Hello and welcome to Newshub Lifestyle's Best in Beauty, a series sharing our favourite products of the past month for fellow beauty buffs, skincare savants and makeup maestros to enjoy. Disclaimer: we take no responsibility for any damage to your bank balance.
If #BeautyTok has taught us anything, it's that it's not cute to gatekeep: gorgeous, gorgeous girls and guys share their holy grail products for others to enjoy, even at the risk of said product selling out before they can stock up. It is a selfless act.
\With that being said, another month has passed, meaning more products have been swiped, stippled, swirled and smeared - and these are the cream of the crop.
Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil (RRP$204)
If you too have sensitive, reactive skin, you've probably shied away from retinol out of fear of aggravating your delicate dermis. Retinol - which is in the vitamin A family - has been hailed for its anti-ageing properties across much of the internet, but the ingredient can be irritating. For those who are new to retinol or have sensitive skin (such as myself), a gentle formula like Sunday Riley's Night Oil is key. Yes, this has a hefty price tag, but it could well become a staple in your skincare arsenal. For those of us with surface redness or rosacea, the oil features blue tansy (it's blue upon application) and German chamomile, which help to even the complexion and soothe reactive skin. Meanwhile, trans-retinol ester reduces the appearance of pores, fine lines and wrinkles while combating uneven texture, discoloration and dryness. This product is meant to be used in the PM, and I like to apply it on cleansed skin, followed by the Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment. For other 20-somethings, remember: prevention over treatment.
Tronque Everyday Revelation Exfoliating Refining Serum (RRP$145)
If you're someone who spends hours babying your face with expensive lotions and potions but maybe moisturise your arms and legs once a week, you're not alone. With all the emphasis on our face, we sometimes forget the skin on our body. Enter Tronque, a clean New Zealand beauty brand that focuses on creating face-worthy skincare for the body. Enriched with the same ingredients you'd find in high-end facial serums, their high-performance bodycare products are also free from endocrine disrupting chemicals, known carcinogens, synthetics, sulfates and silicones. The Exfoliating Refining Serum features seven natural AHAs and BHA, pineapple enzymes, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to gently resurface and refine the skin, without irritation or scrubbing. If you suffer from clogged pores, ingrown hairs, uneven texture or even pesky keratosis pilaris, this serum could be a life-changer. I sometimes get texture on the backs of my arms and on the bikini area between laser hair removal, and this product works wonders at softening any bumps or rough patches. As Jennifer Coolidge so famously said, "I've always wanted to be a dolphin" - and this right here might be the secret to dolphin-smooth skin.
RMS Beauty Peach Luminizer (RRP$68)
As someone who is about six years late to the highlighter hoopla, I can now safely say: I get it. A wash of shimmer adds life back to mattified skin and highlights (funny that) the high points of your face - think the cheekbones, cupid's bow, brow bones and the tip of the nose - to emphasise where the sun naturally hits. While a blinding, strobe-like highlighter isn't for everyone, there's nothing like a subtle, natural-looking glow day-to-day, and RMS Beauty's Peach Luminizer has quickly become my go-to. With flattering peach and bronze undertones, the product suits a myriad of skin tones and adds radiance and warmth without that tell-tale highlighter effect or glittery cast. The formula is creamy, buildable and melts into the skin with the warmth of your finger, plus it's multi-use: swipe some on the eye for an effortless shimmer or layer over your lip product for a natural sheen. I've been wearing this with my trusty Maybelline Fit Me Foundation (Dewy and Smooth) on 'no-makeup-makeup' days with a bit of blush.
Mecca Max Off-Duty Blush Stick (RRP$21)
From the 'cold girl' trend to the 'clean girl' aesthetic, blusher has made a major comeback, and I'm all aboard the bandwagon. A healthy-looking flush is flattering and youthful, adding much-needed colour back to the face after foundation and concealer. But let's not get it twisted: you don't need to pay an arm and a leg for the stuff, no matter how beautiful that Dior Backstage Blush is. Coming in clutch is Mecca, with its own-brand Mecca Max Off-Duty Blush Sticks priced at a reasonable $21. Available in soft pink, peach and coral hues, as well as a darker purple, I picked up mine in Sorbet, and it's been a firm favourite in my makeup bag. The selling point is the formula: buttery and blendable yet dry to the touch, these sticks are easy to apply and super buildable. You don't have to worry about touching the stick to your nose and turning into Rudolph: the colour becomes more pigmented the more you add, or stick to a single swipe for a subtle, 'your-skin-but-better' look. I like adding mine above the cheekbones - as opposed to the apples - for a more sculpted look, and a little along the bridge of the nose for 'sunkissed' skin.
Ardell Eco Lashes (RRP$17)
I'm sure most of us are aware that the beauty industry isn't sustainable - and the plethora of new products being released daily isn't doing much to combat our planet's demise. That's why when eco-friendly alternatives pop up, we must support the cause. Celebrity-backed Ardell (Kim Kardashian and Demi Lovato are known proponents) launched its first range of consciously crafted faux lashes last year with five sustainable styles to choose from. Made from natural fibres and an organic cotton band, Eco Lashes are packaged in a biodegradable tray and carton, and are also recyclable and cruelty free - major plus points. For fans of full, fluttery falsies, the most voluminous is the 455: the others are very au naturel, which is great for fans of barely-there beauty, but not so much for eyelash enthusiasts. If you can convert to shorter, lighter lashes, this range may still be for you. You can always add extra drama by stacking two pairs. For an easy application, I recommend the Duo Striplash Adhesive in Dark to camouflage any blobby blunders.
The above products have been independently selected by Newshub Lifestyle. In some cases Newshub Lifestyle received media samples to review.
