There are certainly some occupational hazards we’re faced with as beauty editors—perioral dermatitis, perfume-induced migraines, and a need for some extreme bathroom storage solutions are amongst them. But there are also some major perks. The best one? We get access to the latest and greatest beauty launches and we usually get to try them out for free. Of course, without this perk, our jobs would be pretty hard—which means that with a constant stream of new products landing on our desks on pretty much a daily basis, we’re rarely in the position of needing to buy anything.
With that said, sometimes we use products that are so good and so effective, we feel the need to keep them in our daily routines (or at least have backups to hand for skincare emergencies). What’s more, one of the really fun parts of being a beauty editor is sleuthing out the products that are set to be the next big thing (even if they’re not new) or figuring out which underrated products are actually hidden gems.
We try so many products that if we consider a moisturiser/mascara/perfume worth spending our money on (especially when we probably didn’t need it), then it definitely is worth it. So if a beauty editor tells you that they paid for and bought a product for themself, that’s your sign to run out and buy it.
Below, a handful of beauty editors divulged to me the products they use and actually buy for themselves. Scroll to discover what could potentially be your new favourite beauty products…
“If you’re acne-prone like me, or have any kind of inflammatory skin condition (rosacea, eczema, or just plain old sensitivity), this is a must have in your skincare arsenal. It contains hypochlorous acid, which (admittedly) sounds scary but actually works very cleverly to soothe and heal skin. I’ve used this religiously twice a day for the past eighteen months and my skin has never been clearer.”
“I’ll try out anything that promises to make my hair softer and shinier, but (having a tested a lot of products), I’m used to being let down. This shampoo however (plus the matching conditioner and styling cream) totally changed the game for me, transforming my hair texture into the silkiest, bounciest, shiniest version of itself. Nothing else has ever come close to achieving the same results, so this is a staple in my shower.”
“‘I’m a trained esthetician, so nine times out of ten when people ask me whether they should go for a professional treatment or buy an at-home device to try the treatment at home, I’ll tell them to book in with a pro. However, laser hair removal is the one time I make an exception. Compared to the pain, expense, faff, and (not so great) results I experienced with in-salon treatments, this handy device makes at-home IPL hair removal a breeze. It’s easy to use, totally pain-free, and I saw results after just one use.”
“OK, I know this is eye-wateringly expensive, but this is one of those skincare products that is whole-heartedly worth the hype and its price tag. This is in part due to the fact that it really works. It brightens dark spots, fades pigmentation and makes your skin look like glass. No kidding, when I apply this I find it gives my skin an instantaneous glow (to which I usually get asked what I’m wearing) which in turn means I can use less makeup. If I didn’t test beauty products for a living, this is one of the few expensive skincare products that I would actually fork out on.”
“I’ve not tried a Milk Makeup product that I haven’t loved, but this concealer has a special place in my makeup bag. It’s lightweight yet offers medium-to-buildable coverage that never looks cakey, just glowy. It works just as well under the eyes as it does to conceal blemishes and redness, but it can also be used all-over as a foundation which blends out effortlessly to dewy results.”
“I will never be without this skin tint, which I now reach for 90% of the time when I want to wear a base. I love a dewy finish and this one delivers it by the bucketful. It has a light-to-medium coverage that never feels heavy on the skin, imparting seamless coverage and radiance in just a couple of drops. It’s also packed with hydrating skincare ingredients like squalene and niacinamide to boost your skin as you wear it.”
“Before I discovered this, primer used to be something of a special occasion makeup product for me. But not anymore. I now use this product every single day—wether I’m wearing makeup or not—because it makes my skin look about ten times better than without it. It’s glowy, plumping, smoothing and leaves my usually tired-looking complexion with a wonderfully healthy sheen. Plus, on the days that I do wear foundation on top it helps to keep it in place for longer. I’m already on my third tube of the stuff and think the XL version is next on my list.”
“I know, I know, £45 for a texture spray is, quite frankly, ridiculous. (And I’ll be honest, there are some brilliant alternatives on the market at a snip of this price tag.) But this one is the best of the best. From the fancy salon smell to the way that it manages to make hair look instantly cooler, I don’t know where I’d be without a bottle of this on hand. In fact, I’ve repurchased it more times than my bank balance would care to remember. Just a few spritzes is all you need to create effortlessly dishevelled strands that feel soft, shiny and perfectly undone. Plus, it also soaks up excess oil at the roots and holds your style in place so it’s a bit of an all-rounder.”
“Cicaplast Baume B5 never fails me. Due to the nature of us beauty editors testing new skincare and experimenting with makeup, I find that my rosacea-, sensitive-prone skin can flare up, in those instances this is the one moisturiser I know I can count on. I like to really layer this onto my skin, and although it’s thick, it doesn’t break me out. I’ll repeat buy this for a very long time.”
“Another inexpensive but reliable product (can you sense a theme here?) that I consistently buy is Elf’s Pure Skin Cleanser. It’s the perfect AM morning cleanse or PM second cleanse for me. It doesn’t work to remove stubborn makeup but more to gently cleanse grime and leaves my skin feeling incredibly smooth.”
“Possibly one of the most expensive beauty purchases I make — but worth every penny — is the Revitalash Eyelash Conditioner. The best conversations I’ve had with strangers in the street have started with them asking me if my lashes are real, and if that’s not proof that this stuff truly works, I don’t know what is.”
“Since I’ve gone natural with my hair, I’ve been on top of my wash day with the goal to minimise shedding, strengthen my strands and hydrate my scalp. Considering the number of hair products I’ve tried, this K18 mask tops it all in terms of noticeable and beneficial results. In just three washes, I noticed fewer hair strands on my comb and my strands felt stronger and full of life, game-changing to my routine.”
“I don’t wear any make-up day to day but when I do, I’ve recently been reaching for Charlotte Tilbury’s Beautiful Skin Foundation. A laminating, lightweight and seamless blend, this foundation can do no wrong. It also has made it into my top five just based on the compliments I receive on my make-up when I wear it.”
“I’ve recently fallen back in love with a fragrance classic. Deep, sweet, rich and sensual all at once, the Parfum version of YSL’s Libre is unmatched. Long-lasting and sublime on its own and layered with a lighter amber fragrance, it speaks volumes without you having to say anything. You have to spritz it when you next see it, you won’t regret it.”
“I have a lot, a lot of hair and sometimes it’s a faff to blow dry and brush and everything else. When this blow brush came into my possession, it revolutionised my hair styling routine, it’s so easy to use, it combines a round brush and blow drying tools into my one simple tool, it saves me time and effort. My hair looks great, looks like I’ve put in my work than I have and it’s super quick. And you’re left with that big bouncy and voluminous hair just had a. blow dry look without having to go to the hairdressers, and messing around with a hundred hair tools. It’s one hair tool I’ll continuous repurchase if and when I need to.”
“My skin loves a good facial oil, it’s usually the last step of my evening skincare routine and I wake up in the morning with the juiciest, plumpest looking skin, ready for the anything. It’s like the easiest form of makeup prep, a dewy and smooth canvas for makeup. I adore The Natural Africa Rosehip oil, it’s incredible lightweight, it’s sinks into the skin almost immediately and you can also use for your hair and body. I love it for facial massages, it has enough slip to really work the skin without it feeling greasy. The formula is rich in natural vitamin C, and when I do use it, my skin is on point, glowing and brighter than when I forgot to use it.”
“As a beauty editor, I often switch up my skincare in order to give honest reviews. But one step that always stays the same? Spritzing my face with this hydrating toner post AM and PM cleanse––It essentially primes the skin to enhance the efficacy of subsequently applied skincare. It feels nice and cooling, too.”
“A brand that shares in my mission to encourage all year round SPF protection. The line up protects you beyond just UV rays, shielding you from aggressors such as pollution, infrared and blue light. Whether I am wearing makeup or not, I apply this light-weight formula every single day without fail.”
“I’m firmly in my fragrance era RN and have fallen for this rich, unique scent from Jo Loves. It’s beautifully bold and exudes that expensive, luxury feeling — so on trend within the perfume sphere and on TikTok, (think Baccarat Rouge and Byredo’s Tobacco Mandarin.) The scent has top notes of blackberry, with spicy wood, nutmeg and patchouli — utterly gorgeous. My job means I get to try a vast number of products, so when one stands out it really slays the competition. I’ve already had so many compliments, with friends and strangers asking me to spill on the secret scent, (isn’t that just the best feeling?) I think in terms of cost per wear with beauty, investing in a luxe-scented fragrance feels like a real treat for the everyday.”
“Like many, I’d seen the Insta ads for Skin+ Me, and wondered if it really was as good as people said. I’m here to tell you: it is. I’ve used it religiously for the past eight months and nothing has improved my post-acne pitted scarring and pigmentation like it. The hero ingredient? Tretinoin, a concentration of pure retinoic acid that’s stronger than retinol but similarly speeds up your skin’s cell turnover to reveal newer, clearer skin. Whichever actives your dermatologist prescribes for your desired skin goals, they’re are mixed into a light, fragrance free cream that’s non-comedogenic (meaning it doesn’t block the pores.) The personalised, custom aspect just can’t be beaten and I’ve yet to talk to anyone who didn’t love it.”
“I’m loving the trend for lighter bases and skin tints at the moment. Now I’m in my 30s, I find this gives a youthful glow and means my makeup never looks cakey. That said, having imperfect oily skin makes a pared back base tricky to master. The Body Shop’s Fresh Nude foundation is the best I’ve tried, beautifully dewy but with enough coverage if you’re acne-prone like me.”
“While this is a fairly new discovery, it’s something that I now couldn’t live without. Perfect for cleansing at the end of a long day, it melts away makeup without stripping away the natural oils and leaves your skin feeling dewy and refreshed. It’s packed with hydrating squalane and nourishing Blue Tansy, plus a sensitive-skin friendly blend of essential oils help de-stress the mind as you use it. Gorge.”
“Another newbie that’s secured a place in my routine is this gorgeous day and night serum. The formula utilises pre and probiotics to help improve the skin’s barrier function, plus three types of hyaluronic acid to help hydrate the skin from within. After a few weeks use, my skin was left glowier than it had looked in months. Obsessed.”
“Despite testing hundreds of face bases, I have used the same foundation for over five years now – and nothing else has managed to elbow a way into my makeup bag. Until I tried this new formula from Dr. Jart+. It evens out skin tone, blurring imperfections and truly giving your glow a lit-from-within radiance, all while nourishing your skin with a blend of niacinamide and glycerine. The shade range looks lacking – but trust me, the formula melts into your complexion allowing the shades to really stretch through a whole range of complexions.”
Next Up: I’m An Esthetician and These Are My Most-Recommended Skincare Products
