10 Beauty Picks that Will Save You this Winter
The life of a beauty addict is never dull thanks to dozens of brand-new makeup, skincare and haircare products launching every single month. Of course, new beauty launches always bring with them a lot of hype so it can be hard to tell what’s worth the splurge and what’s better left as a distant memory from your Instagram feed. Fortunately for you, I’m always willing to put my skin and hair on the line to test out the newest beauty products on the market, so you don’t have to. So, what’s good this month? Here are 10 of my favourite beauty picks to get you through May and the rest of the winter season … Because I support your decision to treat yourself to yet another perfume you probably don’t need but deserve.
1. Sorbet Charcoal Sheet Face Mask
Lockdown skin got you down? A sheet mask is ideal for nipping breakouts in the bud while getting that home spa experience. Formulated with activated charcoal, this detoxifying mask will help draw out impurities and leave your skin feeling clean and oil-free. I’ve really been struggling with breakouts during the lockdown due to wearing a fabric face mask when I’m out and about. This affordable mask has given my skin a fighting chance against breakouts and I love the squeaky clean feeling you get on your skin after using it.
Grab the Sorbet Charcoal Sheet Face Mask at Clicks stores or online for R55.
2. Palladio Ultra Hydration Moisturising Face Primer
Cold winter weather can wreak havoc on your skin, even if you’re spending most of your time locked away indoors. Give your skin a moister boost this winter with this super hydrating Palladio primer. It’s ideal for those days when you have to wear makeup for your daily Zoom meetings or are popping to the shops for supplies. The primer instantly smoothes and fills in pores to create a flawless base and helps makeup effortlessly glide onto the skin. I adore this product because it’s quick-drying, super light, and helps create a long-wearing look that doesn’t melt or crease. It’s got a barely-there feel and can be used on the entire face including eyes and lips and works with any cream, liquid, and powder foundation.
For the best application, make sure to wait a few minutes in between applying your primer and foundation to avoid pilling; and remember, a little bit of primer goes a long way!
Grab the Palladio Ultra Hydration Moisturising Face Primer at Dis-Chem stores or online for R225.
3. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Miracle Hydrating Mist
The legend of Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream continues with this fantastic hydrating mist. This instantly invigorating facial spray hydrates, soothes, and refreshes the skin with just one spritz. The power of this super moisturising mist lies in its antioxidant-rich Superfruit Blend which includes delights like acai, goji, mangosteen, noni and pomegranate fruit extract along with coffee seed. This blend of good-for-you ingredients helps to provide protection from the elements while the addition of apple leaf extract offers soothing relief to irritated skin when you need it most. This super-fine mist is brilliant for spritzing throughout the day. It won’t mess with your makeup but will still give you plenty of moisture when you need it most.
It’s got a beautiful scent made up of a mix of rose, bergamot and lemon water that will help to lift your spirits and make you feel like you’re at the spa with your feet up rather than stuck at home with nowhere to go.
Grab the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Miracle Hydrating Mist at Edgars stores and online for R395.
4. Essence Make-up Drops
One of the most frustrating beauty woes is having to invest in a lighter foundation when seasons are changing and tans gradually fade away. These make-up drops solve that problem by giving you the ability to lighten or darken your current liquid foundation one drop at a time. Forget having to buy an entirely new bottle of foundation, these little drops will save you money and help you get a more flawless foundation match. The lightening and darkening drops are ideal for customising your own shade and can also be used for contouring in a pinch.
Grab the Essence Make-up Drops at Dis-Chem stores or online for R59.95.
5. Mavala Dash & Splash collection
Mavala’s Dash & Splash collection was launched as a summer collection but I’ve been using these bright and fun colours to brighten up my days during the lockdown and bring a little fun to my winter wardrobe. This super fun collection of colours brings the eccentric fashion trends of the 80s into the future with 6 deeply-pigmented shades to inspire your inner creativity. There’s a deep red (‘Versatile Red 986’) that can be worn any time of the year; a fun bright pink (‘Fancy Pink 983’) that is synonymous with 80s fashion; a powerful imperial dark violet (‘Magnetic purple 984’) that will bring out your inner child; a serene light ocean blue (‘Vibrant Turquoise 987’) for chilling on the weekends ; a beautiful light mint (‘Naive Mint 982’) for when you want the lightest of light green; and a light golden yellow (‘Psychedelic Lime 985’) for a sunny winter’s day.
Grab the Mavala Dash & Splash collection at Woolworths stores or online for R89 per 5ml bottle.
6. Eau Thermale Avène TriXera Nutrition Nutri-Fluid Balm
If you or your family members struggle with dry, sensitive skin, then this wonderful Eau Thermale Avène balm is a must-try during winter. It’s easy to apply and helps to nourish and soothe dry skin while restoring the skin barrier to give the skin 48-hour hydration. It’s fragrance-free so you can use it on your face and body, making it a wonderful 2-in-1 product for lazy gals. While the product has a slightly runnier texture than most other body lotions, the non-oily, fast-absorbing formula allows you to apply the product and get dressed immediately without that sticky skin feeling.
Grab Eau Thermale Avène TriXera Nutrition Nutri-Fluid Balm at Dis-Chem stores and online at R229.
7. Essence Mattifying Compact Powder
If you’re worried about looking your best in Zoom meetings, then this exceptionally smooth powder is a top choice. It gives you a wonderfully flawless-looking matte and is suitable for all skin types. The powder comes in a range of different colours to suit your skin tone and is as cheap as chips.
Grab Essence Mattifying Compact Powder at Clicks stores and online for R62.95.
8. Placecol Optimum Hydro Mask
I’ve been pretty religious with applying face masks during this lockdown period and it’s helped to improve the texture and condition of my skin tremendously. This Placecol mask is deeply hydrating and has been one of my favourites to use during the lockdown. I really struggle with dryness and flaking during winter and this helps to replenish essential skin moisture while soothing and calming irritated areas of my skin. Make sure you use it after a good exfoliating treatment and your skin will feel more soft and supple after every use. I use it twice a week to get the best results and leave it on for 15-minutes before removing with lukewarm water and patting dry.
Grab Placecol Optimum Hydro Mask online from Placecol at R310.
9. Sorbet Hydro Skin Lip Therapy
Give your lips the extra TLC it needs this winter with this little beauty from Sorbet. During the winter months, environmental factors can compromise the protective barrier that helps keep your skin hydrated and supple. The thin, sensitive skin on your lips is particularly susceptible to the harsh winter elements and leaving your lips unprotected can lead to dehydration and irritation. Avoid the woes of dry, chapped winter lips with this wonderfully nourishing lip therapy balm. Packed with Hyaluronic Acid, Omega 3 & 6 as well as Vitamins A & E, this quick-working product instantly nourishing lips, leaving them soft and supple. It’s a great little product and will prove to be a lifesaver in your handbag this winter.
Grab Sorbet Hydro Skin Lip Therapy from Clicks stores for R55.95.
10. Viva La Diva Super Curl Mascara
Tubing mascara is all the rage at the moment and this one from Viva La Diva is one of my favourites in the long-wearing mascara category. If, like me, you struggle with your mascara smudging all the damn time, but hate wearing waterproof mascara every day, then you’re going to love tubing mascara. Designed to give you long-wearing convenience without the mission of eye makeup remover, tubing mascaras can be removed with warm water and don’t damage your lashes like some waterproof mascaras.
The silicone comb brush packaged with the Viva La Diva Super Curl Mascara makes it very easy to apply, helping you to define each lash and avoid clumping. The long-lasting formula does not deposit on the skin at all and ensures that your look stays fresh all day long so you don’t get those 3 pm panda eyes we all dread. Lengthening and curling, this mascara will help you achieve that false lash look without the effort.
Grab Viva La Diva Super Curl Mascara online at R210.
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