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If 2025 was the year of skin barrier everything, 2026 is already shaping up to be about neurocosmetics, longevity-focused formulas and everyday wellness upgrades.
As a beauty journalist, I have the joy of being able to get acquainted with a number of new launches ahead of their release. Throughout January, I’ve been slowly making my way through some products that landed at the tail end of last year, alongside the first wave of new makeup, skincare and wellness drops of 2026 – and it’s been an impressively strong start.
This month, we’ve got a couple of new cleansers to add to the rotation, one of my favourite cosy fragrances released in a luxurious body oil format, a cult-loved powder now available in pressed, and a selection of serums and spot treatments that have genuinely impressed. And if you’d told me a year – or even a week – ago that I’d be testing, enjoying and recommending an electrolyte powder, I’d have laughed. But here we are.
Here’s what’s been on my face, body and bathroom shelf this January:
Lush Honey, Beeswax & Almond Oil Cleanser – £17
Lush expanded its iconic cleansing balm offering at the end of December, and if you know Ultrabland, you’ll know why this is good news for skincare fans. Selling over 100,000 pots a year and inspired by a nearly 2,000-year-old ‘cold cream’ recipe from Ancient Greek physician Galen, Ultrabland has long been beloved for sensitive skin and barrier-friendly cleansing.
The new range takes that trusted base and tailors it to specific skin needs – all with natural ingredients and no synthetic preservatives. I’ve been using the ultra-hydrating Honey, Beeswax & Almond Oil Cleanser, and it’s exactly what you want when your skin feels dry, tight or over-treated. There’s also a new ultra-gentle Oat Cleansing Balm and an ultra-clarifying Acai & Sacha Inchi Vitamin E Cleanser as part of the new lineup.
While it’s perfectly capable of removing makeup, I’ve found myself reaching for it most mornings to gently cleanse and comfort skin at the start of the day. Housed in a chic glass pot that feels both sustainable and shelf-worthy, it’s ideal for dry to very dry complexions – particularly while winter weather continues to wreak havoc.
Sol de Janeiro Rosa Charmosa Dewy Cream & Cheirosa 91 Mist – £48/£24
Another late-2025 launch that’s primed to truly shine as the weather warms is Sol de Janeiro’s newest fragrance. Cheirosa 91 blends rose with passionfruit, honey caramel and cashmere woods, creating a feel-good, uplifting scent that manages to be comforting without tipping into sickly sweetness. At £24, the mist is ideal for gym bags, holidays and top-ups on the go.
For a more intense, longer-lasting scent, the fragrance mist can be layered on top of the new Rosa Charmosa Dewy Cream (£48). Powered by Crystal Peptide, Brazilian Yacón Essence and rosewater, it’s a lightweight, water-whipped body cream that promises long-lasting hydration. It sinks in fast but leaves skin visibly luminous and silky, without stickiness.
Dr Sam’s Flawless Neutralising Gel Roller – £42
I’ve long been a fan of Dr Sam Bunting’s Flawless Neutralising Gel, with the cult original formula (which took four years and 39 iterations to perfect) being a staple in my emergency spot treatment stash. But this new roller format takes that effective treatment and upgrades the delivery. Instead of treating spots one by one, which admittedly, is what I’ve always done previously, this roller encourages zone-based prevention for jawlines, foreheads, backs and chests.
After a particularly stressful start to the month getting my new house keys, breakouts felt inevitable, but consistent daily use saw my skin noticeably clear within a week. The formula combines 5% azelaic acid and 2% salicylic acid to calm redness and unclog pores, alongside 0.5% bakuchiol to reduce post-blemish marks and 5% squalane for lightweight hydration.
The roller is hygienic, mess-free and applies an even layer with ease, though it can pill slightly – I’ve found it works best applied just before bed and left to work overnight.
Medik8 Niacinamide Peptides – £49
Medik8 kicked off the year strong with Niacinamide Peptides, which is a high-performance serum designed to visibly refine pores, calm congestion and deliver a smooth, glass-like glow in as little as one week.
Featuring a gentle yet effective 10% niacinamide complex, it works equally well on oily, blemish-prone skin as it does on more balanced types. Supporting ingredients include 3% Crystalide peptide for radiance, N-Acetyl Glucosamine for gentle resurfacing, 1% zinc to regulate oil production and hyaluronic acid for hydration.
I was initially hesitant about this formula replacing the now-retired Clarity Peptides, but after ten days of use, any reservations quickly disappeared. My skin felt smoother, more even and noticeably calmer, with reduced redness and fewer blemishes – and makeup applied better as a result.
Huda Beauty Easy Bake Pressed Powder – £32
Sometimes a beauty launch just makes sense – and this is one of them. Huda Beauty has become renowned for their Easy Bake Loose Powder (and for good reason), so releasing a pressed version of the iconic loose powder we all know and love? A smart move.
The Easy Bake Pressed Powder is compact, lightweight and contains a mirror making it perfect for topping up on the go. It comes in eight shades for various undertones and can be applied with a fluffy brush for a lighter touch, or a powder puff for more coverage
Rice starch absorbs excess oil while blurring and locking makeup in place for up to 12 hours, and the finely milled formula allows for layering without caking. The result is a soft-focus, matte finish that never feels heavy.
Phlur Vanilla Skin Body Oil – £45
One of my favourite fragrances is now in body oil form, and I haven’t gone a day without slathering it on. I make no secret of Phlur being one of my go-to perfume brands, with Vanilla Skin being among the cosiest and most addictive.
I already knew I was a fan of their body oils having been a long-time fan of the Missing Person version, but this musky, earthy vanilla number is simply divine. The £45 firmly places it in luxury territory, but one I wholeheartedly recommend indulging in. Nothing elevates your daily routine like it.
Packed with biomimetic lipids, ceramides and natural floral oils to deeply hydrate, soften and strengthen the skin barrier, it leaves arms and legs glossy but never greasy. Layered with the Vanilla Skin perfume, it increases the longevity and intensity of the scent, which I think lends itself wonderfully to the winter season.
Aromatherapy Associates Support Breathe Shower Mist – £38
With my new house not having a bath I’m officially in my shower ritual era – and this mist has quickly become a non-negotiable. Aromatherapy Associates are best known for their spa-like bath and shower formulas, with this new Support Breathe Shower Mist being an essential oil blend that turns your average shower into a spa-like aromatherapy experience.
Two to three sprays of the steam-activated formula into hot running water delivers a burst of eucalyptus which opens up the airways (ideal for cough and cold season), relaxing lavender, and peppermint, promoting deep, relaxing breaths while you shower, be it to wake up in the morning, or wind down before bed.
Paula’s Choice CellularYouth Longevity Serum – £65
There are few skincare products that claim to play the long game, with many offering short term results. But Paula’s Choice has recently released a breakthrough serum designed to future-proof your skin, working to visibly firm, smooth and refine over time.
Developed over five years of research, instead of being a quick-fix anti-ageing reversal, CellularYouth Longevity Serum focuses on longevity, slowing visible ageing at the source by supporting cellular energy.
Powered by NAD⁺-supporting sunflower sprout extract, phyto-exosomes, taurine and peptides, testers saw visibly smoother, firmer, and tighter skin in just eight weeks. While I’ve not noticed any visible changes using the serum, I did notice the skin on my forehead in particular feeling slightly tighter. The texture is also lightweight, layers well with other skincare products and slots effortlessly into evening skincare routines.
Elemis Pro-Collagen Hydrating Cleansing Mousse – £48
Some beauty launches that piggyback off the success of bestsellers can feel a bit unnecessary, and I feared that would be the case with this new Elemis Pro-Collagen Hydrating Cleansing Mousse – but I was dead wrong.
The Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm is one of those cleansers I repeatedly return to for its exceptional ability to melt makeup, nourish skin and stunning spa-like scent. I’d easily put it in my top five – and now, it’s cloud-like sister is right up there with it.
Clinically proven to increase hydration by 125% after one use, this transformative cream-to-mousse formula deeply cleanses,removes makeup and SPF effortlessly, and leaves skin feeling soft, comfortable and refreshed. It retains that iconic signature blend of nine essential oils which makes cleansing feel like such a treat.
Suitable for all skin types including dry skin, this cleansing mousse works well as a daily single cleanse or as the perfect partner to Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm for the ultimate double cleanse routine. Truly, I didn’t know I needed this but now fear I can never be without it.
Wellthy by Boots Daily Hydration+ Electrolyte Powder – £7
I have never found an electrolyte formula I genuinely liked until Wellthy. Usually, water-soluble powders turn bottles of water thick, claggy and salty and it actually makes me heave – but for the first time, I actually enjoyed the taste and reaped the benefits of a nutrient-packed hydration boost thanks to the health and beauty retailer’s new launch.
The high street favourite launched Wellthy in January with four varieties to choose from: Radiant Skin, Rest and Restore, Energy and Focus, and Immune Support. I’ve been adding the Radiant Skin sachets to my morning bottle of water, and it has seriously surprised me.
The Sour Cherry & Pomegranate Electrolyte Powder not only tastes delicious, but doesn’t change the viscosity of the water, which is a game-changer for me, encouraging me to drink more water throughout the day. It’s also packed with collagen, hyaluronic acid, vitamin c, biotin and minerals to support healthy skin, hair and nails.
In the past, electrolytes have been something I’ve reluctantly consumed after a bout of sickness, but now I actually look forward to my daily dose and have found I’m not experiencing that 3pm slump I was constantly battling with at the start of the year.
The Inkey List Retinoids (Starter & Advanced) – £12/£15
Retinoids remain the gold standard when it comes to tackling fine lines, uneven texture and loss of firmness – but for many, price, irritation and confusion around strength still act as major barriers. The Inkey List’s latest launches aim at making high-performance vitamin A genuinely accessible.
The Starter Retinol Serum has been formulated specifically for those new to retinoids or prone to sensitivity. Using 0.01% retinal (retinaldehyde), it offers faster results than traditional retinol while remaining impressively gentle, working to target fine lines, uneven tone and texture.
For those who are looking for something stronger, the Advanced Retinal Serum delivers faster cell turnover and visible wrinkle reduction, while still remaining gentle enough for daily use. It features 0.2% Encapsulated Retinal which stimulates cell turnover 11× faster than standard retinol, delivering deeper renewal to target more advanced signs of ageing. For comparison, that’s the same concentration as the Medik8 Crystal Retinal 20 which retails at £99 (though the latter contains more raw ingredients and uses more expensive encapsulation tech).
The Starter Retinol Serum costs £12 for a 30ml pump-action dispenser, while the Advanced formula is £15 for a 15ml squeezy tube. Both serums are fragrance-free, lightweight and designed to fit seamlessly into evening routines, reinforcing the brand’s reputation for no-nonsense, ingredient-led skincare.
If this is how the year is starting, I can’t wait to see what else is on the menu for 2026.
