4  Key Takeaways from Sephora Spring 2019 Launches

The Sephora press day has always been like a seasonal beauty reunion. Beauty editors, bloggers, influencers and showbiz stars alike make their way to the designated venue, cruising through booth after booth where they will talk in details with representatives of the brands, oftentimes flying in from other destinations for the sole purpose of courting love, approvals and endorsements from visitors.

Staged under the concept “Where Your Beauty Beats by Sephora,” the Spring 2019 press day brings the usual secret get-together of the beauty world into full view — at Emquartier’s Quartier Gallery. Lit by natural, summer light shining from outside the glass window, testing latest colours has never been so real! (Yes, we talk about how testing colours is best done in daylight, but have never quite made it a reality until now). Booths are more packed than ever, with many new skincare and makeup freshies joining the Sephora Thailand family. Some of them, like Pixi, Abyssian and Pretty Vulgar, have long been known as cult hits among the beauty citizen.

But to beauty insiders, the Sephora press day is much more than just a preview of their massive upcoming releases. As one of the world’ largest beauty retailers, Sephora more or less dictates beauty trends beyond hit colours and latest hairstyles. Cruising through Sephora’s new releases and listening closely to what each beauty rep has to say give you an idea of the direction the beauty world is headed to in terms of what type of products to use, what texture and colour are coming and what philosophical/ ethical choices all these independent brands are embracing.

Here are our 4 takeaways from Sephora Spring 2019 Press Day.

Glow & Glitters

While most new foundation launches come in matte or semi-matte finish (and you even see the return of powder foundation!), highlights and glitters are big, really, really big. We have primers that offer dewy finish and mists that give you an instant glow. And we have highlights and glitters in all imaginable shades, as well as liquid eyeliners and lip gloss in glittering, holographic effect. Cover FX’s latest primers, true to the brand’s customisable essence, comes in 4 formulas to render different desired finish. Prep skin with its Dewey Skin Primer before foundation, and set everything with StarSkin Orglamic Pink Cactus Serum Mist for a glowing complexion. Go bold with glitters for lids and lips with latest releases like Stila’s Little White Lies Liquid Eyeshadow and Tarte Tarteist REMIX Lip Gloss (Limited Edition). Highlights come in full sparkle — try Zoeva’s Heritage Highlighter and Too Faced Diamond Light Multi-Use Highlighter for powder highlighter. But if you prefer a subtle, and yet long-lasting highlight, go for Nudestix Magnetic Nude Glimmer, which comes in three shades.

Star Ingredients

What is it that makes Sephora’s exclusive brands special? Ingredients! Not those fanciful, fairy-tail like extracts with a backstory related to difficult climate or rough, almost-impossible-to-reach origin, but real, active ingredients with proven records and research to benefit the skin. As beauty connoisseurs become more worldly and aware of these skin-living ingredients: Hyaluronic acid for moisturising, retinol for anti-ageing and overall complexion health, Vitamin C for anti-ageing and vibrancy, Glycolic acid for peeling, Peptide for collagen-boosting and even plant oils for various skin-benefiting purposes, the popularity of these independent brands surge. For them, good skin doesn’t come from fantasy ingredients, but instead how to “formulate” those proven to do good for your skin.

For 2019, we see many new faces at Sephora when it comes to independent brands that champion formulation of good, potent active ingredients. Sunday Riley launches the new CEO Glow Vitamin C + Tumeric Face Oil, reaffirming its belief in actives and botanical plants. Same goes for Herbivore Botanicals, who will finally offer their much-celebrated oils in full size. New arrivals at Sephora such as Allies of Skin, Dr Dennis Gross and Dr Roebucks also wear the name of active ingredients on their sleeve — all for the well-rounded beauty connoisseurs who now want to know not just that a cream can moisturise, but what ingredients it uses to moisturise their skin.

Natural Haircare

Hair products are one of the main reasons we go to Sephora. The beauty retailer boasts the best collection of haircare that include anything from fool-proof celebrity brands, organic line and cult hits. Blame it on the PM2.5, we are no longer in the mood to slather any more harmful chemical onto our dear scalp, and Sephora has just so many haircare lines formulated from natural, organic ingredients to choose from. Whether you are fan of the ever-favourite coconut oil or the rarer, more exotic Abyssinian oil, you will definitely find some nice thing for your hair at Sephora this season.

Honorable Mentions

Even when they do not fall into any category or trend, some products just stand out on their own. Here are our final selection of what you need to burn your wallet for!

Shop the latest skincare and cosmetics at sephora.co.th