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Summer has arrived and brought with it a wave of new heatwave-ready beauty launches. Brands have absolutely knocked it out of the park this June, with some seriously standout releases that I’ve genuinely incorporated into my daily routine.
I’ve been sharing these new in beauty round ups for six months now, and this is by far the most varied, ranging from makeup and skincare to perfume and home fragrance and body care. Formulas are feeling suitably seasonal, too, with lots of SPF launches set to keep skin protected, as well as a milky tan toner.
As temperatures rise, we need makeup that can stand up to the heat, and I’ve discovered a stunning bronzer and blush duo, lip liner stains that don’t budge, and a mascara that has knocked my favourite from the top spot. Add to that some dreamy bath and body lotions, a fresh and uplifting candle and a niche musk scent perfect for balmy evenings and it’s easy to see how I’ve had quite the task on my hands keeping up with this month’s new releases.
But without further ado, these are the 19 products I tried in June and my honest view on each one.
Merit Clean Lash Mascara in brown
This was probably the launch I’ve been most excited about this month. I’ve been wearing Merit Clean Lash Mascara almost exclusively for the past year because it’s one of the few formulas that doesn’t smudge or transfer on me, even after a full day. But there was just one problem – it didn’t come in brown. Until now.
I’ve had my hands on it for a few weeks now and it’s immediately become my everyday mascara, overtaking the black version as my number one. The formula does a great job at defining my lashes but the shade is just that little bit softer than black, making it ideal for everyday makeup or anyone with a fair complexion.
Infused with fatty acids to maintain condition, the tubing formula still gives beautifully separated, feathery lashes and removes effortlessly with warm water. If you’ve been waiting for a luxe brown mascara that actually performs, this is it and it’s absolutely been worth the wait.
Read more: Meet Merit – the minimalist beauty brand quietly taking over my makeup bag
No7 Peptide Glow Lip Gloss Balms
Peptide lip products aren’t going anywhere, and No7 has entered the category with its new Peptide Glow Lip Gloss Balms. The formula sits somewhere between a balm and a gloss, giving lips a juicy shine without feeling sticky.
Available in six shades such as Pink Frosting, Candied Cherry and Cinnamon Sugar, they leave behind a sheer wash of colour while also delivering hydration thanks to the tripeptide complex. As well as their sweet treat inspired names, they’ve got a gorgeous scent that makes them a delight to use.
I’ve found myself reaching for these constantly because they’re effortless to throw on without needing a mirror, and my lips genuinely feel softer after using.
Refy’s Water Blush and Bronzer
Refy is among my favourite beauty brands, with much of my makeup bag consisting of their skin-first formulas. Their new water blush and bronzer are the latest to join the line up, and they couldn’t be better suited to warm weather.
Housed in a Korean-inspired cushion packaging, they both have an incredibly lightweight, sheer finish that melts into skin rather than sitting on top of it. The bronzer offers a dewy, sunkissed glow to the skin without being streaky or patchy, while the hydrating blush adds a stunning flush of colour to the cheeks.
The bronzer comes in five shades (I wear cove), while the blush comes in three for now (I wear lychee). The result is healthy-looking skin rather than obvious makeup, making them ideal for anyone who wants that ‘no makeup’ makeup look. One of my top tips is to use the bronzer and a stippled brush to create really natural-looking faux freckles.
Read more: Six REFY beauty products you need to add to your makeup bag immediately
Marc Jacobs Beauty Joystick Blush
The relaunch of Marc Jacobs Beauty has been one of the biggest beauty stories of the year, bringing a healthy dose of dopamine to makeup routines with its playful packaging and bold colours.
The Joystick Blush is a multi-use lip and cheek balm that delivers a buildable, hydrating flush of colour. Coming in 10 shades, I have the hot pink Pink Kink – though if I were to be choosing for myself, I’d probably gravitate towards something like Shady Business.
Powered by daisy oil and hyaluronic acid, the creamy balm blends beautifully and feels hydrating throughout the day. Made to withstand heat, humidity, and sweat, it survives summer days far better than I’d expected too. Bonus points for the adorable daisy shaped packaging.
MCoBeauty Lip Stain & Sculpt
If you’ve had your eye on Huda Beauty’s lip stains but don’t want to splurge £22 per pen, MCoBeauty’s Lip Stain and Sculpt is well worth a look. The high-impact lip stain and liner hybrid features a dual-ended felt tip applicator that makes defining and filling your lips a breeze, while the stain lasts impressively well throughout the day.
Highly pigmented, the stain dries to a matte finish but never feels dry thanks to a combination of Argan Oil, Jojoba Oil, Sunflower Oil, Aloe Vera, Ceramide NP, Panthenol and Vitamin E. They come in at a much more purse-friendly price of £9 with four shades currently to choose from.
The only downside for me is that the shades all lean slightly cooler on my complexion than I’d usually choose – but I had the same issue with the Huda liners. That said, the longevity and affordable price make them well worth considering.
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 50
Supergoop’s Unseen Sunscreen has long been a favourite, and I very much subscribe to the notion of ‘if it’s not broke, don’t fix it’. Supergoop!’s SPF40 formula was, in my opinion, already brilliant, but the updated SPF50 version has been perfected even further – with the benefit of higher protection.
It still has that invisible, primer-like finish that disappears completely into skin with absolutely no white cast, but the texture feels lighter and smoother on the skin. Dermatologically tested and non-irritating, it’s suitable for all skin types and sits beautifully under makeup. Now with higher UV protection, it’s one of my favourite SPFs for days when I know I’ll be wearing a full face.
The Organic Pharmacy UV365 Protection Ageing Defence
Organic Pharmacy has launched their new UV365 Protection Ageing Defence in both SPF30 and SPF50, and it’s one that really does deliver on its water-resistant promise. It combines mineral filters with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid to protect against UVA, UVB and blue light.
The SPF 30 formula is 84.4% natural, while the SPF 50 is made with 49.6% natural ingredients. The key ingredients in both are Non-Nano Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide, which are slightly larger mineral particles that block and deflect UVA & UVB Rays. It’s more effective due to lack of dermal absorption, but as a result of this, I’ve found that when applying the recommended ‘two fingers’-worth to my face, it feels like it takes a while to apply. To me, it’s a little on the chalky side than I’d like for a £30 formula, but it does smell incredible.
Rituals The Ritual of Karma Sun Protection Stick SPF 50
Sun sticks are becoming increasingly popular for topping up protection throughout the day, and Rituals’ new Karma Sun Protection Stick is one of the nicest I’ve tried. It glides onto skin without disturbing makeup, leaves no greasy residue and is compact enough to keep in your handbag all summer.
The smooth, lightweight formula leaves a natural matte finish, enriched with Hydra-Boost Complex – a mix of aloe vera, algae and squalane – complete with an uplifting scent of white tea and lotus flower. It’s exactly the kind of product that makes reapplying SPF less of a chore and more of a ritual – if you’ll pardon the pun.
Maison Crivelli Musc Nurasana Extrait de Parfum
I was very fortunate to become acquainted with niche perfume house Maison Crivelli at a Selfridges event in June and their newest launch – Musc Nurasana – is a beautiful example of a modern musk. Inspired by Thibaud Crivelli’s experience of stretching on a terrace at first light, it features fresh bergamot with soft rose and incense, settling into a base of musks that lingers beautifully on the skin throughout the day.
It wears quite close, which I’ve been enjoying with perfumes like Merit Retrospect and Phlur Vanilla Skin, but something about this one feels that little bit more elevated for evening wear. Or perhaps that’s just the £205 price tag making me want to save it for special occasions.
Floral Street Sunflower Pop Perfume Mist
Floral Street is a prominent name in my fragrance wardrobe, with scents like Arizona Bloom and Wonderland Peony featuring as regular favorites. After introducing more budget-friendly and lightweight perfume mists last year, the brand has continued to adapt its most iconic aromas into this format, with the vibrant Sunflower Pop being the most recent addition.
Inspired by Van Gogh’s Sunflowers painting, it’s packed with juicy citrus, bergamot and a sparkling bellini accord. As such, it’s bright, joyful and exactly what I want to wear on hot days. I also love that it includes skin-loving ingredients like upcycled rose water, boasting hydrating and antioxidant properties, while sandalwood oil calms and soothes inflamed skin.
James Read Golden Days Milky Tan Toner
This first-to-market Milky Tan Toner has been one of the most interesting launches I’ve tested this month. I’m not much of a tanner, but do enjoy using the odd gradual tanner or bronzing drops in the summer months to give myself some glow.
Inspired by Korean skincare, this new product is part milky toner, part tanner. It stars Centella PDRN, Liquorice Root and Primalhyal Hydral, which work to hydrate the skin, calm redness and gradually develop into an incredibly natural glow over several days. There’s none of the patchiness often associated with facial tanning products, making it ideal if you want healthy-looking skin with very little effort.
I already love the brand’s Sunblush Hydrating Tan Mist, which is an alcohol-free, buildable tanning mist infused with rose water, hyaluronic acid, and aloe vera. As such, I don’t find the Golden Days Milky Tan Toner too different beyond the ingredients and its placement in a routine. It’s a gorgeous product, but for those who are already loyal to a tanning mist, it may feel a little too similar.
Neom’s Great Day travel candle
There are few simpler pleasures than the first burn of a new candle, and NEOM’s latest Great Day fragrance is the epitome of a summer scent. Starring wild mint and mandarin, it’s one of the freshest candles I’ve burned this year.
Clean, citrusy and uplifting without being overpowering, it’s got a crisp, zesty feel that lends itself wonderfully to summer mornings. Housed in a pink and orange striped vessel, it looks pretty on the shelf and is designed to help you feel refreshed, revitalised and ready to take on the day – and it does exactly that.
Aromatherapy Associates Desert Therapy range
I can’t get enough of the new Desert Therapy collection from Aromatherapy Associates. The range boasts a combination of frankincense, sandalwood and oud for a warm, woody and slightly exotic scent that’s perfect for winding down after a busy day.
Among the products from the line are a Desert Therapy Body Oil, Bath & Shower Oil and a Pure Essential Oil, which allows you to take the scent through your entire routine, from the shower to home fragrance.
The Desert Therapy Body Oil is arguably my favourite, starring coconut, jojoba and peach kernel oils to soften the skin while keeping it hydrated in the warmer weather. The formula leaves skin incredibly soft without feeling greasy, and it just feels like such an indulgent little ritual that romanticises life’s little everyday moments.
Sanctuary Spa mousse-to-oil moisturiser
Texture has been a big focus in the beauty industry of late – especially transforming formulas that offer a sensorial experience. One product leaning into that particular trend is %
formulated with coconut oil and cocoa butter to intensely moisturise, it dispenses as an airy mousse, but once massaged into the skin it transforms into a lightweight oil that sinks into skin immediately. It feels nourishing yet doesn’t feel heavy and doesn’t run the risk of leaking like some alternatives, making it a great option to travel with.
Suitable for all skin types, it’s made with 9-% ingredients of natural origin, making it a universally popular choice. Golden Sandalwood – the fragrance I opted for – features notes of black pepper, freesia and sandalwood for a scent that is warm, cosy and feels far more premium than its price tag suggests.
Sol de Janeiro Body Badalada lotions
Sol de Janeiro may be famed for their body mists and bum bum cream, but the Brazilian-inspired brand has launched new Body Badalada lotions that have fast become non-negotiables in my routine.
There’s the pink Cheirosa ’48 version and a yellow Sol de Janeiro Body Badalada ’62 Vitamin Infused Body Lotion, both offering a different experience, both in scent and texture. The Cheirosa ’48 is an ultra-light water-gel formula with notes of guava, orchid and pink musk, which feels especially fresh for summer. Enriched with multi-glycerin to maintain moisture levels, it also contains star fruit to smooth the appearance of fine lines, and antioxidant-rich guava.
Meanwhile, the vitamin-infused alternative features the iconic ’62 fragrance, which is as deliciously gourmand and holiday-ready as ever. It’s thicker in texture but still not heavy, absorbing quickly without feeling sticky and is said to leave skin looking firmer. It stars vitamin E-rich Brazil nut oil and vitamin K-rich cactus pear extract, as well as hyaluronic acid and glycerin to lock in moisture. Plus both lotions layer beautifully with the matching fragrance mists.
