Best of Beauty January 2024: New, True, and Do

Move over, Hailey Bieber—Malaysia’s got some wonderful glosses of our own too. Closer to home, we’re celebrating the extension of a much-loved item from Malaysian beauty brand Velvet Vanity: the Glossy Glo Lip Oil in the shade Mauvewood. Ever the multitasker, the balm-gloss is enriched with soybean extract, macadamia oil, and vitamin E to nourish the lips. Use it on its own, or layer it on top of your favourite lip liners or lipsticks to get a selfie-worthy jelly-like finish. Plus, you can even personalise the tube to truly make it your own.

Word on the street is that the 2016 aesthetics are finding their way back. That means super matte lips are coming back too, but this time, without the moisture-zapping lip wear that deprives the lips and does not wear gracefully. One such candidate is the latest from NARS, the Powermatte High Intensity Lip Pencil. A textural wonder, the lip colour smoothly glides onto the lips with zero skipping, delivering instant, one-swipe full coverage. With how easily it applies, you’d be surprised that it can last up to 12 hours. Transforming from a cream to a matte finish, the transfer-proof lipstick is a wonderful staple for day and night.

Fans of the OG Brow Freeze, rejoice because Anastasia Beverly Hills is answering our prayers for a more convenient version of the eyebrow styling must-have. Now, it comes in a tube, so you won’t have to be fussed with carrying accoutrements to actually use the product. Equipped with what the brand calls a tri-action wand, the versatile applicator helps to lift and separate with the long bristles, shape and sculpt with the short bristles, and lock your hair into place with the flat edge of the tool.

You read that right—niche perfume house Zoologist Perfumes has arrived on Malaysian shores. It’s only one of the most talked about fragrances online. But what intrigued us the most when we went for a sensorial sneak peek was the Chameleon eau de parfum. Released in 2019, perfumer Daniel Pescio joined arms with Zoologist Perfumes to concoct an olfactive take on the life of a Malagasy chameleon, and this stunner is the result of that collaboration. With a deliciously tropical combination of ylang-ylang, star fruit, mango, frangipani, and vanilla; accords that capture the essence of skin and sea; and a spicy dash of pink pepper, clove, sandalwood, and vetiver, the perfume is one that you’re going to have to smell for yourself to experience the transformative nature of it. If you’re sick of white florals taking up the atmosphere, consider this your refuge.

Exclusively available at TROVE.

Hybridisation is everything these days, but only those well done will find their way into our everyday routine. One such item is Biologique Recherche’s Eye Care Concealer. Pairing the treatment powers of a serum with the coverage of a light concealer, the 2-in-1 product keeps dark circles and puffiness at bay while plumping up the under-eye area. If you’re working towards brightening the area, this will do the trick too, as, day by day, the formula revitalises the skin, leaving it radiant and supple.

Exclusively available at Ambassade Biologique Recherche Kuala Lumpur, The Starhill.

RiRi is taking it back to basics with one of her brand’s latest drops. With A$AP Rocky fronting the campaign and dropping some serious lyrical genius for the item, we bet that everyone (both men and women) will be picking up the new Lux Ultra-Hydrating Lip Balm. In fact, as of writing, the product is already sold out, with a waitlist to cop one for yourself. Supercharged with shea and mango seed butter, it’s flavoured with the decadent taste of Barbados cherry.

Tarte has had a very successful year in 2023—and it’s all thanks to its Maracuja Juicy line. We’re now seeing multiple lip wear iterations of the original viral Maracuja Juicy Lip colours, including a plumping treatment version of the lippie, which comes in this steal of a set with the shade Mixed Berries. Alongside that is the Fake Awake Eye Highlight that instantly brings brightness and sparkle to the eyes and another icon of the brand, the Tartelette Tubing Mascara. If you haven’t experienced the magical wonders of a tubing mascara, then this is your chance to try it out before committing to a full-sized one.

Loved the classic Vitamin Enriched Face Base? Then you’re in for a good time, because Bobbi Brown added a third member to this iconic Vitamin Enriched line, launching one of the best of beauty in January 2024. Designed to work in tandem with the Face Base, the milky serum is made for all skin types and is enriched with HydroGlow Fruit Complex and niacinamide. The combination of those hydrates and smooths the skin, so makeup applies seamlessly on top of it. It also doubles as a glowy base, so if you’re a fan of the glass skin trend, then this is the one to pick up during your next shopping trip.

The internet’s ablaze with the heat that’s coming off of the Laura Mercier Real Flawless Foundation. The beauty brand, which was more commonly known for its long-time crowd-favourite tinted moisturiser, has now taken over the full-coverage side of the spectrum with this. Made viral by beauty content creator Glamzilla, the foundation delivers buildable coverage and promises 12 hours of fade-proof wear. But what really takes the cake is how it feels on the skin: its weightlessness will have you thinking that you’re walking around barefaced. Plus, word on the street is that the 2016 makeup aesthetic is making a return, and we think this is the best option out there to dive back into the look.