TheBEAUTY BUYSthat live up to their hype
These are the products everyone is raving about, and the ones you’ll want to have in your arsenal this season
The beauty world is as mercenary as they come. Products are catapulted into the arena on a seemingly daily basis in a flurry of pomp and fanfare, only for many to fall by the wayside in a nondescript fizzle. Then there are those that transcend the noise of even the buzziest launches to emerge as the true beauty gamechangers; the ones whose pretty packaging may have given them leverage on the grid, but who have enough going on on the inside to ensure that they actually make it into our bathroom cabinets. Meet the beauty editor and blogger-approved beauty buys that truly deserve to be put on perfume pedestals, or extolled as skincare superstars because, quite simply, they really are worth the fuss.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Face Oil
Sunday Riley is a brand for people who are serious about their skincare. The simple reason? It actually works. It seems that every time formulator and founder of her eponymous brand Sunday (yes that is her actual name) launches another product it surges up the skincare charts, and this glow-giving oil is no different. Powered by THD ascorbate (essentially a stable oil-soluble form of notoriously unstable vitamin C) it tackles a myriad of skin woes from dullness and loss of firmness to wrinkles and dark spots. Meanwhile, the golden turmeric assumes a supporting role to help improve radiance, while a host of superfood oils and ginger root soothe and replenish. ‘Unlike most vitamin C products that are water soluble and only treat the upper levels of the skin, this unique oil-soluble formula is carried by a superhighway of antioxidant rich oils that send vitamin C where it has never gone before,’ says Sunday.
Olaplex
Some things are too good not to share and this once salon-only hair hero is now available for all to enjoy. The transformative treatment works to rebuild the disulphide bonds broken through colour treatments and heat damage and puts the swish back into spent strands. Unlike other conditioning treatments which simply smooth frazzled ends, Olaplex uses a patented active ingredient that gets to work on a molecular level to try and repair extreme damage and improve the structure of all hair types. The No.3 Hair Perfector is their global bestseller and the one that Olaplex aficionados rallied to get into their bathrooms, but in our humble opinion every one of the bond-building products are worth investing in. In short, Olaplex has democratised good hair days.
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex
You know something is cult when its name can be reduced to an acronym and this iconic brown bottle has amassed legions of ANRers since its initial launch in 1982. Even in the ever-changing world of beauty with more products promising more miracles it’s managed to hold its own to cement itself as a favourite among the beauty elite. The secret, it seems, is its ability to evolve and thanks to some new technology and innovation, the latest iteration is set to be just as popular. Boasting even more collagen-boosting prowess and new ‘fast skin renewal’, the proprietary blend of potent peptides, ferments, antioxidants and hyaluronic acid work to firm, brighten, hydrate and soothe while the patent-pending Chronolux Power Signal Technology draws on your very genes to maximise the skin’s repair processes for healthier, younger-looking skin.
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes! Mascara
Charlotte Tilbury (MBE, no less) cuts a legendary figure in the beauty industry. Not only has she worked with a roll-call of A-Listers, she has an almost supernatural ability to tap into exactly what women want. Cue the brand new 24-hour vertical lift effect Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes! Mascara, which had a waiting list of over 45,000 before it even launched. A perky adjunct to the immensely successful Pillow Talk franchise, this amplifying mascara relies on ‘lash lifting polymers’ derived from larch trees to stretch and flex individual hairs into place like ‘suspenders for the lashes’. And then there’s the brush. The flat portion of the dual-sided paddle brush is designed to load and coat the lashes while the bristled side separates, lifts and defines. One Pillow talk lipstick is sold every couple of minutes and judging by the response on the web, we’re sure this mascara won’t be far behind.
Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer
There was a time when a hairdryer was just a hairdryer until Dyson went and changed all that. Suddenly it became an object of desire and within one month of launching it was the best-selling hairdryer in the UK (and the second most sold item on johnlewis.com, behind chocolate coins at Christmas). So what’s all the fuss about? The motor in the handle rather than the head makes it easier on the biceps while the newly re-engineered magnetic attachments make styling a doddle. Intelligent heat control protects hair from heat damage, but for the majority of fans, it’s the quiet, digital motor which uses Air Multiplier technology that gets the biggest seal of approval, as it results in faster drying.
Aesop Blue Chamomile Facial Hydrating Masque
It’s the brand whose lifestyle we all want in on. The brand with the ability to bestow a nondescript bathroom with instant kudos. And ironically, the brand who prefer to disassociate themselves with any such notions of covetability. There’s also so much more to Aesop than hand soaps and balms and any discerning skincare buff will tell you that their focus on skin health and ‘care and protect but not obsess’ philosophy gets results. Just like the bottles themselves, the products are functional and well crafted with the intention of making the most from the least and this beautifully scented, hydrating masque is no different. Packed full of niacinamide – an ingredient getting a lot of air time of late thanks to its barrier-bolstering, anti-inflammatory properties – the cooling gel texture makes it the ideal travel companion. Simply slather on, wait 30 minutes, and either wipe off the excess or leave on for an indulgent overnight treat.
Lixirskin Universal Emulsion
Brainchild of Colette Haydon a doctor in dermo-pharmacy, Lixirskin is a lesson in pared back chic. Having spent years formulating some of the world’s most beloved products, Colette wanted to ensure that her own ‘less is more’ line was the most efficacious yet with a streamlined offering of multi-taskers that take an ‘advanced yet relaxed approach to good skin’. The capsule collection cuts through the jargon with advanced formulas designed to work for all, and this lightweight lotion became an instant hit thanks to its all-embracing hydration prowess. It doesn’t hurt that the packaging is rather easy on the eye too.
Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Eye Base
They say that sequels are never as good as the original but when it comes to this eye-brightener, ‘they’ were definitely wrong. Riding on the phenomenon that is the Vitamin Enriched Face Base – which incidentally became a lockdown superstar with sales flying through the roof (even now, one sells every minute) – the eye cream version is set to be every bit as successful.
The cult concoction packed with brightening Vitamin C, skin-bolstering B vitamins and free-radical fighting Vitamin E has been enriched with hydrating hyaluronic acid and super-charged with caffeine. After all, the delicate eye area needs a dedicated formula in order to cater for its specific needs. Perfect as a pre-makeup base, this multivitamin-packed multi-tasker, nourishes, brightens and primes in one simple step for eyes that look instantly refreshed.
Tom Ford Black Orchid Parfum
To say Mr Ford has the midas touch is somewhat of an understatement. Not content with turning the fortunes of brands like Gucci around, when the celebrated designer turned his hand to beauty back in 2006, the fashion (and beauty) world waited with bated breath. ‘Timeless luxury and world glamour’ was the phrase used to introduce his debut Black Orchid Eau De Parfum, and this opulent oriental chypre has certainly stood the test of time to emerge as one of the most feted fragrances in modern perfumery. Rich, dark and enveloping, this is not a scent for the shy or retiring.
The question is, is the new Black Orchid Parfum equally beguiling? In a word yes. Even more potent than the original, its unmistakable magnetic pull has been ramped up a notch as notes of narcotic ylang-ylang, luscious black plum and hypnotic black orchid become more pronounced. But the magic truly happens when it meets the skin. Spritz with caution.
TOM FORD Black Orchid Parfum
£132.00
