AR Beauty Beat, August 2021: Best Beauty & Grooming Releases

Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez launches in Australia through Sephora today. With breathable formulas and adjustable coverage, Rare Beauty products aim to provide a fresh finish without hiding what makes you unique. “I’m so excited to release beauty products that not only feel great, but also celebrate what makes each of us rare,” said Selena Gomez, founder of Rare Beauty. “These products aren’t about being someone else, it’s about being who you are, whether that’s rocking a full face of bold makeup or barely any makeup at all. Makeup is something to enjoy, it’s not something you need. I want every person to feel beautiful exactly as they are.” Covetable Rare Beauty formulas include the Soft Pinch Liquid Blush and Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation.

Budget-friendly men’s skincare company Bulldog have launched a duo of shower gels. Eco-conscious and vegan-friendly, Bulldog Shower Gels are made with gentle cleansers and naturally-derived fragrances, and housed in bottles made from 100% recycled plastic. Available in two scents; Original Shower Gel, which features a blend of citrus, mint, eucalyptus, cedarwood, and patchouli, and Lemon & Bergamot Shower Gel, with notes of lemon, lime, bergamot, orange, and herbs. 

Botanical beauty brand Grown Alchemist has introduced the Power Couple Kit; comprising their Detox Serum and Instant Smoothing Serum, the products are designed to be used in conjunction with each other to detoxify the skin and produce deep hydration. The Detox Gel works to restore skin texture compromised by a contemporary urban lifestyle, while the Instant Smoothing Serum is a multi-weight hyaluronic acid that delivers an instant lifting effect through intense hydration.

Retinol combines with peptides, ceramides, and niacinamide in the Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Line Erasing Eye Cream. A hydrating formula designed to reduce fine lines and as well as brighten the area around the eyes, the Retinol Ceramide Line Erasing Eye Cream is ophthalmologist and dermatologist approved, working without stinging or irritating eyes. 

Launch date: 8th August

With over 80 clinics across Australia and New Zealand, Clear Skincare have cemented their status as skin specialists. Now, they’ve created two new products that harness the benefits of lactic acid – the key ingredient in one of their most popular facial peels – to allow for gentle exfoliation at home; a lactic acid gel cleanser and serum. Enriched with soothing sea buckthorn, the Clear Skincare Lactic Acid Gel Cleanser is suitable for everyday use and is particularly beneficial for those with pigmentation, dryness, redness, and mature skin. Meanwhile, the Clear Skincare Lactic Acid Serum uses 5% lactic acid alongside aloe vera and olive extracts to simultaneously soothe and exfoliate the skin. Gentle enough for even sensitive skin, the serum is designed to be used a couple of times a week. 

Men’s grooming brand American Crew is bringing back the old-school hair tonic. American Crew Prep & Prime Tonic is a lightweight formula that works to add hold and texture to hair without weighing it down, while moisturising, detangling, and refreshing the hair and scalp. 

Cult-favourite product Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrators receive a colourful Australian-themed makeover courtesy of New York artist Jason Naylor. The limited-edition packaging adorns the Dramatically Different Lotion+, Oil-Free Gel, and Jelly, with each product working to strengthen the skin and protect the skin barrier. 

Ingestible beauty brand Vida Glow has released a new berry flavour of their Anti-G-Ox. A supercharged daily antioxidant supplement, Vida Glow Anti-G-Ox contains a plethora of nutrients (including vitamin C, biotin, bioavailable curcumin, vitamin E, chromium, and zinc) designed to protect against inflammation, promote healthy sugar metabolism and prevent glycation, and prevent oxidative stress from free radical exposure. 

Marking the brand’s first foray into the facial oil department, Dr Roebuck’s Wategos Facial Oil is also the first skincare brand to harness the benefits of blue rainforest oil. Ethically and sustainably sourced from Rosewood trees in Australia, blue rainforest oil works to calm inflammation, reduce breakouts and decongest the skin, restore hydration, and support collagen production. The Wategos Facial Oil teams it with CoQ10 and a blend of nine antioxidant-rich plant oils, including jojoba, rosehip, pomegranate, and macadamia.

Mecca has launched a new in-house brand; Mecca Max Skin. A range of skincare essentials designed for everyday use, the Mecca Max Skin products are vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, and fragrance-free. Hero products that can be used by pretty much everyone are the Foam-O Gentle Gel Cleanser and All-Day Everyday Oil-Free Moisturiser, which can be supplemented by targeted products like The Breakup Blemish Busting Serum, X-Zit Strategy Clarifying Mask, and Watercooler Calming Hydration Serum. Best of all; healthy skin courtesy of Mecca Max Skin is super affordable, with products ranging from $10 to $26.

A formula specifically designed to target signs of ageing on the neck, including crepiness, sagging, horizontal lines, and a loss in skin firmness and elasticity. The SkinCeuticals Tripeptide-R Neck Repair combines slow-release retinol with tripeptides and glaucine in a hydrating delivery system to create a formula suitable for daily use without irritation. 

A multifaceted day cream, the Medik8 Advanced Day Ultimate Protect provides both UV protection through the use of advanced sun protection filters as well as total environmental protection through the inclusion of photolyase, a DNA repair enzyme; carnosine, a peptide that aids in preventing ageing caused by glycation; marrubium vulgare extract, to protect against pollution; and blueberry seed oil, which acts as a shield against blue light. Enriched with squalane and hyaluronic acid, the rich cream sinks into skin easily (and invisibly), providing nourishment and skin protection.