Beauty products every woman should own, according to Telegraph.co.uk; with LPB’s opinion in italic fond.
Mac Strobe Cream
When this illuminating moisturiser first arrived 5 years ago, it caused a storm. It’s a blend of vitamins and finely milled, light-reflective particles that give a soft, iridescent glow when smoothed over the skin. A dull complexion is instantly illuminated.
This basic moisturiser with illuminator is cheap as chips; does what it claims. However it has been surpassed by lots of products. We now have primers, foundations that serve the same purpose ( Becca Radiance PrimerBy Terry Light Expert, Sisley Phyto-Poudre compacte ). It’s price remains competitive though.
By Terry Eclat de Teint
This is a cross between concealer and highlighter from Terry de Gunzburg, the make-up guru who created Touche Eclat for Yves Saint Laurent. Use it under your eyes to brighten any darkness. In fact, you can use it anywhere on your face to make skin look fresher and more youthful. It’s a beauty editor’s classic and one well worth shouting about.
This is simply the best hybrid product on the market.
Givenchy le Prisme Visage Mat
In 1989 Givenchy launched its first Le Prisme, a pressed face powder with four slightly different hues, divided into prism-like squares. One of the most luxurious, covetable face powders on the market.
A pioneering,genius product yet to be challenged by its competitors. Shades selection could be better though.
Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick
At some point in her life every woman should experiment with red lipstick – and own one by Chanel. The modern way to wear red lips is to pat the colour on with your finger to create a stain.
Everyone should own at least 1 Rouge Coco lipstick; Fabulous shades, soft finish, ultimate texture with decent scent. For more opaque finish, try Rouge Allure.
Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
When interviewing models, make-up artists and celebrities about their beauty regimes, this often crops up as a favourite. Most recently, the model Liberty Ross was singing its praises. It has a sheer texture and a little shimmer in it, which makes skin look radiant.
I call this the lingerie for the complexion, simply amazing! Effortless application with incredibly perfect yet natural finish. Like cashmere underwear, you could only justify it if you’re wearing it; Once tried, forever hooked.
Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner
This waxy, solid eyeliner is the new take on liquid liner or kohl. Pressed along the eye line with a small, flat, slanted brush, it is a woman’s best ally for creating a defined eyeliner flick.
Superb texture & long lasting wear, almost impossible to smudge once dried.
Benefit Hoola
Make-up artists and Benefit fans alike love this bronzing powder because it looks so natural. There isn’t a hint of orange, and shimmer is kept to an absolute minimum.
Classic, but I prefer Soleil Tan de Chanel or Rouge Bunny Rouge Bronzing Glow Powder.
Lancome Hypnose Mascara
Lancôme has always been synonymous with good mascara. Two tubes are sold every second – 25,000 of which, per day, are Hypnôse. Now six years old, Hypnôse broke new ground with a polymer formula, adapted from the world of hair products. It meant women could do naturally defined lashes with a single coat for day, and add more layers on top for extra volume at night without it caking or clumping. Make-up artists like it and it’s a hottie on the red carpet.
This must be the most famous mascara in the world; I prefer Definicils precious cells though, less dramatic but more defined.
Nars Blush in ‘Orgasm’
When it first appeared in America in 1998 women jumped at the chance to try this soft, gold-flecked peachy-pink blush. Applied to the cheek’s apple (the fleshy bit when you smile), it imparts a warm glow and seems to be universally flattering. It’s now also available in a cream blush stick, The Multiple – another modern classic.
The blush that launched millions of other peachy glow enhancing blusher. I think the shade is great but it’s just too shimmery for my liking. Orgasm is undeniably sexy, as long as you don’t mind the glittery finish.
Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
This light, gel-like cream is packed with soothing, strengthening marine extracts. Brown algae helps skin buffer itself against pollution and general wear and tear, while other seaweed extracts rich in essential fatty acids, including chlorella, provide skin with healing, moisturising oil. There are also antioxidant vitamins and other helpful vegetal extracts. It is a terrific anti-ageing moisturiser, which has already gathered a loyal following and often comes up as a favourite.
I don’t get this, it’s just a slightly above average moisturiser, neither the price tag nor the cult status is justifiable. La Mer is my choice.
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair
This night-time skin repair serum has won a host of awards and is a staple for beauty editors. It is favoured for its brightening, line-smoothing, skin-plumping effect as well as its role in helping the skin repair itself from the daily onslaught of UV and pollution. Ingredients include antioxidants, to neutralise free-radical damage, and peptides, which help in the anti-ageing quest.
An outstanding, distinctive product that deserves its share in the market.
Sisley Express Flower Gel Mask
One of the original, super-luxe skincare houses, still privately owned by the d’Ornano family; Sisley is the preserve of the St-Tropez set. Make-up artists like to use this mask to perk up exhausted models’ skin before shows and shoots. If you can splash out on some even once in your lifetime, your skin is unlikely to regret it.
Splurge on this if you could afford it; Long haul flight life saver.
Guerlain L’or
24-carat-gold particles suspended in a highly moisturising gel that smells of roses. It plumps up dry, tired skin and creates a slight tightening effect, meaning foundation goes on more evenly.
Nice to have, but not essential; Great moisturiser but Sjal has far superior moisturisers that smell as good as if not better, enriched with more prestigious trace elements.
Creme de la Mer Moisturising Cream
It’s thick and creamy and melts into your skin – especially nourishing in winter. This is the cream to treat yourself to from your late thirties onwards.
I couldn’t agree more on this. Heavyweight balm that redefines miracle cream.
Dr Hauschka Rose Day Cream
This cream has an A-list following including Jade Jagger, Cate Blanchett, Kate Moss and Georgia Jagger. Each tube contains the extract of more than 1,000 organic rose petals, as well as rose-oil and rosehip extracts, which soothe sensitive or dry skin. It is all natural and ‘biodynamic’, which, to the purist, is superior to organic. There is now also a light version.
Overhyped but still a delicious moisturiser. Best for parched, sensitive skin. Not an anti-ageing product though.
Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish
Massage the cream on to skin (it also removes eye make-up) and remove with a warm, damp muslin cloth. Soothing, gently astringent, purifying essential oils of rosemary, camomile and eucalyptus give a clean, refreshing scent. Glycerine and beeswax mean that skin feels soft rather than taut afterwards.
???, There are truck loads of similar yet better products. Not my favourite.
Shu Uemura Brightening Cleansing Oil
Not long ago few of us would have dreamt of cleansing with oil, but it is incredibly effective at dislodging grime. It is also gentle, because it doesn’t strip the skin of its natural oils. When Shu Uemura’s cleansing oils arrived in Britain from Japan they picked up a small cult following, but soon more and more women tried them.
Effective yet gentle, but more or less a glorified mineral oil.
Decleor Aromessence Neroli
Facial oils are now de rigueur. The top make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury says this facial oil is her favourite. If you use it under your moisturiser, especially in winter, your skin is less likely to dry out and will feel more supple.
Divine! However, Darphin has a better selection of oils.
John Frieda Frizz-Ease Hair Serum
Nothing like this had been on the market before Frizz-Ease arrived in the early 1990s – it started a hair-styling revolution. For those in need of some curl control, it is a must-have. There are now different concentrations to suit varying hair thicknesses, so all forms of wave and curl are covered.
Still one of the best & extremely affordable, after almost 20 years.
This Works Skin Deep Dry Leg Oil
From the skincare range developed by the ex-Vogue beauty director Kathy Phillips, this oil is the answer to really dry arms and legs. The blend of rose and macadamia oils feels luxurious and it absorbs well into the skin.
An amazing blend of skin nourishing elixirs.
Philip Kingsley Elasticizer
For lacklustre hair that is feeling the effects of one too many half-heads of highlights, this award-winning mask is the answer.
Above average but I prefer Keratase or Phytospecific.
