It’s New. In April. At MECCA
March 31 | 4 minute read
Words by Izzy Wight
The leaves are changing, the outfits are layering and in lieu of pumpkin spice-flavoured foodstuffs (I’ve never been a fan – sue me), I’m getting into the spirit by embracing all the exciting new beauty this month has to offer. Here’s everything worth knowing about.
Makeup That Contains Multitudes
ICYMI (though I doubt you did), last month we celebrated all things artistry at MECCA. Fuelled by visits from makeup greats Fara Homidi, Rae Morris and Violette Serrat, I felt inspired to upgrade my everyday routine – and this month’s makeup launches have made that task incredibly easy.
Sheer lipsticks are everywhere right now, with buildable, buttery new arrivals from Westman Atelier, Charlotte Tilbury and Stila. It’s a true treasure trove for those who love a slick of colour yet crave the hydration of a balm. Do I already own 1,000 lip products? Yes. Will I be adding to my collection? Also, yes.
In true Gucci Westman fashion, the Westman Atelier Hydrobalm Tinted Lipstick is packed full of nourishing, skincare-grade ingredients, in 12 your-lips-but-better shades. Gucci describes it as the “perfect ‘in-between’ lipstick,” and I would have to agree. Meanwhile, enhanced with a touch of shimmer, the Stila Heaven’s Dew™ Honey Glow Balm is less lipstick and more glossy, tinted treatment.
Meanwhile, aptly named Blush Balm Lip Tint, Charlotte Tilbury’s take on the trend is inspired by the look of love. Somewhere between a plumping balm and a stay-all-day tint, it leaves a wash of colour not dissimilar to what your lips might look like after a solid makeout sesh (plump, hydrated, pink). It pairs perfectly with the Beauty Soulmates Face Palette – a heart-shaped powder duo that emulates the flush of a new crush.
Other new additions to my makeup bag include the MECCA MAX Fangirl Panoramic Tubing Mascara, an ultra-lengthening, glossy, black formula that has earned me several lash compliments, and the NARS Light Reflecting™ Luminizing Stick – a creamy, swipe-anywhere balm for those who want dewy skin, without having to really think about it.
Serious Skincare
It may be April Fool’s Day, but these skincare arrivals did not come to play around. Powered by cutting-edge science, these formulas boggle my mind (I dropped out of Biology in Year 10) and work wonders on my skin. In layman’s terms...
Described as an ‘all-in-one supercream,’ the goop beauty Youth-Boost NAD+ Peptide Rich Cream is a buttery moisturiser infused with something called nicotinamide mononucleotide, or ‘NMN’. Stay with me! NMN is the precursor to every celebrity’s favourite peptide, NAD+, a multitasking molecule that supports cellular metabolism for smooth, radiant, firmer-looking skin. Trust Gwyneth on this one.
It’s also all about acids this month, with the latest from Glow Recipe and Allies of Skin giving us luminous, glass skin-like results. Infused with five gentle acids, Glow Recipe’s LHA + AHA Watermelon Exfoliating Toner Pads are a multitasking saviour for oily, congested skin. Just place one of the pads onto freshly cleansed skin, wait for five minutes and lift it off for (almost) instant results.
And if it’s time-saving skincare you’re after, the new Allies of Skin Azelaic & Kojic Advanced Clarifying Serum tackles nine (!) skin concerns with one supercharged formula. Dark spots, blackheads, blemishes, enlarged pores – it's essentially the Swiss Army knife of your skincare routine, and gentle enough for sensitive types.
Below the neck, OSEA’s Dream Bio-Retinol Body Serum is an overnight sensation – a dreamy, lavender-coloured cream that tackles dullness, texture and signs of ageing while you snooze. Above the eyebrows, the Living Proof Moisture Rescue Mask is the lazy person’s winter hair hack. Just smooth the biomimetic blend through your strands in the shower, daydream under the warm water for five minutes and rinse it out. Also, I can’t think of an experience that wouldn't be made better with Officine Universelle Buly’s Exquisite Comb.
Playful Scents
If you’re a fan of DedCool’s cult-loved layering fragrance Milk, Mineral Milk EDP is a similarly addictive, you-but-better blend, with added notes of lavender, ocean air and marine salt. Less hot and tropical, more moody, foggy beachscapes, it’s the perfect cool-weather coastal scent.
In the same realm of skin-enhancers, Glossier’s Glossier You Soie EDP is the latest addition to the brand’s collection of effortless personal scents. With salty ambrox, creamy, coconut-y rice water and tiare water (a floral derived from Tahitian gardenia), it smells like soaking up the sunshine, cocktail in hand.
Sweet as Honey
Chrishelle Lim has expanded her scent collection with PHLUR’s] Honey Moon EDP – a warm, subtly sweet floral with a hyper-realistic golden honey note. And for your just desserts, Ellis Brooklyn’s Queens Caramel EDP is the ultimate decadence, with notes of vanilla bourbon, white chocolate, caramel and maple sugar.
A fragrance month wouldn’t be complete without a mist moment – and no-one does fun, flirty, spritz-everywhere scents better than Sol de Janeiro. The brand has debuted three new limited-edition numbers, with my personal favourite being the juicy, sweet apricot-and-açai blend, Cheeky Biquíni.
Flower Power
Finally, the master of big, bold, complex scents, Editions de Parfums by Frédéric Malle, has released yet another icon in the form of Contre Jour EDP. Composed by perfumer Annick Ménardo, it’s a spicy rose centered around immortelle – a sweet, dry, herbaceous note, also known as the ‘everlasting flower.’ While Contre Jour doesn’t last forever, a few spritzes will get you close to it!
