There are no limits to makeup innovations, and technology is the common denominator. From a mascara that doubles as a growth serum to a glow-giving highlighter that is also the foundation and a makeup blending brush that travels anywhere, below are the standouts expanding beauty boundaries, says editor Trudi Brewer.
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I am already a Glossier fan; I just needed to get that straight before this rave review. So, now to this fab little brush. First up, it’s the most travel-friendly brush I own. While portable, it’s also so easy to use. It fits like a compact in your hand, and you push, flip, and click to open and close. For buffing on foundation to get a seamless finish and for blending concealer under the eyes and around the nose - it’s clever, compact and super cute.
This four-in-one multi-benefit glow boost is brilliant if you are considering a value-for-money beauty buy. It can be worn alone to give your skin an enviable glow, under foundation as a primer to blur the look of dullness. Mix with any foundation to add an illuminating effect, or use it as a highlighter on the high points of the face, decollete and chest. I love how it glides on the skin, leaving a dewy finish lasting for hours. It has just the right amount of coverage with the added glow-giving benefits. If your skin needs a pick-me-up, then this is it. There are four shades and a complementary Illuminance Serum Concealer, available in six colours.
A pop of blush makes you look wide awake, which helps you feel instantly better. This newbie does just that. It’s clean, so no nasties, silky smooth and talc-free, and it has skincare benefits, including nourishing squalane and hydrating hyaluronic acid. Each shade (eight shades are in the collection) is baked and swirled with two tones of colour, so it’s super versatile. Where to apply it? Buff it on the high point of each cheek. Pinks are the most universally flattering on any skin tone if you struggle to choose a shade (like I did). Pictured here is the colour Hype.
That famous Clinique colour (Black Honey) that comes in lipstick, gloss and mascara now comes in a new gel eyeliner. But the clever part is that it’s a gel consistency packaged as a classic eye pencil. It is so soft and blendable that it glides over your lids to create a precise line or that smokey effect. The ultra-pigmented rich blackberry colour is smudge-resistant and wears for hours on the skin and the eye waterline. It’s gorgeous.
This beautiful French makeup brand has kicked a goal with its new luxe-y mascara. The clever brush lifts and boosts volume; its hourglass skirt-like shape lengthens outer lashes like no other. But it goes beyond makeup to condition and care thanks to a lash growth-stimulating peptide. Infused with a vitamin peptide (protein) and plant extracts, you get lash care while you wear it. You can expect your lashes to look well-dressed, longer and more robust - a win-win.
SPF, in all its forms, is my top beauty buy. I often layer one SPF over another to double down on sun protection, especially when it’s tinted. Another tip is always to look for sunscreen with makeup and skincare benefits. So, this great buy, with a sheer tint that instantly calms the look of redness thanks to prickly pear extract and white sage while protecting your skin from UV and blue light pollution. It’s the intelligent woman’s sunscreen. There are 17 blendable shades.
Here’s why it’s a summer essential.