August beauty news: editor’s picks

Le Labo City Exclusives

New York-based perfumery Le Labo is no stranger to the pages of Wallpaper*, having nabbed a Design Award for best fragrance in 2007 and collaborated with Japanese designer Eisuke Tachikawa to produce a bespoke aroma capsule for our Handmade Exhibition this year. Their City Exclusive fragrances are each inspired by, and exclusively sold in a city where La Labo has set up shop, making them highly-sought after souvenirs. The brand's City Exclusive Event introduces an exception to the rule - for six weeks from 1 September, these fragrances will be leaving their hometowns, and appearing in shops all over the world and online.

The event also marks the international debut of two City Exclusive fragrances, personally developed by founders Eddie Roschi and Fabrice Pinot. Limette 37, first launched in San Francisco this May, is an olfactory roller coaster that pays homage to the hilly ride from Le Labo's Fillmore Street locale to the bay. Beginning with wafts of bergamot, it then blooms with exquisite jasmine before drifting off in hints of vetiver and tonka beans. The brand new Cuir 28, on the other hand, encapsulates the robust, dynamic character of Dubai with a memorable blend of leather, woods, animal notes, musks and vanilla absolute. We expect them to be flying off shelves.

Limette 37, £276 for 100ml, Cuir 28, £276 for 100ml; www.lelabofragrances.com
City Exclusive Event runs from 1 September to 15 October 2013

Writer: TF Chan

O&M salon, New York

Australian hair care brand Original & Mineral has taken its ammonia, resorcinol- and PPD-free ethos international with the opening of its first salon outside of its home shores, in New York City. Located in the Meatpacking District, the salon exudes a cool, natural glamour that comes courtesy of raw and industrial accents, such as weathered wood furniture and exposed light bulbs. A wall of floor to ceiling shelves is stocked with the brand's attractive wares. Its packaging, a clever interpretation of old fashioned milk bottles designed by fellow Aussies, Container, is what brought the brand to our attention in the first place. The full range of products - formulated with indigenous, natural ingredients like Tasmanian sea kelp, Australian argan oil and Banksia flower - can finally be enjoyed with that inimitable salon finish.

Cuts (women) starting at $140, cuts (men) starting at $90; 55 Little West 12th Street, New York; T: 1.212 255 2445; www.originalmineral.com

Writer: Pei-Ru Keh

O&M salon, New York

Australian hair care brand Original & Mineral has taken its ammonia, resorcinol- and PPD-free ethos international with the opening of its first salon outside of its home shores, in New York City. Located in the Meatpacking District, the salon exudes a cool, natural glamour that comes courtesy of raw and industrial accents, such as weathered wood furniture and exposed light bulbs. A wall of floor to ceiling shelves is stocked with the brand's attractive wares. Its packaging, a clever interpretation of old fashioned milk bottles designed by fellow Aussies, Container, is what brought the brand to our attention in the first place. The full range of products - formulated with indigenous, natural ingredients like Tasmanian sea kelp, Australian argan oil and Banksia flower - can finally be enjoyed with that inimitable salon finish.

Cuts (women) starting at $140, cuts (men) starting at $90; 55 Little West 12th Street, New York; T: 1.212 255 2445; www.originalmineral.com

Writer: Pei-Ru Keh

O&M salon, New York

Australian hair care brand Original & Mineral has taken its ammonia, resorcinol- and PPD-free ethos international with the opening of its first salon outside of its home shores, in New York City. Located in the Meatpacking District, the salon exudes a cool, natural glamour that comes courtesy of raw and industrial accents, such as weathered wood furniture and exposed light bulbs. A wall of floor to ceiling shelves is stocked with the brand's attractive wares. Its packaging, a clever interpretation of old fashioned milk bottles designed by fellow Aussies, Container, is what brought the brand to our attention in the first place. The full range of products - formulated with indigenous, natural ingredients like Tasmanian sea kelp, Australian argan oil and Banksia flower - can finally be enjoyed with that inimitable salon finish.

Cuts (women) starting at $140, cuts (men) starting at $90; 55 Little West 12th Street, New York; T: 1.212 255 2445; www.originalmineral.com

Writer: Pei-Ru Keh

Hydrofit Centre, London

It may not be the most stylish way to sculpt the buttock and thigh area - but it could be the most effective. Hydrofit is a water-biking unit designed to accommodate one person at a time for cycling sessions with added podge-pounding from 16 water jets. Starting off in an empty cabin, the user slowly feels the water fill to waist level and the jets kick in as you kick off. A digital display shows your speed and distance covered, and counts down the session - 30 minutes is recommended, but you can go for longer if your aim is for serious gluteal punishment. A stream of ozone via the jets provides the added extra of skin exfoliation and refinement. It's a system that French hip-honers will be familiar with; the craze has already swept France, and is now introduced to the UK by Delphine Riahi-Botbol, a Doctor of Phramacy specialising in nutrition, and a teacher at the London's French lycée. Operating from a small but well-formed centre in Chelsea, the units are found in private rooms in the basement, and a fresh juice bar, consultation room and retail area greet you on the ground floor.  

30 minute session, £30, 45 minute session, £40

Hydrofit Centre, 278 Fulham Road, SW10, London; www.hydrofit.co.uk

Writer: Emma Moore

Hydrofit Centre, London

It may not be the most stylish way to sculpt the buttock and thigh area - but it could be the most effective. Hydrofit is a water-biking unit designed to accommodate one person at a time for cycling sessions with added podge-pounding from 16 water jets. Starting off in an empty cabin, the user slowly feels the water fill to waist level and the jets kick in as you kick off. A digital display shows your speed and distance covered, and counts down the session - 30 minutes is recommended, but you can go for longer if your aim is for serious gluteal punishment. A stream of ozone via the jets provides the added extra of skin exfoliation and refinement. It's a system that French hip-honers will be familiar with; the craze has already swept France, and is now introduced to the UK by Delphine Riahi-Botbol, a Doctor of Phramacy specialising in nutrition, and a teacher at the London's French lycée. Operating from a small but well-formed centre in Chelsea, the units are found in private rooms in the basement, and a fresh juice bar, consultation room and retail area greet you on the ground floor.  

30 minute session, £30, 45 minute session, £40

Hydrofit Centre, 278 Fulham Road, SW10, London; www.hydrofit.co.uk

Writer: Emma Moore

Rodial super-food skincare range

You must have had your head buried in burgers for the last few years if you missed the nutritional hype over omega oils - and the call for more omega 3 in our diets to balance the readily available supply of omega 6. For those who have already embraced wild salmon and walnuts to redress this balance, we have another source to add to the list. Rodial skincare has come up with a range containing superfoods for the skin and alongside ingredients such as Alp Rose stem cells, Marula and Rosehip oils and omega 3,6 and 9 oils. Using advanced biochemistry, the natural skincare company has combined the oils with vitamins A, B5, E and C and Goji berry and pomegranate extract to produce a facial oil, cream and cleanser that aim to not only lift the complexion but to calm redness and offer powerful anti-oxidant protection too.

Super-food day cream 50ml - £42, facial oil 30ml - £60, facial cleanser 200ml - £30

www.rodial.co.uk

Writer: Rachael Sanders  
 

Do Bandar Soap and Body Care, India

On a small coconut farm just outside Bangalore, India, two friends Mayura and Kaavya have been hand-crafting soaps and body care products, enriching them with natural, edible ingredients. Referencing traditional recipes from friends and family, they use a wealth of indigenous botanicals, including sandalwood, Himalayan almond and Kashmiri saffron, to create their range of heritage soaps under the name Do Bandar. Now branching into other skincare formulations, including scrubs, hair masks and massage oils, their drive is to always offer products that rejuvenate naturally. Delhi's architectural history has inspired the illustrations of the gift packaging (Qutub Minar), which is hand-drawn by the multi-tasking pair. An exclusive range for India's luxury brand Serai has just been completed, which will see Do Bandar reaching an international audience.

Coconess, No. 65, Singasandra, Hosur Road, Bangalore, 560068, India: www.dobandar.com/

Writer: Rachael Sanders

Do Bandar Soap and Body Care, India

On a small coconut farm just outside Bangalore, India, two friends Mayura and Kaavya have been hand-crafting soaps and body care products, enriching them with natural, edible ingredients. Referencing traditional recipes from friends and family, they use a wealth of indigenous botanicals, including sandalwood, Himalayan almond and Kashmiri saffron, to create their range of heritage soaps under the name Do Bandar. Now branching into other skincare formulations, including scrubs, hair masks and massage oils, their drive is to always offer products that rejuvenate naturally. Delhi's architectural history has inspired the illustrations of the gift packaging (Qutub Minar), which is hand-drawn by the multi-tasking pair. An exclusive range for India's luxury brand Serai has just been completed, which will see Do Bandar reaching an international audience.

Coconess, No. 65, Singasandra, Hosur Road, Bangalore, 560068, India: www.dobandar.com/

Writer: Rachael Sanders

NuFace Trinity facial toning device

Touted as a facelift in the palm of your hand, NuFace's Trinity facial toning device is a wrinkle-erasing, skin tone-improving, facial contouring gadget that makes use of microcurrent technology. NuFace is considered the first FDA-approved company to offer the non-invasive technology in the comfort of one's home. Its Trinity device delivers low levels of electricity in gentle waves to jumpstart the skin's production of collagen and elastin and has sensor capabilities to correct the amount of current as per skin type. Results include lifted brows, contoured jaw lines and tighter skin with usage as little as five minutes a day. This month, the brand launches a limited-edition grey version that's bound to have both men and women come a calling.

Trinity facial toning device, $325, by NuFace; www.mynuface.com

Writer: Pei-Ru Keh