The two pieces I wrote last month on new releases felt rather conclusive to me. After all, how many new things could the beauty market produce that are genuinely worthy of a spot in your arsenal? Rather a lot, it seems. Particularly in make-up. As they land on my desk, I test them extensively. These three have made it into my make-up bag:
Introducing… Clinique Lash Power Feathering Mascara, £16.20 at johnlewis.com
Release date: April 2014
They say: ‘Out-to-there length and fine-tuned separation plus a feather-soft look and feel after every buildable coat. All in a formula that stays put for up to 12 smudge-resistant hours, yet removes easily with warm water.’
I say: The word feathering is evocative, is it not? I believe it describes perfectly how nice lashes look and feel – splayed, luscious, fan-like in shape. No significant gaps. No crustiness. Does it live up to its name? I’d say yes. While mascara seems to be a polarising, personal item of make-up, it’s hard to deny that this one is universally pleasing – it coats lashes well without clumping, distributes evenly and, when set, is soft and fluttery. As it’s a tubing mascara, it doesn’t flake. Yet another sound offering from Clinique.
Laura Mercier Gel Lip Colour in Temptation and Heartbreaker, £17.50 at johnlewis.com
Introducing… Laura Mercier Gel Lip Colour, £17.50 at johnlewis.com
Release date: April 2014 (limited edition)
They say: ‘Laura Mercier Gel Lip Colour is an innovative gel-based lipstick that cushions lips in comforting, sheer colour with a shine finish and subtle sweet vanilla flavor. The super smooth formula leaves lips conditioned and hydrated.’
I say: Sometimes, a lipstick won’t do. Lips that are dry or flaking don’t look their best in a coat of lipstick, however velvety. Then again, a balm can be a bore. Enter these gel lip colours which, judging from the way in which they’ve been flying off the shelves, bridge the gap between lip care and colour perfectly. My favourite? The plummy Temptation, which gives a punch of colour that, thanks to the sheer, balmy formulation, is easy to pull off.
Introducing… Troy Surratt Revelee Lash Curlers, £18 at liberty.co.uk
Release Date: May 2014
The buzz: Mentored by the legendary Kevyn Aucoin, make-up artist to the A-list Troy Surratt was hardly going to release a halfway decent range. Exclusive to Liberty’s, his first foray has been met with a applause from the beauty cognoscenti and with good reason – the high-quality, mostly Japanese formulations are beautifully conceived.
I say: As Surratt’s focus is on the eye, I decided to start exploring his wares with the lash curlers. A curler is extremely indicative of the quality of the rest of the range – just look at what the success of Shu Uemura’s iconic curlers did for the make-up. After a few uses, I’d say these surpass Shu’s. Why? They exert a little less pressure and the curve is a little less, well, curved than other curlers. The result is more natural, more eye-opening. As a daily user of a lash curler, this has thrilled me.