If the words ‘new’ pique your interest, you’ll be right at home here. Every month, we rally up some of Escentual’s beauty-obsessed team and ask them the one question all beauty lovers find hard to answer: if you could only choose one product from this month’s launches, which would it be? With new products constantly launching onsite, this is no easy feat, but luckily, this month, the team had their favourites ready from the get-go. They must be good!
#1 Vichy Mineral 89 Eyes
Vichy Mineral 89 Eyes Repairing Eye Fortifier
Anyone who knows me will know that I have an obsession with the Vichy Mineral 89 Serum (I get through bottles of this stuff and would NEVER be without it in my skincare routine!), so when I heard that Vichy was bringing out a version specifically for the eyes, I patiently counted down the days until its launch!
As someone who is well over the age of 30, I’m starting to see signs of ageing as well as regularly puffiness in my eye area; made worse by not getting enough sleep regularly thanks to Netflix! My eye area is a big concern for me, and as a result, I often try new eye products in a quest to combat these issues.
Mineral 89 Eyes ticks all my boxes in the eye department. Its fresh gel texture hydrates and smooths without being greasy or sticky and creates a gorgeous base for a concealer – a must for me! Its high content of wonder ingredient, hyaluronic acid will help plump out fine lines, making them look less obvious, while a shot of caffeine assists with de-puffing the eyes. I love that it instantly brightens my eye area and makes me look less tired as well as improving those pesky eye bags and dark circles.
Mineral 89 Eyes plus my morning coffee are my daily morning lifesavers!
#2 Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Florale
Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Florale Multi-Purpose Dry Oil
Nuxe Huile Prodigiuese Dry Oil had a place in my heart since I spied it on a beauty counter when I was 18, to which my instant response was, ‘how have I lived my life without this?’. I took it on my very first girls holiday and instantly fell in love with its silky-soft texture and nourishing formula (it contains over 98% natural ingredients and a blend of plant-oils). One application was all it took to make my hair glossy, my skin golden, and my everyday skincare routine forever changed.
So, when I heard that Nuxe was bringing out an all-new floral interpretation, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it – and I was not disappointed. It’s the same formula as the original, but its scent is a lighter and sweeter rendition of orange blossom, sweet magnolia and grapefruit, which I think is perfect for this time of year (I’ve found that it’s not as heavy as the original scent, so it doesn’t overpower my perfume). And as for the bottle? It’s pretty, pink and just about everything my Instagram feed has been missing.
#3 GUERLAIN Terracotta Skin Highlighting Stick
GUERLAIN Terracotta Skin Highlighting Stick in Gold
Way back in November of last year, our team got a sneak peek of GUERLAIN’s Terracotta Stick Highlighter, and as soon as I got to swatch it, I knew it was a makeup bag staple.
Those who are familiar with Terracotta will know how that every year their summer offering gets better and better, but it’s this launch in particular that for me, has made this GUERLAIN’s best bronzing collection to date – I love how they constantly evolve the cult Terracotta line with new formats and formulas to fit current trends, but these products never lose their quality – especially with the exotic tiare flower ‘SPF’ scent, which is another main reason why Terracotta is still loved so much today.
I’ve chosen gold as my favourite (I was torn with nude) because I’ve got some holidays coming up and I’m all about champagne sheens. The finish this highlighter gives is very similar to that of a warmer Benefit’s Watt’s Up, which I adore. And, its travel-friendly format makes accentuating cheekbones and decolletages simple and effortless – I’ve even drawn it on my shins to fake supermodel pins. Trust me it works!
#4 Shiseido Controlled Chaos MascaraInk
Shiseido Controlled Chaos MascaraInk in Black
I’m as shocked as you are, I’m talking about a mascara that isn’t Roller Lash. Sorry, Benefit, it’s still one of my favourites, I promise! All jokes aside, this is a pretty big deal, I rarely get seduced by new mascaras; simply because I’ve always been happy with my mascara result, and if something’s not broken, why fix it? And although I still stand by this, this mentality has caused me to miss out on a few occasions, but not this time!
This month, when my old mascara reached the end of its life span (I usually rotate my mascara every 3-6 months to ensure the formulas at its best, and it’s not rife with bacteria), I added the Shiseido Controlled Chaos MascaraInk to my makeup bag. The name ‘MascaraInk’ was the first thing that intrigued me; then I saw the chunky tube, there’s just something about tubes like that, that I find make application breezy. And I have to say Shiseido hit the nail on the head naming this Controlled Chaos, it’s not at all clumpy or spidery, but it’s dramatic and extremely lengthening, all the while feeling as if you’re wearing nothing. I can confirm it lasts well too; I usually apply around 7:30 am, and my lashes still look lifted and long come 5:30 pm, with zero smudges, might I add, which is a big win for me!
#5 Caudalie Anti-Wrinkle Face Suncare SPF30
Caudalie Anti-Wrinkle Face Suncare SPF30
As I get older, I’m looking for the secret key product to keep me looking young. One product people often forget has a big role to play in this is SPF; which is why my favourite this month is the Caudalie Anti-Wrinkle Face Suncare SPF30.
Sunscreen is commonly used on glorious sunny days but is missed as a daily ritual. The beauty of the Caudalie Anti-Wrinkle Face Suncare SPF30 is that it can be used as your summer holiday suncare protection or as the day to day regular application we need in our lives; it offers hydration, anti-ageing protection and it has a comfortable, lightweight texture.
The delicate scent is divine and makes me look forward to a big holiday at the beach. Having an SPF30 keeps me feeling like I’m protected from the sun, while the unique filter system blocks UVA/B. A few other pluses: the eco-friendly bottle is made of recyclable plastic, and Caudalie has an Ocean Protect pledge, which means there are no-oxybenzone and no-octinoxate in the formula; I feel comfortable that this will not only protect my skin but the environment and the ocean.
#6 Kiehl’s Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream
Kiehl’s Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream
Having combination skin means it’s tricky finding a good moisturiser for my face. They’re either too greasy for my oily t-zone, or they’re too drying for my cheeks – there never seems to be a right balance; this isn’t the case with Kiehl’s Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream though!
The gel moisturising cream feels so light and refreshing on my skin. My face feels hydrated, and the redness I often suffer from has been reduced. It even works against the early signs of skin ageing, which is great for me now I’m closer to 30 than I wish I was!
I’ve never been someone who uses serums as part of my skincare routine – and I’m still not, and because this moisturiser is serum-infused (as you may have guessed!), it means I’m getting two phases of my routine in one easy step! Another plus is that it smells amazing; every time I use the water cream, I wish I could eat it (no really, it smells just like a lemon cake slice!).
I already use the Kiehl’s Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash and the Herbal-Extract Alcohol-Free Toner, so now I’ve got the moisturising cream to complete the Calendula routine!
#7 Roger & Gallet L’Homme Menthe Eau de Toilette Spray
Roger & Gallet L’Homme Menthe Eau de Toilette Spray
I’ve been seeking a new everyday fragrance for a while since my beloved Marc Jacobs was discontinued. I’ve always been drawn to scents that are a little out of the ordinary, but not over-powering; Roger & Gallet’s new L’Homme Menthe is an offering that ticks both of those boxes for me!
Don’t get me wrong, though; it certainly leaves a lasting impression. As the name suggests – Menthe – it opens with notes of Peppermint, Spearmint, with essences of bergamot and lavandin, which give this fragrance a fresh, sporty vibe; while black pepper and gaïac wood at the base give it an unexpected, warming kick. It’s quite a unique fragrance but doesn’t feel totally unfamiliar. Although it’s quite a strong fragrance at first, it’s not heavy and doesn’t stick in the throat, due to its clever composition of mint and citrus.
Why do I love it so much? Well, besides the scent itself (bearing in mind the accessible price-point of Roger & Gallet products) I was impressed with the length of time the fragrance lasted on the skin. On top of that, because of its multi-dimensional note structure, you can get away with wearing this fragrance in the day or evening – It’s a yes from me!
Discover More
• Wondering who the lucky few were last month? Find out here…
