14 game-changing beauty products

Could this be the most novel launch of the year? We certainly think it’s in the running. Not only is this pen seriously cool and innovative, but it’s pretty useful as well. The black and blue liners can define peepers, the brown liner can add a smouldering touch to your eyes or boost the shape of your brows (it can even be used to draw freckles across your nose), and the nude lip liner can prevent your lipstick from feathering. Not bad for one product, huh?

MAC’s limited edition Rollerwheel Liquid Liner is perfect for people that struggle to etch a perfect wing shape on their eyes. Up close it looks just like a pizza cutter (without the sharp bits!); it works by spinning around as you move it across your lash line to deliver just the right amount of ink to eyelids without smudging or showing evidence of shakiness.

Having a hygienic makeup kit is a non-negotiable, and one way you can keep your stash as clean as possible is with a brush cleaner, like this one from beautyblender. What we love most about this product is the soft silicone pad that is made with a range of small to medium-sized raised dots to help dislodge stubborn makeup (especially in your foundation brush), and its ergonomic shape that moulds into the palm of your hand. Use with the included mini bar of soap for best results.

Fact: Your hands are highly prone to showing signs of ageing due to the thinness of the skin in this area. One way to prevent crepiness is with a daily application of hand cream, and CHANEL’s new version can soften, soothe and hydrate hands, as well as strengthen nails, all thanks to its dual-powered formula of iris pallida extract and May rose. Plus, we can’t get enough of its unique dome-like packaging.

16 Brand’s Foundation Brush has caught our eye lately. Why? Because this face tool looks just like a paint brush, only it’s made with super soft synthetic hairs that are arranged in a U-shape to effectively go around the contours of your face more easily than a traditional foundation brush. And at just $20, we’re definitely sold. 

Whether you’re exposed to humidity or naturally have combination or oily skin, you can keep oiliness at bay with a pad of blotting papers that work to instantly soak up sebum from your T-zone, cheeks and chin. What we are most impressed by with these blotting papers in particular is the fine quality of the papers, which aren’t like the plastic ones we’re used to. To use, lightly press a sheet straight onto your skin (yes, even over makeup), and dispose of the sheet afterwards.

If you’ve ever had trouble accentuating the shape or length of your natural brows, then these Brow Guides will be your saving grace. Each pack contains five different plastic stencils that range from a slim arch (Kelly) to a more exaggerated shape (Monroe) - just hold them over each brow and fill in the stencil with powder, and you’re good to go. 

Now it’s easier than ever to refresh your space with a delicious scent that can invigorate or relax you, depending on the vibe you’re after. The Young Living USB Diffuser features a tiny bottle that you can fill up with an essential oil and plug in anywhere that has a USB port - such as your computer or car - to enhance the mood instantly.

If you’re after skin that looks naturally luminous, like it has been lit from within, try one of our favourite techniques: using a buffing brush that has a tight bundle of bristles (such as this one from Iconic London) to sweep a powder highlighter onto your face. Buff it into your skin in circular motions, and stop only when the formula has been blended completely into your foundation.

We’ve been on the hunt since forever for a makeup bag that’s good looking, practical, durable (the soft plastic gets our tick of approval) and has enough storage space to fit all the essentials, and we’ve finally found ‘the one’. Mecca Cosmetica Jet Set Travel Bag ticks all the boxes, especially delivering on  the right amount of storage to fit in all the must-haves such as shampoo, conditioner, face wash, micellar water, eye cream, sunscreen and more.

If you’re someone that has long brow hairs that need constant fixing up with a pair of tiny scissors, then it’s worth investing in these from Anastasia Beverly Hills. Different to nail scissors, they are much smaller in size and have sharp and straight blades that cut with absolute precision so you can have fierce arches all the time.

Designed in collaboration with Olympia Le Tan, this incredibly beautiful limited edition makeup palette looks just like a beauty book, and is a definite must-have. Inside, discover four metallic eyeshadow colours for your eyes, a medium pink blush to pep up your complexion, and four lip powders to add a matte finish to your lipstick.

Keep your brow, eye and lip pencils as sharp as possible with Benefit’s All-Purpose Pencil Sharpener, which comes with two different sized holes as well as a removeable size-adjuster for practicality. Just don’t forget to clean it straight after you use it to avoid product build-up on the blades; use the blade-cleaning tool included in the sharpener or use a cotton tip dipped in micellar water for more stubborn formulas.

The Billion Dollar Brows Brow Buddy Kit consists of an extendable tool to help you measure the start, arch and end of your brow, as well as a light-coloured pencil to help you mark up your brows symmetrically, making it a cinch to shape them at home.

Guilty of overplucking? Here are six of the biggest brow dilemmas, solved.

Which product are you most looking forward to trying from this list, and why? Tell us in the comments below.

Main image credit: Sevak Babakhani

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