There’s something rather satisfying about finding a beauty product that quietly earns a permanent place in your routine. Maybe it makes your skin look naturally fresh, gives your brows back a little definition, leaves your hands wonderfully soft, or simply makes you smell gorgeous without announcing your arrival from three rooms away. I’ve been trying out a few new beauty finds recently, and these are the ones that have caught my attention…
WEEKEND SKIN Hydra Tint with SPF 50 by MECCA COSMETICA
If you prefer your skin looking naturally fresh and even rather than obviously made up, WEEKEND SKIN Hydra Tint with SPF50 is worth a look. This lightweight fluid gives sheer, buildable coverage with a fresh, dewy finish, while helping to even out the appearance of redness, dullness and pigmentation.
These are available in 20 shades so there’s a good chance you’ll find a shade that’s just right for your skin tone. The formula combines makeup with skincare ingredients including peptides to help smooth and plump, vitamin C for brightness, and pearl extract for a luminous finish. It’s the sort of product designed for those mornings when you want to look a little more polished without feeling as though you’re wearing a full face.
And then there’s the SPF50. Daily sun protection is one of those things that really shouldn’t be an optional extra, particularly when it comes to protecting your skin from premature ageing and sun damage. However, MECCA COSMETICA recommends applying the Hydra Tint over a primary sunscreen rather than relying on it as your sole layer of protection – which is a good reminder that makeup with SPF shouldn’t necessarily replace your sunscreen.
The formula can be blended in quickly with your fingers for a natural finish, or built up with a complexion brush when you want a little more coverage. It’s also lightweight enough to make topping up your SPF during the day feel considerably less like a chore.
Available at all MECCA stores and online.
TOTAL MOISTURE DAILY CLEANSING GEL by Medik8
The last thing you want from a cleanser is that tight, stripped feeling that leaves your skin crying out for moisture afterwards. Medik8’s Total Moisture Daily Cleansing Gel takes a different approach, combining effective cleansing with a hydration-first formula designed to respect the skin barrier.
The silky gel gently lathers to remove makeup, sunscreen and everyday impurities, but without leaving skin feeling dry or uncomfortable. It contains Moisture Magnets™ to help maintain hydration, prebiotic inulin to support the skin’s microbiome, and fermented rice extract to help hydrate and nourish the complexion.
It’s fragrance-free and suitable for all skin types, including dry, dehydrated and sensitive skin. I also like the simple pump dispenser – two pumps is all you need for a morning or evening cleanse.
If you’re looking for a cleanser that gets the job done without making your skin feel like it’s been scrubbed within an inch of its life, this could be a lovely addition to your skincare routine. Skin feels soft, comfortable and clean rather than tight and thirsty – exactly what you want from a daily cleanser.
ND New Definition Brows
I’ve become much more aware of my eyebrows over the years, particularly because mine never properly grew back after chemotherapy. What might seem like a small thing can actually make quite a difference to how your face looks, and I’ve definitely noticed that when my brows are shaped and defined, I feel more polished even when I’m wearing very little makeup.
I tried the Featherline Brow Pencil and Brow Styling Wax by ND New Definition Brows, and I love that the two work together to create a natural-looking brow rather than one that looks obviously drawn on. I start with the styling wax to shape and set my brows, then use the pencil to fill in the sparse areas and add definition.
The Featherline Pencil has a clever blade-style tip that makes it possible to create incredibly fine, hair-like strokes. I found this particularly useful for filling in the areas where my brows are lacking, without ending up with a heavy or blocky look. The formula glides on easily, lasts throughout the day and can be built up gradually. There are also six shades, so there’s a good chance of finding a colour that works naturally with your hair and brows.
The spoolie on the other end is another bonus – brush the brows into place first, add your strokes, then brush through again to soften and blend everything. Using a lighter touch at the front and adding a little more definition through the arch and tail gives the most natural result.
For me, that’s the beauty of these products. They’re not about creating a completely new brow; they help fill in what’s missing while keeping the result looking like my brows. And when your brows are looking good, your whole face somehow seems to come together.
GREEN TEA STRAWBERRY BASIL Eau de Toilette by Elizabeth Arden
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from Elizabeth Arden’s Green Tea Strawberry Basil, but I really like it. It’s very clean, mild and feminine, with a lovely freshness that makes it incredibly easy to wear. The combination of juicy strawberry and fresh basil gives it a slightly different twist, without becoming overpowering or too sweet.
It opens with wild strawberry and basil before settling into softer notes of white birch and the familiar, refreshing green tea. I find it light enough to wear during the day and, importantly, it doesn’t feel as though you’re surrounded by a cloud of perfume.
I’ve also had some lovely positive comments from people when I’ve been wearing it, which is always a pretty good sign! It’s one of those fragrances that feels fresh and uplifting rather than heavy, and I find myself reaching for it regularly.
If you’re looking for a fragrance that feels like a little burst of sunshine in a bottle, Green Tea Strawberry Basilis a lovely one to try.
Available online or at Chemist Warehouse nationwide.
HAND BALM and LIP BALM from Dermal Therapy
How often do we spend time on our skincare routine and completely forget about our hands? Rough or cracked hands from constant washing need a formula that works as hard as you do, and they deserve some skin-loving care too.
That’s why I have Dermal Therapy Hand Balm in my house, my car and my handbag at all times. It gives my hands long-lasting hydration without leaving them feeling sticky, while keeping them feeling smooth and protected. It’s one of those products that, once you’ve tried it, you wonder how you managed without it.
And then there’s the Dermal Therapy Lip Balm. I’m forever reaching for lip balm, but I’ve found this one actually hydrates my lips and locks in moisture, meaning I’m not constantly having to reapply it every hour. Designed to get results with an hour!
There are different flavours – Berry, Mint, Watermelon, Strawberry, Green Apple as well as unscented or original options.
Two simple little products, but both have earned a permanent place in my everyday routine.
Available from good pharmacies.
