Beauty Blast #8
I’m baaaack. And I’m ready to get stuck into it. Over the last few months, I’ve slapped so much shit across my face, and (as always) I’m here to separate the greats from the gimmicks because I am nothing if not diligent with a touch of brutal honesty.
Everything I’ve included below is actually worth your hard-earned money.
I vouch for everything below. You can hold me accountable.
As always, let’s blast.
A clever dual-action exfoliant that I’ve been lathering in the shower over the last few weeks. I can really feel the charcoal sweep away dead skin cells. It doesn’t strip my skin or leave it feeling irritated or tight. An AHA/BHA trio is also included, but I feel like the physical charcoal exfoliant is the powerhouse here. I’ve been shaving my chest for fucking ages; if you don’t exfoliate before and after shaving areas like your chest, you’re going to get gross ingrown hairs. Promise.
Emma Lewisham Supernatural Sleeping Mask $121.00
I'm not even biased; this is by far my favourite product in this article. This just craps on the rest. The latest magic from Emma Lewisham (now stocked at our fav MECCA BTW!) is a staple on my bedside table. The Sleeping Mask is an overnight treatment that works to restore and enhance the skin’s own overnight activity system. Gardenia Jasminoides extracts enhance the melatonin activity in the skin. It’s recommended to use this Mask a couple of times a week, I could easily use it five times a week, and if the name isn’t clear, you don’t need to wash this product off.
REN Barrier Support Elixir $87.00
I’ve been shaving my face a lot recently (meetings, dates, trying to look sexy and young), and with that comes a cascade of irritations, like dryness and discolouration. I’ve seen such promising results from pressing this oil/elixir around my shaving line a few times a week. It’s bloody good.
Glossier Futuredew $26.00
My sister kindly smuggled me back a bottle of the Lord’s oil from the USA. I got her to buy me three. I haven’t had this product in my rotation for a good few years now (maybe four?), and although I love it for everyday outings if I want to glow, I can’t apply it if I am drinking booze because it gives me an alcohol rash now. Lol. But, it still slaps.
Flamingo Estate Body Scrub $90.00
If we’re friends, you would have heard my annoyingly bang-on about Flamingo Estate and how fucking epic the brand story is. I am obsessed with Richard. I want to live on his Estate and retire immediately. The packaging, the community and the vibe encapsulates a sort of unintentional zeitgeist everyone is trying to do, but only a few have cracked it. The Body Scrub is divine; it’s luxurious, decadent and takes you away, if only for a moment, to a remote part of the world where everything is just perfectly existing. The scrub itself is waxy once rinsed (which I usually hate) and sticks to the skin, which isn’t surprisingly annoying, but rather in a loving, warm cuddly type of way. The brand is exclusively stocked at MECCA; run don’t walk.
Tbh Skincare rebound serum by Hannah English $68.00
Hannah kindly gifted me her product collaboration with tbh skincare. If Hannah says anything is worth your money, it is. She’s a skincare Goddess. I’ve now finished this product and enjoyed every moment of it down to the last drop. It’s really helped restore my skin barrier, which is all I’ve been trying to do this winter. If you want to support damaged skin and use a product that’s easy to apply, gentle on the skin and has a delightful light consistency, buy this.
Sol de Janeiro Bom Dia Bright Cream $72.00
Fuck this smells sexy. Seriously. Add this to your cart if you want to wake up smelling yourself. I like using it during the day, too; it’s packed with vitamin c, which gives your skin a nice shine to it. I usually apply it on my chest if I am wearing shirts or across my arms if I’m rubbing shoulders with sexy men.
Dr. Jart Calming Gel Cream $49.00
If you can’t tell already, my vibe for this article is protecting and healing my skin barrier. I picked up this gel moisturiser from Sunday Ritual, my favourite K Beauty online destination in NZ, and have nearly stripped it clean. I actually enjoy using it before I go out at night as a top-up for my skin’s moisture levels. A little goes a long way. It is formulated with many proprietary ingredients to repair and help desensitize the skin. It’s no BS, light and calming.
We’re heading into summer, so I will need to take my beanie off at one point, and it’s right now that I will reintroduce this hair spray into my haircare routine. A few sprays directly onto the hairline before I head out the door; the rest is magic. It has such a natural lift and style to it, that I would never use gel or wax again.
KOSAS Air Brow Dark Brown $36.00
Guys, I have really cranked up my eyebrow game recently, and it’s paying off. I changed my Air Brow colour from light to dark brown, which completely changed the results I see in this product. The brush is so easy to use and style my slugs, and the dark brown colour really makes them pop and gives them volume. I recommend relooking at your colour if you’re an avid user of Air Brow.
Words — Liam Sharma
