Dear people working in product development at Maybelline, Essence and the like, keep up the good work! Rarely have I fallen head over heels for so many new products from the drugstore at once. These are my faves for hot summer days.
For sun-kissed cheeks
The Sunkisser Blush is available in seven summery shades you can mix and match to your taste.
For a glowing complexion
For lashes that won’t smudge
For a matt T-zone
At Galaxus, you’ll find over 80,000 beauty products – and more are on the way. That’s quite the picking. And why I like to regularly share my favourites – from a selection of both novelties and classics.
As a massive Disney fan, I see the world through rose-tinted glasses. I worship series from the 90s and consider mermaids a religion. When I’m not dancing in glitter rain, I’m either hanging out at pyjama parties or sitting at my make-up table. P.S. I love you, bacon, garlic and onions.
Imagine if a serum, a highlighter and a blush had a wild ménage à trois. The result would be the new Maybelline Sunkisser Blush. The liquid cheek rouge comes with a doe-foot applicator and has a light, cooling texture with shimmer and fine glitter particles. Compared to other liquid blushes, it really sinks into the skin – almost like a cheek stain. For this reason, it looks best used sparingly and blended in immediately with your finger or brush. Ideally, avoid applying it on top of other products, as it doesn’t blend well with every foundation.
At first glance, it looks more like lip gloss: the new Maybelline Sunkisser Blush. Source: Natalie Hemengül
Compact, lightweight and ultra-practical for on the go – the Pro Fix Correcting Concealer Stick from Nyx is ingenious! Funnily enough, it’s no good at all on my dark circles; it’s too dry for me, though it may work well if you have oily skin. On the flip side, it works all the better for spot concealing. It lasts several hours and doesn’t melt off my face, even on hot days.
The name says it all: the L'Oréal Glotion gives my skin a natural, subtle glow. And it does this without any glitter! My favourite thing about this product is how versatile it is. You can use it under your make-up as a base, blend it into your foundation or apply it over your make-up as a highlighter. Sometimes, I like to go for a darker shade and use it as a bronzer or blush. Thanks to the tapered tube opening, it’s easy to get out a small amount of product. The Glotion’s thin texture is easy to work into the skin. It smells like your average moisturiser. In Switzerland, the Glotion is available in four shades.
Also suitable as a bronzer on my skin tone: the L’Oréal Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer in the colour 904 Deep Glow. Source: Natalie Hemengül
Maybelline’s Lash Sensational Firework Mascara is far from perfect. Nevertheless, I’ve been using it on the daily for two weeks now. This is primarily due to the fantastic formula, which – come what may – doesn’t budge. Not even when the rain takes me by surprise. And I’m not even talking about the waterproof version here. Needless to say, a simple micellar water alone won’t remove the mascara either. You’ll need a dual-phase make-up remover. That’s fine by me!
Another challenge I’m more than happy to deal with is the brush’s very short bristles. Because I also have short lashes, the body of the brush inevitably comes very close to my eyelid. As a result, I do sometimes get accidental smudges. But that’s an easy fix. In contrast to the Sky High Mascara, the Lash Sensational Firework Mascara separates lashes less cleanly, creating little clusters of lashes that scream 60s. I’m a fan.
My current go-to: the Maybelline Firework Mascara. Source: Natalie Hemengül
The Banana Brighten Up! Powder from Essence has long since been my go-to powder for mattifying and brightening certain areas of my face. Essence has now launched a loose version of it. Though «version of» might not be the truest way to phrase it; the Banana Loose Powder has a stronger yellow tint and might not work as well with all skin tones. If you look very closely, you’ll also discover an ultra-fine, delicate shimmer that makes for a more natural finish. The small sponge applicator included under the lid is nice to have, but I prefer to use a brush.
The Banana Loose Powder from Essence comes with a small sponge applicator. Source: Natalie Hemengül
