Product Watch: September’s beauty launches
Urban Decay celebrates twenty years since the release of Pulp Fiction with a cosmetic salute to Mia Wallace. Inspired by Tarantino’s sexiest heroine, the limited-edition collection includes a gunmetal grey Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner, €19, and a palette of velvety powder shadows with the fateful Ezekiel passage from the film printed on the lid, €22. A Nail Colour, €14, 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil, €18, and Revolution Lipstick, €19, all come in a shade of burgundy dubbed “Mrs. Mia Wallace.” If you choose just one item make it the lip pencil, which provides long-lasting definition and conditions lips with vitamin E, cottonseed oil and jojoba.
YSL Le Teint Encre de Peau, €40, reportedly built up a 12,000-strong waiting list in anticipation of its UK release earlier this month. The liquid foundation was developed using NASA technology, specifically lipophilic actives that were first used to capture stellar dust particles but are also capable of curbing oily shine without drying the skin, it seems. Encre de Peau feels filmy, similar to Maestro Fusion Makeup by Giorgio Armani Beauty. Both bases have a unifying, pigment-correcting effect but Encre’s matte-velvet finish is distinct from Maestro’s luminosity. I did not sleep in it to test YSL’s 24-hour durability promise but a single application did stay in place all day without powder or mattifying primer.
bareMinerals new skincare-makeup hybrid is perfect for dry or sun-damaged skin. BareSkin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation, €31, is infused with vitamin C and lilac stem extract, both potent antioxidants that are anti-inflammatory and support skin-cell repair and new collagen growth. Light-reflecting particles blur imperfections and broad-spectrum SPF20 protects against environmental damage. The formula provides good coverage with very little product and is available in twenty shades.
MAC’s third collaboration with Rihanna has yielded a pair of metallic mauves for the lips. The Barbadian beauty’s Viva Glam Rihanna II Lipstick, €19.50, and Lipglass, €18.50, are not quite as classic as her sell-out “Riri Woo” lippy but pack a modern, sexy punch of their own. Every cent of the selling price of Viva Glam Rihanna goes toward helping women, men and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.
Bobbi Brown transformed Kate Upton from an all-American sweetheart into a dusky beauty with her new autumn line. The Smokey Nudes Collection has a glamorous two-tier Eye Palette, €58, stacked with eight mix-and-match shades in soft matte, sparkle and metallic finishes for looks that are subtle or sexy. Finish the eyes with Smokey Eye Mascara, €23.50, a kohl-pigmented formula that creates dark, dramatic lashes. Bobbi’s signature Shimmer Brick in Sandstone, €42.50, gives cheeks an iridescent flush. Four Creamy Matte Lipsticks, each €26, ranging from nude pink to the perfect nude beige, were created to compliment the look.
Clinique enters the motorised cleansing market this autumn with a tool gentle enough to demonstrate on a tissue. The brand’s Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush, €89, was developed over five years with even the most sensitive-skinned customers in mind. Clinique aims to revolutionise the way that women cleanse using the power of sonic vibrations and 35,000 tiny bristles to massage deep into the skin. The green section of the brush is designed for unclogging pores on the T-zone, while the softer white bristles can be used all over the face.
Kiehl’s new hydrating serum is 15% glycerin, which at first glance does not seem like something to shout about. Rummage around any supermarket skincare shelf and you will see that glycerin is part of most basic moisturisers. Glycerin is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water from the environment into the skin. It exists in skin naturally, contributing to its plumpness and repair. Like most good things in our skin, it diminishes with age and moisturiser can alleviate the dryness that ensues. However, not all glycerin is created equal. Kiehl’s is noticeably high-grade, sourced from plants high in essential fatty acids such as palm, coconut and rapeseed. The hydrating effect this has on skin is felt immediately and visible after a week’s use. This serum also contains shiso leaf extract, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Kiehl’s claims shiso can help protect skin’s hyaluronic acid, another great natural skin plumper.
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