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6 beauty essentials for autumn
With temperatures dropping, harsh weather and the heating turned up high, skin and hair can start looking dull and fragile. Our beauty experts have picked out the best products to help you maintain your glow...
Although we love autumn's cosy clothes, golden leaves and log fires, it's not great for skin and hair. The colder weather calls for more intensive products than you might use in summer.
From our winning volumising shampoo and conditioner to keep hair looking thick and glossy, to the best hand cream for dry hands and our most effective brightening face mask, our experts have picked out 6 top scoring beauty products from the hundreds tested to help you revamp your beauty routine.
Best volumising shampoo and conditioner
Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce Shampoo and Conditioner
Score: 82/100
The majority of our consumer testers were thrilled with this combo and had nothing they disliked about the products. The duo also performed the best in our laboratory test, adding volume to hair strands.
BUY NOW Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce Shampoo, £5.99
BUY NOW Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce Conditioner, £5.99
Best moisturising night cream
Merumaya Overnight Recharge™ Night Cream
Score: 85/100
This night cream scored a high 8/10 in our lab test, deceasing the wrinkle count after 28 days. Testers also agreed it was a high performer, with over 90% commenting on how moisturising it was without any sticky or greasy residue. 83% of testers noticed a visible difference in the skin after using the product for the test period.
BUY NOW £37
Best hand cream
Roger & Gallet Bienfaits Hand and Nail Balm
Score: 92/100
The was a great all round performer for providing hydration in our lab test and in our consumer test. It has a fresh scent that most testers loved. "Lovely smell, texture - easy to apply - no greasy feeling after using the cream." praised one. Some would have preferred a larger size tube, as at 30ml it was smaller than others we tested, although a little goes a long way.
BUY NOW £6.50
Best anti-ageing lip treatment
Fresh Sugar Advanced Serum Lip Therapy
Score: 82/100
This was our joint winner for the category. Our testers loved its rich texture and instant effects. 'It feels very rich, intense and smooth on application,' raved one consumer tester. 'It was lovely and moist, had a delightful delicate scent and was very easy to use. I loved it,' praised another. Some noticed a diminished appearance in the lines around the lips, and a fuller appearance. It was highly rated for being moisturising by many. It was felt to be "a bit sticky" for one tester, and another was not so keen on the taste. This is a great product for the price point.
BUY NOW £29.50
Best facial tanner
James Read Sleep Mask Face Gradual Tan Gel
Score: 90/100
Our testers agreed that the texture of the tan was light and skin felt moisturised after use. Over 80% said that their skin tone was visibly more tanned after initial use and the shade gradually developed throughout the week. The tan absorbed well into the skin and did not leave a sticky or oily residue and was not streaky/patchy on initial use. 80% of our testers said they would continue to use it.
BUY NOW £25
Best brightening face mask
Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask
Score: 89/100
The Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask is the perfect solution for those on a tight schedule. It requires no more than two minutes to work its magic and it left testers thoroughly impressed. They commented on how light the texture was and how soft it left the skin feeling, however some testers found the tingling sensation took a little getting used to.
BUY NOW £17.50
A keen cosmetic scientist with a passion for colour cosmetics, skincare and haircare; who loves testing all things new, classic and on trend in the beauty industry!
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