12 of the best new beauty launches this April 2019

There’s so much to love about the newest beauty brand, Playa: it features formulas made from natural ingredients, it hails from Venice Beach, California (which means it has that LA-cool vibe), and the packaging is so sleek, you’ll really want to show it off in your bathroom. “I spend a lot of time in the ocean and found that the shampoos I was using post-swim were drying my hair out, causing it to look frizzy and unruly when air-drying,” says Playa founder Shelby Wild. “I created our shampoo [Every Day Shampoo] so that you can truly use it every day - it doesn't strip your hair of its natural oils, which allows for the perfect air-dry every time! Our Every Day Shampoo is the foundation of the Playa routine, and at our office we like to say that ‘good hair starts in the shower!’ What's also interesting about the formula is that it contains coconut water - different to coconut oil, it can detoxify without weighing your hair down or stripping your scalp of moisture.”

One of the biggest skin care brand launches that we’ve seen this year is the arrival of CeraVe, a skin care brand that covers off face and body care products and focuses on improving skin health, even for those with sensitive skin. Our top pick is the Moisturising Lotion, which is one the brand’s hero products: it’s a face and body lotion that's packed with ceramides, hyaluronic acid and glycerin to target dry skin. “[Ceramides can] improve the function of the skin, in particular, in the barrier [to prevent] water loss,” explains Dr. Eleni Yiasemides, consultation dermatologist for CeraVe. “When you use a moisturiser, it forms a barrier layer so you’re not losing that hydration.”

We’re yet to come across a Frank Body Scrub that we *didn’t* like, and their newest baby, the A-Beauty Scrub, is no exception. Besides being cruelty-free, this scrub carries a delicious blend of eucalyptus, finger lime, macadamia oil, Kakadu plum (which is a top source of vitamin C, may we add), and, of course, coffee seed powder to effectively smooth skin and make it smell really yummy.

You know the saying ‘a quick game is a good game’? Well, it definitely applies to beauty. Case in point: Simple’s Reviving Under-Eye Hydrogel Masks are little hydrogel masks that fit perfectly under your eyes to boost hydration, address little fine lines, and reduce the appearance of dark circles in as little as five minutes. What’s great about the hydrogel texture is that it’s flexible, meaning it clings to skin (so you can walk around and get ready while the masks do their magic!), and that they’re able to carry more moisture and hydration than a normal fabric sheet mask. “The moisturising ingredients in the product are gelled up to form a soothing and flexible film,” says Kirti Sharma of the Simple Research and Development team. It's just like using an eye cream, but with instant results.

It's been a while since hair care brand John Frieda launched a new product, but the Go Blonder Lemon Miracle Masque has been worth the wait. Packed with lemon oil, this mask is designed for blondies to use on a regular basis to restore damage and keep locks looking healthy and shiny. Whilst it won't lighten your hair on its own, you may notice that your blonde hair colour is lifted when used in conjunction with the other Sheer Blonde Go Blonder products.

On first impressions, Juliette Has a Gun Liquid Illusion EDP looks like a fragrance that will smell overpowering or heavy, however it is quite the opposite. Notes like heliotropin (which smells a lot like almond) provide a light sweetness to floral heart notes of iris and tuberose, whilst the base of tonka bean, amber and cetalox (an ingredient that’s similar to ambroxan and was also featured in the iconic ‘Not A Perfume’ scent) adds a powdery, soft touch to the fragrance.

We're always on the hunt for the perfect eyeshadow palette, and this month, Beauty Crew's Editor has fallen for the MAC Art Library Palette in Nude Model. "As far as go-to beauty products go, eyeshadows tend to not be the first thing I reach for, but this eyeshadow palette immediately caught my attention because of the shades – beautiful, easy-to-wear nudes, plus a few shimmers and darker tones that could be played with for some fun nighttime or bolder looks," says Carli. "I haven’t had a chance to experiment with all of the shades yet, but I’ve loved Drop The Robe (a rose gold shimmery shade that’s sitting in the middle row, one from the left) on its own for a simple night look, and then I’ve used a combo of Sandstone (top right), Sugar Plum (bottom, second from the right), and Les Artiste (middle left) for more of a neutral smoky eye. The shades blend beautifully together and really last – I didn’t need to touch-up after a few hours – but it removes easily with some micellar water. While the palette isn’t a limited edition one (woo!), I’d still recommend getting your hands on it, stat. I have a feeling it’s going to sell FAST."

Besides being able to pump up the luminosity and improve skin tone, vitamin C can also aid in collagen production. The good news is that you can now get your daily dose of the vitamin in Trilogy’s Vitamin C Booster Treatment. “I’ve been trying the Trilogy Vitamin C Booster Treatment and let me just say, the packaging is seriously cool,” says Beauty Crew’s Beauty Assistant Isobel Larkin. “Because the efficacy of vitamin C deteriorates once it’s exposed to air and water, Trilogy came up with this clever way of ensuring the product is at peak goodness when you’re applying it. When you start a fresh bottle, you ‘pop’ the vitamin C into the serum and off you go! Each bottle contains a two-week supply so that you’re applying it fresh. I’ve only just started using it but already my skin has got some serious added glow!”

Given magnetic lashes were one of the biggest game-changers for makeup in 2018, then surely magnetic eyeliner and lashes are going to be just as big this year. The Manicare Glam Pro Magnetic Eyeliner and Eyelashes have blown our minds as they don't require glue to apply them. First, apply the magnetic eyeliner as you normally would (yep, the liner actually has teensy magnetic particles in it that surprisingly don’t feel like anything at all), allow it to dry, then take the single magnetic lash strip and pop it on top of the magnetic liner to finish your look. The magnetic properties in both products lock the lashes in place.

Sure, the whole “new year, new you” movement is more of a January thing, but we think it’s never too late to hit the reset button, even if it’s already April. JSHealth Vitamins was created by clinical nutritionist and author Jessica Sepel and focuses on improving overall health for women. The star of the range, in our eyes, is the Detox + Debloat Formula. “I’m constantly chatting with the JSHealth community (yes, I’m the one personally replying to @jshealth Instagram messages) and I noticed that bloating was a very common issue that many people were battling with," says Sepel. "I wanted to provide an extra level of support and help treat people’s symptoms. I worked for months to create a pure, effective formulation that’s loaded with gut-loving nutrients and herbs, including milk thistle (this flowering herb helps to protect the liver and relieve digestive discomfort), fennel ([this ingredient] is traditionally used in herbal medicine to relieve symptoms of digestive discomfort, and turmeric ([this] antioxidant-rich spice is a fantastic aid in reducing bloating).”

Just like how your skin care routine should consist of a cleanser, serum and moisturiser, the clever team behind Christophe Robin believe that your hair care routine should do the same. The Detangling Gelée with Sea Minerals acts almost like a lightweight serum, as it contains sea minerals such as zinc, iron, magnesium, calcium and potassium to nourish your scalp, which in turn, can help your hair grow stronger.

When it comes to bronzers, the formula needs to be blendable and warm up the appearance of your complexion, like you’ve been sunning it up (when in reality, you’ve been stuck in the office!). Maybelline New York City Bronzer ticks the box for our editor. "I have been trying quite a few new products for the Get Lippy podcast, and this buttery matte bronzer from Maybelline New York was one of my favourites," says Carli. "The powder blended so beautifully onto my skin and gave such long-wear, and I found that the colour gave great subtle warmth to my face (the shade I used was medium warm, and my skin tone is, well, medium warm). I mainly used it with a loose powder brush just on the apples of my cheeks and under my cheekbones for a soft finish, but there were a few nights were I built it up so that it gave me more of a contour and defined cheekbones."

Want to get the most out of your bronzer? Here are three bronzer tricks you’ve never heard before.

Which new beauty product are you most looking forward to trying and why? Let us know in the comments below.