Meet the new skin superheroes – and win £700’s worth of them

if you, like the rest of the nation, found solace in a souped-up skincare routine over the past year, then it’s likely you’re on the lookout for some new hero buys to pad out your bathroom cabinet – and we’re here to help. Introducing our tried-and-tested edit of the best new skin saviours available to buy now, from our favourite techy skin tool to a bargain breakout solution and the SOS hand cream that we collectively can’t get enough of. These are 2021’s future cult classics to try now.

1 THE MEGA FACE MASK Chanel Hydra Beauty Camelia Repair Mask, £52

Skincare is self-care and this Chanel mask will take ‘me time’ moments to a new level. Incredibly hydrating and soothing (that’s the camelia wax at work), in just 10 minutes this creamy formula works its magic and leaves skin looking like you’ve just had 12 hours’ sleep in a spa. Trust us, it’s a treat.

2 THE STANDOUT HAND CREAM Avène Cicalfate Repair Hand Cream, £9.50

Hands, meet your new BFF. A far cry from lotions that are all scent over substance, this no-frills rich cream does exactly what it says on the tube. Deeply moisturising, it quickly melts in to soften, soothe and protect skin from the onslaught of anti-bac/handwashing/repeat. Especially good for cracked or eczema-prone hands.

3 THE UNBEATABLE BODY HERO Crabtree & Evelyn Lustrous Rose Body Oil, £31.50

For some, body moisturising used to be nothing more than a chore – but three national lockdowns later, it’s found new ‘moment of self-care’ status. Out of all of the options we tried, this floral-scented oil came top. Massage over stillwet skin and the formula locks in moisture like nothing else.

4 THE SUPREME EYE CREAM Kiehl’s Powerfulstrength Line-reducing & Dark Circlediminishing Vitamin C Eye Serum, £42

Disrupted sleep, screen overload, face masks… our delicate eye area is bearing the brunt. With 10% pure vitamin C, tri-peptides and hyaluronic acid, this serum softens fine lines, minimises dark circles and takes down puffiness. Triple tick.

5 THE HEROIC HAND SANITISER Aesop Resurrection Rinse-free Hand Wash, £7

Not all anti-bacs are created equal and this pocket-sized wonder from Aesop is truly in a league of its own. The silky-smooth gel seamlessly blends into skin to swiftly slay germs and bacteria, all while leaving hands soft and smelling of Aesop stores.

6 THE BEST VITAMIN C Skinceuticals Silymarin CF, £145

What do Sienna Miller, Gwyneth Paltrow and every dermatologist we’ve ever interviewed have in common? They’re all fans of Skinceuticals’ antioxidant serums. This new addition is formulated for oily and blemish-prone skin and, take it from us, is set for skincare stardom.

7 THE SAVVY DARK SPOT SOLUTION Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+ Bright Creme, £75

With vitamin C and beautyberry extract (to reduce overactive melanin production, which can cause dark spots) this leaves skin feeling bouncy and radiant, while reducing the appearance of dark spots over time.

8 THE ULTIMATE CLEANSER Cerave Hydrating Cream-to-foam Cleanser, £12.95

When it comes to cleansers, Cerave can do no wrong. This new, gentle formula leaves skin clean and refreshed without ever feeling tight or dry. Amino acids help boost moisture in the long run, too. We’re hooked.

9 THE FAULTLESS FACIAL SELF-TAN Bare by Vogue Williams Face Tanning Mist, £14.40

Vogue Williams’ self-tan range is renowned for its natural-look results and this new release (available in Light, Medium and Dark) takes things a step further. Loaded with skin-soothers like oatmeal and camomile, this face mist nourishes while delivering a healthy-looking faux glow.

10 THE STELLAR EXFOLIATOR Drunk Elephant TLC Sukari Babyfacial £67

Already a best-seller, this spain-a-jar guarantees advancedlevel glow. Blended with AHA and BHA exfoliating acids, it works on the surface and deeper in the skin to smooth texture, soften fine lines and bolster radiance without any sensitivity, thanks to a ph of 3.5. Use weekly for peachy results.

11 THE MASKNE SOLUTION The Inkey List Succinic Acid Blemish Treatment, £6.99

This bargain buy stood up against products quadruple its price point and more, with a no-fuss formula containing exfoliating salicylic and succinic acids. Maskne (breakouts caused by face masks), won’t stand a chance.

12 THE KIND-TOSKIN RETINOL L’oréal Paris Revitalift Laser Night Serum, £24.99

Retinol (a derivative of vitamin A) is unbeatable for addressing signs of ageing, but can also cause irritation. This serum pairs the brand’s highest concentration of retinol with hydrating hyaluronic acid to reduce sensitivity.

13 THE DOES-ITALL SERUM Dior Capture Totale Super Potent Serum, £59.50

Brightening lacklustre lockdown complexions at record speed, this serum, featuring high-grade hyaluronic acid, swiftly gets to work on the deeper layers of skin to boost glow. Then there’s its hero ingredient, the longoza flower – a petal so powerful it can grow on ash. Ash? Just think about what that can do for dry skin…

14 THE SENSITIVE SKIN SAVIOUR La Roche-posay Toleriane Ultra Dermallergo Soothing Serum, £28

When it comes to skincare for sensitive types, few brands do it better than La Roche-posay. Hypoallergenic and fragrancefree, this new serum is a godsend for soothing dry, tight, itchy skin, while neurosensine helps restore the skin’s natural protective barrier to prevent future reactions.

15 THE NO.1 SKIN TOOL Skin Gym Face Sculptor Beauty Roller, £73

One word: cheekbones. This clever tool is perfectly formed to do away with facial tension and puffiness, plump up skin and enhance your cheekbones like you wouldn’t believe. Simply roll it along the jaw, over cheekbones and around the brows in an upwards motion for 5-10 minutes on freshly cleansed skin and you’re as close to you can get to a pro-facial at home. johnlewis.com; Standard Dose x John Lewis Wellness Curation

16 THE A-STAR SPF Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer SPF 30,£32

There was a LOT of hype around Rihanna’s first Fenty Skin collection when it hit the UK and the capsule range did not disappoint. This moisturiser and SPF absorbs like a dream and, unlike some high SPF day creams, there’s no white cast, making it ideal for all skin tones.

17 THE SMART SUPPLEMENT Wild Nutrition Daily Essentials For Women, £79 (30 days)

Forget buying multiple supplements and guessing whether they’ll work together. Wild Nutrition’s daily sachets of multivitamins, minerals and omegas support ‘healthy hormone cycles and immunity’.

18 THE NEED-TOKNOW FACE OIL Nuxe Bio Organic Ultimate Night Recovery Oil, £37

Nuxe’s new organic line is 100% naturally derived and this silky night oil is a standout buy. Featuring nourishing and repairing oils, the lightweight blend feeds your skin as you sleep.

19 THE MIGHTIEST MOISTURISER bareminerals Smoothness Bare Haven Soft Moisturizer, £31

For an everyday moisturiser, we want a formula that leaves our skin soft, hydrated and supple. We want it to sit seamlessly under make-up and we want glow. This delivers all of the above with a vegan formula that works for all skin types.