Among the 50+ beauty products I tested last month, these 6 stood out as the best.

      (Image credit: Lucy Robinson for Who What Wear UK)

      Welcome to The Empties Edit, a collection of products that our beauty director, Shannon Lawlor, finishes every month. Shannon evaluates hundreds of products annually, so only those she truly loves are marked as "empty." Think of The Empties Edit as your go-to guide for the finest beauty products available. As I write this, the temperature is 20 degrees outside, and for the first time this year, I feel spring/summer has truly arrived. With the warmer weather, longer evenings, and brighter days, my summer beauty routine is starting to develop. I'm back to applying SPF 50 sunscreen on my face and hands, generously applying body cream every day, and treating my dry hair with nourishing masks.

      As my summer routine requires a bit more attention, it’s no surprise that I go through products at a faster pace. This month, it feels like I've tested more beauty items than ever, yet only six stood out enough for me to use them completely. (I’ll admit, a few others are still in progress.) Here’s a look at the beauty products I finished last month, from the winter fragrance I finally emptied to the daily moisturizer that has captured my heart.

      1. Medik8 Advanced Pro-Collagen + Peptide Cream

      Ever since I first used this moisturizer in November, I've been hooked. Not a single day has gone by without applying this soft, silky cream to my face. Packed with growth factors, NAD+, and peptides, it has been shown to promote collagen production by 45%, enhancing elasticity and visibly minimizing wrinkles. My skin has improved so much that friends and colleagues have been tempted to purchase it themselves, and they share my enthusiasm. It's arguably one of the best face creams I've ever encountered.

      2. Color Wow Dreaming Advance Repair and Resurfacing Treatment

      I must admit, it took me a bit to appreciate this product. If you're looking for a typical, nourishing hair mask, this isn't it. Its texture is thick and rich, resembling body butter more than a hair product, which made it difficult to apply through my tangled locks as I was accustomed to. However, after a few tries, I discovered that after just a minute on my wet hair, everything starts to smooth out, and each strand feels softer. As a weekly treatment, it helps resurface and repair the outer hair cuticles for a shinier, smoother finish—and it even offers heat protection. Is it suited for coarse or very curly hair? Probably not—but it works wonders on my long, straight, damaged, bleached hair.

      3. Dr. Althea Green Tea Fresh Sunscreen SPF 50

      I’ve never encountered a facial SPF that has impressed me as much as this one. I love it so much I've bought a couple more bottles since. Dr. Althea is currently my favorite K-Beauty brand, and this sunscreen is a key reason. If you have sensitive skin that easily breaks out, gets red, or generally reacts poorly to SPF, you need to try this. It provides excellent protection while its lightweight, thin texture means it never feels heavy. In fact, it feels more like a hydrating, soothing lotion that gives a lovely daytime glow. I'm obsessed.

      4. Aesop Ouranon Eau de Parfum

      Key notes: Frankincense, hay, myrrh As a fragrance expert, I own hundreds of perfumes, so I rarely finish a bottle. This bottle of Aesop Ouranon is actually my first empty fragrance of 2026. I suspect part of the reason I went through it so quickly is that my husband was using it when I wasn’t looking. Each spritz envelops you in a cloud of burning embers and smoky wood. In winter, it’s a cozy warmth; in summer, it evokes a dry, desert-like heat that takes me to Moroccan souks at twilight.

      5. Santa Maria Novella Acqua di Rosa Cleansing Gel

      Few beauty items feel as special as those made by Santa Maria Novella, the oldest beauty brand in the world (founded in 1221). This rose cleanser reflects the brand's rich history of damask rose distillation while perfectly aligning with contemporary cleansing needs. The rose not only adds a delightful scent but also provides a hydrating boost. It’s the ideal daily cleanser that leaves the skin clean, nourished, and generally happy.

      6. Ffern Spring 26 Candle

      Key notes: Wild mint, white thyme, valerian root Ffern is quickly establishing itself as one of Britain’s most impressive beauty brands. The natural fragrances are crafted in Somerset, and the brand releases just four seasonal scents each year in limited quantities. Recently, Ffern has added candles to its fragrances, and Spring 26 is my absolute favorite. With the green, crisp scent of mint combined with the grounding earthiness of thyme and valerian root, it evokes the feeling of English me