Makeup has got so clever these days. I swear, there’ll be a lipstick that can butter toast and make you a cuppa tea along any day now. Until then, we have these multi-taskers that do a myriad of tasks including protect, hydrate, treat skin, and fight aging, all while you look better. What’s not to love? Check them out, in my latest ON MY DESK column: What’s new in makeup for Summer 2014, from mineral makeup, brows, CC cream, eyes, and lips.
FACE
La Mav Organic Mineral Makeup
With the concept of benefiting the skin rather than covering it, La Mav Organic Mineral Makeup treats your skin as you wear it, with proven anti-ageing benefits while you wear your makeup. The anti-ageing mineral powder offers a chemical-free alternative and is infused with Vitamin C and Rosehip Oil. To protect skin from sun damage, it contains physical natural sunblocks Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. It is also recommended for people who have skin conditions such as Rosacea, Eczema and Acne. What it doesn’t have, is any fillers such as talc, or bismuth oxychloride, nanoparticles, or binders, and it is 100% certified animal-testing cruelty free. The mineral makeup is $37 at their website www.lamav.com
Thin Lizzy mineral makeup
Major local brand Thin Lizzy, created in New Zealand in 2005, has just released a loose mineral foundation powder with SPF15 ($44.95) which you can buy online at www.thinlizzy.co.nz or instore at Farmers, Countdown, and selected pharmacies. Thin Lizzy Loose Minerals have no drying fillers, parabens, heavy oils and waxes. They use Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide for natural SPF15 sun protection.
Below: the Thin Lizzy Starter Kit ($64.99) with a four-step process including Concealer Crème 7.5ml, two x Mineral Foundation SPF15 3g, 6in1 Professional Powder, Airbrush Veil 2g, 2 x Full Coverage Application Brushes; hypo-allergenic and vegan friendly.
CC Cream
Osmosis CC cream
This is so glowy! My skin really does look fresh and dewy with this on. I still need more coverage than this; I think this is around a BB cream/tinted moisturiser level of coverage compared to a full-coverage foundation I usually wear, but I would layer a mineral powder foundation over this if I wanted to build up a fuller cover. This Osmosis COLOUR CC cream Color Correcting Foundation is formulated for all skin types, giving UV protection (using natural, physical sunscreen Titanium Dioxide) and reducing age spots to give a bright, even skin tone whilst hydrating skin. The light reflective qualities make for a light, brighter complexion. Hero ingredients include Japanese Pepper Fruit Extract: antioxidants which are essential in preventing and repairing damaged tissue by slowing down the effect of free radicals on the skin, and Lichen Extract: A natural anti-bacterial agent, a potent antimicrobial and antifungal agent with antibiotic and anti-inflammatory benefits. It retails for $88.60 on their website www.osmosisskin.co.nz
BROWS
Benefit Bling Brow
Right now is the ideal time of year to use this: a box of 52 self-adhesive Swarovski crystals in two colours called alliteratively, Benefit Bling Brow. Mini tweezers are included in the kit so you peel of the backing plastic, use the tweezers to pick up a crystal and decide where you wish to place it then press down with your finger to ‘set’ it. The crystals themselves range in size from large (about 4mm across) through medium and small, about 2mm across. Rather than sparkly kids party-looking crystals, these are more sophisticated, metal crystals, and are actually really effective just below your outer brow arch. Available from Benefit Cosmetics at Smith and Caughey’s and Auckland Airport stores.
Below: showing you inside the kit.
Billion Dollar Brows
Californian brand Billion Dollar Brows has just arrived in New Zealand, and I headed along to Albany Mall to have my brows shaped using the Brow Buddy tool and then tweezed into shape. The Brow Buddy Kit ($40) – nicknamed the ultimate brow shaping tool- is a plastic tool that opens and closes on a hinge like a protractor to aid you in shaping your brow and showing you precisely were to find the start, arch peak, and end to your brows, which you then mark using the white pencil included in the kit. Also in the range are a Brow Pencil $33, Brow Gel $30, Smudge Brush $30, Tweezers $35 and Brow Powder in four shades $33 each. They are available until Christmas at a pop-up stand at Albany Mall, and online at billiondollarbrows.co.nz and at selected stockists throughout New Zealand.
LIPS
Elizabeth Arden Luminous Lipgloss
What we love about Elizabeth Arden Luminous Lipgloss – it has a built-in mirror down the length of the side, it is non-sticky, and it is hydrating. This new lipgloss is part of Elizabeth Arden’s Summer UNTOLD colour collection, named for their UNTOLD perfume, and echoing its gold chequered design in its packaging.
Below: Here’s a swatch of it on; you can see how well the colour shows up on the skin, not just in the tube.
Australis metallic AC/ME
I love a good pun in makeup (Benefit and OPI are killa at this) and now Australis have released this range called AC/ME in the AC/DC font, standing for Australia Cosmetics Metallic Edition. Rock on. This limited edition metallic range includes metallic foil eyeshadow pots ($9.90), lip cream ($15), and nailpolish ($10.50). The pick for me, is the AC/ME Velourlips Matte Lip Cream, which is smooth and creamy, dries matte on, and is pretty long-lasting for a lip creme.
Below: Here’s a swatch of it on.
La Mav Tinted Lip Treatment
Treating lips from signs of aging, this lipgloss contains bio-active ingredients CoEnzymeQ10, argan oil, Vitamin A and E and sea buckthorn oil. This new anti-aging Tinted Lip Treatment in Sheer Pink from La Mav also comes in Nude, and the on-trend Berry, with a lovely light wash of colour perfect for summertime makeup looks. It is $29.95 from selected pharmacies and FLAUNT Store 35 Jervois Road Ponsonby and online at www.lamav.com
EYES
Elizabeth Arden Summer 2014
Also part of Elizabeth Arden’s Summer 2014 UNTOLD colour collection, this Beautiful Color Shadow Quad ($75) features four eyeshadows in Posh Purples (also available: Chic Browns) with pretty purples and pinks that we just love! For daytime I would wear this bright lavender as a eyeliner applied wet for a sharper line, and at night, the deeper purple smudged out as a smoky eye blended out. This Precision Glide Eye Liner ($46) is simply the smoothest eyeliner; soft and creamy around the delicate eye area. It comes in six shades: black velvet, slate, java, sapphire, blackberry, and emerald, so you’re covered whether you prefer darks or jewel tones. The beautiful Color Natural Brow Pencil ($40) has the convenience of a twist-up pencil (no sharpeners required, hurrah!) with the less harsh look of a powder. We recommend doing small, hair-like flicks rather than drawing a solid arched line, to better mimic the natural brow hairs. Complement your summer makeup look with the UNTOLD Absolu eau de parfum ($109-$159) which is sensual and sophisticated.
Megan Robinson
18th December 2014
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