March into your best beauty month yet, with this stellar line-up of tried-and-tested beauty products that are fresh on our radar and good enough to have us fork out our own hard-earned money for a repeat buy.
From newly launched New Zealand botanical brand KAEĀ Skincare to autumn shades of lip colour from Karen Murrell as well as some gems we spotted online that warranted a closer look, these are our 10 favourite recent finds we recommend.
Sun lovers rejoice: the new tinted SPF50+ sunscreen by award-winning New Zealand brand, RAAIE, has been three years in the making and has finally landed. Bringing something new to the table in terms of mineral sunscreen, this science-backed botanical formula is ultra-lightweight and silky, in stark contrast to most mineral sunscreens that are often thick and not always easily absorbed.
Offering immediate protection (no more waiting 15–20 minutes), Sun Milk Drops also helps shield against UVA and UVB rays. The soft peachy tint is colour correcting so works to even skin tones and creates an illuminating glow under makeup. Plus, it’s packaged in the super stylish ceramic-looking bottle that’s available for a refill with a free collection.
Karen Murrell Confidence Collection
Delicious shades of chocolate are at the heart of the new Confidence Collection from New Zealand lipstick queen Karen Murrell. The release of four elegant new shades of chocolate brown, mocha, caramel, and nude have been carefully designed to flatter all complexions, and they’re perfectly timed for styling with your autumn wardrobe. Plus, the subtle shades will also nourish and moisturise lips, thanks to the clean, natural formula.
If you could bottle up the essence of New Zealand botanicals and infuse it with wisdom and respect for sustainability and green science, then you have the heart of KAEĀ Skincare. This exciting new brand launched recently delivers a new generation of powerful, performance-led botanical skincare. Crafted in small batches from premium New Zealand ingredients, the collection includes The Vitaliser Multi-Omega Face Oil and The Rejuvenator Multi-Nutrient Face Balm, among other bioactive products. It’s an alchemy of botanicals worth exploring further. We love the brand’s dedication to sustainability, in particular the home-grown Tahi UMF 15+ Mānuka honey used, which is authentically created at founder Suzan Craig’s nature sanctuary Tahi in Northland.
Luk Beautifood Instant Glow Skin Tint
Elevate your skin appeal with this 100% natural dewy tint. We only recently discovered Luk Beautifood, but this skin tint has made a definite impression, becoming our newest everyday go-to for nude but healthy-looking skin. Packed with botanical skincare actives, it delivers instant luminosity to skin while keeping your look fresh and natural. Superbly light and absorbent, it also noticeably evens out skin tone, transforming dull tired skin to a healthy glow.
Antipodes Lime Caviar Collagen-Rich Firming Cream
If you’re looking for a little luxe beauty from a proudly New Zealand brand, this certified organic offering takes aim at premature ageing by supporting skin’s collagen production. Featuring lime caviar extract (from hand-picked limes), the AHA moisturiser is partnered with lipid-rich avocado and designed to target the signs of ageing. It also takes its place in the Antipodes sustainability journey by being the brand’s first release to feature 100% plastic-free packaging.
Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream
Continuing the family tradition of excellence, this little pot of magic is the ultimate protein shot for the skin. Packed with a concentration of peptides, amino acids, and pygmy waterlily, it’s designed to replenish and restore skin to a strong, healthy state. Abundant with proteins and nutrients to help improve the appearance of skin’s tone, texture, and firmness, DE founder Tiffany Masterton masterminded this multi-award-winning formula as the ultimate food for skin (motivated by her mother’s request for a ‘product that would address every collagen concern she’d ever had’). Slam dunk.
Elizabeth Arden Flawless Start Instant Perfecting Primer Antioxidant Blend
The name says it all, leaving no doubt as to what to expect from this new and improved Elizabeth Arden formulation. Lusciously silky to apply, it’s the perfect base for all-day, shine-free makeup. If you love beautifully natural-looking skin, the instant perfecting primer mattifies skin and helps diffuse the look of pores and fine lines. Meanwhile, skin-purifying antioxidant ingredients (containing broccoli, aloe, and citrus) create a protective barrier against pollutants and daily skin aggressors. Wear alone for an airbrushed look or as a primer for extended makeup wear and a lasting matte finish.
UK Master of hair Adam Read proves that his reputation for excellence is deserved, with the release of his carefully conceived ARKIVE range. Having styled some of the most famous heads of the ’90s, noughties, and beyond, Adam’s newest project is his most personal yet, bridging the gap between hair care and wellness. Headcare is the result, delivering expertly formulated products that also encourage users to find moments of reconnection in their daily routines. Sharing his own mental health journey, Adam has harnessed the synergy between how great haircare makes your head, and hair, feel with ARKIVE Headcare. Our faves: The Crown Scalp Scrub and Good Habit Hybrid Oil.
Mary Grace Crystal Hair Remover
Having first spotted this item on TikTok, it was accompanied by a quick shrug-off as ‘just another TikTok beauty mislead’. Turns out, we were wrong. Having since personally tried the Mary Grace Crystal, this genius hair remover lives up to the hype. After sitting at our desk for a few days, it was with little expectation that we did a quick ‘at-desk’ test and the results warranted a double take. Absolutely zero pain or effort; we simply rubbed the crystal in a circular motion and voila – hair gone. To be fair, our leg hair is relatively light at the best of times but the Crystal Hair Remover worked a treat. Not only that, but it also offers gentle exfoliation and leaves skin ready to moisturise for a super smooth finish. Perfect to use for an on-the-go groom.
Glasshouse Fragrances Car Diffusers
While this line-up of our March favourites is primarily focused on beauty, there’s something about transporting your senses that fits into the category perfectly. Ushering in a new era of car fragrance (no more sharp tangy tree-shaped swingers), the new Glasshouse Fragrances car diffusers collection is a carefully curated range of the brand’s signature best-selling scents. An elegant addition to everyday travel, the sleek and stylish car diffusers are reusable, with recyclable scent disks and refills available so you can sample different scents. Also, you can dial (up or down) the fragrance strength with a simple turn of the diffuser dial.
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