The following article was published originally in August 2021 We are sharing it now for your perusal, but take into account that the following information may be outdated.
For a moment, it seemed like COVID was behind us. Masks off, testers back, and our skin rejoicing with a dose of vitamin D. But then variants arrived, masks returned, bidding farewell to that red lipstick and skincare routine we just started to embrace.
Meanwhile, Israel's summer package, involving heat, humidity, sun exposure, and freezing air conditioning, took a toll on our skin, leaving us longing. But amid what feels like a major regression, there are glimmers of hope in five exciting beauty revelations, timely boosting morale:
Auntie from Germany: Dr. Barbara Sturm Lands at Factor 54
For years, our interaction with the luxurious brand boiled down to desperate pleas for Bestie who flew abroad or envy-filled watching Gwyneth Paltrow, Hailey Bieber, and Kim Kardashian's skincare routines. So, news of Dr. Barbara Sturm's products hitting Factor 54 got us butterflies, especially when flying to the nearest Sephora branch isn't an option. The exclusive and celebrity-loved skincare line was launched only in 2014 but quickly climbed the best-seller charts, leaving us eagerly joining the club.
Dr. Sturm offers a variety of products from face creams to serums. Some claim the creams are less suitable for the Israeli summer and advise waiting for winter. Favorites include the Glow Drops, reviving tired skin's natural radiance, an eye cream treating dark circles and puffiness, and a successful face mask for travel, post-sun exposure, or whenever skin needs a moisture boost. And a little boost wouldn't hurt after this year.
Price Range: NIS 190-1,290.
Available at Factor 54 at Ramat Aviv Mall and online.
Climate Crisis: Hava Zingboim's Four Serums
Hava Zingboim, founder of her eponymous cosmetics conglomerate, introduces four serums as part of the NEW ESSENTIAL series, focusing on healing air pollution and sun damage, tailored to various skin types. The series includes a daytime serum for all skin types and a night serum - all with active ingredients protecting and aiding skin recovery. Regular customers remember Zingboim's Profuse Serum, now a household name. In the new series, the ADVANCED BIOM-XL day serum impressed with its immediate hydration and smooth texture, while the night serum, with a richer texture, was beloved.
Launch Price Range: NIS 395-496.
Available through authorized cosmetologists by Hava Zingboim.
Natural Look: Mimi Luzon's Combined Cream and Treatment
Only a few months have passed since the northern Tel Aviv cosmetician launched the golden lip mask with model Irina Shayk (whose picture adorns an entire wall at Luzon's clinic, and we're not mad about it). Now, she introduces another product, the Legendary Glow Rosie Cream, based on rose extracts and other natural ingredients, aiming to maintain the skin's natural look.
With a texture ranging from rich cream to light gel, the product manages to give the skin a matte, non-greasy appearance - essential qualities in the Israeli heat. Our only reservations touched its color - a vibrant pink, and the rose scent, which left the skin with a confusing fragrance. But... to each their own scent.
In addition to the cream launch, Luzon offers the LEGENDARY TREATMENT, a complementary treatment aimed at refreshing, brightening, and firming the skin, using devices and products from the LEGENDARY series.
Cream Price: NIS 749 for 30 ml.
Exclusive to Mimi Luzon's clinic in Tel Aviv or online.
Treatment Price: NIS 1,150. Contact: 03-9215085.
YSL BEAUTY's Pop-Up
YSL BEAUTY RECORDS, the concept store by the fashion powerhouse Yves Saint Laurent, recently unveiled its unique boutique in Tel Aviv. At first glance, one might mistake it for a recording studio rather than a boutique dedicated solely to the French fashion house's makeup products. This pop-up shop, aptly named YSL BEAUTY RECORDS, draws inspiration from vinyl record stores, beloved by the laid-back designer, as part of a broader concept that connects the brand to the realms of music.
Set against a backdrop of giant speakers, a DJ booth, and neon signs, the pop-up offers the brand's best-sellers like the celebrated Touche Éclat and the LIBRE fragrance, alongside newer makeup, skincare, and fragrance collections. Among these, the Volupte Liquid Colour Balm stands out, an excellent tint for lips enhancing their natural hue. Adding to the cool vibe are the beauty-tech stations allowing for touchless makeup trials and personalized makeup shade matching technology.
Price Range: Touche Éclat at NIS 170, Volupte Liquid Colour Balm at NIS 140, and LIBRE INTENSE at NIS 419.
The store will operate for only six months at Dizengoff 162, Tel Aviv.
Straight from the Lab: Custom Facial Cream by Biofur
At times, personalized skincare may seem like a given. After all, we all have different genetics, tones, habits, and routines - could a day cream or serum really suit everyone equally and achieve equal results? Biofur, specializing in skin improvement solutions, tries to challenge this assumption with the BIO-LOGIC series, including five types of ampoules with different formulas and a base cream, allowing personalized adjustment to the customer's specific needs.
Biofur's customization process is fascinating: It starts with a questionnaire filled by a cosmetician regarding skin type, lifestyle, and the customer's skincare habits, helping to choose the ampoule to mix with the base cream. Each ampoule, mixable at home with a special spoon, gives the base cream a different scent. In my case, the 'Mint' ampoule left a subtle mint fragrance, leaving a pleasant after-smell on the skin. After the first application, the skin remained smooth and velvety, but due to its slightly heavy texture, it felt more relevant as a night cream.
Base Cream Price: NIS 260. Ampoules Price Range: NIS 28-51.
Available through authorized cosmetologists and online.