Summer is – sadly – coming to a close, so I’ve been squeezing every last bit of sunshine, SPF, setting spray and summer scents out of the month. As a beauty journalist, it’s my job to put some of the latest products through their paces, and August has been one of those months where launches have been elbowing one another out of the way for a slot in my bathroom cabinet.
From SPF-boosted and tinted moisturisers, to glow-boosting complexion products, August has been all about getting as much mileage out of my summer beauty routine as possible. There have also been a few launches that have been particularly handy for dealing with the less glamorous side of summer – think heat, humidity, frizz and makeup that refuses to stay put – alongside two new Sol de Janeiro fragrances that smell like a holiday in a bottle.
Here are the new beauty products I’ve been trying this month, and the ones I’ll be keeping in my routine for as long as the sunshine sticks around.
MCoBeauty All Dayer Setting Spray – £15
If you were a fan of Urban Decay’s original All Nighter setting spray – gather around, because this is possibly one of the most intriguing launches of 2026. The OG formula was created by Skindinavia, but last year Urban Decay cut ties with the company, which meant they had to reformulate – understandably, fans were devastated.
Now, affordable beauty brand MCoBeauty has teamed up with Skindinavia to launch All Dayer, using the exact patented formula that was behind the iconic product. It’s effectively the same formula, bottle and spray, but with a new name and at a much more budget-friendly £15 price point.
One of the reasons the original was so well loved was because of its fine mist that feels weightless and doesn’t drench the skin. Starring cooling technology, the setting spray is perfect for summer when our makeup is battling heat, sweat and humidity. What’s more is that it promises to keep glam locked in place for up to 16 hours – and it delivers on that promise.
If you’ve been mourning the loss of the OG All Nighter from Urban Decay, then MCoBeauty’s All Dayer is well worth snapping up. The brand are quickly making a name for themselves for their uncanny dupes, but this setting spray takes it to the next level.
Origins GinZing Energy-Boosting Tinted SPF40 Moisturiser – £38
I love a multifunctional product that can do several jobs at once, and this Origins launch is basically designed for those mornings when you want your skincare, SPF and complexion makeup sorted in one step.
The GinZing Energy-Boosting Tinted SPF40 Moisturiser combines hydration and sun protection with a sheer tint, while coffee beans and Panax ginseng are included in the formula to give skin a more energised, radiant appearance.
Available in four shades, it delivers a your-skin-but-more-even finish rather than something I’d reach for when I want any real coverage. It gives my complexion a healthy finish and takes the edge off redness and unevenness without looking like I’m wearing a full face.
I particularly like it on days when I want to look a bit more put together but don’t want to bother with foundation, making it a great option for low-maintenance makeup days when you want your skin to look fresher and more even while still keeping your SPF front and centre.
Isle of Paradise Sunny Serum in Champagne – £16
As a pale girl, all too often I find that any tanning or temporary bronzing products can lean orange or muddy on my skin. So it’s safe to say that Isle of Paradise’s new Champagne shade of their popular Sunny Serum quickly caught my attention.
Unlike a traditional self-tan, this is a wash-off bronzing serum, meaning you can apply it when you want some colour and simply rinse it away at the end of the day. The new Champagne shade gives a golden, luminous finish that adds just enough warmth without leaning too dark.
It’s really versatile too, as it can be worn alone, mixed with skincare or foundation, or used strategically as a liquid highlighter. Personally, I’ve been using it in place of an illuminating primer and enjoying it on days when my skin looks a little dull and I want to fake that just got back from holiday look.
Formulated with brightening niacinamide and hydrating squalane, this liquid bronzer instantly boosts radiance while improving skin tone and texture. Lightweight, buildable and effortlessly blendable, it’s basically summer glow in a bottle without the sun damage or fake tanning commitment.
Liz Earle Skin Repair SPF50 Multi-Defence Moisturiser – £28
SPF-focused formulas are something I will never get bored of trying, and Liz Earle’s new Skin Repair SPF50 Multi-Defence Moisturiser has been a welcome addition to my summer routine.
The brand’s highest-ever rated SPF protection product, the lightweight moisturiser provides broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection while also being designed to support the skin barrier. It contains edelweiss, buddleia and echinacea alongside plant-based hyaluronic acid and is scientifically proven to strengthen the moisture barrier by 30%.
I have still been treating this as a secondary ‘bonus’ SPF as opposed to a primary sun care product, but I’m very much of the opinion that you can’t really overdo your UV protection. Because it’s really lightweight, it layers well with other sunscreen and skincare products, and it works nicely underneath makeup too. Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive, my skin feels soft and plumped after using it. I can see this being a real staple over the coming months.
Percy & Reed Wonder Oil Elixir Drops – £34
August and my hair have not exactly been best friends. Trying to make my colour-treated hair behave in the heat and humidity has been something of a challenge, so I was very happy to put Percy & Reed’s new Wonder Oil Elixir Drops to the test.
Designed as a multi-tasker, promising shine, hydration, repair and frizz and humidity control, it can be used as a pre-wash treatment on straighter hair or after washing on wavier and curlier hair. As someone with type 1 tresses, I’ve been using a small amount through my mid-lengths and ends before showering and noticed a real difference in the glossiness of my hair, with the brand reporting it offers up to 183% more shine instantly and 72-hour frizz control and humidity.
I’m also a fan of how little product you need. With hair oils, I think there’s always a risk of applying too much and ending up with greasy-looking lengths, but a few drops are enough to smooth everything down and leave it feeling silky. Overall, it’s a brilliant finishing product if you want smoother, shinier-looking hair without sacrificing movement. A little really does go a long way.
Living Proof Sheer Clean Dry Shampoo Mist – £27
I’ve tried plenty of dry shampoos over the years, and Living Proof’s Perfect Hair Day is among the best, which is why it sells one every 10 seconds globally. But the brand’s new Sheer Clean Dry Shampoo Mist ditches the traditional aerosol format for a micellar bi-phase cleansing system and it’s seriously blown me away.
When hair is feeling oily, it might feel somewhat counterproductive to add liquid. Spritzing the Sheer Clean Dry Shampoo Mist onto the roots lightly mists the hair with product, and I’ll admit, the first time I used it, I was a little worried. However, after walking away and returning to the mirror five minutes later, as if by magic, my roots were completely dry, oil free and ready to roll.
The dual action cleansing system targets oil in two ways, first by breaking down and then absorbing the oil. It delivers a weightless finish, is 100% invisible on hair, leaving a subtly textured feeling at the root which helps avoid hair sticking to the scalp. It’s probably the best my hair has ever felt post dry-shampoo, with even day three holiday hair being photo-ready. It also leaves my hair feeling noticeably fresher without that tell-tale dry shampoo look, with a citrus, green tea, nutmeg and neroli scent that helps reduce odour.
Sol de Janeiro Leite Néctar and Cafe Leite Perfume Mists – £25
Landing on my desk just in time to take on holiday were Sol de Janeiro’s limited-edition Leite Néctar and Café Leite Perfume Mists, both of which are £25 each. The former is inspired by Brazilian pavê de pêssego, essentially a creamy peach dessert, and it smells every bit as delicious as that description suggests.
It opens with juicy peach and nectarine before becoming creamier with coconut milk and peony, finishing with sweet cream, tonka bean and vanilla. As someone who is a big fan of gourmand scents, this is a very easy summer fragrance to wear. It’s fruity and sweet without feeling too sharp, with that creamy quality that makes it feel very Sol de Janeiro.
By comparison Leite Café is the equivalent of enjoying a sweetened coffee in a Brazilian café. This one combines lychee sorbet and coconut milk with a latte accord, jasmine, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla foam. As a non-coffee drinker, I’m less keen on this one but I can see why a lot of people would love it, especially as we head into the ‘-ber’ months.
And that’s another month of beauty testing done. My bathroom cabinet may be getting increasingly crowded, but at least I’ve found a few products that I’ll be keeping in rotation.
