It’s New. In September. At MECCA.
August 26 | 5 minute read
Words by Kerri Gordon
I’m indifferent as to whether you roll your eyes or lean in at my next sentence; this past mercury retrograde (it ends today, August 27th) has been a real drainer. I got locked out of my apartment, misplaced my AirPods, became the proud recipient of three parking tickets, and cried in the supermarket when all I wanted to do was make a chocolate cake (Norwegian swimmer/chocolate muffin man Henrik Christiansen sold every grocer out of cocoa).
Tonight, I’m sage-ing my apartment and welcoming spring with Tsu Lange Yor’s Pool Candle. And tomorrow, I’m shopping my feelings (and moisturising my legs with my new favourite OSEA Undaria Algae™ Body Oil) because I need a ‘little treat’. Here’s what’s on my list.
SOME THINGS SHOULD LAST FOREVER
I’m often baffled by people on dating apps looking for a short-term relationship. What does that even mean? Casual is one thing, but a relationship infers connection, and a certain level of commitment. Why put in the effort in the first place if there’s no long-term gain? I feel the same about my beauty, which is why I’ve been looking for products that go the distance.
NARS just dropped their Light Reflecting Primer and Setting Spray, and unsurprisingly, they’re really good. Sandwich your makeup between these, and it’ll never flake, break up, or ghost on you. The duo is fast becoming the tools of the trade for my new weekend gig: bridesmaiding. There’s the new Urban Decay Face Bond Foundation, too, which promises up to 24-hour wear with a built-in setting powder, which I’m taking as permission to sleep in my makeup. That, in addition to the Charlotte Tilbury Exaggereyes Volume Mascara (I’m a wedding crier). I tested it in the baking isle of six cocoa-less supermarkets, and even though it’s not marketed as waterproof, it did not budge.
Fragrance is another category that – due to its higher price point – I expect a lot from. I’m writing this at 4pm and can still smell every molecule of the Dries Van Noten Raving Rose EDP, of which I spritzed just once at 6am this morning. The launch of Van Noten’s beauty collection into MECCA has been highly anticipated by the office fashion girlies – though even if you’re not quite acquainted with his designs, I double dare you to wear test his surprising, everlasting, scents.
MY SKIN IS THE BEST IT’S EVER LOOKED (IT’S MAKEUP)
I’ve had a four-year battle with perioral dermatitis, and I’ve finally found the skincare routine to keep redness and irritation bay – and makeup that covers it up, without making it worse.
It’s mostly Tower 28, a three-month secret that has been especially hard to keep when the ‘your skin looks so good, what have you got on’ comments have been at an all time high. There is not one flop when it comes to this product line. Not one. I got to spend a day with the brand’s founder, Amy Liu, and her passion for creating sensitive-skin safe beauty (for herself, and everyone else) is inspirational. She’s the real deal. I’ve attempted to list out my favourite products four times now but I can’t help but list the entire range. Honestly just overhaul your everyday makeup bag with Tower 28.
I also have some other honourable mentions. I recently filmed with Ariel Tejada, the incredibly talented makeup artist responsible for Kylie Jenner’s most iconic looks. Off the record (now, on), Tejada noted that he is in awe of the finish of the new Kylie Cosmetics Skin Tint Blurring Elixir. “Kylie really cooked with this,” he told me.
And then there’s the MECCA MAX Off Duty Serum Concealer. If you weren’t aware, MECCA MAX has ears on the ground in MECCA stores, and with that insider knowledge, create products that intend to fulfil our customers’ every need, want and desire. This hydrating, skincare-y concealer is everything you’ve ever asked for. And we’d know, because you literally asked for it.
SMELLS LIKE A NEW START
Aromatherapy is one of the forms of therapy I’ll be enduring post-retrograde. And it starts with a new fragrance. I’m dabbling between;
Maison Francis Kurkdjian APOM EDP. It stands for ‘A Part Of Me’ and it’s just that - it smells like someone you know, in a nostalgic, comforting kind of way. Skin-y, amber-y, sweet and totally inoffensive.
There's, Ellis Brooklyn Miami Nectar EDP, which smells exactly like the Piña Colada I need right now.
Or, there’s D.S. & Durga Black Magenta, the perfect compromise of the two. It takes inspiration from a night out in NYC; it's sweet and pineapple-y, yet soft and grounding (that's the amber), and sits perfectly on the cusp of classy and trashy - like any great fragrance - or big night out - should.
