What we’re loving this week
Fashion writer Harriet gives us the scoop on what next IT sneaker will be – and it may surprise you.
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At news.com.au checkout, shopping isn’t just our job, it’s our passion. We can’t get enough of a good sale, plus if we love a product, we won’t stop raving about it.
Here we’ve rounded up all our favourite products that we’ve tried and tested lately — our top pick is the brand new Converse Run Star Trainer Low Top in the colour Golden Wren. Forget what you know about the usual Converse trainer, these ones come in loads of fun colours and our fashion writer Harriet Amurao predicts they’re going to be “the new IT sneaker”.
Here’s everything else the news.com.au checkout team has been loving lately.
Happy shopping!
WHAT THE NEWS.COM.AU CHECKOUT TEAM IS LOVING THIS WEEK
Converse Unisex Converse Run Star Trainer Low Top in Golden Wren, $140 at Converse
“I’ve been trying to incorporate colour into my everyday wardrobe, especially during winter, and these Converse Run Star Hike Trainers are my most recent addition (or rather, obsession). I love the unique design and how surprisingly versatile they are. They’re also insanely comfortable, lightweight, soft and are the perfect way to jazz up any outfit – I’ve received so many compliments on them! I like to wear these sneakers with monochromatic outfits to really let the bright yellow pop. They look so good … I seriously can’t wait to style these during the warmer seasons too. I’m calling it now, these are going to be the new ‘IT’ sneaker. They’re also available in other colours like red, blue, black and white.” – Harriet Amurao, Shopping Writer
Trinny London Bounce Back Intense Peptide Moisturiser, $92 at Trinny London
”I know, almost $100 for a moisturiser … how good could it be? Although anything Trinny London is gold, and this pick is no exception. It’s packed with loads of active ingredients that aren’t too overpowering for your skin – there’s just the right amount to give you a visible difference. Peptides and hyaluronic acid work hard to make your skin look and feel super hydrated, plump, smooth and totally soft. I’ve been using it morning and night for the past few weeks and I am obsessed. Also the packaging is super fun too. ” – Marina Tatas, Shopping Writer
Kobo Libra Colour eReader, $339.75 at Booktopia
“Like many bookworms, I’ve been waiting for a colour eReader to arrive in Australia – and Kobo has finally delivered. The Kindle competitor recently dropped not one, but two colour e-readers: the Kobo Libra Colour and the Kobo Clara Colour. My favourite is the Libra Colour, which brings a colour ink display and the ability to highlight and annotate directly onto your books in four different colours.
It also packs in everything I loved about the Kobo Libra 2, such as an asymmetric design that makes it easy to hold in one hand, physical page turn buttons, 32GB of storage, cloud file transfer via Dropbox and Google Drive, and built-in access to Overdrive, Libby and Kobo Plus.
While the colour display doesn’t match the vibrancy of an iPad or smartphone screen, the Libra Colour is still beautiful to look at, and helps make my reading experience feel a bit more authentic.” – Lauren Chaplin, Consumer Technology Reporter
Electric Soul, $135 for 50ml at Who Is Elijah
”I’ve been a big fan of Who Is Elijah fragrances for a few years now, and this new launch has really got me excited. When I put it on for the first time, my fiance described the scent as ‘sexy’, so take from that what you will.
It comes in this gorgeous bright purple liquid and the brand describes the scent as a striking blend of floral and spice. In my opinion, it’s floral, musky and spicy all at the same time and I am really into it.” – Marina Tatas, Shopping Writer
AERE Organic Cotton Blend Knit Dress, $160 at The Iconic
”I am SO loving my new maxi knit dress by AERE. I’ve been considering a knit dress for a while now – but was worried I’d be too hot, especially if made in wool or acrylic. Then I saw this dress at THE ICONIC (it was actually listed in our story on the best winter dresses) and I knew it was the one. Made in a stretchy rib fabric that has 50 per cent organic cotton, it’s not only super soft and relaxed but also breathable and comfy to wear. Plus the style is perfect with its chic maxi length, simple neckline, extra long arm length and two splits at the bottom. So easy to wear, I just throw my wool coat over the top and pop on some trainers. It also looks good with a puffer or denim jacket and a pair of boots. I got the black colourway but now have my eye on the cream colour as well. It’s officially my new favourite winter dress – I never want to take it off!” – Susannah Hardy, Parenting Shopping Writer
Batiste Dry Shampoo, 24H Active Waterless Shampoo, $17 at Amazon Australia
“I’ve recently been trying to train my hair into coping with being washed just once a week, and the Batiste 24hr Active Dry Shampoo has been a major player in such a daring feat. Containing bursts of fragrance that are released when you sweat, which has been super helpful if I am working out or edging closer to the end of the week and needing a freshen up for my hair. A couple of sprays, a tousle and brush through has my hair instantly feeling voluminous and fresh, it also has the power to last out that final day or two before a thorough wash. The picture here shows my hair on day five post-wash, with a few minor sprays of Batiste dry shampoo.” – Jessica Smith, eCommerce Health and Wellness Writer
PD100W491 20000 Mah 100W Pd Power Bank Chargecore, $136 at Dick Smith
”Small powerbanks are great for tiny devices like mobile phones and cameras – but when you’re travelling with and iPad and a laptop like I did recently, having a more powerful powerbank like this on hand was an absolute lifesaver. It’s honestly not as large as I expected and the rectangular shape meant that it fit nicely in the side pocket of my backpack. I love that it has a digital display which details battery level as a per cent rather than a series of obscure bars. It also displays input and output levels and has super fast charging for PD-compatible devices. I also love that there are four ports for simultaneous charging so there was never any debate over who needed it most when we were on holiday.” – Stephanie Yip, eCommerce Travel Writer
L’Occitan Eau de Toilette, $99 at L’Occitane
“Winter is a great time to use woody fragrances and I’ve been loving L’Occitan Eau de Toilette. At 75ml, the bottle is compact and fits well in my gym bag, and the scent is peppery and light. The base note of the cologne is musk, with hints of lavender and nutmeg, and it’s not overpowering. You can also pair this with other L’Occitan products including a shower gel which uses the same aromatic profile as the cologne. All up, a very welcomed addition to my day.” – Troy Nankervis, Shopping Writer
Scalp-Thingy Massager, $43 at Sephora
“I’ve tried my fair share of scalp massagers and this one from Bread takes the cake. Not only is it super cute but the bristles are sturdy enough without being too hard or painful and soft enough without being flimsy. As someone who suffers from psoriasis, I like to use it with scalp oil before washing my hair and when washing the oil out, it just feels very therapeutic and really helps make my scalp feel refreshed. I also like that it isn’t super bulky so it’s great for taking on any trips.” – Harriet Amurao, Shopping Writer
Fourth Wing: The Empyrean Bk 1 by Rebecca Yarros, $14 at Amazon Australia
“Who knew a ‘romantasy’ set in a war college for dragon riders would keep me glued to my e-Book past 3am, but here we are. I’ve never been the most avid fan of fantasy books, but this is the perfect in-between for when you’re craving a bit of other worldly excitement but don’t want to use all your brain power just to keep up with overly complex backstories. Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing is the definition of a page turner, and one that’s hard to put down. It’s well-paced and packed with all the super entertaining adventure, romance and jaw-dropping twists you could want.” – Tahnee-Jae Lopez-Vito, Shopping Writer
Deep Comfort Body Butter, $72 at Clinique
”The winter chill has set in, which means my skin is starting to crack – how fun. Thankfully Clinique’s super luxurious and rich body butter has swooped in to save the day. It’s perfect for all skin types, and although you might imagine it to feel thick, I really enjoyed how quickly this cream absorbed into my skin. And as you can see, I finished the tub to the very last drop, so it’s obviously a favourite of mine. You need to get your hands on this!” – Marina Tatas, Shopping Writer
*Enjoy breakfast with the Koalas, from $90 at Wildlife Sydney
“My partner and I have been on a mission to get out of the house on weekends, and we recently went and tried the Koala Breakfast experience at Wildlife Sydney*. After getting up at the crack of dawn (okay, 6am), we arrived at the zoo for early entry and a keeper-led tour before the crowds arrived.
We then headed to the upstairs patio to watch the koalas begin their day (and managed to get a peep at the adorable joey), snapped a commemorative photo, and chowed down on a buffet breakfast. After we’d filled up on hash browns, we were also given the opportunity to explore the zoo at our own pace.
It was a great experience, and one I would recommend to anyone looking to entertain the kids or introduce international friends to our Aussie animals. Every ticket sold also contributes to koala conservation, making it a nice way to support our furry pals and get a fun morning out in the process.” – Lauren Chaplin, Consumer Technology Reporter
Alya Skin Pink Marine Collagen Sleep Mask, $29.99 (down from $49.95) at Amazon Australia
”I love a face mask that you can wear to bed, because it removes that last step of having to painstakingly get up and remove your mask after you’ve just coaxed yourself into full face-mask-relaxation mode with the latest episode of Bridgerton. I lather on this face mask before bed once a week or so, and I love how it only leaves a glowy sheen and isn’t a completely wild colour- you could even use this on a long haul flight without gawking onlookers. By the time I’ve finished my nightly novel reading or aforementioned Netflix ep, most of the mask has soaked into my skin and won’t be coming off on my pillow. By morning, I can still feel a slight residue on my face which is easily washed off in the shower. This is a great rejuvenating face mask for anyone who generally can’t be bothered with face masks.” – Jessica Smith, eCommerce Health and Wellness Writer
*tickets were supplied by Wildlife Sydney
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