Byredo debuts its first beauty collection

Byredo, the cult Swedish fragrance house founded by Ben Gorham, and Isamaya Ffrench, London’s esteemed make-up maverick, have collaborated on an achingly cool new beauty line. Designed to look more like futuristic objets d’art, products are packaged in curvilinear metallic casings, redolent of funhouse mirror reflections.

There are 15 lip colours to pick from in both satin and matte finishes, as well as a nourishing lip balm infused with shea butter and natural oils. For the bolder among us, creamy Colour Sticks come in high octane shades including khaki green, aqua blue and the brilliantly titled aqua stinger, and can be used on the eyes, cheeks or lips. My favourite is the precision-sharp black liquid eyeliner, housed in a minimalist sage green tube. Five eye shadow palettes are set to follow in November in matte, metallic and ultra-glitter.

byredo.com

Gucci Beauty Rouge à Lèvres Voile lipstick collection

On the topic of glitter, Gucci Beauty as added a sparkling trio of lipsticks to its Rouge à Lèvres Voile collection. The debut lip colour line launched earlier this year in a spectrum of bold colours, from golden beige and deep burgundy to plucky, eye-popping pink. Each shade is buildable, allowing for a more subtle tint during the day – meaning that a vibrant violet tone is surprisingly wearable. Led by creative director Alessandro Michele, three new iridescent shades feature a clever combination of different glitters to create a mesmerising, multi-dimensional sparkle.

£30, net-a-porter.com

The best beauty oils

Upon reading about the rise of beauty oils, my response was one of scepticism. Did I really need another product in my beauty arsenal? I too, however, have been won over by the modern oil. No longer unctuous or greasy, sophisticated new formulas offer a supreme dose of moisture for instantly hydrated, glowing skin. They balance out any dryness caused by exfoliation and are the ultimate tonic for harsh winter winds. For sensitive skin that is prone to redness, Votary’s Super Seed Facial Oil is the product that put the all-natural British beauty brand on the map, thanks to its soothing blend of hydrating seed oils. It come also with a pure cotton cloth for a sublimely enjoyable cleansing ritual. Lumity’s Anti-Ageing Oil uses no less than 32 botanical oils and extracts to replenish and balance skin tone, while Augustinus Bader also recently added a deeply nourishing Facial Oil to its lauded product line.

Anine Bing unveils Pure Noir fragrance

Anine Bing’s voluptuous new Pure Noir perfume is a hypnotic, sublimely rich blend of velvety baccarat rose, papyrus, and nose-tickling spicy saffron, toughened up by dark guaiac wood and mahogany. Far from a pretty floral fragrance, this multifaceted scent conjures mystery, seduction and intrigue on cosy winters nights – which is exactly what I’m craving during the ongoing humdrum caused by coronavirus. Light the Pure Noir candle to fill your home with its sensual, understatedly sexy aroma.

Eau de Parfum £149 for 75ml, aninebing.com

Hero product: Decorté AQ Meliority Repair Cleansing Cream

Decorté made its UK debut at Harrods earlier this year. Part of the brand’s deluxe AQ Meliority range, this is by far one of the best all-round cleansing creams I have sampled. Made using a cocktail of botanical ingredients and the latest Japanese dermatology, it gently and effectively removes stubborn make-up in one easy sweep for a clear complexion. It is creamy and moisturising without being greasy and leaves skin feeling supple and hydrated. At £95 it is by no means cheap, but this luxurious, hardworking cream ticks several boxes and a small, cherry-sized dollop goes a long way. Ergo – it’s the ultimate lazy-girl product.

£95, harrods.com

Read more: the best Japanese beauty brands to shop in the UK

KNC Beauty All-Natural Retinol Infused Eye Mask

What better way to combat Zoom fatigue than with KNC’s retinol-infused eye masks, playfully shaped like shooting stars. Uplifting in every sense of the word, each glittery strip oozes with plumping collagen, soothing aloe vera and hydrating hyaluronic acid to diminish dark circles and leave your under eyes looking bright, soft and youthful. Founded by Kristen Noel Crawley, the LA-based beauty brand hit the mainstream after gaining a cult following on Instagram for its lip mask. Far from gimmicky, KNC focusses on natural, deeply conditioning, plumping formulas, made using natural ingredients. Crawley also just launched the KNC School of Beauty to help fellow black female entrepreneurs navigate the industry.

£33 for a pack of 10 eye masks, net-a-porter.com