August Beauty Must Haves: Things You NEED to Own This Month

With the hundreds of beauty products launching every month, it’s not easy knowing exactly which skin serum, nail polish or perfume you should spend your hard-earned cash on. Let me take the guesswork out of beauty shopping for you with a short list of the-top-10-Beauty-Gypsy-approved absolute must-haves.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Remedy Concealer Pen, US$39

They say: With exclusive Anti-Aging Remedy Complex, this all-in-one eraser, corrector and brightener is the perfect fix for flaws or the aftermath of last night.

We say: This light to medium-weight concealer has a metal, slant-tip applicator instead of the brush we’re used to seeing in similar products such as the YSL Touche Éclat. It has a cooling and de-puffing effect on the under-eye area, though application is not as precise – an inevitable tradeoff, I guess.

Origins Drink Up Hydrating Lip Balms, $17

They say: Drench lips with quenching moisture plus a luscious hint of tint. Aloe vera helps soothe. Apricot kernel and avocado oils deliver nourishing hydration. A complex of orange peel, barley and wheat germ helps protect against future dryness.

We say: These super-sheer lip balms definitely punch up the moisture and have good staying power. The texture is thick and a little gloopy, plus there is tons of glossiness in the formula. They smell minty and the shades are luscious. Perfect for chapped-lips season!

CoverGirl Olay CC Cream for Eyes, $8.99

They say: CoverGirl makeup and Olay serum join forces in one powerful CC cream to color correct and conceal. Cover dark circles, brighten eyes instantly and even out skin tone over time.

We say: The under-eye area is one place where CC creams actually make sense. This one is far creamier than regular concealers and blends more easily as well. And it does make a visible difference on the under-eye area, making it look brighter and less fatigued. A win!

Shu Uemura Art of Hair Touch of Gloss, $38

They say: This melt-in wax allows you to smooth and sculpt the hair with brilliant shimmer and a high gloss finish. Instantly details strands, precisely defines ends and highlights contours with a pliable soft hold.

We say: It’s like lipgloss for hair. Seriously. The super-light pearl-extract formula instantly adds a healthy shine, while the sakura essence from Japanese Cherry Blossoms nourishes right to the root for a silky soft feel. And its delicate fragrance carries notes of springtime.

TangBad (Algae bath), $25

They say: Collected on Swedish shorelines, when fully rehydrated these freshwater algae release a multitude of minerals and oligo-elements to tone skin, relax muscles and stimulate circulation. And when you’ve finished, there’s no need to rinse; instead let the minerals work their magic for as long as possible.

We say: Leave this algae-infused to infuse as the water runs, then immerse yourself for 20 minutes of pure relaxation. This is Nordic detoxing at its best.

Nails Inc 22 07 13 Crystal Polish, $10

They say: We’ve got baby fever this week! Over at Nails inc HQ we are wearing this gorgeous pastel blue shade to celebrate.

We say: Awwwwwww! This pretty pastel nail polish comes packaged in a royal themed gift bag and is a gorgeously perfect ode to the Cambridge boy. Which one’s your pick from the royal baby brigade? 22 07 13, Butter London’s Pitter Patter or Essie’s Baby Duo kit?

Chanel Resynchronizing Skincare, $85-$115

They say: To restore the complexion to its optimal state, Chanel has created three skincare products, customized to your weekly needs. Together, the products help to resynchronize skin’s natural rhythms throughout the day, the night and the weekend for a perfectly balanced complexion – even-textured, smooth, supple and beautiful.

We say: While the separate day and night creams are nothing new, what sets Chanel’s Resynchronizing Regimen apart from other brands is Le Weekend. From Monday to Friday, you alternate between Le Jour de Chanel (which keeps pores clog-free with salicylic acid and energises skin cells with jasmine extract) and La Nuit de Chanel (that moisturises with hyaluronic acid and soothes with frankincense extract). On Saturdays and Sundays, Le Weekend de Chanel provides a restorative dose of calming rose water and skin softening glycolic acid instead. It’s like a weekend break for your skin and we all know how energising and refreshing that can be!

Penhaligon’s Vaara Eau de Parfum, $80 onwards

They say: Perfumer Bertand Duchaufour’s journey to Jodhpur provided him with an abundance of inspiration for the fragrance and the end result, Vaara, cleverly captures the spirit of this fascinating part of India.

We say: Royal babies are clearly the flavour of this season, all the way to India. Vaara honours the birth of His Highness Maharaja Gaj Singh II’s (the Royal House of Jodhpur in Rajasthan, India) granddaughter. To capture the essence of this intriguing part of India, Bertrand has brought together a combination of exotic ingredients, including coriander, carrot seeds, saffron and quince. However, the heart of Vaara anchors around the gardens of Balsamand at the Maharaja’s summer palace, where you can find two magnificent roses combined with a touch of Indian magnolia, freesia and iris. Its base notes are a blend of rare sandalwood, cedarwood and tonka beans settling into a luxurious combination of honey, benzoin resins and white musk. Vaara is a fragrance that will fascinate the senses and allow a taste of India fit for a Maharajah.

Sephora VIB Rouge

They say: The program’s revamp gives clients more of everything they love: deluxe samples, first-to-buy access and intimate experiences with top beauty influencers.

We say: Think of it as the most super-sexy frequent flier club for beauty junkies! VIB (Very Important Beauty Insiders) Rouge is a rewards system for shoppers who spend at least $1,000 a year at Sephora. Perks include a members-only lipstick, first dibs on newly launched products, unlimited access to the Beauty Studio, OTT gifts and special events. For the kick-off, Sephora is offering a trip to Los Angeles and a hair cut from Living Proof’s Chris MacMillan (for 5,000 points), a Marc Jacobs handbag stuffed with $500 worth of Marc Jacobs Beauty products and an autographed palette (also 5,000 points) and a 4-day trip to Paris that includes a visit to Make Up For Ever headquarters (10,000 points). Beauty addiction does have its privileges!

Royal Baby Commemorative Limited Edition Loving Cup, $260

Yes, yes, YES! I know this is not a beauty product (though you could use it to hold makeup brushes and eye pencils!) but it’s just too cute. It’s the official commemorative china cup to celebrate the birth of Prince William and Kate’s royal kiddo – HRH Prince George of Cambridge – on 22nd July 2013. The design has been exclusively commissioned by the Royal Collection Trust and is a combination of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s coronet, the Middleton family’s coat of arms and the tiny monarch-in-waiting’s traditional and royal name. That’s not all: the Royal Baby Commemorative Limited Edition Loving Cup is made in Stanford with exclusive traditional methods, and with each piece of this English fine bone china skillfully crafted by hand, using 22 carat gold.