Essie spring 2014 range

There isn’t a time I walk into DisChem without checking to see if there are new Essie colours that I might have missed (which is very seldom). This season, Essie haven’t missed a beat with their gorgeous pastel-type range for spring. I adore Truth or Flare, Fashion Playground and Style Hunter. Available from R119 each.

I’m also looking forward to their summer collection with some awesome neons.

New Vichy range

I recently wrote about the new packaging for Vichy’s Capital Soleil for kids, and new additions to the suncare range include Capital Soleil Velvety BB Cream SPF50+ (R269), which has pigments, hyaluronic acid and reinforced UV protection system which are said to replump skin, leaving it feeling smoother and softer.

With an SPF of 50, the cream helps to protect against sun damage, brown spots and sun-induced premature skin ageing. The BB cream is also tinted, and is suitable for normal to dry sensitive skin.

It also has Vichy Thermal Spa Water, which is well known for its regenerating results. this new BB Cream is suitable for normal to dry skin sensitive skin looking for tinted facial suncare.

Lipidol

The makers of Bio-Oil, Union Swiss, recently launched an oil-based skincare range called Lipidol, available exclusively at Clicks. Lipidol has been in the making for more than seven years, and is being called the “world’s first moisture retention range”  as the skin’s natural oily layer is continually being supplemented.

In the range are Cleansing Face Oil, Cleansing Body Oil, After Shower Gel, Sunsreen Oil, After Shave Oil, and Overnight Face Oil. At  R79.99 per product, this is brilliant value for money. I’ve been using the Cleansing Body Oil and After Shower Gel for the last few weeks as my daily staples, and I love how soft my skin is, without it feeling greasy or oily.

All products are suited for sensitive skin.

Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective Cream and Eye-Opener Serum

I’ve just started using these two, so it will take me a while before I can report on any visible results. What I can say is that I’ve had no irritations or breakouts (woohoo – I have acne-prone and sensitive skin), and that the cream and the serum smell and feel good.

The cream’s promise? To correct the most visible signs of ageing, to lift, firm and smooth skin, and to retexturise skin.

The serum’s promise? To lift, firm, smooth, hydrate and restore the youthful shape of the eye.

Both products are paraben free, fragrance-free, and safe for sensitive skin. The cream costs R745 from Kiehl’s, and the serum is R495.

Coming soon…

I didn’t realise what a cult product the Clarisonic was until I read the reviews and saw beauty editors hailing it as the only thing next to a facial that can get skin really clean. And hey, if it’s good enough for Oprah, Liv Tyler, Heidi Klum, Olivia Wilde, Gwyneth Paltrow, Leighton Meester and Fergie, then it should do for me to (I’ve been using it for a week and I’m noticing a new skin glow).

Launching here in January, the Clarisonic Mia 2 oscillates back and forth at a sonic frequency that produces over 300 movements per second, which gently extracts impurities from skin and pores. Since it cleans the skin so well, moisturisers and serums can do their jobs a bit better as they can absorb more effectively. According to Clarisonic, it can also reduce the appearance of pores, fine lines and wrinkles, and improved skin tone.

It will likely retail at R2 499 at Stuttafords.