From River Island to H&M, Lush to Glossier, here are the 9 items our team are adding to their baskets this weekend
There’s a trend on Instagram at the moment where users write ‘unfortunately, I do love’ followed by a list of excitement-generating small joys. Here on The Mirror’s shopping team, unfortunately, we do love deliveries addressed to us, celebrity collaborations with high street fashion brands and new beauty launches.
This week, our shopping experts have been pulling together a delicious edition of Weekend Wishlist, spanning makeup, skincare, haircare, fashion, fragrance and more. Expect products we’ve been swooning over, lusting for or that have found a coveted space in our routines and wardrobes.
With autumn upon us, much of these picks are starting to feel exceptionally cosy, too, with dreamily scented lip balms and hair primers, to chocolate-toned mascaras, blazers and trainers, with the colour set to dominate trends this season.
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Bethan’s picks
Lush Sticky Dates Hair Primer – £28
One of my favourite leave-in conditioners has had a delectable upgrade. Lush’s Super Milk hair primer has long been a go-to of mine, and now, it comes in the scent of one of my most beloved shower gels: Sticky Dates. The gourmand sweetness is perfect for the autumn season, reminiscent of sticky toffee pudding.
But it doesn’t just smell good – it works wonders for conditioning and detangling tresses. The formula uses almond, coconut and oat milks to deliver lightweight hydration, with date syrup working to help hair draw in and retain moisture.
It costs £15 for the smaller spray and £28 for the larger size, which works out at much better value for money. Alternatively, I also highly rate the Color Wow Money Mist, which is currently on sale for £23.50 down from £30.
River Island x Olivia Attwood Brown Faux Leather Belted Trench Coat – £86
One of my most complimented coats is a brown faux leather trench. Every time I step out of the house in it, strangers stop me in the street to tell me how much they love it. And while my Primark x Rita Ora number from autumn 2023 is no longer available, Olivia Attwood has teamed up with River Island to give fashion fans a chance to cash in on the trend.
The Brown Faux Leather Belted Trench Coat comes in at £86 and taps into one of the season’s biggest colour moments, while the belted waist and faux leather finish make it look far more premium than the price tag suggests.
Discussing her first ever brand campaign, Olivia said: “I’ve shopped at River Island since I was a teenager. There was a store near where I worked, and I’d go in every day to try on the new drops. The brand has only improved over the years, so when I saw this collection, I knew I had to be a part of it. It’s so me: tailored, fun, and unapologetically bold.
“The tailoring makes everything super flattering, so I want girls to put these pieces on and instantly feel confident, like, ‘I know I look good.’ That’s the energy behind this whole collection.”
Glow For It focus lash growth mascara in brown – £19.99
I mentioned earlier about chocolate brown dominating autumn trends and that extends to makeup too. I’m planning to swap out my black mascara for a softer, brown shade this season, and the Glow For It focus lash growth mascara is on my payday list.
Priced at £19.99, the mascara doubles as a growth formula, infused with tripeptides and lash serum benefits to deliver ‘longer, fuller lashes with each wear’. It’s earned a number of reviews online, with one shopper commenting: “Great mascara that gives actual results, good length and volume and I love that it’s a double whammy and also treats your lashes. No clumping, no fallout, just beautiful fluttery lashes.”
Another added: “Just wow. I honestly couldn’t recommend this product enough. Goodbye drugstore mascara, hello Lash Focus. After a full day of work and a cheeky gym sesh, my lashes still look as fabulous as they were at 7:30am. It’s simply the best.”
However, some have found it to go ‘dry’ quickly, writing: “Nice mascara that would have got 5 stars, but after a few days of using, it started to go dry and thick and clumpy. I had to use a prep spray to thin it out. Brought two and that’s doing the same.”
Eve’s picks:
Nephthys Illustrated Bisou Bisou No 1 A3 Print – £33
On Wednesday night, it seems every millennial woman tuned in to watch the finale of The Summer I Turned Pretty – myself included. And while the twists, turns, drama and romance of the show had me hooked on the 80 minute feature film, during one scene I spotted a print which I believe to be by viral illustrator Nephthys Illustrated decorated the wall of the main character’s Parisian apartment. Its Bisou Bisou No 1 print. And so naturally, I want to follow suit.
Costing £33, the striking A3 print is such a good way to add a pop of colour to a room and features green stripes outlining a box in which the word ‘Bisou’ – the French word for kiss – is repeated and surrounds a pair of red lips. The design is giclée printed on cotton canvas and is such a playful display to hang up on the wall or resting on a shelf.
Shoppers who have bought the print love its vibrancy with one person, who got the print at Oliver Bonas, saying: “Love this! Brightens up our walls. Excellent quality.” With such a simple but gorgeous design, it’s not had any negative reviews just yet – the only thing is when buying the print on its own, shoppers will have to get their own frame.
Cult Beauty X Sculpted By Aimee Edit – £36
Calling all Sculpted By Aimee fans wanting to top up their favourite products for less. The brand’s edit with Cult Beauty has dropped in price and is on sale for £36 instead of £45.
The kit contains Sculpted by Aimee’s full size cult classic LashLift mascara, and travel sizes of the Lip Oil, Beauty Base Rose Golden, Hydrate & Hold setting mist and CloudCream.
The mascara is a beloved beauty staple in the makeup bags of so many due to its volumising and lengthening formula that doesn’t leave lashes wispy.
Coming in both brown and black, the mascara has a multi-level bristle wand whose technology is ‘designed to apply the product from the root to the tip of your lashes, working in tandem with the nourishing, weightless formula’.
Shoppers have even ditched their eye-lash curlers in favour of this mascara, with one five star makeup fan raving about it: “All I can say is WOW!! I have tried so many different mascaras before but this one is an instant hit with me. It gave them a literal instant Lift!! No curler needed at all which is even better. Lash Lift is the must have makeup product.”
The only downside some people found was that it ‘does come off very easily and smudge’. Others found it to be a smidge clumpy – although as a fan of the mascara myself, isn’t something I’ve found. Read my review of it here.
Damson Madder Pixie Bomber Jacket – Leopard – £125
When autumn comes around, there are several coat trends that return time and again – for example, trench coats and the humble bomber jacket. And while many people opt for a versatile style that comes in a block colour that can be worn with any outfit, I’ve found an absolutely stunning design from Damson Madder that is bold and a real statement.
The Pixie Bomber Jacket is decorated in a leopard print that contrasts its brown and red collar. It has a relaxed fit with a zip fastening, which is great for fitting a jumper underneath, and would look great paired with jeans, skirts, dresses and more.
The jacket also comes with two practical pockets on the outside, and one internal pocket. Like all of Damson Madder’s products, it features a subtle DM embroidered into its design, the brand’s signature logo.
While the jacket hasn’t received any reviews, one thing that’s unclear is how it is insulated, making me think it may not be the best coat for the winter season – which for £125 may be a necessity. But for autumn when the temperatures are temperamental, perfect.
Tiffany’s picks:
InnBeauty Project Recharge Gel Cream – £49
Let’s face it, it’s autumn. Transitional wardrobe pieces are very much a thing, and we’ve seen shops selling coatigans, fleece and trench coats, but how about our skincare routine?
Our skin gets drier when the temperature plummets, and as someone with acne-prone skin, I need a product that provides more hydration than a gel serum but not too thick to clog my pores. InnBeauty Project, a viral US brand that is known for its sensorial skincare, has recently launched in the UK and my skin is loving their Recharge Gel Cream.
The Recharge Gel Cream, available at Sephora for £49, is an oil-free moisturiser that repairs sun-damaged skin by smoothing skin textures and minimising pores. It is not just a face cream, but a multitasker that helps get rid of bumpy skin. That said, it would be perfect if it had SPF for sun protection.
For now, I’m using the Recharge Gel Cream at night and Trinny London’s See The Light SPF50 Moisturiser during the day.
Pour Moi Cosy Check Brushed Cotton Pyjama Gift Set – £47
Nothing beats a cosy weekend at home and I certainly enjoy a ‘Netflix and Chill’ moment in my pyjamas. I love my satin set from Boux Avenue but I yearn for something warm and cosy for colder nights.
The Pour Moi Cosy Check Brushed Cotton Pyjamas set is just what I need for autumn. It’s made from soft, brushed cotton fabric (warm but still breathable) in a classic check print that makes it perfect for lounging around the house or sleeping in style.
I will wear it with the Reebok Justine Crop Top, priced from £11.84 on Amazon, a comfortable bralette with removable pads that provide the right support. When it comes to bodywear, I love a non-wired design because it allows the fabric to mould to my body shape and leaves no gap.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation- £39
I treat my foundation like my skincare products, and when I find one that suits my skin type, I prefer to stick with the brand, which is Charlotte Tilbury for me. Having tried Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint—which gives me an obsessed ring light effect—I was excited to get my hands on the new Airbrush Flawless Foundation.
Priced the same as the original version at £39, the new product is sweat, water, and transfer-proof with a 3D matte finish. My skin felt comfortable despite wearing the foundation for hours and going out and about in the Big Smoke.
With the benefit of having a full coverage foundation, I skipped concealer and only topped it off with a quick spritz of setting spray. However, with my combination skin type, it’s not 100% transfer-proof. There was a bit of foundation wearing off on my forehead and around my nose, but that’s probably due to my problematic T-zone area.
