Mother's Day is almost upon us, once again! Have you sorted out what you're getting for your mum yet, or are you planning a last minute dash? It's not too late to pick out some gorgeous goodies to make her day and to make choosing that much easier, I've rounded up the latest and greatest beauty products to give you some ideas.
You guys know I'm a fiend for lip products so let's start there! Lipstick is always a hit with both my mum and my mother-in-law, the latter being extremely fond of Maybelline's Creamy Matte lipsticks (Touch of Spice is her all time fave!). I think she's going to love the new Maybelline New York Loaded Bolds (RRP $19.99) which come in eight super pigmented shades. They feel similar to the Creamy Mattes actually, that same cushiony texture and lightly honeyed scent. Pictured are my (current) faves, Orange Danger and Gone Greige.
Also bringing their A-Game in the colour payoff stakes are the Mellow Liquid Lip Paints ($20.45), pictured in cherry-red Paris and pastel pink Rome. These are incredibly long-wearing, perfect for a busy mum who doesn't have time for constant lipstick checks, and as an added bonus, they've just released a new shade called Auckland - who doesn't love a spot of kiwiana?
If your mum loves her cosmetics to be as natural as possible, consider splurging on the Inika Lip & Cheek Set (RRP $95), which contains their Certified Organic Vegan Lipstick in the shade Nude Pink (pictured, $44 separately), a Vegan Lip Brush (pictured, $34 separately), a face primer mini and a blush (more on those below). The lipstick is wonderfully hydrating and feels like nothing on the lips and the lip brush does a great job of outlining lips neatly - a good thing, too, as we tend to lose definition along our lip line as we age (yay)!
The Burt’s Bees Gloss Lip Crayons (RRP $18 each) are another great natural option, delivering sheer, even glossy colour in a convenient twist-up crayon format. True to form, these are super comfortable on the lips and they have a well-edited selection of six very wearable shades: pictured are the peachy nude Santorini Sunrise and pinky-red Pacific Coast.
Natural lippy lover but can't settle on one colour? The Karen Murrell Lip Palette (RRP $65) has you sussed. It contains the popular shades Scarlet Blaze, True Love, Coral Dawn, Poppy Passion and Carnation Mist (the middle three are faves of mine) and even includes a double ended lip brush and mirror for convenience. The KM website is offering 15% off everything until Sunday with the code KMLOVESMUM, should you need a 'better late than never' gift! (PS. I'll be giving this palette away on my Facebook page in the next few days, so pop on over and give it a like to keep in the loop!)
For a mum who appreciates the latest in lipstick formulas, take a look at Revlon's new range. Revlon have always excelled at lipstick (Cherries in the Snow or Fire & Ice, anyone?) and their continual innovating has spawned the fifteen-shade-strong Ultra HD Gel Lipcolor (RRP $26.50) line. There's a mixture of semi-opaque and full-coverage options, all supremely comfortable with a flattering semi-glossy finish. I'll have a more in-depth post on these in the not too distant future but right now, my top picks are HD Tropical and HD Lava, which reminds me of the aforementioned Fire & Ice. I do love a good bold warm red!
Equally innovative is the Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Bold Liquid Lipstick (RRP$39), which is a glossy high-coverage lipstick with this very cool angled sponge applicator built in. It really lets you get in there and outline your lips sharply and the sponge distributes product more evenly than a the brushtip you sometimes get with these click-pen type tubes. Pictured is the shade Fiery Red, which I will also be giving away on my Facebook page (seriously, it's all on over there at the moment, you don't want to miss out!).
Not everyone's into bold lip colour though, so for those who aren't, try the YSL Volupte Tint-In-Balm (RRP $66), which delivers a sheer, long-lasting tint in hydrating balm form. YSL's luxe silver packaging and the adorable lip shape in the centre of the balm will have your mum oohing and ahhing and feeling rather special indeed! Here I've got No4 Desire Me Pink.
Living Nature have also just released a new Tinted Lip Conditioner called Lush, which joins their previous release, Bliss. Both have very fine shimmer and sheer tint that makes them a breeze to throw on and go, no mirror required, plus the Lip Conditioner formula is divinely moisturising.
Of course, the perfect pout requires well-prepped lips, which makes Lush Honey Lip Scrub ($11.50) the perfect companion to any of these. It's part of this year's Mother's Day collection and sadly limited edition - you might want to stock up, once you've had a whiff of the honey, peppermint and sweet orange concoction, it's heavenly! And don't forget the lip balm - L'Occitane's range makes for a lovely luxe treat and is chock-full of scent options. Pictured are Shea Violet & the Limited Edition Lip Balm (RRP $20 each).
Moving onto another favourite topic, eyes! After all, the eyes have it, don't they? Drugstore eyeshadow palettes are just getting better and better these days, I love that you can nip into any pharmacy or department store and come out with a comprehensive selection of shades, all in one handy palette for less than $40! What a time to be alive.
Maybelline New York The Blushed Nudes Eyeshadow Palette (RRP$29.99) is a recent addition to their range and is very comparable to the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette at a fraction of the cost. Nice colour payoff and a good shade range with a bit more contrast than the UD palette, which I like - I found UD's a bit too wishy washy for my tastes!
The Revlon Not Just Naked Eyeshadow Palettes (RRP $29.50 each) are just as well laid out and come in Passionate Nudes (warm) or Romantic Nudes (cool), making it that much easier to pick colours to suit your mum. Yep, I'm giving these away at the moment too! Kiwis can enter here.
If your mum likes a spot of colour, the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche La Palette Ombre (RRP$35.99) offers just that, with slashes of purple, gold and navy to inspire some fabulous colour combinations. That purple smoked along the lashline would be stunning! Although labelled Cool, there's enough warmth to the shades on the left side of the palette to make it workable on many skin tones and it also gets bonus points for including a brush.
Now, if a bit of bling is your mum's thing, you need to check out the gilded goodness that is the Mellow Cosmetics Treasure Chest Palette RRP $34.99. The exterior is champagne glitter which has me sold right off the bat (#magpieproblems) and inside are twelve warm shades in a mixture of shimmery and matte finishes. I am so looking forward to sharing some looks using this with you on my Instagram!
For the finishing touches, why not restock mum's mascara or eyeliner? Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Luscious (RRP $24.99) is fab for grabbing every lash and building definition and volume without clumping or flaking. It wears so well, my only gripe is that it doesn't really want to come off! Grab a biphase makeup remover to go with this one - I'm currently liking Designer Brands Express Makeup Remover.
Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Bold Defining 24HR Liquid Eye Liner (RRP$48) is a new release with a super fine applicator and long lasting formula. You can be in to win it on my Facebook page in the coming days! If your mum prefers pencil eyeliner, Avon have the newly launched Luxe Soft Silk Eye Liner Pencil on an introductory offer of $14.95 (will be RRP $22) which currently comes in black - I do hope they expand the shade range because the colour payoff is SPECTACULAR and the formula is so creamy that it just glides on. There's even a built in smudger on the end for a perfectly smoked out look. Love.
An Off Wax & Laser/On Browhouse voucher is the ultimate treat, though, because your mum can pick from their plethora of services, from laser hair removal to waxing and tinting. I've been going to the Wellington branch for brow waxing & tinting for around six months now and I can't recommend them enough - in fact (you guessed it) I've partnered with the lovely ladies at the Wellington branch to giveaway a $100 voucher! You can enter here.
All about that base, 'bout that base.... Inika Certified Organic Pure Primer with Hyaluronic Acid is $74 for a full size bottle but the cute wee mini you see here comes in the Lip & Cheek set I mentioned earlier, a handy way to try before investing. This primer has a lovely lotion feeling and the hyaluronic acid helps to lock in moisture, which both benefits your skin and helps makeup to apply better.
Cushion foundations are lovely for their compact format and natural, dewy finish which makes the Maybelline New York Dream Cushion Foundation (RRP$24.99) a pretty fab choice for mums who like to keep their makeup quick and lightweight. Dream Cushion also has an SPF factor of 20 which is pretty darn good! Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream offers a similar finish as well as skincare benefits and an SPF factor of 15. I like that it's easy on the wallet with an RRP of $17.49, too!
To add a dash of colour to cheeks in a flash, Revlon have recently brought out Insta-Blush (RRP $29.50), blush sticks in a selection of sheer, skin-flattering shades - pictured are three of the four: Rose Gold Kiss, Candy Kiss and Nude Kiss, from top to bottom. These are so cute and easy to use, you can't overdo them - great for the blush-shy! The new shades of Powder Blush (RRP $29.50) are just as nice, building up and blending out nicely. Pictured are Tickled Pink, Dare To Bare and Orchid Charm (my personal favourite).
If natural products are where it's at for your mum, the Inika Mineral Blusher Puff Pot (RRP $45) is available in the Lip & Cheek set or on its own and is really quite clever. There's a puff attached to the top of the jar of loose powder so you don't have to muck around with any additional tools, just tap and blend on your cheeks and you're done!
Nail polish is a fun option because it can really reflect someone's personality, even if work or family make squeezing in the time for it a bit of a mission. When you do get those spare moments to paint your nails your chosen hue, the colour or finish can say a lot about you! I, for example, have been opting for glittery greens lately, which I like to think shows my playful and creative side, lurking somewhere under the undereye circles and daggy school-run attire, haha. I might have to rotate the glittery green for some of these though!
Essie's 2017 Fall collection (RRP$22.99 each) contains three glittering top coats to add sparkle and texture to any base colour. All are flecked with tiny silver glitters and while Disco Doll and Glow Your Own Way pair that with rose and gold glitters respectively, it's In The Mood Ring that fascinates me more, with its matte black glitter. Perfect for an edgy mum!
For a high shine right out of the bottle and a decidedly chic colour range, have a look at L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Le Vernis A L’Huile (RRP$11.99 each). These are oil-infused, which kind of blows my mind, like oil? Nail polish? What? But it WORKS. They have awesome opacity and the quilted design on the gold-capped bottles makes them look much more expensive than their affordable price tag.
Lastly, for long-wear, Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy (RRP $19.99) has been very popular with my friends (I like changing my nail polish often so no longevity reports from me yet but I shall endeavor to fix that!) and they've nailed the colours, pun intended. Smoke And Mirrors, the shimmering gunmetal you see here, looks like a Chanel Graphite dupe to me and the other three are just as pretty. More on these soon!
Fab nails call for well cared for hands to go with them, and I'll be the first to admit I'm none too precious with mine (washing dishes without gloves - guilty!!) but a good hand cream makes up for a multitude of sins. L'Occitane's range doesn't skimp on anything, they're wonderfully thick, richly moisturizing but easily absorbed, so there's no greasy feeling after application and there's a wide range of scents to please everyone. I'm giving away the Nourishing Hand Cream Trio (RRP $45) on Facebook currently, while the Shea Violet and Limited Edition Hand Creams (RRP $18 each) are currently in rotation.
I touched on this in last year's guide, but skincare is a gift where you definitely need to know your audience! Some mums love it (my mother-in-law is firmly in this camp) while others may give you a 'what are you trying to say?!' reaction (my mum - whoops!). Of course, it does depend on what's on the bottle - my mum loves the all ages/all skin types options such as Trilogy's range and as she's also a big fan of Sukin, I think she'll like their Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil (RRP $24.50) too. I'm picking the Freeman masks like the Golden Grain Brightening Mask or Pomegranate Revealing Peel-Off Mask (RRP $17.99 each) will also be up her alley. The Pomegranate Revealing Peel-Off mask is hilarious, by the way - I first terrified, then delighted Mr 3 with it, who initially thought I was peeling off my skin, as it goes on clear, making it look as though you've just got a wet face! Once he'd realised it was a mask, he was all too keen to help peel it off and skin felt lovely after!.
My mother-in-law is more expansive in her skincare tastes and likes plenty of age revitalising promises on the bottles. The L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Golden Age Rosy range (RRP from $39.99), which contains a day cream, a night cream and a serum will make her very happy indeed - they even have a hint of shimmer for an instant hit of radiance. I also imagine she'd get a kick out of the Clinique Fresh Pressed 7-Day System with Pure Vitamin C (RRP $60) which is a bit of a treat at the price point and usage you get from it but really does deliver incredible results! It would make a great gift before a special event you wanted to be sure your skin was behaving for, too.
I'm completely in love with Manuka Doctor Drops of Crystal Cashmere Touch Cream (RRP$49.95) so you can bet a replacement for my rapidly depleting jar is on my Mother's Day wishlist! The accompanying Drops of Crystal Cashmere Touch Serum (RRP$49.95) was a recent finalist for the 2017 CEW Beauty Insider Awards in the Turn Back Time (Anti-Aging Mass) Product category and it's easy to see why as this Kourtney Kardashian-favoured range feels incredibly luxe on the skin and more importantly, I can see and feel the results.
Manuka Doctor are far from the only ones to channel the power of honey; Kiehl’s new Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream (RRP $98.00) pairs New Zealand manuka honey (that's right, from our very own land of the long white cloud!) with Korean red ginseng root for a skin-loving combination that has been shown to improve skin's overall health. It feels amazing and is definitely worth considering if you'd really like to treat your mum!
Onto the haircare now, there are so many treats in store! Remington make some amazing hair dryers, I've had a couple which have only been replaced due to the lure of new technology rather than any breakdown on their part. In fact, I actually have two at the moment because it's kind of handy having the extra - hubby used to nick the older one to dry his clothes in a pinch sometimes, which just goes to show how efficient they are, lol! We've just bought a dryer, so no more misuse of hair tools around here, but there ya go. The Silk Ceramic Ultra Dryer (RRP $149.99) is one of their latest releases and boasts a salon level AC motor as well as multiple settings for the perfect finish. And it's a gorgeous purple - what more could you want? Perhaps the chance to win it for free? It'll be up for giveaway on Facebook soon.
Another option for busy mums (and I speak from experience here) is the Tangle Teezer Compact Styler (RRP $34). This wee brush is perfect to throw in your handbag and has a cover that stays firmly in place between uses to avoid any handbag debris getting caught in the bristles. I use mine on the school run more often than I'd care to admit 😂 The pictured design, Doll Face, is a limited edition one from Lulu Guinness and it's just too cute for words! Look out for a giveaway on Facebook soon.
Moving over to the hair products themselves, the Pureology Strength Cure collection (RRP from $39.00) is great for restoring life to dry, damaged or colour treated hair (and let's face it, as greys loom, most of us mums are colour treated these days!). The range is comprised of a shampoo, conditioner, serum, split end salve and masque so you could grab a little as an intro for your mum or go the whole hog.
Did you know that in America, only 1 in 20 are naturally blonde, while 1 in 3 women dye their hair a shade of blonde? Blondes may have more fun, but they also require a lot more hair maintenance! Brass-fighting and ultra hydrating treatments are a must, which the Matrix Total Results Brass Off range (RRP $24.50 each) covers nicely all in one. It helps to soften and strengthen hair while neutralising any brassy tones. Win!
OGX Argan Oil Intense Moisturising Treatment (RRP $18.99) is another awesome hydrating product, you can never really go wrong with argan oil as it nourishes and moisturizes without weighing hair down. Plus it smells amazing, which is always good encouragement to keep on top of treatments!
The L’Oréal Paris Botanicals Safflower Rich Nourishment range (RRP $17.99 each) isn't just a pretty scent (although it really does smell gorgeous), it uses sustainably sourced safflower to restore natural lipids to hair fiber. It's ideal for dry, damaged hair.
Cheap and cheerful but no less effective for it, the Schwarzkopf Extra Care Express Dry Blow Dry Spray (RRP $6.49) and Hair Spray (RRP $7.29) would be great gifts for a mum who regularly heat styles her hair - you can certainly never have too much heat protectant and a decent hair spray to lock it in the style means all that work will last a day or two. A very good thing, with the aforementioned school run dash out the door with Tangle Teezer in hand!
Pregnancy is a funny thing, it can completely turn you off some smells while others suddenly become borderline addictive. That's how really good rose fragrances are for me now, anyway. I tried some of The Body Shop British Rose range last year and liked it but wasn't 100% mad on it. Now, I can't get enough! I've been using the British Rose shower gel on the regular for quite a while (it's now empty enough that it wouldn't make for a nice photo) and was pleased to add the Instant Glow Body Butter (RRP $38.95) to my post shower routine. If your mum loves floral fragrances, I guarantee she'll be stoked with this.
I had to sneak some more gems from L'Occitane in here because they're just so darn giftable! We gave hand creams to most of the women in our collective extended families last Christmas and they went down a treat. Why not treat Mum to the Pivoine Flora Trio (RRP $35), which I think is a total bargain with a full size hand cream, soap and a mini Eau De Toilette in the Pivoine (peony) fragrance). Look at that packaging! Or if you're feeling spendy, have a look at the Terre de Lumiere Eau de Parfum ($125/50mls or $165/90ml), which has notes of bergamot, lavender, honey and white musk. It's beautiful, full bodied and fragrant and if you can't get enough, there's a full range of accompanying soap, shower gel, lotions and so forth.
I know I've included Lush D'Fluff Strawberry Shaving Soap ($12.90/70g, $22.50/150g) before, but I just had to include it again because I got more for my birthday and it reminded me of how much I adore it! D'Fluff is a dream come true for sensitive skin, it pampers and moisturises and seems to make even my sensitive underarms impervious to the dreaded shaving rash.
Lush Honey I Washed The Kids Shower Gel had to be included as it's something my siblings and I almost always get our mum for Mother's Day! She just adores the combination of sweet wild orange and bergamot oils with beeswax, a fragrance that's definitely sweet but has a bit of body to it - this isn't a saccharine sweetness. It's priced at $11.50/100g, $19.90/250g, $29.90/500g. Your mum might love it just as much!
I couldn't go without mentioning this year's Mother's Day collection from Lush, most of which is still on the site. There's plenty of new products, including Mum Bath Bomb ($7.90) which comes in pink or green, Ups-a-Daisy Bath Bomb ($8.90), Baa Bar Bubble Bar ($10.50), Pink Custard Shower Jelly ($8.50/100g, $14.90/240g) and Scrubbee ($16.50). Yummy Mummy Shower Cream ($13.50/100G, $23.50/250G, $34.90/500G) also made a very welcome return for the third year in a row, I don't think I could ever get sick of that fragrance! The cocoa butter and tonka absolute combine to create a sweet yet mellow scent which I am unfortunately none too adept at describing - just take a whiff and you'll fall in love too. Pink Custard Shower Jelly is wibbly wobbly timey wimey fun with a relaxing lavender scent and Baa Bar matches that with the addition of lavender and bergamot. Scrubbee is my favourite, it smells amazing and has fine gritty bits of coconut shell and almond to exfoliate while the honey and cocoa butter base make your skin feel lavished upon. Bliss.
How is your Mother's Day shopping going? Have you tried any of these products?
X
Lani
PS. How much do you love those Mother's Day cards?! I picked them up at Warehouse Stationery for $2 a pop. Kinda want to frame the 'You're one in a million' design. No one ever need know I bought it for myself, except for however many people read this post, haha. It's just between us, 'kay?
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