And bam! Already it’s the second month of the year, just like that. For our February ON MY DESK column I take a look at new products in the world of skincare and beauty to cross my path from Benefit, Weleda, Paul Mitchell, Plantae, Trilogy, Manuka Doctor, Blackmores, Human+Kind, and QSilica. It’s no coincidence that all of these new releases seem apt for how I am feeling right now; dehydrated skin needing nourishment, beached-out, coloured hair needing love, sun-damaged skin needing brightening, and late nights meaning I need a good night’s beauty sleep. After the heat of summer and before the change of seasons is a great time to nourish and replenish your mind and body and here are some new products to help you do just that, beautifully.
First up, rehydrate
Weleda Evening Primrose Age Range
Weleda is a brand I’ve known well and loved for years and it’s a top quality natural skincare brand that’s actually really reasonably priced. Now, Weleda has released a range that captures the benefits of the evening primrose, a botanical famous for many preventative and therapeutive qualities, but in particular for a high concentration of a fatty acid called GLA. It is widely used for maintaining youthfulness and also in preventing disease. This range of three topically-applied products contain Oenothera Biennis, commonly known as evening primrose oil. The range is fragrance with magnolia, cardamom, and sandalwood and smells divine. Evening Primrose Age Revitalising Body Oil retails for $37.90, Body Lotion for $36.90, and Body Wash for $20.90, available from selected health food stores and pharmacies. See www.weleda.co.nz for stockists.
Coffee Body Balm and Coffee Body Scrub by The Aromatherapy Company
A coffee cake by The Baker and Espresso Workshop arrived this week with the brand new and incredible-smelling Coffee Body Balm and Coffee Body Scrub by The Aromatherapy Company with coffee, and 100% pure and natural essential oils of cocoa vanilla, and cassia. Nourish dehydrated skin with the natural antioxidant properties of coffee which can help target cellulite and stretch marks, together with grape seed oil and beeswax to exfoliate dead skin cells. For stockists, see www.thearomatherapycompany.co.nz
Manuka Doctor Facial Oil
I have been a huge fan of facial oils for years now. Whenever my skin is feeling like a dried up parchment in the hot summer sun, a touch of a good facial oil makes it feel smooth and hydrated again, and this oil was just the trick to do exactly this. It has the popular rosehip and argan oils, as well as the amazing tamanu oil and avocado oil, but its hero ingredient is New Zealand Manuka oil with powerful antimicrobial, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. I love the glass packaging on this facial oil, with its eye dropper – it feels very medicinal which is only fitting for a brand called Manuka Doctor. Manuka Doctor Facial Oil retails for $29.95 for 30ml from Life and Unichem Pharmacies and selected department stores and the Manuka Doctor store at 1 Quay Street Auckland city. www.manukadr.co.nz
Antipodes Namaste
If you are a fan of New Zealand brand Antipodes, you’ll know how well they are doing here and internationally, with their beautiful range of natural skincare with the uplifting and spiritual product names, in packaging that looks as good as the skincare feels. They certainly have the whole package. This hand and body wash has just been re-launched with this native fantail bird illustration on the packaging of a large, pump bottle that looks gorgeous on your bathroom benchtop. Now, the very popular Namaste is back so you can get a fresh citrusy scent as you cleanse skin with botanicals. For stockists see www.antipodesnature.com
Plantae Night Cream
This sweet floral illustrated pillowslip arrived with the Plantae Night Cream and the cats were having a wee sleep next to the photoshoot, so they got included, too! I’m in love with the Plantae cleanser from this New Zealand brand so I was excited to try out the night cream. It’s a lighter formulation than many night creams; more of a lotion than a creme. The key ingredients are blackcurrant leaf and Auvergne pine bark extracts which combine to fight the signs of ageing. The night cream is a yellow shade and fragranced with a botanical-floral scent. $64.90 for 50g from selected pharmacies and health food stores. For stockists, see www.plantae.co.nz
Next up, Repair
Paul Mitchell Ultimate Color
Dinner and great hair was sorted – when this hair product arrived with all the ingredients to make a kale, pomegranate and quinoa salad, yum. Paul Mitchell Ultimate Color Repair has protein-packed quinoa grain, to maintain your hair colour and protect it from fade. The colour repair system consists of a shampoo, conditioner, and a thermal protection spray, all with the high-protein quinoa extract. Available from salons that stock Paul Mitchell.
I just cooked the pomegranate quinoa kale salad ingredients that came with the Paul Mitchell Ultimate Repair.
Trilogy Very Gentle Calming Serum
I saw my mother on Saturday and she said how irritated my skin looked and how we are all (not) blessed with sensitive skin. This looks like just the ticket, then. Trilogy Very Gentle Calming Serum is a soothing and hydrating rescue for irritated skin with a botanical formulation, SyriCalm, to reduce inflammation. What is SyriCalm? It is a blend of a large aquatic grass native to the tropics that has long been recognised by Navajo Indians for its medicinal qualities, and poria cocos, derived from a fungus that grows on the roots of pine trees and is used in Chinese medicine for its immunological and anti-inflammatory benefits. $44.90 from www.trilogyproducts.com and stockists nationwide.
Human+Kind Skin Lightening Cream
Eek! Facing the aftermath of summer pigmentation and brown spots? If melanin production has gone slightly overboard, this product aims to address it. Human+Kind Skin Lightening Cream $39.49 is a daily moisturising cream with an instant brightening effect for areas of pigmentation, and Age Spot Remover $33.50 uses avocado oil, hibiscus flower extract, mulberry bark extract, and cucumber extract to treat the appearance of dark patches and age spots. The packaging graphics are second-to-none with their patterned designs. Available from selected pharmacies nationwide. www.humanandkind.com
Benefit Puff Off!
Oh my goodness. I was delighted when I unboxed this to find the applicator was a tiny little iron! This definitely takes the cake for cutest product design. The undereye gel to smooth out creases comes out of the centre of the small iron-shaped tip of this 10ml tube. Benefit Puff Off! is formulated to repair puffy under-eye skin and minimise the appearance of fine lines. The under-eye gel is a translucent pale pink liquid and a little goes a long way so start off small. It instantly feels cooling and refreshing. You can apply it under your makeup, too. It retails for $54 from Benefit counters and Smith and Caughey www.smithandcaughey.co.nz.
Next up, rest.
Blackmores Sleep
Heaven knows I NEED THIS. Blackmores Sleep Sound Formula is a herbal supplement to support healthy sleeping with calming herbs valerian, lemon balm, and Magnesium. They recommend you take a couple of tablets an hour before bedtime, and of course don’t have any screentime before bed. Maybe read a book and have a herbal tea and enjoy sweet dreams. $35.90 for 30 tabs.
Words and photography, Megan Robinson
12th February 2015
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