GLAMOUR Tries: We tried the new ghd Max Styler Hair Straightener and it's knocked our OG pair off the top spot
When it comes to hair, we're always on the lookout for the next best thing to keep our hair healthy and looking good. Especially for our post-lockdown plans, we want everything to be in tip-top condition for that first bottomless brunch or night out. But when it comes to investing in the latest and greatest beauty launches, we want to know what's worth the hype and what to leave in our shopping basket.
Enter GLAMOUR Tries: the weekly Instagram series which sees GLAMOUR editors do all of the time-consuming (and expensive) work for you.
We've spent much of lockdown testing out the weird and wonderful trends and products that have gone viral – from the FOREO's UFO 2 Smart Mask Treatment (an LED face mask with a difference) to Sarah Chapman's £138 Meso-Melt Infusion at-home facial. Basically, all the products that need a little bit more research rather than an impulse buy.
Thanks to GLAMOUR Tries, we've done the hard work for you and put new innovations, tools and products through their paces to ensure they actually work and are worth your money. You can also shop all of our favourite products in our previous GLAMOUR tries series.
On GLAMOUR Tries this week, our Social Media Director, Chloe Laws, tried the new ghd Max Styler Hair Straighteners. Designed to style long, thick and curly hair types in half the time, it has wider plates and new innovative technology which means less damage, no frizz and an impressive 80% more shine.
With a lot to live up to and some pretty big promises, we've put it through its paces to see just how good it really is...
ghd Max Styler Hair Straighter, £179, ghd
First impressions? "The plates are a lot bigger than the traditional ghd straighteners and it also comes with a handy cap so you can't burn anything when they're heating up," said Chloe, who has used the original ghd straighteners for a decade.
"I struggle to get my hair looking sleek and glossy but I'm really impressed, I've never straightened my hair this quickly and could do this in three minutes."
"You can use bigger sections of hair and the bigger plates definitely work a lot quicker, in two strokes it already looks really good. Even if your hair isn't that thick, it will still save you a lot of time."
Would you give the ghd Max Styler a go? Have you already tried it? Let us know your thoughts over on Instagram @glamouruk.
In the meantime, here are all of the products you've seen on GLAMOUR Tries over the past few weeks. Happy shopping!
Tested by: Sheilla Mamona, Beauty and Entertainment Assistant
"I've already painted my base coat and I'm going to do the French tip with this Peacci nail polish," Shei said. "TikTok is telling me I have to pop some nail polish in the sponge and dip my finger in and swizzle it around a little bit and it should give me the perfect French tip."
The result? "This is the thing about me. I'm really good at a lot of things in this life, but nails just isn't one of them. From a distance? She's cute, y'know? But when you get up close it wasn't giving the perfection that TikTok sold to me. I probably should've given it a couple more tries, and had my nail polish remover on deck... and if I was going to do that, then your base colour would have to be gel so you could just remove it and go again."
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Sheilla Mamona, Beauty and Entertainment Assistant
Infrared Sauna Blanket, £399, MiHIGH
MiHIGH's Infrared Sauna Blanket is a blanket that claims to detoxify, calm, help to burn calories and is praised for its all-round benefits. Beauty and Entertainment Assistant Sheilla Mamona tried it to see if it lives up to it's claims.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Luca Wetherby-Matthews, Social Media Assistant
Natasha Denona Zendo Palette, £60, Cult Beauty
Social Media Assistant Luca Wetherby-Matthews used this eyeshadow palette to put a viral eyeshadow hack to the test. To achieve the trick, you apply eyeshadow to the eyelid in stripes (from dark to light starting on the outer corner) and then blend it all together to create the perfect smokey eye in seconds.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Lottie Winter, Beauty Editor
RecoveryAir System, £599, Therabody
Beauty Editor Lottie Winter tested Therabody's RecoveryAir System - a pneumatic compression system that increases circulation and reduces soreness and fatigue in the legs using clinically-proven recovery technology.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Chloe Laws, Social Media Director
Dr. Jart+ Cryo Rubber So Cool Duo Face Masks, £16, Beauty Bay
Dr. Jart+'s Cryo Rubber So Cool Duo face masks claim to smooth, hydrate and lower the skin’s temperature to increase blood flow for a better absorption of powerful active ingredients. Social Media Director Chloe Laws tested it to see what all the hype is about.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Sheilla Mamona, Beauty and Entertainment Assistant
Pat McGrath Labs Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil, £25, Selfridges
On GLAMOUR Tries this week, Beauty and Entertainment Assistant Sheilla Mamona tested the beauty hack you'll almost definitely have seen on TikTok of late, in celebration of it being Lipstick Day. It is, of course: the lip liner hack.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Sheilla Mamona, Beauty and Entertainment Assistant
Pat McGrath Labs MatteTrance Lipstick, £35, Selfridges
On GLAMOUR Tries this week, Beauty and Entertainment Assistant Sheilla Mamona tested the beauty hack you'll almost definitely have seen on TikTok of late, in celebration of it being Lipstick Day. It is, of course: the lip liner hack.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Deborah Joseph, Editor in Chief
Dr. Harris Anti-Wrinkle Sleep Mask, £89.99, Current Body
Our Editor in Chief Deborah Joseph tried out the Dr. Harris Anti-Wrinkle Sleep Mask from Current Body. The eureka moment behind the mask came about when Dr. Harris was on a long-haul flight and found himself frowning while wearing his sleep mask - so he created the Anti-Wrinkle design to stop wrinkles from forming and aid relaxation. The mask uses silicone dots to stimulate mechanoreceptors (the tiny nerve endings in your face) which relaxes the muscles and helps to prevent wrinkles.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Luca Wetherby-Matthews, Social Media Assistant
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter, £34, Cult Beauty
Social Media Assistant Luca Wetherby-Matthews tested this foundation through Cult Beauty's MatchMe foundation shade finder tool recommendations. The tool asks you a series of questions about your skin and skin tone before suggesting the best foundation for you.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Luca Wetherby-Matthews, Social Media Assistant
Milk Makeup Blur Liquid Matte Foundation, £35, Cult Beauty
Social Media Assistant Luca Wetherby-Matthews tested this foundation through Cult Beauty's MatchMe foundation shade finder tool recommendations. The tool asks you a series of questions about your skin and skin tone before suggesting the best foundation for you.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Lottie Winter, Beauty Editor
Dyson Supersonic Flyaway Attachment, £30, Dyson
Dyson's latest Supersonic accessory, the Flyaway Attachment, claims to smooth down baby hairs and ensure everything stays in place for a sleek and shiny finish. Beauty Editor Lottie Winter tried it out on her hair to see if it really works.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Chloe Laws, Social Media Director
Amika Hair Blow Dryer Brush, £70, Selfridges
Amika's Hair Blow Dryer Brush is a two-in-one hair styling tool that combines a round hair brush and blow dryer and claims to easily and quickly create a smooth, bouncy, salon-quality blowout at home. Social Media Director Chloe Laws tested it out on her hair.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Sheilla Mamona, Beauty and Entertainment Assistant
Cordless Iron Pro Straighteners, £349, Cloud Nine
Cloud Nine's Cordless Iron Pro straighteners is the hair tool that's trending courtesy of its ability to style your locks on the go. Beauty and Entertainment Assistant Sheilla Mamona tested it out on her afro hair.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Luca Wetherby-Matthews, Social Media Assistant
REN Clean Skincare Overnight Glow Dark Spot Sleeping Cream, £49, Cult Beauty
The Overnight Glow Dark Spot Sleeping Cream from REN Clean Skincare is a vegan formula that works to illuminate uneven skin tone and pigmentation while you get some shut-eye. It targets dark spots directly, instead of lightening your whole face and leaving the dark spots darker in contrast, and promotes a more even complexion. Social Media Assistant Luca Wetherby-Matthews used it over the course of seven days.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Deborah Joseph, Editor in Chief
FaceGym Medi Lift Electrical Muscle Stimulation Mask, £415.20, Net-A-Porter
The Medi Lift from FaceGym is an electrical muscle stimulation mask, or EMS for short. Our Editor in Chief Deborah Joseph used it to help create a lifted and firmed appearance from the comfort of her own home in just 10 minutes.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Chloe Laws, Social Media Director
No Yellow Incredible Foam Conditioner,
£25.90£19.45, AllbeautyThe No Yellow Incredible Foam Conditioner from Fanola went viral on Instagram. Social Media Director Chloe Laws used it to help get rid of unwanted yellow tones from her blonde hair and promote an ashier finish.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Lottie Winter, Beauty Editor
The Cheat Sheets, £16, Ciaté London
Stick-on makeup is a trend you'll have definitely seen across social media recently. Beauty Editor Lottie Winter used the leopard print sheet from Ciaté London's Cheat Sheet nail art stickers to create an eye makeup look.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Lottie Winter, Beauty Editor
Squish Beauty Flower Power Acne Patches, £18, Beauty Bay
Stick-on makeup is a trend you'll have definitely seen across social media recently. Beauty Editor Lottie Winter used Squish Beauty's Flower Power Acne Patches to create an eye makeup look.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Luca Wetherby-Matthews, Social Media Assistant
Wella Silvikrin Classic Maximum Hold Hairspray 400ml, £3.49, Boots
On GLAMOUR Tries this week, Social Media Assistant Luca Wetherby-Matthews tested the hairstyle you'll almost definitely have seen on TikTok of late, in celebration of the launch of our Hair Issue. It is, of course: the 90s ponytail. She used this hairspray to tame baby hairs and fly-aways, and get the sleekest pony possible
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Luca Wetherby-Matthews, Social Media Assistant
Eco Style Olive Oil Styling Gel 237ml, £3.99, Boots
On GLAMOUR Tries this week, Social Media Assistant Luca Wetherby-Matthews tested the hairstyle you'll almost definitely have seen on TikTok of late, in celebration of the launch of our Hair Issue. It is, of course: the 90s ponytail. She used this hair gel - which is made with 100% pure olive oil to nourish the hair - to tame baby hairs and fly-aways, and get the sleekest pony possible.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Luca Wetherby-Matthews, Social Media Assistant
MINI GRANDE 18" 90S Bounce Wraparound Pony, £25, LullaBellz
On GLAMOUR Tries this week, Social Media Assistant Luca Wetherby-Matthews tested the hairstyle you'll almost definitely have seen on TikTok of late, in celebration of the launch of our Hair Issue. It is, of course: the 90s ponytail. She used this clip-in ponytail to give height and extra length.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Chloe Laws, Social Media Director
Mimi Luzon 24K Pure Gold Eye Treatment, £195, Net-A-Porter
On GLAMOUR Tries this week, Social Media Director, Chloe Laws tested out the Mimi Luzon 24K Pure Gold Eye Treatment
While it's a bit tricky to apply, make sure you dont' touch the gold leaves before you place them under your eye FYI. Once on, wait for 10 minutes, then the next step is to wet your fingers and massage the mask using gentle, circular motions. Once finished, she said, "I definitely feel glowy, I feel like I've got a shimmer, my skin feels better and my under eye feels brighter."
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Lottie Winter, Beauty Editor
BaByliss Hydro Fusion Air Styler, £59.99, Boots
Beauty Editor Lottie Winter tested out the hugely popular BaByliss Hydro Fusion Air Styler, a hot air brush which recently sold out on ASOS. Not only does this styling tool ooze shelfie appeal with thanks to that pretty powder blue hue, but it uses a moisture balancing dual ionic system which combines both positive and negative ions to hydrate the hair, eliminate fly-aways as you style and keep things looking sleek. Forget hair being left damaged after using this rotating hot air brush - instead, BaByliss promises that it'll be left silky, soft, shiny and conditioned.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Sheila Mamona, Beauty & Features Assistant
Urban Water Wave, £3.99, Spell Beauty
Fancy creating TikTok-famed Butterfly Bob Locs? You'll need the hair (we used six packs of the Urban Water Wave in shade 99J, £3.99 per pack, Spell Beauty), rubber bands like these rubber bands from Amazon (we soaked ours in olive oil just so they don't cause too much tension on the hair), some hair gel (Eco Style Moroccan Argan Oil Styling Gel, £5.99, Boots) and this Afro Pick Magic Coils comb.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Chloe Laws, Social Media Director
ghd Max Styler Hair Straightener, £179, ghd
"The plates are a lot bigger than the traditional ghd straighteners and it also comes with a handy cap so you can't burn anything when they're heating up."
"You can use bigger sections of hair and the bigger plates definitely work a lot quicker, in two strokes it already looks really good. Even if your hair isn't that thick, it will still save you a lot of time. I'm really impressed, I've never straightened my hair this quickly and could do this in three minutes.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Sheila Mamona, Beauty & Features Assistant
KVD Beauty Good Apple Skin-Perfecting Foundation Balm, £29, Boots
"Okay so verdict, the person that you met about three or four stories ago, is not the same person as now. I just feel like - when they said this covers tattoos, they weren't playing any games. They were serious. Personally, I feel like it covered all my blemishes, my hyperpigmentation, my sins... my soul. The whole thing.
"I applied with a dense brush, but you also have the option to have more light coverage - you can apply with a damp sponge. Sometimes you'll see trends on TikTok and you're like that looks great, then you try it on yourself and it looks mad or it doesn't work. But this did the ting. So it's a yes from me."
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Luca Wetherby-Matthews, Social Media Assistant
CurrentBody Skin LED Precision, £139, CurrentBody
Coming in at £139, this handheld LED device promises to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and reverse signs of ageing on your face and neck - with thanks to the professional-level (but harmless) red and near infrared LED light it emits. "They help your skin produce more collagen, they help with blood flow and also oxygenated your skin cells," Luca said.
Since this device is handheld, you can target specific areas of concern and practise from the comfort of your own bed/sofa/desk. Plus, you only need to commit to three-five three minute treatments every week to see the impacts.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Sheila Mamona, Beauty & Features Assistant
Lashify Fluffy FX Gossamer® Lashes, £17.94, Lashify
"Overall I love them," Shei said. "They’re the perfect alternative if you love the look of bold but natural lashes, without the day-to-day faff of strip lashes, but also can’t quite commit to lash extensions. I’m particularly impressed with the fuse control wand because the most annoying part of strip lashes is the application, and that wand is perfectly shaped to curve around your nose and eye, so making application and fusing effortless.
"They’re quick to apply, are reusable and last a few days. Even though they’re supposed to last a couple of days, I haven’t quite mastered the art of keeping them all on my lashes for longer than two/three nights, as I’m subconscious eye rubber. If you seal them correctly and keep your hands out of your eye though, they can last up to 10 days."
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Lottie Winter, Beauty Editor
Dr. Jart+ Cicapair™ Tiger Grass Colour Correcting Treatment, £13, Beauty Bay
On GLAMOUR Tries this week, our Beauty Editor Lottie Winter tried the product that everyone on TikTok is going wild for. It is, of course, the Dr. Jart+ Cicapair™ Tiger Grass Colour Correcting Treatment which has gone viral on social media of late because it simply transforms the skin. Available for £13 at Beauty Bay, it works to treat blemishes, correct redness and restore your skin's strength. It boasts SPF30 and can be worn either underneath makeup or on its own.
"Okay... Mind. Blown. I can see why this has gone viral," Lottie said. "Look at this! So I've just done this side of my face with the product - look at that line and the difference! I feel like it has made me a tiny bit paler but it has knocked out ALL the redness.
"It's not even makeup! This is the kind of effect I'd expect from a sheer foundation so it's really tripping me out!"
The verdict? "I definitely used less foundation and less concealer to achieve the coverage I wanted, but I also think it'd be great for those days when you want to go makeup free but you need a little 'something'.
"In my opinion it definitely deserves its viral status and I am going to be using this every day." Sold? Same.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Luca Wetherby-Matthews, Social Media Assistant
REFY Eyebrow Collection Dark, £40, REFY
"I absolutely love the REFY products," Luca said. "They are just so easy; so quick and they just give me the perfect brow that I always have wanted. They also sell out really quickly and they've just done a restock, so if you want some fluffy brows, you'd better go."
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Deborah Joseph, Editor-in-Chief
Josh Wood Colour 5.5 Deep Mid Brown Permanent Hair Dye, £14, Boots
"I am testing an at-home hair dye, Josh Wood Colour, to cover my grey that is growing exponentially but also to try and even out my colour tone," Deborah said. "Because as you can see, I've ended up with a kind of balayage, which wasn't intentional at all."
In the box - which costs about £15 - you get the colour, the colour activator (the two will later be mixed together) plus three sachets of stain removing wipes to remove the dye from your skin afterwards. There's also a barrier cream, a deep-conditioning treatment and some gloves. We'd recommend you buy a bowl or a brush before you get started. It doesn't need to be a branded one - you can get them from Amazon (this set is great). The end of the brush helps with dividing your hair as you need to.
"The whole process - from start to finish - including a blow dry took me two and a half hours," Deborah said, locks bouncy and freshly-coloured. "I left it on for an hour which is obviously longer than recommended but I wanted it to be closer to my natural hair colour." Top marks.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Lottie Winter, Beauty Editor
MAC's Virtual Try-On Feature with Studio Fix Foundation, £27, MAC
Our Beauty Editor Lottie Winter tried MAC's brand new virtual try-on tool, in an attempt to find her perfect shade of the classic Studio Fix foundation - from the comfort of her sofa. But was the tool accurate? Was the selected foundation actually Lottie's exact match?
"N6 is the shade of Studio Fix Fluid foundation that the virtual try-on tool has chosen for me. I've just half of my face so we can compare the results - but it couldn't be a better match. It has blended so effortlessly and it has knocked out all the redness around my nose and my eyes.
"What I love most about this foundation is that it's super long-wearing and it helps to control shine throughout the day which is great if you're like me and you have very oily skin. But also the coverage is buildable which means you can get that believable finish."
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Luca Wetherby-Matthews, Social Media Assistant
Vaseline Original, £2.99, Boots
We know what you're thinking: why on earth do you need to test a sub-£3 product on GLAMOUR Tries? Hear us out. We use it to try the Korean beauty technique of slugging. In short, it involves putting Vaseline on your face. Intrigued? Exactly.
Petroleum jelly acts as a moisture barrier, locking in your skin's moisture and preventing any hydration from escaping overnight. You can choose where you want to put the Vaseline... you could do it all over you face, or, if you've got oilier skin you could avoid your T-Zone and target the areas where your skin is dry. You could even target your under eyes or fine lines... the choice is yours!
"There is a slight difference in my skin," Luca said when she woke up. The bits that were the most dry, like my forehead, I can feel are definitely smoother. So I think as far as skin treatments go, it's super cheap to buy a pot of Vaseline and despite its reputation of not being as chic as other products, I think it does the job."
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Chloe Laws, Social Media Director
Opal Mushroom Gua Sha, £20, Glow Bar
Glow Bar’s milky, pearlescent mushroom shaped wonder device has been designed to assist therapeutic massage for the ultimate addition to your self-care routine. Aside from being the prettiest thing on your dressing table, this clever tool aims to gently perform lymphatic drainage, boost circulation, detoxify, tone and sculpt. It claims to leave the skin glowing inside and out.
"So I actually really like this," Chloe said. "I'm such big fan of jade rollers in general - I've tried cool sculpting ones - so this is definitely going to be a big part of my self-care routine. And it looks beautiful, so what's not to like?"
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Luca Wetherby-Matthews, Social Media Assistant
FOREO UFO 2 Smart Mask Treatment, £249, Cult Beauty
Described as "the future of your weekly masking ritual", it's designed to supercharge your pampering sessions by offering you a range of treatments in one device to tackle your main skin concerns.
Condensing a 20-minute session into 90 seconds, it works in combination with the specially invented UFO-activated masks and each treatment incorporates a carefully chosen combination of temperature and pulsation intensity for maximum effect and soothing facial massage. It switches between thermotherapy (warm) to soften the skin to cryotherapy (cold) to lift and firm. That's the "Power Mask" part.
The light therapy part? The effects of the aforementioned treatments are boosted with a choice of eight light settings – from antibacterial blue light to sunburn-soothing yellow LED. Of course, LED face masks are big news right now, thanks to their ability to reduce breakouts, pigmentation, rosacea symptoms, psoriasis and other side-effects of inflammation. If you don't suffer from the above complaints, LED light therapy can simply help to improve the appearance of your skin. It's a great time to invest.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Chloe Laws, Social Media Director
Toni&Guy Hello Day! Secret Volumising Crimper, £39.99, Amazon
Boasting 25mm ceramic tourmaline crimping plates to create the 90s-inspired texture and volume we all love, this hair tool protects hair from damage and frizz thanks to three adjustable heat settings which you can switch between depending on your hair wash cycle. Achieving the crimped hair trend just got a whole lot easier.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Luca Wetherby-Matthews, Social Media Assistant
Boots Ultimate Glow Collection, £20, Boots
On GLAMOUR Tries this week, our Social Media Assistant Luca Wetherby-Matthews tried Boots' new skincare collection: the Ultimate Glow Collection. Available as part of a £20 skincare gift set this Christmas, it's comprised of the Glow Cleansing Stick, Glow Essence Serum, Glow Moisturising Cream, Glow Brightening Mist, Glow Eye Cream and Glow Gel Mask. But for the purse-pleasing price of £20, how good really is it? Will you get the glowing skin you've been promised?
"I am so impressed. My skin feels insanely soft and I feel like it almost looks blurred in parts. I'm hoping that the eye bag situation that I've got in the morning will be gone... but in general, I am so pleased with it. I feel like it would make a really nice Christmas present. It's winter, our skin is getting drier and this has got everything you need."
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Bandi Manzini, Partnerships Director
HighBrow Eyebrow Shaping Pencil, Magnitone
Our Partnerships Director Bandi Manzini tried Magnitone's HighBrow Eyebrow Shaping Pencil. Compact, travel-friendly and discrete, it's an eyebrow pencil with an added edge: it promises to shape and trim eyebrows with a precision ‘pencil nib’ micro-trimmer. According to the brand's site, it’s 100% pain-free unlike tweezers, threading and waxing... and it even has a built in LED guide light to reduce hand shadow and allow you to touch up your eyebrows without an abundance of natural light.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Lottie Winter, Beauty Editor
ghd Platinum+ Hair Straightener in Iridescent White, £199, ghd
"This is the limited edition Wish Upon A Star Christmas ghd Christmas collection and the straighteners come in this beautiful vanity case which can also be personalised. What's also really good about these straighteners is that they have predictive technology which means that you can style your hair quicker and therefore reduce damage. Which is also good if it all goes wrong and I need to straighten my hair afterwards," Lottie said, when using them to test the "pencil curls" trend that everyone on TikTik is going wild for.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Chloe Laws, Social Media Editor
Hollywood Browzer Smoother Rose Gold, £49.95, Amazon
On GLAMOUR Tries this week, our Social Media Editor Chloe Laws tried dermaplaning with the Hollywood Browzer Beauty Smoother electronic dermaplaning device (49.95, Amazon).
If you've not tried dermaplaning before, it's not as scary as it first looks. We promise. It's great for removing dead layers of skin, peach fuzz and giving your face a deep exfoliation - leaving your face instantly smoother. Using a dermaplaning device like this on by Hollywood Browzer Beauty also allows for improved skincare absorption and a refined skin texture. Oh, and you can use the device to help to tidy up the hairline for a sleek finish.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Deborah Joseph, Editor-in-Chief
Meso-Melt Infusion System by Sarah Chapman, £138, Space NK
This is an at-home version of a micro-needling facial. To begin with, you roll the device onto your skin. "It feels a little bit rough and a tiny bit uncomfortable... and you have to do it for 10 minutes. As the needles dissolve, it releases hyaluronic acid, peptides and stem cells into the skin.
"This is definitely the most sophisticated at-home facial that I've ever tried! My skin went quite red, but I've seen people having these facials done in salons and their faces definitely go red afterwards, too. I think it's probably no different to that. But the results are meant to be incredible! It's quite pricey, but compared to having to have monthly facials like this, it's good value."
See the results at @glamouruk
Tested by: Chloe Laws, Social Media Editor
Eylure Line & Lash Black, £9.95, Superdrug
The Line & Lash is perfect if you're a lash novice, because it's not as fiddly as using glue. The set comes with an adhesive liner (the first to hit the mass market in the UK) and lashes. You simply shake the liner, apply two-three coats to your lash line then apply your lashes of choice. "It was so much easier than usual - I am actually so impressed! Definitely going to be using these again."
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Lottie Winter, Beauty Editor
RÉDUIT One Hair Treatment Applicator, £189, LookFantastic
Five weeks ago, we tried these very snazzy hair pod treatments from Reduit. "I saw these being used backstage at Victoria Beckham before the models went out onto the runway. This device uses ultrasonic diffusion to apply your hair treatments really precisely. The droplets that come out of here at 50 times smaller than a typical spray, which means your treatment can penetrate the hair much deeper."
"There's a pod for volume, one for colour, one conditioning treatment and even a micellar shampoo. They're all applied to damp or dry hair, after you've washed it, and left in."
When you turn the device on, a super-fine mist comes out of the pod, and you simply hold it against your hair, over the areas you want to treat.
"I love it! It actually works so much better than normal sprays that it's going to take a bit of un-learning to realise you don't need much product at all... which is a great thing! It's an investment but it really works... and think how much space you're going to save on your dressing table!"
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Deborah Joseph, Editor-in-Chief
Ciaté London The Cheat Sheets Nail Stickers, £16, LookFantastic
This at-home stick on nail art by Ciate is a great alternative to an in-salon manicure when you can't visit the salon. They only take 10 minutes to apply and the gold, abstract designs look really striking. The only downside? They're pretty fiddly, and you might need some help to stick the stickers on the nails of your most dominant hand.
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Chloe Laws, Social Media Editor
FOREO BEAR mini Facial Toning Device, £179, CurrentBody
This smart microcurrent facial toner had rave reviews, so we thought we'd give it a go. Step one is to apply the brand's serum to the skin - it's super hydrating and packed with antioxidants and hyaluronic acid. Using the device for four minutes helps to sculpt your cheekbones, forehead, neck and jawline. "I can definitely feel a difference - my cheekbones and face feel tighter and plumper. And I love how high-tech it was!"
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Bandi Manzini, Partnerships Director
Ciao Makeup is a rechargeable makeup removal device. "You apply your cleanser as normal, add a bit of water then rub it all over your face in a circular motion and it removes all of your makeup," said Bandi. You can choose different settings, the device allows you to massage your skin, it's super relaxing and gentle and Bandi didn't need to use wipes or face cloths after use. Top marks!
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Lottie Winter, Beauty Editor
LUSTRE Trio,
£120£105, CurrentBodyThis wearable light treatment device was tested by Lottie Winter which uses 100% blue light to regulate oil production and prevent breakouts. "What I love most about this one is that you get three targeted applicators so you can pinpoint the exact areas that are prone to breakouts which is great if you're like me and you have combination skin and you don't want to target the drier areas." You stick the device onto your skin, in the areas you've experienced breakouts, then leave them for 10 minutes.
"I have to say, the fact that this is wireless is a game-changer," Lottie said. "This is an ongoing treatment and it's clinically proven to reduce acne by up to 75% after four weeks. Either you can use it once a day, or for faster results, twice a day."
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Deborah Joseph, Editor-in-Chief
KVD Vegan Beauty Everlasting Liquid Lipstick, £18, Boots
Deborah Joseph tried KVD Beauty's Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lolita. "It glides on and I've been advised it dries very, very quickly." After chatting away in the mask, she said: "Barely a trace of lipstick from Kat Von D!"
Find out more @glamouruk
Tested by: Deborah Joseph, Editor-in-Chief
HUDA BEAUTY Liquid Matte, £18, Cult Beauty
Deborah Joseph tried Huda's Liquid Matte in Heartbreaker, to see whether it'd stand the test of time underneath a face mask. On application, she said: "It glides on!" After a bit of movement and talking with the face mask on, Deborah said that it transferred onto the mask slightly, but if you left it to dry for long enough, you might see better results.
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