Best of Beauty September 2024: Shuffle the Deck

No matter what depth you’re treading in your beauty journey, one thing is for sure—everybody can appreciate a stunning lipstick. Chanel’s 31 Le Rouge is one example of a lipstick that has it all. A sleek packaging that magnetises shut with a refillable format, this year’s expansion of the range welcomes an all-new texture: a plush velvet finish that is both comfortable and hydrating. With 12 colours to choose from that span from the bold Rouge Mystique to the lighthearted Rouge Accessoire, we bet there’s one that’s going to be your daily option.

When it comes to powder, the Japanese consistently maintain their inimitable standards. With the unrelenting amount of loose powders available in the market, we’re going to turn you in the direction of the Decorte Loose Powder—and specifically the new Harmony Veil version. Ultra-lightweight to the touch, a conservative dusting is enough to imbue the skin with a healthy luminosity while simultaneously extending the life of your makeup and correcting sallow tones. When you eventually upgrade to this one, don’t just toss the puff, because this one’s different. It’s infused with hyaluronic acid, so with every application, you’re delivering some skin-loving ingredients as well.

While there is such a thing as too many gloss, this drop is one that you can’t miss. If the glosses you have are the kind to suck out the moisture from your lips, then it’s time to upgrade to the oil-in-gloss texture that is the Armani beauty Prisma Glass. With the addition of 15% squalane, each swipe promises to heal the lips all while imbuing the lips with an enviable mirror-like shine. Between the six highly wearable shades and the clear gloss, there’s bound to be a share that catches your eye.

One groundbreaking foundation enters the fray, and it’s the Bobbi Brown Weightless Skin Foundation. Arriving in an astounding 53-shade strong range, the complexion product promises to deliver a natural matte finish that has 24-hour tenacity. Featuring oil-controlling qualities, it also gives back some balance to the skin with all-day moisture, resulting in the truly perfect concoction. As an added layer of insurance, the formula is also waterproof, transfer, fade, and crease resistance and will help reduce the look of pores. How’s that for your next favourite foundation?

Good luck getting your hands on this super-brightener, because she’s consistently selling out. The new and improved C15 Super Booster is made better with the addition of vitamin E and ferulic acid. The latter emphasises the efficacy of the two antioxidants, stabilising the ingredient to help deliver even better results. The ideal way to use this is to add a couple of drops into your non-SPF moisturiser, but you can also use it alone as a serum step in your routine.

Hydrogel collagen masks are very much in at the moment, and local beauty brand Lumi Beauty is throwing in their hat in that ring. There’s no need for you to wait days and weeks to receive one from South Korea because there’s finally an option right at home. Of the two options, we’re a fan of the Repair + Renew version. While both boast low molecular weights of superstar ingredients like hyaluronic acid, marine collagen, and probiotics, this option includes skin-conditioning rose and rice ferment filtrate which is known for its complexion-brightening qualities.

The next It-girl body splash is here, and it’s the Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 76 Perfume Mist. Ever since the success of the Cheirosa 62 perfume, the brand has been delivering knockout after knockout with each perfume launch. This latest one is equally as decadent as the rest of the range, but this time, with the juiciness of the blackcurrant, the rich warmness of ambergris, and the white floral bomb of jasmine and freesia. The result? An outstanding mist that can take you from day to night with ease, without overpowering the senses.

Having concocted some landmark fragrances out there (such as Armani Prive Vert Malachite, Diptyque L’Eau Papier, and several iterations of Jean Paul Gaultier Scandal, including the original) French perfumer Fabrice Pellegrin has taken on a second act at Penhaligon’s, creating The Dandy. A boozy fragrance that’s laced with the light zest of raspberry and bergamot, this Eau de parfum has a bright start that will, throughout the day, take on a darker mood, where the notes of whiskey, oak, and patchouli come out to play. On paper, this may sound like a sure-fire masculine juice, but we highly recommend you take a whiff at your nearest Escentials to try it on for size.

There will be days when it feels like no amount of water is enough to keep your lips hydrated. That’s when you pull out the big guns. This month, Dr.Jart+ introduces an extension of its much beloved Vital Hydra Solution range, adding the Hydrating Lip Mask into the mix. Coupling hyaluronic acid with the occlusive texture, the leave-on treatment can be used both day and night to moisturise and plump up the lips, so you can say goodbye to chapped lips and dry lines. Whether you have a big day to prep your lips, or simply want to never have a bad lip day, this is the one to get.

Who says we can’t look cute when we’re dealing with acne? Dododots has an impressive range of designs, including exciting limited edition collaborations that include Netflix’s Emily in Paris. But even more exciting is one of their newer innovations, where the local brand has curated a five-shade range of their crowd-favourite pimple patch and made the world’s first-ever concealer acne patch. Infused with tea tree oil, the Dodoskin comes in two sizes to address acne situations big and small. Made to be used both day and night (so you don’t need to buy two separate sets), it prohibits skin picking, protecting the skin underneath as the hydrocolloid material sucks out the gunk from the comedo.