January might be the month to slow down in our personal lives, but guess who’s working around the clock at any given time of the year? Beauty brands, of course.

Now is actually the perfect moment to take a good look at your skincare and makeup shelves and do a little winter cleaning. Are there any products that need the boot? Anything that was totally not worth the money? We don’t believe in buying products just for the sake of it – but this month has seen some truly buzz-worthy launches, and we’re here to spill all the gossip.

Here are some of our favourites across skincare, haircare, perfumes, and makeup. Brand-new, fresh out of the oven, and ready to replace that underwhelming cream you had such high hopes for. These are some of our top picks:

1. Inkey List Starter Retinol Serum and Advanced 0.2% Retinal Serum

If you dabble with retinols and haven’t had a skin disaster yet, you can count your lucky stars. This acid is potent. Whether you’re just starting your retinol journey or nervous about jumpstarting your skin into a volcanic eruption, gradual increments are key, and the new products from The Inkey List can help.

The brand has just dropped two new retinoids: the Starter Retinol Serum (perfect for beginners or anyone with sensitive skin) and the Advanced 0.2% Retinal Serum (for seasoned users). The Advanced 0.2% Retinal Serum is said to work up to 11x faster than standard retinol for visible anti-ageing results. We’re a week in, and it’s been smooth sailing so far – already eyeing a graduation to Advanced in a few weeks.

Price: £12.00 for the Starter Retinol Serum and £15.00 for the Advanced 0.2% Retinal

Where to buy: uk.theinkeylist.com

2. Hello Klean scalp serum

Over the last few months, it seemed like all roads lead to scalp health – and it’s a conversation long overdue. Scalp products now abound, but when we hear of a launch from Hello Klean – the leading shower-care brand created specifically to tackle the effects of hard water on hair, skin, and scalp – we’re all ears.

The real culprit of an unhappy scalp isn’t always your products, it’s the high-mineral water in your shower. To tackle this, Hello Klean has launched two new serums:

• The Full Control Anti-Thinning Serum uses peptides, green tea extract, zinc, and ginseng to energise roots and support stronger regrowth.
• The Fresh Start Anti-Dandruff Serum contains salicylic acid, niacinamide, and allantoin to gently exfoliate, soothe irritation, and reduce flaking.

Long-term results are still to be seen, but right out of the gate, both serums feel incredibly lightweight, absorb almost instantly, and leave the scalp feeling calm and hydrated.

Price: Each serum costs £30.

Where to buy: helloklean.com

3. Gatineau Collagene Expert Melting Cleansing Balm

We love a cleansing balm so effective it washes away our stresses and sorrows. Removing stubborn mascara is one thing, leaving our skin feeling fresh and nourished, even after all the violent scrubbing, is another. So we’re unashamedly enthusiastic about any new launch in the cleansing balm world.

GATINEAU, the Parisian skincare house known for anti-ageing and barrier-supporting formulas, has recently introduced its Collagene Expert™ Melting Cleansing Balm.

This gliding, cushiony gel-balm formula melts from balm to oil to light milk, dissolving makeup, SPF, and impurities (even waterproof mascara) without leaving a greasy residue. It’s also packed with ten lightweight oils and butters and a Phyto-Collagen Complex and polypeptides to help smooth fine lines, refine wrinkles, and firm skin for a plumped, radiant finish.

Price: £48.00

Where to buy: gatineau.com

4. Floral Street x Bridgerton Enchanted Masquerade limited edition fragrance

Dearest gentle reader, this may well be the fragrance of the season. If ever there were a fragrance to transport you straight to a Regency ballroom, it is Floral Street’s Enchanted Masquerade. Launched on the 29th of January, the limited-edition fragrance was created in collaboration with Bridgerton to mark the show’s fourth season.

Sparkling top notes of pear and mandarin give way to a heart of jasmine, gardenia and rose, giving it a romantic but modern floral character. Finally, there’s a warm base of cedarwood, patchouli, and skin musk. The bottle is gorgeous, too – adorned with vibrant, romantic florals in purples, greens, and creams.

Price: £78 for 50ml

Where to buy: Floral Street

5. H&M x E.l.f. eau de parfum collection

Two of our most trusted and loved high-street joined forces to turn cult makeup staples into actual perfume. Yep, that’s right – H&M and e.l.f. are teaming up on a limited-edition eau de parfum collection that reimagines e.l.f.’s most iconic products – Power Grip, Halo Glow and Camo – through scent, marking H&M’s first-ever beauty collab and e.l.f.’s first foray into fragrance.

Each fragrance mirrors the personality of its namesake. Power Grip Salty Drip is fresh and mineral-forward, with eucalyptus, cedarwood and sea salt. Halo Glow Luminous Cloud has magnolia, vanilla and amber, landing squarely in the cozy, wearable sweet spot. Camo Blend Nude Canvas is warmer, skin-like and magnetic, built around vanilla, musk and palo santo.

The Make it Make Scents collection has sit select H&M stores and is available online since the 29th of January, backed by a high-energy campaign and a few playful accessories that lean into the crossover.

Price: £19.99 each perfume (50ml)

Where to buy: H&M

6. TIRTIR Lip and blush stick

We love a multi‑use makeup product, and even in the deluge of hybrid makeup that’s flooding every online shelf, we still get genuinely excited when a fresh double duty product lands. TIRTIR’s newest launch is a Mood Glider Lip & Blush Stick – a creamy, glide-on marvel that’s part balm, part pigment, and all about freedom of use: cheeks, lips, or really wherever you fancy a hit of colour.

One swipe delivers a healthy, lit-from-within flush, but the texture is totally buildable, so if you want a bold pop of colour, you can go wild. The shades run the gamut from soft rose to punchy roxy red, with a handful of safe in-betweens. The official launch is later in February, but consider this your exclusive first look – already live on the website for anyone who wants to get ahead of the storm.

Price: £15.00

Where to buy: tirtir.global

7. KOSAS

When it comes to highlighter, this heavenly product should shine so bright you’d think the gods are peering down on us when we wear it. But you want to avoid the fake, chalky sheen powders. KOSAS Shiny Objects just launched on the 31st of January (exclusively at Sephora), and it seems to be the perfect hybrid: a wet-gloss highlighter that melts into skin, morphing into a glassy, translucent glow that somehow feels both natural and ethereal.

It uses wet-pressed powder technology, which combines wet and dry ingredients without baking them, to create a soft, bouncy texture that applies like a cream but wears like a powder. Offered in five stunning shades, from sun-kissed bronzed copper to a blinding iridescent blue-green, this highlighter can be applied wherever you wish – cheeks, collarbones, anywhere you want to glow.

Price: £32.00

Where to buy: Sephora

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