Product Watch: 2015's Best Makeup Launches
Most of beauty writing is covering new make-up launches but despite doing so every month this year, my annual count is nowhere near comprehensive. There are far too many launches to cover in a weekly column, of course, but plenty just aren’t very interesting.
Some make-up products bring nothing new to the barbecue (two recent foundation launches actually have identical formulas), others are fine but lacking compared with a similar parry by the brand’s competitor (which wins the page space).
Cosmetics are objectively luxuries but aren’t really, not for most women, so I try to feature only the make-up I think is genuinely worth trying. After a year of separating the wheat from the chaff, these ten fill the best sheaf.
No one blushes in a single shade naturally, so a complimentary powder duo that lets you customise your colour is a great idea. NARS is famous for its blushes, and these are just as silky and seamless to blend as Orgasm, Sex Appeal et al. There are seven Dual-Intensity duos to choose from.
Each richly pigmented shade can also be used alone. The blushes can also be applied wet without damaging what remains in the pan (some powders harden with water exposure). A damp application creates greater depth of colour and shimmer, though the finish is translucent.
Alcohol-free serum make-up with strong sun protection was rare before September, when Smashbox launched this one and MAC debuted their Studio Waterweight SPF30.
The former is very light and quite hydrating, though dry skin will still need something extra underneath. Oily and combination types can wear it without fear of greasy shine and the high concentration of colour pigments tones down dark circles and redness.
There are also several soothing and reparative extracts that will improve skin’s general tone with daily wear. The formula’s best feature is broad-spectrum SPF30, though you will need to apply a substantial layer (i.e. no sheering it out with a damp sponge) if make-up is your sole UV protection.
This “Ultra HD” foundation photographs beautifully and conceals pigmentation. A light application hides pores, and minimises blemishes.
The formula contains hydrating hyaluronic acid and has enough slip to blend easily, but not so much that it doesn’t stay put after setting. Make Up For Ever makes foundations that look wonderfully skin-like in exceptionally wide shade-ranges (this one has 40 graduations), so you’re bound to find the ideal base for a no-make-up look on their shelves.
The ingredients list shows a small amount of fragrance but nothing sensitive types should worry about. As this is a medium-to-full coverage foundation, finding your exact colour match is vital to ensuring a polished, natural look. The satin finish is very pretty in daylight.
This liquid concealer is so packed with soothing antioxidants that it is just as much skincare as camouflage.
The lightweight formula includes a with a rejuvenating blend of Cordyceps Mushroom, Indian Tree Root and Bamboo Grass. It helps to counteract the non-genetic causes of dark circles over time while creating a plumper, smoother, more refreshed look in the short term.
The coverage is opaque but the finish is radiant. There are 15 natural-look shades to choose from, and it is well worth stopping by a Bobbi Brown counter to get properly colour-matched.
This April release is more a moisturising lipstick with more benefits than a primer of any kind. Pop provides non-drying, long-wearing colour in twelve shades. Each is blended with generous dollops of conditioning shea and murumuru butter. A single coat creates a plumped-up, velvety finish.
The colour of anything you layer on top changes considerably, but your lips are certainly in tip-top shape when you remove the stuff.
This is an excellent illuminating primer for normal to dry skin. The champagne fluid creates a flawless canvas for your makeup, keeping it in place all day. The formula is infused with Becca’s proprietary blend of crushed pearls, each one adding a different drop of diffused light.
Combined, the impart a soft-focus radiance that obscures blemishes and pigmentation issues. The vitamin E-enriched formula leaves skin silky-soft and temporarily minimise the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
This intriguing hybrid shadow applies like a liquid, blends like a cream and sets like a powder. Available in eighteen wearable shades, the “extra dimension” comes from shimmer pigments in ten dazzling tints.
Their luminescence varies in impact from crystallised light to metallic shine. The colour doesn’t fade or flake as the day progresses. The formula is alcohol and fragrance-free and suits all skin types.
YSL Beauté’s latest flutter-fier improves upon the brand’s original best-selling False Lash (released in 2000) with four emollient oils and pro-vitamin B5. The formula creates a conditioning film around each lash and contains nylon particles that build considerable volume.
Brush fibers of various lengths separate and lift lashes for even more va-va voom. A choice of seven shades that includes blue and burgundy is the icing on the cake. Fabulous.
Liquid lipstick is nothing new but Laura Mercier created something exceptional in Paint Wash. This is easily my favourite lip product of the year. You may raise an eyebrow at the price but the formula is truly long-wearing, surviving drinking and other coat-threatening activities without a smudge. Touch-ups should not be included in your cost-per-wear calculation.
The ten-strong range of berries, pinks, reds and nudes includes something for every complexion. All set to a demi-matte finish but the shimmery “Golden Peach.” Each shade is richly pigmented and gives you hours of strong colour. Despite the formula’s tenacity, the liquid is non-drying and rich in emollients that leave lips plumped and velvety soft.
Most gel bronzers shimmer at least a little, giving them an obvious make-up look that renders them unappealing to most men. Clinique’s is shine-free and an easy, non-irritating way for him to give his face some colour. The formula suits normal-to-oily skin best and moisturises.
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