If you’ve followed my work or read my columns over the years, you’ll know it doesn’t take fancy packaging or over-the-top marketing to sway my skincare purchasing (or recommending) decisions. I’ve spent my career testing everything from creams that contain 24k gold (yep, really) to facials that inject salmon sperm in your skin (also yep, really). But one of the products I swear by for everyone contains none of these rare materials or animal parts - it’s just a cheap, basic-ly packaged product. But it works SO WELL...

Yep, it’s a humble tub (or can) of Aquaphor.

I first discovered its brilliance during a chaotic family emergency in Florida, and last week, when a new serum left my lips cracked and sore, it was the only thing that helped. After a quick WhatsApp call with dermatologist Dr. Justine Kluk, this is how this humble ointment repaired my ‘leaky’ skin barrier.

The Walgreens Find: A Dermatologist-Recommended Staple

I was waiting in line at Walgreens just over four years ago with my mum who was visiting for her and my dad’s annual 3 month (!) stay over Christmas. She’d had a nasty fall that left her with a dislocated shoulder, a hospital stay, and a sudden diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. Yep, it was stressful.

We were waiting in the queue (or line I should say 🇺🇸) for the pharmacist to help with her painful grazes when a dermatologist - who was very handsome lol - asked us what was wrong. How lovely!

Handsome derm insisted that we should pick up a can of spray-on Aquaphor. He said it’s great for soothing open wounds and grazes like my mum had, without the need for rubbing it into skin. He also explained that it’s brilliant for healing because it has amazing antibacterial properties too. Who knew?

And it was so easy for my mum to use. It absorbed into her skin really quickly and she healed really fast! I keep a can handy all the time for emergencies now…

My Red-Alert Lip Emergency: When Skincare Goes Wrong

Then last week, my lips were really really sore. This has never happened to me before and this sudden irritation came on overnight. They were cracked, dry, looked bright pink and felt so tight and irritated. As this came on so quickly I wondered if it was because of a new Vitamin C serum that I’d tried the night before. That was all that I’d done differently.

So in the car on my way to a soccer tournament with my son, I WhatsApped my favourite dermatologist, Dr. Justine Kluk a video of what they looked like and asked for her opinion…

“The Vitamin C could cause that, either by irritating the skin directly, or acting as an aggravating factor - it might be that your lips were already on the edge, and the Vitamin C just tipped them over the threshold,” explained Dr. Kluk.

Her solution? An ‘occlusive’ product that keeps the moisture in and external irritants out.

The ‘Leaky Wall’: Dr. Justine Kluk on Skin Barrier Repair

“If you think of irritated skin as a leaky wall, it lets moisture out much more easily, so the area gets dry. But it also lets things that you apply to the skin penetrate more easily - like toothpaste or skincare ingredients - which then irritates the skin further.”

Thanks as always Dr. Kluk!

So when I got home, I ditched the Vitamin C, and I reached for some Aquaphor!

But this time it was the ointment version which has a texture like Vaseline. I knew it would help but I didn’t realize how quickly it would get my lips on the mend. Literally less than 48 hours later they were soft again and not one bit sore.

Why Aquaphor Remains My Skincare Holy Grail

There is a lip version one too, but I knew that on this occasion I needed the richer ointment. They literally have all different versions - sticks, tubs, sprays - so if you’re in any kind of skin emergency, you can have one handy 24/7!

Can’t recommend enough!

Sharing is caring 🫶🏼

I didn’t record any of it. Not the mixing, not the freezing - none of it.

Which is kind of ironic because that was the plan for this body butter: buy ingredients, mix, freeze, blend, and record the process.

Somewhere between deciding measurements and trying my best to not mess up, making content completely slipped my mind. I was laser focused on what exactly I was making - and making it right.

Why is Gen Z choosing intentional, unrecorded beauty?

I didn’t start this process simply for a video. I wanted to craft something that genuinely worked for my skin. When purchasing store bought products always turned into a hit or miss, I wanted something that radiated with simplicity, naturality, and my own touch.

I also needed a physical project for one of my class assignments, and making body butter was the perfect add on to my project. But, I also had been wanting to make body butter for a while. Homemade body butter has been all over my feed and as a curious, easily influenced, prone to dry skin person, I knew I had to make it.

So that’s what I did!

What are the skincare benefits of raw yellow shea butter?

The product wasn’t perfect in any way whatsoever. And it got messy as I was figuring things out in the midst of mixing. By the time I had finished, the kitchen was covered in powder, oil, and the aroma of shea butter (which was kind of bad but worth it for how my product turned out).

True, raw shea butter doesn’t smell like perfume or have an initial sweetness. The closest thing I can compare the smell to is an earthy, smoky wood smell. But what matters most is that this body butter was made with intention, love, and genuinity.

And of course, I couldn’t do this alone. I had my mom by my side. She let me take the lead but stayed nearby at all times as she knew how much I wanted this product to be a success. At one point, although I already added some, she suggested adding more arrowroot powder which seemed small but completely changed everything: but not in a good way.

Arrowroot powder is an ingredient that makes the texture feel more like butter and less like oil. But it seemed like this ingredient wasn’t exactly doing its job.. As my mom poured and I blended, the consistency didn’t change. Every time I applied a little on my skin, I didn’t need to rub it in because of how oily it was.

I lost hope and decided to package it in a glass container, and leave it alone in my bathroom, a place cool and refreshing, until it sat for about a day.

How to use arrowroot powder for a non-greasy body butter texture?

The next day, to my surprise, thanks to the arrowroot powder (and my mom), my butter transformed into this extremely soft, soothing, whipped body butter that felt rich and smooth without the extra heaviness and greasy feeling some body butters leave.

The best part? I knew exactly what I was putting on my skin!

How do you formulate a natural whipped body butter at home?

🌟What Went Into My Butter🌟

• 1 pound of yellow unrefined shea butter (yes, it was yellow, but it still had the same affect)

• ¼ cup of unrefined coconut oil

• Palmers coconut oil

• Arrowroot powder

• My thoughts and prayers 🫶🏼

  ---

How To Turn This List Into a Real Product 👇🏼

1. First, boil the unrefined shea butter by boiling a pot of water and placing a glass container with the shea butter on top of the pot

2. Once all of it is almost to a boil, add the coconut oil and boil that as well

3. Let it cool down and add your desired amount of oil (doesn’t have to be palmers but make sure it’s safe for skin) along with a 1 teaspoon of arrowroot powder

4. Place melted butter and oil in freezer for about 30 minutes or until the top hardens a little

5. Take butter out of the freezer and mix with an electric mixer until the consistency is not oily but if it’s more oily than your liking, add more arrowroot powder like my mom!

TIP: don’t worry if the texture is still not to where you want it. Try letting it sit overnight in a cool place and come back to it in the morning!

It didn’t contain any overcomplicated formulas or ingredients that I had no idea how to pronounce. Just simple things that worked successfully together and did what I needed them to do.

In society today, everything feels like it needs to be recorded, edited, documented, and posted. And this wasn’t. It was purely experimental, extremely messy, and completely undocumented.

And to be honest, not everything has to be instantly captured to be true and to matter. And look how great it turned out!

Donyae Hazley is a high school Junior, pianist and THE LAB mentee focusing on finding a minimal skincare routine that best suits her skin. Her beauty supply consists of skincare like Panoxyl, Differin, Anua and The Inkey List along with an occassional appearance of e.l.f Concealer and Blush.

The Beauty Ed®’s Note: I’ve spent my career championing a "real skin" and honest approach to beauty, long before "unfiltered" became a trending hashtag. And my mission with The Beauty Ed® has always been to be transparent with our reviews too and this is exactly what I’m teaching the next generation of beauty voices in THE LAB, my media mentorship program. In this post, Gen Z contributor puts the viral Rhode Bieberchella drop to the test and you can be sure that her review of the Spotwear Patches and Caramelised Banana Peptide Lip Treatment meets the rigorous, honest standards I’ve stood by for nearly three decades. Over to …Enjoy 🍄

The Verdict: Testing Rhode’s Limited-Edition ‘Bieberchella’ Drop

I’ve always been sceptical of celebrity beauty brands. Not dismissive, but cautious, particularly in an industry so saturated with names trading on recognition rather than formulation. So for the longest time, I resisted Rhode.

And then came Bieberchella.

Timed, deliberately alongside Coachella and Justin Bieber’s performance, Rhode’s limited-edition drop dominated my feed. What began as passive scrolling turned, rather quickly, into a purchase. Proof, if any were needed, that even the most resistant among us are not immune to well-executed marketing.

Why Rhode Beauty Keeps Selling Out: The Marketing Strategy Behind Bieberchella

Following its reported $1 billion acquisition by , Rhode has entered a new phase of visibility.

The brand understands its world: pared-back luxury, sensorial language, and a lifestyle that feels both aspirational and oddly attainable. Products are described as buttery, melting, treat-like, language that deliberately blurs the line between beauty and indulgence.

It is not simply about selling products; it promises a lifestyle that feels desirable and emotionally resonant, and, crucially, one that is consistent.

Rhode x Bieber: What’s in the Limited-Edition Collection?

The Rhode Bieberchella drop includes three core products:

• Spotwear Hydrocolloid Pimple Patches

• Peptide Eye Prep (Banana Peel edition)

• Peptide Lip Treatment (Caramelised Banana)

I tested each over the course of a week, across different skin concerns, and routines, to see whether they hold up beyond the aesthetic.

1. Do the Rhode Spotwear Hydrocolloid Patches Actually Work?

I am, admittedly, loyal to pimple patches as a category. Not just because they work, but because of what they do beyond that. They minimise scarring, draw everything out overnight, and (perhaps most importantly) they make breakouts feel manageable. There is something reassuring about covering a spot rather than constantly worrying about aggravating it.

I tend to move between the two extremes: colourful, visible patches when I don’t particularly care who sees them, and clear, almost invisible ones when I’m wearing makeup. Both have their place, and I’ve tried enough to know when something is genuinely good.

These had been teased for months, not least by Hailey Bieber herself, so expectations were high. They’re 100% hydrocolloid, fragrance-free, and, crucially, marketed as both sweat and water-resistant.

What I didn’t expect to fall for, but did, was the design element. The patches come in a range of shapes, with several featuring the Rhode branding at the centre. It’s clever: part skincare, part collectable. I gravitated immediately towards the daisy and jelly bean designs and ordered both!

What started as a single purchase quickly escalated. I initially bought the spotwear patches, and within two days had ordered the full Rhode x the Biebers Set (£56/$56).

Which includes:

• 36 Spotwear patches of your choice

• 6 sets of Peptide Eye Prep in Banana Peel

• Peptide Lip Treatment in Caramelised Banana

  ---

Testing them properly

I tested these across different types of breakouts to get a realistic sense of performance.

1. Under-the-skin spots: I had two particularly aggressive ones that would usually last up to two weeks. The redness and swelling dropped from 9/10 to around 5/10 after one use. Not gone, but significantly calmer.

2. Surface-level spots (ready to extract): This is where they performed best. The patches drew out impurities 85% of the time overnight.

Wear time + durability: I wore them from evening through to the following day, and they remained completely intact. No lifting at the edges and no peeling, which is rare.

I also tested them in less forgiving conditions: hot showers, steam, and long wear, and they did not budge.

How to apply Rhode Spotwear patches for best results:

Application is straightforward, but matters:

• Apply to freshly cleansed, completely dry skin

• Place directly over the blemish

• Leave on for 6-8 hours or overnight

Each pack costs £16/$16 contains 36 patches, stored in a reusable, compact case, which makes them easy to carry without them drying out or getting damaged, particularly useful if you are travelling.

Overall, I really enjoyed these. Not just because they look good, but because they deliver.

They stay put, they work across different types of breakouts, and they remove the usual frustrations I have with pimple patches (lifting, slipping, ineffectiveness).

They are, admittedly, on the pricier side. But in terms of performance, they justify it.

The Beauty Ed® Quick Verdict: 8.5/10

2. Rhode Peptide Eye Prep Banana Peel Review: Are the viral 'Bieberchella' eye patches worth the investment?

Eye patches are notoriously unreliable. Most slide, separate, or require constant adjustment, which is precisely why I stopped using them.

These do not. They adhere firmly without discomfort and remain in place throughout wear, making them far more practical than traditional gel patches.

What they do well:

• Visibly reduce puffiness

• Brighten the under-eye area (notably effective on darker circles)

• Deliver a cooling, hydrating finish

Formulated with caffeine and peptides, they sit comfortably within the current shift towards skincare-led makeup prep.

There is also, undeniably, a performative element; they photograph well, they imply routine and feel part of a wider aesthetic. I will certainly be wearing them on my next flight. But I don’t see that as a drawback; after all, beauty has always been, in part, visual language.

Verdict: Effective, comfortable, and aesthetic, though not essential and on the pricier side.

They cost £25/$25 for a set of 6.

The Beauty Ed® Quick Verdict: 6.5/10

3. Is The Rhode Caramlised Banana Peptide Lip Treatment Grainy Or Smooth?

I had held off trying Rhode’s peptide lip treatments for some time. The reviews were noticeably divided; some swore by them, while others described a grainy texture and a slightly sticky finish.

So I approached this one with a degree of scepticism.

The limited-edition Caramelised Banana felt like a great starting point. And in all honesty, it exceeded expectations. The texture is genuinely smooth, gliding across the lips without any of the unevenness I had anticipated. It sits comfortably between a balm and a gloss and is very hydrating.

I’ve used more of it than I care to admit in a very short space of time, which, for me, is usually the clearest measure of success.

The scent is also worth noting. It is distinctly reminiscent of banana cake, warm and softly sweet, without being too overpowering.

What has struck me most, however, is how instinctively I reach for it. It has found a place both by my bedside and on my desk, and I have been using it throughout the day without much thought.

That, more than anything, tends to be the deciding factor!

Rhode Caramlised Banana Peptide Lip Treatment costs £20/$20

The Beauty Ed® Quick Verdict: 8/10

Is Rhode Worth It? An Honest Editor’s Verdict After Testing the Bieber Drop

Rhode succeeds where many celebrity brands falter: it understands both product and perception.

There is intelligence behind the timing, the language, the visuals, but also, crucially, a level of performance that justifies the attention.

For those interested, I’ve written more on Rhode previously; those pieces are linked below, and there’s more on my Instagram: giainthefittingroom. I’d be genuinely curious to hear where others land on this drop: whether it lived up to expectation, or simply proved how persuasive good branding can be.

There is certainly more to come from me on Rhode!

-Gia 🌼

If there’s one topic that always gets a passionate discussion going on my podcast, Smiling Gives You Wrinkles®, it’s makeup. As a beauty editor with 28 years of experience, I’ve tried so many different formulas and textures, and now as I reach 50, I’m always looking for ones that offer coverage without settling into every fine line and wrinkle.

I recently had Consultant Dermatologist Dr. Justine Kluk, an acne specialist, on the show. I absolutely adore Justine, not just because she is a great doctor and lovely person, but also because she is totally trustworthy when it comes to beauty recommendations. There is no hidden agenda when she recommends a product. Just a wish to be genuinely helpful. And this is one of the main reasons I started The Beauty Ed®. I love sharing products that are vetted by experts and are not a paid or sponsored pick.

In this episode about teen skincare, Justine and I digressed slightly off topic when she shared a few things that are in her makeup bag. And I was really interested to hear about her favourite concealers. Because I know that when a dermatologist with her expertise and who has immaculately flawless skin drops a recommendation, you have to listen!

Dr. Kluk’s Top 2 Concealer Picks for Teen and Adult Skin

Dr. Kluk named two winning concealers that she says are great for adult and teen skin: the Nars Soft Matte Concealer and the Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer.

She calls the Dior one is “amazing.”

I had to ask her why it’s so incredible, and she gave us the full breakdown, while admitting that she was wearing it during our chat.

🎬 Watch this clip from Smiling Gives You Wrinkles® (she slips in a couple of other recs here too)

Where to Place Concealer on Adult Skin

Justine applies concealer strategically: under her eyes, around the corners of her nose, on the sides of her mouth, and on her chin - basically, everywhere the shadows start to creep in once you hit your 40s.

But the real magic she says is the texture of both of these concealers. Texture is so important, especially for anyone dealing with spots or creasing.

The Formula Breakdown: Why Texture Matters for Creasing and Acne

Here’s why she swears by the Dior one: “It’s creamy. It doesn’t get stuck in creases. It doesn’t dry up or flake off. It’s really easy to blend in. I just tap it with my fingers. And the texture is really nice. It goes on really nice and smooth and it gives decent coverage,” she told me.

NARS vs. Dior: Which One is Better for Spots?

While she loves the Dior one for larger, shadowy areas, Dr. Kluk pointed out that the NARS Soft Matte Concealer is actually better for building up coverage, specifically recommending it for teen and adult spots/acne.

It’s easy to hop onto an app and let an AI filter give you a list of top-rated concealers. But algorithms often miss the nuance of adult and teenage skin - the need for a creamy, non-settling texture that handles fine lines and flaky breakouts. That’s why having Dr. Kluk’s personal recommendations are priceless.

Why Trust This Review? My 28 Year Beauty Industry Expertise

The Beauty Ed®’s Note: Having been in the industry for almost 3 decades, and having tested hundreds if not thousands of makeup bases during that time, it takes a lot to impress me. Plus I am not a snooty beauty purchaser. I don’t buy just because a product is endorsed by a celebrity, or comes with a designer label. As much as I love Victoria, that’s not the reason I wanted to try these drops.

I wanted to review them because I know many of you feel the same way I do: we aren’t necessarily looking to “fix” every sign of aging. We can live with a few fine lines, and while the jowls are slowly creeping in, we’re doing our best to embrace them. And this foundation tint promises just that: it’s not there to offer heavy coverage to disguise every flaw, it is formulated with premium skincare to help us make the most of the skin we are in.

Ultimately, when I look in the mirror each morning, I just want my skin to glow. I want it to look healthy, rested, and radiant. I don’t mind looking 49 (or 50 in a month - eek!), but I want my skin to look the absolute best it can for its age.

The Price Tag: Worth the Hype?

Okay, let’s first address the elephant in the room: $110/£104 is a LOT to spend on a palm-sized bottle of liquid foundation. I mean, even when my local supermarket is selling eggs for $14 for a dozen (crazy), it is still hard to justify this spend. This puts it squarely in the luxury category, but, as someone who has tested high-end formulas for decades, I can say it’s still competitive; for context, Chanel’s premium Sublimage L’Essence de Teint, which is meant to be its nearest competitor, is priced around $180/143.

The Victoria Beckham x Augustinus Bader Partnership

But the price of this foundation has nothing to do with inflation. No, it’s because this isn’t just any foundation! It’s a Victoria Beckham foundation. And love her or loathe her (I am firmly in the love her category which I hope will not skew this review) everything she works on is driven by a quest for perfection.

The Victoria Beckham Beauty Foundation Drops with TFC8® are a natural follow-up to The Concealer Pen that the brand launched last year which I haven’t tried but I know that they both use the premium skincare technology created by Augustinus Bader. Who, for those of you who don’t know, is a skincare scientist and developer of the brands’ signature TFC8 technology. This is the reason these aren’t just any old foundation drops!

From a marketing stand point, this partnership explains the high price point. A pot of Augustinus Badar The Rich Cream is $315/£250 for 50ml so the foundation had to compete with that. Plus Victoria Beckham is a premium brand name. Even her new Gap collaboration is elevated when it comes to price - albeit in a high street way. Plain white T shirts are $38 while you can pick up a basic one for around $20. So a mark up is expected.

Decoding TFC8®: Skincare as a GPS for Your Cells

TFC8 stands for Trigger Factor Complex 8 which is a high-tech blend of natural amino acids, which are basically the building blocks of the skin, high-grade vitamins, and molecules that effectively act like a car GPS for your skin. They guide key nutrients directly to the skin’s cells to create the best, most optimised environment for your skin to renew itself and heal.

So basically, this foundation is designed to give your skin a flawless look as soon as you apply it, while working hard behind-the-scenes to treat and heal it deep down. So in effect the more you wear it, the less you need it.

Application and Results: A Second-Skin Finish

So the first thing, I noticed was the packaging. So chic! Of course. The lacquered shiny black bottle with the pop of royal blue on the lid makes any tatty makeup bag look elevated.

I was kindly gifted this particular bottle so I was unsure of my shade when the PR offered to send it. But once I clicked onto the Victoria Beckham Beauty website, I found that the shade selection was impressive and fairly easy to navigate. There are not too many so you don’t get overwhelmed, but just enough to find your match. I decided on Shade 5 Light. It’s helpful that when you hover over each shade you are shown a different model that matches that skin tone.

The texture is just as I expected, lightweight and easily blendable. I applied about three drops with my fingertips using lightweight strokes, and as you can see from the video below, they melted into my skin so beautifully. The texture doesn’t feel like makeup, and so I was wondering as I was applying them, if they would actually make a huge difference to how my skin looked.

But that’s the point.

This foundation is not meant to fully cover. It is meant to enhance what you already have. And that’s why I love it. It feels like a second skin and looks like your skin but better. It lets your pores show through but minimizes any redness. It melts away unevenness but still lets your natural texture shine. Even though my skin is in pretty good condition considering I live in sun-drenched Florida, I was worried it would not cover up any pigmentation I have or redness around my nose. But it did. The coverage lasted all day too.

But what I loved the most is how the drops made my skin feel. They are so lightweight that you don’t feel like you’re wearing anything. As someone who doesn’t wear a lot of makeup and as I age, I actually wear less, so this is important. It really does feel like skincare.

The Verdict: Is It Worth The $110 Investment?

Verdict: Yes, if you view it as an elevated skincare investment that happens to be a foundation.

The only slight drawback for me is the lack of SPF. Living in Florida, sun protection is non-negotiable, but I suspect this was a conscious formulation decision on VB’s part - maybe to maintain the integrity of the TFC8 technology?

Look, I know it’s expensive and we are in the midst of a cost of living crisis, but here’s my personal take: I don’t spend my money on botox or other injectables, so if I’m going to invest in my skin, especially if it’s something I am going to be applying most days, I want it to be something premium. Something that makes me feel good and look great!

Lady V is a great role model for how to approach 50 with elegance, class and grace and I think she radiates it from the inside out. She has just turned 51, and I think she looks amazing. She’s always been open about her skin struggles in the past, which makes her current glow even more achievable for the rest of us. Yes, she has a glam squad around her 24/7, but if I can capture a fraction of her effortless glow, I’m in!

The Beauty Ed®’s Note: After years of writing beauty reviews for magazines and newspapers like InStyle, Cosmopolitan and The Daily Mail, I’ve developed a ruthless “BS detector” for beauty marketing. Especially with luxury skincare. Just because a product has fancy packaging and a high price tag, it does not mean that it actually performs. So when the new Tatcha Milky Sunscreen SPF50 landed on our desks, I was especially keen to find out if it was worth its eye-watering £49/$50 price tag! The short answer? And in the opinion of my Gen Z contributor - it’s a yes! It more than earns its keep for her dry, reactive skin. But the same might not be said about Tatcha’s other launches: here’s her full, honest review on them all…

[Just so you know, some of the links in this review are affiliate links. This means that we might earn a small commission if you decide to buy, which helps keep The Beauty Ed® and THE LAB running!]

The Pre-Vacation Trial: Can Tatcha Survive the London Humidity?

As someone who is fiercely loyal to skincare that genuinely works, I was thrilled to swap my entire routine for a full Tatcha get-ready-with-me test for The Beauty Ed®. It has long been a favourite brand of mine, and with my annual summer Italy trip approaching, it felt like the ideal moment to put Tatcha’s new The Milky Sunscreen SPF50 to the test.

For me, holiday beauty always begins with skin prep. Long travel days, heat, dry cabin air, and constant SPF reapplication can quickly leave my naturally dry skin looking dull and dehydrated. And I’m notoriously difficult to please when it comes to sunscreen. I look for hydration, radiance, no white cast, no pilling under makeup, and absolutely nothing that aggravates my acne-prone skin. So for this review, I temporarily retired my usual skincare staples and used an entirely Tatcha-led routine to keep my test fully transparent and thorough.

Tatcha Review: The Dewy Milk Moisturiser vs The Dewy Skin Cream

The first step in my review was the Tatcha The Dewy Milk Moisturizer, which I applied onto slightly damp skin to lock in hydration.

Anyone who knows me knows I have long been devoted to Tatcha’s Dewy Skin Cream, which remains one of my most repurchased luxury moisturisers, even though it costs a staggering £69/$74.

Its rich, cocooning texture gives the kind of healthy, plump radiance that makes skin look immediately more rested. So naturally, I was curious to see how this, its new ‘lighter’ version compared.

The biggest difference lies in the texture. Where the original cream feels richer and more enveloping, the milk formula absorbs faster and feels noticeably lighter on the skin, making it particularly well-suited to combination or oil-prone skin types.

What impressed me most, however, was that the finish remained unmistakably Tatcha: luminous, smooth, and healthy looking.

*Even while using strong dermatologist-prescribed topical creams that usually leave my skin flaking beneath makeup, this kept my complexion comfortable and visibly radiant. Several friends even commented that my skin looked glowy that week, which, frankly, is the highest praise any moisturiser can receive.

At £61/$64, like the rest of Tatcha’s products, it sits firmly in luxury territory, but I remain convinced that Tatcha’s moisturisers are among the best investment skincare products for glow, particularly if your skin tends to look dull, dry, or tired.

My honest take: if your skin is dry like mine, I would still choose the original Dewy Skin Cream. But if you want the same signature glow in a lighter texture, the Dewy Milk Moisturizer is an excellent summer alternative.

Why Tatcha’s The Milky Sunscreen SPF50 Is Worth £49/$50

As you can see, this SPF stayed with me all week. It was permanently in my bag for top-ups between errands, and long days out in London .

The product I was most excited to put to the test was the The Milky Sunscreen SPF50, and it quickly became the hero of the entire routine.

I’ve been using it as the final step in my morning skincare, giving the bottle a quick shake before pressing out a few pumps just before leaving the house. I’ve also been diligent about topping it up every few hours, particularly on days spent out in London.

What immediately stood out to me was the packaging. I am endlessly loyal to a pump dispenser: it feels inherently more luxurious, but more importantly, it makes everyday use effortless. There is no leaking, no product waste, and no messy over-pouring when you are trying to reapply on-the-go.

The formula itself feels less like a traditional sunscreen and more like a hydrating veil over the skin. Infused with Okinawa aloe, it works beautifully for anyone prone to dehydration in the sun. My skin tends to lose moisture quickly, especially while travelling, so I noticed almost instantly how soothing it felt. Rather than sitting on the surface, it seemed to lock hydration in, leaving my complexion comfortable, fresh, and noticeably glowier throughout the day.

Most importantly, it delivers everything I personally need from SPF: no greasy residue, no chalky cast, and no interference with makeup. Given how fussy I am with sunscreens, especially with acne-prone, reactive skin, that is not something I say lightly!

This has now become one of those products that permanently lives in my handbag.

Testing Tatcha’s The Brightening Serum on Reactive Skin

I also tested The Brightening Serum each morning before moisturiser.

Vitamin C - which is the hero ‘brightening’ ingredient in this formula, can be notoriously difficult for reactive skin, so I was pleasantly surprised how it layered seamlessly into my routine, caused no irritation, and gave my skin a fresher, more rested look over the course of the week.

That said, while I appreciated the formula and found it effective, it was the one product in the routine I would be least likely to repurchase immediately.

At £86/$89, it’s undeniably expensive, and while it performs beautifully, I personally place greater value on moisturiser and SPF within my current routine.

Pros

· Excellent under makeup

· No sticky residue

· Brightens subtly over time

· Reactive-skin friendly, especially for a Vitamin C

Cons

· High price point

· Less essential than the moisturisers or SPF

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Is Tatcha’s Kissu Lip Mask Worth The Hype Too?

I’m extremely particular about lip care, and this was the first time I had used a formula with such a distinctive jelly-balm consistency, which felt far more sophisticated than many of the novelty lip masks currently dominating the market.

The weighted glass pot explains the £27/$29 price tag, but it’s justified thanks to the formula which cushions lips so beautifully. I have found that so many overnight lip products feel unpleasant but this made my lips feel really comfortable without any heaviness or tackiness.

Research tells me that the inclusion of Japanese peach extract makes the formula especially effective on dry, weather-worn lips, while camellia oil helps hold that moisture in place so the softness lasts well beyond the initial application.

What I particularly loved is that despite the rich feel, it never veers greasy. Instead, it leaves the lips looking healthy with a glassy sheen, perfect before bed, but equally lovely as the first step before liner and lipstick in the morning.

The Final Verdict: Tatcha Products Actually Worth Packing for Italy

For anyone building a summer skincare wardrobe, this routine made a compelling case for Tatcha’s glow-first philosophy.

If I had to recommend just one hero product from this entire test, it would be Tatcha The Milky Sunscreen SPF50. It delivers the rare combination of protection, radiance, comfort, and makeup compatibility, and it feels especially relevant for anyone traveling this summer.

For dry, sensitive skin that still wants glow, this is one of the most elegant SPF launches I’ve tried this year.

(I was kindly gifted these products by the PR for this review, but all opinions are my own)

Foundations... where on earth do you start? It is so overwhelming - I think I must get this makeup question more than any other. Even as someone who has spent 27 years in the beauty industry, I still feel that sense of “where do I even begin?” when I see the amount of products that are available.

That is why I really wanted to chat with this week’s guest on Smiling Gives You Wrinkles®, makeup artist Donna May and founder of Donna May London.

Look, Donna is in the trenches when it comes to makeup; she is testing these products every single day on her clients, so she knows what really works. We’re all being sold the idea that “this is good for that” and “this is the solution for this,” but in reality, it’s just confusing.

So, we decided to tackle the six most common problems when it comes to finding the perfect base, and the specific products that actually solve them.

How do I get my foundation to last all day without it sitting in my wrinkles?

The Expert Verdict: Manage your expectations - unless you are okay with a heavy, matte finish, you will struggle to find a longwear base that doesn’t settle into lines.

Donna says that one of the biggest hurdles we face when shopping for a foundation is the ‘longwear’ trap. We all want our makeup to last, yes, but as Donna explains in the podcast, if you see that ‘longwear’ label on the bottle, it will likely mean that it’s matte:

“It’s gonna be a heavy duty matte foundation. So it’s really misleading, the packaging.”

If you’re not prepared to wear a heavy-duty mask-like base, the next best thing is one of the new generation glow foundations that offer reasonable staying power without the flat finish. Donna’s top pick for this is the Yves Saint Laurent Beauté All Hours Glow: “This is really nice and glowy.”

How do I make my foundation look dewy and not dull on dry skin?

The Expert Verdict: Don’t assume that if the word ‘serum’ is on the packaging, that the base will appear glowy on the skin - some are surprisingly flat.

Even the word ‘serum’ on a bottle isn’t a guarantee of glow. Take the new Clarins Double Serum Foundation - Donna’s opinion on it was a real eye-opener:

“It’s too matte. It feels weird when it goes on. Even though it’s got all this serum stuff in it, it’s not glowy. You would expect the opposite.”

So if you do have dry, midlife skin and you’ve been disappointed by skincare-first serum foundations, Donna suggests looking for more liquid-y formulas that have more movement as you apply them. Her gold standard for this is the Lisa Eldridge Enhancing Skin Tint: “That is glowy, really nice, lovely.”

Why does my foundation always look orange or too yellow?

🎬 WATCH THIS PODCAST CLIP WHERE DONNA EXPLAINS WHY…

If your foundation looks “off” the moment you apply it, the brand or product usually isn’t the problem - it’s the undertone. To get that really natural finish, you have to understand your skin’s base colour first. And Donna’s ‘vein test’ is one of the easiest rules to follow:

“Basically the rule is, if you’ve got blue veins, you’re normally pink toned skin... you’re cool. Think Nicole Kidman. And then if you’ve got green veins, you’re normally olivey skinned and you’ve got a yellowness under your top layer... that means you’re a warm skin tone. Think JLo.“

Once you know your tone, Donna suggests shade matching with a tried-and-tested classic like Clarins Skin Illusion Foundation, which she far prefers over their newer launches: “I do love the Clarins Skin Illusion. This one, really glowy. It’s gorgeous. Been around for a long time... I much prefer that over the new Double Serum Foundation.”

What is the easiest foundation to apply quickly when I’m in a rush?

The Expert Verdict: Use a glowy stick formula for ‘bumping’ on coverage mess-free.

Foundation sticks are amazing for travel and the morning rush because they are mess-free and you don’t need brushes to apply them. Donna loves the Kiko Milano Hug Couture Stick:

“It’s lovely and glowy and lightweight. I really like the component of that. Just like, bumping it on the skin like that.”

Is e.l.f Halo Glow a good dupe for Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter?

The Expert Verdict: It’s a brilliant third-of-the-price dupe that you can mix into any foundation for a quick boost of glow.

Donna says that you don’t always have to spend a fortune to fix a base that feels a bit flat and recommends the e.l.f. Halo Glow as a serious contender for one of the most famous luxury glow products on the market:

“It’s the rip-off of the Hollywood Glow by Charlotte Tilbury. A third of the price or something, and it is proper glowy. I mean, it’s really glowy.”

But Donna’s real pro-secret isn’t just wearing it alone; it’s using it as a “booster” for your other products: “It’s really nice actually to mix with another foundation or just use quite sparingly.”

Which glowy foundation offers the best sun protection for mature skin?

The Expert Verdict: The IT Cosmetics Nude Glow contains a high SPF 50 sun protection but still gives skin a glowy, second-skin finish.

If you want your base to work as hard as your skincare, especially when you’re in the sun, this is the one. Donna loves it because it delivers that high-level protection without the typical “SPF grayness” or heavy texture that can settle into lines. As Donna says during the chat:

“It’s beautiful, and it’s got 50 factor in it... which I love.”

My whole TikTok #foryou page is people saying brown mascara is better than black mascara and vice versa. But what makes them different? Apart from their color of course?

The High School Bathroom: Why Fitting In Starts with Mascara

As a fifteen-year-old girl, fitting in is a need. If a group of people start a trend, everyone has a feeling that they need to do the same thing, so they aren’t the odd one out. And you almost never see any girl in high school who doesn’t wear mascara.

I see girls fixing their makeup and re-curling their lashes in the bathroom, while they talk about their terrible schedule for the day and what homework they haven’t finished. Meanwhile, I’m standing there staring at myself. Bare.

I remember that exact feeling whenI started doing my mascara when I was thirteen.

The first coat made me feel like I was putting on a security blanket. It made me feel confident and part of the gang, and I’ve never gone back.

When I started wearing mascara, I used a cheap, Walgreens one that destroyed my lashes. I wanted to fit in so bad. My eyes became red and very itchy, so in the end, all it did was hurt me.

Now, I never leave the house without doing my lashes; feeling confident in my own skin makes a huge difference in my mood.

After that poor experience, I asked my friends for their recommendations - I clearly needed something reliable and safe as my eyes are so sensitive and now I never leave the house without doing my lashes.

Brown vs. Black Mascara: What’s The Real Difference for Your Eyes?

Personally, I think they both suit me well. While the brown brings a softer look to my eyes, the black makes my eyes look very bold.

I usually wear brown mascara during the winter. This is because most of my cooler toned outfits are worn during the winter, and it brings a sense of warmth.

Finding the Right Formula: My Top Pick for Sensitive Eyes

My all-time favorite is Clinique High Impact Mascara. I was gifted this by my mom for Christmas, and I’m so grateful that I was given it. I feel like it is a lesser-known brand in my age group, but it works very well for me because it is formulated for sensitive eyes. It makes my lashes look long and full, while separating them and, even though my eyes are strikingly brown, they still need to be defined.

Why Maybelline Sky High is My Black Mascara Holy Grail

When it comes to black mascara, the Maybelline Sky High Mascara is my favorite. When I started really getting into mascara, I asked my friends for recommendations, and this was everyone’s top pick. I’m all about affordable makeup, and this mascara is never more than $11 at Target. Even though it’s cheap, it works well for my sensitive eyes, while still doing the job a good mascara needs to do.

How I Choose Between the Two

Some of my friends ONLY wear black mascara because they just want it to make their lashes look longer. Those who choose brown mascara prefer a more natural look.

Unsure of which one you prefer? I decide on the ‘vibe’ I am going for! Is it full on dramatic or less is more? This helps me determine which color to choose.

How Mascara Reflects My Daily Mood

I’ve come to understand that choosing between black and brown mascara isn’t just a beauty decision - it’s a mood decision. It’s less about how the pigment looks on my lashes and more about the way I feel about myself when I look in the mirror. Whether I want a bold or softer look, my mascara is a way to express exactly who I am ♡

Faylynn Messer is a freshman, competitive swimmer and THE LAB mentee focusing on skin-positive storytelling. As well as Maybelline Sky High Mascara, you’ll also find Byoma, Summer Friday’s, e.l.f and Laniege in her beauty stash.

Thanks for reading THE LAB by The Beauty Ed®. If you’d like to show your support, please consider subscribing 💌 And please share our work: it keeps thoughtful and truthful beauty journalism alive ♡

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The Beauty Ed®’s Note: At The Beauty Ed®, we’ve spent over two decades filtering the noise of the beauty and fashion industries to find the looks that are actually ‘real’ and ‘authentic’ rather than ‘brand-sponsored’ and ‘fake’. And as Coachella has recently turned into a type of ‘Influencers Olympics’, ie. a hyper-curated content machine where identity is often traded for engagement, we’re looking past the sponsored looks to find ones that truly inspire us and are an extension of the person that is wearing them. Here, The Beauty Ed® contributor shares the one look that brought some true fashion soul back to the desert…

Why Zoi Lerma Always Feels Like the Real Coachella

As an avid Coachella watcher since the age of 12, I have always been completely infatuated with the celebrities attending this Californian music festival.

There was something about the effortless ease of it all that fascinated me; the sun-soaked glamour, the fashion, the sense that everyone looked incredible without appearing to try too hard.

I still mourn the Coachella that existed before it became the dreaded influencer Olympics.

The other night, I was aimlessly scrolling on TikTok when I stumbled across a clip set to an overwhelmingly nostalgic sound, layered over a compilation of images from the old Coachella, the version that existed before the hyper-curated brand trips, forced photo dumps, and identical influencer outfits took over.

@lisyyy765The golden era of coachella #foryoupage❤️❤️ #blowthisup #foryou #explorepage✨ #foruyou_page

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It reminded me exactly why I used to yearn for this festival when I was younger. Back then, it felt less like a content machine and more like a mood: people dressing for the sheer joy of it, chasing a feeling rather than a perfectly branded image.

That’s why, despite being firmly within the influencer sphere, Zoi Lerma still feels different to me. She is one of only a handful of creators who genuinely emulates that same old Coachella energy I used to look up to, rooted in fun, spontaneity, and pure vibe.

I first started watching Zoi when I was in my tweens, and she felt like such a breath of fresh air in an already saturated industry.

The One Coachella 2026 Look I Can’t Stop Thinking About

Zoi never disappoints with her Coachella outfits, and this year’s day-one look might be my favourite yet.

Wearing a custom GUVANCH set, she paired a coral-orange bralette with an extraordinary micro-feathered skirt in layered tones of fuchsia, teal, and burnt orange.

The movement alone was mesmerising.

Styled with a teal-studded belt, worn brown vintage boots, and a dramatic long pendant necklace that fell almost to the waist, the look captured exactly what festival dressing should be: playful, nostalgic, and unique.

Face Gems, Y2K Energy, and the Return of Festival Maximalism

The accessories made it even better. Silver bangles stacked up the arm, nostalgic face gems caught the light, and there was just enough Y2K energy to make it feel current.

I had an immediate flashback to buying crystal face stickers from Claire’s as a tween, and I’m honestly so excited to see that energy return to Coachella.

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The Nails That Completed the Look

Created by celebrity nail artist 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐬𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐳, the set brought together teal, coral, and fuchsia tones with gem embellishment in a way that perfectly mirrored the outfit’s maximalism. It felt very Zara Larsson-coded in the best way: bold, glamorous, and glitzy.

Why This One Look Feels Like the Return of the Coachella I Loved

What I love most about this look is that it brought me back to the version of Coachella I first became obsessed with.

Before the festival became overrun with predictable influencer attire, it was about experimentation, excess, nostalgia, and genuine fashion moments.

This one look gave me that feeling again. And that’s exactly why I can’t stop thinking about it!

-Gia 🌈

What is Cosmeticorexia?

As a Beauty Editor, mum and also someone who has mentored teenagers throughout my 27-year career, there is no doubt that I am alarmed with the the skincare industry’s current obsession with under-18 consumers. But sadly, I'm not surprised. And now, it even has a name…

‘Cosmeticorexia’ has been making headlines. It has become the industry’s newest buzzword to describe the obsession that teenagers and children have about their skincare routines. An obsession that often sees them using inappropriate products that are not meant for their young, fresh and healthy complexions.

What is the truth about Cosmeticorexia? After 27 years in the industry, I've found it's not simply an "obsession," but a search for agency. While the media focuses on the $698B industry’s influence, The Beauty Ed® THE LAB, my proprietary mentoring group for Gen A and Gen Z students, has identified that for many teens, their skincare ‘obsession’ is actually a search for control and wellbeing rather than anti-ageing.

So while the “cosmeticorexia” headlines are busy panicking, they are missing the most important part of the story: the teenagers’ own perspective. And if we understand what is really going on from their point of view, I think that the industry - and the media - will realise that they need to give these cosmeticorexia "victims" a lot more credit.

Realities from THE LAB: They Seek Control Not Correction

While headlines paint a picture of children blindly following influencers into a “retinol trap,” the voices from THE LAB tell a different story. One of intentionality. For 14 year old Lexie, a multi-step routine is a foundational anchor to help her start her day.

They Seek Control & Self-Care In Their Skincare Routine

“My friends and I talk about waking up forty-five minutes early to do a multi-step skincare routine to limit acne and protect our skin barrier. Skincare is important to me because I feel that my skin is something that I can control.”

Lexie’s point of view is echoed by Donyae, 17, who uses her routine as a mental health tool: “It was one of the first ways I learned to care for myself. My routine gives me time to reflect, check in with myself, and appreciate my growth, personally and in my skin journey.”

THE LAB students prove that the “Sephora Kid” stereotype often misses the mark too:

The industry often assumes these kids are impulsive, but Kira proves the stereotype misses the mark on trust: “I often buy brands that work for my mom or sisters... I tend to not trust social media for recommendations since I find them distrusting most of the time.”

Similarly, Donyae completely upends the “Sephora Kid” stereotype of impulsive buying: “For skincare, I trust myself the most. I research ingredients, pay attention to my skin’s history, and introduce products slowly. I would much rather listen to my skin than hop on the bandwagon.”

Even Mauricio, the only male in THE LAB, views it through a lens of simple hygiene rather than cosmetic vanity: “I view skincare as very important to hygiene... I still like to keep it simple.”

A Call for “Whimsy” in a $698 Billion World

Perhaps Gen A’s most damning evidence against the industry’s “Cosmeticorexia” marketing spin comes from high school Junior Ana, who highlights exactly what the industry has stripped away: Fun.

“I hope to see more emphasis on bringing the fun and whimsy back to beauty,” Ana says. “I really want to make the whole idea of beauty less serious and more focused on what you want to do with yourself.”

Despite having skin struggles that required a clinical approach - using a mix of organic skincare like Eminence, a simple Dove bar, and Tretinoin - Ana’s perspective remains grounded in self-care rather than self-correction. To her, beauty is simply “spending time with yourself... in order to prepare yourself for the day.”

The Industry Pivot: Are Brands Finally Listening To Gen A?

Thankfully, some corners of the industry are beginning to pivot away from ‘collagen banking’ and toward the age-appropriate care that THE LAB mentees are calling for. We are seeing a new wave of brands that focus on ‘barrier-first’ beauty rather than ‘active-heavy’ correction.

Take Marks & Spencer, for example. They’ve just launched Fresh Elements, a range specifically designed for the 12+ demographic. With prices starting at £9.50, it offers the ‘shelfie-worthy’ aesthetic teens want, but with dermatologically approved, gentle formulas that focus on hydration rather than harsh acids. It’s a direct answer to parents who want to give their kids the ritual without the risk.

We are also seeing the rise of ‘founder-led’ transparency with indu, now a fast-growing teen favorite at Sephora. What makes indu different is that it was built alongside a teen committee - much like my own work with THE LAB - to ensure the products actually support the skin’s microbiome rather than overwhelming it.

And then there is the highly anticipated HIKU by Harper (Beckham). While any Beckham-backed launch will inevitably cause a stir, the focus here is reportedly on K-Beauty influences - a category known for its ‘skin-first’ philosophy, lightweight textures, and playful presentation. If Harper leans into not just the education, but also the ‘whimsy’ that Ana from THE LAB craves, it could set a new, healthier standard for celebrity-led teen beauty.

The Skincare Industry’s Missing Link For Gen A

As Gen Xers, our Saturday afternoons spent in The Body Shop were defined by a curiosity that ended at the tester pots. But we didn't buy the Eldeflower Eye Gels because we knew we didn't need them. Today, that "need" is being manufactured by an industry projected to hit $698.38 BILLION by 2026.

But as my mentees at THE LAB prove, you cannot manufacture authenticity and this generation is doing the work that many brands are failing to do: they are listening to their skin.

The beauty industry needs to stop treating Gen Alpha as “fodder” for the next trending headline and start treating them as the researchers they are. And if they want to solve the “Cosmeticorexia” crisis, the solution isn’t giving them more products - it’s giving them more credit.

A Beauty Editor and Gen A Mentor’s Perspective

In the world of beauty journalism, we often fall into the trap of looking at a trend from just one angle, and right now, ‘Cosmeticorexia’ is being viewed through three very loud lenses: the “panicked parents”, the “click-hungry” media and the “revenue hungry'“ brands.

Yes, we’ve heard the horror stories of ten-year-olds demanding Retinol, and we’ve seen the industry reports on the $698 billion gold mine, but if my 27 years in this industry have taught me anything, it’s that you can’t understand the headlines if you ignore the main protagonists.

That is why I started THE LAB. My mentees aren’t just a ‘demographic’ or a ‘slice of the pie’ - they are the ones living the story. And the reality I see is they are a generation searching for a bit of fun, a bit of control, and a lot of ‘whimsy’ in a world that has become far too serious for their young minds.

So in my opinion, if we want to solve the ‘Cosmeticorexia’ crisis, we have to stop talking about these kids as if they are helpless victims and start giving them the credit they deserve. They are the researchers, the ones with the curious minds, and the ones who will ultimately decide if the industry’s obsession with them is on the right course.

So when The Beauty Ed® was offered to test Gustav Fouche’s New Frizz Spritz Treatment, which some marketeers call ‘hair botox’, I was skeptical to see if it delivered. It promises to…

…soften frizz, restore moisture, and make the hair more manageable through heat and humidity.

Being someone with natural waves that are susceptible to frizz - especially because I now live in hot and humid Florida - I wanted to know which category this collagen-infused treatment fell into. Would it live up to the hype and the price tag? Or was it just a waste-of-time? And money?

As the salon is in London, I sent The Beauty Ed® Gen Z THE LAB mentee and fellow frizz-sufferer to try it out. Here’s her honest review:

What Exactly is a ‘Hair Botox’ Treatment?

After the fabulous response to my last visit to Gustav Fouche’s Salon, where I experienced my first 3D dry cut, I returned this week to test the salon’s newest launch: Frizz Spritz, an in-salon de-frizzing treatment.

Positioned as a softer, curl-conscious alternative to keratin, the treatment immediately intrigued me because I have spent years being told to try straightening treatments, yet I have avoided them, fearing that they would compromise my natural texture.

What appealed here was the opposite promise: it is designed not to straighten hair, but to soften frizz, restore moisture, and make it more manageable through heat and humidity.

Frizz Spritz vs. Keratin: Why I Chose a Texture-Safe Alternative

With my annual Italy trip nearing and my hair notoriously reactive to even the faintest suggestion of moisture in the air, the timing was perfect!

Rather than behaving like a straightening service, Frizz Spritz works more as a collagen-infused reparative gloss, borrowing from the technology behind advanced hair botox treatments. The formula is designed to hydrate hair by replenishing lost amino acids, proteins, and moisture, which then help to improve its softness and control without removing the hair’s natural movement.

This is not a keratin treatment! And it’s important to note this is not a miracle cure for 100% of frizz either. Instead, it refines your overall hair texture so curls and waves sit more polished and look more shiny. It’s meant to really help lessen frizz in humid conditions too!

Results are said to last up to three months, which makes it especially appealing as a pre-holiday salon treatment before spring and summer travel.

Starting from £260, it firmly sits in luxury territory, but for hair that struggles with dryness and weather-induced frizz, it offers something far gentler than harsher smoothing alternatives.

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Why I Wanted to Try It on My Own Hair

(the before)

My hair is naturally dry, dense, and deeply prone to frizz.

Years of heat styling, bleaching, and colour experimentation have left my curls permanently thirsty, and in humid weather, the situation escalates quickly. The slightest mist, breeze, or shift in temperature can turn it from defined to expansive within minutes.

I love masks and at-home treatments, but I had never tried an in-salon service specifically targeting frizz and hydration.

The Pro Tip: Why Your At-Home Products Might Be Blocking Your Results

The first step is a double detox cleanse, using a clarifying shampoo to strip away oil, residue, styling product, and anything that could block the treatment from penetrating properly.

This was one of the most useful takeaways from the appointment: even if you shampoo regularly, product build-up can still sit stubbornly on the scalp and lengths, especially if, like me, you rotate through oils, creams, leave-ins, and masks.

Once cleansed, the hair is rough-dried. At this point, I could already see my usual halo of frizz beginning to rise, which made the before-and-after contrast feel even more notable.

The Application: Why the Formula is “Violet-Blue”

The treatment itself has a striking violet-blue tone which I was quite shocked about! But after some research, I have learnt that the blue toning pigments help to ramp up the shine on dry, porous and frizzy hair like mine.

It is applied in meticulous small sections from root to end and then left to process for around 30 minutes before being rinsed out with water only. No shampoo nor conditioner follows.

The final stage is where the transformation really begins: a full blow-dry followed by straightening at high heat to seal the treatment into the hair and lock in the smoothing effect.

The Honest Verdict: Why You Might Want To Skip Mascara

One thing worth noting transparently: this is a strong professional treatment.

While nowhere near the intensity of keratin, I did find the formula made my eyes water during processing, and my mascara did not survive the experience entirely intact. That said, I’m unusually sensitive to strong scents and certain formulas, and the team were incredibly thoughtful, offering me a face covering and making sure I was comfortable throughout.

The sensation passed relatively quickly, and once the blow-dry began, all I could focus on was the shine at the root; it was almost lacquered.

The Humidity Test: Does it Work for Naturally Frizz-Prone Hair?

The full appointment lasted closer to three hours on my hair, rather than the suggested 90 minutes, but that extra time spoke more to the salon’s thoroughness and my hair’s length than anything else.

The immediate result was smoother, glossier, and noticeably more controlled hair, without that unnaturally flattened finish I had feared. Importantly, it still looked like my hair, just the most polished version of it yet.

The real test, of course, will come after my first natural wash and during humid weather, which is when my hair usually reveals the truth.

I’ve been advised to leave it untouched for three days before washing, so I’ll be updating on how the curls settle and whether the frizz remains controlled once the treatment has fully lived in.

For now, as a Notting Hill luxury salon treatment for dry, frizz-prone curls ahead of summer, it feels genuinely promising!

Can you believe it? I’d never heard of a tattoo falling off before either! But of course, it had to happen to me…

Me and my best friend had been planning to get matching tattoos together for months. Both of us had never had a tattoo before, so as we are both turning 50 this year, we planned to do the obligatory thing, and pop our tattoo 'cherries’ to celebrate our 50th’s together…

We wanted hearts ♡♡

Tiny - actually micro - freckle hearts. On our wrists. To ease us into the tattoo thing you know…

So after lots of research, we booked our appointments at a reputable ‘fine line’ tattoo place in Soho in London. All the celebs go there…so it’s gonna be good right?

Or so we thought!

The day we had them done, I’d been to have a Sofwave facial treatment a couple of hours beforehand, which is painful. Like childbirth painful! So I was dreading having a tattoo done on the same day. They’re meant to be painful too right?

But I felt nothing! And no wonder…

7 days later, (note: I am now back at home in Florida, 4000 miles away from London), as I was getting ready for bed, I looked down at my arm, and my new tattoo was gone!

Not there.

I mean, it was small in the first place. Maybe I couldn’t see it as I didn’t have my glasses on? Plus I was still a bit jet-lagged…So I asked my husband to double check if he could see it lol.

Nope, much to his amusement (he and my boys had already taken the piss about the size of it) he couldn’t see it either.

I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT!

All that planning. For nothing. All that money. £100 to be exact. For nothing!

I actually caught the moment I realised it had fallen off on this Instagram reel that has now hit 99,000 views.

And So The Tattoo Stories Came Flooding In…

“I had a small cat face done on my inner ankle. The tiny heart-shaped nose got a little infected and a few days later, I noticed a little black heart was lying on the bottom of my shower... all that’s left is the outline.”

“Mine floated off in the bath!”

“I had my anniversary date tattooed onto my finger. It fell off in places after 2 weeks. It looks like I’ve drawn it myself with a Biro pen and then washed my hands.”

“Me and my friend did the same...we had I 🍎 NYC and my Apple fell off! Actually turned into a big hole as my skin rejected the red dye.”

“I got a little ladybug on my big toe 30 years ago and the same thing happened... I just have like a black dot on my toe now.”

So Why Did This Happen? 😩

Apparently, our bodies are smarter than we give them credit for. One of my followers said: “The body sees tattoo ink as a foreign substance and wants to get rid of it. If it’s really tiny, your immune system can send out enough macrophages to eat up that ink and expel it through the lymphatic system. Your body was just doing its job.”

Could It Also Be Because Our Tattoos Were Brown?

Me and my friend liked the tattooists’ brown heart because we thought it looked more ‘natural’ than black. So that’s what we chose. What we didn’t know was that apparently brown ink is more likely to fade, and erm, drop off. As another follower wrote:

“My husband and I got matching rings... his was brown and it peeled off too.”

The Fine-Line Reality Check

Then there is the “depth” issue. Many followers said “they didn’t go deep enough.” Others pointed out the “wrist factor,” noting that “that part of the body is weird... the inner wrist just doesn’t hold ink well.”

Someone pointed out that I should’ve gone to a tattooist that specialises in fine lines. Well, I thought they were. The phrase ‘fine line’ is actually in the name of the place - so you’d think they’d be experts.

What About The After Care?

“Sometimes you can catch a scab and pull a bit out - if that’s the whole tattoo and you didn’t care for it well, the whole thing probably got caught and fell out because it’s micro.”

Another warned: “You wash too much. Nothing for a month, 2 months to be sure.”

Well, yes I do wash thank you very much, but I was 100% extra careful around it. Besides, the tattooist sprayed on ‘spray-on plaster’ and advised that that would be enough to keep it soft and ‘safe.’

The £100 Question 💸

Of course, we have to talk about the price. I paid £100, which many thought was a complete rip off! But I also had many professional tattooists step in to explain the cost:

“Many tattooists have a shop minimum to offset the cost of disposable equipment and sterilization.”

“It might be a tiny tattoo that only took a minute, but there is the same amount of stuff used in the prep and clean up as there is for a large tattoo.”

Surely, We Should Have Been Warned?

The biggest takeaway from “tattoo-gate” was maybe that the ‘fine line’ industry has a transparency problem. As one follower put it: “If you went to a reputable artist, they would have told you that the chances of a little tiny micro tattoo staying - especially where the skin is extra thin - is a low percentage. It does not shock me that it dissipated.”

And what about my friend?

Did hers fall off too?

Yes! A few days later…

We both got our money refunded and now we’re planning to have them done again, at a different place in Florida.

A little more prepared!

And hopefully a little more happy…

Any tattoo stories/tips to share before we have another go? I’d love to know about them in the comments 👇🏼

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So when last month’s partnership between Ulta Beauty and TikTok Shop was announced, I thought it would be a good time to look at the impact Tik Tok shop will have on our shopping habits in the future.

This is a huge moment in beauty retail as it is the first time a major U.S. specialty retailer has fully integrated with Tik Tok.

But being a bit a Tik Tok avoidant myself…

Can I really trust it?

When I order, will my packages arrive?

And why would I shop there instead of somewhere familiar like Amazon?

…I asked my New York-based Marketing Manager, Hayley Beard to help me understand how it works, and if it really is the future in beauty retail.

The Ulta Beauty x TikTok Shop Partnership: What You Need to Know

Hayley brings an incredible depth of knowledge in this area as she has led the marketing teams at some of the industry’s biggest brands, including Shiseido, Tarte Cosmetics and Trish McEvoy so she understands what this means for both the brands, and us, the consumer!

Can you trust Tik Tok More Than Amazon?

First, Hayley explains that this “Social QVC” model - ie. think of a shopping channel, but just on your social feed - brings a level of sourcing trust that marketplaces like Amazon often lack!

Hold up. Really? Hayley explains:

“One of the biggest advantages TikTok Shop has over traditional marketplaces like Amazon is trust in sourcing. On Amazon, if you’re not buying from a verified seller, there’s always a risk that the product could be fake, used, or, in the case of beauty products, even unsafe. You might receive something that looks authentic but is coming from an unverified third-party vendor.”

“But when brands sell directly through TikTok Shop, they cut down on third-party interference. While they likely pay a fee to be on the platform, they gain more control over pricing, inventory, and distribution. At the same time, smaller creators, especially micro-influencers, can participate more easily without navigating more complex affiliate platforms like LTK or ShopMy, which can feel overwhelming if you’re just getting started.”

Right, so I get it now: TikTok Shop aims to eliminate that middleman. Like the annoying salesperson at the store: I’m looking at you, sales lady from Pretty Woman…ha ha

Why Are Beauty Brands Like Ulta Choosing Tik Tok?

Hayley explains that it’s more than just another retail partnership, it actually helps the brands push out more exclusive drops, which in turn, make us the customer, feel more special!

“In many ways, TikTok Shop is the digital evolution of sample sales and pop-ups. It taps into that same emotional trigger: exclusivity, urgency, and the thrill of getting something first. Even if, behind the scenes, there’s plenty of inventory, the experience is designed to make you feel like you’ve secured something rare.”

But do those feelings really matter? I believe that consumers, especially in my demographic, likely know, at least subconsciously, that the scarcity these brands are pushing in their marketing isn’t always real. “Some brands will launch five units, mark them as “sold out,” and suddenly it feels like the biggest drop of the year,” Hayley explains. “But that doesn’t take away from the excitement of securing the item.”

So what is the Future of Beauty Retail?

A quick poll in The Beauty Ed® community found that only 22% of us have ever shopped on Tik Tok. so while we think TikTok Shop will eventually become a big part of the sales strategy for brands, the platform still has a lot to do to gain our trust.

Have you shopped on Tik Tok shop yet? We’d love to know in the comments 👇🏼

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As an unapologetic Dior Beauty devotee, I wait for the house’s beauty drops with great anticipation, and the Dioriviera Summer 2026 collection may be one of its most visually compelling yet.

Putting these products to the test for The Beauty Ed®, I wanted to see if the latest creative vision from Peter Philips, Dior Makeup’s Creative and Image Director, lives up to the hype - especially for our growing community in the UK and the US who value a ‘skincare first’ ‘filtered’ finish.

Designed to channel the azure skies of Provence, this limited-edition collection features the standout 162 Summer Azur Palette - think luminous azure shadows, flushed bronze skin, and packaging adorned with raised daisies and the ladybug motif, a subtle nod to the maison’s longstanding relationship with luck and superstition (and also, coincidentally, a key feature of The Beauty Ed®’s branding)! 🐞

Naturally, I recreated an entire look using the collection, alongside some of Dior’s latest skincare and complexion staples, like Dior Solar SPF, to see how it performs beyond the campaign imagery. And yes, it is every bit as beautiful on the face as it is on the vanity.

(behind-the-scenes: Hermes, my cat opening my Dior parcel)

Skin Prep: The “Expensive Skin” Foundation

A good makeup look begins long before pigment touches the eye. For dry skin, especially, the difference lies in hydration, skin preparation, and a sunscreen that won’t flake under makeup, which is surprisingly rare.

I began with Dior Capture Totale Intensive Essence Lotion, which instantly gives the skin that expensive, lit-from-within sheen. The texture feels spa-like and cocooning, and I tend to reserve it for makeup days when I want the base to look especially luminous.

I followed with the monoi-infused Dior Solar SPF, which remains one of the most elegant sunscreens I own: weightless, glowy, and never chalky, even under concealer. Living in London has only made me more committed to daily SPF; grey skies are no excuse!

For lips, I prepped with Le Baume, Dior’s multi-use balm, which keeps everything soft before gloss or lipstick and doubles as my bedside staple.

Complexion: The Foundation-Free Riviera Bronze

For my base, I skipped foundation entirely and used concealer - Dior Forever Skin Correct (005 Neutral) - blending it over my face.

I’ve increasingly moved away from heavy base products, and this formula works beautifully for that: it provides enough coverage for blemishes and under-eyes, yet remains breathable enough to let the skin feel like itself.

The real star of the complexion, however, is the new Dior Forever Nude Bronze Glow (032 Pink Bronze).

The embossed daisy compact alone feels collectable, but the powder itself gives a believable Riviera warmth rather than a flat bronze.

*On fair skin, it works best applied subtly. I pressed it onto the cheeks first with fingertips, then diffused it with a damp sponge for a soft, sun-touched flush.

The Eyes: Recreating the “Riviera Blue”

The collection’s 162 Summer Azur palette captures that exact late-afternoon Mediterranean blue, somewhere between sky and sea.

I layered the pale blue shimmer across the lid first, before building the sky-blue pigment through the centre using my ring finger for maximum payoff. To create dimension, I deepened the crease with navy tones from older Dior favourites in my collection, creating a soft gradient.

The two additional palettes used:

1. DIOR PALETTE: 233 EDEN ROC

2. DIOR SHOW: PLAN DE PARIS L’ETOILE (Discontinued)

   

   To sharpen the shape, I turned the deepest blue shade into liner using an angled brush, which gave a softer alternative to black while still framing the eye.

   For inner-corner light and highlight, I reached for the Dior Backstage Glow Maximizer Palette 006, mixing the icy tones for that almost wet-look gleam Dior does so well.

   ---

   The Removal Test: The Product That Truly Surprised Me

   

   A good review doesn’t end with the final photo.

   After shooting the look well into the evening, I put L’Huile OFF/ON cleansing oil to the real test, and this may actually be the most impressive product in the entire routine.

   A few pumps melted through layers of concealer, SPF, blue shadow, liner, mascara, and lash glue with remarkable ease. What stood out most was not just the speed, but the after-feel. This is where Dior’s newer, more accessible skincare direction really proves its value. (If you want to understand the strategy behind this shift, read my full deep-dive on the Dior Cleansing Line here).

   Usually, after removing a full-glam look, my skin feels stripped and tight. This left it soft, comfortable, and genuinely nourished.

   🪭 For anyone who wears long-wear makeup regularly, this is where Dior’s newer, more accessible skincare direction really proves its value.

   ---

Read my full article on this range here:

Final Thoughts: Is the Dioriviera 2026 Collection Worth It?

For summer 2026, Dior has delivered exactly what luxury beauty should: colour, exceptional textures, and products that feel as considered in real life as they do in campaign stills.

The standout products for me were:

· L’Huile OFF/ON cleansing oil

· Dioriviera Summer Azur palette

· Forever Nude Bronze Glow

The eyeshadow palette, in particular, captures that rare balance of glam and wearability, a true Riviera blue that still makes sense in London.

And that, perhaps, is Dior beauty at its best.

In my 27 years as a beauty editor, stretching back to my days as Beauty Editor at teen magazine CosmoGirl! to the front lines of the ‘real beauty’ evolution during my stint at Boots UK, where I introduced a strict no-retouching policy - I’ve seen the industry move from hiding “imperfections'“ to slowly celebrating them. Fast forward to today, April 6 2026 and the Rhode x The Biebers drop feels especially full circle.

Introducing a new type of beauty accessory, “Spotwear,” Hailey and Justin Bieber have unveiled five limited-edition hydrocolloid patches (think mushrooms and daisies) designed to be seen, not hidden…

Hailey has reportedly been “precious” about this specific formulation since 2024, ensuring the hydrocolloid material is thin enough to move with the skin but effective enough to heal. It’s a sophisticated marketing pivot; she has moved strategically and smoothly on from last winter’s ‘Ski-Core’ aesthetic, to a $16 sticker that turns a skin struggle into a fashion choice.

Arriving just in time for Justin’s Coachella headline set, this isn’t just a product launch; it’s a masterclass in “wearable skincare.” And as a veteran editor, I’m looking past the viral $16 stickers to ask: has the “Bieber effect” finally made the common breakout a status symbol?

The 2005 Archive: When Spots Were “Bad Habits”

I’ve just dug out a copy of CosmoGIRL! from 2005 from my archives. Lindsay Lohan is on the cover, and inside is a feature I wrote titled “Bust Your Beauty Bad Habits.” My advice for a breakout back then? “Think about the damage you’re doing if you squeeze... then dab it with Superdrug tea tree oil.”

Looking at that advice now seems so outdated! We were effectively teaching a generation that a blemish was a “bad habit” to be “fixed” and hidden.

As high school Junior Donyae from THE LAB says: “I wear pimple patches not only because [they] help me feel more secure going out, but [they] also helps me stop picking at my skin which often leaves scars.”

2015: “No-Retouching” at Boots

By 2015, during my time with the British drugstore Boots editing the beauty and cover pages of their Health & Beauty Magazine, (an in-store glossy that was, back then, the most read women’s magazine in the UK), my approach around topics like breakouts and ‘flaws’ began to shift. I was radically committed to reality; and as the Beauty Director, I made sure that if a model arrived at a beauty or cover shoot with a spot, it would not be digitally erased or retouched out. Instead, we would do with it what we had to use in reality: cover it with concealer.

But oh how I wish Rhode “spotwear” was available back then! I’d have SO been down to quickly replace the concealer brush with a $16 mushroom shaped sticker! I am so here for this evolution of skin positivity!

Unlearning the Shame: Insights from THE LAB

The generational friction is where the “spotwear'“ story gets really interesting. While our generation was trained to hide, THE LAB collective is writing its own rules. Gia from THE LAB calls the Rhode x The Biebers launch “sharp marketing,” noting that for Gen Z and Gen Alpha, these patches have become a staple that genuinely boosts confidence. However, she still feels the generational gap at home: “It’s funny though, as older relatives, especially my dad, always tell me they’re not appropriate when I wear them out in public like at the airport.”

This sentiment is echoed by The Beauty Ed®’s Marketing Manager, Hayley Beard, who admits she was “trained from age 12” to never show a pimple. “I’m learning to embrace imperfections, but it’s a process. It goes back to how I was never allowed to leave the house in pajamas or without looking ‘presentable.’”

Yet, for the students in THE LAB, the goal isn’t male validation or “perfection” - it’s self-expression. As Avery Lurie put it: “I am not wearing makeup for male validation.”

The “Boy Behavior” Barrier & The Bieber Effect

Then, there is Justin’s influence to consider. He personally designed the five shapes, but can his “Coachella factor” truly shift typical “Boy Behavior” as Paloma from THE LAB calls it? She is skeptical: “I doubt my guy friends would wear pimple patches in public. They’re much bigger fans of the clear ones and they normally just wear them overnight or at home.”

High school Junior Donyae from THE LAB has her doubts with boys wearing them too: "I’m not sure many boys would actually wear spot patches. From what I’ve heard, some think they’re too feminine.

We will see the boys wearing a neon mushroom to a festival…and taking a picture for evidence!? 🍄📸

The “Spotwear” Wardrobe: What’s in the Drop?

Justin personally designed these five limited-edition shapes to move the blemish patch from a clinical “fix” to a festival-ready accessory. Here is the breakdown of the Rhode x The Biebers shapes:

• Mushroom

• Daisy

• Jelly Bean

• Bubble

• Curve

The Full Set costs $56 and includes the complete wardrobe of 30 patches plus the new Caramelized Banana Peptide Lip Treatment - a flavor Paloma from THE LAB is “side-eyeing,” but one I suspect will become an instant cult classic. And if this drop is anything like the Sarah Pidgeon campaign we wrote about earlier this Spring, we can expect the formula to be as high-performance as the marketing is shrewd.

The Individual Spotwear Pouch costs $16 - an accessible price point for a “designer” drop, but the students in THE LAB are already weighing it up against their current favorites. As high school Junior Diana perfectly summarized:

“I think spot patches are a great way for us to feel more comfortable with breakouts and to normalize it. I think $16 is reasonable, but I’m curious as to how it holds up against the brands I trust.”

It’s a reminder that even with the “Bieber effect,” performance is still the ultimate currency for Gen A.

The collection will be available to buy online at Rhode.com from April 13th at 9am PT.

The Beauty Ed® & THE LAB’s Final Verdict:

What we love most about the Rhode x The Biebers drop is that it proves that beauty is no longer about hiding; it’s about celebrating YOU! And after 27 years of trying to shout this message LOUD in an industry that was always obsessed with perfection, I am here for it! And so are THE LAB!

This is the result of tipping out one of my cupboards and putting some of the supplements that I’m told I should be taking onto my kitchen island. Most of these tubs are half-empty where I’ve started to take them and then forgotten to keep up with the routine.

After 27 years in the industry, I’ve been pushed to buy every “miracle” pill that there is, but nothing quite compares to the complete deluge of supplements we’re seeing right now. It’s clearly become a massive, multi-billion dollar money-making business, and I’ll be the first to admit that even I’ve been bought into it. As a beauty editor running my own business, I’m constantly challenged by making a financial return. The supplement industry is a tempting one; there is a big pot of money sitting there just waiting for anyone with a name for themselves to put their name against a bottle.

Reach Over Results: The Celebrity "Gloss" Trap

I’ve navigated this before - I had one sponsorship about three years ago that paid about $2,000 in return for talking about them on an Instagram reel. At the time I’d tested the supplements over 4 months and did really like them, so I was happy to put my name against the brand. But now, as the industry takes over and becomes so ‘shouty’, I’m not sure how comfortable I feel promoting brands that have results that are hard to measure. Many brands seem to pay anyone to speak about them, as long as they have a "name" and can give them the reach.

I feel like they aren’t really talking to real women about the results they’re getting. When you see a celebrity who looks great, is it really these supplements giving them their "gloss"? I highly doubt it. How do we really know that they work? I’ve even known some brands to send out supplements and pay people to promote them when they don’t even expect them to give them a fair trial.

So, how do we know that supplements work?

On social media, the reels and posts that are selling supplements have almost become white noise. And so I think it’s finally time for us to strip back and really understand the ones that we should be trying. That’s why I brought nutritionist Amanda Ryder back onto my podcast, Smiling Gives You Wrinkles, to give us her ‘supplement audit’ and share the ones she really believes in - from clinical studies and her own clinic - and the ones that she thinks all women should take.

The Clean List: Brands to Trust

When you are spending your hard-earned money, Amanda insists on pharmaceutical-grade quality over pretty packaging. Her trusted list includes:

• Bare Biology (Amanda’s personal choice for Collagen, Fish Oil, and Creatine)

• Pure Encapsulations

• Thorne

• Metagenics

• Designs for Health

• Ancient + Brave

The Gut Sabotage: Why Your Body Might Be Rejecting Your Supplements

I asked Amanda if it was possible to take too many supplements, and her answer was a revelation. It turns out that some of those ‘shouty’ brands we see all over social media aren’t just a waste of money - they might actually be sabotaging your gut and straining your liver. If you’ve ever wondered why your body seems to be ‘rejecting’ those half-empty tubs on your counter, this is why:

These are the 6 essential supplements for your 40s and 50s.

Amanda’s philosophy is that food comes first, but for women in our age bracket, these six supports can bridge the gap:

1. Magnesium Glycinate: The ultimate “helper molecule” for sleep, anxiety, and muscle relaxation.

2. Creatine Monohydrate: Her top recommendation for maintaining muscle mass and clearing brain fog.

3. Omega-3 Fish Oils: Essential “oil for the engine” to fight midlife inflammation and dry skin.

4. Vitamin D: A non-negotiable for immunity and bone health, especially during the winter months.

5. Collagen (Bovine & Marine): To support skin elasticity and joint health as our natural levels decline.

6. Vitamin C & B12: Targeted support for energy and helping your body actually synthesize the proteins you’re taking.In an industry that often buys reach over results, the best thing you can do is to stop buying the hype and start studying the ingredients list.

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Which ones do you take and rate? Do you think Amanda’s missed any?

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Personally, I get so overwhelmed that I end up taking none, but I’m definitely going to give some these a try. In fact, I scooped some creatine into my water before the gym this morning already :-)

If you want to listen to the full episode with Amanda, then please support my podcast Smiling Gives You Wrinkles ♡

The Beauty Ed®’s Note: Stay ahead of the trends with The Beauty Ed®'s exclusive report on ILIA Beauty’s strategic expansion into Liberty London. Led by beauty authority Donna Francis, who has over 27 years’ experience, contributor Gia breaks down the market shift toward skin-first hybrid makeup in the UK and how this ‘unfiltered’ finish that allows texture and pores to shine through is the new standard for luxury makeup.

For those unfamiliar, Liberty London sits in the lively heart of the West End, housed within its unmistakable Tudor Revival façade: dark beams, leaded windows, and carved wood interiors.

It is one of the city’s most beloved luxury department stores, known not only for beauty but also for fashion, interiors, and textiles. So, the arrival of ILIA Beauty here feels particularly well-timed.

The ILIA Philosphy: Why Skin-First Makeup is the New Industry Benchmark

This is not the first time I’ve written about ILIA Beauty for The Beauty Ed®. My most recent piece focused on the launch of the brand’s Skin Blur Serum Concealer, a complexion product that immediately stood out to me for its weightless, self-setting finish and skin-softening effect.

ILIA Beauty was founded by Sasha Plavsic in 2011, with the initial launch comprising of just a range of tinted lip conditioners. Since then, ILIA has built a devoted following through its long-standing commitment to skin-first makeup.

What distinguishes the brand from many others, is that its use of skincare ingredients never feels like a late response to trend cycles. While many beauty houses are only now moving towards hybrid complexion products, ILIA has always centred the relationship between coverage and skin health.

As someone who is deeply selective about complexion formulas, I’m far more interested in products that preserve the look and feel of healthy skin than in anything harsh.

Living in London and spending long stretches commuting on the underground, surrounded by pollution, dry tube air and the constant shift between overheated interiors and outdoor city exposure, I am increasingly drawn to products that do something for the skin while I wear them.

Its formulas are known for combining makeup with active, barrier-supportive ingredients that help maintain hydration and comfort throughout the day. For dry or sensitive skin, that balance between glow and nourishment feels especially compelling.

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The Cultural Shift: Why the ‘Unfiltered’ Aesthetic is Winning at Liberty

Part of what draws me to ILIA Beauty is its ability to deliver that luminous “no-makeup makeup” finish. Although I usually lean more toward full glam than subtle makeup, as summer approaches, I always find myself gravitating toward looks that create a soft wash of radiance, flushed cheeks and a finish that feels effortlessly put together. ILIA’s textures seem designed for exactly that mood.

I find myself influenced by Gen Z figures like Addison Rae (a fellow ILIA lover), whose beauty moves so fluidly between playful glitter, early-2000s glamour, and glowy minimalism. What I admire in her beauty routines, particularly in her Vogue Beauty Secrets appearances, is the way she makes even minimal makeup never looks boring!

@addisonreMy perfect everyday makeup routine🥛🍓 @ILIA Beauty #iliapartner

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Vetted Ingredients: Beyond the ‘Clean Beauty’ Hype

The use of active botanicals and carefully sourced skin-supportive ingredients makes the formulas feel thoughtfully put together. Nothing feels included simply to satisfy the “clean beauty” trend. Instead, the products seem responsive to how skin behaves over the course of a real day. That openness around formulation is what gives me confidence in the brand.

Among clean beauty options, ILIA stands out because its promise is not simply aesthetic, but also rooted in prioritising skin health. The idea that makeup can improve how the skin feels, while remaining breathable, gentle, and comfortable, is far more persuasive to me than trend-led claims alone.

The ILIA products I’m most excited to try

1) Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40: The Hybrid Hero for London City Skin

This is the product I am most drawn to. I wear skin tints far more often than traditional foundation, so anything that combines sheer complexion coverage with daily SPF immediately earns my attention.

The water-light consistency feels ideal for the kind of finish I love, and the inclusion of mineral SPF protection makes it particularly relevant for London days spent moving between the tube and the city itself.

A product that offers glow, light coverage, and environmental support in one step feels exactly in line with how beauty routines are evolving.

2) The Multi-Stick: Effortless, Creamy Radiance for the Woman on the Move

The second formula I am especially keen to test is the Multi-Stick.

I have always loved multi-use products, particularly for travel or rushed mornings.

The fact that it can move seamlessly across cheeks, lips, and eyelids makes it all the more appealing. The shea butter base suggests a creamy, blendable finish, while the buildable pigment allows for either a barely-there flush or something more potent.

A Natural Pairing: Why ILIA Belongs in the West End’s Most Iconic Beauty Hall

ILIA is now available both online and in-store at Liberty London, and the pairing feels entirely natural: a thoughtful, skin-intelligent beauty brand arriving in one of London’s most iconic department stores.

For anyone who loves luminous skin and makeup that genuinely supports the skin beneath it, this is a launch worth having on your radar.

And as always, let us know which ILIA product you’d most like us to test next for The Beauty Ed®?

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The Sephora Struggle: Hype Vs. Health

We are surrounded by trending products that we feel we should buy, but in reality, the popular products are sometimes not what works. Trends can lead to over consumption and are not built for everyone’s skin types.

The culture of modern beauty can lead to insecurities and feeling that you have to buy something just because your friends are talking about it. Walking into Sephora, I am overwhelmed by products advertised by influencers on social media, such as Drunk Elephant, Sol de Janeiro, and Summer Fridays.

The FOMO EFFECT: When Trends Break Your Skin Barrier

The popularity of trending products can drive us to make impulsive decisions. We buy products because of the hype around the trend, not because of the effectiveness of the beauty product.

For example, my friends were talking about The Ordinary, a brand that makes serums, oils, and other skincare products, so when we went to the mall, I felt like I should buy the Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (with Ceramides), because my friends said it would benefit my skin. But after about a week of using it, I started to break out and I had to use alternative products to fix the damage - like the Laneige Cream Skin Mist Duo.

So I’ve learned that many highly advertised products can disrupt my skin barrier, cause irritation and lasting damage. Finding products that match your skin type involves a trial and error process. But it’s worth doing to find what works for you!

The Lip Balm Battle: Summer Fridays Vs. e.l.f

Popular products like Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm are circled by the glow of social media, but some people don’t want to spend $24 on a lip balm.

So step forward e.l.f. Cosmetics Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balm. This budget-friendly makeup and skincare brand is cruelty free, vegan and affordable!

The Glow Reviver Lip Balm is a buttery tint with a glossy finish and isn’t shy in admitting it’s a dupe for Summer Fridays either. Under the details tab of the product, it states:

“$24 for a lip balm? do butter. Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balm is only $9!”

🫶🏼

Smart Swaps: Why We Love Dupes

There is no shame in buying products advertised on the internet. I have bought multiple lip balms from Summer Fridays, but it’s important to be aware that finding products to represent your true self is more important than letting the noise of your friends or social media affect your own ideas.

Rhode vs. MCoBeauty

MCoBeauty is another brand known for creating dupes. The MCoBeauty Hydrate & Prepare Milky Toner is considered a replica of Rhode’s Glazing Milk. McoBeauty’s toner is $13.99 for 4.73 ounces and Rhode’s glazing milk is $32 for 4.2 ounces. Falling for trendy products makes me feel like I’ve been duped by brands that promise to help my skin.

The glow around Rhode could be because the founder is Hailey Bieber, who is known to have perfect skin. And this can make us feel like we should have perfect skin too - but there is no such thing as perfect skin! It’s an impossible standard used to try to make us feel better about ourselves.

Great Skin Is About Owning Who You Are

Following trends can leave you feeling like you’re not good enough or you don’t fit in. This is why it’s important to keep in mind that fashion, makeup, and skincare is not a one size fit’s all.

Your image does not need to mirror the influencers promoting the product or models that seem to be perfect. Everyone deserves to look in the mirror and feel confident and proud of who they are.

The appeal of “hype” products can compromise your skin, waste money, and have a negative mental impact. Please don’t be stressed about what you put on your face when you wake up in the morning. Just find products that are right for you and ones that you can trust.

Lexie Stone is a freshman, competitive gymnast, and THE LAB mentee, focusing on feeling confident through your skin. You’ll find Laneige, Refy, Rare Beauty, and Makeup By Mario in her beauty supply.

Thanks for reading THE LAB by The Beauty Ed®. If you’d like to show your support, please consider subscribing 💌 And please share our work: it keeps thoughtful and truthful beauty journalism alive ♡

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The Beauty Ed®’s Note: In my 27 years as a Beauty Editor, I have seen the beauty industry slowly move away from trends that are obsessed with perfectionism towards ones that prize relatability and honesty. And the M.A.C x Xime Ponch partnership was a perfect example of this ‘unfiltered’ shift. The Beauty Ed® contributor Gia Yianni recently spoke to the Miami influencer about her work as a 2022 M.A.C Maker, her love for dupes, and the raw, bilingual reality of being a Spanish speaking creator.

Perhaps it is the heat, or the colour, or the way everything feels just slightly heightened, but spend enough time watching the city of Miami through someone else’s lens, and the gloss begins to give way to something more revealing. Not less curated, necessarily, but more aware of its own performance.

Last week, I had the opportunity to speak with Xime Ponch, a Miami-based college student and Latina creator whose unfiltered, deeply relatable voice has earned her a multi-million-strong Gen Z audience across the US and Latin America.

From her work with M.A.C Cosmetics to everyday life in Miami, and the behind-the-scenes aspects, our conversation shifted between content creation, visibility, and what beauty looks like when it is lived rather than simply presented.

The Miami Aesthetic: How Xime Ponch Redefines Visibility in 2026

Xime’s content moves between languages, cultures, and audiences with an ease that feels instinctive. Whilst much of her content is in Spanish (with automated English translation available for her US audience), she has recently begun incorporating English more deliberately into her videos. That duality, between languages, between polished and personal, is what gives her work its traction.

It also speaks to something larger. For years, beauty has operated within relatively narrow visual codes: who is seen, how they are seen, and what is considered desirable have followed a recognisable pattern.

What creators like Xime do, simply by existing within the space as they are, is widen that frame. Not overtly, but meaningfully, enough for people watching to recognise themselves within it. Representation, particularly for younger audiences navigating identity through digital spaces, remains vital.

Inside the M.A.C Maker Programme: The Xime Ponch x M.A.C Cosmetics Collaboration

Given my own longstanding connection to M.A.C Cosmetics, and having grown up with a M.A.C makeup artist as a mother, this was the part of the conversation I was most curious about: Xime’s experience as a M.A.C Maker for M.A.C Mexico.

For those unfamiliar, the M.A.C Maker programme invites influencers to collaborate on limited-edition lipsticks, offering them full creative involvement, from shade development to packaging and campaign imagery.

Xime spoke candidly about the process, describing how surreal it felt to move from consumer to collaborator: designing the lipstick, selecting colours, shaping the packaging, and ultimately seeing the product come to life. The result: a limited-edition exclusive released in 2022, remains one of her proudest achievements.

One moment, in particular, felt universal. Reflecting on her relationship with the brand, she said:

She went on to describe going through her mother’s makeup bag as a child and recognising M.A.C Cosmetics products, a memory that makes her collaboration feel all the more full-circle. From engraving her name into the lipstick to touring across Mexico and meeting people who had purchased it, the experience extended far beyond product development.

What is striking is not simply the partnership itself, but the access it represents. The ability to move behind the scenes, to see how beauty products are conceptualised, developed, and brought to market, has for so long been closed off. Now, that process is becoming more visible, and with it, the industry feels less distant.

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Gen Z Beauty Economics: Addressing Accessibility & Product Dupes

For all the conversation around luxury beauty, there is an equally important one unfolding alongside it: access.

Beauty, at its best, should feel participatory. Yet price points, availability, and exclusivity often complicate that experience, particularly for younger consumers.

This is where Xime’s approach resonates. Alongside high-end recommendations, she consistently makes space for accessible alternatives, from drugstore staples to thoughtful “dupes” that achieve a similar effect without the same financial commitment. Not as a compromise, but as an acknowledgement of reality.

Most people are not building routines in isolation from their budgets. And creators who recognise that, who speak to both without judgement, are the ones audiences return to.

Why Unfiltered Content Remains The Future Of The Beauty Ed®🐞

At The Beauty Ed®, the idea of being “unfiltered” has never meant rejection; of beauty, of products, or of aspiration. It is about understanding what works, what doesn’t, and why, without over-complication.

What Xime’s content reflects, and what makes it resonate so widely, is that same clarity. There is polish, as there is with all content, but more importantly, there is space for honesty, for the in-between moments that make a recommendation feel genuine rather than performed.

As she put it:

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In a digital beauty space that can so easily tip into excess, that transparency is what builds trust.

Beauty is changing, though not always in ways that are immediately visible.

Sometimes, it shifts in tone, in who is speaking, and how they are being heard.

And sometimes, it is as simple as recognising yourself, your language, your experience, your reality, reflected back at you. That, perhaps, is where the real influence lies.

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Not subscribing today? You can still buy the team a coffee. We run on kindness, realness, and a frankly dangerous level of caffeine. Your support (big or small) keeps our beauty stories blooming🌟🐞

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Expert Hair.TOXX Review: Does Hair Cryotherapy Work? | The Beauty Ed® mentee Paloma tests the Hair.TOXX cryotherapy treatment at Haug London Haus. Featuring a deep dive into sub-zero hair science, avocado butter and hyaluronic acid ingredients, and real results for shine and frizz reduction. A real life verdict on the world’s first cold-plate hair treatment.

While my past few adventures with The Beauty Ed® have led me to gyms, I am extremely happy to report that my most recent press appointment was at Haug London Haus, where I was invited to try out a new hair treatment - an environment I happen to be MUCH more comfortable in.

I was trying out the world’s first cryotherapy for hair. Now, I know what you’re thinking: after my whole cold plunging debacle, I must have a penchant for the cold, but I really don’t. And spoiler alert: you do not feel the cold at all…and my hair looked fabulous at the end.

Some quick Hair.TOXX benefits:

• Reduces frizz

• Increases shine

• Does not use heat

• Strengthens hair at cuticle

What more could you possibly ask for?

The experience

I ventured into Fitzrovia on one of those sunny, early-Spring days that make you feel really grateful to live in London. Haug London Haus is tucked away behind New Oxford Street so you already know the location is fab to do some window (or real) shopping afterwards.

When I arrived for my Hair.TOXX appointment, I was told Katie was doing my hair - she was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable on all things cryotherapy and we chatted all things hair throughout the session which made it fly by.

‼️ I’ll keep this next part brief so as not to bombard you with the science:

We started with a double shampoo, which is more of a luxurious experience than you’d expect. We chose a clarifying one to really prep my hair for the treatment.

Then, Katie applied the Hair.TOXX mask to my wet hair, section by section, to ensure literally every single strand was coated. The mask is packed full of super-ingredients like avocado butter, hyaluronic acid and açai berry, which all contribute to healthy, moisturised and shiny locks (the most intriguing part of the invite was the promise of getting my hair up to 264% shinier - a bold claim, but I’m listening). The ingredients also help combat the wear and tear of daily life, like pollution, heat damage and London’s hard water.

Once Katie applied the mask all over, the cryotherapy began. Cryotherapy has been loved by wellness fanatics for quite some time, and in this case, it quickly freezes the mask’s benefits into your hair.

The tool looks like a hair straightener - one plate is coated with a thin layer of frost and the other with LED lights to activate the ingredients. They pass through each section of hair, again not missing a single strand.

Once your hair is successfully frozen, they rinse out the mask and finish the appointment with a blow-dry.

The whole appointment lasts around 45 minutes - most hair masks have to sit in your hair for at least an hour to be able to see a difference so this is definitely time effective. They even sent me home with a bag of Hair.TOXX goodies to maintain the treatment!

Post treatment (AKA, “someone please compliment my new hair”)

The day after my appointment, I had uni, and the first thing one of my friends said to me was “You’ve done something to your hair!”

For journalistic purposes, I made her tell me what exactly she noticed. She said it looked really shiny and even thought I had dyed it - proof that the treatment adds life back into your hair, and really, can you ask for more? Naturally, I launched into a whole explanation of my hair appointment.

Is Hair.TOXX worth it?

A treatment like this one costs £140, with the effects lasting up to five weeks, and I’ve definitely noticed a difference in how my hair feels. I will say, my hair is naturally straight and not prone to frizziness, but since the treatment, I’ve washed my hair three times, and the effects haven’t worn off. It’s definitely smoother, softer and more hydrated.

That said, it’s definitely more of a treat-yourself moment than a regular essential. If you’ve already got fabulous hair, you might not see a change drastic enough to justify the price.

My Final Verdict

I did wonder if this was yet another marketing ploy, and was worried I’d be underwhelmed. But (unfortunately for your bank account), I’d definitely recommend this treatment if you're looking for something to add life back to dull, frizzy hair.

I’m thinking it’s the perfect treatment before an event, after too much heat or dye-job damage, or when your hair / life feels like it needs a reset.

xx P

Disclaimer: This was a gifted treatment from Haug London Haus, but all opinions are my own!

Hair.TOXX is slowly rolling out to salons in the UK and US. Visit their website to find your nearest Hair.TOXX salon.

Thinking of trying? Let us know if you have any questions in the comments ♡

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