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. Quick Drop
Just two to three drops of this serum-like foundation guarantees glowy skin and the concealing of light pigmentation but the benefits also go skin-deep as the product has an anti-pollution complex that blocks out harmful rays, pollution, and dust. It also doubles up as a way to sheer out thicker foundations or to alter the shades of existing ones if you’re looking to give them a new lease on life.
Clarins Skin Illusion Foundation SPF15, $70
2. A New Light
The best brightening products produce immediate results after just one use, and this one even comes with a blend of anti-irritants and botanical extracts to soothe the skin which also helps even out its look. Pro tip: dab it onto darker spots with a Q-tip for a more concentrated application or even on the arms or legs where pigmentation is most commonly found.
Clinique Even Better Clinical Radical Dark Spot Corrector + Interrupter Serum, $152
3. Fresh Air
With an extract derived from Ligustrum Lucidum Seed (a traditional Chinese herb) and an oxygenating blend of glycogen and nasturtium flower, this luxurious cream immediately hydrates and plumps the skin up which makes it handy for people who’ve been having a lack of sleep or existing on a poor diet. The cream might be on the thicker side, so warming it up in between your palms and pressing it into your skin ensures maximum absorption.
Dermalogica Phyto Nature Oxygen Cream, $218
4. Feeling Rosy
For anybody who’s looking for a blush that has the long wear of a powder and the lusciousness of a cream, look no further than this compact that comes infused with hydrating floral ingredients for a finish that never looks chalky. It also comes in four finishes—matte, shimmer, holographic, and satin—but our favourite is 999 Satin which is a universal red that also has a candlelit glow finish.
Dior Beauty Rouge Blush in 999 Satin, $84
5. Sheer Brilliance
Deliciously moisturising and creamy, but virtually lightweight when applied, this anti-frizz finishing cream should be your go-to product if you’re always exposing your hair to heat-styling tools or colouring it. It works best on thick and curly but I’m sure its formula of organic French cold-pressed olive oil and prickly pear extract will work its magic even if your hair is thin or straight.
FEKKAI Brilliant Gloss Finishing Cream Shine & Anti Frizz, $40
6. In Depth
This eyeshadow palette titled Wild Nudes is French girl beauty at its best—three finishes ranging from satin, metallic, and a dimensional matte in ultra-flattering shades from soft pink to a dark chocolate hue. If you’re the kind too who loves using fingers to apply your eye makeup, expect seamless blendability that makes your final product look natural no matter how many colours or layers you pack on.
Guerlain Ombres G Eyeshadow Palettes in 258 Wild Nudes, $139
7. Cheat Sheet
You might think that this sheet mask should be used as a weekly treatment because of its ingredients like niacinamide, vitamin B, ceramides, and collagen but in our opinion, it’s the ultimate lazy-girl product to use on mornings when you’re lazy to do the full spectrum of your skincare routine. Just make sure to squeeze out excess from the packet as each comes generously filled with the serum.
Saborino Medical Wrinkle Care Mask
8. Smoke and Mirrors
If you’ve been searching for a tobacco-scented perfume that never veers too masculine, consider this one that opens with the sweetness of cognac and a dry cocoa note before getting to the good stuff—the greenness of tobacco leaf and a syrupy sweet cedar accord that is guaranteed to garner you compliments. We’d describe this as more of a night scent but wearing it in the day is infinitely more interesting if you’d like to make a statement.
Serge Lutens Ecrin de Fumee, $320 for 100ml
9. Sweet Relief
Feeling itchy and flaky as of late? That might be due to the recent heat wave that causes dandruff-causing microbes to thrive on your scalp so make sure you have this shampoo on hand to reduce both symptoms in seven days. It’s also free of the nasties like sulfates, parabens, silicones, and fragrance so it’ll never leave your hair dehydrated which is a common effect when using anti-dandruff products.
Suu Balm® Gentle Moisturising Anti Dandruff Shampoo, $42.90
10. Smelling Sublime
Tom Ford Beauty’s summer-inspired scents are always stunners in both their realism and sillage, and his latest one has some bite to it—a sharp and juicy opening of lime blended with the crispness of green aromatics and sensual sandalwood. I would also say that it has a refreshing margarita-like scent—it’s reminiscent of a lime-flavoured one where you can taste the saltiness and effervescence upon your first sip.
Tom Ford Beauty Azure Lime Eau de Parfum, $420 for 50ml.