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Our columnist and makeup artist to the stars, Nikki Wolff, has tried and tested hundreds of products across fragrance, skincare and makeup throughout her career. Here, she shares her favourite 5 products in various beauty categories, from flawless foundations to miracle moisturisers…
If you’re anything like me and all you’ve wanted to do is shop online since you’ve been stuck quarantine, then you’ll appreciate these lists I’ve compiled of my ‘5 best’ tried and tested products in lots of handy categories.
5 Best Stay-At-Home Fragrances
This smells a little different on everyone but always pretty. It’s warm and creamy with notes of musk, ambrette and pink pepper.
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Body Mist, £32
It smells like pistachio and salted caramel yet somehow has a sexiness that reminds me of the beach. Very sweet and addictive. This one will divide opinions but if you love it, you’ll LOVE it.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge, £200
One of my favourite scents of all time, sweet and pretty on its own or incredible layered with anything citrus to give another dimension to your fragrance wardrobe. Amber, floral and woody notes, and a little cedar too makes it unisex. The sweetness and warmth makes it sophisticated and comforting to wear at home. I don’t think it’s possible to dislike this beautiful fragrance.
Diptyque Eau Capitale Eau De Parfum, £120
I’ve been wearing this one a lot recently. It’s a strong, sophisticated, heady scent that’s clean and complex. With notes of Rose, bergamot, patchouli and pink peppercorns. I always feel inspired when I wear it and it elevates my mood.
Here’s one for the guys. Masculine and mysterious with notes of Vetiver, cashmere, wood and musk. I think any fragrance that contains musk is kinda comforting and anyone that wears this smells powerful.
5 Best Candles
Neom Perfect Night’s Sleep Intensive Skin Treatment Candle, £40
Made with all natural oils and fragrances that help to aide sleep, this candle not only smells lovely as it burns, but the warmed oil can be poured onto skin and used as an intensive body moisturiser or massage oil.
This fragrance is an acquired taste but I love it. It’s leathery and spicy but with a clean edge. Cedar, bamboo and sandalwood give it a solid masculinity. It fragrances the whole room and like all Byredo candles, burns beautifully.
Just looking at this candle and it’s holographic fabulousness will make you happy. This scent is different from what I usually burn in my home, it’s floral and sharp with notes of wild berries and it’s strangely addictive.
Eym. Home ‘The Grounding One’ Candle, £39
Soothing and reassuring scents of rose, camomile and geranium oils help to relax and relieve anxiety. It’s also 100% natural and non-toxic so ‘feel good’ all round really.
Fornasetti Candles, price varies
These candles are so chic, I have a few and don’t mind what scent.. I just keep them to display and look at!
5 Best Foundations
Dior Backstage Face and Body Foundation, £30
Lightweight but buildable texture, long-wearing and so versatile. I always have this foundation in my kit. It looks like ‘skin’ and works for so many different skin types and textures.
Shisedo Synchro skin Self Refreshing Foundation, £39
Weightless whilst still being great coverage, I adore this foundation for a flawless looking, satin finish base that stays looking fresh and lasts throughout the day. It’s breathable and adaptive so the tones look really realistic on skin.
Hourglass Vanish Seamless Foundation Stick, £45
This foundation is full coverage, long wearing and waterproof yet it sits beautifully on skin and still looks natural. The perfect full coverage foundation for dry or combination skin types. Easily blendable too for areas where you want a more sheer finish
A foundation worth the investment. I feel like I’ve had this in my kit since the beginning of time. I never get rid of it, I just replace it. I love all the shades it comes in, especially the medium to dark shades as they’re so accurate. It’s oil-free gel texture is light but buildable.
Dolce & Gabbana Glorious Skin Perfect Luminous Foundation, £92
With lots of beautiful skincare ingredients packed into this foundation it feels super luxurious to apply. I love the dewy finish and find it sits beautifully on skin- something that’s not always easy to find with really glowy textures. Perfect for mature skin or anyone who wants a sheer, luminous and luxurious finish.
5 At-Home Bronzing Products
This is the easiest facial self tanning product I’ve tried. It feels hydrating, doesn’t go streaky and you’ll wake up with a bronzed glow that makes you feel like you got 8 hours sleep!
Alleven Colour Shield & Colour Shield Glow, £42
An instant skin perfector in a can. Spray a little on any area that you want to tan or even-out skintone and you’ll have flawless skin super fast. It stays put all day and then washes off so no need to faff around with makeup or fake tans..
Dr Haushka Translucent Bronzing Tint, £29.50
A translucent bronzing tint for face that looks like a natural, fresh tan. Can be mixed with your usual moisturiser, applied before makeup, mixed with your foundation to transform your winter favourite into a more sheer, summer shade or can be applied on top of foundation for a sheer bronzey glow. With soothing witch hazel, it feels really fresh and comforting to apply.
Fenty Beauty cream bronzer/contour, £25, Fenty Beauty
A lightweight, non-greasy cream contour/bronzer. Applied on top of makeup this gives a natural looking sculpted finish. Applied on bare skin it gives a little coverage, a bronzed finish and the tones are great.
Clinique Sun-Kissed Face Gelee Complexion Multitasker, £24.50
This gel texture has an intensely bronzed hue. It almost acts like a stain on the skin which makes it look extremely natural and also means it’s super long wearing. I love buffing a little under cheekbones on top of my foundation, to sculpt the skin in the most natural looking way.
5 Best Lip Products
Sensai Cellular Performance Total Lip Treatment, £75
I’ve used this for years. It’s one of those products I replace time and time again. I apply it before bed every night. My lips get super dry but this sinks in instantly, leaving them feeling silky smooth, not sticky at all. And the best part is they still feel nourished in the morning.
Alex Steinherr for Primark Sleep Spa lip mask
This subtly tinted overnight lip mask is an intensely hydrating balm with hyaluronic acid, willowherb and chamomille. It softens without stickiness and adds a pretty sheen, making it great for daytime use too.
Dior Addict Stellar Gloss, £25.20
This super high shine gloss gives lips the nourishing care of a balm. This shade is the perfect nude and feels soft and comfortable on lips.
Tom Ford Lip Colour Shine in Abandon
This is one of my favourite nudes of all time. It’s sheer and glossy and peachy-toned and I’m yet to find a skintone it doesn’t suit.
Bobbi Brown Art Stick in ‘Bare’, £22.50
For those of you who prefer a more natural matte finish, this chunky lip pencil offers long wearing, comfortable and natural looking colour pay off. The shade is a perfect ‘like your lips but better’ pinky nude.
5 Best Primers
Dermalogica Skin Perfect Primer, £46.50
The velvety texture of this primer glides onto all skin types and creates a smooth even base for foundation application. Blurs away imperfections with the added benefit of SPF 30.
Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Illuminating Primer, £32
Light reflecting micronised pearls illuminate skin before makeup. They give a soft, diffused glow which makes foundation look dewy without highlighting any imperfections. Can also be mixed with foundation to create a more sheer and glowy texture. It contains antioxidants and vitamins. Always a nice benefit as I feel a primer is often an extension of your skincare and a barrier between skincare & foundation.
By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Primer, £42
Hyaluronic acid micro-filling technology evens skintone and texture, creating a plump, neutral base for makeup application. Even though it’s hydrating, it leaves a matte finish so it’s great to all skin types, particularly dry and mature skins.
Urban Decay Optical Illusion Pore Perfecting Primer, £24
This is the most effective primer for oiler skins and for those concerned about enlarged pores. It’s brightening, pore refining and really holds makeup in place with a matte finish that lasts.
Becca First Light Priming Filter, £28
The slight violet hue helps to neutralise dullnesss. It gives a soft, subtle glow and a skin perfecting finish and helps to hold makeup in place throughout the day.
5 Best Mascaras
When I look for a mascara, it has to tick all boxes- volume, definition and staying power. This mascara does just that. It creates full, thick lashes that look lengthened and defined and it doesn’t transfer or smudge. I like the rubber brush and squeezable tube as they enable you to get lots of the product onto lashes quickly. Perfect if you like thick, full sexy lashes.
It Cosmetics Superhero Mascara, £21
A great all round mascara for achieving volume, length and definition. One coat leaves lashes lengthened and separated, it’s buildable so spend some time on it and you’ll have extra va-va-boom lashes. I find the brush allows you to coat every lash as it’s tapered at the tip. It wears well and doesn’t transfer around eyes.
Spectrum Dark Matter Mascara, £12.99
Extra black, long lasting, doesn’t transfer and gives long, full, definition. Great on its own or I love this one for applying on top of false lashes/individuals as it’s not fibrous or clumpy at all. The wand is flexible which makes application gentle and easy.
By Terry Lash Expert Twist Brush Mascara, £25
Use the brush as it comes to add length and definition, then twist the end of the brush to create a new shape with the wand that adds volume. I really like this mascara and prefer to use it without the twist option. It lengthens and thickens with lots of pigment without smudging.
Max Factor Masterpiece Max Mascara, £10.99
A great every day mascara for a long thick lash look with no flakiness or smudging.
5 Best Suncreams
I prefer to layer facial SPF over moisturiser rather than combine the two as some of the ingredients in chemical sunscreens needed to protect from harmful UV rays can be damaging To skin. Moisturiser acts as a protective layer. I also believe we should be wearing no less than SPF50 on our faces, regardless of skin-tone.
Heliocare 360 Oil-Free Gel SPF50, £17.99
Oil free and therefore ideal for oily or sensitive skins. I use this one personally as I prefer my glow to come from my moisturiser or my makeup, not my SPF. It’s got a dry touch, matte finish and a very slight tint, meaning it works perfectly on its own or under makeup. I like the fresh scent too.
Sol de Janero My Sol Stick SPF 50, £24
This is the perfect way to top up your sun protection. It’s completely sheer and smells like toasted sugar. I’m obsessed.
Elizabeth Arden Privage City Smart SPF50, £55
A sheer, hydrating fluid with a broad spectrum SPF that protects against pollution and has anti-aging benefits. It has a slight tint that means it doesn’t leave any white residue on the skin and the texture feels silky and lightly hydrating. Apply over moisturiser and instead of a primer for a lovely base to makeup.
La Roche-Posey Anthelios Facial Sun Screen SPF50, £13.12
High protection with a lightweight feel. Ideal for anyone with super sensitive skin or those prone to reactions caused by the sun. Sweat and water resistant, non-greasy and with no white residue.
Institute Esthederm Adaptasun Body Lotion, £44.50
I love this whole range. It smells like a summer‘s day on the beach and the textures are beautiful. The brand don’t state the SPF number but instead go by moderate or strong sun categories as the product adapts to protect your skin, leaving you with soft, nourished skin and a beautiful, long lasting tan.
5 Best Eye Creams
Best to de-puff:
QMS Epigen De-Puff Pollution Shield Eye Serum, £85
Can be used on its own or under your usual eye cream. Acts at cellular level to support skin’s natural defence mechanism to help protect against aggressors. Feels cooling and fresh when applied with the ceramic applicator. Caffeine helps to de-puff.
Best for dark circles:
Natura Bisse Diamond Cocoon Sheer Eye, £195
Light and super comfortable to wear yet hydrating and brightening and de-puffing with a slight tint that makes it the perfect daytime eye cream, under makeup or alone. Helps to brighten dark circles and make eye area look radiant. Also comes in a non-tinted version for nighttime which is also lovely.
Best for hydration:
Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream, £30.15
This is the most nourishing and hydrating eye cream I’ve ever used and is perfect for those with dryness as a concern. It feels super luxurious and comforting.
Best to brighten:
Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream, £54
Clean beauty brand Drunk Elephant have developed this eye cream with 5 forms of vit C to really brighten the eye area. It’s lightly hydrating to help with fine lines and I always love a pump applicator.
Best for wrinkles:
Dior Capture Totale C.E.L.L Energy Firming & Wrinkle-Corrective Eye Creme, £109
This eye cream feels and looks super luxe on the skin. It leaves the skin around the delicate eye area feeling soothed and looking glowy. It contains naturally occurring molecules called Phytosterols which have anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing benefits for skin.
5 Best Moisturisers For Dry Skin
Chantecaille Bio Lifting Cream, £300
Luxuriously rich and super velvety, it really plumps the surface of skin. Packed full of active ingredients, it feels like a protective treatment.
Cerave Moisturising Cream, £16
The high lipid content repairs skin whilst humectants seal in moisture. Perfect layered over a Hyaluronic acid serum for all-day moisture that protects the skin’s barrier.
Is Clinical Reparative Moisture Emulsion, £67
Reparative and hydrating, this leaves skin feeling comfortable and nourished yet sits perfectly under makeup.
Sarah Chapman Glow Illuminating Elixir, £64
An uplifting blend of essential oils that feel like a mini spa experience to apply. Leaves skin looking glowy and feeling silky while protecting against pollution.
Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre Moisturiser, £20
This one is super versatile and great under makeup as it actually gives a little bit of hold. Makes skin look plumped and feel hydrated and velvety.
5 Best Moisturisers For Oily/Problematic Skin
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+, £17
Gel texture gently hydrates and also helps to correct the appearance of blemishes. Helps to control shine throughout the day.
Alex Steinheir for Primark Pollution Solution Oil-Free Gel hydrator
This weightless moisturiser is packed full of anti-oxidants to shield skin from environmental aggressors, whilst delivering fresh hydration
Dr Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Marine Oil-Free Moisture Cushion, £59
This is super hydrating but oil-free so perfect for combination or dehydrated skin types. Melts into skin without feeling greasy, just leaving it beautifully supple.
Oil-free and perfect for combination skin. After applied it disappears just leaving light hydration, which makes it perfect for pre-makeup application.
Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster, £37
This one isn’t exactly a moisturiser, it’s more of a treatment to help combat blemishes and balance uneven skintone caused by scarring from breakouts. Contains salicylic acid but is gentle and calming. Can be used alone or mixed with your favourite serum or moisturiser.
5 Best Body Moisturisers
Clarins Moisture Rich Body Lotion, £33
All Clarins body moisturisers are super nourishing and easily absorbed. This one is the perfect all-purpose skin treat. It melts into skin and leaves it looking lightly dewy and the feeling lasts all day.
Tata Harper Revitalising Body Oil, £100
I discovered this oil during my pregnancy on the hunt for something natural and I fell in love. It’s so luxurious and rich and really deeply hydrates the skin as opposed to sitting on the surface and then disappearing, which some oils can do. It smells clean and lovely and contains healing and anti-inflammatory ingredients. I’ve used this on top of a moisturiser throughout my pregnancy to help prevent stretch marks.
Augustinus Bader Body Cream, £130
This is so rich and luxurious. It intensely hydrates and works to help rejuvenate cells, making skin look smoother and more toned. If you fancy a bit of a splurge, this one is worth the investment.
Neutrogina Visibly Renew Body Lotion, £6.39
I do love a moisturiser that comes with a pump. Quick and easy to use, feels light but hydrating for more supple looking skin.
Drunk Elephant Sili Body Lotion, £17
This moisturiser is the perfect texture balance between being light enough to be easily absorbed and moisturising enough to give you hydration that lasts throughout the day/night. It feels really calming, like you’re being kind to your skin, and smells a little like marzipan.
5 Best Face Masks
This is one of my favourite masks of all time, it just makes skin look fabulous. It’s gentle enough that I’ve been able to use it throughout my pregnancy, yet effective enough to make a difference to the appearance and texture of skin. If hydrates, firms, tightens and brightens. I like to apply it before I do my makeup in the morning but it’s great used overnight too.
Gently exfoliates and brightens using fruit based AHAs. Enzyme peels are my preference to exfoliate as I find traditional scrubs can scratch and damage the skin. This masks works quickly to give a radiant, smooth base without irritating skin.
Orveda Overnight Skin Recovery Mask, £195
I personally use this one regularly. It’s vegan, cruelty free and packed full of beautiful ingredients. I’m obsessed with the scent and how it glides onto skin, leaving it feeling hydrated and plumped by the morning.
Rodial Vitamin C Brighten Sheet Mask, £43
One of the most effective sheet masks around to visibly brighten skin. It helps to ‘re-enliven’ dull looking skin whilst also leaving it feeling comfortable, hydrated and fresh. Love to pop this one on in the morning whilst I’m getting ready, for fresh skin.
Skinceuticals Clarifying Clay Mask, £68.74
Non-drying mask that’s ideal for oiler or more problematic skins as its exfoliating, clarifying and helps to decongest pores. Leave skin soothed, matte and more radiant.
5 Best Hand Creams
Nursem Caring Hand Cream, £9.99
This one is super nourishing for those really dry chapped and sensitive hands.
Diptyque Eau Rose Hand and Body Lotion, £40
Lightweight and easily absorbed, it’s so delicately scented, like the most beautiful freshly cut garden roses. The pump application makes it quick easy to apply too.
Clarins Super Restorative Hand Cream, £40
Contains anti-aging ingredients and is super comforting and luxe, it melts into skin with no greasiness.
La Mer Rejuvenating Hand Serum, £95
If I’m going to splurge a little on a product I like it to really feel worth it and this one does.
Restorative, non greasy, anti aging, this serum melts into skin, leaving hands instantly feeling the silkiest they’ll ever feel.
Sarah Chapman Skinesis Overnight Hand & Nail Treatment, £39
I love a night treatment and like all Skinesis products, this one leaves skin feeling silky and repaired. Great to nourish dry cuticles too.
5 Best Treatment Serums
Best for hyperpigmentation /dark spots/ dull complexion:
Obaji Clarifying Serum, £100.86
It contains Hydroquinone which helps to stabalise melanin production, and vitamin C to help protect skin against free radicals, brighten, and lighten hyperpigmentation.
(This is a very effective serum as it penetrates the deeper layers and therefore can cause sensitivity so consult your doctor or dermatologist if you’re thinking of trying it).
Best for enlarged pores:
Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Correcting Serum, £40
Visible pores can be caused by many factors and are therefore pretty tricky to treat. I would recommend adopting a full skincare routine to help target them. An exfoliator, tonic and oil-free moisturisers and foundations etc.
One of my favourite serums is the Clinique pores refining solutions. It’s lightweight, refreshing texture helps to smooth the look of enlarged pores and helps to treat the cause. It creates a nice base for makeup too.
Best for acne/blemishes:
Skinceuticals Blemish and Age Defence Serum, £90
Contains salicylic acid which is a very helpful ingredient when it comes to targeting imperfections. This serum also helps to encourage cell turnover, hence the anti-aging claims. Some acne treatments can be harsh or drying but I find this to be gentle enough to use twice daily on both dry or oily skin types and yet is effective at the same time.
Best for fine lines/wrinkles:
Victoria Beckham Cell Rejuvenating Serum, £180
I’ve been using this serum as part of my nighttime routine. I use many products and often chop & change between products so it can be tricky to tell if they’re making a real difference. I did however see a difference with this product, I felt that my skin texture was improved and my skin looked clear. The ingredients work to trigger skin’s natural renewal and repair ability, therefore working to heal signs of ageing, damage, pigmentation , scarring etc. Also helps protect skin against blue light damage (caused by our phones & laptops) which we all need!
Best for dry skin:
Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Serum, £42
A fresh burst of cooling, calming hydration. This serum wears beautifully under makeup and other skincare, makes skin feel smooth and has a pleasant scent too.
Tata Harper Stress Treatment, £33
An aromatic oil that can be applied to palms or pulse points to allow you to take a deep breath and inhale a little peace. I find this aromatherapy oil to be a really pleasant and soothing fragrance.
Mauli Sleep Dharma Pillow Mist, £22
A calming scented mist that I like to spritz all over my sheets, not just my pillow. Chamomile, lavender and bergamot make a lovely soothing blend for night-time.
I never thought I’d enjoy these as much as I do. I truly sleep better when I wear one. Top tip: pull them up towards your eyes rather than down over them to prevent messing up brows and lashes. 20 minute daytime power naps have been shown to reduce your risk of burning your brain out… the only excuse I need!
Margaret Dabbs Restorative Foot Lotion, £25
Anti-bacterial & anti-inflammatory, easily absorbed yet super nourishing and soothing. This time at home could mean your feet are the softest ever!
I have two of these and I’m obsessed. They are so big and so soft and so comfy, and they wash perfectly.
