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This year has been a busy one for new and exciting beauty launches, and while we can’t wait to ring in 2026, we’re taking a second to look back on what impressed us the most.
A lot has happened; UK shoppers could finally get their hands on coveted American and Australian brands like Rhode, Saltair and MCoBeauty, No7 unveiled a new glass-skin range that flew off shelves, Sol de Janeiro rolled out non-stop new bodycare, and Korean beauty continued to explode in popularity.
Metro’s shopping experts also spent months testing the biggest and best beauty products throughout 2025, which spanned everything from luxurious lip balms to viral K-beauty serums (snail mucin, anyone?).
However, only a select few made it to the top, replacing products we’ve used for years. Since we’ve tested hundreds of products this year, what better time to handpick the very best so you can head into the new year with a refreshed bathroom cabinet and your best skin and hair yet.
Armed with nearly a decade of beauty knowledge, beauty expert and shopping contributor Louise Whitbread shares her favourite new releases of the past year.
The Best Beauty Launches of 2025
BYOMA Blemish Redness Relief Soothing Toner
I cannot get enough of Byoma – its affordable cleansers and moisturisers are some of the best money can buy. However, this year, it was the Blemish Redness Relief Soothing Toner that wowed me. I’m constantly trying to calm my rosacea, acne-prone skin and this lightweight toner mist was a constant go-to. You don’t have to rub anything in, simply spritz as much and as often as you need throughout the day. It doesn’t smudge makeup and immediately soothes irritated skin by reducing redness and keeping breakouts at bay. I’m already onto my second bottle.
Buy now for £12.99
Vaseline Gluta-Hya Overnight Radiance Serum Burst Lotion
A surprise contender for 2025 was Vaseline's new line-up of body lotions. This Gluta-Hya Overnight Radiance Serum Burst Lotion was a standout favourite for keeping my skin soft and supple before bed. It’s a weightless jelly texture that bursts into water droplets when you rub it in to leave behind dewy, soft skin with not a hint of dryness. You don’t need to spend ages applying it either, it sinks into the skin within seconds and outperforms many luxurious body butters and oils I tried this year, too. Stock up on it now, especially while it’s on sale.
Buy now for £8.66 (save £4.33)
Merit The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
This is hands down the best complexion product of 2025, and I don’t say that lightly. It’s a tinted, mineral SPF50 that provides the most beautiful sheer, buildable coverage with a natural, radiant finish. It evens out skin tone and leaves your skin looking healthy and glowy, without any stick or greasy finish. In fact, it’s the only tinted sunscreen I’ve ever loved, and since I got my hands on it, have used it every day since. I like to apply it with a dense foundation brush and use concealer to pinpoint any blemishes.
Buy now for £34
Saltair Santal Bloom Body Oil
In case you didn’t know, Saltair is a bodycare brand launched by influencer and model Iskra Lawrence. However, it wasn’t until 2025 that UK beauty shoppers were able to shop the fabulous range of body butters, oils, deodorants and body washes. I’ve been using the Saltair Santal Bloom Body Oil for months now, and you need to know about it too. Supercharged with a cocktail of hydrating ingredients, it leaves my skin silky smooth and wrapped in a delicious scent of sandalwood, rose and jasmine. A little goes a long way, and it’s the fastest way to get your skin glowing.
Buy now for £25
L’Occitane Almond Candle
L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil has been in my life for almost a decade, so you best believe I immediately added this candle to my basket when it launched. It has the same cost, rich but not overpowering scent that lasts for ages, even after you blow it out. Made from natural wax, it has a great “throw” too – aka its scent fills the room. A proper indulgence, it’s not cheap, but was top of my shopping list. You won’t be disappointed, I promise.
Buy now for £42
Boots Glossy Lip Balm
While these budget lip balms originally launched in 2024, Boots unveiled three gorgeous new flavours in 2025. I like to think of myself as a lip balm aficionado. I've tried upwards of 50, from cheap and cheerful pots of Vaseline to luxury balms in glass jars, but it's these tubes that cost only £3 that are my all-time top pick. They’re buttery soft, add a flush of colour, hydrate and soothe dry, chapped skin and leave a glossy finish. It’s no wonder they’re compared to the cult Summer Fridays lip balms, but are a fraction of the price. The shade ‘raspberry’ is my go-to; it has the perfect amount of berry red tint.
Buy now for £3
Saie Slip Tint Undetectable Baked Setting Powder
I have a very oily T-zone that I’m constantly dapping with powder to try to mattify. It’s a tricky balance to find; If I apply too much powder, my makeup looks cakey and flat, not enough, and I end up looking like I’ve dipped my face in oil. Saie’s Slip Tint Undetectable Baked Setting Powder solved all my problems this year. Delivering a soft-matte finish that’s velvety soft, and a brightening, radiant finish at the same time, it’s a quick fix to looking my best, keeping my makeup in place all day and without the need for touch-ups. A total game-changer for oily complexions.
Buy now for £26
Sol de Janeiro Rosa Charmosa Dewy Cream
No one does scented bodycare like Brazilian brand Sol de Janeiro. While everyone I know is a huge fan of its classic caramel and pistachio Bum Bum cream, the latest addition is Rosa Charmosa. There’s a delicate blend of pink rose, coconut, orchid and musk to enjoy, while the formula is made with a special crystal peptide complex that’s intensely hydrating and add a subtle luminosity. If your shoulders, elbows and knees are feeling dry and in need of some TLC, consider this a must-try.
Buy now for £21Did you have a favourite beauty buy of 2025 that’s not on our list? Let us know what it was in the comments section.
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