Selecting her tried-and-tested favourites from the host of new products passing across her desk each month, Citizen Femme’s beauty editor Becki Murray rounds up the very best October beauty launches across make-up, fragrance and skincare.
This month, the worlds of beauty and art are colliding. From Chanel’s new couture-inspired lipstick collection to Violette’s breakthrough blemish solution, there are a host of exciting – and collectible – beauty trinkets to help you upgrade your beauty routine.
Intrigued? Read on to discover the best October beauty launches.
You might have thought that Augustinus Bader's iconic creams couldn't get more covetable – they are the favourite of Victoria Beckham, Priyanka Chopra, and Margot Robbie after all. Then, the luxury skincare brand linked up with visionary fashion designer Haider Ackermann and the result – these limited edition chrome vessels – have quickly become this season's most covetable addition to the beauty insider's dressing table.
Inspired by the mirrors that line the legendary Art Deco staircase in Gabrielle Chanel’s rue Cambon apartment, the new 31 Le Rouge lipstick collection is a celebration of classic chic Chanel style. The 12 radiant matte colours, housed in refillable packaging made entirely from glass and metal (so it's totally plastic-free), will help you find your most flattering red shade. Don't be surprised if people stop you to ask what you are wearing.
Charlotte Tilbury has quickly become my favourite place for makeup bags; they're always large enough to store all my makeup (I do tend to carry around rather a lot), and the prints and patterns make a statement while still being stylish. This one – part of a collaboration with Elton John no less – has just the right amount of glitz and I love that depending on your outfit, it could double up as your clutch bag too.
Sensitive skin sufferers rejoice: the first-ever vitamin A launch from Pai means you can tackle fine lines with much less irritation. The clever booster serum, which contains certified organic ingredients that speed up your skin's renewal cycle, is designed to be mixed with your existing skincare. The number of drops you use can also be built up over time to avoid redness and peeling, while maximising your results.
Sensitive skin sufferers rejoice – the first-ever vitamin A launch from Pai means you can tackle fine lines with much less irritation.
Milk Makeup knows a thing or two about effortlessly glossy skin – and with a single swipe you can enjoy the same for your lips with the brand's range of eight vitamin-rich lip oils. You can achieve high-shine without the stickiness too, as the focus is on locking in moisture using jojoba oil, goji berry, cloudberry seed and sunflower oil, plus crushed gemstones for a burst of colour.
The current trend for brows is all about subtle definition – aka faking your way to a fuller, more arched shape, while giving the impression you haven't touched them at all. Sound tricky? Not with Sculpted by Aimee's new tool, which has a soft, angled nib for filling in gaps and a lightweight gel to define and hold everything in place.
The brand behind one of my favourite hair masks has, in very exciting news, launched skincare, including this sunscreen that really does take away all excuses not to wear SPF everyday. It feels just like a glow-boosting nourishing moisturiser on your skin, making your makeup sit more smoothly, while providing broad-spectrum protection against UV and pollution.
The transition to winter can be a touchy one for your skin, seeing it go from plump and hydrated to dry and sore. However, switching up your cleanser to one that's oil-based can really help, locking-in moisture, while still providing the deep cleanse you need. My recommendation: ESPA's new Optimal Skin Cleansing Oil that melts into a milk to make your face clean a stress-free and indulgent experience.
The transition to winter can be tough on your skin but investing in an oil-based cleanser can lock-in moisture while still delivering the deep cleanse you need.
If you struggle with breakouts and hate having to try and layer concealer over them, the leading makeup artist Violette has you covered, literally. Her innovative spot treatment not only treats and soothes blemishes; it is also designed to dry flat and clear, so you can apply light coverage over them to blur them away with much greater ease.
Having already redefined the standard for skin tone-matching foundation, Rihanna has turned her attention to your eyeshadow, as finding the right colour for your skin tone is actually an old makeup artist hack for subtle, flattering eye definition. The result is her range of matte and shimmer-toned creamy pencils that are rich in pigment and easy to apply in just one swipe.
The under-eye area can be a tricky beast – prone to puffiness, fine lines and dark circles – and after a month or so of travelling, I was so glad that I reached for this eye cream from Chantecaille as my solution. Not only is it immediately soothing and refreshing, but over time its peptide and botanical-rich formula helps smooth away dehydration lines and dark circles, for a more awake appearance that's actually noticeable.
If you are looking to combat tired-looking eyes this autumn, Chantecaille’s soothing, peptide-packed cream is a refreshing wake-up call for your eyes.
The sort of niche fragrance brand you don't want to shout about in case everyone starts wearing it – the latest launch from Parfums de Marly is arguably too good not to share. This is creamy vanilla like you've never quite smelt it before, with aspects of woody and ambery notes that turn it into a cosetting but not sleepy hug on your skin. In fact, the sparkling citrus and warm spicy notes lift it just enough to give you the boost you need as the weather turns colder.
Forget about your hair masks and supplements, if you aren't shampooing your hair right, it is never going to become the glossy, healthy-looking asset you are dreaming about. Instead, turn the first (and most important) step into a richly hydrating as well as cleansing experience – as offered by Sisley's fabulous shampoo. The result will be a healthy scalp and shinier hair, even as the weather gets chillier.
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