Editor’s Beauty Picks for September 2020, including new launches from Armani Beauty, Dior and Shiseido

Here are the best beauty launches this month.

ARMANI BEAUTY CREMA NERA ACQUA REVISCENTALIS
$190 (150ml), available at the Armani beauty stores at ION Orchard, TANGS at Tangs Plaza and online at tangs.com, and through their phone delivery platform. 

I’ve been told by the brand’s public relations that you can’t go wrong with anything that includes the ingredient, Reviscentalis; this extract from a “miracle resurrection plant” revives skin and restores its health and youthfulness over time. In this new treatment lotion, it is combined with glycolic acid to create a skincare that clarifies, brightens, and refines skin. Just after my first use at night, I woke up to fresher-looking skin, which was impressive considering I’ve been keeping late nights sewing bags for fun. I applied this with my hands, but I can imagine because it is quite watery in texture, some users may prefer to use a cotton pad. It absorbs into skin almost instantly, and dries down into a smooth, slightly matte finish. It does something to the skin that makes it look better after each application — and who can say no to that. It’s been a week of using this once a day at night and my skin does seem clearer. A worthy buy if you’re willing to spring for it.

DIOR PRESTIGE LA MICRO-HUILE DE ROSE ADVANCED SERUM
$370 (30ml) / $490 (50ml), available from 15 September 2020 at all Dior counters.

This is one really fancy serum. It has 6 patents, 50 scientists working on it, 165 tests, and was tested by 650 women. Dior calls this the most powerful serum they’ve ever created. Its power stems from the brand’s famous flower: the Rose De Granville, and the resulting product deeply hydrates and repairs skin, is anti-inflammatory, and preserves the skin’s youth through slowing down the ageing process. There are 10,000 micro-pearls in a 30ml bottle, which leads to the product’s texture being more fluid than its predecessor, so pump it out with the nozzle facing down, or it’s going to drip down the bottle and get messy (happened to me the first few times). The serum simply melts into the skin and feels comforting and rich. If you’re a fan of the original “little pink bottle”, you’ll love this one.

SHISEIDO VITAL-PERFECTION UPLIFTING AND FIRMING EYE MASK
$120 (box of 12 pairs), available online from Lazada and Zalora.

These are serum-soaked eye masks that provide immediate benefits; the formula claims to instantly hydrate and boost radiance under the eye, and ultimately lift, firm and brighten the skin there over time. There’s retinol in this product, which you may initially be wary of, but trust Shiseido to create a safe and effective formula that has gone through rigorous testing and research. The sheets are made of a soft fabric that adhere really well to the skin, and their deliver a good amount of essence spanning the entire under-eye area from the inner corners and upper cheeks, to the temples. At $10 a use, it’s not exactly cheap, but it’ll make a good “shot” just before special occasions when you want your eyes to look more awake and your overall face to appear fresher.

SHU UEMURA BOTANICOIL INDULGING PLANT-BASED CLEANSING OIL
$165 (450ml) / $65 (150ml), available at all shu uemura stores and online at tangs.com.

You can’t go wrong with any of shu uemura’s original cleansing oils (they invented the category); and every year, the brand has been introducing new additions to its famous line-up. This year’s may just be my favourite yet — botanicoil, which has a 91% natural-origin formula with the main ingredient being the Japanese yuzu. There are also nine essential oils, which have been selected for their relaxing and soothing properties, and include lemongrass, marjoram, geranium, lemon peel, cypress, ginger, peppermint, lavender, and green mandarin oils. And I can tell you that after trying this cleanser for the past few days, it smells wonderful. If you’re into essential oils and love cleansing oils to remove your makeup, this is exactly what you want.

YSL PURE SHOTS AIRTHIN UV DEFENDER
$92 (30ml), available online at tangs.com.

I believe we’ve all established that sunscreen is important. This new one from YSL is under their Pure Shots range of skincare, and I can confidently say that everything from this line is excellent. The NYLON team tried the various serums when they were first launched, and believe it or not… everyone’s skin in the team got clearer and clearer.

The thing is… this sunscreen is $92. But what you’re paying for is the skincare expertise behind the Pure Shots range (this stuff will take care of your skin and improve it), and a super light texture that as its name implies — feels as thin as air (the brand claims that the texture is eight times thinner than a classic UV protector). If you skimp on the rest of your skincare and makeup, at least invest in a really good sunscreen — and this is one.

 

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