Winter beauty can be summed up in three words: fresh, hydrating, and radiant. Brands are tackling skin concerns and healing our hair woes, while glazing our lids and lips with glowy colour. Read on to see our picks from a stellar lineup by editor Trudi Brewer this month.
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Nothing is better than locking the bathroom door, sinking into a warm bath, and wearing a hydrating face mask. The latest from Clarins is inspired by cryotherapy, which boosts blood circulation, reduces inflammation, and helps promote collagen production. So, to the ingredients: harnesses the benefits of chilling the skin, the M.G.A., a molecule derived from menthol, is instantly bracing, while organic evening primrose extract, quinoa, edelweiss, and chestnut do the firming and plumping. I'm not going to lie; this is chilly, and the blue-green gel-like cream feels bracing (but remember it’s working to wake up your skin). However, it’s when you wash it off that the magic happens. Your skin will feel refreshed and alive. This could be an all-around brilliant beauty buy. I will no longer keep my skincare in the fridge; this mask comes ready chilled.
We are suckers for a lip tint, and Revlon is smashing it when it comes to fresh new colour at an attainable price. This oil tint leaves a glaze-like shine, and it’s stacked with plant-based nourishing oils, including squalane, to give lips an overdose of moisture. There are six gorgeous translucent shades, pictured here: Glow Mama.
Who said decent haircare needed to be expensive? Not us. Hask offers a range of care and styling products stacked with natural, exotic oils and nourishing plant-based ingredients, to suit any hair type at a very affordable price. This newbie adds body, thanks to biotin (or vitamin B7), which helps stimulate hair growth, collagen, and coffee seed oil. It works overtime as a heat protection spray and banishes frizz. Finally, it’s free from nasties like sulfates, parabens, silicone, and drying alcohol. Winning all the way.
Curls are tricky to manage (coming from someone with corkscrews), but the hard work is done once you get an arsenal of top tools to smooth your locks. Case in point, this brush was created with curly hair in mind. Its detangling power comes from the unique design, sporting shorter teeth to help remove the stress from detangling and reduce frizz while keeping curls defined. There is a reason 20 Tangle Teezer hairbrushes sell every minute worldwide. You can thank us later.
Issey Miyake L'eau D'issey EDP Intense, 30ml, $146, 50ml,$204,100ml, $286
It’s a famous scent that has always celebrated the purity of water. This new EPD is an intense floral aquatic scent inspired by the lifeblood of our universe, the Ocean. Created by perfumer Amandine Clerc-Marie, who was motivated by Alexis Rosenfeld, founder of Project 1Ocean. In collaboration with UNESCO, which documents marine life to promote ocean conservation, this scent is an ode to the underwater Posidonia meadows that act as the lungs of the sea. The tropical bloom, ylang-ylang, illuminates that burst of green, while its lasting warmth is thanks to vanilla. Made from 91 per cent natural origin ingredients, the bottle, too, is inspired by the Ocean; the lid is made from a single piece of wood, removing the need for plastic, the fragrance is also refillable, another nod to environmental consciousness. There is also a new Issey Miyake L'eau D'Issey Pour Homme EDP, too.
You have to love makeup, which gives instant benefits that require little skill. Case in point: this gorgeous shimmer eye shadow stick. First, it’s weightless and leaves a wash of sparkling colour in one swipe. It gets better: It doesn’t crease and stays colour true to shade. It is the easiest, most effective shadow we have used. There are eight shades, pictured here, Lilac Lust.
