May 2026 beauty edit: the hottest new skincare and make-up launches

Radiance takes a new form at Chanel this year, as the maison unveils the Bright 3‐in‐1 Oil: a tri‐phase elixir that brings fresh transparency and glow to the skin. A gentle shake merges three layers—camellia oil for nourishment, antioxidant -rich premier flower extract for protection and a blend of niacinamide and vitamin C for brightening. Serving as the final skincare step before makeup, the lightweight oil absorbs quickly to even out and smooth the skin’s surface. Regular use over one month significantly improves luminosity, leaving the face looking twice as translucent and even.

Inspired by the island of Taha’a in Tahiti, Un Jardin sous la Mer is Hermès’ latest creation in the Les Jardins collection. The floral‐mineral fragrance captures the landscape of a tropical lagoon with a creamy tiare flower blooming at its heart, intertwined with a mineral coral accord and tamanu nut. The scent is presented in Hermès’ signature lantern‐style bottle, shaded in a blue gradient that evokes crystal‐clear seawater. Following the collection’s sustainability ethos, the bottle is refillable and comes in three sizes: 30 ml, 50 ml, and 100 ml.

YSL Beauty’s iconic Libre signature takes on a gourmand twist with Libre Berry Crush Eau de Parfum. Master perfumers Anne Flipo and Carlos Benaïm infused the original floral heart of Moroccan orange blossom and French lavender with a tangy, juicy raspberry accord. This fruity-floral blend melts into a creamy base of coconut and Bourbon vanilla from Madagascar to create a sweet yet bold finish. The tuxedo inspired bottle is reimagined in a vibrant berry -red hue, featuring the oversized gold Cassandre logo and a slanted black cap. A limited-edition YSL Loveshine Berry Crush lipstick was also released to complement the fragrance.

Glow Recipe introduces three new toner pad treatments that make a five‐minute facial an effortless part of your daily routine. Each ultra‐thin cellulose pad hugs the contours of the face, delivering concentrated care inspired by the art of Korean skincare layering. The LHA + AHA Exfoliating Pads refine pores with a multi‐acid complex, the Vitamin C Brightening Pads balance skin tone with five types of vitamin C and glutathione, and the PDRN+ Repair + Soothe Pads calm sensitive skin with prickly pear and rice extracts. Use them individually or mix and match across different zones to target multiple concerns at once.

The new Miracle Secret Skin Base by homegrown beauty brand Ice Secret bridges the gap between skincare and makeup, catering specifically to Southeast Asia’s hot and humid climate. This lightweight, non-comedogenic formula provides light-to-medium buildable coverage to even out skin tone, hide redness, and blur minor imperfections without clogging pores. Infused with hydrating squalane, soothing orchid extract, and daily UV filters, it balances oil production while keeping the complexion breathable and comfortable. Suitable for both men and women, the low-maintenance base can be worn alone or layered, delivering a smooth, natural finish that resists any “cake-y” feeling or look throughout the day.

April 2026

Twenty-five years after its debut, this cult-favourite base returns with a skincare-infused formula. Armani Beauty has reimagined its Luminous Silk Foundation to refine skin tone and enhance plumpness while preserving its signature weightless texture. The range now spans 44 shades, using new pigment precision technology—including ultramarine and green pigments—to achieve a truer match for deep and olive skin tones without ashiness. Housed in a redesigned glass bottle, the formula continues to deliver the diaphanous, lit-from-within glow that mirrors the natural luminosity of silk.

Three new universally flattering shades join the line-up of Fenty Beauty’s red-carpet staple, expanding the Stunna Lip Paint collection to ten essential hues. Designed to suit every skin tone, the brand introduces RiRi, a rosy mauve; Uninterested, a peachy nude; and Unlawful, a deep chocolate brown. Each liquid lipstick delivers high-impact pigment in a single stroke, drying down to a weightless soft-matte finish. The formula is designed to last up to 12 hours without bleeding or feathering, while the precision wand ensures effortless application and a clean, full-coverage pout.

Dullness and hyperpigmentation are often treated as separate concerns, yet luxury Korean beauty brand Sulwhasoo approaches them as integral to anti-ageing care. Its new Lumiwise trio harnesses a proprietary ginseng complex, including Ginseng Ectoin and Ginseng PHA, to regulate melanin while strengthening the skin’s moisture barrier. The three-step ritual begins with the Brightening Essence Water, where Ginseng PHA gently exfoliates to refine uneven texture. For enhanced luminosity, the Brightening Ampoule Serum pairs Ginseng Ectoin with niacinamide to boost clarity and hydration. The routine concludes with the Discoloration Corrector, featuring low-irritant spicule technology that targets stubborn age spots at their source. Together, the formulas restore a clearer, firmer and more luminous complexion.

Denim transcends its role as a wardrobe staple in Chanel’s latest make-up collection, reimagined under the creative direction of Valentina Li, a member of its Cometes Collective. The Les 4 Ombres palettes translate the textures of the iconic fabric into two distinct colour stories. Denim Dream evokes a soft, luminous mood with pearly platinum and satiny baby blue, while Coco Jean delivers greater intensity through shimmering silver anthracite and golden beige. Each quad captures the spirit of freedom associated with denim, moving effortlessly from soft, powdery looks to striking, high-fashion depth.

The resilient power of the desert informs Dior’s latest expansion of its Sauvage grooming line. The maison introduces a hair-focused duo—the Hydrating Shampoo and Hair Serum—enriched with cactus pulp sourced from its dedicated garden in Lanzarote in Spain’s Canary Islands. This nutrient-rich ingredient helps nourish and strengthen the hair fibre while extending the fragrance’s signature woody freshness. Derived from hand-picked cactus pads cultivated through regenerative agriculture, the formulas deliver hydration and protection, completing the Sauvage grooming ritual from skin to hair.

March 2026

Reviving the iconic motif of Prada’s spring-summer 2011 collection, the new Prada Balm in Banana Yellow reinvents a timeless pattern with an unexpected charm. Beyond its vibrant yellow bullet and playful banana-inspired scent, the formula prioritises lip health with bifidus extract and jojoba oil to smoothen and strengthen the lip moisture barrier. This combination ensures up to 24 hours of comfort and brings a touch of runway playfulness to high-performance lip care.

Hermès redefines the complexion with its debut liquid foundation. Developed by Gregoris Pyrpylis, creative director for Hermès Beauty, the Plein Air Luminous Matte Skincare Foundation provides weightless coverage thanks to its 82 per cent skincare base that incorporates niacinamide and hyaluronic acid for 24-hour hydration. The formula features 34 shades designed to adapt to various skin tones without oxidising, ensuring the luminous matte effect remains true from application to evening.

Formerly under the Rouge Pur Couture umbrella, YSL The Slim now debuts as an independent icon. The iconic square-bullet lipstick returns reimagined across 20 shades, each anchored in couture heritage—from the fiery amber of #1936, echoing Monsieur Saint Laurent’s birth under Leo, to the provocative red of #1966 that recalls the liberation of his revolutionary tuxedo, Le Smoking. The new formula fuses high-impact colour with a 67 per cent skin-conditioning base infused with rosehip oil, ceramides, and jojoba oil.

Managing our skin texture requires a delicate balance of exfoliation and moisture, which Chanel Beauty addresses with the new No. 1 De Chanel Refining Youth Emulsion. Its lightweight formula pairs red camellia extract with an AHA complex to provide gentle, daily micro-exfoliation to help reduce the appearance of pores and maintain a matte finish for 12 hours. Upon contact, the texture becomes water- like, delivering hydration while smoothing irregularities for a visible “new skin” effect.

Light meets pigment in Gucci Beauty’s latest artistry chapter: Gucci Glow Blush. Designed to capture the harmony of color and luminosity, its silky hybrid texture leaves an ultra-fine veil of radiance on the skin. The finish is a study in contrasts—soft to the touch yet strikingly luminous—offered in six vivid hues, from delicate frosted pink to a vibrant, berry red.

Anastasia Beverly Hills proves that great things come in small packages with the Haze Mini Eyeshadow Palette, which comprise nine full-pigment shades in a mix of smoky neutrals and deep, sultry tones in both matte and metallic finishes. From creamy nudes to a striking reddish-brown duo-chrome that shifts blue-green, the velvety formula ensures effortless blending and maximum colour payoff.

Februrary 2026

Inspired by the winter-kissed heat of the Alps, Tom Ford’s Soleil Neige Eye Color Quad eyeshadow quad in Chalet Mink features mid- toned pinks and deep plum-cocoa hues that create a lightweight, transitional smoky eye that glimmers with sunlit iridescence.

Infused with 24-karat gold and black bee honey, Guerlain’s Parure Gold Skin Mesh Cushion provides a rejuvenating, transfer-free glow that lasts 24 hours—the ultimate high-performance canvas for a long, romantic night.

Hourglass’s Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm makes an effortless first step for a statement lip. In Red 0, the universal sheer red delivers instant hydration and a subtle plumping effect, creating a smooth, cushioned base for layering.

Matte takes a back seat this Valentine’s Day. Dior’s Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil in 104 Black Cherry delivers a deep, sensual wash of reddish-brown that looks almost lacquered under candlelight, while keeping lips comfortably hydrated well past the first toast.

Huda Beauty’s first powder blush palette, the Blush Filter Palette, gives an ultra-pigmented, buildable, soft-focus dimension. Try the palette in Rosy Berry and layer the matte rose shades with the pearl blushlighter for a dreamy, filtered effect.

A single sweep of Clé de Peau Beauté’s Luminizing Face Enhancer brightens and sculpts with effortless radiance. In the new shade of 203 Sunset’s Brilliance, it catches candlelight beautifully, lending your look a soft, unforgettable glow.

A light, biotin- and niacinamide-infused mist, Rare Beauty’s Find Comfort Body & Hair Fragrance Mist envelopes hair and skin in soft cashmere, lemon zest, and jasmine, offering a clean and comforting scent suited to close conversations.

Muse, a new Eau de Parfum from YSL Beauty’s Le Vestiaire des Parfums range, layers woody ink notes with soft iris and sensual Bourbon vanilla, leaving behind a lingering, skin-close trail.

Laced with 24-carat gold and the iconic Baccarat Rouge 540 scent, Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Baccarat Rouge 540 Sparkling body oil turns the ritual of getting ready into a moment of indulgence, leaving skin supple and lightly perfumed.

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