Keeping up with the beauty world is no easy feat, but thanks to our Best Beauty Buys roundup, you can keep your finger on the pulse of what’s hot in the world of skincare, makeup, body care and beyond. For July’s Best Beauty Buys, expect scents that will whisk you off around the world, the best body boosters in the business, and the ultimate products to protect your skin come sun and heat, as tried and tested by our resident beauty expert, Frankie.

de Mamiel Summer Facial Oil – £80

You might associate dryness with harsh winter weather, but summer heat and humidity can also seriously stress out skin, and that’s where this amazing oil from de Mamiel comes to the rescue. Specifically blended to support skin during the warmer months, it blends cooling lemon seed with nutrient-rich prickly pear, sea buckthorn, and moisturising evening primrose and rosehip seed oils to deeply hydrate, soothe, and give skin back its glow. Not forgetting ylang ylang oil, which helps balance sebum levels and prevents shiny, sweaty skin from ruining your day. A true summer saviour.

Murad Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum – £72

Speaking of summer skin problems, sun exposure is the leading cause of those dreaded dark spots, so now’s the time to invest in a pigmentation fighting powerhouse that protects skin from the elements. One such product? Murad’s new Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum, which promises to drastically reduce the appearance of dark spots in just four weeks while providing antioxidant protection and gently removing dead surface cells thanks to a combination of stabilised vitamin C and glycolic acid. Plus, it boasts a clever dual-chamber delivery system to ensure maximum efficacy, with just one pump delivering the perfect dose. 

RMS Living Glow Face&Body Powder – £37

To really maximise that summer glow, you need to invest in this new highlighting powder from RMS. Made with the purest ingredients and free from harsh additives, its superfine pigments glide onto the skin to impart a sun-kissed glow so perfect and natural you’ll have people convinced that you’ve somehow managed to jet off to the Maldives. Its gorgeous golden champagne hue works on all skin tones and can be used as a highlighter to accentuate your cheekbones and eyes, or to create a radiant glow all over your body.

Sol de Janeiro Sol Cheirosa 62 Eau de Parfum – £78 

The brand that brought us the cult sell-out Bum Bum cream has finally launched its first ever perfume, and we can safely say it’s been well worth the wait. Transporting you straight to the beaches of Brazil with just a spritz, it’s basically that summer holiday smell in a bottle, with decadent notes of vanilla, caramel, jasmine, sandalwood, and pistachio. Addicted is an understatement. So, if COVID-19 has quashed those summer vacay plans, make this your new scent must-have and take a tropical trip without a plane ticket.

Monat Unknot Detangler – £30
If you’re counting down the days until your back in the hairdresser’s chair (we feel you), then show your locks some love with this lightweight detangling conditioner. Perfect for locks that haven’t been trimmed for a while, or for those of us who take working from home to mean working from bed (guilty), it strengthens, hydrates, and restores softness while fighting off frizz and protecting against colour fading, all without a harmful or toxic ingredient in sight. Instead it’s packed full of nourishing hair helpers including pea extract, activated botanical oils, and plant-based lipoprotein technology to transform tresses from root to tip and to turn straw-like strands into smooth, glossy locks. Love.

Esse Toner Plus – £49

Probiotic skincare is all the rage right now thanks to its ability to create a healthy ecosystem, prevent attacks from aggressors, and slow down ageing. And when it comes to a toner that packs a serious pro and prebiotic punch, it doesn’t get much better than Esse’s. Pioneers in biotechnology, its ground-breaking probiotic formula delivers beneficial microbes to feed the skin with nutrients, in turn stimulating immune defences and strengthening the barrier function. In a nutshell, it helps keep skin healthy and working better, all with just a spray.

Maui Moisture Calming + Frangipani Body Wash – £8.99

Wash away the day with one of the most beautifully scented body washes we’ve ever tried. Despite being 100% vegan and sulfate-free, it massages into skin to form a rich lather to gently rinse off daily dirt and grime while scenting skin with the sweet smell of frangipani flowers. Thanks to aloe vera water, exotic orchid extract, and bright cypress oil, it also nourishes and moisturises skin to impart a healthy glow from top to toe. 

Top tip: Use with the Frangipani Dry Body Oil for the ultimate softening and scenting dream duo.

Crabtree & Evelyn Revitalise & Polish Pulp Face Mask – £40

Nothing beats a good old face mask session, especially when you’re guaranteed smoother, softer, radiant skin in just 20 minutes… This fruity favourite from Crabtree & Evelyn is crammed with fruit extracts and oils, alongside apple fibre and apricot seed powder, to buff away dry, dead cells while feeding skin with fruity goodness to hydrate, replenish, and slow down signs of ageing. Simply massage into clean, dry skin, leave for 20 minutes, and let it work its transformative magic.

Living Proof Hair Masks – £33

Speaking of mighty masks that work in minutes, Living Proof’s new lock lovers take just five minutes to transform tresses from lifeless to lustre. For hair that’s prone to frizz and in need of some hydration, the Intense Moisture Mask is just the ticket – replenishing the natural protective layer to keep pesky frizz and flyaways at bay. For dull locks in dire need of a beautifying boost, the Weightless Mask enhances shine while helping make manes more manageable, soft, and smooth. Or, if all those months of closed salons has led to dryness and damage, the Restore Repair Mask reduces breakage by 70% after just one use and restores damaged cuticles. The only problem? Which to pick. Which is why you’ll see all three on our shower shelves.

Jurlique Moisture Plus Rare Rose Lotion – £35

Swapping to a lighter summer-friendly moisturiser shouldn’t mean compromising on hydration, and Jurlique couldn’t agree more. Its new Moisture Plus Rare Rose Range features four petal-packed products made with unique roses bred by the brand’s award-winning grower in South Australia and grown on Jurlique’s very own farm. Formulated to maximise moisturisation, this revolutionary rose extract is microencapsulated using time release technology, so it continues to nourish and hydrate all day long. If that wasn’t impressive enough, the Moisture Plus Rare Rose Lotion is the brand’s lightest ever moisturiser, but still softens, soothes, and hydrates even the most dehydrated of skins, with 93% of testers agreeing their skin felt instantly hydrated, refreshed and smooth. Sold.

Institut Esthederm Bronz Repair Sunkissed – £56

If you thought strong sun protection = chalky white skin and thick gloopy formulas, think again, because Institut Esthederm’s new Bronz Repair Sunkissed offers high levels of UVA and UVB protection and imparts a gorgeous, golden glow while it’s at it. Not to mention it helps prevent premature ageing, wards off pigmentation and encourages an even-toned, longer-lasting tan thanks to patented global cellular protection technology and moisturising ingredients. All sans greasy residue or sticky white film – promise.

words by Frankie Rozwadowska

Read more: Vitamin C Is A Must-Have For Summer Skincare… Here’s Why