It’s New. In August. At MECCA.
January 1 | 5 minute read
Words by Kerri Gordon
Originally published on | July 29
NEW BEAUTY SO GOOD I MIGHT CRY
I want – nay, I have – to talk about Tsu Lange Lor, a collection of scents and objects for self and sanctuary, imagined by homegrown superstar Troye Sivan, just up the road in Carlton.
There is so much heart to this brand (I poured mine out in an interview with Troye and his brother/co-founder Steele Mellet, here) and as MECCA’s first Australian fragrance brand, I’m rallying around it with bucket loads of gusto. Though small, the scent offering has something for everyone. I’m starting my collection with Luca EDP; it smells like a freshly printed glossy mag, with a minerally fizziness I’m still trying to put my finger on. If you like Molecule 01, I Don’t Know What, AnOther 13 or Glossier You; run.
There’s a bit of a pop culture theme here, and as a university major on the topic, I feel qualified to tell you that Half Magic, co-created by Euphoria head makeup artist Donni Davy and A24 Films, is the sparkling makeup brand we’ve all been waiting for. Frankly, this whole no-makeup makeup thing has gone on for far too long, and I’m thrilled to have an excuse to wear a glitter eye in a corporate setting (all while indulging my inner film snob). I’m still working my way through the range, but off the bat Glitterpill, a hyper-iridescent glitter liner, and the Eyeshadow Single in ‘Blushing Lizard’, a mauve-blue shift shimmer shadow that swipes on like butter; are bringing me immense joy (and compliments from my local barista).
Before I move on, director/screenwriter Sofia Coppola (Lost In Translation, Marie Antoinette, The Bling Ring, Priscilla, my dreams) dropping a tinted lip balm collab with Augustinus Bader was not on my 2024 bingo card. It might just be the bougiest balm you’ll ever try. I’ll be buying two; one to wear, the other to cherish (my pre-ordered copy of the ‘Sofia Coppola Archive’ sits on my coffee table in the plastic wrap).
LIPSTALGIA
On the topic of lips: it feels like my batmitzvah all over again as I pine over the very important decision of frosting mine with either a peachy-nudey M.A.C lipstick, or high-shine Lancome Juicy Tubes. Like all your favourite movies (The Devil Wears Prada, Freaky Friday, Shrek), the latter is making a welcome comeback into your beauty bag, and you can bet it’s just as juicy, gloopy and glossy as you remember. The former comes repackaged and reformulated as the new limited-edition MECCA Loves M.A.C Lustreglass Lipstick, a monogrammed lipstick bullet in the cult-favourite sheer-shine shade, ‘Thanks, It’s M.A.C.’
BLUSH BLINDNESS? I DON’T EVEN KNOW HER
I know you only just got your hands on Glossier’s Cloud Paint blushes, but I’m here to inform you that the ruse around rouge ain’t going nowhere. But that’s okay, because blush ‘stacking’ (read: layering) is in, and it’s all about mixing and matching complementing colours and textures.
Start with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Blurring Serum Blush, a sheer, niacinamide-packed skincare-y serum with ‘I’ve frolicked in a field, youthfully’ colour payoff, build with the Morphe Huephoric Blush, a cream-to-powder formula swirled with a primer to grip to skin and last, and set with Kosas’ Blush is Life, a radiant-not-glittery baked blush that melts in and deters dry patches with a spike of hyaluronic acid and squalane.
PRODUCTS THAT GET IT DONE
When friends and family come to me for product recommendations, the most common requirement I hear is “I just want something that works.” My answer often starts with the names Emma. Augustinus, Allies or Dr Dennis, and I’m thrilled to have tested some new beauty game changers to add to the list.
MECCA COSMETICA’s 20% Panthenol Skin Barrier Repair Lotion is about to become the culted G.O.A.T for sensitive, reactive skin. It’s like a hug in a bottle for flare-ups and over-exfoliation.
Ultra luxe French pharma brand Cosmetics 27 has dropped Baume 27 Crème Corps, a body version of their coveted facial balm. Believe me when I tell you that this cream will resurrect your limbs from the dry, dry, depths of a Melbourne winter overnight.
And last, but by no means least, high-performance hair and scalp care brand Kerastase, loved by salons globally, has landed on shelves at MECCA. This is A Big Deal. The brand is totally obsessed with taking a highly personal, scientific, and diagnostic approach to treating specific hair needs, in pursuit of the best, healthiest hair of your life. Take a squiz!
