I'm a beauty editor – 10 products that went above the rest in August

At a glance: Cooling hydrogel pads steeped in collagen water, hyaluronic acid and ferments, designed to smooth texture and top up hydration in one swipe – or to be left on the cheeks like mini sheet masks.

My experience: I’ve been using them religiously after work. They take down redness, unkink commuter skin and leave my face looking like I’ve made better life choices. In our current “tiny treat” economy (where we prioritise small, affordable luxuries amidst economic uncertainty), they’re the rare purchase that actually feels worth it every single time I use them.

Ideal for: Anyone who wants to press reset on their face the second they shut the front door.

At a glance: A sheer tint laced with hydrating extracts (glycerin, rice, liquorice and marshmallow root) that evens tone without masking skin-kissed skin.

My experience: This is the foundation I grab when I want to squeeze a few more compliments out of my fading tan. I blend it in with my fingers, and it somehow makes my skin look rested without erasing those seasonal freckles. It is a quick-fix routine that gets me out the door faster, which is great when you want to prioritise your beauty rest.

Ideal for: Those early September mornings when you want to look awake but would rather spend the extra minutes in bed.

At a glance: A featherlight oil with centella extract that smooths frizz, adds shine and doubles as heat protection.

My experience: This smells so good I’ve caught myself sniffing my own hair on more than one occassion. Two pumps through the ends leaves hair smooth and touchable (crucially, never flat) and it somehow whisks away all those summer weeks swimming in brackish archipelago water.

Ideal for: Anyone whose hair has survived sun, salt and chlorine and is now begging for a peace treaty.

At a glance: A talc-free loose powder that blurs and sets makeup with a soft matte finish. It’s weightless, finely milled, and designed to reduce shine without flattening skin.

My experience: Brightening powders are the unsung heroes of tired makeup routines. I’ve been dusting this over foundation and it perks things up instantly. Not chalky, not cakey, just that rested look I wish I (actually) woke up with.

Ideal for: Anyone flirting with the matte-skin trend but unwilling to sacrifice the idea that your face should still resemble skin.

At a glance: A liquid shimmer that dries down quickly and holds, here in a new khaki shade that does particularly flattering things for brown eyes.

My experience: I am probably an outlier in this: but I wear glitter most days, and this liquid eyeshadow has quietly become part of the rotation. The olive base helps reduce any party-association and makes this shade more acceptable for your bogstandard Monday, all while maintaining the sparkle makeup-crows like me love. It takes seconds to pat on with a fingertip and doesn’t budge once it’s there.

Ideal for: Brown-eyed magpies who don’t see why sparkle should be saved for special occasions.

At a glance: A gentle-but-functional serum combining 10% azelaic acid with hyaluronic acid, centella, blue tansy and CoQ10 to calm, hydrate and even out blotchy skin.

My experience: As someone with persistent redness and a track record of trying things that only make it worse, I approached this with low expectations and a blotchy cheek. Since then, it’s earned a permanent place in my routine. I use it in the evenings a few times a week and it quietly reins everything in without any sting or sudden flare-ups.

Ideal for: Anyone who’s tired of always carrying colour correcting concealer around in their bag.

At a glance: A fast-absorbing body lotion with a hyaluronic blend, sugarcane-derived squalane and the brand’s signature Cheirosa 62 scent.

My experience: I’m not one for food-inspired fragrances or sticky, sweet lotions, but this one coaxed me into lingering just a little more in summer. It glides on from its pump (hallelujah, no digging in a tub), sinks into the skin in a second, and floors me with that pistachio-salted-caramel vanilla scent that sticks around.

Ideal for: People who love the brand's cult-classified bum bum cream in a more convenient format.

At a glance: A solid “stick” eye treatment with a dual-layer core and outer ring soaked in 20 % Vitamin C and antioxidant Vitamin E, designed to brighten, smooth fine lines, and reduce puffiness around the eyes.

My experience: Leaving the energy of the midnight sun behind (Zara Larsson, thank you for the banger), my under eyes have begun to stage a protest – dark, dull, and tilted toward tired. This eye stick is my sneaky fix. I glide it on and the texture melts into a featherlight balm that doesn’t drag or ball up.

Ideal for: The person who still wants to look more rested than they feel with Scandinavia's decreasing daylight hours.

At a glance: A lightweight spray that shields up to 232°C, with K18’s HeatBounce + Resilicore tech to smooth, condition and defend against UV, colour fade and mechanical stress.

My experience: I’ve just installed a full head of extensions, which are gorgeous but sometimes as high-maintenance as a toddler. This spray has been the only thing standing between me and having “haystack” hair. It mists on cleanly, softens coarse strands and keeps my blow-dry looking perfectly smooth.

Ideal for: Anyone who treats their straightener like an appendage.

At a glance: A powder-in-a-jar that magically transforms into a creamy balm when you rub it between your fingertips. Its 10 % colloidal sulfur, along with niacinamide and l‑carnitine, offer oil control, calm inflammation, and shrink pimples.

My experience: Seasonal zits on my chin? I’ve been scooping, massaging, and pressing this into trouble spots post-cleanse. Within an hour, inflammation puffs down, redness tucks away, and (most importantly) I don’t have to carry around a visible zit patch. It’s the no-bullsh*t spot treatment we love.

Ideal for: Spot-firefighters who want something discreet, pocket-sized, and honestly effective when skin decides to misbehave.