Back to beauty school: What are beauty sticks?

Beauty sticks are simple, streamlined and convenient. Photo / Instagram, @meccamaxima

If one thing has changed the face of beauty over the past few years, it's beauty sticks - blushers that do double-duty as lip tints, long-wearing shadows that make light work of a smoky eye; concealers and foundation sticks that halve the time it takes to touch up. Simple, streamlined and convenient, sticks take up less room, travel well and require little more than a clean fingertip to smudge them into place.

If you aren't already a fan, pop down to the nearest beauty counter to see what you're missing out on. Long-term devotee? Then you'll be pleased to know that the modern beauty stick is expanding from makeup into skin and hair care.

For example, new to Mecca Cosmetica is Bumble & Bumble's BB Colour Stick ($41), a water-resistant root disguiser that comes in five shades and is perfect for covering up greys. Clinique (the brand that pretty much started it all with the Chubby Stick) now has a clever alternative to makeup wipes - its Take the Day Off Eye Makeup Remover Stick ($48) is a lipstick-sized product you swipe over eyes and lashes to wipe away all traces of liner, mascara and shadow. And M.A.C's Prep + Prime Essential Oils Stick ($56) is a convenient multi-purpose moisturising balm that can be used anywhere, anytime.

Read the label: Hyaluronic acid

WHAT IT IS: Not actually an acid but a sugar found naturally in the body. (It's also a sponge, capable of holding up to a thousand times its weight in water.)

WHY LOOK FOR IT: In skin care it's a hydration superstar, instantly boosting moisture content, making the skin look plumper, firmer and dewier, and providing an antioxidant defence against environmental aggressors. In dermal fillers it acts like an inflated cushion to restore fullness to cheeks, plump lips and smooth wrinkles.

EXPECT TO SEE MORE OF IT: "Skin boosting", a new trend popular in Europe, involves shallow injections of HA (a lot of them) all over the face. It may sound uncomfortable but the immediate results are good - brighter, more dewy skin within in days. And they get even better over time. The controlled skin injury caused by the needles stimulates collagen production leading to smoother fine lines, increased elasticity and
a permanently healthy glow.

TRY: Bless My Skin's Plump My Skin Serum $129.

Canvas loves

1. Clinique Crayola Chubby Stick Moisturising Lip Color Balm, $40

Among the great and the good of beauty collaborations, this limited-edition range is available in 10 luscious shades, all with brilliant names. Our favourite? Fuzzy Wuzzy.

2. Trilogy Vital Moisturising Cream, $53

Top marks to Trilogy for this lightweight, antioxidant-rich moisturiser, formulated with rosapene, marula and evening primrose oil.

Beauty tips from Kiwis

Jacinda Ardern, politician

I'm terrible at switching off.

I write mental to-do lists in the middle of the night and can barely finish a book.

Meditation sounds like torture to me, but "mindfulness" I really like. A quick app and 10 minutes focusing on what is going on around sounds easier than it is, but it's much more rewarding too.