With the cold front officially over, we’re finally starting to think of vacations, wearing color, and hoarding sunscreen (you should be doing this all year), but why not try out new things? If the idea of wearing matte lipstick in summer heat makes you cringe, what about a lipstick that’s matte but also metallic and creamy? If the mere thought of wearing sunscreen already puts your oil glands into overdrive, why not try one that uses a formula that’s known to cool? Here are summer’s new arrivals.
Summer must-have: From Chanel comes a sunscreen you won’t mind applying.
The search for the perfect sunscreen has gone on far too long for most of us. What’s “perfect,” anyway? Sunscreen that doesn’t make you look white and gooey. Sunscreen that doesn’t flake with makeup. Sunscreen that actually protects while nourishing. Available starting March 1 is a new kind of sunscreen in a brand-new texture from Chanel, UV Essentiel Gel-Crème SPF50 PA+++. It’s sunscreen that teaches skin to protect itself by stimulating small proline-rich proteins that naturally occur in skin. On top of being anti-UV, it’s also anti-pollution — say goodbye to technological aggressors (yes, that light from the laptop you spend hours in front of streaming TV shows), and environmental stressors.
The new texture is a welcome bonus. Not quiet a gel, it doesn’t become slippery over time. Not quite a cream, it’s lightweight and fresh. Apply it before applying makeup, all over the face, neck and décolleté. Reapply as needed. Available at Chanel counters in March.
Skin: Say hello to Bobbi Brown’s apothecary-chic Remedies.
Bobbi Brown calls them “targeted solutions for skin issues.” It comes in five different serums: Skin Clarifier No. 75 for pores and blemishes, Skin Reviver No. 91 for dull, tired skin, Skin Moisture Solution No. 86 for dry, parched skin, Skin Fortifier No. 93 for loss of elasticity, and Skin Relief No. 80 for redness and irritation. I’ve tried No. 75 and No. 80. The Skin Reviver is refreshing and instantly plumps the skin and makes it appear more even toned. The Skin Relief is truly comforting and hydrating, it’s almost like a film that wraps the skin in moisture. Most noticeable improvement: skin feels thicker, stronger and does not break out easily after one week of use. Available at Bobbi Brown counters.
Hair: Eleven’s rad perm will make you think twice about straightening.
True to its ‘80s inclinations, Stranger Things star Eleven (Milly Bobby Brown) got a hardcore ‘80s perm for the show’s second season, which first debuted on the February cover of Entertainment Weekly. Don’t worry, though (if you are). Stranger Things lead hairstylist Sarah Hindsgaul says it’s a wig (“Because no one wants perms and mullets.” — Hindsgaul to Refinery29).
If you already have a perm (whether it’s natural or man-made), I’ve recently discovered two new products for getting them under control. With my favorite L’Oreal Curl Contour Hydracell discontinued and without an apparent heir, I turned to Kérastase for solace and found Kérastase Discipline Oléo Curl does the job just as well. It’s non-sticky and lightweight (your curls will still be bouncy), and although it doesn’t define them as well as Hydracell, it creates good form and renders neatness. Another alternative in the same price range (P1,700+) is Aveda Be Curly Curl Enhancing Spray, a flexible-hold spray that intensifies curls and tames frizz. A plus: it’s organic.
Makeup: Laura Mercier’s duo-chromes matte lipsticks gives a new dimension to matte.
Metallics for spring? Groundbreaking. Way past the holiday season, Laura Mercier introduces its Joie de Vivre makeup collection, which gives shine a new role: harbinger of freshness. There are five new duo-chrome matte shades that are highly pigmented, moisturizing lipsticks with a matte-metallic finish. The formula combines mattifying powders and mango butter to create a velvety texture. Apply before or after applying Velour Lovers Lip Color, Laura Mercier’s lip pencil, which, unlike other lip pencils, goes on smoothly and doesn’t actually feel like pencil.
For cheeks, there’s Windflush Colour Powder. It’s a coral peach glow that gives cheeks and eyes a soft flush of monochromatic color. It looks healthy and happy — you can even use it to brighten the eyes. It’s also idiot-proof. If you make a “mistake,” you’ll pay for it by sporting a glow all day. Available at Laura Mercier counters in Rustan’s.
Trend: The brassy undereye is in.
It’s not just a Hollywood thing. The brassy undereye is a wearable and sensible trend. It actually has a purpose: it makes eyes look bigger, brighter, more awake, and even younger. I’ve been applying it for the past three months and I feel naked without that sliver of shimmer that instantly makes me look sunny. Use a cream shimmer, best if it’s in pencil form (like Nars Velvet Shadow Stick in Goddess or Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Rose Gold) for easy application, and just draw a line from the inner corners of the eyes, fading out towards the center. Smudge if necessary.