12 Beauty Essentials For 2021
1. Local Luxury
Kiwi ingenuity never ceases to amaze us – luxury, clean hair care brand Chloe Zara is the new and uber cool kid on the block, worthy of all the hype its garnered on social media. Void of petrochemicals and silicones that fake the shine, the range is made with natural oils that encourage a healthy and glossy, silky softness. Hydrating and soothing, the range uses a variety of natural super ingredients such as cacay seed oil, cannabis sativa seed oil, mulberry and hibiscus flower to stimulate hair growth and protect your hair from external aggressors.
Chloe Zara Silk Hair Wash, $46; Silk Hair Condition, $46; Silk Hair Balm, $54; Hair Perfume Oil, $90.
2. Building Blocks
As we strive towards a more holistic understanding of what it means to be healthy and beautiful, more and more products have launched in the market of ingestible beauty. “Inflammation is one of the main causes of aging externally and internally,” Ben Warren, Founder of BePure says.
By combining sustainable type 1 marine collagen with antioxidants including functional keratin, silica, zinc, vitamin C, bioflavanoids and vitamin E, BePure Collagen+, $109, can offset oxidative damage and prevent inflammation. To top up your collagen as you go, Radiance Collagen Beauty Gummies, $45, makes it too easy with their tangy tropical flavour. To support skin fibroblasts and stimulate collagen and elastin production, Curra NZ Blackcurrant Extract Capsules, 30, $39.90, has anthocyanins to increase the level of these extracellular matrix molecules.
3. Sun Chic
A reef and ocean friendly sunscreen for those living a conscious lifestyle, My Sunshine Sunscreen, $49.90, knows that it’s cool to be kind to our environment and our own bodies. Completely changing the game for SPF top ups is the new Coola Refreshing Water Mist SPF18, $65. Alcohol free and infused with organic aloe and coconut water, this one’s a handbag staple for when you’re out at lunch in the sun. La Roche-Posay’s new innovative release, Anthelios XL Wet Skin SPF 50+, $42.99, is one that can be directly applied to wet skin so you can stay protected, even when you’re drying off. For those who are super active, Shiseido Global Sun Care Clear Stick SPF50+, $55, reacts to heat, water and perspiration to strengthen its protection. Ocean conscious, this formula is very water resistant and also oxybenzone and octinoxate -free.
4. City Life
In the time-deprived modern world where 24 hours a day is simply not enough, we’re constantly exposed to high levels of stress and pollutants. Toxic emissions from motor vehicles, cigarette smoke, heavy metals and pollutants mixed with UV blue light is a never ending destructive chain of free radicals that leads to premature ageing and skin sensitivities. Environ Focus Care Comfort+ Anti-Pollution Spritz, $75, is an invisible shield with antioxidants and niacinamide to spritz on the regular while you’re out; while the Anti-Pollution Masque, $75, has purifying effects to draw out impurities and hydrate the skin.
5. A Social Enterprise
Following two successful years with their philanthropic, vegan and toxin-free mascara, Indigo & Iris raised $58k last year via crowdfunding to launch their Lipsticks, $39 each, in which 50% of the profits are donated to Dress for Success to help women on their journey towards financial independence. Creamy and pigmented, the impressive formulas are made with nourishing natural oils and butters and glides on effortlessly. Made in Italy, the lipsticks and lip tint are free from nasties and come in four shades to suit every skin tone.
6. Natural Intelligence
For those who are moving away from the symptom-fixing approach of Western medicine and instead, delving into traditional healing practices from the East, the launch of local brand, Sattva Soul will pique your interest. Created by Celine Wallace, Organic Ashwagandha, $39.95, is prescribed as a stress adaptogen and stems from ancient Ayurvedic remedies. By lowering cortisol levels, the ashwagandha herb helps to reduce stress, fatigue and anxiety amongst a range of other problems such as low libido, frequent illness, low endurance and trouble sleeping.
7. From the Roots
Finally, leading SoKo beauty brand Sulwhasoo has launched into Sephora after high demand for the iconic 20 year old skin care line. Korean ginseng is the hero ingredient that carries through Sulwhasoo with the First Care Activating Serum, $128, selling every 10 seconds in Korea alone. A skin booster with an earthy fragrance, it locks in hydration and firms the skin to create the perfect primed canvas for your topical skincare regimen.
8. Day to Night
From the essence of morning dew to enigmatic underground sensualities, the latest olfactory releases are distinctive and unique. A fragrance to appreciate each moment, Issey Miyake Nectar Première Fleur, 50ml, EDT, $164, encapsulates the unfolding of the flower as it awakens with the sunrise. Aqueous fruit notes of watermelon accord and Asian pear are rounded out with florals of peony and jasmine before sinking into milky sandalwood and white musk. Jasmine sambac absolute and rangoon creeper leads into a green blend of tuberose, jasmine sambac buds and ylang ylang in the next edition to the Gucci Bloom saga – the Profumo, EDP, 50ml, $174. Resinuous tones of benzoin mixes with sandalwood to evoke a sun-drenched warmth that’s incredibly radiant and elegant. Sweet and daring, Givenchy L’Interdit, EDP Intense, 50ml, $184, dives into a deep, dark and thrilling fragrance of hypnotic orange blossom, tuberose, patchouli, vanilla bean, and a captivating base of leather, amber and toasted black sesame.
9. A Lesson in Skin
For those with cracked and irritated skin, it’s possible that you may be deficient in filaggrin. Filaggrin is a filament associated protein that binds to keratin fibres and is essential for epidermal hydration. They are vital for keratinocytes to develop properly and form the outermost layer of the epidermis. If filaggrin formation is compromised, the cell envelope can not form properly and this results in a poorly functioning immunological barrier. As a leading cause in a variety of skin disorders and diseases such as eczema and allergies, it’s important to take note of filaggrin deficiency. dermaviduals EGCG Liposomes, $106, includes epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which controls the formation of keratins and filaggrin to increase skin thickness and slow skin ageing. With increased barrier function and density, the skin can heal and renew.
10. Corrective Shield
Elizabeth Arden introduces two skin-loving makeup formulas – the Flawless Start Hydrating Serum Primer, $64, with hyaluronic acid in an instantly hydrating and refreshing gel; and the Flawless Finish Skincaring Foundation, $69. Longwearing with a natural finish, this lightweight formula includes vitamin C and E for antioxidant protection while being resistant to humidity and heat – perfect for light and dewy skin coverage during the summer months.
Available 1st February.
11. Meaningful Beauty
A leader in natural and clean beauty in New Zealand, Emma Lewisham has launched two cleansing products to dress up your bathroom vanity. The luxurious Illuminating Oil Cleanser, $77, draws on the powers of neroli for its detoxifying effects to extract the environmental pollutants in the skin and works in conjunction with the Illuminating Exfoliant, $83. Lactic acid and willow bark effectively dissolves dead skin cells and the glue that binds them while the jojoba beads physically lifts them off our skin. A hybrid formula with both chemical and physical exfoliating components, this exfoliator gently sloughs away rough texture without any micro-tears.
12. Rouge Reimagined
The iconic Dior Rouge, $66, has undergone many updates since its inception in 1953. This year, it is reinvented by Creative and Image Director for Dior Makeup, Peter Phillips, with a couture look and two new finishes – velvet and metallic – in 46 custom shades. Red peony, pomegranate blossom and shea butter is used to provide fade-free pigments and a nourishing formula for smooth application without drying out. Available 31st Jan.
