New York City is one of my favourite places in the world; it really is the concrete jungle that dreams are made of. I've popped over to Manhattan quite a few times over the last ten years, and it never gets old - the vastness of the skyline, the contrast between the calmness of Central Park and the craziness of Times Square, the endless opportunity to eat and drink. While I was over that way a week or so ago, inevitably I popped into as many Sephora stores as I could manage to see what beauty treats US customers were benefiting from and us Brits were missing out on. Although over the last few years we've become increasingly able to get our hands on many of the brands that were previously out of our reach, there are still some little gems hiding over the Atlantic that I just couldn't resist picking up. My Sephora haul was by no means limited to this mini selection, but these are the three beauty innovations I was really excited about and wanted to share with you - even if just to make you a tad jealous!
1. Beauty Blender Blotterazzi ($20.00)
You can't not be familiar with the original Beauty Blender which started a whole new trend of buffing and blending your base using an angled perfecting sponge; this little genius compact is from the same people and offers up another simple yet effective way of ensuring makeup is left looking flawless. The teardrop shaped compact contains two little angled sponges which can be used to blot away excess oil and shine from the face throughout the day, removing any build-up without moving or disturbing makeup. If you're a fan of blotting paper, but hate how they feel (or the awkwardness of the oil showing up while in public,) then this is a convenient and more discrete alternative. The sponge delicately absorbs oil to leave my complexion looking fresh, while helping to re-blend my base to provide a 'just applied' feeling. You can easily wash the sponges every few days using a brush shampoo or gentle cleanser too, meaning they'll last for ages. A little pricey, but totally worth it - I hope they launch these in the UK sooner rather than later.
2. Sephora Perfection Mist Airbrush Blush ($20.00)
When I saw this on display I didn't know whether to get excited or just giggle at the ridiculousness of the concept. A spray can of blusher doesn't exactly sound like the best way to achieve a natural glow, but the nozzle delivers an even airbrushed like finish that's actually rather fabulous. The waterproof formula is pigmented yet oil free, meaning it's not at all greasy and leaves cheeks with a subtle glow. Although it dries really quickly and doesn't budge, you can easily buff and blend with a brush or your fingers for a more perfected finish; my top tip is to spritz the smallest amount onto the apple of each cheek and build up, rather than overloading cheeks with a colour that's tricky to remove. I'm always up for innovative textures and application methods, and this definitely ticks those boxes... Even if it is a total novelty. I'm interested to see which brand will bring this concept to the masses in the UK.
3. Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick ($19.00)
One of the most hyped up brands of our time, I was incredibly keen to try Kat Von D's self-named makeup range when I spotted it in Sephora. Although there's a huge selection of lip, face and eye products available, it was the Everlasting Liquid Lipstick that caught my eye - especially in this siren-esque deep red shade. The formula is incredibly pigmented, offering an eye-popping richness in only one swipe of the brush; when applied to lips it creates a show-stopping result that's definitely not for the feint-hearted. I do find the applicator brush tricky to use (try using a lip brush for more precision and a sharp lip line,) but the formula dries within seconds to leave my lips feeling awesome. Transference is minimal once it dries, but I do find that it moves and fades as soon as you sip a drink or munch on some food - meaning top-ups are essential. The benefit this brings is a super luxe and matte finish without drying lips or overloading the surface; there's no wonder this is a brand that causes us Brits to go crazy with excitement every time we're on US soil.
Have you tried any of these innovations yourself, or picked up any others you love from Sephora? Which would you like to try if they were to become available in the UK?
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