2024 came with a lot of great beauty products. I love testing things, it's one of the most exciting facets of being a beauty editor. The innovations are endless, and there's countless founders who inspire me with their dedication to making sure people have the tools to feel like the best versions of themselves.

With that being said, there's a lot out there — even I get overwhelmed. But it's almost December, and now feels like the right time to compile my edit of 2024's best beauty products. Most of them are new launches, but there's a few products that are just new to me. Biologique Recherche serum, Acne Studios fragrance, Merit foundation, dry shampoo powder that you apply with a brush... my 18 favourites, all listed below.

Merit The Minimalist

This is the easiest foundation/concealer/base product ever. It's creamy, blends with little to no effort, and has a finish that's imperceptible to the naked eye. Just good skin in less than a minute. I only wish it was bigger...

Dr Lara Devgan Platinum Lip Plump

This applies like a light gloss but within minutes, turns your lips a healthy shade of newborn baby pink (the flush is caused by niacin). You can literally see it working in real time. It doesn't irritate the lips like a lot of classic plumping formulas do, either. It's a grown up version.

@russhmagazine Try it tuesday! @Dr. Devgan Scientific Beauty Platinum Lip Plump from @MECCA COSMETICA - just wait til the end 👄 @emilyalgar #tryittuesday #lipplumper #platinumlipplump ♬ MILLION DOLLAR BABY (VHS) - Tommy Richman

YSL Loveshine

This is everything you want in a lip product: hydration, easy application, colour — but not too much — plus a chic bullet. There's nothing worse than a lipstick that dries out or crumbles; this does neither of those things. I reach for it all the time.

Tronque Firming Body Butter

Tronque is a beautiful brand from New Zealand, founded by Tanne Snowden, who wanted a clean set of body products to use while she was dealing with endometriosis. The ingredients in this butter are beautiful — there's ceramides, niacinamide, glycerin and mamaku, a fern traditionally used in Māori medicine. It's creamy and plush but quickly absorbed for soft, glowing skin. I just finished my second tub.

Davines Replumping Hair Serum

I have super soft, fine hair but this serum works miracles. It 'plumps' each strand, leaving it fuller and bouncier. I find it helps to improve air drying and heat styling, too.

Dries Van Noten Rock The Myrrh

2024 was the year of fragrance and this is my top pick. It's resinous, sticky, mystical and woody. It's also bold, you can smell it from a distance — my favourite type of scent. I only got it a few months ago but every time I've worn it, someone has asked what it is.

Acne Studios par Frederic Malle

This scent is divisive, a lot of people actually don't like it... But there's something about it that I'm drawn too. It's sweet and syrupy but in a metallic way; I've never experienced a perfume quite like it. When it initially hits the skin, it's heavy on the aldehydes (this is where the metallic note comes from) but it softens to a peachy, soapy, musky kind of smell. It's cloying, but in a good way.

Fara Homidi Essential Face Compact

This compact is incredible. It has two formulas inside: a veil and a shine baume. The veil is a little bit like a creamy matte concealer but with less pigment, while the shine baume delivers a natural-looking sheen. I've always been amazed at how makeup artists can perfect the skin without using much product, but this palette gives that effect. It doesn't look or feel like a standard base formula, but the difference is extremely noticeable.

Matiere Premiere Crystal Saffron Hand & Body Wash

This liquid soap is so powerfully scented it could almost replace your fragrance. It smells a little bit like Baccarat Rouge: it's bright, rich, opulent. I wouldn't choose it as a personal fragrance but it's unbeatable in the shower or on the sink. I guarantee every house guest will comment.

Pearl Marine Collagen Ceremonial Grade Matcha

Whenever I work from home (which is basically every day) I dissolve a big spoon of this in hot water and drink it over ice. Even though I'm not a matcha person, it's quickly become my favourite way to consume collagen. Pearl is really clean — the fish they source from can all be traced to wild caught Norwegian salmon — and I definitely notice an improvement in my hair, skin and nails when I take it. You can turn it into a latte but I prefer it without milk.

Crown Affair The Dry Shampoo

This is the only dry shampoo I have ever used that doesn't leave my hair feeling chalky or powdery. The application takes some getting used to — the brush seems to deposit a lot less product than if you were using an aerosol — but I prefer it that way. It gets rid of clumpy, oily roots, leaving my hair soft and touchable. It also smells fresh, like watered down citrus.

Salt & Stone Santal & Vetiver Natural Deodorant

While I don't really believe in 'clean' beauty, I do try and use organic oils and the like on my body. For the most part, I also prefer the idea of natural deodorant. Anyone that's been down this path will agree that most of them don't work, but this is the exception. It has tapioca starch to control sweating, plus probiotics to prevent odour. It's also scented, which obviously helps. I've only tried Santal & Vetiver, but I think it's nice (and reviews tell me it's the crowd favourite). It's alcohol and aluminium free, but it does contain fragrance, in case that's of concern.

Ikkari Deep Sleep Tonic

2024 was the year I promised myself I'd improve my sleep hygiene. It's not perfect, but I am clocking at least six hours per night, if not more (a win for me as a perennial night owl). Rituals before bed have helped, specifically low lighting and a combination of Bioceuticals magnesium and Ikkari's Deep Sleep Tonic. The tonic definitely works, Adrian the founder told me its become their best-seller. It's an 'if you know you know' type of product. There's blue lotus (Google it) and tart cherry of TikTok 'sleepy girl mocktail' fame, as well as adaptogens and California poppy to promote rest. I've gone through three refills already... I think I'll sign up to the subscription next.

Hermès Eye Pencil

This liner is so creamy and easy to use, and the shade range is incredible. It's a soft matte formula that smudges for an easy, lived-in eye look. You can choose a bright, but I love the chocolate-y Brun Écorce the most.

CHANEL Le Masque Camellia Exfoliating Mask

I love a product that can be used multiple ways, like this exfoliating mask from CHANEL. It's creamy and nourishing, but has crushed jojoba and camellia husks that buff the skin (because sometimes I just want a good manual exfoliation). It even contains white clay, so you can leave it on for five minutes while it purifies pores. It's one of those formulas that instantly improves the look of tired, dull or congested skin.

 

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Rationale #4 The Eye Cream

I'm so lazy with eye cream, but this one works. I use a lot of Rationale in my regular skincare routine, so I'm not surprised that I love it, but it's full of peptides and ceramides to brighten and firm. It has a soft peachy tint that instantly illuminates, as well. With dedicated use I definitely notice a difference in terms of how 'awake' I look.

Biologique Recherche Progeskin Serum

Progeskin is a very cool innovation from Biologique Recherche formulated with two proteins that encourage the skin to function in a more youthful way. It's like a subtle pause button for softer lines and a more rested look. I worship at the church of Biologique Recherche (P50 is the best) and unsurprisingly love this serum.

Bioderma Atoderm Shower Oil

This ticks every box. It's affordable, gentle, nourishing, rinses clean, doesn't leave a film on the shower, plus it can be used for face and body. And because there's surfactants within the formula, it bubbles slightly for a proper 'clean' feeling without the dryness. If anything, it could replace your moisturiser because it's that hydrating. An all-in-one, French pharmacy hero.