BEAUTY: TRIED & TESTED
The FLY team test-drive a variety of new products
Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate, R1 030
This serum has a viscous, almost watery texture and sinks in quickly. Plus it doesn’t pill when you layer SPF on top. It contains bifidus extract, a probiotic ingredient, and is meant to enhance radiance, tone and smoothness. I’ve been using it for a few weeks and my skin feels hydrated and smooth. The dropper also allows you to dispense just the right amount. It’s pricey, so I’m using it sparingly! – Liza
Gosh Strobe ’n Glow Kit, R288
I hardly ever wear makeup, but when I do, I go all in. This palette contains a pale highlighter, two coral colours and a mid-tone pink. All the shades have a metallic sheen so the palette is a crossover between a blush and a highlighter. Plus the shades can doubl as eyeshadow. Some restraint is necessary, though, as you migh end up looking like a unicorn… A top-notch buy. – Christina
Lamelle Serra Cleansing Gel, R210
This fragrance-free gel is gentle, moisturises perfectly and doesn’t leave my skin feeling dry. It removes makeup with only a few wipes. I’ve been using it for a month and my skin feels extra soft and smooth. I love that it’s affordable and will last a while – a big plus. – Liezel
Catrice Generation Plump & Shine Lip Gloss, R79,95
I’m obsessed with lip gloss, and
I particularly love the texture of this one. It’s a bit sticky when you first apply it, but not overly so and still smooth.
The pearl-shine effect is subtle yet noticeable and well suited to my skin tone. The gloss applied easily, has all the shine you would want and stayed on for hours. Just beautiful.
– Washiefa
Pinky Goat Eyelashes in Hessa, R149
My eyelashes are almost nonexistent, so I wear strip lashes pretty much every day – which means I’ve become quite selective. The Hessa lashes are extra long, thick, naturally layered and, as a bonus, they’re vegan! Perfect if you want your eyes to pop on a glam night out. A new favourite. – Caroline
Aloe Unique Light Body Lotion, R99 for 200ml
Creams and body oils tend to be cloying on warmer days, so this daily lotion was just what I needed for my dry skin: something light yet moisturising, and gentle enough for sensitive skin. It’s non-greasy, quickly absorbed and has a lovely subtle scent. The main ingredient in this local brand’s products is aloe ferox (Cape aloe), a super-plant indigenous to SA that’s rich in amino acids and aloin, a compound with antioxidant properties. This hydrating lotion also contains vitamins A, B, C and E. Quite literally a homegrown product – thumbs-up!
– Maya
Gatineau Paris Body Lotion with AHA, R585
I’m so enjoying this product: I love its texture (thin and milky) and its scent (kind of nutty, not at all sweet). It’s a lotion, not a cream, and I often don’t find lotions moisturising enough, but this one definitely is. I also like that it contains alphahydroxy acids, which are meant to work miracles with wrinkles, sunspots, etc. Let’s just say we can all use a miracle now and then!
– Suzy
Clarins Comfort Scrub, R455
This buttery face gel is made up of sugar microcrystals so small you can barely feel the grain, but sizeable enough to leave your skin polished. The grains remove impurities on your face and lips – it really does make you glow after use! The tube is made from recycled plastic and the microbeads are natural, so nothing nasty is being washed out into our oceans. An allround winner. – Caryn
Sothys Paris Masque Hydra-lissant, R625
This gel-like mask glided on, and I loved that it applied so smoothly and almost seemed to absorb into my skin, which is the plumping, hydrating hyaluronic acid at work. But the hyaluronic acid has an assistant with superpowers – boletus mushroom, which boosts the function of the acid and improves skin barrier function. After just 15 minutes my complexion felt silky smooth, looked visibly tauter, and hydrated and glowed softly like candlelight.
Lovely. – Sameena
MAY 2020 / FAIRLADY
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