Vicki’s July Beauty Faves

July was a hot one, not just temperature-wise but beauty-launch-wise as well. Maybe it’s the demand for multi-use products or sweat-proof makeup, but I found that there were so many great discoveries in July regarding skincare, haircare and cosmetics. Here are a few of my faves. —Vicki Duong

design me hold me styling stick. When it comes to a perfectly slick-back bun, pesky flyaways are bound to happen, but now there’s a product to tame frizz with ease. The Design Me Hold Me Styling Stick ($27) uses an easy twist-up applicator and castor-oil-rich formula to create sleek and polished do’s on the go.

pearhaus lashes. These are the thick and bulky falsies of the early 2000s, but instead, a seamless set of clusters designed to be worn under your natural lashes. Local brand Pearhaus offers three styles of lashes ($41) that bond to your lashes along the waterline and are seemingly undetectable.

kiehl’s beyond screen UV serum SPF 50. Gone are the days when sun safety meant chalk sunscreen that left a white cast and gritty touch. Nowadays, brands like Kiehl’s offer sun protection that doubles as skincare. Their Beyond Screen UV Serum SPF 50 ($57) provides an invisible barrier to the sun’s harmful rays, while the addition of collagen peptides promotes elasticity.  

merit brow 1990 ultra-fine eyebrow gel pencil. The Merit brow gel pomade ($33) has been a tried and true favourite of mine for years, so it’s no surprise that the addition of a complimentary gel pencil would quickly become a staple in my collection. The pencil features a flexible gel that adds natural-looking fullness to even the sparsest brows.

gelish cream gel palette. One of the most budget-friendly swaps I could make in the past several years was doing my gel manicures. What initially took months of practice to perfect is made much easier with the Gelish Cream Gel ($17) palettes that feature six shades of cream gels that are easy to apply and stay put without any cuticle flooding.

la roche posay mela B3 anti-aging serum. Maybe it’s all the time in the sun, but I have noticed more dark spots popping up on my skin. Luckily, with the continuous use of the new La Roche Posay Mela Serum ($69), combatting dark spots and acne marks is made easy. Combining niacinamide and LHA improves skin tone and texture, while the gel-like texture leaves a smooth finish.

charlotte tilbury unreal skin sheer glow foundation stick. With promises to be a ring light in stick form, there’s a reason why Charlotte Tilbury is often touted as the queen of glowy skin. The latest from the brand is a hydrating foundation stick ($62) that leaves a light, sheer coverage and dewy skin that can be worn on its own or as a pop of glow atop other complexion products.

finishing touch flawless pedicure tool. Summer days also mean it’s sandal season. While regular trips to the salon would be ideal, to save time and money, I’ve been using this pedicure tool ($24) from Finishing Touch at home to ensure that my feet are calluses-free and beach-ready.

makeup by mario bronzing serum. Leave it up to Mario Dedivanovic, famously Kim Kardashian’s MUA, to reinvent the wheel with his new bronzing serum. The new bronzing serum ($49) expands on the brand’s Softsculpt line and adds a natural finish to the skin and lifting effect. What makes the serum noteworthy is the applicator, an easy-to-use pump top that unscrews to reveal a doe foot wand for precise application.

ultra violette sheen hydrating lip balm SPF50. Lips need sun protection too, but that doesn’t mean there’s a need to settle on thick and heavy formulas to keep your peckers protected. My go-to as of late is the new Sheen Hydrating Lip Balm ($29) from Ultra Violette. Available in three hydrating shades, you’ll forget that it’s an SPF lippie because it applies like a gloss, thin and effortless.