With hundreds of thousands of beauty content creators in the world these days, it’s tough to keep up with the latest viral trends. There’s always a new technique or product which has people raving, and even if you can manage to keep up with what people are talking about, knowing whether or not you can trust that it’s good is another thing altogether.
Brands spend millions every year to ensure their products are in the hands of the world’s biggest influencers, and while it would be nice to think that they always speak the truth, we know that’s not always the case.
With that in mind, this week, I’d like to tell you about some viral products that I think are worth getting.
Byoma Milky Toner
1. Byoma Milky Toner (£11.99) — This product went viral as a budget-friendly alternative to Rhode’s Glazing Milk (£32) and, honestly, they are very similar. These lipid-rich fluids both quench the skin and boost the skin barrier beautifully, and can be mixed with foundation to create a home-made skin tint.
Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Colour Correcting Treatment
2. Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Colour Correcting Treatment (from £19.50) — This cream changes from green to beige upon application to the skin, balancing its tone and filtering out redness. Aside from the aesthetics, soothing probiotic and humectant ingredients calm the skin and make sure it’s moisturised. This looks great on its own on a light make-up day, or as a primer for foundation.
Maybelline Sky High Mascara
3. Maybelline Sky High Mascara (£12.99) — Maybelline makes mascara which performs just as well as its high-end counterparts, and this one immediately made well-deserved internet waves when it launched. It delivers length and volume which doesn’t clump or transfer — what more could you want?
e.l.f.’s Halo Glow Powder Puff
4. Triangular Powder Puffs — These velvety triangles became every TikTok girly’s go-to method of powdering a couple of years ago, and the hype was justified. They make it easy to apply loose powder to targeted areas of the face, especially under the eyes, without powder going everywhere. The brand here isn’t important, but e.l.f.’s Halo Glow Powder Puff (£4) is a solid option.
Colour Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray
5. Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray (from £12.50) — This spray is ideal for people with hair prone to frizz as it delivers a moisture-repellant veil over the hair which provides a defence against humidity. It really works to extend your style, but you need to thoroughly coat the hair and activate the product with heat (a blow-dry will do it) for it to work.
COSRX Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence Gel
6. COSRX Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence Gel (£24.99) — I didn’t expect to like this, but this serum-like gel made my skin feel more hydrated than almost any other product I’ve ever used. The magic lies in snail secretion filtrate, which helps to protect the skin from moisture loss. I know, snail secretion isn’t the most pleasant ingredient, but if you can get past that, you’ll love this.
Lost in translation
Despite my years working in beauty, it was only relatively recently that I finally figured out what toning actually means in skincare. Essentially, toner is used to assist with balancing the skin’s PH level after cleansing (the skin’s normal PH level is around 5.5 but water has a PH of 7 and usually toners’ PH levels sit between 5 and 6), and thus ensuring it’s healthy and at peace, or to add an additional ingredient into your skincare routine. Are they essential? No. But if your skin is prone to irritation, a calming toner might help.
Something old…
Chanel’s Baume Essentiel Multi-Use Glow Stick
Glass skin is a phrase which has been bandied about the beauty world for years now and, essentially, it means skin which looks totally clear and luminous — like a piece of glass. Totally clear skin is virtually impossible to achieve, if not literally impossible, but glass-like shine is manageable. One of my favourite products to achieve a glossy, healthy glow is Chanel’s Baume Essentiel Multi-Use Glow Stick (£38). Available in six shades, this moisturising balm highlights beautifully and adds beautiful sheen wherever you want it. I like to apply a little to my cheekbones, brow bone, bridge of the nose and cupid’s bow. While the shade Transparent delivers literal transparency, the shimmer in each of the other shades is so fine that it never looks sparkly, just glossy and hydrated. Chanel products are not inexpensive, but they’re so beautifully packaged they somehow feel like an accessory as well as something for your make-up bag.
… Something new
L’Oreal Lumi Le Glass Stick
L’Oréal Paris has had a great run of launches over the last few years — its True Match Nude Plumping Tinted Serum is one of my favourite budget foundations, while Lumi Glotion is a beautiful, glow-enhancing product to apply under make-up. Now, it has launched the Lumi Le Glass Stick (£12), a highlighting stick which delivers a wet-look, glazed finish consistent with, yes, glass skin. It is available in two shades: Pearl Eclat (a ‘translucent nude ivory’), and Pink Ballet (a ‘translucent rosewood pink’). Both are gorgeous. Thanks to the translucent base of these products, they should compliment most skin tones and are incredibly easy to use because they melt into the skin so easily. Apply to the face on the cheekbones or anywhere else you want to glow, or the body. This would look beautiful on the collarbones or shoulders.