Let’s Make-Up: the new beauty launches to have on your radar in October 2025

At this point in the year, my skin barrier is clinging on for dear life –and frankly, so am I.

We’ve made it through the sweaty tube commutes of summer, past the glitter launches of September, and into that glorious, golden-windowed cusp of October, where the city starts to smell faintly of bonfires and everyone pretends to like pumpkin spice.

This is my favourite season for beauty. Not for the wind-chapped lips or the damp purgatory that is an English drizzle, but because October is when make-up gets interesting again. The skin gets moodier, the palettes richer, and we collectively agree that it’s absolutely fine to wear a deep berry lip at 9am.

Welcome to Let’s Make Up, our monthly beauty briefing cutting through the noise of newness to bring you the most noteworthy launches, trends, and formulas worth trying.

Think of it as a curated edit for the time-poor but beauty-curious: equal parts discerning and wearable, with the occasional wildcard.

In this month’s edition, I’m diving headfirst into autumn's most wearable and innovative beauty launches, from 90s-inspired makeup to the launch of multiple hardworking Australian skincare brands in the UK (the Gold Coast is having quite the moment).

So, pour something warm, cosy up, and let’s get into it. Because if there’s one thing October does better than gloom, it’s glamour.

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FACEGYM Lightwear Mask

When: Available now

FACEGYM has officially entered the LED game. Offering a personalised approach to LED skin therapy, the brand that pioneered facial fitness is set to do the same for at-home, salon-grade treatment.

The Lightwear mask isn’t just one-light-fits-all – it’s equipped with an app-connected experience that allows users to target different areas of the face with different light waves, all the while adapting to your skin’s needs.

The mask has also been ergonomically designed so that you can stay comfortable during your 10 minute sessions.

Buy now £450.00, Lookfantastic

CeraVe announces Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm

When: Available exclusively at Superdrug

CeraVe obsessives will be delighted to know that the skincare saviour has finally announced the imminent release of its first Cleansing Balm – formulated to instantly lift and dissolve long-wear makeup, dirt and oil from the skin. This is CeraVe we’re talking about, so of course the formula comes imbued with three essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid, as well as nourishing jojoba oil.

Powerful but barrier-safe and suitable for oily skin, follow up with your favourite CeraVe cream or foaming cleanser to remove excess residue.

Buy now £10.85, Superdrug

The Bobbi Kit 5.0

When: Available now

In celebration of Jones Road’s fifth Birthday, we’ve been treated to yet another Bobbi Kit, and this time it’s full of dramatic, deep and demure autumnal hues.

It includes the Miracle Balm in a new shade called Cheeky, a deep, plum-infused wine red, a sheer highlighter known as The Illuminator in an antique bronze hue, The Best Pencil in espresso, and The Lip in Batch 18 in a classic pinky-bronze tint (the very shade that inspired the inception of Jones Road).

Oh, and there’s a creamy Eyeshadow Stick in dark brown too. That’s my capsule makeup sorted for autumn/winter.

Buy now £84.00, Jones Road

Tom Ford Beauty’s new Black Orchid collection lip shades

Finally, lip shades as sultry as Tom Ford’s signature Black Orchid EDP. This limited-edition collection of sophisticated, buttery-soft and long-lasting lipsticks includes 01 Black Orchid, a pink mauve, 151 Iconic Nude, a warm rose nude, and 19 Runway Rose, a rose pink. There’s also a raspberry-pink cream blush on offer.

Buy now £50.00, John Lewis

Vieve’s 90s Edit is perfect for October

When: Available now

Vieve is offering the limited-edition, winter-ready capsule collection of dreams, inspired by 90s makeup.

The cult-favourite Lip Dew – an oil/gloss hybrid that’s never sticky – is now available in two new shades: A light neutral and flirty beige, a hue the brand has aptly dubbed “Socialite”, and its more dramatic sister, a high-shine golden-brown shimmer called “Supermodel”.

The award-winning creamy Eye Wand has also been given a makeover (inspired by the Ninetease palette) with “Smoke”, a cool, taupe grey, and “Concrete”, a deep charcoal grey.

Buy now £21.00, Vieve

Hair by Sam McKnight seasonal Style Edit

When: Available now

Did somebody say Christmas stocking filler? This fabulous set from the award-winning Hair by Sam McKnight is the only trio you’ll need for festive styling. It includes the Cool Girl Barely There Texture Mist for boosting those roots, the Modern Hairspray Styling Mist with Heat Protection, prevents damage before styling and delivers hold after, as well as the Happy Endings Nourishing Balm to tame flyaways and soothe split ends.

Buy now £48.00, Cult Beauty

Parfums de Marly announces Les Extraits masculine collection.

When: Available now

Known for marrying 18th-century French tradition with contemporary perfumery and ornate vessels, Parfums de Marly has a new launch for October. Les Extraits is a brand-new masculine collection featuring three scents: Carios, Eragon and Valero.

Carios is a vibrant scent with top notes of bergamot, pink peppercorn, red mandarin and saffron, which blend into a red thyme middle before settling into a tonka bean base. Valero is muskier, blending bergamot, lavender, sandalwood and ambrox. Eragon is a gourmand featuring cinnamon, vanilla and patchouli.

For the first time in the French fragrance house’s history, Parfums de Marly has designed exclusive bottles for Les Extraits masculine collection – making them veritable collector’s pieces. Start saving now, so you can grab yours in time for Christmas.

Buy now £450.00, Harrods

Gisou Honey Infused Hair Perfumes

When: October 9 at Harrods and Gisou

If you’re part of the silky smooth-haired cult of Gisou, you’ll be delighted to learn of the brand’s new honey-infused hair perfume scents, formulated to capture the essence of their autumnal lip oils with gourmand scents: vanilla glaze, sticky toffee and milky mocha. Autumn/winter cravings just got a whole lot sweeter.

Buy now £51.00, Harrods

Boots to exclusively launch The Breakout Hack

When: October 8

Australian skincare is having quite the moment. The Breakout Hack, a much-loved, peach-hued skincare brand with a teen focus, is set to launch in the UK with Boots on October 8. I’m most excited for the brand’s ultra-hydrating spot cream, which features a hero formula with patented technology that doesn’t dry out the skin. It’s also free from harsh ingredients like benzyl peroxide and salicylic acid – making it great for sensitive but acne-prone skin.

Buy now £15.99, The Breakout Hack

Davines Restoring Leave-in Mask

When: October 6, in salon and online

If you’re in the market for a brand-new, hardworking mask that offers all-in-one efficacy, Davines' latest launch is for you. The new Restoring Leave-in Mask repairs and restores the hair fibres, protects against heat damage up to 230°C/450°F, whilst defending against environmental aggressors such as UV radiation and pollution. The result? Uber soft, shiny hair with long-lasting colour of up to seven weeks.

Buy now £38.00, Cult Beauty

Foile launches in the UK

When: Available now

This is the one time it’s worth judging a book by its cover. Australian-born Foile combines the skincare power of the Gold Coast with Scandi minimalism, and the result is both beautiful and effective.

Though home to a myriad of refillable skincare saviours (I’ve tried and am loving the Milky Emulsion Cleanser, which cleans without stripping), the brand’s hero product is the Jojoba Face Oil, formulated with cold-pressed, Australian-grown Jojoba oil, which helps regulate oil production, strengthen the skin barrier, lock in hydration, and leave skin soft and glowing.

Buy now £43.59, Foile