The 2024 Paris Olympics aren’t the only event this month, because the beauty industrial complex continues to churn out headline-generating hits month after month. Keep reading to see our picks and favourites of the best of beauty in August 2024.
Fresh off Sephora Fall Press Day, we’re also spotlighting several new drops that are slated to arrive this month. Australia’s Urban Jungle is coming in hot. Targetting concerns that are similar to our very own Southeast Asian skin struggles, we predict this brand will quickly become many beauty enthusiasts’ skincare favourites. Makeup by Mario finally reaches our shores four years after its inception, delivering a whole array of impeccable colour cosmetics that will surely be levelling up everyone’s makeup game, both the professional makeup artist and the casual user.
Exciting newness aside, existing brands are also bringing their A-game. Lancôme and Dr Dennis Gross both continue to push the envelope where skincare is concerned. On the other hand, Augustinus Bader is primed to elevate the most common of beauty accoutrements: lip balms.
Whether you’re making your way to one of the many concerts and events that are due this month, or trying to recreate one of the scene-stealing beauty looks caught on screen from the Summer Games, or simply in the market to expand your beauty arsenal (and snap some great beauty shots with your new Samsung Z Flip 6), these are the top hitters that caught our eye this month. From constant staples like lip balms, SPF, and body wash gel, to a hyper-specific, curated skincare formulation, this month’s beauty picks promise to deliver on all your needs.
Long Lift Lashes Mascara
After some time away from us, Velvet Vanity’s Long Lift Lashes Mascara makes a grand return this month. Tubing mascaras are a rarity in our market, and even more so when you’re shopping for local options. Easily washed off with warm water, leaving zero panda eyes, and providing its users with a false-lash effect, the mascara is perfect for those needing easy reapplication or just looking for one that offers fuss-free removal. Once you’re familiar with how the product behaves, you can also discover a trick to elongating each lash. The trick is this: layer on the second (or third!) coat before the formula completely dries down.
The Ordinary Balancing & Clarifying Serum
Even when you have the best skincare regimen, odds are you are battling some measure of skin congestion. And odd are you don’t want to overwhelm the skin with layers and layers of product. This is where the new Ordinary Balancing & Clarifying Serum comes in. The one-step treatment features seven skin-clearing technologies, each addressing a sign of congestion. Whether it’s uneven texture, oil control, pore appearance, post-blemish marks, barrier disruption, or dehydration, this one bottle can take them all on.
Augustinus Bader The Tinted Balms
Your favourite lip balm is about to be dethroned because the all-new Augustinus Bader The Tinted Balms are here. A collaboration between the skincare brand and award-winning American film director and screenwriter Sofia Coppola, the three shades she opted to tint her favourite lip balms in are meant to be universal. Enriched with the iconic TFC8—famed for its healing capabilities— and plant-based butters and oils, you can count on it to be a reliable purse bestie for anyone who struggles with chapped lips.
Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette
There’s only one right answer to your consideration for this palette, and it’s an instant yes. For those who lament not another neutral palette, let us clear the air. This is, in fact, the neutral palette to get should you be in the market for one. Housing specific shades and tones of neutrals, you can build on these colours easily, whether you want to stick to your everyday colours or push the boundary with some pops. If you have someone who just got into makeup, this would make for the perfect starting point.
Lancôme Rénergie Yeux H.C.F. Triple Serum
Your eyes deserve all the love they can get, and Lancôme’s latest technology is here to give them just that. Through a powerful combination of Vitamin F (to help smooth the skin around the eye area), Vitamin C and niacinamide (a stable blend that enhances the skin’s radiance), and hyaluronic acid and SNK-peptide (a killer duo that plumps up the skin, which simultaneously helps to smooth away wrinkles), the eye serum is hands-down the It skincare product to try this month.
Gabrielle Chanel L’Eau
The iconic Gabrielle perfume range is further expanded with the arrival of the L’Eau edition. A no-brainer summer perfume, the Gabrielle Chanel L’Eau leans much more ambrosial compared to its original predecessor, which is very much a white floral perfume. If a sparkling fragrance has been on your shopping list, then you can’t go wrong with this one.
mtm labo genes decode
Skincare has never been this curated. If you’ve been on the hunt for a brand that’s willing to take the time to design a product around your specific needs, then mtm labo is that girl. One of its latest arrivals, the genes decode formula, requires you to undergo a whole DNA analysis process, where they take the findings and tailor a precise formula that’s made just for you. Taking factors such as skin sensitivity, skin barrier functionality, and the risks that you’re prone to into consideration, your genes decode formula will be your skin’s saviour before it even has a chance to break out.
Estee Lauder Pure Colour Explicit Lipstick
Who can say no to this ultra-chic art deco packaging? The latest drop from Estee Lauder features the brand’s slimmest lipstick yet. The Pure Colour Explicit Lipstick are presented with two opposing formulas: a Silk Matte and a Slick Shine. Both promise to deliver intense pigment, staying power, and of course, laser precision that would leave lip liners optional. No matter which way you sway, the lipstick glides smoothly on the lips without skipping or streaking—so there’s really no need to cake it on.
Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Huez SPF 30
One-and-done never looked so good. Our beauty routine time just got slashed thanks to the new Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Huez. Arriving in 10 flexible shades, the vegan skin tint feature an SPF 30 sun protection—which is ideal for our sunny environment. Powered with Kalahari melon and baobab extracts, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid, it promises protection from the elements, reduction in the appearance of pores, and hydration. Additionally, it’s infinitely refillable, so you can save on your next purchase of this bad boy.
Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta 2% BHA+ Liquid Solution
When shopping for actives for the skin, it’s always better to stay on the safe side, lest you find yourself fixing a problem of your own design. But if you have to roll the dice, we’d say this is your best bet. The latest from Dr Dennis Gross is an effective formula that is gentle enough to be used for multiple skin types—including those with sensitive skin. Suitable for daily use, the liquid, packed with five different types of acid, can address every acne symptom to reveal super smooth skin. Even if you already have perfect skin, consider this to be your maintenance tool to ensure it stays that way.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Media Cologne Forte Hand and Body Cleansing Gel
When it comes to layering perfume, you can start as far ahead as your shower. With the heat wave that’s going on right now in the city, we recommend a hefty dose of sparkling citrus to bring a dash of freshness to your day. For that, no fragrance effervesces more than Maison Margiela Kurkdjian’s Aqua Media Cologne Forte. Start your day with its Hand and Body Cleansing Gel. With a blend of sweet fennel, verbena, and hedione, your mornings are about to be incredibly decadent.
Urban Jungle Hump Day Clay Mask
Another new favourite is Australia’s Urban Jungle clay mask. With the layers of sunscreen and makeup we apply, the humidity we have to battle, and everything our skin secretes throughout the day, the Hump Day Clay Mask is your one-stop shop to help lift all of the junk off of your face. Packed with nourishing antioxidants, it works in two directions: one, to eradicate all the gunk from the face, and two, to revitalise the skin with the vital goodness of matcha leaf extract and botanical extracts to keep it happy and balanced.