Louise McSharry: Six hair, skincare and make-up buys to put on your list
2. Haus Labs Colour Fuse Glassy Blush Balm Sticks (€34 via hauslabs.com) — These guys do exactly what the name suggests — deliver colour with a glossy finish. The range recently expanded to include 'spiced-up neutrals', which sit somewhere between a blush and a bronzer, and I'm a huge fan of Glassy Ginger. It's a rusty pink which mimics the effect of the sun beautifully.
3. Jones Road Just Enough Tinted Moisturizer (€50 via jonesroadbeauty.com) — Jones Road's founder Bobbi Brown is all about enhancing natural beauty, so it made sense for her brand to launch a tinted moisturiser which provides 'just enough' coverage. I was a little worried it wouldn't be enough to even out my skin's redness, but I found that it absolutely is. This summer, it has become my go-to, and if you like light coverage, you'll love it.
4. LH Cosmetics Artistick Bronzer (€33 via lhcosmetics.com) — These creamy sticks are designed to be used all over the face, in whatever way you see fit. Creamy and easy to blend, I love them and find the small, chunky stick handy to throw into my handbag or make-up bag if I'm travelling. The recently launched bronzer shades are excellent. Swirl, the lightest shade, gives fair skin a natural bronze, and Frame, the deepest shade, is gorgeous on very dark skin. These are true bronzers though, with warm undertones. Don't expect to be able to contour with them.
5. The Ordinary UV Filters SPF 45 Serum (€19.90 via theordinary.com) — This lightweight SPF is incredibly comfortable to wear and leaves the skin with a beautiful glow. The brand took its previously launched SPF off the shelves when customers complained about the white cast it left — it has really knocked it out of the park with this one, which disappears beautifully into the skin.
6. Aveda Botanical Repair Strengthening Leave-In Treatment (€35.50 via cultbeauty.com) — I'm nearly at the end of my tube of this, which I found made my hair substantially more manageable. I pop in a little after washing my hair, just before brushing, and it makes the entire styling process much easier. It also provides heat protection up to 230C, making it a great all-rounder.
Lost in translation
Snow mushroom has grown in popularity as a skincare ingredient thanks to its powerful properties of hydration. Similar to hyaluronic acid, snow mushroom draws in and retains water, plumping the skin as a result. In fact, some experts believe snow mushroom is even more effective than hyaluronic acid as its particles are smaller, making it easier for them to penetrate the skin.
Something old…
Unfortunately, I am at the age where trends are starting to repeat themselves. Where once everything was new, now many things are simply new versions of old things. The new trend in lip stains, for example, includes multiple releases of felt-tip lip stain markers just like the ones I enjoyed wearing 15 years ago. They're easy to apply — their firmness and fine point make it a breeze to achieve a defined lip line. As with any lip stain, they also deliver lasting colour. Unfortunately, my previous favourite, Revlon's Just Bitten Lip Stain, is no longer available, but Kiko Milano's Long Lasting Lip Colour Marker (€10 via kikocosmetics.com) is very similar. Available in eight shades, this formula is water-based and incredibly light. It immediately sinks into the lip, staying there for up to 10 hours. One improvement on the old formula is the level of hydration provided. These guys won't dry you out.
... Something new
Huda Beauty's new Lip Contour Stains (€26 via hudabeauty.com) are essentially thin, flat, felt-tipped markers designed to apply a stain along the outline of the lips. Depending on your placement, you can make the lips appear fuller and/or more defined. This formula delivers a matte finish, which promises to be smudge-proof, kiss-proof and transfer-proof for 12 hours. The dual-sided felt tip makes it easy to overline your lips if that's what you fancy, or if you prefer precision, you can simply use the edge for application. The Lip Contour Stains are available in eight shades, including classic nudes and browns, as well as a berry and red. The formula is infused with argan oil to ensure it doesn't feel drying, and it can be paired with a gloss or balm if that's your preferred finish.
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