September means springtime is officially here. Our beauty modus operandi for the changing seasons? Less is more. We're pulling back on the emollient creams and swapping them out for nourishing serums to prep our skin for the warmer weather. That means lighter, brighter scents as well, and if you're looking for our favourite spring candles we can offer you plenty of guidance there too. But for now we bring you the beauty products that saw us through the month of September 2022. Find them, below.
KIEHL'S Retinol Fast Release Wrinkle-Reducing Night Serum
Retinol can be a scary word, but we'll take it when it comes from Kiehl's. The New York born skincare label has devised its own clinically proven formula with 0.3% pure retinol. Lines are visibly reduced in five days and you'll begin to see a difference to deep wrinkles in two weeks. Smooth a thin layer on before bed and let it work while you sleep. Just don't forget your sunscreen the next day!
ESTÉE LAUDER Advanced Night Repair Serum
We're always down to road test a serum, better yet if it's for a good cause. 20% of proceeds from purchasing the timeless Advanced Night Repair from ESTÉE LAUDER goes directly towards supporting breast cancer awareness.
EMMA LEWISHAM Skin Shield
If you're looking for a reliable sunscreen to follow up that retinol with, why not turn to Emma Lewisham's Skin Shield SPF 30? Blended with 9 high performing active ingredients, if you're looking to incorporate new sun protection into your routine, just know that we've never met an Emma Lewisham product we didn't like.
YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE Kombucha + 10% AHA Power Exfoliant
We love a product that you set and forget. Layer this guy on overnight and follow with moisturiser to brighten and smooth your complexion. It's non-sticky and fragrance free, which is always a bonus in our books. Never mind the fact that it's packed with lactic and glycolic acid.
LA MER Crème de la Mer
At the heart of La Mer is the moisturiser that started it all. Astrophysicist Dr Max Huber was working in his lab one day when he sustained chemical burns from an experiment gone wrong. From this point he redirected his research, and thus La Mer was born. Harnessing its Miracle Broth, an ingredient made with sea kelp harvested out of the clear waters off Vancouver Island, and paired with antioxidant-rich Lime Tea, Crème de la Mer provides instant relief to stressed skin and with persistent application minimises lines and plumps skin. One we always find ourselves returning to.
CHANEL Les 4 Ombres Tweed
Spring may be here, but we're not completely free from overcast days and cool temps just yet. This eyeshadow palette speaks to the current transient period. Still moody and angled towards darker days, but with hopeful inclusion of a soft dusty rose shade. As for the pigment? You know Chanel only delivers the most concentrated, buttery formulas.
BREAD BEAUTY SUPPLY Hair Cream
Just like the glutinous variety, Bread Beauty Supply will become a mainstay in your hair care routine, if it isn't already. Oriented towards textured hair, its Hair Cream helps enhance curls and condition them without the dreaded crunch. The soft-serve like consistency defines curls yet keeps them light and pliable for whatever you plan to do next. Plus, we're fans of the marshmallow scent.
SUSANNE KAUFMANN Hyaluron Body Gel
After too much sun or for the moments when your skin is feeling particularly sensitive, we love the Susanne Kaufmann Hyaluron Body Gel. As the name suggests, it's formulated with Hyaluronic Acid, as well as Aloe Vera and Balloon Vine extract. While you're going to need something far more robust to keep you hydrated for the day ahead, this one certainly offers immediate relief if that's the brief. We love the Aloe-like texture too.
HERMÉS Nail Enamel in Violet Manganèse Métal & Gris Étain Métal
Chrome is definitely having a beauty moment. If you're not quite ready to bust out the chrome powder, Hermès has conjured up a metallic finish option that scratches the itch. Arriving in two smouldering colours, Gris Étain and Violet Manganèse, our love for these two has endured fall and winter, extending into spring too. That's a testament in itself.
SANTA MARIA NOVELLA Angeli Di Firenze
Juicy and fresh, this fragrance by Angeli Di Firenze packs a punch. Layered with jasmine, blackcurrant, musk, sandalwood, peach and marine notes, it's in response to the mud angels who flocked to Florence in the wake of the 1966 floods to preserve the history of the city.
GLASSHOUSE Flower Show
Flower Show from Glasshouse is having a second wind. Returning after the success of its debut in 2021, the candle is back in a new vessel with fresh packaging. Characterised by tropical notes, grapefruit, almond blossom and pineapple are blended together to usher an energising presence into your home after a long winter.
SISLEY Supremÿa At Night The Supreme Anti-Ageing Skin Care Lotion
During the day the skin is busy defending itself against external stressors like UV light and pollution. But like us, as night descends, it can finally turn inward and recuperate. The La Nuit collection from Sisley pivots off of this understanding, and its evening lotion aims to maximise our skins moments to regenerate.
INDIE LEE Banish Stick
Got a pesky spot that's just popped up from the depths of hell itself? No matter. Just dab a little of this Banish Stick by clean beauty label Indie Lee to minimise the appearance of pimples and blemishes. We love anything that can be chucked in a purse or wallet, so this size earns extra points from us.
ALPHA-H Golden Haze Face Oil
Feeling particularly dry? I like to use a couple of drops of this oil from Alpha H over moisturiser for the same reason that people try slugging. It's silky and rich on your skin. Use it as part of your nightly gua sha routine or just enjoy the extra glow it adds to your complexion. We love a little versatility!
OPI Infinite Shine Espresso Your Inner Self, To Infinity and Blue-yond & Big Apple Red Nail Polishes
Transitioning from moody reds and browns for spring? Ease in with these three polish shades from O.P.I. Maybe even all at once, if you're feeling a little daring.
ERE PEREZ Fig All-Beauty Jelly
A true multipurpose treat. Use it to gently melt away makeup, as a mask for tired skin or to treat dry patches or feed your skin a bit of fig. Who doesn't love the fruit after all. Made in Australia by Mexican-born natural beauty advocate Ere Perez, it's an all-purpose remedy for skin that needs a little lovin'.
LA PRAIRIE Skin Caviar Harmony
Beauty doesn't need to cost you a week's wage, but we'd part with it anyway for the La Prairie Skin Caviar line. Every bit as luxurious as the name suggests, this formulation targets skin's vertical pillars, restoring them and your skin health too.
FRESH Tea Elixir Skin Resilience Activating Serum
A new term has been cropping up in the beauty realm, that of skin resilience. Leading the charge is fresh, a company that's always championed quality, natural ingredients backed by science. At the heart of its Tea Elixir line is the Mauritius tea plant, and using a new patented extraction process called Adaptive Phytocompound Tea technology the company can extract the tea in its highest concentration yet. Which means more antioxidants and better skin.
ZOEVA Single Vegan Brushes
When was the last time you invested in new brushes? If you had to think hard, your beauty toolkit is probably in need of a refresher. Enter these brushes from Zoeva. Vegan with synthetic bristles and timber handles, there's a brush for every job.
SISLEY Hair Rituel Regenerative Hair Care Oil With Botanical Oils
What I love about this hair mask is that it's designed to be left on for ten minutes, meaning you don't have to go to bed with greasy (albeit clean) hair. Here's a list of things you can do in the shower while you wait: pumice your heels, draw hearts on the fogged-up glass, scrub the grime off your tiles. By now you're probably done, all that's left to do is enjoy your glossy mane.
