K-Beauty showed up with a pop, a favourite nail polish brand revealed a new look, and steady-handed cosmetologists painted lips in glossy shades of pink and coral at the annual insider preview of summer and fall make up trends coming soon to London Drugs.
Women in a floral maxi dresses puckered their lips for samples of the season’s newest colours: high-sheen at Annabelle and neon at Kiss New York Professional.
“Matte has had its moment. It’s time for gloss,” predicted the pro behind the counter at Montreal’s Annabelle Cosmetics.
With that promise, they’re adding to their stash of Lipsies ($4.99), Annabelle’s popular line of moisturizing, tinted balm that prove heaven is a bakery because these retractable chubby sticks are also scented. Meanwhile, the brand’s new-for-fall lip liner, Big Show Gel, comes in six shining shades, and “red is love” has found a home with me. New Annabelle products arrive at London Drugs in August.
Polish also gets a big, new “yessie” from the inventive nail colour impresarios at Essie. The line that debuted 35 years ago with 12 colours is still inventing every season. Already on shelves at London Drugs, look for 42 new shades of long-wear Gel Couture polish, packaged in a sculpted bottle that looks like a swinging skirt. This two-step product (colour and top coat) promises to wear for two weeks in fashion-forward hues like “sit me in the front row,” “gala-vanting” and “fairy tailor.” A rounded brush and twisting stem provides slick, no-drip application.
New to North America and Europe, Kiss New York Professional is a Korean brand that sells bright bursts of colour for a dewy, skin-first aesthetic popularized by the K-Beauty trends now sweeping our way (at London Drugs in July). They have eye shadow pallets with enough pop to make Andy Warhol squeal with delight and the pigment-rich Matte Velvet Lipstick, Top Brow Sculpting Brow Pencil and Contouring Kit are decidedly free of Kardashian influence.
For goddesses of the night, Nyx tempts you with bold, boudoir-pretty shades and for July introduces the Ombre Blush for a natural rosy glow. For added glam on your nails, skin and sprinkled among your locks, they will also introduce Face & Body Glitter in silver.
Another new brand for London Drugs is StriVectin, a moisturizing system developed in the US with a unique formula of vitamin B used in skin cancer treatment. The Multi-Action Restorative Cream ($95) replenishes and strengthens skin while the Overnight Replenishing Moisture Mask ($68) nourishes skin while you’re sleeping.
