Welcome to product review central – find out what’s new, what’s hot, and how your money can best be spent with Kate from www.beautybible.co.nz...

The latest from M.A.C

It's always a happy day when the latest M.A.C release arrives in the Beauty Bible offices - and an even happier day when it arrives in animal print packaging or embossed with roses!

M.A.C Style Warrior: this is a bronzing collection that is all about glamour, diversity and beauty without barriers, celebrating every combination imaginable. A simply incredible range of products that really speak about what being sexy right now is all about. Packaging is a mix of zebra and leopard prints - oh-so-luxe.


We love:

• Bronzing Powder in Solar Riche - a deep, perfect shade of orange-brown that can be built up to achieve the desired effect. RRP: $42.00

• Beauty Powder Blush in Eversun - a peachy bronze with a gold pearl. Love to use it with the Solar Riche bronzer for a contoured effect but could double as a bronzer and blush. RRP: $44.00

• Lustre Drops in Pink Rebel - creates instant luminosity and glow - it's like they took magazine shoot skin and bottled it. RRP:$45.00

M.A.C Rose Romance: this gorgeous new colour collection has some total stand-out products.

• Just a Pinch Gel Blush - a sheer cheek gel in a pot that delivers a natural, rosy, transparent glow - how very modern. Don't be put off by the intensity of the colour in the pot as it is far more subtle on application. For extra romance, dab it on to your lips too for a flushed, kissable stain. RRP:$46.00 - a little goes a long way - a pot wil last you forever.

• Beauty Powder in Blush of Youth - a clean pink blush with a gold pearl. Perfect for when you are doing a bronzer/blush combo to flush the cheeks up. Powder is is the moulded shape of a rose - the type of product that makes you smail even before you put it on. RRP:$46.00

• Fix+Rose - an aqua-spritz fixing spray from M.A.C filled with vitamins and minerals, infused with a calming mix of green tea, chamomile and cucumber - and then scented with 100% natural rose water. Use it to set makeup, create radiance, and refresh throughout the day. RRP: $35.00

Schwarzkopf Extra Care Straight & Glossy shampoo and conditioner


Every so often a supermarket product comes along that really gets results and gives the more expensive, salon stocked products a run for their money. Schwarzkopf Extra Care Straight & Glossy shampoo and conditioner contains bamboo and orchid essence and make the big claim of achieving ‘perfectly sleek hair without the damaging effects of a straightening iron’ – so the big question is, is this true? I washed my hair with the product and dried my hair with a blow drier and a round brush. My hair was smooth and glossy and I really didn’t feel the need to straighten. Sure, it was not razor sharp straight, but my hair looked fabulous and had a fantastic bounce to it – very impressed!

Clinique Comfort on Call - allergy tested relief cream


Does your skin become dry, cracked, flakey or rough when exposed to certain conditions? Studies show that there is a rising allergy epidemic and for many of us, our skin is becoming more susceptible to common allergens (like pollens), environmental pollutants and extreme weather conditions. Clinique Comfort on Call has been designed for those of us with reactive skin - to protect, smooth, sooth and calm skin that has been sensitised. This rich cream is fantastic as we move into winter to take care of skin ravaged by the cold, illness, allergies and extreme weather conditions (skiers and snowboarders take note). A great investment that will see your skin through the tough times. RRP: $95.00. On counter June 22nd - diary it now.

Bobbie Brown Customised Palettes

Now here is a concept we LOVE. Meet the Bobbi Brown Customise-Simplify-Organize System. Basically, you make your choice of six of any of the following items in shades that suit you: lip colour quads, foundation compacts, blush, shimmer blush, gloss and eyeshadow – and then it all fits together in a customised palette made just for you. Seriously, seriously cool and oh-so-handy for the handbag.

L’Oréal Paris Mattifying Minerals powder

A multi-purpose translucent powder which gives a flawless matte finish all day long. The powder can be used underneath make-up to perfect the base, over the top to seal in make-up or just on it's own . Our tester found it to work brillantly with her very sensitive skin and said it was great for reducing unwanted shine. RRP:$45.99