The beauty game changer products. Image by Sophie Putze.
When it comes to beauty there’s often a lot of variations on very similar products. It’s fabulous for those of us who like to shop around, but a bit repetitive for true beauty enthusiasts. Bring in the beauty game changers. Today we have some products to shine the spotlight on that are changing things up. While some of them are variations on pre-existing products, these ones all bring something unique to the table and we love them for that.
Australis Banana Powder Compact – $19.50
Banana powders aren’t a new concept by any means, although they usually come in loose powder form rather than a pressed compact. This Australis gem is great for brightening the high points of the face but we like to use it to set under-eye concealer. It brightens and helps to minimise the appearance of dark circles without looking heavy on the skin. Don’t be intimidated by its yellow tone, it does not translate to the face. If loose powders are a bit too much of a faff for you, you’re gonna like this one.
Benefit Shy Beam – $45
Again, like banana powders, highlighters are nothing new but a matte highlighter may just be a brand new concept. Benefit are always one step ahead of the pack when it comes to innovative, creative new launches and this one is no exception. This matte highlighter doesn’t contain any glittery particles or shimmer as such. It instead adds a natural sheen to the high points of the face. Think that healthy glow we get from exercising, without the work. If you have combination-oily skin, this may be the highlighter for you as it doesn’t settle into pores or accentuate uneven texture.
Lancome Juicy Shaker – $39 (available May 23rd)
These are an innovative new release for Lancome and are another of kiwi-expat Lisa Eldridge’s inventions. What you have here is a bi-phase lip oil that combines nourishing balm-like oils with colour pigments. These are super hydrating and give your lips a glossy look without the tackiness of a gloss. There’s also the added bonus of the subtle hint of tint for those lazy makeup days. We also love the applicator on these. They’re so spongy and the slanted tip means you can get right into the contours of your lips with ease.
NARS Liquid Laguna Bronzer – $72
The world’s favourite bronzer has now been repackaged into a liquid form. Illuminating and warming, Laguna seems to be the shade of bronze that flatters a wide variety of skin tones. What’s perfect about the liquid equivalent though is that it can be mixed in with foundation to add some warmth and luminescence to your base. You can also use it as you would a traditional bronzer to add some colour back to your complexion. Now we can cheat that Summer complexion all year long.
Sunday Riley Blue Moon Cleansing Balm – $90
Sunday Riley delivers the goods when it comes to skincare. Their offerings are luxe but decent skincare is one area in beauty where it is worth investing a bit more money. This cleansing balm contains a slew of oils and replenishing ingredients that won’t just break down your makeup. It also helps to leave your skin feeling and looking its best. It’s also extremely gentle and nourishing on the face which is what we love in our skincare.
– By Sophie Putze from Nana Wintour.