It's New. In October. At MECCA.
September 28 | 5 minute read
Words by Madeleine Boles de Boer
Wake Up to Makeup
While I love the arrival of warmer weather (more daylight! Less layers! Fresh flowers! Iced coffees!) the nearly constant hay fever it ushers in does take some of the shine off the season – and my beauty looks.
As soon as my eyes stop involuntarily weeping from pollen overload, I'll be loading up my lashes with newest mascara from one of my favourite makeup artists and brand founders, Fara Homidi. The Pool Slick Lash Lacquer was inspired by the look of your lashes when you're just out of the pool – dark, glossy and glistening. Aside from adding volume and lift, the one-of-a-kind formula also gradually tints, strengthens and conditions over time (say less!), so will be a staple for my low-maintenance summer routine (particularly as my face is increasingly exposed to sun, salt and sweat).
When I feel like amping it up, I'll be reaching for the newest additions to the Kosas Soulgazer Mascara family. Specifically, the shade 'Bewitch' – a deep violet, and the perfect complementary colour for my blue eyes (can you tell I've been studying at the school of eyemaxxing?).
I've also recently learned that despite being a lifelong type-A, I lack a key characteristic of this hyper-organised personality type: time management. After being late to meet a friend (again!), I'm earnestly looking for ways to cut my prep time and bring my arrival time forward. Enter: Urban Decay's All Nighter Ghost Spray. It's a loose powder cosplaying as setting spray, delivering an alcohol-free, micro-powder in one quick 'psshhh'. Blurring, mattifying AND 24-hour wear? Sounds like efficiency in a bottle to me.
Anything but Vanilla
As someone who changes their scent more regularly than their lock-screen photo, I'm always taking notes on the newest fragrances on the shelves at MECCA. While I have steadfastly resisted vanilla scents my entire adult life (I blame a 20-year hangover from the infamous 00s body mists), there's no denying their popularity. Google searches for 'vanilla perfume' have increased more than 40 percent from last year! But it's not a cloying, 00s version that people are sniffing out: in 2026 the gourmand is all grown up.
PHLUR's Vanilla Canyon EDP brings a soulful rather than sweet take with oak and patchouli, while Northern Love EDP by Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle centres on creamy sandalwood and warm spice (including speculoos cookies, yum!). DedCool's Mocha Magic EDP is a vanilla scent after my own heart with notes of espresso, biscotti and sandalwood, and Isla Sirena EDP from Ellis Brooklyn offers a fruity and fun take on the note with lime, sea salt, coconut water and brown sugar. Also filed under the latest cool-girl gourmands: BYREDO Havana Tonka EDP (candy apple, vanilla and patchouli) and NOPALERA Dulce De Cuerpo Perfume (amber, sweet earth and vanilla). They join the OG of delectably sweet juices, Sol de Janeiro, which adds three Intense Perfume Mists to its collection this month: 62, 59, and 74.
'Tis the Season
October brings not one, but two important periods of time: spooky season, and gig season. If you're lucky enough to be going to a Halloween party and/or seeing any of the plethora of artists coming to the Antipodes – Olivia Dean, Lily Allen, Hilary Duff, Zara Larsson, Noah Kahan (I could go on!) – preparation and longevity are likely top of mind. For my personal concert-ready routine, I will be adding Soap & Glory's Vanilla-Licious Whipped Shower Cream to my everything shower, pulling double duty as both a body wash and shaving foam, and rotating out a roster of Dr Barbara Sturm's Super Anti-Aging Serum 2.0 and Sunday Riley's Tidal Deep Hydration and Plumping Serum morning and night to ensure my skin is as glowy and fresh as ever in every mosh pit and house party.
I was hoping to wait and see if a beloved Dr Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite™ FaceWare Pro appeared under the tree come December, but this month's limited-edition Gold Glitter launch, my impending event schedule and inability to turn down anything sparkly might make it an early act of self-gifting. A little Lush Life energy, if you like. On the day of said event(s), I will be reaching for Morphe's new 16-Hour Wear Continuous Setting Mist so my makeup doesn’t budge – not even when I’m cry-screaming The Fear – and Necessaire’s Eucalyptus Wipes to Come Clean between songs.
As for my recovery, I'll be leaning on a smorgasbord of soothing and repairing formulas for the sweat, tears and many, many makeup looks that are heading for my (dry and sensitive) face in the coming weeks. Go-To's Much Calmer Skin range ticks every restorative routine box with a soothing cleansing milk, calming moisturiser and instant relief in a mask.
My fickle skin barrier will also welcome the Youth To The People Superfood Retinol + Collagen Peptides Protein Balm. The overnight powerhouse combines retinol, vegan collagen peptide and niacinamide for a youthful glow come morning. Paired with the Emma Lewisham Capsule Hand & Nail Crème, I'll look like the type of person who knows a minimum of eight hours of sleep, 2L of daily hydration and regular manicures – even if I'm more party girl than Pilates princess (for this month at least).
