Beauty
Love a good beauty product but sceptical about investing in the newest launches? Sonam Basantani sidesteps the cosmetic counter sales pitch for the buys you need now
Wondering what all the fuss is about CC creams or micellar water? We look beyond the hype at the new beauty buys you need now – and why.
Got a bathroom full of lotions and potions you regret splurging your hard-earned cash on? We hear you. But when there are so many new musthave cosmetic buys that promise to improve your looks, if not your life, it’s easy to be baffled by all the beauty bluster. To save you time and money, we look at the brand new get-gorgeous goodies you’ll soon wonder how you lived without.
HELLO, HYALURONIC FACE CREAM Acid and face cream don’t sound like they should go together, so what on earth is hyaluronic acid – and why do we need it on our visage?
Hyaluronic acid is naturally produced by the body to elasticise the skin and give it its youthful appearance. But as we age, our natural ability to produce hyaluronic acid reduces and skin starts to become dull and dehydrated, which is when fine lines and wrinkles form. Hyaluronic acid-infused creams penetrate the upper layer of the skin, boosting hydration and elasticity – making it plumper – while forming a protective barrier to lock in the natural moisture from the skin and visibly reduce lines. It has come into mainstream beauty products in the past few years and has high-profile fans – The Guardian beauty writer Sali Hughes swears by it.
CC’ING INTO THE FUTURE Love BB cream? Then you’ll adore the new super-charged complexion perfector
You may have just got your head around BB cream, but CC creams are the latest innovation in the hybrid skincare/make-up marketplace. CCs, or Colour Correction creams, are an upgraded version of the original multitasker, which promise to cut your beauty and skincare routine in half. “CC creams are lighter in texture and feel than blemish balms,” says Ni’Kita Wilson, YouBeauty.com cosmetic chemistry expert. “They focus more on improving skin tone, hence the name colour correction, but they’re also supposedly more nurturing and suitable for oilier types thanks to the lighter texture.”
Some benefits are the same as a BB cream – CCs also act as an anti-ageing repair product with SPF factor, a moisturiser and a primer – but the newest and most vital addition is the increased coverage and colour corrective properties that promise a flawless complexion, minus the need for foundation.
“CC Creams offer added benefits such as treatment for uneven skin tone or anti-ageing, in addition to immediate colour correction and SPF protection,” says Mary Johnson, the principal scientist for P&G Beauty. “The instant and long-term benefits leave skin luminous and even-toned, with the reduced appearance of discolourations, fine lines and wrinkles.”
Coveted by A-listers including Blake Lively, Victoria Beckham and Rihanna, CC creams from Chanel, Max Factor, Olay and Clinique are already being rolled out across the region’s beauty counters, with offerings from more brands hot on their heels.
Perfect for those looking for a one-step skin-perfecting solution, we’re already hooked.