Happy April and welcome to our Capsule Collection – what’s new and what’s on in NZ! Here’s our eclectic collection of new things we love this month – from events and restaurant openings, to the best of new products in fashion, beauty, food and lifestyle – you’re welcome!
BUY
Dermalogica Pro-collagen Banking Water Cream
$155
I didn’t realise how much I loved a water cream until I [Kelly] got my hot little hands on this product – it’s a light moisturiser, perfect if you’re like me and don’t love a super-thick cream (I’ll get milia if I use them for too long!). As skin ages, collagen and elastin naturally decline (tell me something I don’t know) and this intensely-hydrating water cream helps plump and preserve these critical proteins, supporting skin’s resilience and barrier strength. It feels gorgeous and you can see the difference in your skin almost immediately.
Le Creuset Shallow Cast Iron Casserole Dish in Artichaut
$860
Anyone reading this who knows me will know how much I, Kelly, love green – and this gorgeous shade of Le Creuset has gone on my wish list stat. Deep, soulful and quietly confident, this new colour released this year, dubbed ‘Artichaut’ is designed to move effortlessly from stovetop to oven to table. Its lush jewel-tone green works beautifully as a statement on its own or styled back with other colours (in my head it goes perfectly with my existing Meringue pieces!). If you’re thinking about investing in your own Le Creuset for the first time, take my advice and go for the shallow casserole. You’ll use it far more than the deep one you’re thinking about getting because it acts as a frypan as well as a full dutch oven. Learn from my mistakes!
Mecca Max Brow Guru Cutting Edge Pencil
$24
This might be one of the best brow pencils we’ve used… and LOOK at that price point! With an innovative blade-shaped tip for short and long strokes and a spoolie for seamless blending, this dual-ended tool is your shortcut to sculpted brows. The super smooth formula fills and defines without dragging, delivering shape, structure and softness in a few slick swipes, and it’s available in seven versatile shades that blend in with your natural brows.
Lorna Jane All Day Active Midrise Pants
$160
Lorna Jane call these pants your wardrobe’s ‘missing piece’ and look, we have to agree. These are your multi-tasking hero – perfect for work, errands, working out or dressing up for date night. They’re essentially this generation’s version of the travelling pants – they’re kind of magic and I love them personally with a button-up short and a little mule for an easy workday look that I can get away going to drinks in. if you’re all about buying less but making what you have work hard for you, then these are it – more polished than leggings, but way more comfy than denim.
Daeli Hydration Sugar-Free Electrolytes
$64.95 (for 21 sachets)
A new flavour from local Kiwi hydration brand Daeli, Salted Cherry joins the gang with a smack of bright, juicy and natural cherry, with a subtle salty finish. Expect sweet tart and wonderfully balanced flavours, and a little bit of an upgrade than your usual Powerade!
ghd Speed Hairdryer
$645
ghd have released their fastest hairdryer to date – and this one is a serious tool if you’re needing ultra-fast hair drying (eg you have to get kids, and yourself, out of the house in a flash in the morning or you’re like me and you’re just lazy and want it done as quickly as possible). The Speed combines ultra-fast drying with airflow innovation and hair health – it’s designed to deliver smoother, longer-lasting results in less time, all backed by serious research and engineering as its most advanced hair dryer to date.
Emma Lewisham Supernatural Crème Cleanser
$84
Emma Lewisham’s latest relese, the Supernatural Crème Cleanser, redefines cleansing from a purely functional step into an active skin treatment from the very beginning of a routine, maximising the goodness you’re slathering on your skin from step one. Designed around a proprietary “reverse cleanse” concept, the formula delivers benefits typically reserved for serums and moisturisers – strengthening the skin barrier, calming inflammation and supporting the microbiome – all within a 45-second wash-on treatment.
Hue Solo Lightstrip
$109.99
Like many millennials, we have one hard and fast rule in our house – we never, EVER, use the big light. I [Kelly] have been playing around with smart lights for a while now and I’ll never go back – the ability to adjust colour, brightness and vibe is the absolute BEST. But if you want a fully cohesive home, it’s not just about bulbs – these lightstrips are a gorgeous way of adding colour, personality and practicality to any space – think behind the TV, under tables and shelves or on the top of curtain strips. Honestly if I had my way I would have more than three metres of these! They’re also cuttable for perfect measurements!
Shapes Light and Crispy
$4.30
We are here for healthier snacks because let’s be honest, who the hell is only eating the ‘suggested serving’ size of Shapes!? The new Shapes Light & Crispy delivers that big Shapes flavour, in a lighter bite. Oven baked, not fried, with less than 120 calories per serve, the new range has 50% less saturated fat and 25% less sodium vs Shapes Originals. These deliciously light and satisfyingly crispy crackers have no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and come in Sour Cream and Chives, Honey Soy Chicken, Crispy Cheddar Cheese and Balsamic Vinegar and Sea Salt.
Shark StainForce Cordless Stain-Destroying Spot Cleaner
$349.99
In the latest edition of ‘you know you’re getting old when’, I can’t tell you how I *squealed* when this arrived on my doorstep ready to be tested. Spot cleaners couldn’t be more popular amongst the millennial set because, you know, we like clean houses now and this little baby is your new best friend, especially if you’re like me and insist on white furniture even though you’re a little grubby grubster. Designed for fast, effective clean-ups the moment messes happen, Shark StainForce delivers ultra-powerful, targeted suction and up to 30x more stain-fighting power than the Shark Deep Clean Pro solution alone. Its professional-grade spray system mixes two solutions on contact to tackle tough stains and stubborn odours, and the compact Grab and Go Caddy keeps everything within reach for quick, effortless cleans.
HORL Knife Sharpener
$209
This is REALLY the gift you didn’t know you needed until you have it, and you realise just how blunt your knives were – well, that’s what happened to me anyway? Knife sharpening can feel bloody intimidating, but the Horl makes it actually very simple – it pairs a magnetic angle guide with a rolling sharpener that glides along the blade for precise sharpness – no skill required (perfect for me!). It took me all of five minutes to figure it out and get my prized chef’s knife back to its best – and also just look at it, it’s beautiful.
Sophie Store Alpaca Blend Jumper
$328
It’s almost oversized cosy jumper weather and unpopular opinion, but I am HERE for it and also when you have a gorgeous jumper like this to pull on, why wouldn’t you be jazzed for some cooler temps? Crafted from a luxurious blend of super fine Alpaca & extra fine Merino Wool by Kiwi label Sophie, this jumper feels like a warm hug – soft, cosy & undeniably stylish.
Milk Books
From $95 with our Capsule-exclusive discount – save up to 40%!
Kiwi photo book company MILK combines traditional bookmaking techniques with the latest printing technology to create photo books and albums that will be cherished for generations to come. I [Kelly] created an extra-large album after my wedding because hell, you spend SO much money on your wedding photos, they deserve a life outside of your phone, on a social media feed or in a Dropbox. I can’t tell you how much fun I had designing this – it was super-easy, and you can even have pages for text for your vows and readings (also, you can of course make a photo book, album or magazine for literally anything!). These are premium products, to be sure, so please do use the discount link above to get between 25% and 40% off your chosen product (you can pre-purchase these with the discount, and then you have up to six months to design your own). One little note – make sure you take notice of the measurements so you’re happy with the final size!
Hamilton Possum Wool Merino Socks
$49.90
There is nothing – nothing – worse than cold feet and now that it’s cool to show your socks (thanks Gen Z) we’re embracing both warmth and jazziness on our tootsies these days. The Hamilton sock by Nooan is elevated simplicity, with a gorgeous blend of merino wool and possum down, the colour selection is choice (there’s even a bold red that I’m working up the courage to buy) and they’ll leave you cosy as, even in the coldest of Kiwi weather – plus every fibre is ethically grown in Aotearoa.
Ashley & Co Bonberry Hand and Body Care Set
$75
Once a limited-edition cult fragrance, Ashley & Co.’s Bonberry is expanding into a full suite of home and body products, making the beloved scent a permanent part of the collection. You can now enjoy Bonberry in the Home Perfume, Washup Hand Wash, Sootherup Hand & Body Lotion, and a portable Carded Perfume, all designed to elevate the every day.
Instax Mini 13
$149
A perfect gift for the photo-obsessed pal in your group, Fujifilm has unveiled the instax mini 13, introducing a built-in self-timer designed to make hands-free instant photography simple – from group shots to OOTD selfies. The latest iteration of the popular camera has 13 features, two new self-timer options – 2 seconds and 10 seconds 0 allowing users to set up a shot, step into frame and capture it without holding the camera.
Kathmandu Feather Flight Suitcase 40L Carry On
Kiwi outdoors company Kathmandu has expanded its award-winning Feather Flight into a full luggage system designed to suit every type of modern traveller.
Originally launched on one of the world’s lightest two-wheeled carry-ons, Kathmandu’s exLIGHT technology, that earned the 2024 ISPO Design Award, has been applied to an expanded Feather Flight range, now in four styles; two check‑ins and two carry‑ons, in both spinner (4-wheels) and roller (2-wheels) designs.
These are super-light, super-stylish and allows you to pack more into your luggage without the dreaded overweight fees!
Creatonic Creatine + Electrolytes
$39 for 15 sachets
Creatine is no longer the sole property of bodybuilders and gym bros – enter three Kiwi entrepreneurs who are busy professionals and creatives with day jobs, families, dogs, and the occasional mountain to hike. They were after a product that they wanted to take themselves – a healthier way to cope with busy days and late nights, rather than endless coffee and caffeine.
We had a yarn about it just recently – creatine’s role in brain energy metabolism, cognitive function and mood regulation is being talked up- a lot recently, particularly during periods of stress or mental fatigue. Creatonic is formulated for anyone who wants to perform better at work, play, and all the moments in between, rather than just build muscle. Each dose of Creatonic delivers 5g of high-purity creatine monohydrate, the clinically-studied daily dose shown to support cellular energy. This is paired with a targeted electrolyte blend to support hydration, nerve signalling and muscle function.
DO
Cāntīng Launches Lunch
Commercial Bay Auckland
If you find yourself in Auckland’s Commercial Bay at lunchtime anytime soon, pop into Nic Watt’s Cāntīng – they’ve launched new takeaway lunch boxes, making it even easier to enjoy their signature flavours on the go.
Designed for busy weekdays, each $28 lunch box features a generous main served with rice and salad, bringing the bold, nostalgic tastes Cāntīng is known for into a convenient grab-and-go format.
The menu includes favourites like BBQ duck, pork belly charsiu, ‘siu yuk’ crispy pork belly, kung pao chicken, and hainanese chicken, alongside options such as san choy bou, a four-piece steamed dumpling selection, and crispy vegetable spring rolls. There’s dairy-free, vegan and gluten-friendly options available too – you know where we’ll be!
NZ International Comedy Festival
NZ Wide, 1-24th May
Surely we could all use a few more laughs right now, and Aotearoa’s best and brightest comedians – plus some fabulous international guests – will descend on theatres and stages across the country to deliver some much-needed comedy Check out the website for shows near you – and it all kicks off with the Best Foods Comedy Gala in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
Aarth
Parnell, Auckland
If you’re in the market for a special occasion dinner, you’re a big fan of fancy dining or you just love something new and innovative, pop to Parnell to experience Aarth, a fine-dining Indian-inspired restaurant that’s truly unlike anything else in New Zealand. I [Kelly] tried out the degustation (bold from me considering I’m not the most adventurous eater) but I was into it – it’s a real journey, with flavour-bomb little snacks to the highlight, ‘lamb with too many chutneys’. If going out for dinner and really savouring the food and the experience, this is your kind of date night.
