Hi, fellow beauty-obsessed individuals, and happy New Year. One of my favorite parts of a new year, along with all the parties and holiday cheer and sparkles, is that makeup and beauty brands start to move away from the—usually less wearable— holiday launches. Now don’t get me wrong — I like glitter and red lipstick just as much as the next gal, but the cosmetic market tends to get saturated with products following that M.O. around the holidays. The new year brings a breath of fresh air to the market, and this year isn’t an exception. So here are a few of the products that are launching this January that I’m most excited about.
1. New Fenty Pro Filt’r Concealer and Pro Filt’r Setting Powder
If you were in the beauty community in September of 2017, you got to witness the earthquake that Rihanna’s cosmetic brand, Fenty Beauty, caused when she launched her Pro Filt’r Foundation with 40 shades. And she didn’t just stop there. The line has now expanded to include concealers and setting powders. The concealer has a jaw-dropping 50 shades included in the line, and it claims to be a medium-to-full coverage as well as crease proof. It’s currently launched on Sephora’s website and in-store, and is retailing for $26. The setting powder comes in 8 different shades, and it claims to be lightweight and super fine while having NO FLASHBACK! It’s also retailing in Sephora for $32.
2. The Matte Book
This has to be, hands down, one of the prettiest eyeshadow palettes I’ve seen in a hot minute. Look at all the colors! This beautiful rainbow is The Matte Book from The Crayon Case Cosmetics, the same people who brought us the Crayola-inspired Box of Crayons eyeshadow palette last year. This gorgeous palette has every matte shadow you could ever need with an equal distribution of warm and cool tones (finally!) and larger pans of transition shades on the bottom row. This WOC owned brand launches the palette on January 18th.
3. The Ice-Cream Collection
This next launch is making me want to run over to ’55 Exchange right now and grab a scoop. The skincare brand I Dew Care just released three new face masks: Cake My Day, Berry Groovy and Matcha Mood. Cake My Day is meant to hydrate and nourish skin with hyaluronic acid and squalane. Berry Groovy brightens, exfoliates, and hydrates with raspberry extract and strawberry seeds. Matcha Mood soothes the skin with vitamin B3. Each full-size mask (3.52 oz) is retailing for $25 right now on membox.com, and the mini trio (.35 oz) is retailing for $20. They also drop in Ulta on February 17th.
4. wet n wild’s PUMP Collection
Everyone’s favorite (and probably first) drugstore makeup brand just dropped their first “ath-beauty” line. Essentially, this collection is a range of 37 products curated to take you from the gym to your job in a few minutes, as well as stand up to the sweat and humidity of a workout. The line—developed in collaboration with YouTube fitness star and POP Pilates inventor, Cassey Ho—includes items such as the Makeup Locker, a 3-in-1 sheer BB cream, concealer, and highlighter ($8.99). A new, notable release with this collection is a line of “Partner Up” products that they launched. These consist of primer, toner, and other targeted treatment sticks that can be mixed and match to make a duo stick with the Partner Up Connector. Think those “blendy” markers that you had in fourth grade to make gradients with and how those connected. This collection is now available online at wet n wild’s website and in CVS stores. I’ll be seeing you at the gym soon, rocking some glowing skin.
5. Hourglass Year of the Pig Blush
The Lunar New Year is coming up (year of the cute piggies, everyone!) and Hourglass Cosmetics has decided to celebrate by releasing the most beautiful blush I have ever laid my eyes on. The $38 (I know, super expensive, but soooo pretty) blush comes in Hourglass’ iconic Ambient Lighting formula that is meant to give you that lit from within, healthy glow. It’s currently available on Hourglass’ website in the shade Vivid Flush.
6. The Ordinary
Okay, I know this isn’t really a release, but The Ordinary is now available at Sephora again! If you don’t know, The Ordinary is an affordable skin care line focused on ethically sourced ingredients and clinical level formulas without the clinical price tag. The brand is also completely cruelty-free! As a girl who loves skincare and rocking some glowing skin – but who is also a broke college student who can’t afford to drop $40 on a face mask or serum –The Ordinary is a godsend, and I can personally recommend trying them out as I’ve loved everything I’ve tried from them.
7. Ofra x Francesca Tolot Collab
For the first time, I can remember, a makeup company collabed with an actual makeup artist! Ofra Cosmetics and world-renowned MUA Francesca Tolot created a two palette and three lip collection with such a unique color story. I actually audibly gasped when I saw this eyeshadow palette. Dubbed the “Infinite” palette, the $49 price tag makes me cry, but the lime green, bright orange, deep blues, and stunning highlighter have me thinking about taking the plunge and dropping some cash. The collection also includes the Gilded face palette, which has two new bronzers and two liquid-to-baked blushes that are supposed to give you a naturally radiant look. It’s retailing for $49, as well. The final piece in the line is a three-piece lip set for $50, which features red, berry, and nude liquid lips. The lippies are also available individually for $20 a piece. The collection has already debuted at IMATS LA and is available on Ofra’s website