10 Beauty Finds: February

Okay beauty pickers, it’s February – the shortest month of the year and, of course, also the one that houses Valentine’s Day. Make of that calendar combination what you will (if anything at all) but we’ll make a top 10 beauty chart regardless. So, for this month’s beautific movers and shakers, read on…

In at Number 1 is getting your glow on with the help of Byoma’s new Phyto-Mucin Glow Serum. It’s a little skincare powerhouse driven by Korean technology with a vegan mucin (think snails but not actually snails because, yes, it’s vegan) alternative plus a barrier lipid complex which all works to create a non-sticky formula that can brighten and even the complexion, hydrate and even help to reduce sensitivity – and deliver a glossy, glass skin finish. These formulas are seriously good. Grab yours here.

Charlotte Tilbury is back in the charts – and in at Number 2 again – with her brand-new Charlotte’s Palettes of Beautifying Eye Trends (these days in beauty why go for a short name when you can choose a long one…). Her six new eye palettes are knock outs though with new textures and finishes from matte silk, crystal pop, diamond dimension, molten satin and crystal chrome (matt to prime and smoke, shimmer to enhance and sparkle, pop to light play and make eyes look bigger and brighter). Plus, the colour play has all been considered so shades work seamlessly together to make application even easier. Perfect for some eye gazing. But these are limited editions so don’t dilly dally. Browse the range here.

We’ll let the eyes keep having it as swooping in at Number 3 is the latest Slip silk sleep mask collection. The theme is wildflowers, which includes some very charming pale lavender scrunchies and pillowcases, but for our money it’s all about the Posie design with small daisies embroidered on a lilac and pink gingham background on the Contour Sleep Mask, specially designed to protect eyelashes while you catch your beauty sleep. Get yours here.

Aesop takes the Number 4 slot with its new fragrance launch (the 12th in its line-up), Aurner. In collaboration with the nose Celine Barel (who also made their bestselling Tacit) this is a very warm and sensual blend of magnolia leaf, geranium, sandalwood and roman chamomile but there’s a bright citrus element too which brings a lightness to it that makes it feel expansive and full of opportunity rather than simply nuzzle-worthy. It’s also a collaboration heavy launch as with it Aesop has moved for the first time into the jewellery sphere with Bangkok-based jeweller Patcharavipa Bodiratnangkura brought on board to create a limited edition silver magnolia inspired ear cuff (the move made sense since Aurner is an Old Norse verb meaning ‘to be adorned, to be embellished with flowers’). Shop the fragrance here.

Collaborations abound this month and in at Number 5 is Augustinus Bader. Not only has it launched a new sheet mask which has the beauty editors giddy with excitement and effusive with praise, but the gel mask comes in two pieces – for the top and bottom halves of the face – and has already earned a great rep for giving complexion a quick and effective boost of hydration and plumpness and great for applying before an important night out. But it hasn’t stopped there. This month the brand has also launched a collab with the modern cult hairbrush brand La Bonne Brosse. The limited-edition Miracle Detangling Scalp Brush comes in Bader blue, the distinctive shade of the packaging and works alongside Bader’s haircare range. Shop here.

Keeping the partnerships together, Merit enters the charts at Number 6 with its latest link up with jewellery brand Completedworks. The two first worked together late last year on exclusive earring designs for the launch of their fragrance, Retrospect, a soft clean light floral. Now, with the travel size of the fragrance launching they’ve worked with the jewellers again to create an on-the-go compact, with similar organic shaped detailing that proved popular with the earrings. Shop here.

Number 7 sees another hand cream launch – a category that’s had a bit of a fashionable overhaul in recent years. The latest comes from Drunk Elephant with its Therabu Buttered Reparative Hand Cream. It’s nourishing and moisturising, absorbs quickly and includes oat extract too so good for calming. And it all comes in the usual cute but practical Drunk packaging. Get yours here.

It’s all about going to C at Number 8, vitamin C that is, with Tatcha’s new Brightening skincare collection which includes a serum and eye cream. They both contain a time release of vitamin C to help avoid any potential irritation from the active ingredient as well as Japanese plum (also rich in vit C). The serum is super light in texture, almost like water. And, allow a personal note here, after a couple of weeks of use even good friends have done a double take and asked what I’ve been doing to make my skin look so good. Definitely one for a repeat purchase recommendation. Pick up yours here.

Pucker up, buttercups, it’s a remix at Number 9 – well more of an extension but work with us here – as Hourglass offers us more shades of its very perfect, just the right amount of glossy and nourishing as it goes, refillable Phantom Volumising Glossy Balm. Enter three new pearlescent hues – Wander, Invite, Secret – that deliver an extra luminous effect. But also, drumroll please, there’s now a Red0 shade which uses Hourglass’s ground-breaking vegan red pigment (so no need for carmine) so you can dress up your lips in good conscience. Get yours here.

And at Number 10 we have another fragrance, Loewe’s Solo Elixir. We wouldn’t normally double dip into the same category in one chart rundown but with it being the month that brings us Valentine’s it seems a good time to give more olfactory options for a bit of mood setting. This is a higher octane version of the original Solo with jasmine, lavender, mandarin, orris and patchouli – plus the Loewe accord of Spanish Rockrose wildflower. It’s evocative, enticing, embracing and calls to mind brilliant sunsets in warm climes and a sense of contented joy. Shop the fragrance here.