Expert reviews: The new beauty buys you need

Crying out for a skin care overhaul? Dreaming of a new and improved ‘do? If you answered yes to either question, you’ve come to the right place.

Our team have been busy trialling and reviewing four new beauty products, and as always, we have plenty to say about them.

From the FOREO cleansing gadget everyone’s talking about, to a nourishing at-home hair colour, here’s everything you need to know...

FOREO LUNA Play

bh’s Beth says:
“Being a skin care enthusiast, I’m a bit embarrassed to admit this was the first time I’d ever used a facial cleansing device – but after using this little guy for the past month, I’m hooked! Given it’s a disposable product (it only goes for about 100 cleanses) and therefore more affordable than other FOREO devices, FOREO LUNA Play is a great gateway to the world of sonic cleansing. FOREO describes it as “macaroon-size” (SO cute), which makes it really easy to hold between my thumb and fingers.

The device has two zones, with finer touch points to cleanse larger areas such as the cheeks and forehead, and thicker touch points for a deeper cleanse on areas like the T-zone. Personally, I find the vibration of the thicker touch points a little too strong on my skin and prefer to use the finer ones. Whatever your preference, it’s easy to control the pressure of the device on your skin simply by pressing it more or less firmly.

I love the feeling of massaging the LUNA Play over my face. I also love how it works my cleanser into a really creamy lather and spreads it evenly over my complexion – I could never get this effect with just my fingers! The clincher though is that the device is made of silicone, so to clean it all you have to do is run it under the shower stream when you’re finished. So easy! Overall, my skin is definitely smoother, softer and glowier as a result of using this. I believe it makes my cleanser a lot more effective, and I’m seriously considering upgrading to the LUNA 2 once I’ve used it up!”

St. Derma Intense Revitalizer Cream

bh’s Kym says:
“After reading about the heritage of Australian brand St. Derma, I was very excited to try the Intense Revitalizer Cream. Its ethos is to be mindful of the resources it uses to minimise the environmental impact, which is right up my alley. The cream itself is just what my dry, dehydrated skin needed, especially in winter! It has a buttermilk colour and is quite rich in consistency, but my skin drinks it up (like a face smoothie!). After using it, my skin feels well hydrated and a lot softer. The best part for me is that it contains no nasties and is sulphate-, paraben- and colour-free, making me feel healthier after each use.”

head & shoulders Glossy Colour Shampoo and Conditioner

bh’s Anna says:
“I am pretty particular about which haircare products I use as my hair is super temperamental! Sometimes it's frizzy, other times it's flat. Sometimes it's oily, other times it's dry and flaky. This winter it's been particularly dry and frizzy, making my colour look pretty dull, so I was keen to try head & shoulders Glossy Colour Shampoo and Conditioner. I had heard that anti-dandruff products can strip coloured hair so I was pleasantly surprised to find my colour looking particularly, well, glossy after using this duo.

The shampoo lathered well and a little went a long way! It didn't tangle my hair like some shampoos can. As for the conditioner, I must say when I first used it I didn't like the consistency. It was super heavy and a little difficult to wash out so I thought that it would leave my hair feeling flat. On the contrary, once my hair dried it felt and looked really clean and bouncy. My usual fly aways were still there but that's pretty standard for me. The duo leaves your hair smelling nice too which is always a plus. And, not a speck of dandruff in sight – my scalp looks clean and hydrated and remained that way until the next wash.”

Clairol Nice'n Easy Colour Blend in Natural Black

bh’s Sophia says:
“I’ve always gone in-salon to colour my hair because I'm scared of being disappointed by an at-home colour solution. But to my pleasant surprise, Clairol Nice'n Easy Colour Blend was incredibly nice'n easy to use (see what I did there?) and I'm thrilled with the results! Having short hair, I used half the mixture and let it process for 30 minutes. It didn't smell chemical-y, which was great compared to the smell of an in-salon dye, which is usually pretty nasty. While I was washing the colour out, I applied the conditioning treatment (which smelt DIVINE) and left it on for 30 minutes. Afterwards, I hopped back into the shower and washed the treatment out. It left my hair gloriously soft and smooth, and an intense shade of black! Love.”
 

Which one of these would you most like to try? What other new products have you had your eye on recently?