product reviews

The fragrance industry sees so many new launches every season with plenty of bottles being discontinued, so celebrating the 10th anniversary of Narciso Rodriguez For Her ($125) is a big deal. As a longtime fan of this soft, sensual scent, it's easy to forget just how much this was a pioneering fragrance back in 2003. From it's black opaque bottle to the key note of musk, by description it sounds like men's cologne, but the designer himself was keen on pushing forward with all of his unconventional ideas for his first-ever women's perfume. His original vision paid off, and it has garnered quite the cult following. The blend of musks mixed with floral notes like orange blossom, osmanthus, and rose make this a warm, feminine scent that is sure to stand the test of time.

When you think beachy hair, the last place you probably think of is Brooklyn NYC. But Brooklyn Beach Hair Spray (approx $14) is about to blow your idea of surf sprays out of the water. Made in one of New York's most beloved boroughs, this all-natural spray serves up sexy, textured waves that make you look like you've just emerged from the ocean. A healthy dose of salt provides the body, while jojoba oil keeps your hair from drying out, so you don't have to worry about the gritty texture that comes with most beach sprays.

Brooklyn Beach Hair Spray is made with rosewater and jasmine, providing a delicious scent that's both floral and woodsy. This is one beach spray you'll want to wear all year round. The only thing that will give away this spray's Brooklyn roots is the healthy dose of volume you'll be sporting.

As one of the world's most beautiful women — I mean really, those lips are criminal — Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is kind of otherworldly. She has near-perfect hair and skin, and after seeing her appearances at London fashion week for Burberry and then again at the Oscars, I decided it was time to investigate. I'd heard in the past she follows the same diet as Elle Macpherson, Clean & Lean by James Duigan, so we asked her what it's all about. Keep reading.

If your hair is crying out for some extra TLC this Winter, look no further than the Moroccan Oil Restorative Hair Mask ($49.50). If you’re already a lover of the Moroccan Oil, you will be equally impressed with its sister mask. It too contains the magical ingredient Argan Oil, and is enriched with Keratin for a little something extra.

The product boasts its power on restoring hair from damage caused by chemicals and the unavoidable forces of nature (aka sun and wind), which makes now the perfect time to start lathering your tresses. I can recommend this product for anyone who has either given up on their dry, treated hair; or who just wants to add some extra moisture to their ends. Keep reading.

You've heard it a million times before: in the Winter, it's a good idea to swap out your powder foundation for a more creamy formulation, such as a BB cream. But not all are created equal. If you're looking for the cream of the crop, then you'll want to pick up Revlon PhotoReady BB Cream ($35). Now, the deal with BB creams is that they offer light coverage but boast a bevy of other benefits like built-in sunscreen and primer. Revlon's version has all of the above, but gains extra points in the coverage department. Where other BB creams struggle to hide extra-pesky blemishes, Revlon melts them away into your skin, giving you an even-looking complexion instantly.

And as if that weren't enough, Revlon's PhotoReady BB Cream does just that: makes you instantly photo-ready. Its primer works so well, your skin with have a flawless glow that lasts all day. But it's also somehow incredibly lightweight, making it easy to layer an extra dose of SPF on top of it without feeling cake-y. With all these benefits, Revlon's new BB cream is gunning for rookie of the year.

As Winter closes in on us, it's time to think about buying a warming fragrance. We already know how closely memory and scent are linked, so don't underestimate the power of a new smell to take you on a sensory journey throughout the cooler months. The fragrance sections of both Myer and David Jones can be a minefield (and leave you with a headache!), so we thought we'd highlight two perfumes we're kind of obsessed with right now.

Jo Malone's Velvet Rose & Oud flew off shelves last year as a limited edition flavour in the Cologne Intense Collection, and due to its success, has now been added permanently to the coveted Jo Malone fragrance stable. A smoky wood and floral mix, this baby is not for sensitive nostrils. Spiced with clove, the experts say it's at its best when layered with like-minded notes to increase depth. Yum. Curious? Try it alongside Jo Malone's Dark Amber & Ginger Lily to smell like no one else in the room.

Another favourite right now is Sydney spa Venustus’s Altruism Water Perfume. Mixed from organic essentials oils and pure water, this perfume (and the entire Water Perfume range for that matter) is perfect for sensitive-skinned ladies. The idea here is holistic healing through smell, and Altruism is for the nurturer in all of us. An unlikely threesome, geranium, bergamot and spearmint make for quite the heartwarming combination.

If you're a lover of mineral makeup, you might be familiar with Priori Coffee Berry Perfecting Minerals ($59.50). Just like Nude By Nature, Bare Minerals and other popular mineral makeup brands, this foundation offers a skin-friendly, natural alternative to heavier cosmetics that usually contain nasties like parabens and fragrances. The latter and other chemical additives like synthetic dyes, can cause clogged pores, cause breakouts and adverse skin reactions — hence the rise in popularity of mineral makeup a few years ago. That said, always check the ingredient list on any product claiming to be "mineral", as some still include the above. Keep reading.

This is one product I've been dying to tell you about. We know BB and CC creams are no new thing now, but that doesn't mean they're all the same. As you might already know, I'm a big fan of both Smashbox's Camera Ready CC Cream and L'Oréal Paris' Anti-Redness CC Cream, but the Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream ($45) has really shaken things up in my beauty cupboard. They're like my children, you see — I try to share the love. A new addition to the brand's popular Moisture Surge range, it comes packed with SPF 30 and glides on like a dream. It's more foundation-like than other CC creams I've tried, but still feels very light. The hero ingredients in the Moisture Surge range are aloe barbadensis leaf water and hyaluronic acid, so you can see why this CC cream is so hydrating. Perfect for Winter. I am oily so I finish with a powder, but if you have dry skin, you're going to love this just on its own. The finish is luminous. Want the good news? It's available online right now, and hits counters on June 2.

The wrong blush shade and texture can take you into lady-of-the-night territory. The right blush, however, can give you a lit-from-within flush, brightening your complexion in about 10 seconds flat. Such is the case with Giorgio Armani's Sheer Blush ($76). As the name implies, this blush imparts the subtlest amount of colour to the skin. And because of its soft, lightweight texture, there's nary an obvious streak or too-shimmery finish to be found. In fact, likely nobody will know you're even wearing makeup. It's a high-end purchase, no doubt. But for its ability to give you a fresh-faced, natural-looking glow with minimal effort, it's hard to put a price on that.