As you might expect, some aren’t particularly compatible with my skin (combination and mostly acne-prone) or hair (thick, dyed and in dire need of a chop currently) but plenty of them simply fall short of my expectations. So when I come across something game-changing, I often use it all up, and of course, I love to shout about it.
Including Glossier, Nuxe and shiny new UK brand Skin & Tonic, click ahead to discover all the beauty products I used ’til the very last drop in January – they’re that good.
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Aesop Gentle Facial Cleansing Milk
After overdoing it on exfoliating acids, I’m really into gentle, cream cleansers. CeraVe’s Hydrating Cleanser was my go-to (excellent but very simple and a little bland) so I wanted something that I’d look forward to using. This is gorgeous. Not only does it smell like a spa (that’ll be the sandalwood) but it removes facial oil and remnants of makeup (including heavy mascara) quickly and without irritation. A heavy helping of glycerin and olive oil makes sure skin doesn’t feel tight or dry afterwards. It’s a lovely morning and evening cleanser.
Aesop Gentle Facial Cleansing Milk, $, available at Aesop
Glossier Body Hero
This smells incredible, like a clean, musky floral that really soothes the senses. It’s a dry oil so it sinks in fast and means you won’t get stuck inside your clothes when you get dressed! I apply it all over post-shower but it also makes a great shaving oil and helps me remove hair easily, which I think is why I’ve got through it so quickly.
Glossier Body Hero Dry-Touch Oil Mist, $, available at Glossier
The Body Shop Ginger Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Stress combined with central heating and product build-up meant I had to contend with a very flaky scalp this month. I find lots of anti-dandruff shampoos way too harsh and they also strip my hair colour. Not this one. It’s kind on hair and scalp and gets rid of flakes after one wash. As I use lots of hair products, and I always double cleanse my hair, I wish this were twice the size!
The Body Shop Ginger Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, $, available at The Body Shop
L’Oréal Serie Expert Pro Longer Lengths Renewing Conditioner
While The Body Shop’s Ginger Conditioner is great, I much prefer this stuff. It made my hair (which is in dire need of a trim) feel like silk. I find conditioning my thick hair a chore but I was actually always excited to use this. I attribute my speedy hair growth to it and I’m certain it minimises the appearance of split ends.
L’Oréal Professionnel Série Expert Pro Longer Lengths Renewing Conditioner, $, available at FeelUnique
Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
Elemis’ cleansing balm is the original and arguably the best. Somehow, it makes dissolving heavy makeup feel like an expensive facial. On contact with water, the unctuous balm turns into a milk that clings on to oil and dirt. My face felt squeaky clean after using it and the smell is something else. I’ve replaced this with the rose version but there is also a fragrance-free option if your skin is very sensitive.
Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, $, available at Cult Beauty
SVR Microgommage Lift Exfoliating Mask
The star ingredients inside this exfoliating scrub-meets-mask are vitamin A (otherwise known as retinol), rosehip oil (beneficial for treating breakouts) and volcanic sand, which makes up the exfoliating beads. Since using this twice a week, my skin is so much clearer and brighter. My only gripe is the design of the tube. I liked it so much, I had to cut it open to scoop out the rest of the product and I noticed that there was a lot left inside. So as not to expose it to too much air, I transferred it to an empty pot with a lid and got another couple of goes out of it.
SVR [A] Microgommage Lift, $, available at SVR
Goldfaden MD Doctor’s Body Scrub
I sometimes get body breakouts, mainly on my chest and back, but regular exfoliation helps. This scrub is unscented and contains teeny tiny, gritty crystals and exfoliating fruit enzymes. Together, they chip away at dead skin, oil and sweat. It’s not at all harsh like some scrubs but it works to keep spots and bumps at bay. I take a generous couple of handfuls and scrub all over before using shower gel.
Goldfaden MD Doctor’s Scrub, $, available at Space NK
Nuxe Rêve de Miel Body Scrub
Yes, another body scrub. When I’m not using the Goldfaden version, I love this. The main ingredients are natural, including honey, sugar crystals and oils, and when massaged onto damp skin, the formula turns into a milky lather. It feels incredibly luxurious but the smell is the best part: subtle, sweet, comforting jasmine. It’s so lush, I got through the tub in a week and I was genuinely disappointed to discover it was all gone. Stockpile it.
Nuxe Rêve de Miel Body Scrub, $, available at LookFantastic
Skin & Tonic Rose Lip Balm
Since the start of the pandemic, I’ve thrown away most of my pots of lip balm for hygiene reasons. Instead, I feel more comfortable using lip balm sticks, which I don’t have to dip my fingers into. My lips are constantly dry and flaky (exacerbated by dermatillomania aka skin picking, and cold weather) but this moisturises deeply and feels soothing on sore areas.
Skin & Tonic Rose Lip Balm, $, available at Skin & Tonic London
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