BEAUTY FINDS IS TEN’S ONLINE SERIES WHERE BEAUTY AUTHORITY EDWINA INGS-CHAMBERS DISSECTS HER MUST-HAVE BEAUTY FINDS EACH MONTH.
Greetings, beauty fans. And so, the fashion month of September has whizzed by with all its newness strutting down the catwalk. But what’s been happening in the beauty charts all the while? Over the last few weeks there’s been plenty of movers and shakers and all with some very appropriate fashun edge. So here’s a review of September through to October’s top 10 (and a couple of preview reveals thrown in).
Straight in at Number One it has to be Balmain Beauty and the launch of its all-gender Les Éternels fragrance collection, which covers all the key olfactive families: musk, amber, woody, floral. With a fancy fashion post-show shindig in Paris the brand showcased all eight of the luxury perfumes in the collection which comes under the purview of the house’s famous creative director Olivier Rousteing – who studied perfumery especially for the project. He referenced the house’s archives and handpicked four of its legacy fragrances to reinvent for today: Vent Vert, Ivoire, Ébène, and Carbonne. And created four new offerings to go alongside: Sel d’Ambre, Rouge, Bronze and Bleu Infini. By the way, Balmain Beauty is a collaboration between the French maison and Estée Lauder Companies. Shop here
In at Number 2 sees another big Paris fashion week fragrance revelation, this time from Victoria Beckham Beauty. Here latest offering: 21:50 Reverie. It’s inspired by a date night open-air dinner with David in Java and the rain forest but if that’s tough to channel then think rich creamy vanilla with notes of plum and a delicious earthiness that’s conjures up wet moss and warm nights. It’s a sexy number that feels expansive rather than shrouded. Shop the fragrance here.
It’s a double entry at Number 3 for Victoria who’s been a busy little Beckham and produced her first Concealer Pen by Augustinus Bader. The two have already collaborated on skincare before but this not only contains all the Bader skincare benefits with its proprietary TFC8®, Trigger Factor Complex – to help reduce the look of fine lines and dark circles and essentially improve the look of skin with each use – it’s combined with coverage in a lightweight texture. “Imagine,” says Victoria, “a concealer you need less the more you use it.” Well, imagine no longer. Available in 16 shades. Get yours here.
At Number 4 is another collaboration, this time between legendary beauty house Guerlain (and their Creative Makeup Director, Violette) and Pucci (and Camille Miceli, Artistic Director) to create packaging, accessories, and makeup hues inspired by the fashion brand’s distinctive signature flamboyant Marmo swirl motif. From the case of Rouge G lipstick, a Terracotta bronzing compact – and etched powder, Meteorites pot, and a Meteorites brush housed in a Marmo-covered case, this limited edition collection offers serious joie de vivre. Browse the range here.
We’re halfway through, beauty pickers, and Number 5 sees Paco Rabanne entering the foundation and concealer category with their Fresh Touch and Everywear ranges respectively. Housed, as you’d expect, in futuristic-feeling silver tubes it gives longwear coverage (12 for foundation and 24 for concealer) with lightweight textures that still give good, buildable coverage and come infused with skincare benefits – and a whole lot of fashion cred. Shop exclusively here.
Yes, it’s another partnership at Number 6, this time between Verden (the home fragrance brand from the same duo behind cult skincare brand Votary) and the very fashionable interior designer Beata Heuman. The project explores a Scandinavian heritage that they all share with a fragrance of bergamot and warm wood inspired by Swedish coastlines – and a dash of southern Italy. The vessel comes decorated with the Beata’s signature Hap mascot motif, a shapeshifting figure that hides in plain sight. The combination is lit. Shop here.
Making an appearance at Number 7 is Maryam Zamani, the sought after ‘Eye Doctor’ and tweakment expert who launches her first treatment portfolio at none other than that ultimate destination for the stylish, Claridge’s spa. Deploying her MZ Skin range alongside a mix of specialised massage techniques, LED light therapy, and acupressure you’ll emerge from your treatment room looking and feeling all aglow. Book your treatment here.
A new addition from Jones Road, the brand founded by make-up artist and general life guru Bobbi Brown, takes the Number 8 spot. Meet the latest shade of the cult product Miracle Balm: Pinky Bronze. It’s a warm pinkish brown shade, suitable for fair to dark skin tones and is added to the range not just for the sake of it but because customers have been clamouring for it. Use alone for the no makeup makeup glow thanks to its wash of soft-focus colour and hit of hydration, or on top of foundation. Get yours here.
Number 9 sees one of the most fashionable noses (and in-house perfumer for Dior) with a launch under his eponymous Maison Francis Kurkdjian label: APOM, which stands for A Piece of Me. In truth, it’s a reboot of a fragrance that was part of his original offering, but back then there were two versions – one for men and one for women – before both were discontinued. Much missed, APOM (edp) is back but this time…it’s unisex. With a mix of orange blossom and lavender, with amber, musk and ylang-ylang it’s an alluring, enticing, can-I-have-another-sniff grabbing aroma but all wrapped up with the light heartedness of a giggle. Shop the fragrance here.
And it’s an early Christmas vibe from Dior straight in at Number 10 as its 30 Montaigne Advent Calendar officially launches. As plush single-brand advents go this is a very lux affair complete with miniatures of the house’s perfumes, skincare, makeup and even a Bois des Rêves candles. It’ll make for a delicious December romp every day up until Christmas Eve. Grab yours here.
And that’s it for this month beauty pickers. Tune in next time, for the latest beauty chart rundown.
