The little black book of beauty basics…
Pounding the pavement for hours? Forget it. We’ve organised these our favourite beauty websites into 5 categories to save you the time and energy.
Skincare
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Eve Lom
Czechoslovakia-born Eve’s signature Cleanser has been an A-list favourite for years. Blended with four aromatherapy oils, it literally melts on the skin and gently exfoliates when removed with the accompanying muslin cloth. The Kiss Mix Balm is also fabulous.
www.evelom.co.uk
Bliss
The Bliss Triple Oxygen Treatment facial is widely heralded as the only way to get red-carpet ready. For lesser mortals, the portable Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask has been known to work miracles too.
www.blisslondon.co.uk
REN
Founded upon natural Bio Actives, the beautifully designed REN Skincare products are as kind to the environment as they are to skin. The Omega-rich Hydra-Calm Global Protection Day Cream and Omega 3 Overnight Lipid Renewal Serum are fantastic for sensitive or smog-exposed skin.
www.renskincare.com
Rodial
If you’re looking for a super duper anti-ageing range then look no further. All the Rodial products have pomegranate ellagic tannin which protects cells from free radicals and the collagen-boosting properties leave skin plumped up and firm. The A-List cleanser isn’t cheap but you won’t look back after using it!
www.rodial.com
SK-11
The sublimely beautiful Cate Blanchett swears by this Eastern brand. The core ingredient, ‘Pitera’, is a blend of vitamins, amino acids, minerals and organic acids that promotes cellular regeneration. The Facial Treatment Essence, dubbed ‘miracle water’, and soothing Facial Treatment Masks are great tonics for dull skin.
www.sk2.com
Bath
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Cowshed
Cowshed’s cheekily-named products were originally created for the Cowshed spa at Babington House, the country outpost of London's Soho House. All of the products are blended locally using the highest quality essential oils from around the world and an infusion of herbs hand picked from Babington’s Victorian walled garden. Perfect for gifts or pure relaxation.
www.cowshedonline.com
Aromatherapy Associates
With an exquisite blend of essential oils to suit every mood, Aromatherapy Associates has relaxing, unwinding, rebalancing, invigorating and uplifting bath times well and truly covered.
www.aromatherapyassociates.com
Natural Magic
No bath-time experience is complete without a Natural Magic candle burning cleanly in the background. The NEOM Organic Body Polish, containing actual precious sapphires is also a great exfoliator, while the Bath and Body Oil smoothes and soothes whether used before, during or after bathing.
www.neomorganics.comREN
REN’s Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil has the heavenliest scent which seems to melt all our cares away. Just be sure to get out before you get too wrinkly! For more speedy bathers, there is a shower wash version which smells just as good.
www.renskincare.com
This Works
A regular in the InStyle Best Beauty Buys, This Works’ In The Zone Bath and Shower Oil contains a balancing and restoring blend of antibacterial Frankincense and Eucalyptus to help keep colds at bay. Follow with Muscle Therapy to really shake off the day.
www.thisworks.com
Hair
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Bumble and Bumble
A favourite among A-listers and their stylists, Bumble & bumble has been making waves and curls luscious since 1977. Bb Shine is a must for brilliant glossy locks, while Sumotech will keep coiffed styles in place and the hair powders are great for festivals and other occasions when bathing is not an option.
www.bumbleandbumble.com
Kerastase
Few hair salons would be complete without L’Oreal’s top hair-care range, Kerastase. The Resistance range is perfect for weakened hair, while the Reflection Chroma Reflect Masque keeps coloured hair looking sleek and glossy.
www.kerastase.com
Paul Yacomine
Paul Yacomine’s Micro Intensive Repair Kit has a strangely clinical appearance, but fret not, the trio of natural oils replenishes badly damaged or treated hair easily and painlessly. The use of three separate components minimises the use of emulsions that need lots of extra chemicals to stabilise.
www.paulyacomine.com
Philip B
One of the best hair-care products around. The Rejuvenating Oil stimulates the scalp and penetrates the hair re-hydrating the hair with natural oils. If you’re looking for a product to combat frizz and dullness this is for you.
www.philipb.com
Philip Kingsley
Trichologist Philip Kingsley has created a solution to every hair problem. The renowned Elasticizer is a must-have for reviving extremely dry hair and preventing further damage, while the Swim cap is great for water babies.
www.philipkingsley.com
Makeup
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Yves Saint Laurent
No makeup listing would be complete without the mother of all products and the beauty insider’s secret weapon – Touche Eclat! The complexion enhancer makes every day a great skin day. Not only does it suit practically all skin tones, it helps with covering those deadly dark circles.
www.ysl.com
3 Custom Colour
A firm favourite in the US, 3 Custom Colour is famed for its bespoke blends: the Snow Eyeshadow customised for Angelina Jolie is widely coveted. The clarifying pencil is a must for disguising tired, red eyes and the Crème Concealer Trio works with your fluctuating skin tone.
www.threecustomcolour.com
Dior
The makeup artists’ choice – for jaw-droppingly fabulous lashes, the Dior range of mascaras is the only one worth considering. The Diorshow and Diorshow Blackout are particularly good for thick, lasting coverage without clumping.
www.dior.com
MAC
For stand-out fantastic colour and texture you simply can’t beat a MAC Matte Lipstick: choose one for every mood. The Strobe Cream is also a backstage favourite for creating an all-over smooth canvas.
www.maccosmetics.co.uk
Nars
Simply fabulous colours and now a firm favourite with celebs and beauty editor’s alike. Chose form a selection of colour palettes to suit all skin tones in a range of sassy fashion forward formulas. Plus, the packaging is to die for!
www.nars.com
Online Boutiques
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Beautique
Harrods’ online partner Beautique stocks nearly everything found in the store’s fifth-floor spa Urban Retreat. Heavy on hair favourites, French stalwarts, such as Kerastase and La Prairie, sit happily beside newer gems such as Fudge, and the illustrious resident perfumier Roja Dove’s signature range of fragrances.
www.beautique.com
Cult Beauty
The Hall of Fame for beauty junkies, Cult Beauty not only sells the world’s best expert-recommended products, but also tells you exactly what’s in them, and about any celebrity fans and awards they’ve won. The sophisticated Advanced Search lets you search for ingredients you do or don’t want as well.
www.cultbeauty.co.uk
HQ Hair
For a massive range of modern favourites, HQ Hair is a better than safe bet: Benefit, Nars, Stila, Philosophy, Jurlique…all at your fingertips and most of the big newbies are there. You'll wonder why you ever shopped in-store after visting this site!
www.hqhair.com
Puresha
The home of great organic brands, Puresha stocks new skin and eco-friendly favourites such as Patyka, Hamadi and Jo Wood as well yummy mummy staple, Mamamio.
www.puresha.com
Space NK
The modern high-street apothecary extraordinaire Space NK is the first port of call for many international hero products. The only place to go for Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser or Shu Uemura Eyelash curlers, Space NK now has Italian favourite Acqua di Parma and the expert-recommended Natura Bisse range too.
www.spacenk.co.uk