10 New Makeup, Skincare & Hair Products We’re Obsessing Over this Month
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 new makeup, skincare, and hair products I’ve loved in April!
1. The Body Shop 100% Natural Raw Shea Butter
This multi-purpose wonder really impressed me this month! Face mask, hair mask, scrub, and moisturiser; this nourishing butter does it all. It’s so natural, you can even eat it! Whether you’re looking for a nourishing powerhouse for your face, body, hair, and lips you can’t go wrong with this new release from The Body Shop. Containing a whopping 192 shea nuts, this wondrous butter is beyond indulgent. It melts into the skin super quickly, without leaving an excessive oily feeling or sheen to the skin and smells oh-so-delicious. So far, I’ve used it as a body butter on my arms and legs, a cuticle oil, and a hair mask, all with great results and I can’t wait to come up with more exciting ways to incorporate it into my beauty routine. If you’re stuck for ideas you can find a few tips and tricks on how to use the product here.
The Body Shop 100% Natural Raw Shea Butter is available from The Body Shop and Clicks stores at R200.
2. Catrice Prime and Fine Makeup Transformer Drops
Catrice recently extended its range of foundation shades with 4 new exciting shades, making it even easier for South African women to find their perfect shade. Of course, even with 8 fantastic liquid foundation shades on offer, some people will still find that they struggle to find an exact perfect match. Which is what makes these little makeup transformer drops so damn genius. The Lightening Drops lighten the texture of liquid foundation while the Darkening Drops make it darker — basically it’s the ultimate in makeup personalisation! Forget feeling frustrated hunting for the perfect foundation shade, create it for yourself. The drops can also be used to contour and create a flawless look when using liquid foundation. I’m fortunate enough to say that I’ve never struggled to find a foundation shade match, but these little drops have proven to be a lifesaver after a spray tan, when my foundation wasn’t quite playing along with new ‘sun kissed’ look. Rather than mission out to buy a whole new foundation, these drops enabled me to just lighten my current foundation on a mixing palate.
Catrice Prime and Fine Makeup Transformer Drops are available from Takealot and Zando at R69.
3. Bioderma Sebium Purifying Cleansing Gel
A great choice for anyone with combination to oily skin, this gentle cleanser helps to purify the skin without drying it out. Designed to thoroughly cleanse the epidermis, while limiting sebum secretion, this gel cleanser is your first line of defence when battling breakouts. But this isn’t just another breakout clearing cleanser, Bioderma says the product is made using its patented Fluidactiv sebum-correcting complex, which, with regular use, helps to ensure that the sebum produced by the skin is of better quality, thus reducing the risk of breakouts in future. It’s also soap-free, colourant-free, and helps to prevent pores from getting clogged, making it ideal for sensitive or intolerant skin. The gentle formula means it can be used on the face and other imperfection-prone areas of the body, such as the chest and the back, and is also a great shaving foam. I’ve been struggling with post-gym breakouts recently and have been using this to cleanse my face, back, and chest area after breaking a sweat. I’ve found it’s really helped to keep my skin clear and feeling fresh and clean and would highly recommend it as a gym bag must-have.
Bioderma Sebium Purifying Cleansing Gel is available from Clicks at R229.95.
4. Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair Million Gloss Oil Replacement
If your hair is feeling a little dull and lifeless, this affordable mask from Schwarzkopf is sure to turn things around. Designed to help fight frizz and improve shine, this leave-in mask is a great way for budget babes to keep their hair looking and feeling great in-between salon visits. The mask contains a combination of nourishing micro-oils and liquid keratin which work to leave your hair super shiny and silky soft. I’ve got naturally curly, dry hair, so I’m a big fan of leave in conditioners, especially ones that promise to fight the dreaded frizz. I’m usually a professional salon-product kind of gal but this budget-friendly treatment really impressed me. I have been using the treatment after shampooing for a few weeks now and it always leaves my hair bouncy and feeling super soft. For extra nourishing and deep regenerating you can also apply the mask to dry hair and leave overnight so you wake up with soft, beautiful looking hair the next morning.
Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair Million Gloss Oil Replacement is available from Clicks at R94.99.
5. Six Rice Enzyme Exfoliating Powder
Usually the word ‘exfoliator’ brings to mind a product with a more scrubby or sloughing texture, but this rice enzyme exfoliator helps to get rid of dead skin and other nasties by taking a gentler approach. It’s more of a finely milled powder, than a harsh scrub and my reactive skin absolutely lapped it up. If you’re a fan of Dermalogica’s Daily Microfoliant but, like me, still find it a little too harsh for your skin, then this is an excellent alternative. Like Dermalogica’s Daily Microfoliant, this little beauty is gentle enough to use daily, yet active enough to combat dull, lacklustre skin in just two minutes. Made using a combination of rice, oatmeal, and papaya extracts, the product helps to dissolve dead skin cells lurking on the skin’s surface, while absorbing oils, reducing shin, refining large pores, and calming the skin. I’ve been using this product every night for two weeks now and my skin looks clearer and brighter every day. The product comes in a 150ml bottle and you only need to lather a small amount (3ml) on a damp face for it to work its magic. According to Six you should get about 50 applications from each bottle, which makes the hefty price tag seem a lot less daunting).
Six Rice Enzyme Exfoliating Powder is available from Six Skincare at R873.
6. Sally Hansen Triple Strong 3-in-1 Gel Protection
Proof that great things come in threes, this Sally Hansen nail strengthener is a true saviour for brittle, weak nails. I’ve got hopelessly weak nails so finding this product has been a true ‘aha’ moment for me. Designed to reinforce and strengthen your nails, this easy-to-use solution is a must for at-home manicure addicts looking for a way to extend the life of a natural paint manicure or just prevent nail breakage and chipping. The product formula combines a flexible Epoxy Polymer with Calcium and Titanium Complexes and can be used alone or as a base coat for a manicure and provides a nice smooth base for your polish before painting. Because my nails are weaker than water, I like to use 2 coats of this strengthener as a base coat for my at-home manicures and I continue to use it when I’m having paint-free days as well. I’ve noticed a definite improvement in the strength of my nails after using this little wonder for a few weeks and now I can’t live without it!
Sally Hansen Triple Strong 3-in-1 Gel Protection is available from Clicks at R99.99.
7. Naturals Beauty Body Oil
April-May is always the worst time of year for my skin. My legs and arms in particular are dry, extra sensitive, and need a little more attention than normal. I find that nothing soothes, change-of-season weary skin quite like a good body oil, so I make sure to stock up as soon as nasty weather starts to rear its ugly head. While I have my usual favourite body oils, lately I’ve been reaching more and more for this delightful new find from local brand, Naturals Beauty. The brand’s wonderfully nourishing Lemongrass, black pepper, and pine oil has me simply entranced and has done wonders for my skin. This soothing blend of sweet almond oil, Safflower oil, jojoba seed oil, and rosemary extract, blended with lemongrass, black pepper, and pine essential oils is a real treat for dry or sensitive skin and has really helped to relieve dryness and irritation during a time when my skin is usually at its worst. This oil smells absolutely divine and absorbs into the skin super quickly, leaving you with soft, glowing skin. It makes for a blissful bath or body oil and can also be used as a massage oil to relieve sore muscles and treat post-gym aches and pains.
Naturals Beauty Body Oil is available online at R125.
8. BioNike Defence Color 3D Volume Mascara
I’m always on the lookout for a fabulous new volumising mascara and this one from BioNike has been a firm favourite of mine recently. Specifically designed for spectacle and contact lenses wearers (or just those with sensitive eyes) this mascara promises to give you thicker, longer, and curlier lashes in just one swipe. The formula is quite creamy in texture and, when combined with the slightly curved wand, helps to give you an instant volumising effect. The product also boasts a special, lash-strengthening active ingredient (vitamina H/biotin) to help strengthen lashes over time. It’s a true beast at helping you create volume and while the product does give you a fantastic results with just one swipe, I found that two coats are best to really create a ‘wow’ lash effect.
BioNike Defence Color 3D Volume Mascara is available from Dis-Chem at R155.
9. Theravine Daily Defense Finishing Mist
As if we didn’t already know that wine is the best thing in the history of ever, wine lovers can now enjoy the benefits of a good glass of wine on their skin too, thanks to Theravine. Packed with seven plant extracts, Theravine’s Daily Defence Finishing Mist is a must-have for anyone concerned with skin damage caused by daily exposure to pollution. For those of us living in big cities, pollution is a big concern and the constant free radical exposure can wreak havoc on our skin. This soothing mist offers an easy solution to shielding the skin against visible and invisible pollution. The product’s key ingredient, Citystem helps to neutralises toxic oxidant species, strengthen the skin barrier, while Fucogel helps to soothe the skin, reduce redness and irritation and hydrate the skin. The mist also contains Optivegetol wine extract, a powerful antioxidant that further helps to fight free radical damage. I’ve been using this fine mist as a finishing spray after applying my makeup as well as a refresher during the day, and I’m loving it. It leaves my skin feeling soft and soothed, even on the hottest of days, and it gives me peace of mind that I’m doing a little bit extra to protect my skin from the nasties lurking in the surrounding air.
Theravine Daily Defense Finishing Mist is available online at R304.
10. Noreva Xerodiane AP+ Lipid Replenishing Cleansing Oil
Another find for those with sensitive or very dry skin, this multi-tasking cleanser is sure to win over your heart this winter. The fragrance and soap free cleansing oil can be used on your body as well as your face and is a great choice for children, husbands who don’t have any real grooming routine, or low-maintenance lasses who love a good multi-tasking wonder. This gentle cleanser helps to remove grease and dirt while also nourishing and soothing the skin. I’ve been keeping this bottle of liquid gold in the shower as a one-size-fits-all cleansing solution for me and the boyfriend and have also found it’s the perfect travel buddy when you don’t want to pack a million different products in your toiletry bag.
Noreva Xerodiane AP+ Lipid Replenishing Cleansing Oil is available from Clicks at R319.95 (400ml).
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