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. Light Ease
According to one of the ambassadors (that’s what Le Labo affectionately calls their sales staff), hinoki is one of the most popular scents worldwide which makes sense for why its scent is used in this travel set comprising of body, hair, face and products. Its packaging which is a sturdy canvas pouch also softens up the more you wash it which is quite on trend with the old money look that’s trending now.
Le Labo Body-Hair-Face Travel Set, $83
2. IN BLOOM
First launched in 2000 and charming a generation of women and girls with its floral airiness, the latest flanker from the Kenzo spices things up with two ingredients: poppy and saffron that interestingly, makes this scent smell like incredibly bougie laundry detergent or an exotic garden in medieval Europe. Its sillage is strong too so you can expect up to 12 hours of wear on the skin or if you spray this on a jacket, the next time you send it for dry-cleaning.
FLOWER BY KENZO L’Absolue Eau de Parfum, $245 for 100ml
3. TAKE PEAR
If you’re familiar with how Petite Cherie smells like—powdery rose, creamy peach, and sugary pear—then you’ll be pleased to know that vanilla has been added to sweeten things up. Designer candles which burn evenly without tunnelling should be a non-negotiable and we’re happy to report that this one burns cleanly for up to 12 hours.
Goutal Paris Petite Cherie Candle, $115
4. CLEAN SWEEP
Deep cleansing without aggravating the skin (you can use some pressure if you would like to physically exfoliate) or turning it raw and red, the mousse in this product lightly foams up and removes sunscreen or light makeup too. Take note though that you should probably clean the brush head with warm water and soap once a week if you somehow lose the cap that comes with the product.
ést.lab ActivCalm Gentle Hydrating Cleansing Mousse with Deep Cleansing Brush Head, $56
5. GENTLE BREEZE
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing summer in Ueno Park, the scent of this hair mist will be familiar as it, well, contains sakura cherry notes that smell photorealistic. Argan kernel oil and pro-vitamin B5 have been added too to help condition the hair and to a certain extent, reduce flyaways and frizz. Just remember to spray from the middle of the hair down to the ends instead of from the scalp downwards.
Jo Malone Sakura Cherry Blossom Hair Mist, $90 for 30ml
6. SLEEPY HEAD
One dose of this capsule contains herbs like lingzhi, chamomile, and turmeric that relax the activity in your mind while making sure you sleep more soundly throughout the night. However, it does not seem to counter-affect the effects of caffeine consumption before bed if you’re hypersensitive to it. A tip to help this supplement really work would be to take two capsules two hours before bed and refrain from digital items one hour after to really ease you into the mood for sleep.
Miriqa Deep Sleep Nutrition Supplement, $78
7. PRETTY IN PINK
I can admit that the juice of this perfume is still the same as it’s still blended using sweet mango, rich vanilla, and fruity jasmine before incense and sandalwood are added for olfactory depth but honestly, look at the robot’s new twee-looking outfit and tell me you don’t feel slightly triggered to buy it?
Paco Rabanne FAME Blooming Pink Eau De Parfum, $236 for 80ml
8. GLOW GETTER
Besides how quickly it evens out the skin tone and how efficiently it moisturisers, the one thing I love the most about this cream is how stable the Vitamin C in its formula is: it doesn’t seem to degrade over time which means that you’re reaping the same benefits from day one of using it till when you’re done. It can also be used as a glow-boosting primer or a brightening wash-off mask which makes this product pleasingly versatile.
Sunday Riley CEO Afterglow Brightening Vitamin C Moisturizer, $104
9. NEW ALTERNATIVE
The Body Shop seems to be going through a renaissance with new visuals, more focused formulas, and the revamping of their icons and this serum formerly known as Youth Drops takes what we loved about it—edelweiss that is a vegan retinol alternative and a strengthening formula of botanicals—and dialled its potency up with natural-origin peptides. It also seems to brighten the skin up instantly; almost like you’re shining a soft-light on it.
The Body Shop Edelweiss Daily Serum Concentrate, $93 for 50ml
10. NIGHT CHANGES
I call this cleanser a wild-night must-have because to test if it can be a one-step skincare product if you come home inebriated, I used it on a night when I was. While it does not remove makeup well (there are facial wipes for that), it can be used as the second step of a cleansing routine and because it has hyaluronic acid and copper PCA, you can skip a hydrating product after if you’re really tired (but try not to though).
This Works Deep Sleep Overnight Cleanser, $25.