The best new beauty to cure your winter blues
image via @rhode/instagram
words by lara daly
Barrier creams, bronzers, body oils.
If you’re not one of the lucky ones enjoying a Euro summer this year, maybe you’re joining me in experiencing a bad case of the winter uglies.
As much as I love layering up this season, attempting to look cute (or at least, healthy) has felt like a battle lately. My skin is flaky and irritated. My lips are constantly dry and sore. My complexion has faded to a sickly shade that not even my lightest concealer can match.
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On these cold, dark mornings, the most I can manage is usually a warm flannel, barrier cream and a thick layer of medical-grade nipple balm on my lips. But recently, I had a rare bout of motivation. I applied some gradual tanner and woke up with a new attitude.
Yes, everything feels harder in winter. The upside is that even a tiny bit of effort can trick your brain into thinking you’re on holiday. Between cream bronzers, solid body oils and face masks designed for your sleep cycle, this season’s beauty launches are a lazy girl’s dream.
Rhode Pocket Bronze cream bronzer
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The queen of glazed skin can do no wrong. After testing the full Rhode range when it first launched in Australia, I had high hopes for its newly released cream bronzers and highlighting milks. The formula is sensitive-skin-friendly as expected, but I’m particularly impressed by the shade range. All eight colours are warm yet still lean neutral, so you can use them for contouring.
Get it here.
Tsu Lange Yor The Garden Eau de Parfum discovery set
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If you can’t have a European summer, why not smell like one? Tsu Lange Yor’s The Garden is a collection of three warm, unisex fragrances designed to be layered: Fig, Orange Grove and Tomato.
Get it here.
Prime Skin Drink Up 3-in-1 moisturiser
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Sometimes your skin needs to go back to basics. If you’re after a trusty, fragrance-free, hydrating moisturiser, that’s exactly what Prime Skin’s Drink Up cream delivers. It’s comforting and smoothing, yet surprisingly lightweight – I’ve been using it as a barrier-cream-slash-makeup-primer during the day.
Get it here.
Merit Clean Volume mascara
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Tubing mascaras have long been my go-to, as nothing else gets my stubborn straight lashes to hold a curl. The only downside is that they don’t typically build volume very well. After trying Merit’s Clean Lash for a few weeks, I’m impressed by how fluffy and full it makes my lashes, without any clumps.
Get it here.
Sans[ceuticals] Perpetual Activator 7 solid oil
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The beauty step you shouldn’t skip in winter is the one you don’t want to do: stand naked in the cold while you rub cream into your elbows. I finally cracked open the new solid version of the cult-favourite Sans[ceuticals] Activator 7 oil, and it’s been a game-changer. Housed like a solid deodorant, you glide it over your limbs after the shower (skin still damp), and it’s a full-body pamper session in a few seconds.
Get it here.
Raeso Lunar Veil Chrono-Active sleep mask
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Is there anything better than your bed in winter? Raeso consulted a sleep and circadian rhythm specialist when creating this Lunar Veil Chrono-Active sleep mask. Its time-release formula works to reset, repair and regulate the skin across its diurnal night cycle. TLDR: it makes you look hotter overnight.
Get it here.
Le Labo incense
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Le Labo introduced incense this month, but not just any incense. Each set includes a ceramic holder and 35 sticks, handcrafted in Kyoto at a 12th-generation family-owned workshop. You’ll notice a satisfyingly slow burn.
Get it here.
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