It's official, these are the 8 best new beauty launches to land on our desk this May

From a Merit tinted sunscreen to Charlotte Tilbury's new lip liner duos, these are the best beauty buys to snap up this pay day

Collage of May 2025's best new beauty launches (L-R) Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Contour Duo, Merit The Uniform Tinted SPF Sunscreen, Givenchy Beauty 4 Colour Pressed Powder, Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Dew Shield Sunscreen, Floris Purple Memoire, on a pink watercolour background
(Image credit: Future/Sennen Prickett)

While we can't seem to get our head around another month drawing to a close, this May has continued to treat us to bursts of glorious sunshine and an abundance of beauty newness - from the likes of Merit, Sol de Janeiro and Givenchy.

As a team, we're incredibly lucky to be able to trial the latest additions to the beauty world ahead of their launch dates, giving us the opportunity to see whether they're actually worth investing in. This month, we've been slathering on some of the best-smelling body lotions that have summer written all over them, and using one of the best lip liners that unlocks a fuller-looking pout in just one swipe - plus, much more.

Naturally, we've put our heads together to decide the buys that have stood out from the crowd and left us with quite the positive impression. So, without further ado, let us introduce you to our edit of the eight very best beauty launches in May that are worth parting ways with your pay day cheque for.

The best new beauty buys this month has served us

With summer just about in sight, you might just be on the hunt for one of the best facial sunscreens that keeps your complexion protected, whilst also offering a sheer and buildable tint. For those scouting out one of the best perfumes for women as their signature scent, we've also got you covered with two new, softly feminine fragrance launches. Either way, we've spent the month acting as your personal try-before-you-buy service with this month's array of beauty newness.

Our Editor says...tinted lip balms are here to stay

What a month it’s been for lip launches...

As someone who used to have a lipstick of the day series on Instagram, I hate to say this, but it looks like lipstick might be out. Over the past couple of years, tinted lip balms and the like have been steadily taking over our lip colour drawers, phasing out the traditional satin and matte numbers in place for more hydrating stains that leave a flattering flush of colour.

And as someone who loves a no-makeup makeup look, I have definitely fallen for the hype. So I was pretty excited to see that - from the look of May’s new product drops - it seems like the look is here to stay. With no fewer than four lip-staining glosses, glazes and balms (a mad number for the space of just one month), there’s something to suit everyone in this month’s launches.

~ Aleesha Badkar, Beauty eCommerce Editor at woman&home

And if that wasn't enough, Glow Recipe, one of my all-time favourite brands, has launched their first ever tinted lip balm with their new Lip Glass Balm, with flavours and tints including strawberry, blackberry and watermelon. While I'm yet to try it, I can already see it making its way into my ongoing rotation.

Our 9 top tried and tested beauty picks to snap up this month

2025's best new beauty products

Meet our expert panel

Tested by
Aleesha Badkar, Digital Beauty Editor at woman&home
Tested by
Aleesha Badkar

Aleesha is Digital Beauty Editor at woman&home, where she gets to share her expertise into all the best techniques, sharpest tools and newest products - with a particular savvy in skincare and fragrance. With years of beauty testing under her belt - from hair styling tools and red light therapy devices to seasonal fragrance drops and any new lipsticks to add to her colour-coordinated collection - she knows just how to pick out the best new launches for you to shop.

Tested by
Image of Sennen Prickett, Digital Beauty Writer, smiling with curled long brunette hair
Tested by
Sennen Prickett

As Digital Beauty Writer at woman&home, I share the latest beauty launches, trending buys, tried and tested product recommendations worth snapping up, across an array of realms from makeup must-haves to skincare staples. I am also a self-declared bargain hunter, boasting the ability to scout out unmissable money-saving beauty deals so you get more bang for your buck.

Sennen Prickett
Digital Beauty Writer

Sennen is Digital Beauty Writer at woman&home, where she shares the latest beauty launches, trending buys and personal product recommendations, from makeup and hair to skincare and nails. She is also a judge for the annual woman&home Haircare, Skincare and Beauty Awards.

Previously, Sennen achieved a First Class Fashion and Beauty Journalism degree at Birmingham City University, before undertaking her role as Junior Digital Fashion and Beauty Editor at FROW Magazine. During this position, she wrote about the latest industry news, new product launches, viral trends and thoroughly reviewed a lineup of beauty products. Since leaving FROW, Sennen has gone on to create fashion, beauty and lifestyle content with numerous brands, including Who What Wear UK, HuffPost UK and Harvey Nichols.

When she’s not writing about all things beauty, Sennen spends her spare time outside of work watching the latest Netflix series, doing lots of online shopping and going on countryside walks with her dog.

With contributions from