I Asked Editors to Share Their Best Beauty Product of 2023—Here's Our List

"No word of a lie, when I read this Bioeffect EGF serum review, I rolled my eyes. How could a serum be highly praised by so many people with very different skin types? Fast-forward a few months and now and I can proudly say I'm one of those people," says social media editor Joy Ejaria. "Bioeffect's serum is the best serum I have ever used. When my skin is in need of some TLC I reach for a drop and this, and within 24 hours it's back to soft and glowy."

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"I know I'm slightly behind the times, only having jumped on the Beauty Pie bandwagon this year, but you know what they say; better late than never! And boy, am I glad I've discovered its products now," says affiliate editor Emily Dawes. "There are a few that I now buy in bulk, but this body cream is the product I could never go back to living without. Considering how many body creams there are on the market, I've never managed to find the perfect one before now—one that genuinely hydrates my skin and actually sinks in rather than sitting on top of it; one that makes my incredibly dry legs feel like they belong on the cover of the swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated; one that smells delicious enough to lick (don't worry, I haven't actually done that... yet). Honestly, I need to find the person who formulated this stuff, because I (and my skin) owe them big time."
 

"True to its name, Skin Changer has been the one thing in my beauty arsenal that has actually upgraded the way my skin looks and feels," says affiliate manager Jerrylyn Saguiped. "Although it's an exfoliating essence, it doesn't feel harsh, and I've been able to use it in my daily routine with no sign of irritation. We've all heard (or asked) the age-old question: are toners really necessary and do they even work? Well, it's a resounding yes from me!"

"2023 was the year that I really focused on my hair health, and I'd heard so much about pre-wash scalp oiling, so I thought I'd give it a go," says junior beauty editor Grace Lindsay. "I went for this oil from Jonathan Van Ness' haircare brand, as I'd used some of the other products before and really liked them. I'm not being dramatic when I say that this has literally transformed my hair. What I love about it is that you apply it to the scalp and only have to leave it in for 10 to 15 minutes before getting in the shower and using your shampoo and conditioner as normal. My hair looks longer and shinier and feels so much stronger thanks to the oil's rosemary extract, turmeric extract and JVN's patented sugarcane-derived hemi-squalane. I don't think I could ever wash my hair without this now."

"I was introduced to Emma Lewisham when testing this product for the Who What Wear Next in Beauty Awards," says branded content editor Rebecca Rhys-Evans. "I have dry but acne-prone skin, which means as much as I love a face oil, they can at times leave me with breakouts. Cleansing oils and balms however are perfect for me—they give me the hydration I need and feel so luxurious to use (instead of say, a micellar water), but because a cleanser is rinsed off, I'm not left with too much of an oily residue on my face. Whilst I've tried and loved many cleansing oils and balms, none quite compare to Emma Lewisham's. I'm a complete brand convert and I also now use its Supernatural Face Crème Riche (£90) as a night cream for extra hydration."

"I've never been much of a bath person until this year when I discovered Mirror Water, which has taken the self-care ritual of bathtime up a notch," says Rhys-Evans. "The scrub is my favourite from the brand; it's so luxurious to use and perfectly preps the skin for fake tan, which I use in abundance during the summer. Also—and I know we shouldn't judge beauty products on their packaging—just look at it! I'm okay with being called shallow for how obsessed I am with how this looks in my bathroom." 

As a beauty editor, I stick to a fine-tuned skincare routine. But the skin on my body? I'm a little lazy when it comes to applying lotions and creams. Using a cold body lotion on my skin after I step out of a warm shower isn't my favourite thing, but thankfully, Naturium's oil-infused body wash has totally transformed my skin—I'm talking unparalleled levels of softness—which for a body wash, is pretty impressive, leaving my skin cleansed and flooded with hydration. Whilst it's a little more expensive than a basic body wash, the huge 500ml bottle genuinely lasts for ages, and I'm not surprised that it's often sold out. If you see it in stock, I'd highly recommend you try it—you can thank me later.

"This serum is without a doubt my favourite discovery of the year," says news writer Natalie Munro. Like a gua-sha massage in a jar, a quick application has me looking chiselled in seconds. How it works is beyond me, but I can tell you that after only a few weeks of use, I found myself casting all other serums aside in favour of this sculpting, brightening and all-round outstanding product."

As someone with chronically dry and irritated lips, I've long been on the search for the perfect lip balm. When Rhode landed in the UK earlier this year, I finally found what my lips had been longing for via the Peptide Lip Treatment. I'd describe it as a balm-gloss hybrid that coats lips in a hydrating and plumping peptide formula, which glides on with a cocooning texture that stays on my lips for hours. I now have different flavours in my bag, on my desk and by my bedside table, as I can't bear to be without it. It comes in a range of delicious flavours (like a chic, adult version of Lip Smackers—IYKYK) but my favourite is probably Vanilla. My sights are now set on collecting the tinted versions.

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"My pick would have to be Beauty Pie’s Supercheek Cream Blush in the shade Sexy Berry; I’ve been using it non-stop for the past few months," says video editor Remi Afolabi. "There’s nothing not to love about this blush. It blends so well with a super-buildable colour that really complements my skin tone, and it gives the nicest glow. The packaging is also gorgeous. I’ll definitely be trying it in different colours."

If I had to single out my favourite fragrance launch of the year, it would have to be Diptyque's L'Eau Papier. Inspired by the simplicity of paper, this musky, slightly sweet and creamy fragrance has captivated my nose—not to mention those around me who ask what perfume I'm wearing. With notes of rice steam, musk, blonde woods and mimosa, it mingles seamlessly into the skin and becomes one with your own scent. 

"This Nars eye shadow primer has been an absolute game-changer for my makeup application," says ecommerce analyst Sophie Cookson. "I like to wear soft eye shadow and eyeliner looks, but if I'm out all day then it just slips off my lids. Now though, my eye makeup lasts all day, from the office to dinner and drinks."

"After hearing so many great things about Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, I took it upon myself to find out if it truly lived up to the hype. Spoiler: it does," says commerce writer Florrie Alexander. "The first day I put it on I got so many compliments about how clear and glowy my skin looked, and as someone who has struggled with acne and redness, that was all I needed to hear to know it was worth the price. The formula feels lightweight on the skin, sets easily for a glowing base all day long and is buildable for the coverage you require."

It's been a while since I've been excited about an eye shadow, but Merit has reignited my love with its Solo Shadows. The creamy, matte formulas are fuss-free and can be patted on with your fingertip for a wash of colour, which sets into place and lasts well throughout the day. The shade range is curated well, with an edit of brown and neutral tones as well as more dramatic shades such as Viper, a deep hunter green. I'm obsessed.

"I'm not exaggerating when I say I've spent the last 18 years trying to find my perfect makeup base," says deputy editor Maxine Eggenberger. "I've flitted from full-coverage foundations to lighter CC and BB creams, never quite finding The One. It wasn't until I was on holiday in Bordeaux during the summer that I found I'd run out of my facial SPF. I wouldn't dream of stepping out without sun protection on, so I hot-footed it to Sephora. I half knew what I would buy—our beauty editor Eleanor Vousden and I had recently been discussing her love of the brand Supergoop!; its Glowscreen formula in particular. With a glowy tint that isn't at all shiny, she told me that it would give me skin a lit-from-within radiance. She wasn't wrong. Since that day, the only products I use on my face are Supergoop! Glowscreen, which I then layer with a Laura Mercier concealer under my eyes and wherever my skin needs diffusing. I never thought I'd feel confident enough to go bare-skinned, and I'm grateful for now being able to do so. My skin feels less congested and fresher, and it just looks so darn glowy that I really look forward to applying the sunscreen every morning and seeing the transformation. Now, I can't bear the thought of putting anything else on my skin."

"This stuff has made the single most noticeable change to my skin than anything else I can remember using for a while," says copy editor Georgia Seago. "I had a press sample and just thought I’d give it a go on a whim when my chin and jawline suddenly broke out in spots (which is pretty common for me from time to time), and I was blown away. I’m not being dramatic when I say it massively calmed down my breakout literally overnight, and within a couple of days, the spots were basically gone. I use it every night now and unlike some similar BHA toners I’ve tried, it doesn’t irritate my skin or dry it out whatsoever. It also seems to help neutralise psoriasis flares on my face; probably owing to a host of moisturising humectants and soothing botanical extracts. And speaking of ingredients, here are just some of the skincare superstars it contains: rose water, salicylic acid, glycerin, allantoin, chlorella vulgaris extract, panthenol, colloidal silver, vitamins C and E and lactic acid. My skin looks so much clearer, calmer and healthier for using this, and I’d really recommend giving it a go if you’re prone to breakouts or other inflammatory skin issues."
 

"Sculpted by Aimee is my new favourite makeup brand. I love everything I’ve tried, and even though my everyday eye look now consists entirely of its products, My Mascara has to be my favourite," says Seago. "It’s just a really, really good mascara that doesn’t smudge, clump or flake and makes my lashes look super long and full. The curved brush makes it foolproof to apply without getting it everywhere and also means it’s much easier to capture and separate every lash for great definition. I’ve heard fairer-skinned people with blonde and red hair rave about the brown shade because it gives the eyes a softer look that better complements their colouring."