Which beauty products are proving most useful with our team?
After catching up on personal life updates and pressing world events, one topic that regularly dominates office group chat is discussion around which beauty items are most reached for right now.
From hot new things and techniques and tips on how to get the most out of them, to the tried and true staples that we use every day, it’s always useful to get a varied perspective.
With that in mind, here’s a selection of some items we rate highly in our personal beauty routines.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze Styling Wax
Believe the hype! There has been a lot of buzz around this brow styling wax since its launch a few weeks ago and I’m here to tell you it’s all true! I use a clean brow spoolie to pick up a tiny amount of the thick, clear gel-wax and comb through my (somewhat sparse) brows. It gives an instant brow lamination effect, holding my brows up and in place all day and making them look fuller, fluffier and glossier than they actually are. – Megan Bedford, beauty editor
Remington Smooth Finish Ceramic Hair Straightener
I have extremely frizzy hair – like Princess-Diaries-pre-makeover-Anne-Hathaway frizzy – and I’m here to tell you that you don’t need to spend hundreds on a hair straightener if you suffer from the same affliction. I’ve owned a Remington Smooth Finish Ceramic Hair Straightener since 2015 – it’s still going strong and it’s super effective. And you can purchase it for around $50, depending on where you buy it from. – Ashley Wallace, culture editor
I have always been a fan of mists and sprays, and wasn’t sure the La Mer The Treatment Lotion would have the same effect. How wrong I was. I have been using the product for a month or so at the start of my skin care routine both morning and night, and have definitely noticed a change in the texture of my skin. My skin feels hydrated, plump and softer, a big change from my dehydrated summer skin. Lillian McHugh – integration director
Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops
As a pale-skinned person of almost vampiric tendencies when it comes to avoiding sunlight, this innovative little product has been a bit of a game-changer, going where no bronzing powder or cream has gone before by providing not just the perfect hint of natural-looking, intuitive colour but also a powerful hit of protective antioxidants and skin-loving omega fatty acids. A radiant sun-kissed glow, minus the actual sun. Simply add a drop to any serum, oil or moisturiser. – Josie Steenhart, sub editor
Kiehl’s Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash
After testing and trying a few cleansers in the market, I’ve finally found my favourite everyday cleanser. The Kiehl’s Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash is gentle, soothing and doesn’t dry my skin out. Kathryn Chung – concierge editor
The notion of getting one’s face ‘Zoom-ready’ strikes me as a lot like getting your body ‘bikini-ready’, in that it should not involve anything more than putting on a bikini or, in this case, switching on Zoom. However, this week’s snap lockdown has had me feeling a little off, and so playing with makeup has become a real mood-booster. Try being anything but fierce in Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint (for pigment, price, ease of application and staying power, the classic red ‘Uncensored’ might be the best you ever buy). Productivity bonus – you’re way less likely to take that accidentally-two-hour ‘power nap’, for fear of ruining your pillowcases. – Phoebe Watt, associate editor
Avene XeraCalm AD Lipid-Replenishing Cleansing Oil
For over 30-years I have had the same routine – a cup of coffee and a face cleanse first thing in the morning, and a cup of peppermint tea and a face cleanse just before bed. I’ve tried numerous cleansers over the years, and still regularly switch them up depending on what my skin needs. At age 47, ageing gracefully has become more of a priority, so I’ve been opting for products that are nourishing. My favourite cleanser at the moment is Avene’s XeraCalm cleansing oil, which I massage into my skin morning and night, and then rinse off with warm water. It’s recommended for dry and sensitive skin because it’s soap free, fragrance free, non-comedogenic and lipid-replenishing. I love it because it’s soothing to use and leaves my skin feeling fresh and soft. – Donna Duggan, lifestyle editor
