Trying times

Despite the persistent challenges we have been facing in the past months, it’s crucial to keep moving forward. In the midst of these challenging times, here are some new delights that might offer a bit of solace to help you navigate the day.

Embrace the ensemble

Celebrating a decade of fabulous fragrances, Carolina Herrera introduces a scent that is practically a party in a bottle – the 212 VIP Rose Elixir. It’s the original scent’s cooler, more intense cousin, making a grand entrance with floral and fruity notes that are a symphony for your nose.

Picture this: top notes of lychee, cherry liqueur, and mandarin; an intermezzo with bitter almond and peony stealing the spotlight; and a grand finale featuring Madagascar vanilla, tonka bean, and some lingering woody notes.

This elixir doesn’t just smell good; it looks good too, housed in a shimmering pink cylindrical bottle. The price for this olfactory extravaganza? NIS 465 for 80 ml. of eau de parfum.

Scent-sational

Guess what just waltzed into Israel, braving the challenges like a stalwart superhero? It’s the posh Incense perfumes, here to infuse a bit of support and a whole lot of sophistication. Most perfumes linger at around 20% concentration – but not the Incense perfumes. They flaunt a 30% concentration of natural scent extracts. So these perfumes are not just elegant, but they leave a long-lasting trail of luxury. The collection is like a bouquet buffet, offering options from woody to floral, citrus to amber – basically, a scent for every mood.

And because they believe in spreading joy like confetti, the company throws in scented body creams, body butter, diffusers, and more. I’m head over heels for it!

The perfumes cost NIS 399 to NIS 499. The other fragrant products range from NIS 69 to NIS 189.

Shine on – and off

Does your face shine brighter than a disco ball? Fear not, because L’Oréal Paris has released the Prime Lab Matte Setter

Primer, and it might just be the hero your oily skin needs. This primer is like the superhero cape for your face, fighting the good fight against shine and greasiness.

The Prime Lab 24-Hour Matte Setter Primer doesn’t just promise an instant matte finish, it improves the texture of your skin over time. It’s the oil control primer that says, “Hey, combination and oily skin, I got you.” And guess what? Sensitive skin is invited to the party, too.

Not only does this magical potion extend your makeup wear, but it also acts as the backstage pass for your makeup, making sure it stays put. It’s packed with perlite to soak up oil, and a 1% combo of LHA and salicylic acid to keep your skin in check. Our tester gave it two thumbs up for being the ultimate makeup wingman while kicking shine to the curb.

And if that’s not enough, L’Oréal is making bold promises – use this primer for three weeks, and voila! Your skin will be less shiny and more balanced. NIS 80.

Glow up!

Vichy just dropped a skincare bomb – the Retinol Specialist Deep Wrinkle serum. It’s the caped crusader of skincare, ready to battle wrinkles, boost your skin tone, and transform your face into a radiant masterpiece.

This lightweight milky serum is practically a skincare smoothie, packed with a high concentration of 0.2% pure retinol and a cultured bacterial lysate that are basically the avengers of skin repair. They’re on a mission to nourish your skin, kick-start the renewal process, and leave skin feeling firmer, yet more supple.

Did I mention it’s clinically proven effective? No fragrance, no funny business – just pure skincare magic. And check out that bottle – it’s got a hygienic precise dose applicator. But a word of caution: Keep this serum away from the delicate eye and lip areas.

For a nightly adventure, follow it up with your moisturizer; and in the morning, apply some SPF 50 like it’s your skincare superhero cape. NIS 249. Find it in pharmacies or online.

Magical lip service

Guess what the wizards at the Italian cosmetics brand Pupa just conjured up? A dynamic duo of lip products. It’s like a two-in-one magic show for your lips – a lip liner and a glossy lipstick, all in a single swish.

One end of this sorcery wand effortlessly crafts and shapes your lip contour, while the other end has a shiny, creamy lipstick that’s the fairy godmother of plump lips. And there’s more. The applied lipstick is ultra-creamy, lightweight, and as comfortable as your favorite pajamas. The spectrum of 12 trendy shades ranges from subtle nudes to vibrant reds and fuchsias. It’s a pucker party, and you’re invited!

The price is NIS 89. Find it exclusively at Super-Pharm stores or pop some lip magic into your cart online at lilit. co.il/pupa-vamp-creamy-duo-lipstick.

Upgrade your locks

Peptid+ cosmetics has just sprinkled some hair magic in the form of a professional haircare line. And it’s not just any haircare – it’s rehab for your precious locks, without breaking the bank. This haircare squad is armed with hi-tech products for every hair type, offering a solution for all your hair woes: dryness, damage, or the aftermath of too many chemicals.

The star-studded lineup includes a stay-in mask for some at-home hair rehab (NIS 199); a leave-in spray that’s fairy light for your locks (NIS 199); a detox shampoo to wash away those hair sins (NIS 129); and ampoules filled with keratin and biotin magic (NIS 129 for four ampoules). You can snag these goodies only at Be pharmacies nationwide and online.

Beautiful and full of taste

Grand Mayan Tequila recently debuted in Israel, presenting its fantastic liqueur in fantastic bottles. The tequila is showcased in beautiful artisanal ceramic Talavera bottles that are hand-decorated by Mexican artists. This award-winning, super-premium tequila is meticulously crafted using only the purest, central Highland Blue Weber Agave and traditional production methods.

The agave used to create Grand Mayan Extra Aged undergoes a slow-cooking process in traditional stone and brick ovens, followed by slow fermentation and double distillation in copper-lined stills. It is then rested in bourbon and cognac barrels for a minimum of three to five years. Each batch is expertly blended, resulting in a perfectly smooth tequila with a layered, long finish.

There are four varieties available in Israel. Grand Mayan Silver is an excellent tequila blanco with rich flavors of toffee, caramel, anise, apples, and more (NIS 470 for 750 ml. and NIS 1,000 for 1,750 ml.). Additionally, there are Reposando, Extra Anejo, and Grand Mayan Ultra Aged. All varieties are kosher. Grand Mayan Tequila can be found in wine and liquor stores throughout the country.

Snack and flex

Protein-packed snacks are the cool kids on the block now, and guess who just threw a party? Nature Valley, the OG of chocolate-protein snacks, has rolled out a limited-edition Chocolate Cranberries delight. Brace yourself, because this snack is so yummy, it’ll make you forget you’re flexing your protein game.

With a whopping 26% protein, this snack is like the superhero of munchies. But here’s the kicker – it’s here for a good time, not a long time. So, grab it while you can, because it’s simply too delicious to resist. At just NIS 24.90 for a pack of four, it’s a protein party that won’t break the bank.

Lace up those sneakers!

Guess who’s also joining the protein party? Tnuva is hitting the gym (figuratively) with their Go series, specially crafted for the hyperactive souls among us. The latest sensation? The Go Yogurt drink in those mighty 500 ml. cartons, packing a whopping 42 gr. of protein and a mere 0.5% fat. It’s like they’re turning every sip into a mini-workout for your taste buds! We tested out the banana-caramel and peach-passion fruit flavors, and let me tell you, even the couch potatoes were reaching for seconds. NIS 12.90.

The Israeli go-to flavor

When life throws lemons at me, I’ve found solace in the warm embrace of a cup of tea – my official pick-meup potion. Now Pompadour, the tea maestro extraordinaire, has whipped up a new flavor called Nana (mint), exclusively tailored for the Israeli palate.

And guess what? This minty marvel is the real MVP – no caffeine, no extra flavorings, just pure unadulterated goodness. Priced at NIS 15.90 and waving the kosher flag, it’s like a refreshing breeze for your taste buds.

Keep it clean

Persil, renowned as one of the world’s favorite laundry powders and gels, has launched an enhanced gel designed to address a common issue faced by washing machine users – the build-up of dirt in the machine.

The Deep Clean Persil Gel effectively eliminates tough stains, neutralizes unpleasant odors, and safeguards clothes, all while ensuring a thorough cleaning of the machine to prevent mold formation. Count me in. The price is NIS 34.90 for a

2.5-liter container.

(Tomer Basel, Sigma Studio)