Every time we write ‘the weather is warming up slowly’ it feels like yet another storm descends but hey, that’s spring! And as we head towards the summer months, it’s always nice to add something a little bright, bold or springy to our make-up or skincare routine, so here are some of our top picks for the best spring beauty.
Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40, $81
This has become somewhat of an ‘it girl’ of the tinted moisturiser world, but this vegan tinted serum really does give your face a holiday glow like no other. Packed full of hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, it goes on like a thin serum but blends out to give you a ‘your skin but better’ gleam. Plus, Ilia are advocates for clean beauty – if that’s something you look for – and there are 20 different skin tint shades available, also in cool or warm tints. TIP: You have to seriously shake the tint before applying, otherwise it will go on very white AND make sure to screw the top on a lot, as it is so liquid it can leak a bit. But it’s worth the attention, we promise.
Karen Murrell Lipsticks, $31.99
We are long-term fans of NZ beauty brand Karen Murrell and her all-natural lipsticks are both long-lasting, super hydrating AND pack a whole punch of colour. Plus, they smell and taste (!) good, thanks to the all-natural mix of ingredients including avocado oil, evening primrose oil, cinnamon and sweet orange. We love the classic red lip True Love and the super bold and summery Coral Dawn (pictured), but there’s a shade out there for everyone PLUS an online quiz where you find the best colour match for you.
Go-To Nifty Fifty SPF 50, $50
Aussie brand Go-To, created by Zoë Foster-Blake, have a great collection of products and they’ve just added an all-out banger with their new SPF 50 sunscreen. Their previous sunscreens were great – it’s not easy to create an all-natural sunscreen that does leave you looking like a Victorian ghost – but this new one has the perfect tint, so no dreaded white cast plus it’s got the high SPF we need for our vicious summer sun. It also wears really well under make-up, is absorbed quickly and the tint makes you glow without even trying.
Frula Beauty, starting from $12.99
The first NZ beauty skincare range to be carried across both national supermarkets, this new range has jumped onto the beauty scene with its promise of clean skincare for good prices. Frula beauty heroes aloe vera as its main ingredient, making it soothing and hydrating for skin types but without a big price tag – it was very important to founder Erna Basson that the product was available in supermarkets, so everyone could access it. We’re particular fans of the Gentle Foaming Face Cleanser ($16.99) and the Reusable Face Cleansing Pads ($14.99).
Glasshouse Sunsets In Capri Body Scrub, $69
If you’re one of the few people who still hasn’t jet-setted off to Italy (*raises hand*), then you can enjoy some of the sensory delights with this white peach and sea breeze limited edition scrub, packed with sugar, coffee, oil and coconut oil to leave your skin silky smooth but also smelling like a European sunset.
Antipodes Glow Ritual Vitamin C Serum, $50
There’s not a lot that can perk up an early morning but applying a skin serum that literally looks like liquid gold is a pretty excellent start. This serum arrived fairly recently but has become a huge hit both at home in NZ and overseas, due to its long-term skin benefits, with ingredients like Kakadu plum – which delivers a huge boost of skin brightening Vitamin C – and natural Retinol alternative Bakuchiol, but also the fact that it gives instant radiance to your face.
Aotearoad Natural Pineapple + Coconut Deodorant, $11.99
The road to hell (finding a good natural deodorant) is paved with good intentions (utter hit and miss when you realise that sadly YOU are the person stinking up the room). BUT after years of trial and error, this supermarket brand of deodorant has come to the party with a product that smells like a pina colada (a plus!!!) and also DOES THE JOB. There’s a whole range of yum-smelling products and the packaging is paper compostable, plus it’s vegan and cruelty free.
Emma Lewisham Illuminating Face & Body Oil, $92
If you have to fake a summer glow but a) it’s been raining for a month or b) you’ve lost your fake tan skills, this instantly illuminating all-over oil is as fool-proof as it is fancy. Plus, it’s chock-full of Emma Lewisham’s signature high-end but natural ingredients, so it’s fighting the good fight for your skin long-term as well, making you a shimmering goddess now, and forever more.
