Time is an amazing thing. It keeps its own pace and we just have to keep up or be left behind. As author Maya Angelou observed: “Since time is the one immaterial object which we cannot influence … neither speed up nor slow down, add to nor diminish … it is an imponderably valuable gift.”
As 2011 flows away we just have time to take stock of the past 12 months and again appreciate the good times and be reminded of some of the things that will outlast the year.
The beauty industry also moves at its own pace, which at times seems faster than the calendar. I’m already receiving products that will only hit the shelves in March.
The holy grail of beauty is yet to be discovered but there were many launches this year of new advancements in skin care and beauty.
Over the year you’ve been able to read the Beauty Scribe pages to keep up with changes as we charted new launches, the best new colours, new technologies, potent ingredients, exciting brands and expert advice. To pick the best of the best is near impossible but I am going to try nevertheless to list the best products of the year. Sit back, take a bite of a mince pie and feast your eyes on Beauty Scribe’s year in beauty.
Sunscreen
Invisible Zinc range and Grahams Natural SunClear Sunscreen SPF 30+ win this category hands down.
Body Moisturiser
I have tested quite a few body creams but keep coming back to two. They may be a wee bit pricier than your average creams but they work extremely well and as such are value for money – Dr Hauschka Lemon Body Moisturiser and Clinique Deep Comfort Body Lotion.
Shampoo & Conditioner
I’ve not done many stories on hair products this year, so I promise my faithful readers to make amends in the new year. I was blown away by Living Proof Frizz shampoo and conditioner. The range will make you see hair products in a great new way. L’Oréal Elvive Total Repair range is worth noting too, as it turns the coarsest hair into silk.
Shaving Cream
Elemis Ice-Cool Foaming Shave Gel may be pricey but it does the job so perfectly that you forget the price; a budget option that is in no way a substitute is Proraso Shave Cream, a brand that is still going strong after 60 years.
Men’s Moisturiser
Origins Save The Males is an excellent moisturiser that should please most men but Trishave 3in1 Post Shave SPF 30+ Moisturising Lotion has the added bonus of a high SPF.
Lipstick
Everyone has their favourites. My top brands are chosen for their formulations, array of colours and staying power. Time and again M.A.C. Cosmetics produces the most dazzling lip colours and formulations; following a close second is Maybelline Color Sensational lip colour range.
Mascara
I am absolutely in love with Diorshow mascara, Ere Perez Natural Almond Oil mascara and Benefit’s They’re Real mascara.
Nail Polish
There are several brands that could take this prize but for a budget brand Sally Hansen is scoring goals in practically every aspect of the nail category – so hurrah for them.
Moisturiser
This is as tough as they come. Die-hard brands for me have to be La Mer Moisturising Lotion, Avado Certified Organic Face Cream, MooGoo Skin Milk Udder Cream and Perricone MD Acyl-Glutathione, but the range that rocked my world is Rationale Essential Six.
Colour Cosmetics
By crowning Nars Cosmetics as the brand of the year, I may have stirred up a hornets’ nest, but hear me out. Nars continuously strives to come up with innovative products and colours and has always stayed true to the core and vision of the brand. With names such as Orgasm and Sex, why wouldn’t you hail Nars Cosmetics as the best colour make-up brand for 2011? The current collection, Arabian Nights, fronted by model Mariacarla Boscono, is pure perfection. Following close behind is Maybelline, which continues to push the envelope for its price point, and our very own Australis has a few hits on its hands.
Foundation
Make Up For Ever HD Foundation takes the prize but gems such as Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser, M.A.C. Cosmetics Studio Moisture Tint, L’Oréal True Match and CoverGirl Simply Ageless foundations are also firm favourites. And I’ve just received a press release that reports Prescriptives, which was pulled off the market, is now back online. I still consider Prescriptives’ Traceless foundation one of the best ever. Only available in the US at this stage, but fingers crossed. www.prescriptives.com
Fragrance
My favourite category and I am at a loss. There were way too many launched this year that have become firm favourites. Elie Saab Le Parfum takes the cake for best new launch; Dior’s J’Adore L’Or for giving us hope that established perfumes can still surprise in an amazing way and, finally, for all those niche fragrance lovers – should buy every scent that Agence De Parfum imports – by far the most interesting importer in Australia.
Stockists
Agence De Parfum (07) 3846 2227 \ Avado www.avadoorganics.com.au \ Benefit, Elemis selected Myer \ Clinique, Dior, Elie Saab, Laura Mercier Myer / David Jones \ Dr Hauschka www.drhauschka.com.au
Ere Perez www.ereperez.com \ Grahams Natural www.itchy.net.au \ Invisible Zinc www.invisiblezinc.com.au \ L’Oréal, Maybelline, CoverGirl, Australis pharmacies, supermarkets La Mer www.cremedelamer.com.au \ M.A.C. Cosmetics www.maccosmetics.com.au \ Make Up For Ever www.pmstudio.com.au \ MooGoo www.moogoo.com.au \ Nars, Perricone www.meccacosmetics.com.au
Origins www.kitcosmetics.com.au \ Sally Hansen 1800 812 663 \ Trishave www.trishave.com.au