Best of Beauty April 2024: Multitaskers. Multitaskers Everywhere

The latest complexion item from Fenty Beauty is here, and it’s the We’re Even Hydrating Longwear Concealer. It arrives in 50 inclusive shades. Not only is it a powerful concealer that hides your dark circles with an easy medium coverage, but it also delivers hydration and moisturisation all at the same time, providing your skin with the nourishment it needs, as well as a perfect canvas for the rest of your makeup. Using the power of Persian silk tree extract, sodium hyaluronate, and prickly pear extract, the makeup hybrid imbues immediate and long-lasting moisturising effects on the skin.

This novel scent may not be the best option for a blind buy, but it’s safe to say that you will probably find a bottle of Tubéreuse Astrale on the shelves of major fragrance influencers in town. Don’t let the first spritz fool you, because the one caveat with this fragrance is that you have to let it settle into the skin. Brought to you by the nose that gave us iconic juices such as Carolina Herrera Good Girl, Parfums de Marly Delina Exclusif, and Maison Crivelli’s own Hibiscus Mahajád, the perfume is inspired by Thibaud Crivelli’s memory of stargazing in the summer. His father and he would find a light pollution-free spot, and it happened to be upwind of gardens of tuberoses. The result is this beauty, which brings the cerebral factor of astronomy in the opening, but develops into a honeyed, bubblegummy tuberose at the end. It’s a real scent-shifter, so you’ve got to try it in person to experience it.

In the heat, the scalp needs extra attention, especially with all the sweat and environmental debris that can get trapped. For that, check out the Aromatica Rosemary Salt Scrub Shampoo. Bottling both chemical and physical exfoliating action, the brand has created the ideal revitalising formula that thoroughly cleanses the scalp. To bring a dose of nourishment back to the skin, they have included the star of the range, the essence of rosemary. Complete with probiotics and caffeine, this scrub shampoo targets all the pain points that you find yourself struggling with during hotter days. Hair and scalp wellness aren’t the only things you’ll be in with this—it also promises to minimise hair loss, so you can expect stronger, healthier hair after consistent use.

This super successful brand from the US has finally found its way into Malaysia. How successful? Well, they even landed an advertising slot during the much-anticipated Super Bowl 2024, featuring Michael Cera. But going back to the brand itself, one of the most friendliest items to start with is the Moisturising Lotion. A no-fuss formulation, the texture is almost cushioning to the touch. Featuring the iconic combination of three essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid, the moisturiser utilises the brand’s patented MultiVesicular Emulsion Technology (MVE) to sustain the delivery of moisture over an extended period of time. The lotion is also the recipient of the National Eczema Association (NEA) Seal of Acceptance, indicating that the formula is safe for those suffering from the condition.

The French beauty house finally takes a plunge into the world of liquid eyeshadows—and they’re already bringing the best to the category by tapping renowned makeup artist and its very own International Makeup Creative Director Lisa Eldridge to curate a versatile array that goes beyond the eyes. It arrives in seven cheek-friendly colours, in two finishes: comfortable matte and shimmer. Dubbed an eye-blusher, the multi-tasking Idôle Tint could also be applied as eyeliner, thanks to the unique applicator. Whether you want a soft, diffused colour to the eyelids and cheeks, or a major head-turning eyeliner look, then it’s time to check out this extension of the Idôle line.

Paula’s Choice exfoliants have always been the favourites among many beauty junkies. Adding a new one to the range, this once features Mandelic Acid, a lesser known member of the alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) category. It’s one of the best acid alternatives out there for the sensitive skin set. Thanks to its bigger molecular size, it has a slower penetration rate, making it gentler compared to its contemporaries. This one in particular does more than just exfoliate the skin, it also helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, bring back that youthful bounce, as well as reverse the signs of sun damage. Just be sure to apply your SPF when this is included in your routine, and you should be on your way to achieving crystal-clear, marble-smooth skin.   

The skinification of the scalp is here. Leading the frontier is Briogeo, with its Rosemary Pre-Wash Oil that can also be used overnight to totally nourish and moisturise the hair and scalp. Suitable for all hair types and textures, and especially made for those with flaky scalp and dry locks, the oil is fortified with castor oil, biotin, and a chamomile derivative to truly tackle the issue. Of course, the star ingredient, rosemary oil, will help to encourage scalp circulation (just without the tingles commonly associated with the oil), promote healthy follicle activity, and provide antioxidant protection. So if you’ve been burned (pun-intended) by a rosemary oil product, this is worth the shot.

A reformulation that we’ve all been waiting for. If the previous version have left a poor taste in your mouth (due to the SPF flavour that it tended to leave), then this will have you falling back in love with the Ultra Violette Sheen Screen SPF 50 Lip Balm. With the addition of the minty flavour, you can kiss discomfort goodbye. Two revamped shades and four juicy new entrants join the fold, as well as a new pout-hugging silicone tip that helps you to apply an even coat of glossy balm to the lips. For those who haven’t included sun protection for the lip into their routine, this is, hands down, one of the most decadent options out there.

Magic in a tube indeed. Say addio to those pesky under eye bags that people always teasingly remark as “designer” with this new drop from It Cosmetics. Watching this at work is very satisfying, because unlike your typical eye creams or serums, this will give you a (temporary but very real) eye lift in just 15 minutes. While you may not need to include this in your daily routine, the Bye Bye Under Eye Bags sure does come in handy for those big moments when you want to look uber-snatched. Just remember to pay extra attention to the method of application. It’s to go on top of your makeup, and be sure to use gliding motions to work the product into the skin. Then, all you have to do is relax the facial muscles for 15 minutes, and voila! You look brand new.

Listen up, fine-haired girlies. The struggle to take care of your delicate mane is real, but not impossible. To cater to those with this specific need, Schwarzkopf Professional has introduced the Fibre Clinix Bonding Light Oil, a multitasker that will help you simplify your hair care routine. As a pre-shampoo treat, it works to help seal the hair’s cuticle so that it won’t incur damage when it gets wet. You can also add it into your treatment step to provide an additional nutritional boost. And when you step out of the shower, definitely apply a light layer of it on the hair to make use of its heat protectant quality. Finally, inject a salon-worthy smoothness and shine as you finish off your hair routine. Infused with an oil complex of five different botanicals, the oil works to strengthen, soften, nourish, hydrate, and protect against breakage.

It’s seriously time for fragrance lovers to go beyond the world of florals and take it a step further: into vegetation. To provide an alternative to the typical gourmand finds of years past, Maison Margiela Fragrances launches From the Garden, an uplifting scent that paints an image of an idyllic afternoon spent in the garden. When it’s first applied, the fragrance fizzes into life from the green mandarin note. But just as instantly, you’ll be able to catch the more aromatic and herbaceous tomato leaf accord, which is the perfume’s claim to fame. The result? A totally savoury perfume that’s probably unlike anything many of us own in our collections.

The current big thing in the foundation category is this: a tinted sunscreen that boasts a solid everyday coverage. We’ve seen multiple brands come out with this hybrid complexion product, and now Supergoop! has joined in. Boasting a radiant finish, SPF 50, and a buildable coverage, the Protec(Tint) Sunscreen arrives in 12 evenly-distributed shades, so you will have little worry about finding yours. The best part is that even though it’s a combination of a tint and sunscreen, it is by no means heavy on the skin. It’s also brimming with skincare benefits—83% of the formulation is made up of skincare ingredients.

The already impressive formulation of the La Prairie Skin Caviar Eye Lift just got an upgrade. Infusing the synergistic power of Caviar Infinite and Caviar Micro-Nutrients, the eye serum can help the skin to boost the density of its dermal structure, providing a lifting effect. The duo also works in tandem to rejuvenate the ligament-to-cell communication, awakening the dermal capacity to repair itself. To elevate the performance, the broth is now delivered in a dual chamber format, where each pump is a fresh fusion that promises the most efficacious application.

Exclusively available at La Prairie boutiques.