The 3 New Beauty Brands I Adore

I added these 3 brands to my favorites' list!

New beauty brands are constantly emerging, and it definitely has been a bit hard (for me, at least) to keep up with all of them! But once I spend time trying some of them out, it usually becomes fairly easy to know which ones are to keep or to toss.

To be honest, you never really know if a product is suitable for your skin until you've tested it out on yourself, but I hope this will perhaps provide you with some reference if you're looking to try something new this summer!

AMARANTHUM

This brand was introduced to me by a friend's girlfriend (I know, it's complicated). The product I have been using from their line is called the Gentle Hydrating Essence. I've been told it is the best one to start out with the brand!

You can use promo code TRICIA15 to get 15% off your purchase at www.amaranthum.com; only valid until July 31, 2018.

The Gentle Hydrating Essence is designed to keep the skin hydrated all day long. If you have combination skin like me, this is a great choice in the summer because it helps with balancing the oil in the skin. It is light enough for my oily t-zone, yet moisturizing enough for my dry cheeks. The key ingredient in this product is kelp, which is rich in high-quality vitamins and minerals. And get this: kelp has the ability to help heal the skin from sunburn! Another reason why I think it's perfect for the summer.

The price is rather high, at $148 each, but it is because the brand uses ingredients made of premium traditional Chinese Herbs. The products are absolutely all natural with zero chemicals and heavy metal. Some skincare products with toxic ingredients are not suitable for pregnant women to use, but Amaranthum's products are actually really safe to use during pregnancy, too!

Yolanda, the founder of Amaranthum, was introduced to herbal remedies when she suffered from a serious breakout in her early 20s. Yolanda and her mother together decided to create a "green" line of products that would actually do good to the skin and not harm it further.

You can use promo code TRICIA15 to get 15% off your purchase at www.amaranthum.com; valid until July 31, 2018. — *You can use promo code TRICIA15 to get 15% off your purchase at* *www.amaranthum.com; valid until July 31, 2018.*

trèStiQue

During my most recent trip to Europe (check out my Vienna guide here), I packed the Essential 8 and was so thankful of it because not only is it light (only weighs 0.5lbs) and compact, but it also is able to save me a lot of liquid space (you can only fit so much into that little airport plastic bag)!

The Essential 8 is a set that comes nicely packed in a tube-shaped makeup bag with a built-in mirror. The products are shaped like crayons and are each designed with 2 functions (I'm obsessed with multi-functional products)! I also adore these products for their magnetic caps. It keeps the makeup mess-free, i.e. no random red smudges here and there!

Out of the 8 products, I'd say my favorite is the brow pencil and the lip crayon! The brow pencil, because it is a pencil on one end, and a brush on the other; I've always needed both types for my barely-there brows! The lip crayon in Chile Red is a color I'm currently obsessed with! Its matte on one end and a shinier balm version on the other. I love the matte side because it doesn't dry out my lips.

Products shown here include the Tinted Face Stick, Bronzer Stick, Shadow Crayon, Brow Pencil and the Lip Crayon. — Products shown here include the Tinted Face Stick, Bronzer Stick, Shadow Crayon, Brow Pencil and the Lip Crayon.

The makeup bag keeps everything neatly packed.

THE BUFF

So I actually learned about this oil skincare brand through following Jasmine Garnsworthy, the founder of The Buff! I didn't think much of the oil at first, because I've tried other face oils before and yes, I do like them but usually I only use them in the winter when my cheeks get flaky. But, but, but... I was wrong! The beauty of The Buff is that they offer customized products based on your skin type and needs!

So basically, how it works is: you go through a questionnaire that helps the brand understand what your skin is like. And then (my favorite part), you select your initials and the color for your own personalized label! And then, voilà! All done! You've gotten yourself a customized formula perfectly suited for your skin!

This really was helpful because the formula I received works really well on my skin (and my neck too, by the way)! Before, I would only use face oil on my cheeks because they tend to be too oily for my t-zone. However, the face oil I got from The Buff works well all over! I love using it especially on the night before a photo shoot because I get that extra dewy look the next day!

The Buff believes there’s really no such thing as "one-size-fits-all" when it comes to effective skincare. Hence, customizing products for every single person! The ingredients are all natural and clean, and clearly written on your personalized label, too. I love the transparency and simplicity of the concept!