It’s the bane of all who possess oily skin – the greasy shine that always appears whether we desire it or not. The new limited-edition Dior Skin Mattifying Papers ($62) promise to instantly remove the shine with zero fuss and without altering your makeup. Each case comes with 100 plant fibre-based sheets and it also comes with a built-in mirror – the perfect kit for touching up while you’re out and about then.

Available now at the Dior Beauty Online Boutique

Last March saw Hermes launching its first face complexion products with the Plein Air collection (French for “open air”). A year on, the range has just been expanded to include the H Trio Collection, which features two new powders.

The first is H Trio Healthy Glow Mineral Powder (above left); the semi-matte, pigmented powder ($147) said to blur imperfection, unify the complexion for all skin types (even the most sensitive) and bring natural warmth to the skin (it’s essentially a bronzer). It’s available in five shades.

The second powder is the H Trio Iridescent Mineral Powder (above right), which acts similarly to a highlighter. Available in pink or coral ($147 each), the powder’s substantial concentration of mother-of-pearl creates an iridescent finish.

You’ll notice that both powders come in a subtle H-shaped motif – that’s a nod to Hermes’ long-running H passant icon, which was first designed in the ’20s for the maison, but here, the design helps to give depth to the tri-coloured surface of the powders. Both powders are said to be highly buildable and they come in refillable, extra-large compacts ($86 for refills) to enable the powder to be collected on the brush with a broad, sweeping movement.

Available now at Hermes stores and beauty counters

Hedi Slimane steadily continues to build up Celine’s olfactory family. He first introduced perfumes to the maison’s repertoire in 2019, before including candles to the mix in 2021. The latest is admittedly a rather esoteric but charming addition: perfumed papers.

How to use them? Each sheet can be kept in a drawer for example, or your wardrobe to infuse it with the scent of Parade (the brand’s most popular perfume, described to be a musky, powdery cologne with notes of bergamot, neroli, vetiver, musk, oak moss), though we imagine more scents will be available in future.

The perfumed papers retail at $130 for a box of 15 sheets, with each sheet embossed with Celine’s signature Triomphe motif, and is said to be able to diffuse its scent for a minimum of one year.

Available now at Celine stores 

There are several new changes to Dior’s Forever range. First up is the Dior Forever Skin Correct ($73), which is the brand’s popular creamy concealer. Available in seven shades, the concealer is now no-transfer and boasts of a 96 per cent “natural origin” ingredient list (highlights include iris, wild pansy, nasturtium and milfoil extract) to help impart additional skincare benefits.

The Dior Forever primers have also been reinvented. Like the range’s signature foundation, the primers are now available in two finishes. Yep, you guessed it; matte and glowy ($95 each). The Dior Forever Glow Veil primer is said to offer 24-hours of hydration thanks to the inclusion of plant oils, and it also comes with SPF PA 20++ protection. On the other hand, the Dior Forever Velvet Veil primer uses soft-focus powders to ensure the skin stays shine-free for 24 hours.

Available at all Dior Beauty stores and counters, on the Dior Beauty online store, Sephora stores  and Sephora.sg

Nars’ idiosyncractic Orgasm blush is turning 24 this year and to this day, it remains a best-seller for the brand. Nars rolls out new interpretations of the original every year and for 2023, the Orgasm collection includes a eyeshadow palette ($75), a blush quad set ($65), a highlighter stick ($60) and a lip and cheek set ($70).

Highlights include the eyeshadow palette, which consists of nine shades in matte, satin, and glitter finishes, which are said to be extra pigmented, thanks to a liquid binding system used by the brand, while the Orgasm Thrills Lip and Cheek Set comprises of a mini blush and brush combo, as well as a full-size lip balm (available exclusively at Sephora’s online store).

Available now at all Nars stores

We’re big fans of Vitamin C for its ability to give a glow to the skin and its strong antioxidant properties. But Dr Dennis Gross is taking it to the next level with its new Vitamin C Lactic range.

The key product in this range is the Vitamin C Lactic 15% Vitamin C Firm & Bright Serum ($130), which sounds like a really formidable player with its high percentage of L-Ascorbic Acid (the pure form of vitamin C) and its combination with lactic acid.

Lactic acid is a gentle alpha hydroxy acid – it can exfoliate the skin (at high enough percentages) but in lower doses, it possesses hydrating properties and helps to strengthen the skin’s barrier. We’re guessing that this serum has a lower percentage of lactic acid – the reason being vitamin C can be a rather potent active in and of itself and can sensitise people’s skin if overused, hence the lactic acid is used here more to hydrate rather than exfoliate.

Available exclusively at Sephora stores and Sephora.sg

You love a matte lip look but struggle with its drying effect. That’s a typical complain that Fenty Beauty reportedly tackled with its new Fenty Icon Velvet Liquid Lipstick ($43). Available in five shades (all with a velvet matte finish), it’s said to hugs lips with intense colour in one precise swipe with the doe-foot applicator and the whipped, creamy formula leaves lips feeling sated and not parched.

Available now at Sephora stores and Sephora.sg

The upscale Japanese skincare label has re-formulated three of its signature products.

The Concentrated Brightening Serum ($270) takes a holistic approach; its new formulation is designed to create a skin environment with a stabilised microbiome balance, espousing the belief that that skin looks its best when its internal ecosystem is flourishing.

The UV Protective Cream ($175) is now infused with Moroccan thyme extract, which reportedly supports the skin’s ability to protect itself against sun damage and allows beneficial red light to filter through.

And lastly, the lips are a key facial area that’s often neglected or forgotten when it comes to UV protection. Think of the brand’s UV Protective Lip Treatment ($90)as a two-for-one lip balm and UV protector designed for the lips – like the cream, it’s also now infused with Moroccan thyme extract.

Available now at Cle de Peau Beaute Mandarin Gallery flagship store, Takashimaya, Tangs at Tang Plaza, Isetan Scotts and BHS Bugis

English perfume house Penhaligon’s latest creation, Highgrove Bouquet Eau de Parfum ($310), is an ode to the elegant Highgrove Gardens (the private residence of The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall). It’s described to be a gender-neutral floral woody musk fragrance, with top notes of geranium, lavender and hyacinth; middle notes of weeping lime headspace, French mimosa, tuberose and base notes of cedarwood, orris fusion and musk.

According to the brand, the weeping silver lime trees typically blossom in the peak summer months of July and August, and the Highgrove estate is filled with the scent of “earthly sunshine”, and the perfume is designed to capture that uplifting vibe.

Available at Sephora Ion Orchard store, Sephora.sg and Escentials.sg

The Eudermine Activating Essence ($145) is the big new thing at Japanese skincare giant Shiseido this year. You may have heard of Shiseido’s famed “Red Water” – it was the first cosmetic product launched by Shiseido in 1897 and people came to call it the red water (though it was officially named Eudermine later on by the brand) and this is its latest iteration.

Formulated with fermented kefir and yuzu extract, as well as the brand’s proprietary 4MSK complex (which destroys melanocytes a.k.a. cells in the skin that produce and contain the pigment melanin), this essence was developed to restore one’s natural radiance. It comes in a refillable container too.

Available now at Shiseido stores and counters