As we begin a new year, it’s time to look back over some of the highlights of the past 12 months and for me, that always means reflecting on some of the beauty products that I have tried for the very first time.
I know I say this every year (you can find all my previous annual highlights here), but 2023 has been one of the best when it comes to discovering amazing products from indie brands. There have been so many beautiful products but these ones in particular have been game changers in my own routine, and will certainly be repurchases for me (if they haven’t been already!).
(In alphabetical order)
Amaranthine: Superactive Day Cream
|PR Product| I knew from the moment that I started using Amaranthine’s Superactive Day Cream that it would feature in my best of 2023, as there is so much to love about the product that makes it unlike anything i’ve ever used. I have fallen in love with everything from the matte formulation, that actually suits my drier skin type, to the refillable airless packaging that helps to reduce waste. You can see my full review here to find out more, but if you’re going to try one moisturiser in 2024, this is the one you need in your skincare collection.
Blue Labelle: Glow Botanical Gel
I have to admit that I’ve repurchased Blue Labelle’s Glow Botanical Gel several times during 2023 as it is a multitasking wonder that is fantastic as a moisturiser, post-shave gel, aftersun, hydrating eye gel – the list is endless! The antioxidant-rich gel contains 10 skin-loving ingredients such as green tea extract, aloe vera, seaweed extract, hyaluronic acid, pea extract, jojoba oil and olive squalane to protect, calm, hydrate and soothe the skin. The sweet orange, peppermint and lavender aroma makes this a treat for the senses as well as the skin, leaving a refreshing aroma on the skin which is perfect all year around. You can find my full review over on my Instagram account to find out exactly why this is a true skincare hero.
Ere Perez: Lychee Creme Corrector (From Naturisimo)
I have a love/hate relationships with concealers thanks to my drier skin type that can often lead to my skin looking cakey or flaky throughout the day. Thankfully, since discovering the Lychee Creme Colour Corrector, I feel like I have found ‘the one’. It has a creamy, brightening and illuminating formulation that has a medium to full coverage and evens out discolouration and skin tone. Suitable for all skin types and with a range of shades, the formulation is creaseless and doesn’t show too much texture on my drier skin. It feels flexible and doesn’t oxidise through the day, staying true to the pale shade (I use Uno which is perfect for my light skin with neutral undertone). If you struggle finding a concealer that is easy to blend and doesn’t look cakey on the skin, then this is certainly one for you.
*Get 15% off your first order at Naturisimo with the code BEAUTYFOLIOUK
Evolve: Bio Retinol Gold Mask (From Naturisimo)
Sometimes when a product looks as pretty as Evolve’s Bio Retinol Gold Mask, they are often more style over substance, yet this couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes to this incredibly effective face mask that works wonders in just 5 minutes. The Bio-Retinol Gold Face Mask, which is suitable for sensitive skin, uses a retinol alterative (Bidens Pilosa) to help plump, smooth and increase collagen production – all without the irritation of traditional retinols. The mask also contains other skin-loving ingredients such as rosehip oil, argan oil and Vitamin E to help boost cellular renewal, improves the appearance of scars and leave skin rejuvenated. What I love most about Evolves mask is that it turns to a lovely milky emulsion with water, rinsing away with ease to reveal skin that looks and feels at its very best. If you want a product that will transform your skin in an instant, the Bio-Retinol Gold Mask is one I would recommend time and time again,
*Get 15% off your first order at Naturisimo with the code BEAUTYFOLIOUK
Gaia: SPF 50+ Daily
|PR Product| I always struggle to find an SPF that works on my dry skin type yet Gaia’s SPF 50+ Daily has certainly made a lasting impression. Their broad spectrum sunscreen designed to hydrate, nourish and protect all skin types – even sensitive – while still maintaining the luxurious feel the brand evokes with their cruelty-free and vegan skincare range. The SPF is lightweight, creamy and applies to the skin beautifully, absorbing quickly and leaving no white cast or greasy residue on the skin. It has been the perfect addition to my skincare routine thanks to the hydrating and deeply moisturising formulation that leaves my dry and dehydrated skin looking fresh, dewy and free from dry, flaky patches. What is even more impressive is how well make-up sits over the top, as it doesn’t go cakey or develop oily patches – no matter what the weather! If you’re looking to try a new SPF this year, then Gaia’s is a truly great option.
Hedgewild: Soothing Balm
I could have added any Hedgewild product to my best of 2023 list, as everything i’ve used from the brand has been exceptional. Their Soothing Balm has been working wonders for my skin thanks to its formulation that helps to soothe sunburn, cuts, grazes, shaving rash, eczema and psoriasis, as well as deeply nourishing very dry skin. The brand celebrate the best of British, with their Soothing Balm featuring ingredients such as Starflower seed oil, Evening Primrose oil, Beeswax and rapeseed oil to name a few. This protective balm, which has been working wonders this Winter, is one that I will always have in my beauty stash as it a multitasker wonder that is a skincare saviour.
*Get 15% off your order at Hedgewild with the code BEAUTYFOLIO10
Leonie Botanics: Day Dreamer Balancing Face Oil
I am a huge facial oil fan and the latest release from Leonie Botanics is certainly no exception. Day Dreamer, with it’s incredible blue hue and fresh aroma, is an absolute delight with beautiful ingredients such as watermelon, chia, prickly pear and blueberry NECTA to balance moisture levels and sebum production while protecting the skin from external stresses such as blue light and free radicals. As someone with a drier skin type, I was originally concerned that Day Dreamer wouldn’t be enough for my skin yet I couldn’t have been more wrong, as it simply makes my skin look and feel at its very best, helping to soothe redness and irritation around my nose from eczema flare-ups and keeping my skin feeling nourished all day long. You can find more about Leonie Botanics in my full review of the brand and their products here.
*Get 20% off your order at Leonie Botanics with the code BEAUTYFOLIO
Nini Organics: Rain Skin Essence
As someone with a dry and dehydrated skin type, Nini Organics Rain has been a skincare saviour and a true hero product within my routine. The facial mist contains some truly beautiful ingredients such as cucumber water, hyaluronic acid, glycerine and butterfly pea flower to product and hydrate skin all day long. I love how this essence is incorporated into a facial mist as not only does it make application hassle free but it also helps additional skincare absorb into my skin easily and work more effectively in the process. This has been a product I have repurchased several times during 2023 and will continue to be in my routine for the foreseeable future as nothing else compares to the beauty that is Rain.
Õrn Kuu: Öö Facial Serum
|PR Product| There is nothing more satisfying than discovering a skincare range suitable for sensitive, eczema-prone skin that is luxurious and unique in its approach. Thankfully, Õrn Kuu is the epitome of this, with a range that is high performance and perfect for helping to heal, protect and nourish irritated skin. Their Öö Facial Serum in particular is something which has wowed me in 2023, as the ingredients and formulation is unlike anything i’ve ever used before. The protective and calming serum, containing Buah Merah, strawberry, liquorice root, edelweiss flower, cherry kernal and sea buckthorn – among many others – leaves my skin feeling soft, soothed and deeply nourished after use. It melts into the skin beautifully and thanks to the concentrated formulation, it is incredibly long lasting too
Pretty Special Beauty: Clarifying Face Polish
Pretty Special Beauty’s Clarifying Face Polish is a triumph when it comes to gentle exfoliation, with a formulation that nourishes and hydrates the skin while removing dead skin cells for a more radiant complexion. The sucragel base, with macadamia nut oil and kukui nut butter, applies to the skin with ease while biodegradable jojoba beads exfoliate without being overly abrasive. The aroma of mint, juniper and lavender treat the skin and senses alike, providing a relaxing, fresh scent that offers a spa-like experience with each use. The polish then transforms to a wonderful, milky emulsion on contact with water, rinsing from the skin in an instant and leaving behind a soft, smooth and brighter complexion.
Raven Botanicals: Ultra Hydrating Serum
The Ultra Hydrating Serum from Raven Botanicals is a stunning product that continually delivers great results. The serum adopts a lightweight, emulsion-like texture that glides across the skin beautifully, absorbing in an instant and leaving skin feeling hydrated and soft after use. I’m now on my 3rd bottle and since I began using it within my routine my complexion looks more radiant and my dry and dehydrated skin feels deeply nourished and hydrated. My dry patches across my cheeks and around my nose have significantly improved and the fine lines on my forehead seem less noticeable. If you’re looking for an hydrating serum this year, this is certainly the one for you.
RMS: Mini Luminizer x Quad (from Naturisimo)
The Mini Luminizer x Quad is an essential I’m never without, with 4 shades of the brand’s iconic luminisers in a small, handy set complete with a mirror. The luminisers are designed to melt into the skin to leave a subtle highlight and radiance to the skin, making them great for any age and skintone while being very wearable whatever your make-up look. I love their versatility, not only giving the skin a dewy highlight to the cheeks and brow bone but their light reflecting properties, and slight tint, makes them great on the mobile lid to brighten eyes too. The formulation itself is easy to apply with your fingers, and as it isn’t greasy or sticky in any way, the luminisers don’t cling to any areas of dry skin or texture. This quad has become my go-to product to brighten and awaken my skin in 2023, and never fails to impress with its incredible performance.
*Get 15% off your first order at Naturisimo with the code BEAUTYFOLIOUK
Skin Elixir: All Around Eyes Elixir
|PR Product| I am a big fan of eye oils and serums and Skin Elixir’s All Around Eyes Elixir has quickly become one of my favourites of 2023. The lightweight serum never fails to smooth, soften and brighten my eye area, with a formulation that contains 4% bakuchoil, a natural alterative to retinol. The cooling rollerball applicator help to de-puff my eyes in the morning and help to soothe them in the evenings before bed. What I love most is how quickly it absorbs, allowing make-up to sit beautifully over the top without leaving any greasy residue. If you love an eye product as much as I do then make 2024 the year to explore Skin Elixir’s All Around Eyes Elixir.
Whitfords: Red Algae Cleanser and Make-Up Remover
|PR Product| The new Red Algae Cleanser and Make-Up Remover from Whitfords is formulated to remove all traces of SPF, make-up and daily impurities while nourishing and revitalising the skin. The emulsifying cleanser contains some incredible skin loving ingredients that are perfect for normal to dry skin types and will leave your skin looking and feeling at its very best. I fell in love with the rich texture with its deep orange hue from first use, as it has a good slip over the skin and turns into a beautiful, light milk on contact with water. It leaves my skin feeling clean and fresh, soft to the touch and never dry or flaky in any way. I find myself keep reaching for it time and time again, and thanks to the new reusable pumps, cleansing couldn’t be easier!
*Get 15% off your first order at Whitfords with the code beautyfolio
Wild Ona: Fresh Start Balancing Solid Shampoo
I fell in love with Wild Ona’s solid shampoos and conditioners from the moment I first used them, as they never fail to impress with their performance, great results and exceptional value for money. Even though I enjoy using their whole range of products, I find myself reaching for the Fresh Start Balancing Solid Shampoo with its citrus aroma of grapefruit, lemongrass and bergamot that is fresh yet perfectly balanced. Where I find Fresh Start particularly useful is after using a hair oil pre-shampoo, as it ensures my hair is clean and bouncy with no residue remaining; even with just one wash. My hair is always soft, shiny and full of life, allowing me to go longer between washes compared to a traditional, liquid shampoo. If you’re looking at exploring plastic-free shampoos in 2024, Wild Ona is the brand I highly recommend.
Wild Rising: Tamed Conditioning Hair Oil
Tamed is a versatile product that not only works as a treatment pre-shampoo, but also as both a styling and finishing product too. It helps to hydrate the hair and scalp before shampooing, smooth and offer heat protection before styling and help to ‘tame’ flyaways and provide a beautiful shine when used as a finishing product. As it’s an incredibly lightweight formulation, it is perfect on all hair and scalp types yet will be incredibly beneficial for those with dry, damaged hair. It is one of the only oils I’ve used that doesn’t leave my hair looking limp or greasy after use. If you’re looking for a hair oil that transforms your hair, then Tamed is definitely the one for you.
Do you spot any of your favourites here, or perhaps a product you’d like to try in 2024? Let me know in the comments below
Take Care,
Emma @ Beauty Folio x
Disclaimer: Some of these products were kindly gifted to me free of charge. This has not influenced my thoughts and opinions in this review as everything on Beauty Folio remains #triedandtested with honest feedback on each product that has not been influenced by the brand in any way. I will never give a positive review on a product I don’t believe in just because it has been #gifted, and each product i’ve received free of charge will be labelled as such. The affiliate link and code does not change my thoughts on the product. For more details on gifted products, please check out the disclaimer section on my website which can be found here.
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