What really works? This was the question we asked you way back in February. You’ve spent the past two months smoothing, smearing and slicking yourself with your favourite products, and here are your answers — the winners of the third Style beauty awards. This year, a record number of you voted. Given the almost infinite number of beauty products out there (the UK beauty market is worth about £6.3 billion, and 2.5 billion individual units were sold in 2004 alone), you are obsessive and anorakish in tracking down what you like. Never mind Nick Hornby, with his back catalogue of records and girlfriends — when it comes to beauty, you are just as monomaniacal.
What, then, did you choose? As last year, most of our winners were the blockbusters of the industry rather than obscure art-house offerings. Indeed, many of them were products we had road-tested ourselves and liked — so you may want to try the ones you didn’t vote for. Surprises were thin on the ground: John Frieda’s Frizz-Ease Hair Serum and Lancôme’s Juicy Tubes won for the third year running. Mac eye shadows, John Frieda Brilliant Brunette and Sheer Blonde shampoo and conditioner, and Clarins suncare all won for the second year on the trot.
But your tastes have moved on in the past year. For starters, there is a sprinkling of more obscure products on the winners’ podium. Dermalogica, already a huge favourite of make-up artists and beauty therapists, appears to have attracted far more than a cult following. Likewise, Skinn, a niche Australian men’s grooming range that only arrived in the UK last year, has scooped two awards for its techno-chic skincare. And different fragrances won this time: Stella and Sarah Jessica Parker’s Lovely are both flagrantly girlie scents — unashamedly romantic vapours that conjure whimsy and petals.
While the big brands — Clarins, Clinique and Lancôme — all scored well (Clarins collected a staggering four awards, and Clinique two), there were also some more left-field names among the winners. As for cheap and cheerful, you raved about Max Factor’s Masterpiece mascara (we thought it was brilliant, too — it’s in my make-up bag right now).
So these are the brands that you not only loved but actually used over the past 12 months. If you haven’t already tried them, give them a go. They will put a gloss on your life.
Let's get personal
I keep a diary to record my favourite products and treatments (yes, I know, I’m a sad anorak). So, when people ask me about my favourite products, I consult the oracle.
For haircare, the answer is always the same: Kérastase. I think it makes the best products on the market, formulated for the microscopic nuances in different types of hair. Philip B also makes tremendous products (some of them rather expensive) that make use of sumptuous botanical oils and extracts.
Make-up-wise, I am not a fan of quiescent beiges. I like scintillating, strident colour: Mac, Nars and Shu Uemura all have vivid, vital pigments for eyes and lips. Bases should melt into nothingness on the skin. For me, the best foundations come from the Australian brand Becca, the somewhat overpriced Chantecaille and Giorgio Armani (Hydra Glow).
Skincare — which I call “the skincare continuum”, because I am continually trying out new products — is more difficult. It is so subtle, so personal, that what is noxious to one person at one moment might be another’s saving grace. Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream is a bit of a cult in our office. Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser has made many appearances in my bathroom over the past 20 years. And the yellowy Cleanser by Eve Lom has to be mentioned, because it really does do the job.
For body, I’m obsessed with Crème de la Mer’s Body Lotion and Korres Body Butters — anything that smells nice and leaves skin satiated. Personally, I don’t do bronzing, preferring to remain lily pale. But St Tropez, so those who tan tell me, creates the most mellifluous, mahogany finish.
As for men, my male testers tell me they love Aesop, whose unctions have revolutionised their shaving routines. Beauty revolutionaries, take note!
Bethan Cole
BEST SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER
JOHN FRIEDA BRILLIANT BRUNETTE/SHEER BLONDE
Heavily advertised, John Frieda haircare represents the height of high-street glamour. Brilliant Brunette contains the sort of mild organic acids you find in apples and milk that help the hair’s surface heal itself, thus promoting what John Frieda calls ”multidimensional shine”. Sheer Blonde shampoo and conditioner help to correct, perfect and protect blonde hair, removing dull, drabbing residues and banishing a green or brassy tinge.
Brilliant Brunette and Sheer Blonde shampoo and conditioner, £4.25 each, 020 7851 9800
IF YOU LIKE THIS, THEN TRY Modern Organic Products (MOP), haircare that doesn’t contain any nasty chemicals and really works to produce glossy tresses. MOP Hydrating Shampoo and Hydrating Conditioner, £9.50 each; 01282 613413
BEST HAIR STYLING TREATMENT
JOHN FRIEDA FRIZZ-EASE
Prog-rock bands on early 1970s Top of the Pops epitomise life pre-Frizz-Ease — a world dominated by fuzzed, parched, crinkly hair. Laminate that crispy halo with a sleek fistful of Frizz-Ease. One is sold every 16 seconds in the UK alone.
John Frieda Frizz-Ease, £5.95; 020 7851 9800
IF YOU LIKE THIS, THEN TRY Prawduct, the latest American hair cult to hit our shores. It makes hair glisten like glass. Love That Shine Drops, £9.50, by Prawduct; www.hqhair.com
BEST MAKE-UP FOR EYES
MAC EYE SHADOW
The Pantone spectrum has nothing on Mac: from pea green to canary yellow, it offers a range of chromatic ecstasies, with every hue in your imagination and beyond. The texture is finely milled, so you get airbrushed-looking blending and precision application, too.
Mac eye shadow, £10; 020 7235 2375
IF YOU LIKE THIS, THEN TRY Shu Uemura. Bright, coruscating colour is Shu’s speciality. Make-up artists are crazy for it, and so should you be. Eye shadow, £13, by Shu Uemura; 020 7235 2375
BEST FOUNDATION
CLINIQUE
Superbalanced make-up was your favourite, and it wins out because of the sheer gamut of tones — in 18 increments as subtle as the gradations of the skin itself. Crucially, this base stays put all day long, hydrating dry areas and blotting up grease simultaneously. For an anti-ageing base, try the plumping and lifting Repairwear foundation.
Superbalanced make-up, £17.50 for 30ml, by Clinique; 0870 034 2566
IF YOU LIKE THIS, THEN TRY Becca. Its foundations are like lingerie for the skin — a nude, silky undercoat that makes the face a flawless canvas. Luminous Skin Colour, £30, by Becca; 020 7225 2501
BEST MAKE-UP FOR LIPS
LANCÔME JUICY TUBES
For lips literally dripping with liquid plasticity and as shiny as Plexiglas, you can’t get better than Juicy Tubes. It is proof that a global multinational such as Lancôme can produce a cult hit. One is sold every minute in the UK, and just look at how much Juicy Tubes have been copied.
£13; available nationwide
IF YOU LIKE THIS, THEN TRY Dior Addict Gloss: luscious plasticity without stickiness. Great range of shades, too. Dior Addict Plastic Gloss, £15.50; 01932 233909
BEST SKINCARE FOR FACE
DERMALOGICA
Dermalogica’s skincare is prescriptive, so every time you go for a facial, the therapist will suggest products to suit the current state of your skin. There are about 30 Dermalogica face unctions, of which Daily Microfoliant is the bestseller — it’s an exfoliant light enough for anyone to use, even rosacea sufferers.
Dermalogica skin purifying wipes, from £11.70; 0800 591818
IF YOU LIKE THIS, THEN TRY Kiehl’s. Simple, dependable fragrance-free skincare for both sexes, and a basic you shouldn’t be without. Gentle Foaming Cleanser, from £9.50, by Kiehl’s; 020 7240 2411
BEST SKINCARE FOR BODY
CLARINS
The French are obsessed with body maintenance — cellulite busters, bust boosters, booty plumpers — and Clarins, a French brand to its core, has an excellent selection. Try its bestselling Moisture-Rich Body Lotion, which contains the enzyme keratolin, controlled fruit acids, Abyssinian pea extract and shea butter to hydrate and firm your skin.
Clarins Moisture-Rich Body Lotion, £24.50 for 200ml; 0800 036 3558
IF YOU LIKE THIS, THEN TRY The Greek brand Korres, for the creamiest, most emollient bodycare around. The smell of 3D, surround-scape fruitiness is heavenly, too. Guava Body Butter, £10.50, by Korres; 020 7581 6455
BEST SALON TREATMENT
DERMALOGICA FACIAL
Launched in the mid-1980s in America by Jane Wurwand, Dermalogica takes a no-nonsense approach to skincare. Its facials, with their face-mapping skin analysis, survey the landscape of the skin, checking oil secretion, moisture hydration and pigmentation, among other things. The therapist then tailors the treatment accordingly, combining manual extractions, treatment masque and unique touch therapy massage. Better than gallons of water and a five-mile walk.
Dermalogica facial, from £50 (prices vary nationwide); 0800 591818
IF YOU LIKE THIS, THEN TRY Elemis, which specialises in gentle, natural cleansing and exfoliation. The Pro-Collagen Marine facial plumps and boosts like nothing else. From £55; 01278 727830
BEST FRAGRANCE
STELLA
”My inspiration was to create a fragrance that I would want to wear.” So says its creator, Stella McCartney, who launched her signature perfume in 2003. The result is a symphony of florals, an arpeggio of rose notes played in rapid succession. Rose essence, peony flower, mandarin essence, rose absolute and amber are fused to create this petal-soft plissé of pinkness. We love it, we wear it and so do you.
Stella eau de parfum, £29 for 30ml; 01444 255700
IF YOU LIKE THIS, THEN TRY Drôle de Rose. The quintessence of rose, a dream of a scent, as sweet and fleshy as the petals themselves. £39.50 for 50ml, by L’Artisan Parfumeur; 020 7352 4196
BEST NEW FRAGRANCE
LOVELY BY SARAH JESSICA PARKER
I hate celebrity fragrance as a rule, but I rather like Sarah Jessica Parker’s Lovely. There’s something beguiling about the melange of amber, lavender, mandarin and patchouli, and however much SJP was involved — if at all — the perfumers Clement Gavarry and Laurent Le Guernec have done a good job. Reminiscent of Chanel’s Cristalle and No 19, it is a crisp, proper, starchy, old-fashioned feminine fragrance that spells out ladylike in lavish script. Sarah Jessica Parker’s Lovely, £22 for 30ml, from leading department stores and pharmacies nationwide
IF YOU LIKE THIS, THEN TRY Chanel No 19. Disciplined, dry, sophisticated, like freshly pressed cotton laundry. As grown-up as perfumery gets. Eau de parfum, £58 for 50ml; 020 7493 3836
BEST NEWCOMER
MAX FACTOR MASTERPIECE MASCARA
The phrase “thermoplastic elastomer technology” reminds us of digital futurism, fast cars, nuclear reactors. Actually, not nuclear reactors. Anyway, that is the technology behind this super-smart mascara brush, which coats even lower lashes precisely and carefully, colouring each filament with the requisite pigment. Another great mascara from Max Factor and a great high-street innovation.
£8.95; available nationwide
IF YOU LIKE THIS, THEN TRY L’Oréal Double Extension Mascara. Suspend your disbelief and try this lash lengthener: it thickens, elongates and generally enhances. £9.99; nationwide
BEST SUNCARE
FACE BRONZER
CLARINS
Clarins Radiance-Plus Self Tanning Cream-Gel became a cult hit a few years ago. It contains vitamins, radiance boosters and a marginal amount of DHA (the self-tanning ingredient). It smells good, as well as bestowing that year-round colour. For a quick touch-up, try Clarins Bronzing Duo matt-bronze compact, which make-up artists love. There are two shades — the subtle terracotta Morning Sun is the most popular.
Clarins Radiance-Plus Self Tanning Cream-Gel for Face, £23.50; 0800 036 3558
IF YOU LIKE THIS, THEN TRY
Vita Liberata — a cinch to apply and a smooth, chocolaty colour. Prime yourself for summer with this super-bronze slick. Silken Facial Self Tan, £17.50 for 50ml; 028 9334 4411, www.vitaliberata.com
BEST SUNCARE
BODY BRONZER
ST TROPEZ WHIPPED BRONZE SELF TANNING MOUSSE
St Tropez is the blueprint for bronzers: the cocoa-brown, rather than orange, pigments; the streak-less finish; the pleasurable texture. What more could you want from a body bronzer?
£30 for 8oz; 0115 983 6363
IF YOU LIKE THIS, THEN TRY Shiseido Brilliant Bronze Quick Self Tanning Gel, a refreshing gel that glides all over the body to bestow a terracotta tan. £18.50; 020 7313 4774
BEST SUNCARE
SUN PROTECTION
CLARINS
Comfort — not as easy to find as you might think in the realm of sun protection. However, Clarins makes really comfortable sun formulas — not sticky, not gloopy, not thick white pastes that sit on the top of your skin — just quickly absorbed, safe and pleasant-smelling products. Patented technology provides multicellular protection, and plant extracts, such as baobab and olive leaf, promote a natural response by the cells to the sun.
From £11.50; 0800 036 3558
IF YOU LIKE THIS, THEN TRY Lancaster Suncare. User-friendly suncare, nice, light formulations, and good, strong sunscreens. No wonder it’s the Euro jet-setter’s suncare of choice. From £11; 0800 376 0688
BEST FOR MEN
SHAVE
SKINN TOTAL SHAVE is a combined shave cream and cleanser, formulated to clean, smooth and protect and for a swift, easy shave with reduced post-shave irritation. It contains aloe barbadensis, which helps to reduce inflammation, and glycerin, which hydrates, nourishes and optimises razor glide.
Skinn Total Shave, £34, from Harvey Nichols; 020 7235 5000
IF YOU LIKE THIS, THEN TRY Aesop, a botanical-based shave gel that improves glide. Magical on men’s skin, or so our grooming expert attests. Moroccan Neroli Shaving Serum, £21.50 for 50ml, by Aesop, from Liberty; 020 7734 1234
BEST FOR MEN
MOISTURISER
CLINIQUE M
This is the third in Clinique’s three-step men’s ritual (the first two being cleanse and exfoliate). M Lotion is a plain tube of purified water and moisture that, quite simply, hydrates and nourishes, smoothing dry skin away. Non-greasy, non-comedogenic. A bit like the men’s equivalent of Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion. Looks suitably masculine, too.
Clinique’s M Lotion, £19.50 for 100ml; 0870 034 2566
IF YOU LIKE THIS, THEN TRY Naturally Active. Liz Earle has transferred her skincare expertise to male grooming. The result is a plant-based cream. Men’s After Shave Moisturiser, £13 for 50ml; 01983 813 913, www.naturallyactive.co.uk
BEST FOR MEN
SKINCARE
SKINN
Founded by the Australian dermatologist Dr Nina Wines and Annabel Merz, Skinn arrived at Harvey Nichols last September. Four facial products keep the range simple: Daily Moisture, Total Shave, Face Scrub and Fatigue Rescue. Fatigue Rescue is an anti-ageing night cream that helps to rejuvenate and heal, using green tea and antioxidants. What’s most impressive is how ingredients-conscious the company is — no propylene glycol, parabens, lanolin, chlorocresol, strong fragrances or preservatives.
From £30, from Harvey Nichols; 020 7235 5000
IF YOU LIKE THIS, THEN TRY Nivea — good, basic, introductory stuff for any man who wants a cheap and cheerful starter kit for skin. Nivea for Men, from £4.99, available nationwide
THE MOST VOTED-FOR BRAND
CLARINS
The number one premium (upmarket) brand of skincare in the UK and France. To be honest, you don’t look to Clarins first for make-up and you don’t look to Clarins first for perfume. But skincare, now that’s another matter. Its Hand and Nail Treatment Cream is a bestseller, and Beauty Flash Balm — the addiction of the beauty world and the quickest skin pick-me-up imaginable — is number two.
Who likes Clarins? Well, apart from make-up artists — Ruby Hammer and Lee Pycroft to name but two — it’s a hit in the celeb world. I don’t think it matters which celebrities use products, but if you are interested, J.Lo uses Radiance Plus Self Tanning Cream Gel, Madonna loves the Hand and Nail Treatment Cream, Kylie is a fan of the Self Tanning Milk SPF6 and Cindy Crawford uses its suncare. I’m fond of the brand because it produced the first product I ever used — Gentle Foaming Cleanser and, to be honest, I’ve never found anything to better it.
