It’s a sweet, sugary crop in this latest drop of New Zealand Beauty News.
Find a dinky little $15 lipglosses rubbing shoulders with opulent cake-scented candles—everyone’s welcome here. It’s a veritable pick and mix, just like the heavenly selection that awaits you on Chemist Warehouse queenstown’s shelves (more on that below).
Here’s the new beauty products to add more pep to your life.
A Welcome Queenstown Addition
Chemist Warehouse’s 60th New Zealand Store
Image Credit: Sundae | Website
Lots to catch you up on here. Chemist Warehouse—AKA Bunnings for beauty lovers—has opened their 60th store in Aotearoa in idyllic Queenstown with a bang and a ribbon cutting. And baby, it’s a pure treasure trove.
Picture two floors (the only one in the country to have this,) and a whopping staircase that makes collecting a can or two of Sundae feel a little like walking the steps at Cannes.
You’ll start by walking straight into Ultra Beauty—their dedicated beauty hub—and be smacked across the face with sleek, satisfyingly-stocked shelves and the full suite of some of our favourite cosmetics brands. Everything from Revlon to Rimmel’s swirls around you in this glossy nook.
Then, like clockwork, the fragrance shelves (which, we kid you not occupy the entire corner walls) will catch your eyes. More specifically Creed and Byredo, among fragrance classics. Yep, you can officially find these bad boys here—and yep, the prices are unmissable.
Draw A Line
Lip Shade Lip Liner | Westman Atelier $59
Image credit: Westman Atelier | Website
When the Patron Saint of Petal-Toned Beauty, Gucci Westman, brings out a new branch of colour cosmetics, we perk our ears up. This time, we’re obsessing over Westman Atelier’s Lip Shade Lip Liners, Specifically, the bouquet of natural, inclusive, and seriously workable shades (you’ll even Urban List fave shade, Petal, among the ranks.)
The entire collection is designed for easy, smooth application that actually leaves lingering colour (thank you creamy wax blend and micronized pigments). And for that, it deserves a place on this list—and definitely your makeup bag.
Salute The Sun
Sunceutical SPF 50 Mineral Glow Serum | Emma Lewisham | $89
Image credit: Emma Lewisham | supplied
The rule of three is not to be sniffed at and Emma Lewisham’s latest potion—a bronze-tinted Mineral Glow Serum—makes for a savvy Sunceutical triplet (alongside the face and body crème released earlier this year), tripling our defence against the power of Ra’s potent rays. As for the holy grail, it's a plant-derived hydrator called saccharide isomerase which acts as a moisture magent for the skin.
Plumped with SPF 50, hydration properties and a golden hue, it’s giving sun-kissed, no sun required.
Let’s Have A Sav?
Skinsmiths B12 Hydra-Cream Mask | $124
Image credit: Caci | Website
Not a drill, not a gimmick: Sauvignon Blanc grapes—Aotearoa’s homegrown antioxidants—are the star ingredient in Skinsmiths’ new B12 Hydra-Cream Mask. It joins a whole cocktail of B Vitamins (saviours for microbiome health and hydration) and prebiotics in this rosy formula.
A wise woman (a Caci therapist with a bangin’ face massage technique) once described it as a facial in a tube. And we’d agree. Sure, it commands a little moment longer than your average mask (20-30 mins,) but the hard reset it gives your skin is 100% worth it.
Glossing Over
Covergirl Clean Fresh Yummy Gloss | $15.72
Image credit: Covergirl | Website
We admit, we fell head-over-heels in love with Covergirl Clean Fresh Yummy Gloss in Let’s Get Fizzical when we saw it sitting pretty on Ultra Beauty’s newly-minted shelves in Queenstown’s Chemist Warehouse—no swipe test needed.
Was it promisingly juicy-looking formula? The perfect shade of bunny-nose pink? The cushy applicator? Its fully-stacked display? We don’t know.
But we do know, that it holds the the best cost-per-kapow ratio (an official Urban List metric) lip gloss on the market. It’s equal parts pillowy, syrupy but not sticky, lightweight, sugary and by golly, glassy.
Given our full-blown obsession before so much as a testing swipe—or realised it had gone viral on TikTok—it’s clear it needs a place in your stash.
Pout It Out
MECCA MAX Pout Paint Matte Liquid Lipstick | $28
Image credit: Mecca Max | Supplied
Is this another sign towards the return to matte? We aren’t here to speculate. But we are here to put a firm seal of approval on Mecca Max’s perfect matte liquid lipstick: Pout Paint.
It’s perhaps the most lightweight we’ve ever tried. And if you’re partial to the flushed and diffused lip look, the creamy texture will absolutely lend itself to the perfect level of blurring and patting before it sets.
Our tip? The cherry-toned, fiery ‘Left on Red’ shade will suit *everyone*. As will the slightly more earthy—but still punchy—Brick-by-brick red.
Iron It Out
Bio Blends Iconic Iron Supplements | $69.95
Image credit: Bio Blends | Supplied
We don’t need to tell you that it’s ruddy impossible to get your daily dose of iron through a full day’s eating (even if you super-size your order of Broke Boy Taco’s birria beef). Let alone if you're menstruating.
So, iron-connoisseur Dr Libby has tackled this head on with the launch of Iconic Iron vege capsules—and a spiffy new book too, Fix Iron First. Not all iron supplements are created equal, but this one is miles ahead of the curve: with a solid absorption technique, it’s soothing to the gut, it doesn’t leave you clogged, and of course, contains the perfect dosage of ferritin-iron from organic peas. “Iconic” gets thrown around, but this blend fits the bill.
Eyeing Up Organics
Clemence Organic | Brightening Eye + Skin Serum
Image credit: Clémence Organics | Supplied
Fun fact, Clémence Organics' latest creation smells just like a wellness juice shot. A closer look at the Brightening Eye + Skin Serum organic ingredients, and you’ll see why. There’s fruit AHAs galore, biofermented hyaluronic acid, probiotics, vitamin C and a huge cocktail of potent botanical extracts.
Basically, it has everything you need to reduce hyper-pigmentation (after all, founder Bridget Carmady formulated this with memories of spending too much time in the Aussie sun,). Not to mention, help all this goodness absorb deep into your skin (something we can personally attest to) to help stamp out dark circles and fine lines as it goes.
TBH, Welcome To Aotearoa Shelves
TBH Skincare | Various prices
Image credit: TBH Skincare | Instagram
Gone are the days of hawk-eyeing your postie when a top up of Acne Hack is en-route. Or heavens, the overnight courier with their Patch It Up Everyday Pimple Patches. Nope, you’re just a hop, skip and jump away from any TBH Skincare now that they’re exclusively stocked at Chemist Warehouse. (Some stores are even offering same day drops through Fast Delivery, how good).
Now for a quick brand intro. Aside from a rather viral video, TBH Skincare is known for their very special (and patented way) of targeting acne. Their recipes can target your skin’s biofilm—a colony of bacteria beneath your skin’s EPS layer. It breaks through this layer, and thus, can reach super hard-to-reach bacteria that causes, and feeds, acne.
Lucky for you, their four acne-swiping essentials are on Chemist Warehouse’s shelves. If you’ve yet to jump on the TBH train, let this be your calling card.
Head In The Clouds
Kosas | Cloud Set Translucent Loose Setting & Blurring Powder | $74
Image credit: Kosas | Instagram
In a world hellbent on dolphin, glass, glazed-doughnut skin, we seriously welcome a subtle return to matte. Enter Kosas’ Cloud Set: a gentle, blurring, colour-enhancing loose powder.
The four colour shades are inclusive.The powder is far from cakey. It lets any pre-applied sparkle, highlight or pigment peek through. And the big pottle is big enough to last you yonks. As far as face powders go, this baby ticks every box on paper—and, as per our official research, after a full day of being lived in.
Cactus Flower Power
Nopalera | Cactus Flower Exfoliants | $63
Image credit: Nopalera | Supplied, Website
What’s better than succumbing to intrusive thoughts, and scooping your hand right through a big ol’ pot of body scrub? Not much, except, well, maybe the fruity, smooth-skin feel you get after said full-body exfoliant.
Here to indulge you on both fronts is Nopalera—a Mexican, nopal cactus-centric body brand that’s freshly landed at Mecca. Tactile dopamine hits aside, their cactus flower exfoliants are really three-in-one body pals: an oil cleanser, buffer and moisturiser.
Plus, we just love the fact their tangerine-scented Mandarina and grapefruit-tinged Hibiscus scrubs read—and smell—like a tropical dessert. Go on, get in.
Line ‘Em Up
Revlon | ColourStay Multi Liners | $19.59
Image credit: Revlon | Supplied, Website
Speaking of all-rounders, Revlon’s latest ColourStay Multi Liners have entered the chat. Just which kind of liners, you ask? Well, any and all. Eyes, lips, face, tip of your nose—these babies, and their six colourways—are designed for ultimate go-betweens.
All tones are earthy, autumnal, deliciously muted and tipped with a gentle lip-like brush—one that’s designed to have you shape the creamy, gel-like consistency as you please. That’s versatility if we ever saw it.
Glow Getter
Glow Recipe | Glass Balm Lip Treatment | $38.00
Image credit: Mecca | Supplied
Think lip recovery is all about overnight action? Nope. Here’s a literal cherry to top your beauty looks, and prep your lips as you mill about your day: Glow Recipe’s Glass BalmTM Lip Treatment.
Four shades offer a full spectrum of clear to berry-stained colouring. Plus, they’re all named and scented after Korean shaved-ice desserts. It's the K-beauty twist we didn’t know we needed.
Back To Basics
Noosa Basics | Organic Deodorant | From $17
Image credit: Noosa Basics | Supplied
It’s always refreshing to see an organic deodorant with rather fabulous scent options: Sweet Orange and Lavender, Rose and Frankincense, Charcoal and Eucalyptus, Coconut and Vanilla. If you weren’t looking close enough, you’d be forgiven for mistaking Noosa Basics’ scent stack for a new-age gelato parlour’s menu.
And they cut the mustard. They glide on smoothly, actually have scent, offers 24-hour protection—all with zero palm oil.
Piece of Cake
Burt’s Bees | Birthday Cake Lip Balm | $9.95
Image credit: Burt's Bees | Supplied, Website
We don’t know if it’s a y2k hangover, watching too much Super Sweet Sixteen, or constant hankering for fairy bread, but funfetti cake-flavoured beauty launches always have our eye.
The latest in our craze? Burt’s Bees Birthday Cake Lip Balm. Their signature balm, but with a cakey, sweet and vanilla flavour—and rather cutesy packaging. It’s just darn cute.
The Mother Lode
Lush | Yummy Custard Body Wash | From $20
Image Credit: Lush | Supplied
Lush’s Mother's Day collection is here and it’s a knock-out. The scents are warm, the names cutesy, the vibes nostalgic. Literally: the golden Coffee Morning Shower Jelly shares the cult-status Sticky Date scent (though packs much more shimmer).
The star of the show is no doubt Yummy Custard Body Wash—so says us, and the Lush community who give it a consistent five-star rating. In line with its butter-meets-pudding glossy texture, the recipe and ingredients are just a little bit *luxurious*. Vanilla pods are steeped in the mix for a full 20-minutes, the Aloe Vera is organic and fair trade, and the oat milk base is made fresh.
Scent-wise, it’s a dead-ringer for Haribo’s Dragibus lollies (a euro-trip must have).
Prime Time
Prime Skin | Jelly Plump 3-in-1 | $48
Image Credit: Prime Skin | Website
It’s not everyday you come across a multi-purpose product that leaves flabbergasted. So riddle us this: have you ever seen a cleanser-slash-makeup-remover-slash-overnight-mask?
Prime Skin’s Jelly Plump is as fun as it sounds. The bouncy texture and gently sweet scent makes melting makeup away surprisingly fun. Not to mention, you’ll spend a good portion of time mesmerised by its milky, opal-like translucence.
The ingredients front is just as good too. There’s barrier-boosting calendula, redness-reducing Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract and Tocopherol (read: a huge hit of vitamin E) to name a few.
Dream Cream
Iyvos | BB Cream | $100
Image Credit: Iyvos | Instagram
We’ll say this with our whole chest: Iyvos Skincare’s BB Cream will save you hours. Days even. We never imagined describing something that usually commands a makeup brush as low-maintenance—but here we are, in love.
It all begins with zero faffing about in choosing your shade. Beeline for a simple Light, Medium or Tan. The pump then (magically) dispenses exactly the right amount to cover your face. Nothing more, nothing less. You can hold the foundation—even the concealer—because this baby offers more skin-tone cohesion and buildability than your average complexion product.
Oh, and the bigger than average bottle will last you yonks. You’ll never have decision fatigue (nor foundation, tinted moisturiser and its ilk) again.
Kitted Out
Kit: | Facial Cupping Tool | $50
Image Credit: Kit: | Instagram
A perfect undoing of all the squinting you do at your screen is Kit:’s Facial Cupping Tool. One large, one medium, the two action cups are the at-home ticket to a soothing, smoothing facial massage. Just like you’d find in acupuncture, only a little more gentle—and in bed and with Real Housewives reruns on in the background.
Our pro tip? Spend an extra few minutes swirling the tool between your brows. You wouldn’t believe how much tension this small pocket of muscles holds. Ps, we also rate the tools’ squeezy, squishy handles for being a source of stress-relief in itself.
Fit For A Princess
Flamingo Estate | Princesstårta Candle | Price Varies
Image Credit: Flamingo Estate | Website
Speaking of green and delicious, Flamingo Estate has whipped up the most sumptuous new candle: Princesstårta. (Now, a quick culinary history lesson: it’s a pouffy, cream and sponge-filled dome cake, sealed with smooth green marzipan and the odd pink rose. Hailing from Sweden, but pssst, Scandibun does it here)
We don’t say it lightly when we say that it’s some of their best work yet. She’s frothy, sweet in the right place, gently laced with spice. Not to mention, one of the rare cases of resin and marzipan notes getting their well-deserved time in the sun.
Our verdict? It’s a great way to curb (or induce) sugar cravings. Or to politely shush that friend can turn conversation into an excuse to whip out their 'Stockholm 2018' phone photo album.
Green With Envy
Hikoco | Fully’s Green Tomato Collection | From $32
Image Credit: Hikoco | Website
It turns out Tomato Girl life isn’t entirely off the cards as Aotearoa heads into winter. Take a quick trip to Hikoco, scoop up a handful of Fully’s new Green Tomato range and settle in for a sensorial moment with our favourite fruit.
More than a moisturiser and cleanser affair, the range is a plentiful crop (sorry, we had to) of items that are equal parts effective and entertaining. We’re not kidding. There’s a piped, gelato-like cleanser, a “saggy pore” filling ampoule, and a fresh toner with 95% Green tomato extract.
Pearls Of Wisdom
Boost Lab | Collagen Booster Treatment | $39.95
Image Credit: Boost Lab | Website
Thanks to Boost Lab’s spiffy new Collagen Booster Treatment, you can pop collagen like you would any other good supplement—only way more fun.
Lift the little freeze-dried collagen pearls out of the case, squash it into your palm and dissolve it into a couple of droplets of a serum of your choice.
Your skin will receive a supercharge of ceramide, hyaluronic acid and marine collagen—and you get a spot of beauty routine theatre-slash-science experiment. Ps, run don’t walk, they’ve got a decent bundle deal to celebrate joining Farmers’ shelves.
Quite The Spark
Everlasting Candle Co | Everlasting Candles | $50
Image Credit: @thebobbyedit | Instagram
All good things come to an end? Nope, not Everlasting Candle Co’s watch. They’ve crafted a nifty little candle—which you could mistake for a diffuser at first glance—made entirely from melt-resistant, stainless steel. And get this: it never, ever dwindles down.
No sudden snuff, no soot, no faffing about with getting the lighter near the last of any straggly wicks. Plus, you get the added bonus of playing creative director with your candle rods and vessel shapes and colours.
A Double Dose
Dermalogica | Biolumin-C heat Aging Protector | from $65
Image Credit: Dermalogica | Supplied
Leading the pack on heat-ageing products (a very real thing) is Dermalogica’s Biolumin-C heat Aging Protector SPF50. Frankly, calling it a daily moisturiser feels too much on down-low, because this baby has *everything.*
There’s stable Vitamin-C (perfect for brightening and overall skin health) and SPF50 for starters—saving you the hassle of an extra layer. Then there’s a blend of soothing Safflower Oleosomes, Bisabolol and Allantoin to moisturise. And the kicker, ThermaRadiance Complex, which helps stamp out the dull signs of ageing like dehydration and iffy skin textures.
Speaking of texture, it’s rich (but far thinner than separately layering SPF and moisturiser,) smooths on easily and leaves a sheen that the glass skin girlies would love. More of a matte fan? It sits flawlessly on both liquid and powder foundation, too.
What we really love is that it helps with the effect of molecular-level heat stress on our bodies—be it from saunas, bikram yoga, tropical vacays, or simply overheating in day-to-day life, inflammation and hormonal woes from peri-menopause to PCOS.
A Discovery Dose
TWYG | Discovery Set | $99
Image Credit: TWYG | Supplied
If you’re yet to discover the magic of Bioactive Totarol, listen up. Take yourself online, order TWYG’s new Discovery Set and thank us later.
10ml of their signature blends (Restorative Hydration Cream, Rewening Antioxidant Facial Oil, and Brightening Facial Serum) will land at your door, splash your skin with totarol (a powerful skin-smoother and preserver from Tōtara trees) and have you wishing you got on the TWYG train sooner.
Tetchy-skinned friends, rest assured that the legends at TWYG have made sure it’s okay for all skin types, including sensitive ones too.
Double Dose
Isamaya | Skin Enhancing Duo | $63
Image Credit: Isamaya | Website
Handbag real estate is faaaar too precious to waste it on compact after pottle, mirror after eyeshadow quad. Work smarter, not harder and find yourself an Isamaya Skin Enhancing Duo—now that they’ve handily landed at Mecca.
Technically under the complexion/highlighter category, these babies were made to work for the lips and eyes too. The high-contrast colour pairings see to this, while the solid-to-cream formulations make it oh-so-buildable and seamlessly blendable. Yes, even when you’re doing a late-night, brush-free bathroom touchup.
Open Haus
Haus Labs | Bio-Radiant Gel-Powder Highlighter | $78
Image Credit: Haus Labs | Sephora
Another notch in Mother Monster’s triumphant return, Haus Labs has landed at Sephora. Lucky us, Kiwis on the shipping list. There’s a lot to take in between the ranges’ pearly, chrome-filled shelves packaging, so let us make the choice simple: Bio-Radiant Gel-Powder Highlighter. Specifically, in Moonstone.
It’s got our eye (and jaw on the floor) as one of the only silver highlighters in the market. We’re talking pure, strobing, cool-toned, crushed disco ball-bra-level silver. Not to mention, the fact that it’s a Gel-Powder—a hybrid that only Lady Gaga can pull off.
A Capsule Skin Wardrobe
The Skin Wardrobe | Skin Wardrobe Cosmetics Brushes | From $48.00
Image Credit: The Skin Wardrobe | Supplied
We love them as our official source of scandi-cool skincare, but The Skin Wardrobe’s foray into their own line has us *hooked.* Starting off the range of Skin Wardrobe Cosmetics is a capsule of four makeup brushes designed for those in-betweeney applications. A mini blending brush to pat in concealer, chisel your cheekbones or even dab your nose with highlighter? They’ve got it. Or a “Flawless Base” flat brush to even out foundation and buff in powder? Love.
Dial It Up
Mecca Max | Max Vol. Tubing Mascara | $31
Image Credit: MECCA MAX | Supplied
Patron Saints of affordable, high-wattage tubing mascara have set their sights on a new addition: the Max Vol. Tubing Mascara, created in partnership with Aussie pop trio, Blusher (name a better name for a makeup collaboration).
It’s all about giving you big, high-wattage lashes in jet-black tones—and frankly, in this world of paired down ‘clean girl’ aesthetics, we love to see it.
Official Urban List research shows it to be ultra buildable (even above the three coats they outline) and glide right through your lashes. Also in our research, the fact that it doesn’t drop throughout the day and give you the dreaded lower-lash panda eyes.
Déc The Halls
Boost Lab | Fine Line Rewind Silicone Patches | $44.95
Image Credit: Boost Lab | Supplied
The décolletage is no doubt, one of the trickiest spots to keep spruced and plump. It sometimes skips out on SPF, necklaces get in the way, and we simply forget about it when smoothing our serums. Not to mention, we’ve probably all woken and been shocked at just how crinkly our skin gets when we sleep.
Enter Boost Lab’s Fine Line Rewind Silicone Patches: patches that smooth out lines, stop the scrunching that causes new ones, and locks in hydration while you snooze — or while you sneakily don a high-neck shirt at the office.
A top reason why we love duo for neck and déc is that it *actually* allows you to wear a serum underneath (seasoned silicone patch users will know the drill). Oh, and paired with the fact you can cut it to suit your shape, and re-use them up to 20 times? Now that’s a winning combination.
An Eyelash Updgrade
Revitalash | Tubing Mascara
Image Credit: RevitaLash | Supplied
Everybody say thank you, Kiara Cosmetics. These legends, who we know and love for bringing the RevitaLash range to us, have another treat for our peeps: Tubing Mascara.
It picks up from Revitalash’s loved Double-Ended Volume Set Primer & Mascara (truly, one of the best to exist with zero clumps and tenfold volume) but offers a water-resistant edge. Long and curled lashes, separated strands, inky colouring—no rogue wave or humid environment is going to get in the way of dream lashes with the Length Define Tubing Mascara in tow.
Three's A Charm
Revlon | Illuminance Glow Wand | $32.00
Image Credit: RevitaLash | Supplied
We love a bit of precision when it comes to highlighter. We’re pleased to report that Revlon’s latest, the Illuminance Glow Wands a nimble application tip—the most pointed of its category, really. Not to mention, perfect to chisel out the line of your collar bone or under your brow.
The formulation is just as much of a home run. The pearl particles are super fine, among squalene and hydrating Hyaluronic Acid, and it builds with zero stickiness or streakiness.
Oh, and the versatile bronze, golden and rose glow tones make choosing and layering an absolute piece of cake. No decision fatigue = more time to carve out the perfect glow placement.
Think Pink
Karen Murrell | 30 Driven | $34.99
Image Credit: Karen Murrell | Supplied
We think we’ve found the pink lipstick that suits everyone. Actually, we know we have. Karen Murrell’s ‘30 Driven’—a shade refreshed in collaboration with Lexus of Auckland City—strikes just the right balance of dusty rose, and bunny-nose pink. And, depending on how many times you layer it, it’ll dial up all the way to a darker, mauve-tinged shade.
Our official swatching and swiping shows that it’ll also make a fabulous blush stand-in.
Country Dreaming
Glasshouse Fragrances | Country Couture collection | From $26.95
Image Credit: Glasshouse Fragrances | Supplied
Why stop at draping yourself in cashmere, when it can cosy up your space in scent form? We kid you not, cashmere is the fragrance note we didn’t know we needed.
It’s warm, rounded, and strangely familiar (good kind). When paired with nectarine—as Glasshouse Fragrances does in the new Country Couture collection—it becomes impossibly crisp, lightly meringued, and almost alpine-cool. You’d be forgiven for never wanting to take the diffusers and candle out of the packaging—but the dainty, illustrated florals inside are just as pretty.
Main image credit: Isamaya | supplied via Mecca
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