8 of the best beauty buys that launched in April, from Charlotte Tilbuty to Laneige

We've pinned down all the new standout launches from last month, including Charlotte Tilbury's new kohl pencils
Somehow it's already May — how did that happen? As we swap chunky jackets for linen shirts and iced coffees, we can't help but feel a little nostalgic about April. It was the month that the sun finally came out and summer dresses made their long-awaited return.
April also brought a bunch of brilliant beauty launches — from haircare heroes to glowy skincare must-haves. This month, our beauty writers Lauren, Rachel and Tiffany have rounded up their favourite finds — including Philip Kingsley's latest hair treatment in a juicy nectar and peach scent (hello, summer hair) and ghd's brand-new tool for creating soft, beachy waves.
We've also pinned down the best skincare and makeup launches, from the likes of Charlotte Tilbury and Skin & Tan. Plus, Laneige has dropped a new Lip Sleeping Mask flavour and spoiler: it's green, fresh and you'll want to wear it all day (as well as the night).
Scroll down to see the best beauty buys you'll want to add to your shopping basket, stat.
Lauren's picks:
Skin & Tan Face Glow Advanced Hydrating SPF & Tan Cream - £20
Now that the sun's shining, I've started using fake tan again. I'm comfortable with my pale skin during winter, but a golden glow gives me an extra confidence boost when the weather warms up.
Skin & Tan has been on my list for some time (its setting mist is a real game-changer), so I was eager to try its latest product: the Glow Advanced Hydrating SPF & Tan Cream. This 3-in-1 multitasker is designed to fit seamlessly into your daily routine, serving as a daily moisturiser, providing essential sun protection, and delivering a gradual tan that looks natural and sun-kissed.
Admittedly, I had some reservations at first application — the formula is a bit thick — but it blended in surprisingly quickly, leaving no white residue. It did leave my skin feeling slightly sticky, but nothing too off-putting. It also smells like a gentle reminder of holidays (think subtle coconut and sunshine), and I noticed that my face felt more hydrated after use.
The tan itself took a few days to develop, but the results were worth the wait. It was a healthy, glowing, just-back-from-the-beach kind of colour that made me look instantly more refreshed.
Sure, it's not the lightest texture I've tried, but at £20, it's a solid budget-friendly choice if you're looking for an everyday SPF that delivers a gradual, healthy tan without fuss.
LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask Matcha Bubble Tea - £21
Rain or shine, winter winds or summer heatwaves, my lips are perpetually dry and chapped. It's a curse I've come to accept but one I never stop trying to fix.
So when Laneige's Lip Sleeping Mask went viral, I had to see what the hype was about. I picked up the vanilla version first, and it's been a non-negotiable part of my bedtime routine ever since. A quick swipe before sleep, and I wake up to soft, hydrated lips — no peeling or flaking.
Laneige has since expanded its lineup with a range of delicious flavours, and the latest addition to the family is Matcha Bubble Tea. It smells like a creamy blend of earthy green tea and sweet milk — comforting and refreshing.
Like all the other versions, it's packed with nourishing ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, and murumuru butter to deeply moisturise overnight. And if you're as obsessed with the scent as I am, there's even a matching Glowy Lip Balm for daytime use.
ghd Wave - £159
Now the weather is officially warm, and I've been on the hunt for a way to get that effortless, beachy hair vibe without the need for an actual beach (the struggle of living in London). After much searching, I'm thrilled to report that GHD has just launched its first device designed for exactly that: the ghd Wave.
This clever new tool features three barrels and uses advanced PTC heat technology to maintain the optimal styling temperature of 185°C, ensuring a consistent, gentle heat that helps create loose, natural-looking waves. GHD also claims it delivers 30% more shine and up to twice less frizz — ideal for polished, off-duty waves.
Don't forget, though, to always apply a heat protector spray before you get styling to keep strands healthy and strong all summer long. My personal preference is Beauty Works 10 in 1 Miracle Heat Protect Spray (£8.50), which eliminates frizz, nourishes hair, and prevents potential damage.
Rachel's picks:
Nala's Baby Strawberry Springs Body Lotion - £5.55
Ever since Nala's Baby was launched in 2022, it's become something of a force to be reckoned with amongst parents and skincare fans alike. Because it's made for babies, it's incredibly kind on even the most sensitive of skin, and as a result, it's become a firm favourite amongst adults too.
I'm one of Nala's Baby's stalwart fans, and swears by it for soft and nourished skin without it having to cost the earth. So, I was excited to try the newest scent of the brand's body lotion — Strawberry Springs.
I've been using Vanilla Cloud f or a good while, and the scent is unrivalled, so a more exotic version of my favourite lotion sounded perfect for the upcoming summer months. My skin is sensitive, so this lotion is perfect for me. as it's packed with hydrating apricot oil and soothing shea butter to absorb effortlessly and deliver long-lasting moisture and protection against dryness.
It's infused with strawberry, raspberry leaf, and black currant extracts for a gorgeous smell that layers perfectly with some of my fruitier summer perfumes. I can't say I prefer it to Vanilla Cloud as that's the OG, but it's definitely something I'll be using throughout the warmer spring an summer months.
Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Therapy in Honey Nectar and Peach - £24
As someone who has thick, long and often dry hair, keeping it hydrated and in good condition is paramount. Following advice from a Dyson hairstylist a few years ago, I began to apply Philip Kingsley Elasticizer once a week for a deep condition, and it's seriously helped in the upkeep of healthy, shiny hair with less split ends than I was experiencing before.
Anyone who knows anything about haircare will know that Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Therapy is nothing new, and has been a cult staple amongst many beauty lovers for years. But what is new is a Honey Nectar and Peach version, which hit shelves at the back-end of last month.
Having used this several times now, I can vouch for it having the same restorative properties as the OG, with the added bonus of a delicious, summer scent that lasts for days after washing.
Used before shampooing, it's clinically proven to reduce breakage by up to 46% after just one wash. It also adds instant shine, and makes your hair feel super soft. The only downside is you do need to leave it on to work its magic for 10-20 minutes before washing, but if you can make the time, it's well worth it.
Tiffany's picks:
Belif The True Cream, Aqua Bomb - £34.53
The craze of Korean beauty skincare is showing no signs of slowing down. One of the 'OG' K-beauty brands that I encountered in Southeast Asia is Belif, which uses apothecary traditions and herbal ingredients to restore skin conditions. I was excited when I found out Belif has landed in the UK — but especially for its bestseller, The True Cream Aqua Bomb.
The gel-cream moisturiser is loved by makeup artists in Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, who use it as a makeup primer before applying foundation. A blend of hydrating botanical extracts, glycerin, and macadamia nut oil bind moisture to the skin, plumping up the skin, restoring elasticity, and creating a dewy glow.
The Aqua Bomb range also includes a pillow-proof Sleeping Mask (£51.73), a refreshing jelly-to-foam Jelly Cleanser (£22) and a hydrating Toner (£21).
The Outset Lip Oasis - £22
Scarlett Johansson knows a thing or two about keeping lips looking luscious. Her clean beauty brand, The Outset, recently developed the popular Lip Oasis, which delivers intense moisture and high shine without that sticky, greasy feeling.
The brand launched three tinted versions to give shoppers' lips a sheer hint of colour with fruit-flavoured scents — Mirage (blackberry), Sun Kiss (orange-red) and Dune (nude).
It nourishes the lips, and the Maxi-Lip technology is also proven to enhance volume and contour over time. Scarlett added: 'The pigment also helps to camouflage any lip discolouration — think of it like the gloss equivalent of concealer for your lips.'
Charlotte Tilbury Rock 'n' Kohl Kajal Eye Pencils - £25
Charlotte Tilbury has added new kohl pencils to its ever popular makeup range. The new Rock 'n' Kohl Kajal Eye Pencils are the perfect solution for those wanting 'effortless, sultry smokey eyes' in seconds.
The new addition is a major improvement to Charlotte's original Kohl eyeliners, which launched in 2013. The new Kajal Eye Pencils are highly pigmented, ultra-creamy, and waterproof. In a test, 33 participants said their eyeliner lasted up to 28 hours on the eyelid and 10 hours on the waterline.
The three matte shades are Bedroom Black, Barbarella Brown, and Fig Smoulder, and the metallic shades are Smokey Bronze, Hypnotic Peacock, and Sapphire Nights. While reviews have yet to come in, Charlotte gave tips to customers on using the new Kajal Eye Pencils: "Line, Smude, and Smoulder. Apply along the lash line and in your waterline, smudge it out using the built-in smudger brush, or create Charlotte's iconic feline flick."

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Wales Online

11 hours ago

• Wales Online

Welsh boxing's Lauren Price on why sport makes her 'selfish', her inspiration and wedding plans

Welsh boxing's Lauren Price on why sport makes her 'selfish', her inspiration and wedding plans In an interview with WalesOnline, the 30-year-old reflects on how she finds herself in the best place she's ever been Lauren Price says she is in a good place (Image: (Photo by) ) When Lauren Price kissed her then friend Carlie Jones during a night out six years ago she had no idea Carlie had such strong feelings for her. Carlie later admitted she'd always been in love with the former Wales footballer turned champion boxer, Lauren. The pair are in so many ways different. Lauren, from Ystrad Mynach, came out when she was 13, and Carlie much later. Lauren is a professional sports star while Carlie runs a home care company. Lauren has to spend her working week in Sheffield training every day, while Carlie stays at their home in Blackwood. ‌ The normal things couples do like eating out together aren't an option while Lauren trains for the next fight, but they are head over heels and newly-engaged. Next year they will marry at Sant Ffraed House near Abergavenny. ‌ "I've found my person," Lauren tells WalesOnline in an interview to mark her winning this year's Pinc List, our list of Wales' most influential LGBTQ+ people which you can read here. Wedging the interview in between a morning run and afternoon training at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, she spoke about her hopes for the remaining years in boxing, her inspiration, and the couple's love story. "We were friends for more than 10 years," Lauren says of Carlie, before six years ago they kissed on a night out. Remaining friends, Carlie had gone to Lauren's pro fights. Article continues below "We had been in different relationships but then we were single again and in each other's lives and it just happened. That was the first time Carlie had been with a woman in that way. She cared a lot about what people thought of her, whereas I couldn't have been with someone and hid it. I wasn't going to hide the fact I was with a woman. That's not me. 'We hadn't actually brought that kiss up at all over the years but not long ago I did remind her of it. She told me she'd always been in love with me. I told her I felt the same way and told her everything about how I couldn't have been with someone who hid it but she told me she was ready. She totally surprised me because she has changed, she doesn't care so much anymore about what people think. 'I think sometimes we are affected by others having a stereotypical view of the world, but I'm not bothered about that and Carlie isn't bothered anymore either. What is normal? My world is normal to me. I'm very proud to be an out gay woman and I really just see it as living my life. PDA (public display of affection) is normal to me now. I used to think about it more and worry about it more. ‌ 'Before I didn't hide it but I wouldn't have shown it. Now I feel different about that. I think it's important. My love for Carlie is more important to me than anything and if I want to hold her hand or kiss her in public then I will. Life is short. "Love is a mad thing. When you've got it it's amazing. I feel so lucky I've found my person and to celebrate that when you want to is important.' It was that sentiment that the Pinc List panel wanted to recognise - someone living their life, unapologetically out, and inspiring in their strength, physically in her case but also mentally as she battles keyboard warriors attacking her over her gender and sexuality. ‌ "I do get the odd comment like 'dy**' or whatever it may be, even down to the way I dress," she says. "I get: 'You shouldn't be a boxer, you should be in the kitchen' or comments about female boxing. Most of the time it's middle-aged men giving me this abuse behind their keyboards. I'm not sure they'd ever do it to my face. 'You're always going to get it. I knew that when I got into it. To be honest I don't look at any of it anymore. It's sad the way the world is and people take their own lives over this stuff. I just focus on what those who are in my circle think of me and I keep them close.' Lauren, now 30 and in the prime of her boxing career off the back of her win over Natasha Jonas to add the WBC and IBF welterweight world titles to her WBA crown, told school friends she was lesbian when she was just 13. ‌ 'It sounds young but I was playing older age group football at the time and a lot of those girls around me were gay and out and proud and that was great for me to see. I was lucky with that. So coming out was okay for me. 'I also did have a bit of an attitude about me, I will admit. If anyone had said anything to me that was hurtful or negative I certainly could look after myself. I was always known as just one of the boys I suppose. 'I know not everyone has such positive experiences. I get sad when I hear of people who feel they have to hide it or people who have had to live a large part of their life not being themselves. ‌ 'I speak a lot about my inspiration Kelly Holmes. I spoke to her not too long ago for a documentary about all of this stuff and her experience in the army and feeling she had to keep her sexuality a secret to avoid being kicked out of the army. It was awful. Crazy stuff.' Lauren, who was brought up by her grandparents Derek and Linda, without whom she says she would have turned out a 'wrong'un', had worried what they would think. 'I wasn't scared as such when I came out, but what I was scared of was telling nan and grandad. Nan did tell me it was just a phase, but she soon came around. 'Grandad was great. I was really taken aback by it all to be honest. I was worried because my grandad was very old school. I was thinking: 'What's he going to say? What's he going to think?' But I couldn't have hoped for a better response." ‌ Derek died in November 2020 aged 80. He had been suffering with dementia. 'Everytime I go into the ring I know he is there looking down on me,' she says. 'That's what gets me through. I know he's with me in spirit. 'I've always said it'd be for them; for all the years they supported me and all the money they spent sending me around the world and getting me as good as I am. It'd be for them.' The scar which crosses her forehead above her left eye isn't from boxing. It's a football injury from her days playing for Wales' youth sides as a centre half. Her best decision was leaving her football career - which took her to the senior international stage - to focus all her efforts on boxing. ‌ 'I prefer the individuality of boxing, I prefer the control. I train on my own, I win on my own and I lose on my own. No excuses. I like that. You obviously don't get that in football. I don't want to have to rely on others.' No excuses means no stone is left unturned across each week of the year to ensure she is top of her game. 'It's hard. People don't really see that side of things. As well as being away from my loved ones it's actually quite a lonely life too. That's why I'm so grateful for Carlie because she gets it. I know being with me isn't easy with my lifestyle. 'Even when I am home at weekends, I can't go out for a steak and chips or to a restaurant or get a takeaway. She's seen me now through two major fights and she recognises it and understands it. I think it takes a lot of understanding and patience. ‌ 'I don't want to be selfish but I suppose I am - you have to be to achieve a certain standard of success. Boxing is my life and it's such a short career and I've got to take everything from it that I can before it's over. I see myself as still climbing the ladder and wanting to do great things.' And what about when it's all over? 'Maybe we'll have kids down the line when I'm back home and retired. We've discussed that, although we're not dead set on it. We're happy if it's just us, for sure, but we've spoken about freezing our eggs and seeing where life takes us. I want to make sure we're financially in a good place prior to that. 'I've been away from home on a weekly basis since my football days. I've been in Sheffield coming up to 10 years now, up and down the motorway. It'll be nice not to have to do that all the time. ‌ 'I do definitely still want to be involved in boxing though after I retire. I've been in sport all my life and I'd be lost without it. I'm thinking I might open up my own academy for the next generation. I'd like to do that.' She doesn't know who she will fight next but a meeting with WBO champion Mikaela Mayer could happen this year. After that she might let herself free up some time for wedding planning. 'It's been a lovely time. Our families have been amazing. We're so lucky we've got a really supportive bubble around us. We've booked the wedding and it's all sorted for next year. Article continues below 'When the engagement came out we did get some hate. I did warn Carlie about that. Sadly it's part of being in the public eye, but she got it straight away. I do find it hard for her because she's not used to it but she gets it. It just shows there's still a long way to go. But we've come so far. The support I've had and I've received throughout my life, all I can be is thankful - not just to my family and friends and people back home but the LGBTQ+ community.'

Daily Mirror

12 hours ago

• Daily Mirror

Real Housewives star's grim surgery horror as her flesh left dying after op

EXCLUSIVE. WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES. Real Housewives of Cheshire star Lauren Simon has spent the past three years dealing with the devastating and painful consequences of a 'botched' boob job in Turkey Lauren Simon, star of The Real Housewives Of Cheshire, has spent the past three years dealing with the devastating and painful consequences of a 'botched' boob job in Turkey. The 53-year-old visited a clinic in Istanbul to reduce her 34DD chest down to a 34D, after being encouraged to go abroad by a friend. Now that she's nearing the end of her reconstructive treatment, Lauren exclusively reveals to new the extent of her ordeal to help educate other women thinking of going under the knife abroad. ‌ 'I can totally understand why someone who's had three kids might want to boost their confidence and pay £2,000 in Turkey rather than £10,000 in the UK, but if something seems too good to be true, it probably is,' she says ruefully. ‌ Hi, Lauren! Why go to Turkey for your breast reduction operation? I was typical Lauren – jump first, think later. I went with a friend, involved in a plastic surgery business out there, so I thought I'd be OK. I'd never had invasive surgery and I thought, 'I've had two kids, I'll just have my boobs put back where they're supposed to be.' Did you do much research into where you were going? No. I told friends, and everybody said I was crazy, but I didn't listen. I'm very headstrong. Also, once you've gone through a tough divorce like I have, you think you're in control and do whatever you want. I felt invincible, if I'm being honest. My mum said, 'Don't go' but I wouldn't listen. I thought, 'I'm going with a friend, I'll be fine.' What happened when you got there? ‌ I flew to Bodrum to have my teeth done and, then flew to Istanbul for breast surgery and to get a bit taken off my nose. I was taken to a very swish hospital, full of people wearing Chanel, looking like movie stars. I was on the VIP floor and, at 7am, the surgeon, who I hadn't seen or spoken to, came in and said, 'Right, what are we doing?' I showed him a picture of what I wanted my nose to look like (of Megan Fox – who takes in a picture of Megan Fox? Ridiculous!) and said I wanted my breasts one size smaller, with an implant that lifts them. So you went in for both surgeries. What happened when you woke up? ‌ I realised I'd had a reaction to the general anaesthetic. I was so swollen, so I stayed in for an extra day but then went back to the villa where I was staying with other women who were also getting things done. You were all going in for surgery at the same time? ‌ Yes, six women, including myself, staying in the same villa, with a nurse checking on us. All had numerous surgeries on the same day. Most were having breast reductions, tummy tucks, full-body lipo and Brazilian butt lifts. I had different needlework on the left and right breast, so I don't think I even had the same surgeon. Did you notice more problems straight away? Yes, my left nipple was purple, and the breast was about three times the size of the other, and boiling hot. I knew something was wrong. I went back into the hospital a few days later and, when they opened the bandages, the whole nipple was black – the flesh was dying. ‌ That sounds so scary. You must have felt far from home... I refused to fly home because my nipple was getting blacker and blacker. They admitted me and came in every two-and-a-half hours to have blood pricked back into the nipple to help blood flow. I ended up staying in Turkey for a month, barely sleeping and in a lot of pain. The first few weeks I was just crying. The last two weeks, I was in and out of hospital to get the infection treated. ‌ What did you do each day? I'd go for a walk in the morning, then watch TV. I also did a lot of meditation and listened to self-help podcasts. I had to get strength from somewhere very deep to be able to stay sane. What happened when you got home? ‌ I'm really lucky that I found some amazing doctors here, and I had a surgery last week with a doctor at The Pall Mall Surgery. A lot of UK doctors don't like to deal with surgeries from abroad, and I understand why. I was in a lot of pain and had capsular contracture, where scar tissue tightened around the implants. It was such an ordeal. What advice would you give to someone considering surgery abroad? If you're going to a surgeon that's reputable, and you are speaking to and FaceTiming them, that's one thing. If you're going somewhere that just does Instagram adverts, don't do it. That said, I understand that for someone on a normal salary, there's still a big difference in costs, so it's about educating people to help them make sensible decisions and making the UK market more competitive. ‌ Your daughters, Gigi and Kika, must have been very worried. They didn't want me to go but they're 21 and 17 now. They realise we all make mistakes. ‌ I think they were just happy to have me home. It's put them off having their boobs done, though! They might tell me I'm stupid, but they'll always support me. Have you sworn off surgery? Well, it took me so long to decide to get something done. I'm in my fifties, now. I think eating healthy and going to the gym is the way forward. It's definitely changed how I live and work. ‌ You haven't lost your confidence, though. No, I'm actually very body positive. My clothes are always too short and too tight, but I always think I look amazing! And is there anyone special on the scene? I'm not in a relationship at the moment – I'm... interviewing! But I think I'll wait for the sports bra to come off and the sexy lingerie to come back before jumping into anything.

The Independent

a day ago

• The Independent

I've tried Charlotte Tilbury vs Urban Decay setting sprays in a heatwave, here's which is best

For more than a decade, Urban Decay's all nighter setting spray (£23.60, has been a holy grail product that's achieved cult status for its staying power and long wear. Charlotte Tilbury's airbrush flawless setting spray (£32, is newer but equally loved, and claims to set, hydrate and blur. Both setting sprays are staples in my make-up bag, so with the arrival of an early summer heatwave, I've put both to the test to see which can stop my make-up melting away through tube journeys, a day at the office and after-work drinks. Most make-up setting sprays, like these two, work through a polymer dissolved in a solvent. When you spray it on your face, the solvent evaporates, leaving behind a polymer 'film' that locks in make-up and provides some waterproofing. The solvent can also diffuse your make-up slightly to make it look more blended. So far, so similar. Both products are waterproof, and both promise 16-hour make-up insurance. There's so there's nothing left to do but put them in a head-to-head trial in a heatwave. How I tested I often reach for both setting sprays and use them throughout different seasons, so I already had a good sense at how they'd perform. Urban Decay's all nighter has been my go-to setting spray for almost a decade now. I've tried many others, but I always go back to it. It's kept my make-up firmly in place on my oily skin through long-gone university nights out, destination weddings and many a day at the office. If I'm wearing make-up, chances are the last step in my routine will be this setting spray. Charlotte Tilbury's airbrush flawless setting spray is a newer addition to my make-up routine and I love it for adding glow and a boost of hydration. I put both setting sprays to the test in the middle of a June heatwave. I applied my make-up at 7am and didn't reapply throughout the day when I tested them, and I kept a close eye on if my base went patchy, cream blush disappeared, or eye liner smudged.