Tried & tested: On counter December

The BD team road-tests all the new and noteworthy products hitting stores this December.

Sisley Paris Les Phyto Ombres - Eleni
What it is: A velvety, creamy and lightweight eyeshadow collection with ultra-pure pigments for radiant looking eyes and long-lasting colour.
My experience: I received the Les Phyto-Ombres in colour 40 Glow Pearl. This is a beautiful golden shade that even worked beautifully on my skin as a highlighter and inner-eye highlight. The beautiful branded ‘s’ imprinted in the golden shadow looks amazing when first opening the eyeshadow. When initially swatching the eyeshadow on my hand, there was not much colour pay off, however when dabbing it onto the centre of my eye and on my inner corners there was a nice glow/lumination added. The texture of the eyeshadow is nice, it’s a bit more cream like and less powdering making it nice to pack on and work with. The eyeshadow is a nice size and perfect for a handbag.

Nutrimetics Professional Matte Eyeshadow Palette - Rhianna
What it is: A palette filled with six all-matte eyeshadow shades.
My experience: I am all about a neutral eye-look, so this eyeshadow palette is perfect for me. The eyeshadows are super creamy, and the colours glide onto the eyelid effortlessly. The shades are pigmented, very easy to blend, and are long lasting. Unlike a lot of my other larger eyeshadow palettes, I like that this palette is small and compact, which makes it easy to carry around in my bag in case I want to touch up throughout the day, or add some extra colour of an evening after work. As the shades are all very neutral and wearable, this palette is perfect for any occasion! 

Ardell Magnetic Eyeliner - Alicia
What it is: A matte black magnetised gel liner that combined with the Ardell magnetised lashes allows for simple application.
My experience: I was a little apprehensive as to how well this would work, however after applying it for a night out, I have to say… I am definitely impressed! The beauty of this product is that if you can apply a gel liner, you can wear false lashes. The gel liner and thin angled brush that comes in the pack is of a good size and good quality. The packet instructs you to apply two layers and stick on the magnetic lashes while still slightly wet, so you have to work fast and precisely. I was weary of them not sticking properly or coming off in the wind, however they seemed to have lasted the night and were easy to remove. A single makeup wipe was sufficient in removing the liner and the eyelashes are perfect for reuse as there is no left over glue/residue on the band that needs to be removed. Such a winner for me!

KEVIN.MURPHY YOUNG.AGAIN.DRY CONDITIONER - Aja
What it is: An innovative dry conditioner that hydrates from the mid-lengths to the ends of the hair, while moisturising and conditioning.
My experience: Not to be confused with dry shampoo, this new addition from KEVIN.MURPHY helps to hydrate, moisturise and condition all in one. This is the first of its kind that I've tried, and I'm already addicted. It leaves my hair refreshed and clean, while helping to detangle my locks. Its signature ingredient, immortelle, is added to help protect and soothe the hair from the elements, and also has anti-ageing benefits to keep hair healthy and revitalised. This is a must try!

INIKA Organic Phytofuse Renew® Maca Root Day Cream - Rachel
What it is: A nourishing and hydrating day cream formulated with botanical extracts to keep skin feeling soft and supple throughout the day.
My experience: This is such a lovely vegan and cruelty-free day cream (a huge plus.) The packaging is beautiful and looks really luxe – I love how the ceramic spatula comes in a little pocket inside the box. I was pleasantly surprised at just how light and fluffy the formula feels once applied. It does look super creamy inside the jar however it soaks right into the skin, leaving no greasy residue, just beautifully soft and supple skin. The ingredients enriched with botanical extracts truly keeps my skin nourished and hydrated all day, even whilst under makeup, which assures me this is going to perfect to use throughout the summer!

Ella Baché Superfluid Great SPF50+ - Issy
What it is: An ultra-lightweight, four-hour water resistant, broad spectrum sun lotion with a sheer tint.
My experience: I trialled this in dark beige which is the perfect match for my olive skin. Upon application the consistency was convincingly like a foundation, but then once blended it’s a super lightweight formula which helped even out my skin tone whilst also protecting my skin from the sun being spf50+! My major concern with SPF based products is the oily reside some products can leave, instead the finish was matte whilst also providing a healthy summer glow. Formulated with kakadu plum extract, it has excellent antioxidant properties which has improved the overall appearance of my skin, leaving me with a healthy complexion. This is going to be a staple for summer when going for an effortless look while still protecting my skin.