- The Edit
- Gift Guides & Inspiration
- Beauty buys picked by the experts
The best beauty buys: the expert edit
FROM STATE-OF-THE-ART STYLERS TO ELECTRICAL CLEANSERS AND LUXURY FACE MASKS, 10 BEAUTY PROFESSIONALS REVEAL THEIR FAVOURITE PRODUCT, IDEAL FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTING INSPIRATION
Nars Studio 54 Inferno Eyeshadow Palette
BRIDGET MARCH, DIGITAL BEAUTY DIRECTOR, HARPER’S BAZAAR
‘I’m always seduced by a NARS palette; pigment-rich and long-wearing, the eyeshadows are as high-performance as you’d expect. This Studio 54-inspired beauty screams pure disco glamour, perfect for New Year’s Eve. It’s highly versatile though – as well as bold looks it allows you to do a neutral, sunset, and smoky eye too.’
BRIDGET MARCH, DIGITAL BEAUTY DIRECTOR, HARPER’S BAZAAR
‘I’m always seduced by a NARS palette; pigment-rich and long-wearing, the eyeshadows are as high-performance as you’d expect. This Studio 54-inspired beauty screams pure disco glamour, perfect for New Year’s Eve. It’s highly versatile though – as well as bold looks it allows you to do a neutral, sunset, and smoky eye too.’
1. Nars Studio 54 Inferno Eyeshadow Palette
BRIDGET MARCH, DIGITAL BEAUTY DIRECTOR, HARPER’S BAZAAR
‘I’m always seduced by a NARS palette; pigment-rich and long-wearing, the eyeshadows are as high-performance as you’d expect. This Studio 54-inspired beauty screams pure disco glamour, perfect for New Year’s Eve. It’s highly versatile though – as well as bold looks it allows you to do a neutral, sunset, and smoky eye too.’
The GHD Soft Curl
CHRISTOS KALLANIOTIS, CELEBRITY AND FASHION HAIR STYLIST
‘I love the GHD Soft Curl. It gives a very gentle result and has heat protection. I love creating soft and effortless hair without overloading it with heavy products, so this helps me achieve the results I want.’
CHRISTOS KALLANIOTIS, CELEBRITY AND FASHION HAIR STYLIST
‘I love the GHD Soft Curl. It gives a very gentle result and has heat protection. I love creating soft and effortless hair without overloading it with heavy products so this appliances helps me achieve the results I want.’
2. The GHD Soft Curl
CHRISTOS KALLANIOTIS, CELEBRITY AND FASHION HAIR STYLIST
‘I love the GHD Soft Curl. It gives a very gentle result and has heat protection. I love creating soft and effortless hair without overloading it with heavy products so this appliances helps me achieve the results I want.’
festive nail polish
EMMA WELSH, CELEBRITY AND FASHION MANICURIST
‘This burnt siena is a lovely deep chocolate red and very popular with my clients [who include Angelina Jolie, Kate Moss and Lady Gaga] this season. It’s the new classic red; great pigment for colour depth and really easy to apply.’
EMMA WELSH, CELEBRITY AND FASHION MANICURIST
‘This burnt siena is a lovely deep chocolate red and very popular with my clients (who include Angelia Jolie, Kate Moss and Lady Gaga) this season, used in many photo shoots and red carpet events. It’s the new classic red; great pigment for colour depth and really easy to apply.’
3. Nails Inc Atliers Nail Polish
EMMA WELSH, CELEBRITY AND FASHION MANICURIST
‘This burnt siena is a lovely deep chocolate red and very popular with my clients (who include Angelia Jolie, Kate Moss and Lady Gaga) this season, used in many photo shoots and red carpet events. It’s the new classic red; great pigment for colour depth and really easy to apply.’
Ren Moroccan Rose Otto body lotion
BETHAN COLE, FREELANCE BEAUTY EDITOR AND JAPANESE VOGUE COLUMNIST
‘This would be one of my desert island products. The rose scent is absolutely sumptuous, and it’s non greasy and sinks in quickly – a really good bathroom staple. So it’s a brilliant product and crucially, Ren are set to be the first zero waste beauty brand by 2021 and their efforts to reduce and recycle plastic are market leading and heroic. Well done Ren.’
BETHAN COLE, FREELANCE BEAUTY EDITOR AND JAPANESE VOGUE COLUMNIST
‘This would be one of my desert island products. The rose scent is absolutely sumptuous - a plisse of petals. And it’s non greasy and sinks in quickly, a really good bathroom staple. So it’s a brilliant product and crucially Ren are set to be the first zero waste beauty brand by 2021 and their efforts to reduce and recycle plastic are market leading and heroic. Well done Ren.’
4. Ren Moroccan Rose Otto body lotion
BETHAN COLE, FREELANCE BEAUTY EDITOR AND JAPANESE VOGUE COLUMNIST
‘This would be one of my desert island products. The rose scent is absolutely sumptuous - a plisse of petals. And it’s non greasy and sinks in quickly, a really good bathroom staple. So it’s a brilliant product and crucially Ren are set to be the first zero waste beauty brand by 2021 and their efforts to reduce and recycle plastic are market leading and heroic. Well done Ren.’
Foreo Mini 2 Luna Sonic Facial Brush
OLIVIA FALCON, BEAUTY JOURNALIST AND FOUNDER OF THE EDITOR’S LIST
‘For a while now my skin has been reaping the benefits of the Foreo Mini Luna. I don’t double cleanse – I use this to turbo charge cleansing – the vibrations also help increase microcirculation around the delicate eye area to help brighten dark circles under the eye. It’s a brilliant bathroom tool.’
OLIVIA FALCON, BEAUTY JOURNALIST AND FOUNDER OF THE EDITOR’S LIST
‘For a while now my skin has been reaping the benefits of the Foreo Mini Luna. I don’t double cleanse - I use this to turbo charge cleansing - the vibrations also help increase microcirculation around the delicate eye area to help brighten dark circles under the eye. It’s a brilliant bathroom tool.’
Shop now
5. Foreo Mini Luna Sonic Facial Brush
OLIVIA FALCON, BEAUTY JOURNALIST AND FOUNDER OF THE EDITOR’S LIST
‘For a while now my skin has been reaping the benefits of the Foreo Mini Luna. I don’t double cleanse - I use this to turbo charge cleansing - the vibrations also help increase microcirculation around the delicate eye area to help brighten dark circles under the eye. It’s a brilliant bathroom tool.’
Hourglass Caution Extreme Lash Mascara
INGE VAN LOTRINGEN, BEAUTY DIRECTOR, COSMOPOLITAN
‘For those who want big lashes, fast, but without clumping, crumbling or smudging. A serious mascara for serious glamour.’
HOURGLASS CAUTION EXTREME LASH MASCARA
Inge Van Lotringen, beauty director, Cosmopolitan ‘For those who want big lashes, fast – but without clumping, crumbling or smudging. A serious mascara for serious glamour.’
6. Hourglass Caution Extreme Lash Mascara
INGE VAN LOTRINGEN, BEAUTY DIRECTOR, COSMOPOLITAN
‘For those who want big lashes, fast – but without clumping, crumbling or smudging. A serious mascara for serious glamour.’
Tom Ford Soleil Neige Eau de Parfum
LUCY PARTINGTON, BEAUTY EDITOR, STYLIST.CO.UK
‘This fragrance is designed to be the winter version of Tom Ford’s iconic summer scent, Soleil Blanc. Notes of fresh bergamot combined with creamy vanilla and cosy musk make for something bright, happy and somehow familiar. It’s a sort of antidote to the typical winter scent, but that’s why I love it.’
LUCY PARTINGTON, BEAUTY EDITOR, STYLIST.CO.UK
‘This fragrance is designed to be the winter version of Tom Ford’s iconic summer scent, Soleil Blanc. Notes of fresh bergamot combined with creamy vanilla and cosy musk make for something bright, happy and somehow familiar. It’s a sort of antidote to the typical winter scent, but that’s why I love it.’
7. Tom Ford Soleil Neige Eau de Parfum
LUCY PARTINGTON, BEAUTY EDITOR, STYLIST.CO.UK
‘This fragrance is designed to be the winter version of Tom Ford’s iconic summer scent, Soleil Blanc. Notes of fresh bergamot combined with creamy vanilla and cosy musk make for something bright, happy and somehow familiar. It’s a sort of antidote to the typical winter scent, but that’s why I love it.’
The Dyson Supersonic hairdryer
ROSIE GREEN, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, RED MAGAZINE AND BEAUTY BRAND CONSULTANT
‘I love my Dyson hairdryer. Its speedy drying means I get an extra ten minutes in bed… now that’s a gift.’ Lighter, faster and quieter than other hairdryers, James Dyson enlisted the help of top hair stylists and engineers to develop this game-changing grooming gadget. As well as featuring clever magnetic attachments, the motor is located in the handle to prevent arm ache.
ROSIE GREEN, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, RED MAGAZINE AND BEAUTY BRAND CONSULTANT
‘I love my Dyson hairdryer. It’s speedy drying means I get an extra ten minutes in bed...now that’s a gift.’ Lighter, faster and quieter than other hairdryers, James Dyson enlisted the help of top hair stylists and engineers to develop this game-changing grooming gadget. As well as featuring clever magnetic attachments, the motor is located in handle to prevent arm ache.
8. The Dyson Supersonic hairdryer
ROSIE GREEN, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, RED MAGAZINE AND BEAUTY BRAND CONSULTANT
‘I love my Dyson hairdryer. It’s speedy drying means I get an extra ten minutes in bed...now that’s a gift.’ Lighter, faster and quieter than other hairdryers, James Dyson enlisted the help of top hair stylists and engineers to develop this game-changing grooming gadget. As well as featuring clever magnetic attachments, the motor is located in handle to prevent arm ache.
Sisley Black Rose Cream mask
CASSIE STEER, FREELANCE BEAUTY EDITOR
‘This sumptuous face mask is my ride or die product. Having worked as a beauty editor for well over a decade, it’s still the one I come back to time and time again. Whether my skin is jet-lagged, hormonal or just in need of a little boost, this soothing anti-ageing hero is like a skin whisperer and I personally like to leave it on overnight. A little on the pricey side, but the scent of black rose petals combined with the opulent texture means that you can really saviour the indulgence.’
CASSIE STEER, FREELANCE BEAUTY EDITOR
This sumptuous face mask is my ride or die product. Having worked as a beauty editor for well over a decade, it’s still the one I come back to time and time again. Whether my skin is jet-lagged, hormonal or just in need of a little boost, this soothing anti-ageing hero is like a skin whisperer and I personally like to leave it on overnight. A little on the pricey side, sure, but the soft scent of Black rose petals combined with the opulent texture means that you can really saviour the indulgence.’
9. Sisley Black Rose Cream mask
CASSIE STEER, FREELANCE BEAUTY EDITOR
‘This sumptuous face mask is my ride or die product. Having worked as a beauty editor for well over a decade, it’s still the one I come back to time and time again. Whether my skin is jet-lagged, hormonal or just in need of a little boost, this soothing anti-ageing hero is like a skin whisperer and I personally like to leave it on overnight. A little on the pricey side, sure, but the soft scent of Black rose petals combined with the opulent texture means that you can really saviour the indulgence.’
MAC Lipstick
HOLLY SWAYNE, FREELANCE DIGITAL EDITOR
‘I’ve tried countless red lipsticks over the years, but always, always come back to this one. It’s matte without being too drying, and the orangey-red hue is a real modern classic. The colour suits most skintones too, making it a failsafe beauty gift. Wear it with Tom Ford's Lip Locking Primer underneath for even longer wear.'
HOLLY SWAYNE, FREELANCE DIGITAL EDITOR
‘I've tried countless foundations over the years, but always, always come back to this one. It's incredibly lightweight yet gives great coverage, and contains pearlescent pigments for a beautifully dewy finish. If, like me, you have blemish-prone skin but hate the feeling of caking on lots of matte makeup, you'll try this product and never look back. Wear it with Bobbi Brown's Radiance Primer underneath for extra glow.’
10. MAC Lipstick
HOLLY SWAYNE, FREELANCE DIGITAL EDITOR
'I've tried countless red lipsticks over the years, but always, always come back to this one. It's matte without being too drying, and the orangey-red hue is a real modern classic. The colour suits most skin tones too, making it a failsafe beauty gift. Wear it with Tom Ford's Lip Locking Primer underneath for even longer wear.'
