Instagram made us buy it…
In the market to buy some new makeup and skincare but have no idea where to start? It’s time to turn to the experts on Instagram. Home to in-depth reviews, aesthetic tutorials, cost-savvy dupes and more, there’s a whole world of beauty knowledge at your fingertips. Admittedly, filtering through the noise to know what products are actually worth your time (and your investment!) takes a bit of commitment. Luckily for you, we’ve got that covered…
Ahead, we’ve scoured the ‘Gram to find social media’s most popular viral beauty products right now. Keep scrolling for more.
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Summer Fridays, Jet Lag Mask, $410
Co-founded by influencer Marianna Hewitt, it’s no surprise that the whole Summer Fridays skincare range comes ‘Gram ready, courtesy of its minimalist (and recyclable!) packaging. The Jet Lag Mask is the OG hero of the brand – an antioxidant rich mask packed full of skin saviours like brightening Vitamin C, exfoliating Chestnut Extract and plumping ceramides. The ultra hydrating formula works to replenish radiance, as well as minimise the appearance of blemishes. It’s quickly become a cult classic – and for good reason!
Nécessaire, The Body Wash, $210
An influencer staple since bursting onto the beauty scene in 2018, Nécessaire is one of the buzziest body care brands to know right now. Here, the focus is on elevating body care to the quality of facial skincare, with each product featuring high quality formulas which spotlight premium ingredients typically reserved for expensive moisturisers and serums. Take The Body Wash, for instance, which has an optimum PH level designed to support your natural barrier function, and comes packed with vitamins, omegas and antioxidants that both gently cleanse your body and promote skin health. As a bonus, every product in the curated 11-piece collection is completely fragrance-free, making it great for all you sensitive-skinned girlies, including those with eczema and acne. Did we mention that the brand is Carbon Neural Certified to boot? Consider us sold.
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Charlotte Tilbury, Beauty Light Wand In Pinkgasm, $320
Between the crowd favourite Pillow Talk Lipstick and, more recently, the glow-inducing Hollywood Flawless Filter, Charlotte Tilbury is the undisputed queen of creating viral Instagram hits. Case in point, the Beauty Light Wand, which pretty much broke the internet. Okay, we’re cheating a little bit here as the hype for this one originated in the depths of YouTube and TikTok (specifically, Madison Beer’s hit Vogue Beauty Secrets video), but we bet you’ve spied it on countless aesthetic Insta shots since. Full disclosure, at the time of writing, this specific shade of the Beauty Light Wand is sold out – a testament to its popularity; but rest assured, it is restocked at regular intervals. When you do finally get your hands on this highlight-blush hybrid, dot it across the high points of your face for a luminous, rosy pink glow – you’ll instantly see what all the fuss is about.
Olaplex, No.3 Hair Perfector, $280
From the salons to your feed, Olaplex is the latest haircare wonder to do the rounds on social. Its USP is that its products work on a molecular level to repair broken hair bonds, strengthening your hair from the inside out. The result? Stronger, healthier and softer locks that’ll set you up for endless good hair days to come. We recommend starting with the No.3 Hair Perfector, which is a concentrated treatment that’s designed to be used on damp hair before your usual wash. Top tip: “gorgeous, gorgeous girls” are partial to putting their hair in a bun while the treatment is working its magic, leaving it in for a few hours whilst they run errands or go to the gym.
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Byredo, Gypsy Water Eau De Parfum, $2,020
The photogenic star of many an Instagram flat lay, a Byredo scent is immediately recognisable thanks to its sleek minimalist bottle. Gypsy Water is an influencer favourite; perfect for the “modern-sophisticate”, expect top notes of bergamot and lemon balanced with vanilla, sandalwood and earthy incense. Prefer something more floral? Launched last September, Young Rose is one of the new kids on the block; the unique scent juxtaposes fiery Sichuan pepper with sweet Damascus rose.
Glow Recipe, Niacinamide Dew Drops Highlighting Serum, $265
To understand the hype behind this glow and brightening serum, it is first necessary to educate yourself on Instagram’s viral K-beauty “glass skin” trend of 2021. As the name suggests, “glass skin” refers to the pursuit of flawless, poreless, clear and translucent skin that looks exactly like, well, glass. Easier said than done, the key lies in hydration. Enter Glow Recipe’s Dew Drops, which emerged as one of Instagram’s top “glass skin” heroes. The dewy formula is loaded with niacinamide, which helps to reduce inflammation and smooth out texture, along with hyaluronic acid for hydration and watermelon fruit extract for brightness, setting you up for most radiant skin of your life. The pretty in pink bottle doesn’t hurt either.
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Dior, Lip Glow Oil, $305
Jumping on the Y2K bandwagon, lip gloss is the latest must-have beauty hit making its mark on Instagram. But fret not, there’s not a Lancome Juicy Tube in sight. This time around, the hero of the hour is Dior’s Lip Glow Oil. Offering an elevated take on the glossy lip, this pick promises high shine that is neither sticky or greasy. But that’s not all, it also boasts an intense lip care formula which works to protect and moisturise, along with colour reviver technology designed to enhance your natural lip colour. The luxurious packaging seals the deal – no wonder it’s one of Dior’s best-selling beauty buys to date.
Hero image courtesy of Glow Recipe via Instagram, image 1 courtesy of Net-a-Porter, image 2 courtesy of Nécessaire via Instagram, image 3 courtesy of Charlotte Tilbury, image 4 courtesy of Olaplex via Instagram, image 5 courtesy of Lane Crawford, image 6 courtesy of Glow Recipe via Instagram, image 7 courtesy of Lane Crawford.