Writing about beauty for a living means that you do get a bit spoilt for choice when it comes to trying out new products.
However, it also means that when it comes to beauty products and all their promises to do amazing things, these days, it does take a lot to impress me.
In the last few weeks, though, out of all the products I have tried and tested, the below six actually really did what they stated on the box, and are things I will both buy again and recommend to all my friends.
So if you are looking to upgrade your beauty routine this spring, here are six great buys I can fully vouch for:
1. Luna by CARA
Having seen beauty editor after beauty editor rave about how sleeping on silk had done wondrous things for their hair and skin, I was so excited to finally get my hands on the Luna by Cara pure silk pillowcase so I could try it for myself.
My hair has never really recovered from my last round of breastfeeding, when it literally came out in clumps. And to make matters worse, my little boy, who is now three, still likes nothing more than to tangle his little hand into my hair when we snuggle for bedtime stories, meaning one side of my head is more or less permanently frizzy.
However, after just a couple of night having swapped my Egyptian cotton for pure silk, my hair instantly felt less dry and frizzy, and much more hydrated. Cotton, you see, as opposed to silk, tends to suck moisture out of your hair (and skin) which can leave you with frizzy strands (and more wrinkles!).
In fact, many dermatologists now recommend sleeping on silk pillowcases in a bid to keep your skin youthful and line-free, so if you do one thing this year for your hair and complexion, I cannot recommend this product enough.
2. Clarins Hydra-Essentiel
I am always excited when Clarins reveal a new product, knowing there is a reason these guys are such giants in the beauty industry. And the Hydra-Essentiel did not disappoint.
This rich moisturiser totally transformed my winter-dry skin, which always goes a bit bonkers this time a year, between the freezing weather outside and my tendency to have the heating on full blast around the clock at home.
The science behind this new face cream is the power of the ‘leaf of life’, an organic extract that promotes the skin’s natural synthesis of sponge molecules – meaning it helps your skin produce these molecules – and therefore retain more water, which is essential so soft, youthful looking skin.
3. Chanel Le Teint Ultra Tenue Foundation
Let’s face it, few things in life are as exciting as a new, gorgeous foundation – and even more so when it is from Chanel. I already love Chanel’s Aqualumiére as I find it gives my skin a lovely glow, but have often found it need reapplying throughout the day.
The new Le Teint Ultra Tenue on the other hand, stayed put all day, and had a lovely matte finish without feeling dry on my skin at all. It is heavier than some of the other foundations I am currently using, but it gives superb coverage, and is perfect, I think, for days when your skin needs a little more cover.
4. Environ Ionzyme Focus Hydration Serum
Environ is one of those beauty-and-skincare brands that not that many have heard of (yet) – but that I feel like shouting from the rooftops about. Having used some of their other products on and off over the last few years, this serum I know will forever more factor in my go-to roundup of products.
I think everyone over the age of 30 should include a serum in their skincare routine, and the Ionzyme Focus Hydration from Environ will deliver on all accounts. The key ingredient is hyaluronic acid, known to plump up and add volume, meaning fine lines and wrinkles will appear much less visible (yeah!)
I love how the serum has no perfume, and how the bottle includes a dropper, which assists in keeping the serum free of bacteria while the dark glass helps to keep the antioxidants stable inside.
The price tag is a little hefty at €78, but I have now used mine for well over a month, and there is still lots left. It’s an investment, for sure, but one I will totally make again (and again and again).
5. Estée Lauder Global Anti-Ageing Cell Power Eye Gelée
Investing serious cash in trying to make my eyes look younger never really became a reality to me until after I had babies and the lack of sleep and general wrecked-ness starting taking its toll.
These days, I am more inclined to spend money on eye-creams and eye masks and heavy duty concealers than pretty much anything else (who needs food, right?)
One of these products that I have bought lately is this AH-MAZING new eye gel pen from Estée Lauder – which hooked me in with a promise of its fatigue-fighting properties. And tired mamas everywhere; it actually did work magic!
The sea lavender flower extract reduces lines and brightened my dark circles (thanks, kids), and the cooling massage tip felt lovely on my skin, and when used, helps boost microcirculation to de-puff and reduce undereye bags and circles.
6. Clarins Face Contouring Palette & Brush
I’ll be honest with you, I have kind of on purpose ignored the whole contouring thing the last couple of years, hoping it would eventually just go away (much the same, in fact, as I feel about Snapchat, as between Facebook and Instagram and Pinterest, I just don’t feel like I can take another thing on board, really).
But at this stage, it looks like contouring is here to stay – albeit in a more natural, less Kardashian-y way than when it first popped up on everyone’s beauty radar (thank God!).
Having gotten my hands on this new contouring palette from Clarins, I am now a fully fledged contouring convert. No, seriously. With only three different colours, it is just so much more user-friendly than many of the other contouring kits out there, and the shades perfectly tailored to suit all skin tones. It also comes with a really handy how-to chart and a contouring brush, making it easy peasy to sculpt yourself into the most perfect cheekbones and glowing skin of your life.
(Feature image via Kerastase)
