A sure sign that summer is almost upon us: the heat is getting crazier (these days, we feel like we can barely take 10 minutes outdoors), and the makeup colours are getting brighter and bronzier. So despite the scorching heat, we take comfort in the fact that at least we have all these upcoming gorgeous summer launches to look forward to.
M.A.C Chris Chang Lustre Lipstick in Gold XXL and Cloud Gait
Don’t freak out – these don’t go on bright yellow and blue. The lustre finish of the lipstick means it appears as a semi-gloss, so anyone can try these seemingly-outlandish colours. But it’s really the packaging of this collection that’s got us – M.A.C has collaborated with Chris Chang, a Chinese fashion designer of label Poesia, who’s known for her unabashedly bold designs in a kaleidoscope of colours. This translates into the Chinese-inspired packaging and the range of rainbow shades, which will probably form one of M.A.C’s boldest collections for this year.
$37 each, available at M.A.C TANGS at Tang Plaza from 28 May 2016.
RMK W Color Mascara in EX-02/Green Marine
Sometimes, we like to reach for coloured mascara, as it’s subtle enough to not draw too much attention from afar, but is like a little surprise for anyone who draws close enough to notice the colour of your lashes. We’re partial to colours like blue and green, so this dual-ended RMK mascara is really all the coloured mascara we need in one product. Mix it up by having one colour on each eye, or have your top lashes in one shade and your bottom ones in the other (the smaller brush is actually made for coating bottom lashes).
$65, available at RMK counters from 28 April 2016.
MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua XL Eye Pencil in M-92 and M-30
MAKE UP FOR EVER is officially replacing its Aqua line of makeup with Aqua XL, and this eye pencil will be the first in the revamped range. It’s a gel crayon that comes in 20 shades and a range of finishes like matte, shimmer and iridescent, and the brand says it’s been tested in the most extreme conditions to prove that it can withstand all amounts of moisture and heat (sounds like typical conditions in Singapore in this season). The new face of the line is English electropop artist Charli XCX, who will be working with the brand to wear their colours in all her performances and music videos for the year – and seeing her rocking that bold pastel lid in the above main image is enough to make us lust over these Aqua XL colours.
$36 each, available at Sephora from 12 May 2016.
NARS Lip Cover
YAS, NARS liquid lipsticks!! Finally, they’ve gotten in on the liquid lipstick trend for the Summer 2016 collection with the all-new Lip Cover in 4 shades, ranging from red to a dusty mauve that we suspect will be the most popular shade. This one isn’t matte, though; rather it dries semi-glossy, but the colour payoff is definitely there. While we admit it’s quite a limited selection for now, we hear the brand has more plans to bring us more liquid lip formulas in the near future, so we’re very much appeased.
POA, available at NARS counters and selected Sephora stores from 1 May 2016.
Yves Saint Laurent Beauté Les Saharienne Bronzing Stones
This is like a gorgeous miniature desert you can keep in a compact, and might just be the prettiest bronzer we’ve seen yet – we’ll be hesitant to dip our brush into this one. It’s not the in-your-face kind of bronzing that will leave you looking ultra-shimmery, but rather, the idea is to impart a “magical bronzing glow”, that seems to come from within the skin (isn’t that always the whole point?). The texture is of a creamy powder, made with super-fine pigments to blend better into the skin.
$79, available at Yves Saint Laurent Beauté stores and counters from May 2016.
Urban Decay Naked Skin One & Done Hybrid Complexion Perfector
They mean it when they say this is “one and done”: this multitasking product combines skincare and coverage for those ultra-lazy days. Being huge fans of the Urban Decay Naked complexion range, we know skipping out on makeup steps won’t have to mean sacrificing on quality coverage with this one. The formula is lightweight and leaves a diffused glow, and promises to last all day. With this, maybe we can finally put down our liquid foundations.
$50, available at Urban Decay stores and Sephora from 26 May 2016.
Tom Ford Sheer Cheek Duo in Bicoastal
Blush palettes always, always get us, and when they’re in packaging as luxe as Tom Ford’s, resistance is completely futile. Bicoastal is a pairing of a light peachy pink we think would be great as an everyday highlighter, and a darker cool-toned pink that is universally flattering. It’s a creamy formula that goes on sheer, so the colour payoff will be nicely translucent, perfect for a summer complexion.
$119, available at the Tom Ford Beauty counter at TANGS at Tang Plaza from May 2016.
Elizabeth Arden Sunset Bronze Prismatic Highlighter in Eclipse
Highlighter is most easily applied straight from a stick, and this one from Elizabeth Arden’s limited edition summer makeup collection perfectly embodies the “Sunset Bronze” theme: a light, pearlescent bronze you can apply in a “C” shape from the browbone to the cheekbones, and on the nose bridge. Here’s one more idea: we would even use this as an eyeshadow to create semi-glossy lids, since this is such a pretty colour.
$59, available at Elizabeth Arden counters.
