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Friday, August 23, 2019
All about: Dermalogica AGE Smart Phyto-Nature Firming Serum
A couple of months ago I attended an event hosted by Dermalogica that included a ‘big reveal’ of several products – one of which was seriously exciting but also under embargo. Until now, which is why I am here and ready to spill!
Dermalogica are all about creating serious skincare with no mucking around involved, and the popularity of their products speaks for itself. Their newest addition is their most prestige product yet, and will seriously take on the big guns when it comes to serious transformation and increasing the skin health of all who use it.
Joining Dermalogica’s award-winning AGE Smart range, it’s called Phyto-Nature Firming Serum and is a ground-breaking dual-phase serum that goes to work on all manner of issues troubling ageing skin – and with serious results. Not only does the serum instantly firm and lift, but research has proven it can reduce the signs of ‘lifestyle’ ageing from lack of sleep, smoking, a poor diet and more. Most people in the modern world are ageing at an unnatural rate, meaning that outside factors or your ‘exposome’ (yes, it’s a thing!), are accelerating skin ageing beyond what your DNA alone would dictate. Research shows that a chronically unhealthy exposome leads to premature wrinkles, loss of elasticity and uneven skin tone. For example: on average, smoking can make skin look two years older, excess sun six and a half years older, poor sleep quality two and a half years older, and an unhealthy diet two years older. Pretty amazing facts, and all the more reason to take care of you AND your skin.
But back to the Phyto-Nature Firming Serum, the little wonder at hand. Housed separately in two chambers to maximise potency and limit stabilising ingredients, its oil-water solution consists of both a lifting serum and firming serum that work in two separate phases for maximum results. Key ingredients include Sapphire-bound biomimetic peptides to help firm skin and reinforce skin defenses, potent, plant-derived bio-extracts to visibly tighten skin and Amazonian Camu Camu, sourced sustainably from Peru, to prolong radiance (often called the “youth berry,” this superfruit contains 60 times more Vitamin C than an orange). Moroccan Rockrose Extract is included to neutralize skin damaging free radicals, whilst Caffeic Acid from Madagascar Green Coffee Bean, a phyto-active that works with skin’s microbiome, helps revitalize skin and decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Oh and last but by no means last, a next-generation Hyaluronic Acid delivers a filler effect for that wonderful feeling of instant gratification!
“For the first time ever, Dermalogica is harnessing biomimicry, a scientific approach that mimics nature to solve complex human challenges,” says Caroline Parker, Head of Education for Dermalogica New Zealand - and a wealth of knowledge when it comes to all things skin. “It works instantly and over time to firm, lift and revitalise the look of prematurely-ageing skin.”
The skin health experts at Dermalogica and The International Dermal Institute believe that a healthy lifestyle and environment are important for healthy skin, which is why this beauty has been certified cruelty-free, gluten-free and vegan, and formulated without artificial fragrances or colours.
Dermalogica’s new Phyto-Nature Firming Serum comes in a 40ml dual-chamber bottle that is incredibly pretty on the bathroom shelf, and has a recommended retail price of $290 due to its most definitely prestige nature. It is available a week today from authorised Dermalogica skin centres, department stores, Life Pharmacies and online at dermalogica.co.nz. Oh and for the launch period (September/October) anyone that purchases the new Phyto-Nature Firming Serum will also receive a very pretty Dermalogica Gua Sha to maximise its effectiveness.
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Monday, August 19, 2019
Beauty news: meet Trilogy’s all-new Rosehip Reimagined releases
I don’t need any excuse to give props to New Zealand natural skincare company Trilogy, who were one of the first off the block and are still creating beautiful new products today. They are also consistently affordable too, giving those with smaller budgets the chance to get super charged formulas as easily as the next person.
Their latest releases are some of my favourites yet, and are set to be on high rotate over the coming months due to their efficacious formulas and super cool delivery. Both are based around a re-imagination of the brand’s famous premium quality, wild-harvested rosehip oil, which cemented its reputation on the world stage as a pioneer in the natural beauty industry. Their passion for this iconic super-seed oil, coupled with a constant desire for innovation, has lead to the introduction of Rosehip Reimagined…it’s rosehip oil, but not as you know it!
Two new -Rosehip Reimagined’-themed releases were revealed to myself and other beauty editors and writers at an event last week, and the excitement in the air was palpable. They aren’t a brand to do things by halves, and the newbies were just gorgeous. The first is Trilogy Hydrating Jelly Mask, which re-imagines Trilogy’s hero ingredient into a delicious-feeling jelly form – a world first in certified natural beauty. I popped the lid as soon as I got home, and immediately fell in love with the cooling, jelly-like texture of this super cool innovation. Designed to instantly cool whilst delivering a powerful blend of moisture-boosting natural ingredients, it went to work on my often-heated, sensitised skin like a charm. Its heady cocktail is made up of a mix of rosehip oil (naturally), hylauronic acid and New Zealand Manuka honey, along with refreshing kawakawa extract and aloe vera juice. The end result is skin that feels refreshed, hydrated and firm, making it perfect for use before a special event or night out. Certified natural by NATRUE, Trilogy Hydrating Jelly Mask can also be stored in the fridge for a cooling treat during the summer months, and it’s suitable for all skin types – magic! To use, apply a layer of the Hydrating Jelly Mask to a cleansed face and neck, allowing it to absorb for 5-10 minutes then rinse off. For best results use it 1-2 times per week to boost your skincare regime.
Secondly, Trilogy’s iconic Certified Organic Rosehip Oil has been re-imagined into the sweetest, handbag-friendly compact roller for hassle free application on the go. Perfect for travel and a true multitasker, this little wonder can be applied pretty anywhere for a boost of intense nourishment. Dry patches, scars, fine lines, eyebrows, lips and cuticles are the perfect spots to apply this baby, delivering the superfine, easily absorbed pure seed beauty oil for radiantly healthy-looking skin.
Trilogy Hydrating Jelly Mask RRP $37.99 (60ml) and Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil RRP $16.99 (10ml) are available right now from selected Farmers stores, pharmacy, department and health stores nationwide. For more information, visit www.trilogyproducts.com.
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
All about: the M·A·C Love Me Lipstick Collection
Yesterday was the rainiest, moodiest day, so when I was lucky enough to get a delivery of some new beauties to play with from the new M·A·C Love Me Lipstick Collection it’s safe to say that my frown was instantly turned upside down! Reportedly created to “express the love and respect you have for yourself”, it will sweep you off your feet and then some.
Doing a little research on the collection, I discovered that it’s a lipstick collection with none other than Mary J. Blige as a collaborator, which gets a MAJOR tick from me. MJB is a M·A·C fan from way back, and epitomises the independent spirit behind their vibe as a brand. The Love Me lipstick collection - which is made up of a whopping 24 lipsticks - includes MJB's ultimate pick: a light, pinky-nude called French Silk. According to M·A·C, it features the perfect combination of brown, peach, and pink undertones, flatters a wide range of complexions, and has a lightweight formula that's silky, with a moisturising satin finish. Sound like you? I know it definitely sounds like me. "I love a nude lip because it's just effortless and it doesn't fight with everything that's going on," Blige said in a statement to Allure about why she chose the shade. "Even if you're all glammed up, there's something about a neutral lip that makes you look younger."
But back to the collection as a whole, which features a revolutionary new cream formula that has been designed to be the next step beyond the iconic M·A·C mattes – representing a stunning innovation in sensation, application and wear. With a lighter-than-air texture that redefines wear-all-day comfort, Love Me Lipstick delivers intense colour and soft shine, along with all-day moisturisation in one sassy swipe.
Nourishing lychee fruit extract and Argan oil are two of the ingredients that are included in there to deliver immediate and long-term suppleness to lips, while the collection’s game-changing True-Colour Gelled System enables ultra-refined pigments to disperse evenly in a translucent gel matrix, yielding bright and smooth colour with high-impact payoff.
“This season, the backstage lip was nothing but lush,” says Chantel Miller, New York-based M·A·C Director of Senior Artists. “To get there, it’s no longer about just a single lip swipe, but rather a crafted lip – emboldening the feature by using pencils and even glosses to amplify contrast.” Best used straight from the bullet (love that), it is recommended that they are layered on top of Prep + Prime Lip (to build that coverage in double time) and then perfectly lined and glossed.
The shade lineup is:
VANITY BONFIRE Vibrant hot pink
FRENCH SILK Light pinky nude
DADDY’S GIRL Soft, light pink
TRES BLASE Light peachy beige
UNDER THE COVERS Dusty rose pink
AS IF I CARE Deep mauvey pink
DGAF Chocolate
COFFEE & CIGS Greyish brown
MY LITTLE SECRET Bright pink coral
YOU’RE SO VAIN Fuchsia pink
NINE LIVES Deep magenta
SHAMELESSLY VAIN Bright orange
GIVE ME FEVER Vivid true red
JOIE DE VIVRE Deep plum
E FOR EFFORTLESS Burnt deep red
MAISON ROUGE Burgundy red
LAISSEZ-FAIRE Muted greyish pink
PURE NONCHALANCE Lavender
MON COEUR Deep rosy pink
HEY, FRENCHIE! Deep mauvey nude
BATED BREATH Warm pinky brown
KILLING ME SOFTLY Mauvey plum
LA FEMME Deep eggplant purple
LET THEM EAT CAKE! Electric lavender
These beauties are on counter now and quite literally, on fire. Head to a M·A·C location near you and dive right in!
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Monday, August 12, 2019
Love it: Trilogy Rosehip Transformation Cleansing Oil
When the temperature drops, it’s a good idea to bring out the big guns when it comes to skincare. And if you’ve got skin that’s on the dry side all year round, boost yourself up with some nourishing oils to keep your largest organ looking and feeling as hydrated as possible whenever and wherever you need it. Anyone that checks in here regularly will know that I’m a huge fan of oils - body oils, hair oils and facials oils - and love the fact that nine times out of ten, they are brilliant multi-taskers and are great travel companions too.
Cleansing your face with one is a given with me, but for many oil may seem counterintuitive, especially for those who associate it with breakouts and the like. Well it just ain’t true, and there are more and more great oil-based cleansers arriving on the market all the time that are making their way into bathroom cabinets across the globe.
Cleansing your skin is one of the most important parts of the skincare regimen, and it’s always a good idea to track down a richer, heavier cleanser when the temperature plummets. It can definitely help address the dryness that comes with the cooler air and when used correctly can make a real difference to your skin’s health and wellbeing. Cleansing removes makeup, dirt and debris from the skin. It also helps to cleanse pores (hair follicles actually) of dead skin cells and sebum to help prevent acne. For ageing skin, a cleansing oil can be a great way to help remove makeup, dirt and debris and also to help fight off free radicals that actually cause skin to age quicker.
One key element to maintaining great skin over winter is keeping your barrier intact, and when it comes to skincare, for me that means starting things off right with a rich but gentle cleansing oil. My current favourite is a stellar performer that definitely won’t break the bank, and comes in the form of Trilogy’s Rosehip Transformation Cleansing Oil. A certified natural, super silky and lush feeling pure plant cleansing oil, it’s a little wonder that effortlessly melts away make-up and any impurities simply and gently. One of the many formulas out there that transforms from an oil to cleansing milk when emulsified with water, it also comes enriched with nourishing rosehip, sweet almond and papaya so that it cleanses skin without stripping any of the good stuff and leaves things feeling soft, hydrated and perfectly clean.
To use, gently massage a few pumps into skin then mix with a few drops of water to emulsify. If makeup is particularly stubborn a double cleanse may be the go, but either way, leave it a few seconds and then rinse with water and a soft face cloth.
Highly recommended, this baby is on counter now and believe me, your skin will love you for it.
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Friday, August 9, 2019
Fragrance Friday: introducing Curionoir ’s Curiosity Set
We all have different reasons for stopping to add that mist of perfume before leaving the house – it’s a tool for seduction, can evoke happy memories and just add an extra element of individualism to the way you approach your day.
The current winter season doesn't just invite the opportunity to overhaul your wardrobe, but also your scent arsenal. With a bounty of uniquely beautiful fragrance options on offer, it's a good time to reconsider your scent and perhaps discover a new favourite for the cooler days. From the bottles to the base notes, winter-friendly fragrances are a celebration of the bold, and I am all for a statement scent.
Coco Chanel once said that a woman should apply perfume in the areas where she would like to be kissed, but the experts generally agree that the "pulse points" are the optimal spot. These are locations on the body where the blood vessels are closest to the skin, and as these spots emanate heat, they help fragrance to travel from your skin into the air. Experts say to apply your perfume to these points - namely, the inner wrists, the base of the throat, behind ear lobes, in the cleavage, behind knees, and the inner elbows – and this is where I most enjoy applying my favourites from the beautiful Curionoir collection. As well as a couple of larger bottles, I have more than a few of the brand’s Pocket Parfums, which are perfect for on the go and even more so for travel. They are also a great ways to play with a new scent before making a commitment, and make beautiful gifts for fans of the brand old, and new.
With this in mind, this October Curionoir is releasing the Curiosity Set, a beautifully boxed offering that contains five of their best selling Pocket Parfums; Tobacco Night, Diaphanous, Cellar Feels, Opia and Dark Bouquet. Encased in Curionoir ’s signature ‘muddy mauve’ box, which is 100 per cent recyclable, this set of most sought after offerings in their petit pocket sized bottles will be available in store, online and from all retailers from October 1st for $195. If you’re unfamiliar with these heady and hypnotic fragrances, a brief run down follows…
Tobacco Night: herbaceous and leathery. Inspired by the lingering scent from a smoked tobacco pipe with notes of sage, coriander, dried tobacco leaves, elemi, amber and musk.
Diaphanous: fresh, floral and ambery. Inspired by the bewildering emotion of clarity with notes of mandarin, saffron, sambac jasmine, narcissus absolute, cayenne pepper and amber.
Cellar Feels: fruits in the woods with leather. Inspired by the scents and dust in a wine cellar with notes of, apple, blac k tea leaves, orange, lavendin super, matÄ, nutmeg, grape leaves, cedar wood, tree moss and atlas cedar wood.
Opia: resinous, balsams and the wood. Inspired by the emotion one feels when you make eye contact. Pupils black, glittering and bottomless, with notes of rhubarb, red berries, oud wood absolute, cedar wood, sandalwood, labdanum.
Dark Bouquet: earth and flowers. Inspired by the undergrowth of a citrus orchard, with notes of orange flower, jasmine, cypress and vetiver.
So there you go – the newest from one of New Zealand’s most luxurious home and beauty brands, and perfect for gifting or as a gift to self.
www.curionoir.com
76a Ponsonby Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
All about: Elizabeth Arden Great 8™ Moisturizer and Sunscreen SPF 35
Pretty much every woman I know is familiar with Elizabeth Arden’s world famous Eight Hour Cream, which now has a skincare collection built around it that regularly gets some stellar reviews. The latest tool they’ve added to the Eight Hour arsenal is called Great 8™ Daily Defense Moisturizer Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 35, and it’s a true a do-it-all beauty multi-tasker like its original namesake that serves as your trusted skincare sidekick for wherever life takes you. As an extension to the iconic Eight Hour line, it works triple duty as a primer, moisturiser and SPF. More than just your average moisturiser, more than an SPF, the brand calls Great 8™ “your all-in-one protector and perfector”. How cute is that?
As per the name, it comes packed with 8 benefits in one simple step, protecting against the damaging effects of sun, blue light, infrared and pollution, as it hydrates, purifies, brightens and fights excess oil. Its super high performance – and unique – ingredient deck is pretty cool too, and includes:
African Whitewood Tree Bark Extract: Visibly reduces oil on skin and the appearance of pores
Deep Sea Organism Ferment: Derived from an ocean organism that thrives under extreme conditions, it helps protect, calm and soothe skin from harsh environmental exposure
White Horehound Flower Extract: Helps neutralise oxidative stress on skin’s surface and helps reduce the signs of aging, while also protecting from effects of pollution and blue light
Vitamin E Analog: Purifies skin for a more radiant look
Clary Sage: Brightens and evens skin tone
Japanese Bloodgrass Extract: Provides long- lasting hydration by attracting water to the surface of the skin
Great 8™ is ideal for all skin types, and its semi-translucent, lightweight gel formula literally melts into the skin on contact leaving no white cast or residue. The light as air finish really is a winner under all kinds of makeup too – from mineral to liquid and powder formulas and more.
With an RRP of $69 and available right now, this beauty really is a no-brainer if you’re after a no-nonsense, great moisturiser and sunblock with a multi-pronged approach. It comes highly recommended.
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Monday, August 5, 2019
All about: Van Cleef & Arpels Santal Blanc
The cooler months are for me the ideal time to search out a new fragrance, and a time when slightly headier options are the perfect fit. Lucky for me I was just gifted a bottle of Van Cleef & Arpels’ sublime new fragrance, Santal Blanc and it definitely ticks all the boxes when it comes to an unashamedly sexy yet still super chic scent.
Santal Blanc marks the time when the joys of sandalwood officially join the brand’s Collection Extraordinaire of luxe scents, with the ingredient reinvented by legendary perfumer Michel Almairac. Originating from New Caledonia, sandalwood is a rare variety discovered by Western perfumery during the 19th century. Since then, perfumers have not ceased to tire of its unique, warm and velvety aroma.
Santal Blanc is a creamy milky woody perfume, and a very wearable one at that. It is composed of a precious balsamic sandalwood essence and is the perfect balance between what the brand calls “authenticity and olfactive excellence”. The sandalwood essence is a soothing, relaxing scent, and superbly balanced by the careful addition of a little citrus. Grasse-born Almairac says that he always sought to create “a woody, milky fragrance, more sophisticated than gourmand,” and Santal Blanc is most definitely that.
The layered, textured fragrance is intended to evoke a type of “white material”, enhancing the most delicate and cottony facets of sandalwood. And for the first time, the iconic Collection Extraordinaire bottle is lacquered in immaculate white to reflect that. “I wanted to recreate the sensation of a soft, soothing wood oil,” says Almairac. “Sandalwood, with its creamy texture, was an obvious choice in my mind because it subconsciously evokes the idea of a pure and tender white. To accentuate this facet as much as possible, I added a note of fig milk and a powdery musk accord.”
This alchemy is what makes this scent such a winner for me, and one that I have worn pretty much daily since receiving it. I’m such a fan of spicy, woody scents but this has won me over with its stunningly complex yet soft and wearable approach. If you’re looking for your own new signature scent for the season then this comes highly recommended.
Van Cleef & Arpels Santal Blanc is available now at Smith & Caughey’s and Ballantynes department stores, with an RRP of $230.
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Friday, August 2, 2019
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