Looking to add a dash of deliciousness to your beauty arsenal? Macarons and cupcakes … oh my! We’ve got just the collection of beauty products for you – with formulas infused with the likes of chocolate, vanilla and honey. Indulge your hair, skin, nails and body from morning till night with these mouthwatering products inspired by the sugary delights of your dreams. Best part: They’re totally calorie-free – dive in for the best indulgence you’ll try all season!
Lancôme La Vie Est Belle Eau de Parfum
The feels: Every fragrance lineup should include one bottle of Lancôme’s signature pretty-in-pink scent – the epitome of a gourmand perfume. The iconic La Vie Est Belle (which translates to ‘life is beautiful’) Eau de Parfum is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. It opens with an instantly recognisable olfactory treat – pear and blackcurrant – which settles to reveal a middle layer of iris, jasmine and orange blossom notes. However, it’s the happiness-inducing spun sugar and warm vanilla base that continues to spark inspiration in wearers new and old.
R1,390 for 30ml, R1,930 for 50ml, R2,370 for 75ml or R2,780 for 100ml from Woolworths, Edgars, Foschini, Truworths and www.superbalist.com
Panier des Sens Regenerating Honey Shower Nectar
The feels: The ultimate cleansing, hydrating and fragrant experience. If there’s anything that can convince you to wake up a little quicker, it’s this rich shower gel enriched with organic honey from Provence and propolis (a waxy substance made by bees). The yellow-tinged, uniquely-textured formula looks like honey and smells like dessert. When lathered onto wet skin, it builds up to a luxurious lather, leaving you deep-cleaned while skin is still soft and supple. Top tip: Layer with the matching Regenerating Honey Body Butter for a more long-lasting scent.
R279 from www.panierdessens.com and www.takealot.com
Hey Gorgeous Chocolate Chip Body Scrub Bliss
The feels: For your next spa day, we suggest this body scrub that smells like chocolate for a pampering treatment (and a cute #shelfie prop). Brown sugar grains and crushed apricot kernels are enveloped between cocoa powder, orange zest and grapeseed, which legitimately smells like a freshly-baked chocolate chip cookie and works nicely on rough spots. To balance things out, an olive, jojoba and essential oil glaze puts moisture back into skin, so that it doesn’t feel dry after you scrub. One small scoop will leave your skin looking silky and oh-so-lustrous.
R200 from Hey Gorgeous and www.hey-gorgeous.co.za
LUSH American Cream Conditioner
The feels: This is the post-shampoo nourishment your mane deserves. If you’re looking to envelop your hair in the scent of sweet vanilla, then the bestselling LUSH American Cream Conditioner is for you. It’s almost as rich as the drink that inspired it – creamy vanilla milkshakes from the 1950s, topped with fresh strawberries and drizzled with golden honey. This lavish product’s formula boasts vanilla absolute, clary sage oil, lavender oil and benzoin to moisturise the hair while leaving it blissfully perfumed. It’s suitable for both natural and coloured hair.
R115 for 100g, R195 for 240g or R325 for 475g from LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics and www.lush.com
Kate Spade Sparkle Eau de Parfum Intense
The feels: Floral gourmand magic – that’s what Kate Spade’s mysterious Sparkle Eau de Parfum Intense is. Truly an appropriate name, if you’re looking for a fun addition to your fragrance collection, look no further. The quirky olfactory profile – think notes of blackcurrant cosmopolitan, pink peppercorn, purple peony, hawthorn, smooth vanilla crème brûlée and cedarwood – is especially cheerful during the warmer months. And although we try not to judge a fragrance by its bottle, this dark blue one with pearlescent swirls is too stunning to be ignored.
R899 for 40ml, R1,099 for 60ml or R1,399 for 100ml from Clicks, Dis-Chem and www.takealot.com
NIVEA Oil in Cream – Coconut & Monoi Oil
The feels: Scaly skin? Just the excuse to slather yourself in coconut. Or at least in NIVEA’s creamy coconut body butter that smells like heaven. On top of its affordability, we’re especially impressed that it works around the clock to treat the driest of dry skin. A fabulous preparation for the inevitable baring of our legs. With coconut and exotic monoi oil, its indulgent whipped texture gives rich hydration and suits all skin types. It’s like a tropical daydream – so yummy that you’ll want to binge-apply, yet also so rich that a little goes a long way for 24-hour moisture.
R72.99 from Clicks and Dis-Chem
Kate Sunley Mint Lip Polish
The feels: Although you’ve probably heard of (and love) Kate Sunley’s Body Polishes, their lip variant is just as good – if not better. For the perfect juicy lip, try this yummy mint and citrus scrub loaded with tiny grains of sugar as well as natural oils and butters that help smooth and soften your lips without stripping them dry. Apply it in a circular motion to buff away dead skin cells, leaving lips renewed, pillowy and ready for lipstick application. Did we mention that it’s made to be wiped or licked off? The bracing peppermint scent is amazing – bon appétit!
R120 from www.katesunley.com
Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Adaptogens and Coconut Water
The feels: Soothing and scrumptious. Giving new meaning to sweet cheeks, this face mist fortified with aloe, adaptogens, coconut water and hyaluronic acid is truly a delight. It’s light and refreshing and doesn’t feel sticky or tacky on your face. This mist is also amazing because it cools, relieves redness and soothes sensitive skin. Post-spritz, skin looks dewier – and, call us crazy, but happier – which we’re chalking up to the tropical coconut aroma that feels so summery. It’s perfect to throw in your beach bag for when the sun gets a little too warm.
R299 from www.mariobadescu.co.za
NUXE Rêve de Miel Delectable Fragrant Water
The feels: Love at first spritz. For fans of NUXE’s honey-infused Rêve de Miel range – one of the cornerstones of the brand – this eau de toilette evokes a sense of something yummy and indulgent. Who said that you had to choose between sweet and warm when it comes to fragrances? When applied, sweet notes of orange blossom will exhibit a citrus scent, while the sandalwood and tonka bean add a bit of warmth. Both a head-turner and a familiar feeling when it enters a room, this gourmand will be our go-to casual fragrance all the way through summer.
R750 for 100ml from www.orleanscosmetics.co.za as well as select Woolworths, Foschini and Truworths stores
Burt’s Bees Almond & Milk Hand Cream
The feels: There are few sensations more annoying than tight, dry hands. We guarantee this little wonder will make a welcome addition to your daily routine. It’s so much more than a crisis-point replenisher that leaves rough hands and weak nails feeling smooth. It also has a nutty, marzipan-like scent that reminds us of almond croissants. Sweet almond oil, beeswax and vitamin E are all blended to pamper even the flakiest of balms. If you’re the type who isn’t keen on the feeling of a thick hand cream all over your paws, we’d recommend giving this one a skip.
R200 from Dis-Chem and www.takealot.com
The Body Shop Strawberry Body Yoghurt
The feels: A new take on an old fave. The Body Shop’s sweet-smelling Strawberry Body Butter will always be one of our favourites, thanks to its effective formula and accessible price point – and it just got even better. You can use its 100% vegan Body Yoghurt version all year round, especially once summer hits! With strawberry juice and Community Trade organic almond milk being the main ingredients, it’s the perfect body product to use on really hot days. The lightweight gel-cream absorbs fairly quickly and won’t leave a greasy film over your skin.
R190 from The Body Shop, www.thebodyshop.co.za and Clicks
Revlon Super Lustrous Nail Enamel – Crème Brûlée
The feels: A jolly union of luscious crèmes and metallic lacquers make up Revlon’s lineup of Super Lustrous Nail Enamels, available in 64 new shades. Lean into the holiday season with our nail polish shade of choice, Crème Brulée – a brown-bronze with a pearlescent finish that looks just like a perfectly caramelised crème brûlée. Thanks to a high-shine, full-coverage finish that rivals a professional job, it ensures that all eyes are on you and your manicure. And because it’s a quick-dry formula, no one has to know you slapped it on haphazardly!
R125.95 from Woolworths, Edgars, Foschini, Clicks, Dis Chem, www.superbalist.com and www.takealot.com
