Best of Beauty May 2024: Roll Out the Red Carpet

Fancy yourself a French Zouzou? Then this Celine fragrance is specially made for you. Fit for a ’60s star, the youthful and euphoric scent is embodied by none other than the fresh-faced Esther-Rose McGregor. Listed as a daytime fragrance, the CELINE Haute Parfumerie ZouZou sees notes of vanilla, tonka bean, and benzoin. If you’ve been waiting for the arrival of Celine Beauty, then this might soothe your cravings for the time being.

Aside from the influx of goodies hailing from South Korea, Australia is also setting foot here in Malaysia. With a tight curation of skincare necessities, they’re also putting body care at the top of their list. This includes the Midas Touch Body Lotion, a gentle vegan lotion formula that has more than your average moisturising ingredients. Sure, the apricot seed oil and vitamins A, C, and E are standout nourishments, but we’re zeroing in on niacinamide in this cream, which promises to seal in all the goodness while brightening the skin and minimising texture.

Yes, we’re continuing on the path of newness here, and from the LA-based beauty brand Kosas, we’re definitely giving the Air Brow Tinted Volumising Treatment Gel a shout. Perfect for days where you need to dash out the door, the tinted mousse gel is a pocket-friendly brow product that will have you fresh-faced in a jiffy. On top of the strong hold that it offers, you’re also getting the perks of ingredients such as castor and sunflower seed oils that provides ample nourishment to your brows, encouraging healthy growth.

How many vials of Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush do you have in your stash at the moment? Because we all know that the hype is real. To add a luminous touch to the array, Selena Gomez has taken it upon herself to produce a powder sister to the blush, the Soft Pinch Luminous Powder Blush. Arriving in six radiant shades, the gleaming powder helps you to achieve the glow-from-within look that many of us are scouring the interwebs for. Don’t let the shimmer intimidate you—it diffuses pleasingly and results in a healthy beam that will be the central piece of your makeup look.

But of course, a radiant finish could be all too distracting for some, so if you want a blush that won’t pull too much focus, then the Kylie Cosmetics Pressed Blush Powder is the way to go. Not only is Kylie Jenner known for putting matte lips on the map, she’s also responsible for the virality of the Dior Rosy Glow Blush—more specifically in the shade Pink. With her own brand, she’s concocted a velvet smooth, buildable powder in an array of colours that melt seamlessly into the skin. Did we mention that it’s also on beauty queen Weena Marcus’s beauty wish list? Because it is. And yes, Kylie Cosmetics is officially in town.

Yup, this is the third blush in the list, because there’s really no such thing as too many blush formats—especially when you’re getting a twofer. A continuation of its smash-hit Good Apple Range, KVD Beauty is putting their own take on the format with the Good Apple Blush Duo. Despite being delivered in a cream formula, it’s totally long-lasting, even in our humid weather. With two impactful shades per colourway, you have a spectrum of hues to play around with. The best part? It leaves a skin-like finish, much like its accompanying Good Apple complexion sisters.

There are plenty of barrier support moisturisers out there, but perhaps none compare to the Then I Met You Bong2 Bounce Cream‘s light texture. The refreshing gel formula is the brainchild of founder Charlotte Cho, who saw a lack of moisturising creams that could be suitable for warmer climates. Powered by Jeju Island’s Hallabong extract (which is chockfull of vitamin C), it provides deep, long-lasting hydration while simultaneously imbuing the skin with luminosity.

This time, the Guerlain Météorites is getting an update that’s well worth the purchase. Not only does it come in a chic new container that’s going to sit pretty on your vanity, but the complexion-unifying powder is also now 95 percent natural. Designed to achieve a made-to-measure glow, this is the brainchild of the Maison’s Makeup Creative Director, Violette. There’s also an additional update to the powder: the iconic fragrance is given an elevated twist. The violet centre remains, but it now has more sensual notes of sandalwood, musk, and vanilla.

Exclusively available at Guerlain The Exchange TRX Ultimate Boutique, Parkson Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Parkson One Utama, Isetan KLCC, and Isetan The Gardens Mall.

Gone are the days of ordering KraveBeauty from a third party, because finally, we have the South Korean brand in-store in Malaysia. Leading the charge for slow beauty, the brand brings its tight offerings (save for the sunscreen due to regulations) to the local scene. We’re already halfway through the Oil La La Linoleic Acid-Rich Oil Serum, and the verdict is in. It’s totally worth the hype it’s been getting online, and those with oily skin should definitely give this a whirl. The watery oil absorbs quickly into the skin, and the best part is that it helps the skin to produce healthier sebum composition, so your face won’t be irritated and break out from it.

Seeking for a perfume that’s a medley of juicy fruits? Then Tiziana Terenzi has just the concoction for you. The Kirkè perfume is made to capture the enigmatic lore of the goddess Circe’s potions. Featuring a delightful blend of passionfruit, peaches, raspberries and pears (amongst other notes, of course), the addictive scent is a beast-mode perfume that doesn’t overwhelm those around you. It just has a huge projection and a staying power that’s well worth the cost. So be prepared for compliments when you have this on.

Exclusively available at Amaris.

On the other side of the spectrum is Chanel’s Comète, an iris-forward blend that smells like comfort. The nose behind this creation is Olivier Polge, who is a second-generation nose at Chanel. He’s responsible for a slew of the Maison’s most iconic juices. This one in particular is a delicate skin scent that wears gorgeously throughout the day. It may start with a floral kick of cherry blossom, iris, and heliotrope, but you’ll find the undertones of aldehydes bringing a sparkling quality to it. If you’re one to appreciate timeless simplicity, then you need this perfume just as you need a little black dress.

Listen, acids are great and all, but some of us can’t take even the gentlest forms of the ingredient. But you don’t have to feel like you’re missing out on the wonders of exfoliation, because The Ordinary’s Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner is providing you with the experience through the power of N-Acetyl Glucosamine (NAG). Ultra-gentle in nature, the formula gently exfoliates the skin while providing all-day hydration to the skin thanks to the added squalane.

A quiet luxury item in beauty has to be a really fancy lip balm. This Sisley Phyto-Lip Balm (which arrives in a stunning refillable package!) is dosed with vitamin E which layers a protective film on the lips to shield them against the elements, shea butter to provide long-term nourishment, and a hydro-booster complex that instantly plumps up the lips upon application. In one swipe, you get all the benefits with a luminous finish that results in an irresistible pout.