The 23 Greatest Magnificence Merchandise Of 2024, In accordance To Vogue’s Magnificence Workforce
Scroll on for Vogue’s favourite products of 2023…
Jessica Diner, European beauty & wellness director
Hermès Trait d’Hermès Mascara
Firstly, there is the Pierre Hardy-perfect packaging that is tactile and satisfyingly weighty. Then there is the wand, that by some happy coincidence is shaped like the letter “H” to act as a reservoir for the seriously good formula that it dispenses, which if it weren’t the best mascara I have tried in years (seriously, years), I would feel was too gimmicky. But it isn’t. Because it’s incredible. And I have been telling anyone who will listen ever since I have had it in my possession.
Merit Beauty Bronzer Stick & Proenza Make-Up Bag
Merit Beauty can do no wrong. Arguably the make-up launch of the year, there are very few brands that can, or have, staged a takeover of my make-up bag in the way that this one has. There is Flush Balm (which our dear Georgia Day had ring-fenced as one of her favourites so I chose to spotlight another), the Highlighting Balm and then the Bronze Balm, a radiance-inducing stick that delivers the healthiest of warm glows in a few simple swipes. It’s my new daily staple.
Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Skin Tint
To know Bobbi Brown’s original Vitamin Enriched Face Base is to love it. I was introduced to it during the trial for my wedding day make-up and I have been hooked ever since – it acts as the perfect nourishing base for make-up that won’t slide or pill. So when this tinted version launched I knew it would be an instant favourite, and it was. Ten out of ten, hard recommend.
Beauty Pie Shinkai Electrolyte Drench Gel Cream
This high-tech cream, made in Japan, is everything that I look for in a face moisturiser. It’s lightweight, sits amazingly under make-up or SPF, and is ridiculously hydrating. I started using it over the summer, when a gel cream is beneficial for oilier skin types.
Chanel Ombre Premiére Libre Loose Eyeshadow
Smoky eyes in a sweep. This finely-milled eyeshadow powder has fast become one of my go-tos for getting ready in a hurry for a night out. Using the ergonomically designed dauber, it dispenses just the right amount of product needed to smoke out each eyelid, so no need for a separate brush, which saves time.
Lauren Murdoch-Smith, senior beauty & wellness editor
L’Oréal Professionnel Serié Expert Absolut Repair Molecular Shampoo
Not only has this range improved the health and texture of my hair, but it also smells like a boutique fragrance and leaves a trail of scent whenever I swish my hair. Inspired by skincare serums, it’s also pretty smart and rebuilds the molecular structure of your hair fibre to keep it strong and smooth.
Dyson Hair Clips
Dyson has reinvented the hair clip, dissecting and reimagining how a simple hair clip should function. They installed silicone bands into the sectioning clip, which keep the hair securely in place, and added padding for extra scalp comfort. The wide hair clip, meanwhile, can hold a large section of hair securely (it really doesn’t budge), which means sectioning – and then styling – is easier. You won’t go back to bog-standard clips again.
Victoria Beckham Beauty San Ysidro Drive Eau de Parfum
I really enjoyed discovering Victoria Beckham’s trio of new fragrances, which launched towards the end of this year. My favourite, San Ysidro Drive, is inspired by her time in California. It’s an intense, unapologetic fragrance which is not my usual vibe, but there’s something about the notes of pink peony, rose and black amber that I can’t resist for an evening out.
Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face SPF50+
Australia’s much-loved sunscreen (one sells every minute) finally hit our shores this summer and boy, did it make an impression. It feels like skincare thanks to the lightweight, non-greasy formula, which works in harmony with make-up. Finally: a daily SPF I can get on board with.
Estée Lauder Turbo Lash High Powered Volume and Length Mascara
Mascaras come and go, so it’s rare when one makes its way permanently into my make-up bag. Estée Lauder’s Turbo Lash is what I refer to as an old-school mascara: it boasts a big chunky brush with bristles, plus the thick, effective formula doesn’t flake. A winner.
Hannah Coates, beauty & wellness editor
Hershesons Wavemaker
Consider this clever hair tool a one-stop-shop for easy curls. It does all the hard work for you, thanks to an automatic barrel which pulls hair in, curls and then cools it, helping each wave hold strong throughout the day. I am obsessed.
Makeup by Mario Soft Pop Blush
If you know me, you know I love a cream blusher. This one is my new favourite, delivering a dewy, naturally flushed finish. It’s your quick ticket to effortless, outdoorsy skin that radiates health.
Klira The Special
From retinoids to vitamin C, I’ve tried all sorts of skincare in my time, but nothing has visibly improved my skin’s texture, tone and overall health quite like Klira’s The Special. A dermatology service by Dr Emma Craythorne, the platform – and its team of dermatology nurses – analyses your skin and subsequently prescribes you the right actives for your skin type. And they really do get it right. I cannot recommend it enough.
Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Longwear Gel Eyeliner
If you like a soft, smudgy feline flick, this gel liner – from Selena Gomez’s make-up line, Rare Beauty – is waterproof and really effective. A great formula to work into your lash line, it lasts on greasy eyelids and it’s super easy to apply. Everyone should have one in their make-up bag.
Ross J Bar Period Patches
I don’t really suffer from period pains, but when I did get taken down by a cripplingly bad back this year, acupuncturist Ross Barr’s Period Patches were one of my saviours. Infused with warming herbs, each patch heats the affected area, dispelling tension and pain. Whether it’s cramps, nerve pain or just some comfort you’re in need of, they’re well worth trying.
Twiggy Jalloh, beauty & wellness associate
Ava Estelle Winter Body Butter
The colder months are my chance to slather my body in oils and butters, and I can’t get enough of this one from Ava Estelle. If you prefer a heavier moisturiser that melts into skin, this is the one for you. It gives skin an otherworldly glow and protects it from the elements, plus the tea tree oil adds a refreshing twist.
Ateh Jewel Beauty Blush of Dreams Cream Blush
I very much understand why the beauty guru, Ateh Jewel, named her blush collection as she did. These blushes really are a dream product. As a melanin-rich woman, the shade “Love Plum Plum” caught my eye first. It complements my skin tone like no other, has brought life to my skin on days I’ve felt tired, and has the most gorgeous scent. Packed with ingredients like marshmallow extract, cocoa butter and aloe vera, it is also great for the skin.
Murad Sulphur Mask
I don’t think I’ve fallen in love with any other skincare product quite as quickly as I did this one. I have oily, acne-prone skin that needs some extra TLC, and my skin can’t get enough of this sulphur-based clay mask. It absorbs excess oil, targets new breakouts without drying the skin out, and comes off easily with lukewarm water and a muslin cloth. I love it.
Beauty Pie AcidEnzyme Exfoliating Face & Body Cleanser
Another product my acne-prone skin can’t get enough of. It is gentle, helps regulate my sebum levels so I don’t break out as often, and the bottle is massive so it lasts a while. Its acne-fighting 2% salicylic acid formula reduces inflammation and redness, as well as removing dead skin cells. Don’t be afraid to use it on your body if you break out there, too.
Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Body Firmeza Oil
I love body oils with all my heart and soul, especially during cold weather, and this has slotted its way into my all-time top three. Have you ever used a product that puts a smile on your face as you apply it? If you haven’t, you need to experience this formula from Sol de Janiero. It smells divine and feels luxurious to the touch. It will always have a place in my beauty cupboard.
Georgia Day, contributing beauty & wellness editor
Merit Flush Balm in Beverly Hills
It’s hard to pick a favourite from Merit’s standout range, which promises a low-key luxe “no make-up make-up” look, but this blusher really is incredible. Beverly Hills is the perfect dusty pink colour which I think would suit all skin tones, while the texture is sublime – enough pigment so as not to require constant touch-ups but dewy enough to really bring the skin to life.
Vieve The Modern Bronzer
Everything about this cream bronzer is great. The pigments – although they may look intense – hold really well on the skin, while the melting texture does more than just add colour, it conditions skin as well. The result is a really healthy glow – I love using it on my eyelids as well, for a tonal “latte” look.
Diptyque Papier Eau de Parfum
It takes a lot for me to introduce a new fragrance into my life, but as soon as I encountered this, it was game on. It’s musk-based with a sensual, skin-like quality, and unusual notes like mimosa, blond woods, sesame and rice steam all combine to add an intensely creamy, nutty undertone which is just so moreish. A forever fragrance.
Sarah Chapman Digital Shield
Our skin goes through so much on a daily basis, it can be hard to know where to begin in protecting it. This beautifully textured cream has become a staple in my skincare routine, as it combines a host of active ingredients to defend against oxidative stress from pollution and blue light, as well as anti-fatigue ingredients to energise the skin.
Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner in Cinnamon
I’m a huge fan of these creamy eyeliners generally, but the latest shade in VB’s collection is just perfection. The warm toffee hue has the familiar buttery-soft texture, and adds depth and definition to eyes without being too intense. It works just as well for daytime as it does for evening, and doesn’t budge.
Funmi Fetto, contributing beauty & wellness editor
Prada Monochrome Hyper Matte Lipstick
Industry anticipation around the launch of Prada Beauty was sky high. Thankfully, it didn’t disappoint. I fell head over heels for the lipsticks – super matte but simultaneously super hydrating, with punchy pigments in the most delectable reds, oranges and pinks. The eyeshadows are also worth a mention: even if you don’t wear it, it’s tempting to buy for the aesthetic alone. Inspired by the Prada fashion print archives, they could easily be cool art pieces, but this isn’t a style over substance situation. The formulations are so innovative, the entire range literally feels like skincare – just with colour.
The Steam Bar Super Conditioner
One of the privileges of being in this job is getting to try beauty products months and months before they launch – which is how I first experienced The Steam Bar. I was immediately hooked. This haircare range is essentially skincare for the scalp and it is so good. Created by former fashion and photography agent, Judy Koloko, the compact line up – shampoo, conditioner, serum and mask – is chock-full of oils and super nourishing vitamins that work wonders for your hair while also prioritising your scalp. Special shout-out to the divine conditioner, which softens and deeply hydrates baby hair.
Myblend Enzyme Cleansing Foam
The quality of my cleanser affects everything else that follows on my skin – be it moisturiser or make-up. That means I have very high standards for them. This one from MyBlend is easily one of the best I’ve used. Don’t be alarmed: it is foamy, but unlike most of its frothy counterparts, it doesn’t strip the skin. As well as thoroughly cleaning the skin, it also combats dullness – thanks to enzymes which essentially eat the dead skin cells on your face – so you are left with an envy-inducing glow. And if you want to take that glow to the next level, try its corresponding facial at Harrods. But be warned, it is magnificent and addictive.
Officine Universalle Buly Les Jardins Français
I think what Buly founder Ramdane Touhami has done with this brand is just so clever, cool and left of centre. The Les Jardins Français De L’Officine range is an exquisite example of this. It’s a line-up of scents – fragrances, lotions, soaps and oils – based on a very global garden of vegetables and herbs. There’s Indian Cucumber and Syrian Mint, Scandinavian Redcurrant and Peruvian Tomato, Caribbean Sweet Potato and Afghan Carrot, Iraqi Beetroot and Egyptian Rhubarb… They are every bit as delicious as they sound. A glorious melting pot of fragrant cultures that has been magnificently translated into the most fabulous, off-the-beaten-track products. Obsessed.
Naturally Tiwa Mimo Facial Serum
The products I tend to love are, yes, a lot to do with how efficacious they are (because if they don’t work what’s the point?), but I’m also inspired by the authenticity of a brand’s values. When those two elements align, it is magic, as is the case with the skincare brand Naturally Tiwa. The Nigerian-born founder, Shalom Lloyd, conceived the brand as a response to her children suffering from eczema and nothing on the market working. It grew from there. The skincare range is cruelty-free and vegan, all the packaging is recyclable and every ingredient is sustainably and ethically sourced. The brand also makes a point of regularly collaborating with charities, such as cancer foundations, and helps create employment for women in rural African areas. A game-changing ethos with excellent products that work on even the most sensitive skins.
Kathleen Baird-Murray, contributing beauty & wellness editor
U Beauty The Super Tinted Hydrator
Yes please to Tina Chen Craig’s tinted moisturiser. The shades and undertones work on all skin tones, and all the potent skincare benefits you’d expect are there, as well as her signature scent and glow. This is great for those days when you don’t want to look “made up”.
Solange Azagury-Partridge Kiss My Lips Perfume
Known first and foremost for her staggeringly beautiful jewellery, Kiss My Lips is Solange Azagury-Partridge’s third fragrance, and celebrates her iconic red Hotlips ring. The bottle is, if you’ll pardon the pun, scent-sational – the scent spritzes through the lips lid as if blowing a perfumed kiss. It smells like hot, buttery sugar, with a hint of lemon, bergamot and grapefruit, and some white cedar from the Atlas Mountains.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Water Cream
Magic Cream is such a great, forever moisturiser, but it was always a little on the heavy side for me, so I was excited when this new, lighter version was introduced. It has a gel cream, lightweight texture, which is easily absorbed, and doesn’t compromise on any of the hydrating brilliance of the original, but leaves skin looking moisturised and glowing.
Olverum Bath Oil
This tiny little bottle, unprepossessing, somehow makes a big impact in the bath. Just a few drops of the natural essential oils, and I’m immediately feeling better about the world. It’s got Siberian fir, rosemary and lavendin in it, amongst other delicious things.
Orveda The Omnipotent Concentrate
A good all-rounder for anyone who loves a serum but whose skin is feeling fatigued. Great at restoring your skin’s resilience, it’s big on biotech ingredients (good for the planet) and is packed with bio-fermented actives to soothe and restore skin that needs a pop of radiance.
Tracy Achonwa, commerce beauty and wellness writer
Huda Beauty Airbrush Flawless Concealer
Creamy, weightless and with customisable coverage, Huda Beauty’s concealer is something of a beauty holy grail. Whether used under the eyes or to spot conceal, it delivers a flawless, budge-proof finish. I keep the compact bottle in my handbag in case I need to touch up – I rarely do as it lasts all day. A winner for photo ops at evening events, too.
Mielle Rosemary Oil
I’ve already raved about the wonders Mielle’s Rosemary Oil has done for my hair – mostly because it actually works. The product is by no means new, but with strengthening biotin, scalp-refreshing peppermint extract and restoring rosemary, it will always have a place in my arsenal. One of the best hair growth oils of all time.
Rhode Peptide Lip Tint
As the kind of woman whose pockets and purses contain a multitude of lip products at any given time, I really didn’t need to be tempted by Mrs Bieber’s lip launches this year. Alas, I’ve been through two tubes of the colourless Peptide Lip Treatments already, and am completely enamoured with the (now sold out) Peptide Lip Tints. Nourishing and flatteri