As July draws to a close, I share what’s come across my path lately. This month’s ON MY DESK looks at what’s new in the worlds of skincare and beauty, in July 2015 from Evian, Louvelle, Karl Lagerfeld, Estee Lauder, BROO, Manuka Doctor, Clinique, Olive skincare, and Tantastic.
This cute little mini Evian Facial Spray is a handy desk accessory to spray on your face several times a day to refresh your skin and hydrate especially if you work indoors with drying aircon. Makeup artists use a spritz of this to fix makeup, and refresh it during the day. It’s also great for travel and in your handbag.
Clinique have utilised “smart” technology in the release of this new star product, Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Eye Treatment. This multi-tasking wonder does four things at once (don’t you?!) – it brightens, lifts, smoothes crepiness, and minimises fine lines and wrinkles. I have it on now and it’s a cooling, refreshing gel-cream texture that you apply twice a day; morning and night. It is a potent cocktail of the latest technology, combined with botanicals, such as seaweed extract from Japan, grapeseed, whey protein, plum extract, cucumber, sunflower and barley extracts. Hyaluronic acid attracts and binds moisture, and peptides stimulate collagen production. Available from 17th August 2015 for $95 for 15mls from Clinique counters.
Estee Lauder Naked Gold eyeshadow, Magic Smoky Powder Shadow Stick, an eye pencil in pink gold shimmer; and the intensely hydrating and softening Blooming Lip Balm. The gorgeous new eye products from Estee Lauder are on counter August 3rd. Magic Smoky eyeshadow pencil that acts like a pressed eyeshadow in blendable colour in 8 new shades, at $45 each. The Pure Color Envy Eye Defining Singles boast a tri-brid formula that combines the best properties of a cream, powder and gel all-in-one in matte, velvet, luminous and brilliant finishes, from soft nudes to bolds, in 20 new shades at $58 each.
Karl Lagerfeld has released two new limited editions men’s and women’s fragrances; a duo of scents in a peach glass bottle for women, and this blue bottle for men, both called Paradise Bay. Paradise Bay Women has lychee and pineapple with velvety peach with a heart of jasmine, rose and magnolia and a base of vanilla, musk and sandalwood (45ml $77). Paradise Bay Pour Homme has notes of bergamot, violet leaves and green mint, apple and sharp berries with a base of vetiver and Cashmeran wood (100ml EDT $99). Available at selected department stores, pharmacies, and Farmers.
The fabulous olive grove out at Simunovich Olive Estate in southern Auckland, with its Bracu restaurant, uses its natural products and spring waters to create this line of face and skincare. I have picked olives there and also had a tour of the factory which was fascinating. Olive Renew Eye Contour Cream is formulated with the moisturising powers of olive oil and olive leaf extract, combned with coffee seed extract rosehip oil, and grapeskin extract – all powerful botanicals to fight skin ageing. This fragrance-free eye cream retails for $29.95 from pharmacies, Farmers, and online at www.simuolive.co.nz
When you have mid-long hair it’s a struggle keeping it dry in the shower to make your blowdry last away from moisture – and finding a cute chower can be a mission. I have been using and loving this adorable Louvelle Chic Turban Style Shower Cap in a retro print with a waterproof lining. I used it on my daughter too who has extremely long hair and it all fitted in. It’s super cute, totally comfortable, and is a silky stretch knit fabric that can be washed clean. Available from www.sable.co.nz
Flower Soap pictured below is by LUSH.co.nz
I’ve always been aware that washing your hair in flat beer is good for it, but the smell – not ideal. So this is perfect; an all-natural microbrewed craft beer shampoo and conditioner that contains barley and hops but smells beautifully of citrus, ginger, and lemongrass. I have used this myself and used it on my daughter, too and it was great. BROO Shampoo and Conditioner contains vitamins, proteins and minerals but is free from sulfates, parabens, silicones, and synthetic fragrances and is cruelty-free. Instead of silicones for “slip and shine” on the hair, they use a formula from naturally-derived coconut oil, wheat and castor oil. See www.broo.co.nz for stockists.
As a survivor of melanoma I can’t emphasize enough the importance of staying protected in the strong New Zealand sun and using self-tans is the way to go if you want that bronzed look at home. This Ecocert 100% organic DHA tanning brand from a UK mother and daughter duo, Tantastic, has a paraben-free Self Tanning Gel $34.90, Self-Tanning Mousse $29.90 and Tantastic Self Applicator Mitt 410.90 available at selected pharmacies and beauty therapy clinics and online at www.tantasticshop.co.nz
This luxurious cream is the latest and greatest release from the bee venom skincare brand Manuka Doctor’s ApiNourish range. The Firm Skin Facial Moisturiser has purified bee venom and New Zealand UMF18+ Manuka honey along with grapefruit extract to nourish and protect, pine leaf for antibacterial qualities, jojoba seed oil and bamboo stem to aid in absorbing essential minerals, as well as natural peptides in the purified bee venom to stimulate collagen production. Apply at night to clean dry skin to the face and neck after the ApiNourish Age-Defying Serum. The Night Cream retails for $49.95 for 50ml available at selected pharmacies and department stores and at the Manuka Doctor concept store at 1 Quay Street Auckland city www.manukadr.co.nz
Megan Robinson
25th July 2015
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