There’s no doubt that the very best part of being a beauty editor is getting all of the latest beauty products sent to your front door for you to try. From bronzers and eye shadows to super serums and cleansers, virtually no new launch goes untested. But with so many new launches every single day, each with claims as groundbreaking as the next, how is anyone actually supposed to know what’s any good?
Well, my friends, that’s exactly what I’m here for. I put my face, body and hair through it all so that I can report back to let you know which of this month’s beauty launches are actually worth having on your radar.
Yes, I’ve spent the majority of March testing, trialling and monitoring every single launch that came my way so that I could put all of the best new products into one convenient space. (What can I say? It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it.) So if you want to find out which products were good enough to make a lasting impression on this tough-to-please editor this month, then look no further. Ahead, you’ll find the 10 best new beauty products for March.
I am somewhat obsessed with body scrubs, so whenever I receive a new one I immediately put it in the shower for testing. This one from Sunday Riley has now taken up permanent residence there, as it’s that good. Honestly, my skin felt the softest it had in a long time after using this. It has just the right amount of grittiness without feeling too harsh, but its real strength lies in the use of salicylic and lactic acids for added chemical exfoliation. If you have rough, bumpy skin that you’d like to smooth, then I urge you to try this. The cute iridescent packaging is a bit of a mood booster too.
Everything I’ve tried from Korean skincare brand Glow Recipe has been brilliant, so I had high hopes for its foray into bodycare. Luckily, it didn’t disappoint. This creamy lotion is packed with skin-quenching hyaluronic acid and gently exfoliating hibiscus AHA to both hydrate and smooth skin. It’s the perfect antidote for rejuvenating tired limbs that are ready to emerge from jeans and joggers and into sunshine season.
Despite instantly thinking of nans when I hear the words cold cream, I was instantly intrigued by how chic this jar looked. Launched in February last year, The Seated Queen aims to simplify skincare for busy people. This nourishing cream can be used as a cleanser, moisturiser or overnight mask. I’ve been using it to remove makeup in place of my usual micellar water, and I’ve been amazed at how well it works. I massage it into dry skin and then remove it with a warm, damp cloth. I love how it’s transformed a somewhat boring part of my nightly skincare routine into more of a luxurious ritual.
Bakuchiol is everywhere right now, and my skin definitely seems to love this trending ingredient. This liquid booster uses it to even skin tone alongside exfoliating BHAs and skin-brightening licorice root extracts to tackle post-breakout scars. I’ve used it alone on areas that have been marked from breakouts as well as mixed with moisturisers and serums and think that my skin is already looking more even and refined.
A clear brow gel might not seem like the most exciting of new beauty launches, but—coming from someone who has tried a lot of brow gels—this one is a game changer. It has a thick bristly brush that combs even the unruliest of brow hairs into place and keeps them there all day. Plus, it coats them in a kind of sheeny gel that makes your brows look healthy and fluffy without feeling sticky or stiff. Basically, I love it.
This latest foundation launch from Dior is so good. It contains floral skincare benefits yet doesn’t compromise on coverage like many of the skincare-foundation hybrid products that I’ve used recently and has a brightening, luminous finish. Whenever I’ve found myself looking particularly tired, I’ve reached for this as a base, and I can’t rave enough about how dewy it is. I also delivered a bottle to my mum to test, and she’s equally in love with it thanks to its hydrating formula.
Other than lipstick, matte formulations are few and far between in my makeup bag. That is until I discovered these new cream blushes from Nars, which deliver a soft, shine-free wash of colour to cheeks without feeling dry or looking chalky. The texture is an unusual mousse-gel hybrid, but it applies evenly and really lasts. In fact, I found that the colour stuck around all day, which never ever happens with dewier cream blushes thanks to my oily skin. My favourite shade has to be Rush, a warm peachy-pink that I can’t wait to wear this spring.
As mentioned previously, when it comes to lipsticks, I still love a good matte formulation, but I think that even those who aren’t big fans would be enthralled with these new lip colours from MAC. Similar to the Nars cream blush, these have a mousse-like consistency—that throwback texture seems to be having a moment right now—that feels comfortable and moisturising on the lips. I love that the sponge applicator creates a slightly blurred effect at the edges of your lips for a modern, low-maintenance way to wear matte colour.
I’m already loyal to my classic GHD IV Styler, so I wasn’t sure that I’d have much use for this supersized one when it landed on my doorstep. Oh, how wrong I was. I have wavy hair that I usually curl to add a more uniform shape, but I’ve been wearing my strands straight nonstop since this arrived. It has 70% larger plates than the original, so it has cut down the time it takes to straighten my thick hair significantly, and the result is so much smoother and sleeker.
I love perfume and am a big fan of the Maison Margiela Replica scents, but it can take a while for a new fragrance to work its way into my regular rotation. However, I’ve been wearing this one every day since it arrived. As the name would suggest, it definitely smells like matcha, but it’s also slightly sweet, woody and floral—unlike any perfume that I’ve smelt before. Honestly, I can’t really describe it, but it’s lightweight and manages to feel both refreshingly springy and cosy and comforting all at once.
Anyone who knows me knows that my incessant dark circles are my biggest beauty bugbear, and trying to find a concealer good enough to take them on is quite a challenge. This revolutionary new launch from L’Oréal Paris doesn’t just deliver enough coverage to disguise my under-eye rings; it also contains a bunch of hydrating hyaluronic acid to moisturise, puff out fine lines and leave skin glowing.
I am not a powder girl at all. I like my skin to glow and have a bit of life in it. I find most powders simply mattify and flatten my complexion, but this new formula from Laura Mercier really took me by surprise. The original is a big celebrity favourite, but I wasn’t a huge fan. However, this new shade adds a colour-correcting, glowing depth to the skin that I am here for.
I am a huge fan of It Cosmetics’ Your Skin But Better CC+, however, I must admit that the coverage is on the heavy side of things. I like my face to look radiant and perfected, but not cakey, and that’s why this new foundation launch is one of my favourite of the year. It’s lightweight and second skin–like but still delivers just enough coverage.
I genuinely lost count of all the great mascaras that launched this month, but this one really stood out. It has an almost whipped texture that makes it feel really light when it’s on. But the results are intense. Think jet-black, volumised lashes that don’t falter at all throughout the day.
These lip stains are far from the heavy liquid lip products I’m used to. They’re lightweight, sheer and seriously long-lasting. Plus, the shade selection is totally dreamy.
Glitter eye shadows are not my thing. In fact, eye shadow isn’t really my thing, but this new palette from Urban Decay has totally unleashed my inner makeup artist. I have been playing around with the beautifully creamy, heavily pigmented shimmering shades like I’m Picasso.
Another mascara launch that took me by surprise was this one from Nars. Usually, volume isn’t something I long for in a mascara as my lashes are naturally thick and stumpy. This stuff is just wonderful. It delivers a super-black, intense finish that is perfect for heavier eye looks.
For those that suffer from spot-prone skin as I do, you need to know about this new serum from La Roche-Posay. The Effaclar cleansers and skin treatments are dermatologist-favourites thanks to their ability to clear up the skin without upsetting it. This lightweight serum has kept my breakouts in check all month long, and I’m just about to start my second bottle.
Herbivore is one of my favourite skincare brands, which is surprising seeing as I’m not a huge fan of natural skincare. This new cleanser is calming, hydrating and the jelly texture is generally a pleasure to use. It’s the sort of product that makes cleansing exciting.
My sensitive skin couldn’t love this CBD-infused serum any more if it tried. It’s hydrating, soothing, calming and has managed to keep my sensitivity flare-ups in check for the last few weeks. It’s been a total game-changer.
Speaking of calming skincare, this serum has also worked wonders. It contains ceramides and sea aster to strengthen the skin barrier and soothe irritation. On top of that, Pai’s new eco-credentials are seriously impressive. I’m a particular fan of the way the website explains how each product is best recycled.
When you have oily skin that’s prone to congestion like I do, finding a suitable moisturiser can be tricky. This new product from Murad is formulated with salicylic acid to gently exfoliate and is totally free of pore-clogging oils. It’s a real winner.
Not only does this cleanser melt away the day’s dirt and makeup, but it also soothes skin and delivers serious hydration while it works. It leaves skin feeling and looking plumped and healthy.
If you like your skincare to pack a seriously hydrating punch and ooze luxury, here’s one for you. Housed in little capsules to keep the contents as potent as possible, this serum is full of skin-loving ceramides and plumping hyaluronic acid to give seriously hydrating results. If rich products that deliver lit-from-within glow are your thing, look no further.
The price makes me weep, but this serum means business. It contains three different types of vitamin C to target ageing, pigmentation and dullness all at once. It’s powerful, and like only a few others I have tried in the past, it actually seems to work. It’s a high price to pay, but it delivers genuinely healthy skin.
Believe it or not, this stuff was formulated with Harvard Medical School. It utilises the powerful antioxidant resveratrol to target signs of ageing without any nasty side effects. I’ve been applying it every single night, and I’m in love.
CeraVe is responsible for some of my favourite cleansers of all time, and this new launch is equally as good as the others. With barrier-protecting ceramides, hyaluronic acid, amino acids and niacinamide, if you’re looking for a no-fuss cleanser that does it all, look no further.
I find super-rich hair masks a bit too much for my fine hair, however, Aveda does this strengthening mask in a light and rich version to cover all hair types. It only takes a couple of minutes to work and leaves my hair next-level shiny and bouncy.
I love a scalp scrub, and this new one from Oribe is up there with my faves ever. Not only does it really target scalp irritation and totally eradicate my dandruff, it also smells divine and looks incredible on my bathroom shelf.
I am not usually one for ultra-feminine, heady scents, but this juice can’t be disliked. With musky ambrette seed, jasmine, vanilla bourbon and cedarwood, it leaves an intoxicating, heady aroma that isn’t overpowering in the slightest. Up next: from makeup to nails, these are spring’s most important beauty trends.
