Launching a beauty brand in 2026 is one thing. Launching one people genuinely haven't seen before is another. That's what first drew me to So Topical. The Australian beauty brand was founded by Sophie and Francesca "Cesy", who met while working together at Seoul Tonic. Sophie was scaling the wellness brand, while Cesy was leading its social and marketing strategy. After years spent building someone else's business, the pair began asking themselves a simple question: if they w

I've been colouring my hair since I was 14. Like a lot of girls, it started with babylights. Then came the brighter appointments, the toner, the face framing pieces, the endless Pinterest boards of blondes that looked effortless but definitely weren't. Somewhere along the way, my hair became part of my identity. I'd always been blonde, just different versions of it. Over the past year, though, I started wondering if it was time for a change. The internet was full of rich brun

I love a good blowout as much as anyone, but lately I've found myself reaching for my straightener a lot more. Not because I'm straightening my hair, but because I think the waves it creates look so much better than a perfectly polished curl. For a while it felt like every hairstyle had to look freshly done. Big bouncy blowouts, perfectly uniform curls and not a strand out of place. Now, I keep noticing hair that feels a little more relaxed. It's softer, slightly messy and ha

Whether you're after a subtle glow or a deep bronze, fake tan has come a long way from the streaky formulas most of us remember. The biggest difference now isn't finding a good tan, it's finding the right one for your routine. Some people swear by face drops they can mix into their skincare, others want a mousse that develops overnight, while gradual lotions are perfect if you'd rather build colour slowly than commit to a full tanning session. Here's where I'd start. Face Tan

At its simplest, eye maxxing is the idea of making your eyes appear larger, brighter or more striking. On TikTok, that can mean everything from lash serums and brown eyeliner to canthal tilt discussions, circle lenses and even surgery. The name is new. The pursuit isn't.

These are the luxury beauty products I think genuinely earn their price tag. Not because they're expensive, but because I haven't found a dupe that does the job quite as well.