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: NARS PowerMatte High Intensity Lip Pencils
A famous drag queen urgently texted me after finding out I was at the launch event of this lip pencil to ask if I could help her purchase them which is proof of why it’s already one of the brand’s best sellers—a 12-hour transfer-proof finish, solid wash of colour, and no flaking or cracking even when you’re lip-synching…or just compulsively licking your lips.
$44, SHOP NOW.
Combine this deliciously moisturising sunscreen with a hydrating primer and you’ll have the juiciest skin ever that radiates from all angles. That’s what I expect people with dryness to appreciate.
Still, if you have oily, dull, or even sensitivity, the other benefits like how it quickly soothes courtesy of wild chervil or how it brightens with a dimensional (read: never chalky) finish will do your skin good too.
$22, SHOP NOW.
The first-world problem we always have with Chantecaille’s special collections is that the products are always too gorgeous to use but again, too gorgeous to leave sitting on our tables.
But if I can convince you to take the first swipe, I’d say that each versatile shade in their holiday eyeshadow palette has a luminous finish like flattering candlelight instead of spackly like a disco ball.
$128, SHOP NOW.
For those unacquainted with the Japanese drug store brand from the early noughts that exited in the later years, it was the queen of drug store brands as it was beloved by everybody from the Lookbook.nu girls, to beauty editors, and even air stewardesses. Why? All their products were resistant to fading or transfer and were waterproof to a fault.
Hence, we’re so excited it made its first comeback with a product we’ve missed—a mascara with said properties while coming in the inkiest of black, and with a brush that evenly coats the lashes with just one quick swipe.
$18, SHOP IT IN WELCIA-BHG STORES.
A recent photo of Courtney Love circa 1997 has been resurfacing as of late to a generation of younger women claiming that it’s giving “babydoll punk”. Its relevancy 26 years later perhaps could be due to one good reason—She’s not a woman, she’s a force of nature.
But for those of us who need a little help, Huda Kattan has the answer with this 18-well eyeshadow palette that can create looks veering from a grungy, matte ‘Mono’ to a glamorous and sparkly ‘Celebrity Skin‘.
$106, SHOP NOW.
Yes, yes, we know: physically and chemically exfoliating at the same time seems like overkill on the skin but we sometimes want to feel like we’ve completely taken the day off.
So thank you, L:a Bruket for giving us a powder that allows us to gently do both courtesy of dried herbs and natural enzymes that work in tandem to instantly imbue the skin with a smoother, brighter finish.
$80, SHOP NOW.
Sure, it feels glamorous to admire an array of beauty products on the counter of a swanky hotel bathroom but wouldn’t you want to save space instead for a haul?
A solution to downsizing is this set that contains a powder blush and cream stick that come in a flattering shade of rose—the former can be used on the eyes and cheeks while the latter on the same places, including the lips.
$58, SHOP NOW.
Truth be told, I’ve only tried this lightweight serum on the back of my hands but if it was able to instantly lighten pigmentation with just one application, imagine the results on the face after finishing all 30 sachets.
The secret in its sauce is the nine versions of stabilised vitamin C within it, which includes 20% pure L-ascorbic acid that is the optimum strength for smoothening imperfections away.
$253, SHOP NOW.
If you’ve been feeling dry and crepy, a liberal amount of this moisturiser provides ample nourishment courtesy of watermelon seed oil, peptides, and ceramides. If you’ve been noticing signs of lines that are taking too long to go away, again, slather this on frequently as an overnight mask and let its cushy formula plump them up.
If you generally desire healthier-looking skin, once again, just slather this on.
$59, SHOP NOW.
The recent gloomy weather calls for a scent that has the right amount of warmth and fuzziness. This one containing just two ingredients—a powdery incense and soapy musk—might remind you of cosy snuggling sessions under the sheets or if you’re averse to the romantic, gives dark academia energy like you’ve opened up an ancient book for the first time.
$211, SHOP NOW.