With the arrival of spring comes a host of new beauty launches, and we’ve been working our way through them, testing as we go. This season we’re seeing innovative new makeup launches, exciting body care and new-and-improved ingredients to elevate your favourite basics. Here’s a little roundup of the new products our editorial team is loving right now:
Haylo Botanicals Renew Drops Face Oil 30ml (R1295.00)
Haylo Botanicals is a new, proudly South African luxury skincare brand that utilises high quality botanical ingredients for effective skincare results. The brand launched with three facial oils, and we were treated to a bottle of Renew Drops, which is designed to nourish, hydrate, smooth skin tone and texture, reduce fine lines and wrinkles and create a protective barrier against environmental stresses, assisting to strengthen your skin’s microbiome.
“This new skincare brand is so luxurious and beautifully crafted: Everything from the packaging to the ingredients were carefully curated for a luxe product filled with the very best in local natural ingredients. 100% natural, vegan and cruelty-free, Renew Drops contains electric daisy, mongongo oil, rosehip oil and red raspberry oil. It has a beautiful texture and scent, and is a real pleasure to use.”
Shop online here.
essence Baby Got Glow Liquid Highlighter (R69.00)
These liquid highlighters offer the soft glow you’re after this spring. Easily blendable and buildable, they come with a built-in soft sponge applicator that makes it really easy to apply. Available in three shades: 10 Sassy in Silk (a soft gold), 20 Rose and Shine (a pretty rose gold) and 30 Breezy Bronze (a peachy bronze). Simple to use, they’re affordable and trendy, plus the shades are really versatile to match all skin tones.
“Whenever a new makeup trend emerges, essence is one of the first brands on it, and I can always count on them to keep it ultra-affordable too. I love these little liquid highlighters – the formula is light and is easily blended with a sponge or even the fingers. They give the skin such a soft, pretty glow and I love how convenient they are; you can literally keep one in your purse to touch up on-the-go.”
Shop online here.
Eco Diva Purify 200ml (R85.00)
Purify is a versatile all-purpose spray designed to be your first line of defence against germs and bacteria. Purify is more than just a sanitizer; it’s a multipurpose solution that disinfects hands, cell phones, surfaces, and more. From your kitchen to your car, bathroom, and even your makeup station, Purify keeps your hands in perfect pH balance while safeguarding your environment.
“In recent years I’ve been trying to use less commercial cleansers in my home and find some natural alternatives instead. I love this sanitising spray from Eco Diva! It’s not drying on my hands like some of the other sanitisers I have used, and it works wonders in keeping my cellphone and laptop screens clean. It’s so versatile and I love that it’s free from harmful ingredients.”
Shop online here.
Tonic Institute Gro-Tonic Clarifying Shampoo 250ml (R230.00)
Enriched with apigenin, biotin and oleanolic acid, this low-sulphate shampoo helps add volume to thinning or ageing hair, improves scalp vitality for heathy hair growth and prepares hair for conditioning. Filled with a host of nourishing plant-based ingredients, it also maintains your hair’s natural oil balance.
“I love a clarifying shampoo because my hair tends to hold on to a bit of product build-up, and because I have an oily scalp, a clarifying shampoo does wonders in keeping my hair cleaner for longer. This one is just fab – I love that is low-sulphate and filled with natural ingredients. It’s free from nasties, smells great and creates a lovely lather. Plus, it leaves my hair looking shiny, fresh and healthy.”
Shop online here.
Fundamentals Skincare Exfoliating Body Scrubs 240ml (R165.00)
A gentle mechanical exfoliator for the body for smoother skin that removes dead skin cells while adding nourishment and hydration – yes please! Prepare your skin for better absorption of body lotions and a smoother texture. Available in four delectable variants: Mint Julep, Watermelon, Hemingway Daiquiri and Tropical Fruit, these scrubs are just what you need to get your skin back on track after a long, cold winter.
“A good quality body scrub is in my top 5 must-have products all year round, but I find them especially necessary to remove dry and dead skin cells after winter. I adore these scrubs by Fundamentals Skincare – they’re gentle but they get the job done, they smell incredible and they’re packed with nourishing ingredients like aloe vera, retinol, jojoba esters and more. They’re also proudly South African, vegan and cruelty-free.”
Shop online here.
Optiphi Active Renewal Solution: Multi-Matrix Foliant 30ml (R1200.00) & Dermal Reconstitution Mask 50ml (R1500.00)
This two-step solution offers a weekly exfoliation and masking regimen that maintains salon-quality results, brightens and rejuvenates the skin, and provides moisturising and soothing benefits between professional treatments. The Multi-Matrix Foliant combines alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), polyhydroxy acids (PHAs), and enzymes to penetrate different skin layers intelligently to ensure effective and safe exfoliation. Perfect for rejuvenating and renewing dull, rough-textured, and ageing skin, it delivers salon-quality results right at home. The Dermal Reconstitution Mask features innovative 81phiV™ Peptide Technology, and is designed to be used after exfoliation to intensely soothe, nourish, and rejuvenate the skin. The powerful blend of ceramides, peptides, and calming extracts delivers salon-quality results at home between your professional in-salon treatments.
“Optiphi is known for being one of SA’s most respected and innovative skincare brands, and I get excited every time they release something new. This duo is what skincare dreams are made of. Salon-quality exfoliation, followed by a salon-quality mask – just what my skin needs this season! It’s not always possible to get to the salon when you need to, and regular professional treatments can be heavy on the pocket too, so this is a wonderful alternative and offers fantastic results.”
Shop online here.
Caribbeantan Self-Tan Eraser 150ml (R119.95)
The Caribbeantan Self-Tan Eraser is the quickest and easiest way to gently remove unwanted tan in 5+ minutes. Formulated with skin-loving ingredients including vitamins C and E, aloe vera extract, gogi berry extract and pro-vitamin B5, it leaves skin feeling smooth and silky soft. This gentle, non-sticky foam is developed with glycolic acid (AHA) to reveal primed, even and rejuvenated skin ready for your next summer glow.
“This product is pure genius. How many times has your self-tan started to fade and you desperately want to re-do it, but have to wait for the last remnants of colour to disappear before you can start again? This easy-to-use product gently and quickly removes unwanted self-tan while nourishing your skin. So clever and so desperately needed, this is going to become a must-have for everyone who uses self-tan products.”
Shop online here.
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour HydraPlay Skin Perfecting Daily Moisturizer 45ml (R595.00)
Eight Hour Cream fans, this one’s for you! The newest member to join this iconic family is the new HydraPlay Moisturizer, a lightweight, fast-absorbing moisturiser designed for today’s busy woman who seeks simple, effective skincare. One pump delivers powerful hydration, smoothing and brightening benefits. Infused with a blend of 95% naturally derived ingredients, including hyaluronic acid and glycerin, HydraPlay boosts hydration by 64%, giving skin a smooth, radiant glow. Its vegan formula aligns with the values of conscious consumers, offering a product that is as ethical as it is effective.
“You will never find me without a tube of Eight Hour Cream in my home, and I have loved absolutely every new Eight Hour product to be released under this line. This new moisturiser has the most incredible lightweight texture and refreshing feel when applied to the skin. It absorbs with ease, leaving skin feeling softer, smoother and instantly hydrated. I love the simplicity of the product, and the fact that Elizabeth Arden has taken additional steps to ensure sustainability, warms my heart. If you want a simple yet effective moisturiser this spring, I highly recommend you give this one a try.”
Shop online here.
Dove Sensitive Care Derma Hypoallergenic Shower Gel 400ml (R89.00)
This sulphate-free, un-fragranced and soap-free shower gel has a moisturising formula filled with skin-natural moisturising ingredients to restore moisture and offer lasting nourishment. It instantly relieves dryness and soothes skin, thanks to an ultra-moisturising formula with Triple Moisture Serum. This shower gel is suitable for dry skins as well as sensitive and reactive skins. Approved by PETA, this product is pH-balanced and comprises a 97% biodegradable formula.
“I’m lucky that my skin isn’t reactive or particularly sensitive, but after struggling with dryness throughout winter, I like to use a shower gel and body moisturiser that’s gentle and hydrating, and rich in ingredients that are going to lock moisture into my skin. I love how gentle and nourishing this formula is and that my skin feels silky when I get out of the shower. It provides the perfect base for your body lotion or cream.”
Shop online here.
Aromatic Apothecary Zap-Zit Mini Roll-On (R135.00)
Zap-Zit is a unique combination of tea tree, lavender and bergamot in an alcohol gel base, designed to treat an unwanted pimple quickly, effectively and naturally. This handy mini roller is small enough to keep in your handbag, and can be used on-the-go. It’s non-greasy and won’t dry out your skin; instead, it dries the pimple and deals directly with the immediate challenges of that pimple. Tea tree was chosen for its anti-bacterial properties, lavender for its anti-inflammatory, calming and repairing properties and bergamot for its ability to gently dry up excessive oil and ability to tighten pores.
“I love a handy essential oil mini roller, as it is so convenient to keep on-hand and use whenever needed. This formula is very gentle, which is great for those who experience sensitivity, as well as for younger skins prone to breakouts. The ingredients are known for their ability to help soothe, heal and treat problematic skin, and it’s so great to have a natural solution to pimples, that can easily be slotted into your existing natural skincare regime.”
Shop online here.
