Sally Foran: The 17 best beauty products I tested this year

A year as a beauty editor means sifting through countless new launches. Here, Sally Foran shares the products that earned a permanent place in her own routine

Sat, 18 Jul, 2026 - 01:00

Sally Foran

1. Victoria Beckham Beauty The Foundation Drops

When Victoria Beckham announced her first Foundation Drops in September in collaboration with Augustinus Bader’s TFC8 technology, expectations were high — with an eye-watering price tag to match.

I wanted to hate this, with its €120 RRP, but reader... it is so, SO worth it. With serum-light coverage and a buildable, natural-feel finish, the formula melts effortlessly into the skin, disguising imperfections and evening skin tone.

For now, it’s my special occasion foundation. If you can afford it, it is perfection in a bottle.

€120, Brown Thomas

2. Sculpted by Aimee Cream Cushion Foundation

While Victoria Beckham’s Foundation Drops are my special occasion foundation, this has become my everyday go-to. Inspired by K-Beauty, this foundation was love at first swipe when it launched last September. Its bouncy formula delivers a real-skin finish that you can effortlessly customise from light to medium, thanks to the innovative mesh technology that releases the perfect amount every time, layers seamlessly and builds beautifully.

Like all Sculpted products, it’s a skincare-first formula with SPF 30, vitamin E, niacinamide, and glycerin, while smart polymers provide a silky, long-wearing finish. It will keep your skin hydrated, smooth, and fresh all day. I swear it looks better as the day goes on...

€32, Millies

I wore the viral Zara ‘death pants’ for one hour — here’s what happened

3. PS Pro... Illuminating Foundation

I first trialled this while working with Penneys, and now it’s become my favourite budget foundation. It performs incredibly well against its designer counterparts, with a lightweight, dewy finish that bestows the most stunning glow. The skincare credentials are impressive, with hydrating ingredients like glycerin, squalane, and hyaluronic acid. It allows your natural skin to peek through and, once set, lasts surprisingly well.

€8, Penneys stores nationwide

4. Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Blur Concealer

As I write this, I’m on a flight to London to discover Charlotte’s latest launch, but the most recent one that impressed me is this — a light-as-air, full-coverage concealer powered by the brand’s pioneering Powder Blur AirTech and advanced skincare actives. It smooths, hydrates, and retexturises; it’s transfer- and humidity-resistant; it instantly brightens dark circles, neutralises redness, softens the look of puffiness, and blurs pores for a blurred finish. We seriously need to start a petition to get this in foundation form, but until then, just dot this where you need it. Trust me, it’s insane! Relaunching it as a foundation? I’ll ask Charlotte herself, leave it with me.

€35, Brown Thomas

5. Refy Water Bronzer

Since I turned 40, I’ve mainly switched to liquid or cream bronzers, and the newest wave are watercolour-based formulas. Refy really shows how it should be done. No spillages, no mixing or staining; the formula is all contained in a handy Korean-inspired cushion compact. Beyond the packaging, the formula is absolutely stunning. It’s sheer, bestows the most natural wash of colour, and could pass for a natural tan (not that I’d ever recommend one, of course!). I was absolutely blown away on first application, and it’s the only bronzer I’ll be wearing on repeat this summer.

€26, Cult Beauty

6. Sweed Miracle Powder

I’m a big fan of mineral foundations, as they’re kinder to skin, and this powder one from Sweed is the best one I’ve tried yet. It feels like a second skin and looks like you’re using a filter, as it gives such a gorgeous, blurred finish. It’s also buildable, so you choose how much coverage you’d like. Not only that, it also cares for skin at the same time, with antioxidants including vitamin C to help protect skin from free-radical damage, which causes premature ageing. It’s perfect for all skin types, but I think you’ll especially love it if your skin is sensitive

€47, Cloud10 Beauty

7. Poco Beauty On The Glow Cream Colour Stick

Poco Beauty are one of those Irish brands that can do no wrong in my eyes. I’ll be buried with their very first launch, the Universal Glow Treatment, and these blush sticks are fast becoming staples too. What I particularly love about them is the fact that, as they’re so luminous, you don’t need a separate highlighter. A two-in-one makeup product is always most welcome in my busy life. They’ve also got such a blendable texture, are beautifully creamy and densely pigmented, and work beautifully on the lips too. There are four delectable shades, but Doll has my heart. It’s just so pretty, and is the ideal bridal shade.

€19, Planet Beauty

8. Clarins Sunkissed Healthy Glow Bronzer

Though I’ve switched to mainly liquid or cream bronzers, I’m aware they still scare some people. If that’s you, try this. It’s got an ultra-fine powder texture that blends so easily into skin and gives you a radiant, flattering sun-kissed glow with just a few effortless brush strokes. It has two shades in one, which can be mixed to your desired intensity, and provides a beautiful, natural glow. It also has that signature Clarins summer scent.

€45, Clarins

9. DCYPHER My Custom Foundation

For all the 35 years I’ve been wearing foundation, I’ve never found my true match — until now. Dcypher is probably the most innovative foundation launch of the past year, as it uses a world-first AI-powered Skin Tone Analyser technology to match the perfect shade to your unique skin tone, type, and preferred finish.

It’s also lightweight, breathable, long-lasting, and enriched with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump skin, glycerin to help lock in moisture, and Caesalpinia spinosa fruit and Kappaphycus alvarezii extracts, which combine to create a protective, lifting and natural second-skin finish.

€57, dcypher.com

10. Merit Beauty The Uniform

It’s hard to believe Merit only started shipping to Ireland last September, and The Uniform is one of the products beauty fans were most excited to test. A tinted SPF or a blurring primer, you ask? This serves as both.

Lightweight and buildable, it blends effortlessly into skin and provides sheer coverage alongside a natural soft-focus finish, thanks to fine natural powders that blur, smooth, and even skin for a soft, velvety finish. You may never wear foundation again!

As an aside, this is your PSA: If you have hyper-pigmentation, always opt for a tinted SPF. The iron oxides in tinted formulas help protect against visible light, which can make pigmentation worse.

€42, meritbeauty.com

11. Merit Beauty Clean Lash Mascara

Another one from the US newcomer. So many mascaras promise the sun, moon, and stars, and very few live up to the hype. You can imagine my surprise when this one actually did. The clinical stats for this Japanese-made tubing mascara are impressive — 100% of participants showed increased volume, length, and lift, while 96% agreed it volumised without clumping. I concur. For context, I’ve got wispy, sparse lashes that are difficult to separate and layer, and are prone to clumping, but this delivered buildable volume without any heaviness or smudging and, thanks to a first-of-its-kind petite precision brush, it lifted and separated each lash individually, with ease. It seriously impressed me. And it’s available in my signature brown too.

€29, meritbeauty.com

12. K18 Triple Bright Oxidation Defence Purple Shampoo

I’ve been highlighting my hair since my 20s, so a purple shampoo is something I regularly test to beat the dreaded brassiness, but with varying degrees of success. Some have left my hair actually purple... Others have been good, but this, THIS is phenomenal. It is, hands down, the best purple shampoo I’ve ever tried. It’s a first-of-its-kind, three-in-one foam, violet-hued shampoo that uses ionic detox particles to remove brass-causing minerals and metals, neutralises existing orange tones and defends against future discolouration. Most importantly? It does all of this without staining or overtoning the hair.

€45, Zolo Beauty

13. 14 Day Manicure Nonicure Step 2: The Veil

I had my nails destroyed from BIAB recently, so much so that I’ve not had my nails done since. Thankfully, 14 Day Manicure’s Nonicure system revived them, and I can’t stop wearing Step 2: The Veil, which provides such a gorgeous natural colour while also strengthening and protecting my nails with ceramide-like lipids, plant oils, and shine boosters. Described as “the skincare step your nails have been missing” by founder Suzanne Cummins, it creates a breathable, glossy shield that helps protect and condition my nails from daily stress, keeps them looking smoother and healthier. It can be worn alone or under polish. Ideal for no-polish days or just as your everyday nail polish, as I’ve been doing.

€19, 14daymanicure.ie

14. Dermalogica Phyto Nature E2 Serum

14. Dermalogica’s Phyto Nature E2 (E Squared)

I first tried a product from this range, a serum, early in my career, and I described it as one of the best serums I’d ever tried, so I honestly don’t know why it isn’t lauded more.

However, as the whole range is expensive, I admit I hold back due to the current cost-of- living crisis, but if money is no object, do invest; it’s 100% worthwhile.

The latest addition to the franchise is formulated with next-gen exosomes to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and exfoliating enzymes to clear away dull surface cells for smoother, brighter skin. Although ingredients do generally take up to 12

weeks to work, this somehow manages to work overnight.

€176, Skin Shop

15. No7 Skin Sip Moisture Milk

You can’t fail to have noticed that milky toners are everywhere. Does anyone even use a regular toner anymore? Anyway, while Rhode’s one has gained cult status, I find this one far better and, as an added bonus, it’s significantly cheaper too.

No7 have always formulated some of the most innovative skincare products (who remembers the famous Protect & Perfect serum?), so it’s no surprise.

This is an ultra-silky, lightweight milk that deeply quenches skin, giving that much-coveted glass-skin effect, leaving skin looking so dewy and soft, thanks to ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalane.

€18.99, Boots

16. Óige by Agnes Peptide Elixir

As my long-time followers on Instagram will know, I have long championed the benefits of using Argireline (a synthetic peptide that works in a similar way to botox), in your skincare routine, so I was absolutely thrilled to see facial massage queen Agnes launch a peptide serum that contains not only Argireline but also other cutting-edge peptides, alongside antioxidants, gentle exfoliating acids, as well as hydrating and soothing ingredients.

It really is the ultimate “one and done” serum that delivers visible results, and fast, so much so that it has replaced other peptide serums from more well-established brands.

No mean feat, but if you know anything about Agnes, this is not one bit surprising.

€50, faceyogabyagnes.com

17. Skingredients Eye-Light Eye-Bright Arbutin Under Eye Pads

Designed to “quench and drench” the skin in just 15 minutes, with hydration increasing by up to 85% after a single use, these eye gels are incredible. Rather than following the industry trend of hyaluronic acid-heavy formulas, these are formulated with glycerine, a clinically respected humectant known to draw water into the skin and help retain moisture.

With arbutin to brighten and refresh the delicate under-eye area, and niacinamide to help visibly reduce the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, and fatigue, they’re perfect before makeup or whenever your eyes need a reset, and better still, they’re one of the few that don’t slide down your face.