Thread.co.nz Best of Beauty 2013

Here are the products that crossed our path this year that we’ve tried and tested and loved, in this year’s beauty award column: Thread.co.nz Best of Beauty 2013…

 

These beauty products featured below I can vouch for. It’s by no means a definitive list – there are many more I like, but these are my faves.

Brands I’ve come across this year that are new to me that weren’t featured last year include nvey eco and Ultraceuticals – both from Australia and deepening their distribution in New Zealand lately, The Organic Skin Co cosmetics from World Organic, and LUSH – which I’d seen for years in England, but has recently got huge here in NZ.

Natural Lipsticks

If you’re thinking of switching cosmetics or skincare to natural products, lipsticks are a good place to start as you ingest what’s on your lips. Below: L-R The Organic Skin Co. lipsticks in Sahara (brown) and Harvest Moon (orange) $33 www.worldorganic.co.nz, Karen Murrell $30 www.karenmurrell.com in fuchsia.shock, magenta.moon, and coral.dawn, nvey eco Hydrating Lip Lustre Gloss in Lolita $30 www.nveymakeup.com, and Antipodes lipstick in April Sun In Cuba red-orange $34 www.antipodesnature.com

I like how Karen Murrell lipsticks have the lipstick colour on the end of the tube so you don’t have to open each tube to see what colour it is. So simple yet so genius.

M.A.C Lipsticks

M.A.C are pretty much industry standard as a go-to lipstick. The following are my picks, running the gamut from neutral to bright. $40 – $46 www.maccosmetics.co.nz
Betty Bright from Archie’s Girls Collection, Scarlet Ibis from Marilyn Monroe Collection (dupe for Lady Danger), Fashion City Sheen Supreme, Sweet Ever Lipcreme, Unlimited Lipcreme, Love Forever Lipcreme, Please Me Matte Lipstick, Satiate Amplified Lipstick, Russian Red Matte Lipstick, Plumful Lipstick.

Lipbalm

My favourite is nimue Hydro Lip Therapy with sunscreen, Vitamin E and chamomile oil $25 www.nimueskin.com

Concealer

I’m loving Fake Up crease-control hydrating concealer by Benefit, with its hydrating core to add moisture to the under-eye area. Available for $45 at Benefit stores at Smith & Caughey’s Queen Street and Newmarket and online at www.smithandcaugheys.co.nz, and from JR Dutyfree at Auckland Airport.

Eyeliners

I’m a huge fan of liquid black eyeliner. It’s such a quick way to create a ‘done’ look with a bright lip. Here are four I have tried and tested: Smashbox Love Me Paint Pen Eyeliner $48 smashboxcosmetics.co.nz, L’Oreal Paris Blackbuster Super Liner $22.99, Eye of Horus Liquid Define $39 www.eyeofhorus.net.nz/, and MAC Rapidblack Eyeliner.

Eyepencils

L’Oreal Super Liner Gelmatic is out January 2014 for $24.99 from Farmers and selected pharmacies and department stores. You wind up the soft tip so it doesn’t require sharpening. Eye of Horus have natural eyeliners in these shades of bronze neutral, and bright teal $39, and Australis has a beauty nbargain buy with its turquoise eyepencil.

Eyebrows

Brows have continued to be the major trend of 2013 with strong brows featuring everywhere from catwalks to celebrities to sidewalks. As a blonde it’s easy to overdo it and go too dark so here are my favourites for blondes. Maybelline New York Mastershape Eyestudio soft brown, L’Oreal Paris Super Liner Brow Artist $22.99 – with a fix and finish wax on the other end, Benefit Instant Brow Pencil $38, and Rimmel London Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl.

Shimmer Eyeshadows

My top shimmer eye shadows are these individual powder shadows from MAC: Gareth Pugh for MAC silver in the square case, and Black Grape at top and Blonde Streak pressed pigment below.

Mascara

I pretty much only wear black mascara (MAC Haute & Naughty Lash) but I branched out into colour this year with this Clarins plum mascara, Intense Plum 04, and it is incredible.

Liquid Foundation

I love liquid foundation for its satin finish and ease of application – and I go through a lot, as I do wear it everyday. Many have a SPF15 but I prep with a sunscreen moisturiser first. L-R Clarins Extra-Comfort – expensive but actually amazing, I am serious. For a bargain buy – both Maybelline New York Super Stay 24HR Makeup and L’Oreal Paris Nutrilift Gold Anti-Ageing Foundation are excellent. I have recommended the Super Stay one to women who normally buy expensive foundations but are on a budget now and they raved about it. Their one with the primer mixed in curls up the bottle wasn’t nearly as good. For a natural foundation free of silicone and parabens, I go to BECCA Radiant Skin Foundation in Buff as it has a great yellow undertone with pink and a good medium coverage. BECCA is available in Auckland from Apotheka in Nuffield Street Newmarket $89 www.glamorpusscosmetics.co.nz/ BB Creams and CC Creams were the buzzword of the year and while most are pretty much tinted moisturisers they are the perfect thing for light coverage, especially in summertime. My pick for colour and consistency of all those I tried is Thalgo BB Cream Perfect Glow SPF15.

Pressed Powder Foundations

Osmosis Mineral Pressed Base Osmosis + Colour makeup collection is available at salons including selected Servilles and Stephen Marr salons; see www.osmosisskin.co.nz/ Ultraceuticals Complete Correction Powder Pure Mineral Foundation pleasantly surprised me, as it wasn’t drying as some powder bases can be, but felt creamy. It is animal testing-free. See www.ultraceuticals.com.au for stockists. BECCA Boudoir Skin Mineral Powder is a great, natural and beautiful product but I also adore the rubber and metal packaging so much. BECCA is available from www.glamorpusscosmetics.co.nz

Blush

Osmosis + Colour Blush in Spring Crush and Youngblood Luminous Creme Blush in Tropical Glow.

Highlighters

One of my all-time faves of the year is the BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector from www.glamorpusscosmetics.co.nz, pictured in Opal. If you like a liquid highlighter, Liquid Reflect by INIKA is great. A tiny amount comes out of the tube perfect for dotting on with your fingertips. MAC have a large selection of Mineralize Skinfinish powders to add a touch of shimmer. This colourway Adored has a combo of pink and peach.

Skincare

I try to use one thing at a time on my skin so I don’t overload it and I definitely prefer the natural and organic brands. For the past few years my top brands would be Dr Hauschka, Weleda, Grown, Trilogy, Antipodes, Linden Leaves, Sodashi, Osmosis, Tebe Olive, Kiehl’s, obiqo, Geoskincare, Pai, La Mav and evolu. Below: I’m currently loving GROWN Geranium Leaf Cleanser, Manuka Doctor Eye Cream, obiqo SPF15 day cream and Kiehl’s Rosa Arctica cream.

Face Mists

Osmosis Clear Water, Sodashi Rejuvenating Face Mist, and MAC Fix+ spray.

Hand and Foot

Linden Leaves revitalising hand cream and body oil, DU’IT foot & heel balm, Weleda Foot Balm, MOR Neroli Clementine hand wash, Revlon nailpolish, Maybelline New York Express Remover $9.90, OPI Expert Touch pads.

Body and bathroom

Schick Hydro Silk razor, Trilogy Botanical Body Wash, Appelles comfrey shower gel, NIVEA Invisible black and white deodorant.

Body Oils

Temple Tonic organic body oil smells amazing, and for a touch of body shimmer these two are stunning – Clarins Splendours Shimmer Body Oil available at Clarins counters, and Themae body oil, available at Sofitel So Spa.

Suncare

Oasis Sun, Ultraceuticals 50+, Labonic Natural Sunblock, Neutrogena wet skin kids, Antipodes Immortal SPF15.

Child and Baby

Made4Kids entire range is awesome (pictured below, super shiny shampoo), and we are huge fans of Happy Little Poppets range including this body wash, and The Aromatherapy Co.’s Baby Therapy range including this hair & body wash. My children thoroughly enjoyed the LUSH cosmetics snowman and penguin bath bombs, and Pot of Gold is a multi-purpose balm.

Hair

L-R: Davines Authentic Moisturising Balm for Face / Hair / Body, ELEVEN Australia Miracle Hair Treatment, evo Love Touch Shine Spray, Fudge Dry Shampoo, Original & Mineral Original Detox Shampoo, Original Mineral No Knott Detangler, Redken Control Addict hairspray, KMS California Silk Sheen detangling spray. The purple Tangle Teezer comb really works.

Megan Robinson
31 December 2013