We're fortunate to have a lot of shiny, new and exciting beauty launches land on our desk every day here at R29.
From makeup to skincare, we make it our mission to try more or less everything that comes through the door so that we can sort the wheat from the chaff and tell you which products are worth spending your hard-earned cash on.
Now that beauty brands have woken up to diversity and the fact that we all have very different skin, hair and makeup needs and likes, most of said products are pretty effective. A handful even make it onto the 'Gram. But it's very rare for us to find something we just can't imagine our makeup bags and #shelfies without.
Ahead, you'll find a selection of products, from makeup to skincare, which the R29 beauty team will repurchase time and time again – they're that good.
Jacqueline Kilikita, Beauty Editor
Every sunscreen I’ve tried has either broken me out, pilled under my foundation or turned my light olive skin a ghostly shade of pale – not this. Recommended to me by consultant dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto, it absorbs in seconds and is completely invisible under makeup. Since using it, I’ve noticed a reduction in spots (as it’s non-comedogenic, so won’t clog pores) as well as fine lines around my eyes and mouth, and I’m pretty certain the latter is because of the brilliant broad spectrum protection, which shields against the 'ageing' properties of UVA. It's a must!
Heliocare 360 Gel Oil-Free SPF 50, $27.79, available at Face The Future
Pretty much every skin expert will extol the virtues of glycolic acid as part of a regular skincare routine if you're prone to spots. I’ve tried many glycolic acid toners and nothing unclogs my pores and refines my skin texture as well as this. At 10%, it’s higher than most glycolic products, but it doesn’t make my skin flaky or sore at all. I swipe it on after cleansing most evenings. It's a bargain.
The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Liquid Toner, $6.99, available at Feel Unique
I’ve tried hundreds of mascaras in my job – 'beach-proof', fibre types – but nothing comes close to this. The bristles are short and stubby, but they hug each individual lash (even the tiny little ones in the corners) and thicken and lengthen in three seconds flat – and that’s no exaggeration. Even better? The formula doesn’t smudge or flake but comes off easily with micellar water or wipes.
Marc Jacobs Beauty Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara - Noir, $22, available at Net-A-Porter
Eyebrow pencils can be hit and miss. They’re either too soft and crumbly and leave you with sooty smudges, or much too hard, which makes sculpting a chore – but this one is just right. The angled nib creates subtle and sharp strokes depending on your vibe (I like a bushy brow, so go to town with it) and the spoolie brush on the other end grooms and softens any sharp strokes. It was originally £36, but now comes with a complete refill for £40.
Tom Ford Brow Sculptor, $40, available at House of Fraser
I have light olive skin that is super oily and acne-prone, so I’ve always had a hard time finding a foundation that suits me. Lancôme's 40-strong shade spectrum has made it so much easier to get a match and the fact that it's non-comedogenic means it doesn’t clog my pores. I used to be a full coverage kinda gal – no foundation was too heavy – but this has swayed me. It’s ultra light but employs really fine iridescent particles to blur pores and blemishes, and it gives me this amazing lit-from-within glow. I’ve been trialling others, but I’ll always go back to this.
Lancôme Teint Miracle, $32, available at Lancôme
I’m on my fourth bottle of this micellar water and was so pleased to find out it’s now available in an enormous 500ml version. It’s the only makeup remover that has the muscle to cut through the full face I wear on a daily basis and it really soothes and calms my sensitive, red skin. A once-over with a soaked cotton pad makes my face feel squeaky clean, fresh and cool thanks to the star ingredient, green tea. It’s cruelty-free, 100% vegan and the bottle is recyclable.
A'Kin Cleansing Micellar Water 150ml, $12.5, available at Feel Unique
Everyone goes on about Whirl and Velvet Teddy, but Yash is the perfect nude – fact. A makeup artist friend of mine introduced me to the shade last year after I told her how hard I found it to choose a nude lipstick that didn’t make my olive skin look washed out or my lips too 'done'. It occupies a cosy space between rose and taupe, is matte but creamy, lasts way past lunchtime and makes my lips look a hell of a lot fuller. I panic every time I run low.
MAC Cosmetics Matte Lipstick, $17.5, available at mac cosmetics
I had hormonal acne throughout my teenage years but when I hit 25 it came back with a vengeance. Acnecide, Duac... no creams my GP prescribed could tackle the scars and new spots popping up every day, so I took a trip to a dermatologist, who suggested using this – and only this – in my evening routine after cleansing my skin of makeup – and it's completely transformed my complexion. Two percent retinoid encourages skin cells to regenerate at a lightning speed, so pores rarely become clogged and pigmentation doesn't stick around for long. It absorbs in seconds and isn't sticky, smelly or irritating like other retinoids. I stockpile it.
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion, $8, available at The Ordinary
I’ve never really had a 'signature scent' because I find it hard to commit to just one, but this is the only perfume I’ve ever finished and I’ve just bought another two bottles. Guerlain can transport you to sunnier destinations in a single spritz and this pretty much smells like the Italian Riviera. It’s fresh, citrussy and sherbety thanks to notes of green tea and bergamot, and I always get compliments when I wear it. The bottle is also dressing table gold – literally.
Guerlain Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Teazzurra Eau de Toilette, 75ml, $52, available at John Lewis
Georgia Murray, Fashion & Beauty Writer
I adore The Body Shop, not only for the fantastic formulations and scents, but for their work with farmers across the globe. Fair working conditions, paid living wages, and eco-friendly ingredient-sourcing on top of products that work? That's my bag. My most recent love affair is with this glow-giving mask, which I slap on every Sunday evening to make my skin extra-peppy for Monday morning.
The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask, $17, available at The Body Shop
Expensive for 15ml? Yes. Does it work? Abso-bloody-lutely. I have searched far and wide to find the eye cream for me, but alas, they all were too thick, too thin, gave me styes, or did diddly squat. Little did I know it was a serum – not a cream – I should've been looking for. I didn't have dark circles to eradicate but big, puffy bags, which are now significantly reduced and far more hydrated.
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum, $49, available at Estée Lauder
I’ve been hooked on this little bottle of pure brilliance for some time (I’m on my third batch). Three pumps on cleansed and toned skin in the morning, followed by moisturiser, is enough to leave my skin bright, clear and plump – that’ll be the hyaluronic acid and vitamin C. I’ve had compliments on my skin since using, so repeat-buying is a no-brainer.
Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate, $49.5, available at Kiehl's
A handbag staple, this balm solves nearly every skin conundrum I have. Chapped lips? Sorted. Damaged cuticles from the vicious cycle of gel nails? This’ll fix them. Glossy lids or dewy highlighter for desk-to-evening look? You guessed it. It’s a fiver and the only balm that actually hydrates rather than sitting atop the skin.
Dr. PAWPAW Original Multipurpose Balm, £5.55, available at Feel Unique
Dr. PawPaw Original Multipurpose Balm 25ml, $6.95, available at Feel Unique
This is such a brilliant product for summer. I have oily skin but enjoy looking glowy rather than matte, so this moisturiser-makeup hybrid is perfect – it gives my skin a dewy finish but covers all manner of sins, from dark under-eyes to hormonal spots, without looking like I have any coverage on whatsoever. It comes out of the tube white and adapts to your skin tone, so is suitable for everyone.
Shiseido Color-Smart Day Moisturizer Oil-Free SPF30, $34, available at Escentual
I use a bottle of this toner every week – it makes my balayaged hair a little more interesting and goes from vivid to subtle over the course of a week, which stops me getting bored. It's super hydrating and I can make it as bold as I fancy by combining with Bold As Brass, Rose Gold or Blorange, depending on my mood.
Bleach London Super Cool Colour Awkward Peach, $5.99, available at Superdrug
Alas, I was not blessed with Disney princess lashes, but finding the time (and money) to commit to lash lifts every two months proves difficult. Enter: They're Real! From the gloop-free formula and the flexible brush to the fan-effect on my lashes and the ease with which it's removed after a long day, using even the gentlest micellar water, I'm hooked.
Benefit They're Real Mascara, $21.5, available at Boots
This cleanser changed my skin, so it's no surprise I won't part from it. Oil cleansers were removing every last trace of London dirt and grime from my skin, but my blackheads were getting worse, and hormonal spots more inflamed. From the first day I used this acid-based gel cleanser, my skin improved. It's gentle enough to use twice a day, has eradicated those problematic blackheads and leaves my skin glowing.
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Pore Perfecting Cleansing Gel, $46, available at Space NK
Everything Charlotte Tilbury touches turns to gold, but this eyeshadow palette has got to be my favourite from her. The sumptuous shades look beautiful on every skin colour, and in the lead up to party season, I'll be experimenting with all four trios. Power Eyes, make my blue peepers pop.
Charlotte Tilbury Stars In Your Eyes Palette, $60, available at Charlotte Tilbury
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