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.
What do they all have in common though? They’ve been meticulously tested, intensively investigated and very much loved by us.
Here, the top 10 beauty launches that landed on GRAZIA’s beauty desk this week.
Pictured Above: 1. Fluid Form
Just one pump of this almost-emulsion-like foundation gives surprisingly high coverage like that of a concealer. While the brand claims it gives a matte finish that is glowy (it helps too that the foundation has skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid and black rose oil), you’d be pleased to know too that it means that you don’t need to set it with a powder for almost 24 hours of wear.
Those with oily skin however, will probably want to pack a pressed powder in their makeup kit.
Gucci Éternité De Beauté Foundation, $105
2. Smooth Operator
The rich foam that suds up from a pea-sized amount of this cleanser works to clean makeup, sunscreen and excess sebum without leaving your skin tight though we will always recommend you do a double cleanse. Formulated more for those with oilier skin, make sure you’re working the product into your skin for at least 30 seconds to reap the benefits of brightening vitamin C, soothing Moringa oil and pore-reducing niacinamide.
Augustinus Bader The Foaming Cleanser, $100
3. THINKING PINK
If you’re a big fan of the Good Girl range, you might notice the sweet and spicy scent of tonka bean that is constantly used. How Good Girl Blush turns up the femininity of the range, however, is by adding creamy peony, syrupy vanilla and sultry ylang-ylang that gives it a sophisticated but never boring touch. It might also remind you of Mugler Alien or Jean Paul Gaultier Classique if you own either or both scents.
Carolina Herrera Good Girl Blush EDP, £114 for 80ml
4. CLEAN SWEEP
Besides giving you the length, volume and thickness of falsies with just one coat (add two more for extra drama), this mascara is also waterproof if you get caught in the rain or spontaneously burst into tears. The genius, however, is that it has a flower extract that helps to thicken and lengthen the lashes as time goes by. A tip I like to give to would be to curl your lashes after a few seconds of mascara application (remember: damp but not wet) for a super-duper thick look.
Dear Dahlia Paradise Dream Volume & Long Lash Mascara, £114 for 80ml
5. FEELING FRUITY
The trick to using this high-coverage foundation (it can cover tattoos to a certain extent) is to make sure your skin is properly hydrated before you use it as it has a tendency to look “crusty” if you’re dry. For those with oilier skin, you can try picking the cream up with your fingers before rubbing it on your hand to warm and sheer it out for a more seamless application. The compact too is fully recyclable so that’s another plus point to the product.
KVD Beauty Good Apple Skin-Perfecting Foundation Balm, $64
6. LIGHTING UP
What is quite interesting about this loose powder is that not only does it set makeup to last for hours, but it also “adapts” itself to the type of skin you have. For oily skin, it absorbs excess sebum while giving a dimensional glow from all angles (snap a selfie and see for yourself) and if you have dry skin, it blurs texture out thanks to high-refractive powders. A tip I have would be to fold the puff applicator in half if you want to “deposit” more product on the areas that require a heavier application.
M.A.C Cosmetics Studio Fix Pro Set + Blur Weightless Loose Powder, $56
7. MATTE MOVES
This foundation certainly does what it claims to do—full coverage with pore-refining properties, no caking throughout the day, and incredible water resistance—but what is beautiful about this product is that the colour in the pan is exactly what you get: it doesn’t apply differently or oxidise throughout the day. If you want a lighter finish though, apply using a brush like a fluffy powder or kabuki one for light to medium coverage.
Make Up For Ever HD Skin Powder Foundation, $72
8. WOOD BE
Inspired by historical homes around the world, this home spray has a scent inspired by Le Palais des sables in Morocco, a military bastion turned into a guest house. While Serge Lutens has not listed its notes, the home spray smells like the most beautiful combination of frankincense and oud. However, owing to its heavy scent, it performs better in airier spaces where there is circulation instead of as a spray used to mask odours.
Serge Lutens Le Jardin Arabe Home Spray, $86
9. PRESENT TENSE
If you recognise the stress and tension-relieving scent of ginseng within the sixth edition of the iconic serum, you’re on to something: the serum now contains ginseng in the form of Lyphanax™ where the herb is ripened for 500 hours for full potency. If you’re into skip-care, it also performs as a brightening, firming and soothing serum all in one.
Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum VI, $170
10. SOFT CORE
While the concealer might not give full coverage, its creamy and smooth texture works beautifully on dry skin and in particular, mature ones as it never cakes or dries out. Its satin finish is reminiscent too of the Traceless Foundation Stick and so is its skincare benefits: 12 hours of hydration owing to hyaluronic acid.If you have oily skin, a trick I like to do is to let the concealer “sit” for a few seconds over the spot before patting it in so that it blends in more seamlessly.
Tom Ford Traceless Soft Matte Concealer, $102