As the local beauty industry slowly returns to its former glory with drops by the day, we have taken it into our hands to talk weekly about some of the best beauty launches. Some are noteworthy for their instant results, while others are special simply because they make us feel and look good.
Here, the top 10 beauty launches that landed on GRAZIA’s beauty desk or piqued our interest this week.
Pictured Above: 1. Sunny Side Up
Imagine yourself taking a stroll down the La Concha beach in Spain as this fragrance is exactly what it smells like. Fresh and juicy blackcurrant, citrusy lemon, and the white muskiness of ylang-ylang make Penhaligon’s Solaris a sure-fire summer hit and surprisingly, it smells unisex. It might also be the counterpart to the British brand’s Luna fragrance so you can get both and gift your other half the one of their choice.
Penhaligon’s Solaris Eau de Parfum, 100ml for $310
2. Full Cream
Anna Sui’s fragrances have always been collectors’ items because of how ornate they are but for her sundae collection, it might be one of the cutest ones ever launched. Housed in a sundae-shaped bottle (the cherry is a pump!) are three fragrances—watery floral Mellow Yellow, citrus fruity Pretty Pink, and fruity amber Violet Vibe—that have long-lasting freshness even in the recent soaring temperatures we’re experiencing.
Anna Sui Sundae Eau de Toilettes, $95 for 50ml
3. ON THE GLOW
If you want to dip your toes into the wonderful world of Dr. Barbara Sturm or are packing a travel skincare set for cold climates, The Super Set is a good place to start as it has three of its best sellers—Super Anti-Aging Serum, Super Anti-Aging Face Cream, and Super Anti-Aging Hand Cream—that focus on hydration, ageing, and dullness. As a bonus, you don’t need much of each product for full efficacy so a little goes a very long way.
Dr. Barbara Sturm The Super Set, $315
4. STRAIGHT AWAY
The Dyson AirstraitTM straightener has not been launched yet but it sounds promising going by its promises of straightening hair from wet to dry with no hot plates or heat damage. The product also purports to work by blasting air over and into the hair that simultaneously dries and straightens it which might also mean that it works incredibly quickly.
Dyson AirstraitTM straightener, find out more here
5. HANDS FULL
For desperately dry hands, this Fenty Skin hand cream uses ingredients like butters, oils and vitamin E to rebuild the skin barrier, soften skin and keep it optimally hydrated. And of course, zinc oxide protects against UVA/UNV sun damage but do take the time to work it into the skin as the ingredient tends to leave a white cast.
Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor SPF 15 Hand Cream, $34
6. GREEN LIGHT
Giving full “coverage” on fresh marks or angry-looking hormonal acne, the trick to using this cream, especially if you have oily skin, is to sheer it out on the back of your hands before application with the warmth created also helping it to adhere better on the skin. Another thing we like is that it doesn’t quickly settle due to its moisturising finish which means you have ample time to properly blend it in.
Givenchy Beauty Prisme Libre Skin-Caring Colour Corrector in Green, $60
7. FULL BLOOM
How does Gucci Bloom Intense differ from the original? While you might recognise the creaminess of the latter, it’s in the former’s dry down that makes the fragrance live up to its name. Imagine smelling earthy moss, sweet coconut, and interestingly, the smell of hot asphalt after a rain. Its sillage also clocks in at around eight hours in the recent heat but the weather for once, is not a bad thing as it helps this fragrance to “bloom” more intensely.
Gucci Bloom Eau de Parfum Intense, $280 for 100ml
8. BRIGHT LINE
To target dark spots, La Prairie developed an ingredient called LumidoseTM that is able to target the source of the problem itself: tyrosinase which forms the brown pigment melanin. By also increasing how reflective the skin is, this makes the fast-absorbing serum an all-in-one for all your brightening needs. It can also be used as a brightening primer if you’re feeling lazy on any given day.
La Prairie White Caviar Illuminating Pearl Infusion Serum, $1,150
9. Pan Out
This palette might be made for pros who often need to mix and come up with their own colours but it’s still perfect for everyday use for people like us. It has two variations—Harmony 1 for light to medium skin tones and Harmony 2 for tan to deep—with matching blush colours, a highlighter and a bronzer shade. The creamy formula of each too makes it a dream to blend into the skin where it finishes off with a demi-matte glow that looks ultra flattering.
MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Skin All-in-One Palette, $135
10. Candy Crush
A collaboration with Peko-chan, the mascot of a Japanese company that produces “Milky” candy has the Japanese cosmetics powerhouse putting her on their most-wanted products. We have our eyes on the Lemon Fizz which has two sugary shades and four neutrals and if there’s something we can guarantee, it’s that they’re a dream to blend like the regular eyeshadows from Shu Uemura themselves.
The shu uemura x peko Lemon Fizz eye palette drops on June 1st, $95