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 or piqued our interest this week.
Pictured Above: 1. Light Touch
If there’s one thing Korean skincare brands know how to do, it would be to create light, hydrating sunscreens that give a skin-like finish. However, the case with some is that they often leave a white cast if you have darker skin but this one does not. In fact, it also instantly alleviates signs of redness and irritation with ingredients like pine leaf, kale, and basil. Another genius of it is that it delivers sun protection for up to 10 hours which means you don’t have to fuss with reapplication.
Melixir Vegan Airfit™ Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++ ($55)
2. FULL PROTECTION
How do we test if a hydrating cleanser really does what it purports to do? We don’t recommend you try it yourself but we usually cleanse our face with it and wait an hour to see if there’s any tightness. This one leaves the skin feeling soft and smooth (the brand claims it can remove makeup but we always recommend double cleansing) and the use of glycans in its formula means that you’re leaving a “protective barrier” on your skin post-cleanse with wards off environmental pollutants.
Barbara Sturm The Super Anti-Aging Cleansing Cream, $175
3. CREAM SHEEN
A reformulation of one of the brand’s best sellers, the 2.0 of the Lip Tint has kept everything you liked about the original—ultra-flattering colours, a smooth finish, and a glossy look—and added a botanical blend of jojoba, avocado, and olive oils for even more comfort. It now also has a slight plumping effect and if you really want your lips to pop, exfoliate and condition them before applying this product. Pictured above too is the lip tint in Bare Raspberry which we think is the ultimate summer shade.
Bobbi Brown Extra Lip Tint, $54
4. LIGHT EASE
When skincare products are reformulated into a lighter texture, they usually don’t have the same level of efficacy but the new Clarins Double Serum is done otherwise. It still smoothes, firms, and hydrates in an instant but with its texture now sheered out for more comfortable daywear, it can be used for people with oilier skin. It plays well too with formulas like creams and emulsions should you choose to mix it in attempts to save time.
Clarins Double Serum Light Texture, $177
5. EARTHLY DELIGHT
What we love about the scent of fig is that it has the milky-sweet notes of vanilla without being too saccharine, creamy facets of coconut without the heavy richness, and bitter green elements of herbs that don’t dry down too biting. There is a certain plumpness to the version of the fruit in this fragrance that suggests security, comfort, self-assurance, and confidence but if you take a closer sniff, there is a certain sultriness that comes with the inclusion of lotus flower.
Jo Malone Fig & Lotus Flower, $237 for 100ml
6. PIXEL PERFECT
Besides brightening lighter dark spots in just under two days, you might also notice that issues like blackheads, wrinkles, and skin texture seem to be alleviated thanks to how the formula includes PHA. A potent but non-skin-sensitising acid that does everything from stopping the breakdown of collagen to restoring skin damage that comes from UV rays. Its pipette too was designed to deliver one precise dose for every application which in our opinion, should be something more brands should be doing.
Lancôme Clarifique Pro-solution Serum, $180
7. LIGHT PLAY
Consider this product an all-in-one where it performs as a hydrating sunscreen, glow-boosting primer, a way to sheer out the heaviness of liquid foundations, or a lightweight tint to reduce redness and dullness on days where you don’t feel like wearing makeup. Another way we like to wear it is as a liquid highlighter which beautifully catches the light and if reapplied over makeup, does not settle down blotchy.
M.A.C Cosmetics Lightful C+ Coral Grass Tinted Primer SPF 45/PA++++, $75
8. UNDER CONTROL
One thing to note about this product is that instead of it delivering a mist that evenly coats the hair, it instead delivers a “shot” so you should be strategically using it on areas that are oily. The lightweight formula of this mist also leaves a tingly and cooling sensation which soothes scalp itchiness and if you’re the kind to wash your hair on alternate days, it contains prebiotics that balances the microbiome of the scalp.
Oribe Serene Scalp Oil Control Treatment Mist, $86.40
9. FRESH BLEND
The gimmick to this product is that with every fresh purchase, you have to mix two layers within it—the top being moisturising essential oils and the bottom being a hydration-balancing emulsion—to “unlock” the cream’s properties. In a more serious sense, this product can be used daily as a hydrator or a salve for sunny days when popped into the fridge. To a certain extent, it can also be used if your skin is facing sensitisation or irritation from over-eager use of acids.
THEFACESHOP The Therapy Vegan Moisture Blending Cream, $75
10. HIGH RISE
We recommend this product instead for beginners or everyday wear as not only does it separate the lashes and hold an amazing curl, but it’s also easy to remove with just one swipe of a micellar water-soaked cotton pad. More importantly, you have to give it some time to dry as compared to other mascaras in the market but if you do, it doesn’t smudge or flake even in our humid weather.
Wander Beauty Mile High Club Length And Define Mascara, $33.50