As the local beauty industry has returned 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 while looking good themselves.
Here, the top 10 beauty launches that landed on GRAZIA’s beauty desk or piqued our interest this week.
Pictured Above: 1. Love Spell
“Flowing locks. Bright nights. Hair cascades like moonlight down the mountain”—if that sounds right up your Jane Austen-addled alley then consider this romantic hair perfume that softly conditions hair with argan oil. If you’re not a Janeite, perhaps its luminous scent of orange, jasmine, and soft rose will give you a hummingbird heartbeat instead.
Penhaligon’s Luna Hair Perfume, $85
2. At First Blush
American beauty brand Tarte is one of the few that are able to produce blush shades that genuinely flatter Asian skin tones and you can also expect Amazonian Clay level wear with these two blushes—Rosy Flash that gives a ‘freshly-pinched’ hue and Sunny Glow for a copper bronzed finish—that highlight your best features instead of texture. Its formula is also enriched with white rose stem cells for environmental protection and can we talk about its packaging? There’s something glamorous about retouching your makeup using a pen as opposed to using, dare we say, a free brush that comes with a product.
By Terry Brightening CC Liquid Blush, $62
3. Second Skin
The Chloé Atelier des Fleurs collection is a set of nine nature-inspired perfumes that can be layered together but Santalum is a must-have if you can only lug one home. Its perfumer’s vision (Marypierre Julien of GAP Close and Lancôme Rose Peonia fame) was to accurately recreate the earthy scent of sandalwood but the addition of milk and other woodsy notes makes it a skin-like scent that is surprisingly sexy. Expect tonnes of compliments when wearing it and in fact, I’m surprised most women aren’t doing so.
Chloé Atelier des Fleurs Santalum EDP, $410 for 150ml
4. Saving Face
I’d be surprised if anybody tells me that just one use of the Advanced Night Repair Serum doesn’t solve irritation, redness, or dehydration but it now has a younger sister called the Rescue Solution for even more potent recovery. Containing bifidus ferment, yeast extract, peptides, and antioxidants, just two drops of this day-and-night serum are able to immediately soothe skin damage upon application while strengthening it at the same time to prevent a recurrence. Pro tip: It also works fabulously on healing tattoos or fresh sunburns.
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Rescue Solution, $131. The solution is available at Sephora stores island-wide and will be available online from 10 August.
5. Crowning Glory
We like our scalp products to be as lightweight in texture as they are efficacious, and by that, we mean fluids that immediately alleviate problems we have going on up there. This one takes that idea and improves on it with layers of vegan, colour-safe ingredients and a proprietary technology called microPROtec complex that ensures instant results the second you use it: a soothed, hydrated, and happy scalp that no longer flakes or itches.
Goldwell DualSenses Scalp Rebalance & Hydrate Fluid, $42. Available at participating Goldwell salons.
6. Shaping Up
Guerlain’s new day cream uses Ouessant honey, a particular kind that contains skin-tightening polyphenols and amino acids, to do everything from shaping, firming, and smoothing in an instant. But a hidden benefit not described on its packaging is how its texture creates a “bandage-like” effect on the skin which makes makeup application an absolute dream. Pro tip: Slowly ease into your usage of this product if your skin is not used to more concentrated formulas.
Guerlain Abeille Royale Honey Treatment Day Cream, $243 and $206 for the refill
7. On the Rocks
Personally, we’ll always be pro-aluminium when it comes to deodorants but if you’re looking for an al-ternative (all pun intended) be it because of an allergy or sustainability, then consider this stick which only contains one ingredient: potassium mineral salt that inhibits the growth of odour causing bacteria without causing stains. And while we can’t guarantee it’ll work for you, its application is easy if you get a whiff of mid-day funk. Simply wet it, apply it, and allow the deodorant to dry before putting on your clothes.
Jomo Studio Rock’N’Roll Mineral Salt Deodorant Stick, $22 for 120g
8. Floral Magic
Every beauty brand seems to be launching its own version of matte lipstick to varying degrees of success but how did Shu Uemura make theirs an immediate holy grail? It uses Tsubaki oil, also known as camellia oil, for its incredible conditioning properties that ensure hydration for up to 12 hours. This heavily-pigmented lipstick also plumps as the oil has collagen synthesising properties so if you’re looking to wear a lipstick for that long then make sure you’re getting the most out of it.
Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Kinu Matte Lipstick, $53
9. Starting Again
SK-II’s skincare has long been revered for its ability to imbue the skin with a youthful glass-like sheen like no other courtesy of PITERA™. Now, it has been added to a formulation containing skin-protecting Kinren Bio Extract and firming White Peony Root Extracts to make its latest cream an anti-ageing powerhouse. Besides making fine lines look finer and imbuing the skin with a perpetual perkiness, we would also consider it as an energising treatment if you’ve noticed little to no effect with the products in your current routine.
SK-II SKINPOWER Advanced Cream, $264 for 80g
10. Full Strength
If you’re deprived in the hair department with strands that are thin, weak, and sad then consider using this hair oil that does a fabulous job of nourishing it to full strength with emollient ingredients like argan and jojoba oil. It also eliminates friction from pillows or bedsheets as you sleep while its floral musk scent is a pleasurable one to inhale as you wind down from your day.
Stephen Knoll Repair & Control Hair Oil, $24.90