October’s Best Beauty Launches

Thirteen years in, and Huda Beauty is only now launching its first powder bronzer? We had to double-check. But it’s true, and it’s a winner. Available in five colourways, the new Bronze Filter Palette is a four-powder compact made up of a contour, a true bronzer, a rosier sun-kissed shade, and a softly radiant melange. On lazy mornings, we swirl the lot together for all-over warmth, but when we want cheekbones, we follow Huda’s Bronze Blueprint, which layers them for a dream sculpt.

Bioderma Atoderm AD Intensive Baume

Living with eczema can feel like a full-time job of slathering on thick creams and doing everything you can not to scratch. Bioderma gets it and has spent the past decade trying to find a solution. Its research found that eczema-prone skin is missing a specific set of 15 lipids. So the brand created Atoderm AD Intensive Baume, a formula designed to replace them using what it calls LipidActive Technology. According to the brand’s own tests, adults said it soothed itching from the very first second, and their urge to scratch dropped by 88% after four weeks. Impressive, right? Oh, and it’s fragrance-free and doesn’t leave a greasy finish.

Ultra Violette Unblock Screen SPF50

Sick of sunscreens that have your T-zone shining by lunchtime? Then you’ll want to add Ultra Violette’s new Unblock Screen to your basket. It’s formulated with bemotrizinol, a newer broad-spectrum UV filter, and we can confirm it never stung our eyes — or broke us out. Bix’Activ handles shine and blurs the look of pores, while Pentavitin stops skin feeling tight. It has a whipped texture that dries matte, so it plays nicely with makeup. A note for our US readers: according to the brand, it’s the first sunscreen in the US to use bemotrizinol since the FDA approved the filter in June.

Chloé Le Nectar EDP

Chloé fragrances never disappoint, and Le Nectar, the newest member of the Chloé family, is no exception. You still get that familiar clean rose note, but this time it’s used to create a much sultrier scent. Bergamot opens up the fragrance before orange blossom quickly floods in, with neroli and rose not far behind. The dry-down is the money shot. Tonka and sandalwood, a creamy hit of cashmeran, and just enough earthy patchouli to stop it tipping into dessert. Interestingly, it’s the creation of Romain Almairac, son of Michel Almairac, the master French perfumer who co-created the original Chloé fragrance in 2008.

Obagi Clenziderm M.D. Resurfacing Multi-Acid Peel Pads

Dealing with uneven texture and congestion at the same time? Well, Obagi has a new peel pad for that. Each individually wrapped pad is soaked in glycolic, salicylic, phytic, and mandelic acids, which work at different depths to tackle dullness, rough patches, and clogged pores in one go. Flip it over and there’s a textured side for tougher spots — we found it super helpful for getting around the nose and chin. It’s early days, but our skin is already looking brighter after just a few uses. The brand says to expect maximum results after a couple of weeks, so we’ll stay committed.

Suqqu Blurring Color Blush

Suqqu’s autumn collection arrived with a little lesson in ‘raden’ — the Japanese art of inlaying slivers of iridescent shell into lacquerware. It inspired the whole edit, which is why the two new Blurring Color Blush shades shift in the light like mother-of-pearl. Yawahibiki is a classic apricot that melts into skin with a warm sheen, while Sumikazari is a cool pink paired with a white highlighter for the prettiest flush of colour.

Rhode Spotwear in Strawberry

Fun spot stickers are everywhere now, but Rhode’s are just built different. The brand’s new Spotwear in Strawberry is the first new shape since the line launched in April, and it’s cute enough that we’ve been wearing them on the regular, even out in public. Underneath the novelty is 100% hydrocolloid, which soaks up oil and shields the spot, and the brand says it helps them heal faster. When we peel ours off, spots look flatter and far less angry. They’re sweatproof and waterproof, and the matching Spot Case (sold separately) has a built-in mirror for patching up on the go.

Haus Labs The Edge Lip Shaping Pencil

Haus Labs has launched a lip pencil and, with it, a rallying call to think beyond colour matching. The Edge Lip Shaping Pencil comes in 18 shades, and even though you’ll find a close match to your own lip colour for that traditional, seamless finish, the brand advocates going a shade or two deeper to sculpt and define, or choosing something more unexpected for a bold, contrasting look. As for the formula, it glides on creamily and blends out with a fingertip, but once you’re finished, it stays exactly where you left it. Vitamin E, ceramides, and jojoba oil keep lips comfortable, too.

iS Clinical Daily Active Smoothing Toner

It’s not often a daily toner containing three acids lands on our desks. We were surprised and a little sceptical, but it’s an iS Clinical launch, so we knew to have faith. The cosmeceutical brand’s new formula balances mandelic acid, salicylic acid, and a gentle PHA complex, to smooth texture and keep oil down, with hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and panthenol to keep things comfortable. After a week of using it morning and night, our skin was visibly smoother and less congested. And the tightness we’d braced ourselves for?! It was a no-show.

Emma Lewisham Capsule Hand & Nail Crème

Hand creams are perfect for delivering a quick self-care moment with added skincare benefits. The only problem? Regular washing throughout the day seems to undo all the effort. But Emma Lewisham’s first hand cream promises to keep hands hydrated even post-wash. Vegan silk proteins and ectoin create a breathable, second-skin layer, and saccharide isomerate holds hydration in place after rinsing. By the end of day one, our hands could tell the difference. Moisture aside, there’s also niacinamide for uneven tone, plus celery seed extract to help strengthen nails over time.

Rodial The Peel 1% Micropeeling Cleanser

Tired, dull skin rarely comes with an easy fix, but Rodial’s new three-step resurfacing range — aptly called The Peel — is a start. The trio were formulated with superficial in-clinic peels in mind and, although there is always power in numbers, these products can be used solo, too. We love the 1% Micropeeling Cleanser, which blends AHAs and BHAs (salicylic acid included) to wash away the build-up sitting on the surface of your skin and get into pores to clear out congestion. Rodial says it’s gentle enough for daily use, but you’ll still need to end your routine with sunscreen.

The Ordinary HA + Asiaticoside Lip Treatment