The 21 Products SL’s Beauty Editor Always Goes Back To

Skincare

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Milky Water, £5

This is genuinely the only product I use to properly cleanse and remove my make-up. It’s thick enough to get rid of all surface grime and stubborn, inky make-up. Plus, it’s super gentle and doesn’t make my sensitive skin break out, unlike other cleansers I’ve tried.

Dr Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads, from £18
These are the only peels my irritable skin type can take. Formulated with gentle Lactic and Malic acid, they’ve not only shrunk my pores over time, but also reduced the appearance of my acne scars and red blemishes, bringing cell renewal up to speed for a fresh and even-looking glow.

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream, £57
If there’s one brand I can hand on heart say is worth the hype, it’s Drunk Elephant. My favourite from them is this nourishing cream. It’s unscented and packed with soothing ingredients but doesn’t feel the least bit heavy on the skin.

Pixi Vitamin-C Tonic, £10
I don’t use this daily, but when my skin feels dull or flaky, a little splash of this post-cleanse feels instantly refreshing and tightening, with vitamin C adding a generous dose of luminosity.

It’s Skin Power 10 GF Serum, £12
An affordable serum that works so well on hydrating my parched complexion. Whether I use it solo or with another cream, I always notice a visibly plumper, dewier difference within days.

Make-Up

Real Techniques Point L Brush, $10.99 
Part of their Multi-Tech range, this fluffy brush seamlessly blends powders, liquids and creams for a flawless finish. Recently the brand had a major redesign, so if you’re looking for it, this brush’s replica is called ‘Powder Brush.’

Lumene Invisible Illumination Instant Glow Beauty Serum, £27
With its light moisture and dewy yet semi-matte coverage, this covers up redness and dark circles, but never the texture of my skin. I have three on rotation in case I run out.

Glossier Play Colorslide Eye Pencils, £13
These silky pencils have become my new eyeshadow replacement. Matte and metallic, the formulas don’t move, so you don’t have to worry about them fading or sliding down your face. Available in 14 shades, but I love ‘Critical Mass’ for something a bit different. It’s a pinky, purple that works really complements my blue eyes. 

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Gel Touch Foundation SPF25, £43
If I’m seeking fuller coverage, this is my go-to. Yes, it’s expensive, but its compact formula means it goes the distance, and you only need a couple of brush loads to get the coverage you need. The wet, radiant finish it leaves behind is unbeatable.

Benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumising Tinted Brow Gel, £21.50
There’s a reason this is one of the best-selling brow buys in the UK: it really works to fake fuller, bushy arches. A definite one-stop-shop for fast and fool proof brows, available in eight true shades.

Artis Elite Mirror Mini Palm Brush, £47
The rounded brush base is great for all-over base buffing, but where this really comes into its own is its ability to hit tiny targets thanks to the dinky size. I love using it around my eyes and nose for application that’s even and smooth. 

BECCA Skin Love Glow Glaze Stick, £24
Dotted over the face, this gives my skin a glass-like finish with what can only be described as a texture akin to Vaseline. It leaves behind subtle sheen and works well when mixed with glitter too.

Rosie For Autograph Starstruck Lip & Cheek Colour in Rose, £15
Sheer, juicy and easy to apply, this is all I could ever want from a cream blush. Looks pretty when swiped onto lids too.

Too Faced Retractable Kabuki Brush, £30
My favourite brush for blusher and bronzer – the densely packed bristles help to carve out the hollows of your face to add instant definition and structure.

Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick in Control, £22.50
With a super velvety-feel, this lip colour has a chubby pen tip that makes application easy and precise, sculpting lips for a plump effect. Unlike most mattes, it’s got an opaque finish that doesn’t crease or feel tight. Obsessed.

Fairydrops Scandal Queen Mascara, £18.50
With a curved wand that matches your lash line, this mascara lengthens and lifts in a couple of swipes. It doesn’t clump either thanks to a cocktail of hydrating ingredients such as jojoba seed oil, collagen and squalene.

Benefit Hoola Bronzer, from £13
It’s a cult classic and will always have a firm place in my make-up bag thanks to the non-shimmery finish it leaves. The easiest bronzer I’ve ever used to create a soft, realistic glow.
 

Haircare

OGX Charcoal Detox Shampoo & Conditioner, from £4.66
This brand is hands-down my favourite when it comes to effective shampoos and conditioners. The addition of charcoal in their latest offering is brilliant for purifying the scalp while adding softness and shine.

IGK Summertime Hair Lightening Spray, £23
Packed with lemon extract and chamomile, this visibly (but naturally) lightened my hair when I was out in the sun last summer. I was so impressed with the beachy texture it gave too. If it ever got discontinued, I’d be heartbroken. Highlights in a bottle. 

Amika PERK UP Dry Shampoo, £20
Other than Batiste, most dry shampoos I try end up making my strands look greasy and feel sticky. But not this one. It adds bulk and refreshes day-old hair after just a few spritzes, as well as lending an amazing scent to lacklustre strands.

The Wet Brush, £11.99
With flexible, bendy bristles, this brush gets rid of all my knots without any snagging. It also makes for a great a little scalp massage as it’s so soft.