Cayman Compass: Beauty game changers

(Published in the Cayman Compass Weekender, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016)

Beauty game changers PDF

Every year the beauty industry comes out with new products that are game changers in the way we apply and use makeup. This year is no different, with a host of new products hitting the market, bringing new formulas, textures and application techniques to make putting your game face on a little bit easier. Weekender rounds up some of our favorite must-have products for 2016.

Cushion compacts

Originally from South Korea, cushion compacts are catching on in the Western world and are set to revolutionize the way women apply their foundation.

The product comes housed in a compact, which features a foundation-soaked sponge with a custom puff applicator for foolproof application. Just take the puff, lightly press on the sponge and then gently tap the product into the skin.

Cushion foundations are designed to be light and breathable, allowing your natural skin to show through. However, they are also designed to offer buildable coverage if need be. Not only that, cushion foundations’ unique and creative portable compacts make these foundation saviors great for effortless touch-ups throughout the day.

MAC is one of the latest companies to jump on the cushion compact bandwagon with its recently launched Matchmaster Shade Intelligence Compact (available on island end of February). The compact is available in 12 shades, each offering true-to-life coverage. According to MAC, the cutting-edge delivery system allows the formula to be released in a superfine layer, providing a natural finish and sheer to medium buildable coverage.

Another cushion compact worthy of a mention is Lancome’s Miracle Cushion. Available in 11 shades, this award-winning formula promises a dewy, fresh glow in seconds.
Available at the MAC Boutique and La Parfumerie II, Cardinall Avenue.

Glowing skin

Continuing on the foundation theme, a slew of new formulas are set to launch this year, including Chanel’s latest addition to their best-selling Les Beiges collection. Designed to add a dewy flush of sheer color to the skin, Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation comes in 14 shades to suit all skin tones.

The foundation features an antioxidant-rich formula to protect skin from harsh environmental conditions, including an impressive SPF 25. Pair with the Les Beiges collection’s existing products, including the Healthy Glow Sheer Powder and Healthy Glow Sheer Color stick, for an effortless barely-there look.

During the past few years, Chanel has developed an impressive number of cult foundations and the Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation looks set to become another.
Available at La Parfumerie II, Cardinall Avenue.

Perfect cat eyes

Beautyblender’s hot pink sponge changed the way women applied their foundation, offering an effortless air-brushed finish. Now, Beautyblender is expanding its product line with its soon-to-be released tool: the Beautyblender Liner.Designer.

Available from March, this nifty tool is designed for anyone who has struggled with creating a red carpet-worthy cat eye, (and let’s be honest, who hasn’t?). In Beautyblender’s signature hot pink color, of course, the Liner.Designer is designed as an eyeliner application tool for a perfect, on-trend cat eye.

Similar in shape to a guitar pick, this nifty rubbery tool has three sides: a short, round edge, a straight-laced edge, and a curvy edge, each designed to create different looks, from a dark and sultry cat eye (think Adele) to a light, everyday feline flick. Use with liquid, gel and pencil eyeliners. Simply place the Liner.Designer against your eye and use it to steady your hand for the perfect flick.

Housed in a nifty little mirrored compact, this is a must for anyone who needs a little helping hand to master their eyeliner and create the perfectly lined eye every time.
Available at Le Visage, Camana Bay.

Liquid lipsticks

Kiss goodbye to those sticky glosses. This year’s new lineup of lip products sees a type of hybrid formula bringing the best of a lip gloss and lipstick into one pout-worthy matte product in statement colors, from bright reds to vampy violets and everything in between. Cosmetic companies are responding by launching a host of luxurious textures and colors, from matte velvets to liquid suedes in attention-grabbing shades.

MAC’s newly released Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolor includes 15 highly pigmented shades from a vivid fuschia to a classic fire-truck red. In a gorgeous liquid suede finish, these lipcolors have all the benefits of a lipgloss, minus all that gloopy stickiness.

Stila has also launched new colors for spring in its best-selling Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick. Offering an on-trend creamy-matte, full-coverage lip color, the formula is enriched with vitamin E and avocado oil for all day kissable lips.

Tired of multiple lip liners cluttering up your makeup bag? For the perfect lip, pick up Dior’s newly released Dior Addict Lip Glow Liner – a universal shade which Dior says suits all shades of lipstick and gloss. The liner offers a precise lip contour and lasting hold, offering the perfect base for lip color.
Available at the MAC Boutique, Cardinall Avenue; Le Visage, Camana Bay; and La Parfumerie II, Cardinall Avenue.