Opiates

KICKS advent calendars text Elva Ahlbin This year, KICKS invites you to make every December moment magical with daily beauty surprises—introducing two enchanting advent calendars and a curated gift box to mark each Sunday of Advent: The Supreme Advent Calendar, The Iconic Advent Calendar, and The Essential Five. Thoughtfully assembled by KICKS’ own Beauty Experts, each collection brings you handpicked treasures—from prestigious skincare and couture makeup to trending new arrivals. Whether you’re drawn to indulgent luxury or crave the excitement of discovering the latest beauty must-haves, there’s something here to brighten every heart. They’re the perfect way to spread extra joy and radiance all the way up to Christmas.  The Supreme Advent Calendar Indulge in luxury in every detail with The Supreme Advent Calendar. Housed in an elegant jewellery-style box with coordinating pouches, each compartment holds a beauty gift selected with precision and care. Expect premium skincare, professional-grade makeup, and products your hair will adore. As a bonus, each pouch is adorned with a delicate silver tag featuring unique beauty hacks to elevate your routine even further. Contents: 31 items across 24 doors, chosen by KICKS Beauty Experts.Featured Brands: Anastasia, NARS, Hourglass, Amika, Maria Åkerberg, Sisley, Babor, RMS Beauty, MAC, Shiseido, Burberry, and more.Sizes: 15 full-size products, 5 travel-size, and 11 luxe sample items.Price: SEK 1,600 (Value: SEK 8,150). The Iconic Advent Calendar Make a statement with The Iconic Advent Calendar, a burst of colour and joy shaped like a classic cookie tin—filled with trend-led essentials your beauty routine needs. Inside you’ll find everything from hyped skincare to the boldest makeup and standout hair favourites. Personalize it further with included beauty stickers to make this tin truly your own. Contents: 38 items in 24 doors, selected by KICKS Beauty Experts.Featured Brands: Kylie, Benefit, Milk Makeup, The Ordinary, Dr Jart+, e.l.f. Cosmetics, Sol de Janeiro, Juliette Has a Gun, Morphe, Smuu7, and more.Sizes: 20 full-size products, 7 travel-size, and 11 luxury samples.Price: SEK 1,100 (Value: SEK 5,905). The Essential Five For a refined, minimalist treat, The Essential Five is a unisex gift box offering five well-filled doors. Open them all at once, or one each Advent Sunday—and save a special exclusive gift for December 24th. This five-step beauty ritual covers skincare, haircare, fragrance and other must-haves, all presented in a sleek, pull-out box. As an extra touch, there’s a beauty hack hidden beneath each door. Contents: 14 products across 5 doors.Featured Brands: Verso, Hugo Boss, Clarins, Clinique, Rituals, Lanza, Recipe for Men, Anastasia, Bulldog, Depend, Filorga, Atelier Rouge, and Skincity Skincare.Sizes: 9 full-size, 2 travel sizes, 3 luxury samples.Price: SEK 650 (Value: SEK 3,143). Availability All three beauty treasures—the two advent calendars and The Essential Five  are available in limited quantities. You can shop them in KICKS stores as well as online at kicks.se.

COS Embraces Dark Elegance at New York Fashion Week text Natalia Muntean COS returned to New York Fashion Week for the fourth consecutive September, presenting its Autumn Winter 2025 collection as an ode to refined, considered and relevant design. The show, held at the Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse, was a study in contrast, materiality and craftsmanship, captured through an evocative interplay of space and light. The cavernous space, reimagined in pristine white, provided an architectural stage for the collection. Against this backdrop, the designs anchored themselves in a sophisticated palette of rich, inky darks: black, steel grey and deep navy. Creative expressions emerged as iconic house codes were retold through fine materials, texture and finish, with pony-effect surfaces, supple leather and shearling offset by a balance of matte versus sheen. The collection seamlessly blended structure with fluidity, embodying the brand’s core principles of timelessness, craftsmanship and uncompromising quality. Day-to-night versatility was reimagined through signature pieces, while functional yet inventive tailoring defined the menswear. The event was attended by a host of guests, including Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Ms. Lauryn Hill and Jodie Turner-Smith. Select pieces from the show are available immediately, with limited numbers continuing to drop throughout the season.

CAROLINA HERRERA Very Good Girl Elixir text Natalia Muntean Let yourself be seduced by Very Good Girl Elixir, a sensual and intense interpretation of Very Good Girl, presented in an alluring bottle with a gradient from red to black. This bold addition to the Good Girl family is more addictive than ever, capturing the multifaceted nature of femininity with a powerful, ambery blend of fruity and floral notes. Sensual black cherry, red rose and vanilla come together in an irresistible composition. Very Good Girl Elixir is a more intense and sensual version of the original perfume. This highly concentrated elixir opens with a rich scent of juicy black cherry and bitter almond, transitioning into heart notes of sumptuous tuberose and rose water, before ending with base notes of intoxicating vanilla combined with rich cocoa. Very Good Girl Elixir reaches new heights of seduction, presented in a bottle shaped like a stiletto that goes from red to black, with a shiny gold heel. The bottle is elegantly enclosed in a red and black box that perfectly complements the seductive expressions in the bottle’s design.

Charlotte Tilbury Unveils Airbrush Flawless Foundation text Natalia Muntean This August, Charlotte Tilbury MBE unveiled the culmination of a decade of airbrush innovation with the launch of her NEW! Airbrush Flawless Foundation and the NEW! Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray Matte. Promising a legendary, second-skin finish, this duo is poised to become the new cornerstone of every makeup wardrobe, offering a 3D-matte, poreless perfection that performs like skincare. This revolutionary foundation promises a 3D-matte, second-skin finish that’s both lightweight and longwearing. Powered by innovative Powder Blur AIRTech™, it blurs pores and imperfections for a smooth, airbrushed effect without feeling heavy or cakey. The formula is also infused with skincare ingredients to improve hydration and texture over time. Available in 44 tailored shades, the foundation is designed to match a wide range of undertones without oxidizing. For the perfect finish, pair it with the new Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray Matte, which locks makeup in place for up to 16 hours while controlling shine with a micro-fine, weightless mist. “Darlings, do you dream of flawless, poreless-looking, naturally perfected, 3D-matte skin? Get the Airbrush Effect!” says Charlotte Tilbury.

Satisfyer’s Steel Collection: Art Object or Pleasure Object? text Jahwanna Berglund Move over, minimalism. Satisfyer is turning up the heat and the chill with its new Steel Collection, a series of sculptural stainless-steel dildos that blur the lines between design object, art piece, and ultimate tool for pleasure.
 Each piece, from the sleek curves of Pure Gravity to the dramatic S-shapes of Star Force, looks so refined you could leave it on your coffee table and call it “conversation-starting décor.” Have a partner? Perfect, it doubles as a design statement you both can enjoy. And if guests come over, don’t be surprised if they whisper to each other:“Is that a Jeff Koons I’ve never seen before?”
 But beyond the gallery-worthy look, these creations are engineered for more than admiration. Stainless steel weight offers effortless intensity, the smooth surface glides with ease, and the toys can be heated or cooled to unlock a new dimension of sensation. They’re battery-free, ultra-hygienic, and compatible with all lubricants, functional design in the purest sense.
 At prices starting from just 665 SEK, this might be the most affordable “art investment” of the year. After all, who says high design can’t also come with a climax?

Charlotte Tilbury’s Viral Advent Calendar Returns for 2025 – Bigger, Better, and More Magical Than Ever text  Jahwanna Berglund Last year, Charlotte Tilbury’s advent calendar became a global phenomenon, with one selling every minute in 2024. This holiday season, the beauty world’s most glamorous countdown is back reimagined as Charlotte’s Beauty Treasure Chest, and it’s more dazzling than ever.
 Inside its star-adorned, jewel-handled drawers, beauty lovers will uncover 12 makeup and skincare icons, including five full-sized products, two more than last year making this her best-value advent calendar to date. From the cult-favorite Pillow Talk lip essentials to the glow-giving Magic Cream and the iconic Beauty Light Wand, every drawer holds a little moment of joy designed to make you look and feel like a star.
 The treasure chest itself is adorned with Charlotte’s signature Star Confidence constellations print a reminder of her mantra that we are all born to shine. Once the products are unwrapped, the box transforms into a keepsake you’ll want to treasure forever, whether as a jewelry case or a beauty lover’s secret stash.
 Charlotte Tilbury herself says it best: “Darlings, I am making all your beauty wishes come true… These are my globally adored, universally flattering beauty secrets, guaranteed to make you feel and look like a star every time you use them!”
 With a value of €326 and an RRP of SEK 2650, Charlotte’s Beauty Treasure Chest is the gift that keeps on giving this holiday season. But if last year is anything to go by, you’ll want to act fast because magic like this never stays on the shelves for long.

Clinique presents the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion + SPF 50 text Natalia Muntean Clinique has officially launched a new version of its highly regarded Dermatologist Developed moisturiser, now enhanced with SPF 50. This innovative product not only repairs the skin’s protective barrier but also provides deep hydration for healthier and more resilient skin, while offering defence against harmful UV rays. The moisturising formula features a blend of glycerin and hyaluronic acid, ensuring an immediate boost of moisture and long-lasting hydration throughout the day. It is ideal for morning routines and works perfectly under makeup. Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion + SPF 50 has been clinically tested on a diverse range of skin tones and is proven to be fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, and suitable for sensitive skin. Clinical studies show that the product repairs the skin barrier by 21% within two hours and increases hydration levels by 58% upon application.

The New ACNE Headquarters in Paris Following the debut of its Stockholm base in 2019, Acne Studios has inaugurated its new Paris headquarters on Rue des Petites Écuries in the 10th arrondissement. The space occupies the former Gomenol Laboratory and 1930s hôtel particulier once known for its herbal tinctures, reimagined by creative director Jonny Johansson in collaboration with Swedish design studio Halleroed. Minimal interventions preserve the building’s raw grandeur; vaulted glass ceilings, marble sculptures, and restored wood panelling. Contemporary works by collaborators, including Lukas Gschwandtner, Daniel Silver and Sylvie Macmillan, create a dialogue between past and present. Johansson calls the project an ode to the building’s original beauty, accentuating its character… Key spaces include a vast showroom set within the former laboratory, anchored by Max Lamb’s sofas; a VIP fitting room draped with monumental curtains; and a light-filled canteen featuring original tiles, communal tables, and a stainless-steel kitchen that nods to the site’s scientific past. A sunken garden and a bespoke light installation by Benoît Lalloz further enrich the new Paris headquarters. With a curation of artworks from Jonathan Lyndon Chase, Jeremy Deller, Zhong Lin amongst others, the headquarters embodies the Acne Studios’ vision: a blend of heritage and modernity, where history grounds creative innovation. Photo courtesy of ACNE Studios.

M.Picaut Refreshing Gel Cleanser text Elva Ahlbin Swedish skincare brand M. Picaut has long been celebrated for its gentle yet effective formulations, and the Refreshing Gel Cleanser is no exception. Designed with sensitive skin in mind, this soap-free gel cleanser delivers a cooling and soothing wash that helps restore balance without stripping.  Formulated with organic oat extract, cucumber juice, and lemon myrtle, the cleanser works on multiple levels: the oat calms and nourishes, cucumber refreshes and hydrates, and lemon myrtle gently balances and offers mild antibacterial support. A fruit sugar complex helps bind moisture, leaving the skin soft rather than tight.  What sets this cleanser apart is its texture and feel. The gel transforms into a light foam when worked in with water, giving a comforting sensation that feels like “a silky protective veil” from the first wash.  Another big plus: it’s very economical. A small amount goes a long way, so the 250 ml bottle lasts a good while even with regular use.  In Sweden the cleanser is priced around 499 SEK for a 250 ml bottle.  Cleansing is more than just removing dirt and makeup—it’s the foundation for all the steps that follow. Refreshing Gel Cleanser does this foundation job beautifully: cleansing, hydrating, and gently strengthening the skin barrier. It’s a thoughtful option for daily use, especially as a first cleanse in a double-cleansing routine, or simply on its own when you want something mild yet refreshing.  If you’re looking for a cleanser that offers a clean, soft finish without irritation—and a little goes a long way—M. Picaut’s Refreshing Gel Cleanser is definitely worth trying.

Doja Cat Joins M·A·C as the Brand’s New Ambassador M·A·C Cosmetics has appointed Doja Cat as their new Global Ambassador. The long-term partnership launched at the 2025 MTV VMAs: first shocking the red carpet by appearing to bite into her signature Lady Danger lipstick, later revealed to be an edible chocolate masterpiece by pastry artist Amaury Guichon. For Doja, the collaboration is a full-circle moment: “Makeup is my paint, my armor, my way of creating characters—and M·A·C has always stood for that kind of artistry and freedom…”Iconic campaigns together with a reimagining of beauty as a playground for creativity is to be expected of this ambassadorship.