BEAUTY EDITOR’S TOP PICKS – MARCH 2018

As beauty editors, we get to trial A LOT of beauty products.

Hey, someone’s gotta do it. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

To be completely honest, a lot of what we test passes as mediocre. The beauty market is a competitive – and repetitive – space so it takes something remarkable to stand out. And when we do find something that impresses us, it’s worth sharing.

100% unsponsored, 100% tested by us, 100% recommended, read our team’s picks below:

Want more beauty editor top picks? You can find them here.

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ARCONA Blemish Lotion Repair [AM], $77 & ARCONA Blemish Lotion Repair [PM], $77
“My struggle with adult acne is long and well-documented so I’ve tried a lot of products – few that work long-term. These do! Carefully formulated with the optimum dosages of salicylic and lactic acids, witch haze, tea tree and jojoba oils (all ingredients acne-sufferers will be well-versed in), I apply these lotion-exfoliant hybrids as a last step in my skincare routine. The PM formula contains retinol and is a great entry point product for a first-time retinol user but still not safe for pregnant women, sorry! When I was actively breaking out, both the AM and PM treatments helped reduce the redness and rage of my acne, but I noticed best results when I was on the road to recovery. It sped up healing and kept new spots at bay. Continued use makes skin looked new, fresh, healthy and glow-y. Shoutout to Chelsea @ SEPHORA Australia for the excellent recommendation. Godsend.” – Wendy, Beauty Editor

Hourglass Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick, $61
“Shopping around for a new highlighter? Lookie here. Hourglass specialise in this category and their latest and greatest is the creamy, velvety Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick. Top points for staying power and pigment. It also makes an office-appropriate eyeshadow – I’m all about the Rose Gold shade.” – Wendy, Beauty Editor

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Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Skin Rehydration Serum, $79
“I’ve been testing several hydration serums for an upcoming story, and this leads the pack. There’s a few reasons why. Firstly, it has added pro-vitamin B5, an anti-inflammatory that helps with healing dehydrated and sensitive skin. Secondly, I like the viscous consistency, it doesn’t evaporate completely leaving behind a little residue that feels a seal, which I personally like. Last but not least, the results. When I stopped using it to test other hydrating serums, I noticed a difference almost immediately to the plumpness and health of my skin.” – Wendy, Beauty Editor

BITE Beauty Agave Lip Mask in Champagne, $40
“The Agave Lip Mask is an absolute life saver. It instantly took my lips from being dry to soft and refreshed. I even love that it came with a bit of tint because I could then wear it out whilst still caring for my lips. They’ve never been softer.” – Lauren, Art Director

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Playa Everyday Shampoo, $46
“Playa is a new haircare brand hailing from Venice Beach, LA that’s launched into MECCA. At first, I was worried about the size of the bottle, it’s only 225mL, which is nothing because I go through shampoo like I go through petrol. Thankfully, the tiniest amount goes a long way (I use about 10 cents worth on two different sections of my scalp) and it foams up as soon as there’s any kind of friction. The consistency of the shampoo reminds me of gel or sap, which sounds strange but adds to its au naturale appeal. It’s high in Coconut Water, Aloe Vera Extract and Sugar Beet Extract and smells freshly squeezed. SLS and paraben-free and colour safe, I’d rate this shampoo higher than its conditioner counterpart – and that’s saying something.” – Wendy, Beauty Editor

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IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Breakout Full-Coverage Treatment Concealer, $35
“If you’re a fan of the eternally sold-out IT Cosmetics Your Face But Better CC Cream, you’ll love this concealer equally. It’s best used for its intended purpose – to cover up spots and pigmentation rather than under eyes and rivals my all-time favourites, NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer and Too Faced Born This Way Concealer.” – Wendy, Beauty Editor

Go-To Skincare Transformazing Mask (6 Pack), $45
“The mask is saturated with thick serum so I felt I was getting a good dose of product. There was even more product remaining in the sachet which was great to use and apply to the neck. I loved that the mask has slits in it which made it easy to wrap around my face and I felt it had better coverage than others I’ve tried in the past. Afterwards, I felt very refreshed and my skin glowed. A day later and my skin still has a glow and feels hydrated. You get six masks for $45, which works out to be $7.50 a pop. WORTH IT!” – Lauren, Art Director

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Tell us, what have you tried this month and loved?

What would you like us to review next month?