Botox?' one redditor asks, posting a series of close-ups of her face to the group. While these forums can offer a sense of feeling less alone, they also beget more comparison. (I admit that I've been prone to my own insecure thoughts, like: At least my face looks better than hers.) The information-sharing in these communities will inevitably also teach you terms you wish you never knew existed. As someone with a chronic skin condition, learning about "inflammaging" — aka accelerated aging due to chronic inflammation — sent me into a bit of a spiral. The thought that my skin could age faster than others because I'm often inflamed is terrifying. It's not just what we see on Zoom and what pops up in our social media feeds. It's the proliferation of medspas offering microneedling and Botox, two of the procedures Garshick says is popular among many young women. It's the movie stars who suddenly look half their age. It's even, as Weingarden points out, the people we know and love. "We're also seeing — in the real world, off the TV screen and magazine pages —altered versions of what aging looks like all the time, even amongst our peers," she says. 'This is likely contributing to changing cultural beliefs about what aging 'should' look like and expectations that we 'fix' natural aging.' All this is to say, it's tough to be a young woman today. I'd like to say we are enjoying our youth. But in a society so fixated on fighting the signs of aging, it feels like we're more afraid of losing it.
