Our Beauty Team’s Favourite Products For All Budgets

Heartwarmer Body Gua Sha Tool, £88 | Joonbyrd

“When is a body gua sha tool different from all the others? When it’s the size of a small ball and can cover a large surface area in a single sweep. I’ve found this one from Joonbyrd is so easy to work with, meaning you can get into a good, rhythmic movement without any slip as you glide it over your skin. Not only does it relieve tension, but it also boosts circulation and blood flow – just remember to work in upward and outward motions.”

Cocoa Butter Formula Exfoliating Body Lotion, £6.99 | Palmer's

“I’m always amazed at how affordable this is. Few lotions have improved my bumpy skin and flaky shins better than this, thanks to exfoliating lactic acid, which effectively dissolves dead cells. You’d think it would then irritate, but it completely coats my skin in moisture with added cocoa butter and coconut oil. It doesn’t have a satisfying scent as such, but what it lacks there it certainly makes up for in skin-smoothing results. A little is nice over rough, cracked heels too.”

Neroli Portofino Eau De Parfum, £187 | Tom Ford

“I don’t think any other scent conjures up the feel of the Italian coast quite like this. It mixes those large Amalfi lemons with a salty sea breeze and a hint of woodiness. The combination is addictive and an instant mood-booster. I wear this in the day as I find it fresh and clean, but it has enough depth for evening too.”

Cannabis Santal Eau De Parfum, £82 | Fresh

“The 9ml size of this fragrance is perfect for travel. It has a herbal, green quality to it that I could inhale all day long thanks to a combination of cannabis, patchouli and vetiver. Unisex and with a warm, smoky appeal, it’s the one I always reach for on nights out on holiday.”

Thickening Shampoo, £37 | RevitaLash

“From the brand that’s proven to stimulate lash and brow regrowth comes this impressive hair duo that’s full of strengthening ingredients, like biotin and protein. I’ve never believed that a shampoo and conditioner alone can help with physical regrowth or lasting volume, but I have been impressed by these products. Immediately post-use, my hair has not only felt fuller, but it looks denser throughout with visible volume. That said, the minute I switch to a different shampoo, I’ve noticed limpness returns. It’s an expensive habit, but one I’m committed to right now for the speedy, gratifying results. I like that both products gently exfoliate the scalp too for overall hair health. One thing to note is you don’t need too much of either as the body-bulking ingredients can make hair greasier within a day or two.”

Mini Hair Styling Wax Stick, £6.50 | Mermade Hair

“I tie my hair up 80% of the time and in doing so, it can often look a little unkempt. This wax stick from Mermade has helped give my ‘updos’ a little more sleekness that immediately makes you look as if you’ve made an effort. Easy to use, you roll it over hair like you would a glue stick and it imparts shine, but also tames any flyaway hairs and holds them in place for hours, without any sticky feel. I’ve nearly used the whole stick, it’s been so useful all summer when I needed a quick hair fix.”

Beauty Balm Serum Boosted Skin Tint, £43 | Anastasia Beverly Hills

“Normally, I’m sceptical about foundation sticks in case they feel drying or cakey, but this is the opposite. Smooth, creamy and easy to work with, it offers both light and full coverage, while ingredients like shea butter, fruit and castor oil keep skin supple and hydrated. The finish is what I call ‘semi-matte’ with just enough radiance that makes it ideal for this time of year. I love it around my eyes and on any areas of redness as it unifies skin without removing its natural texture entirely.”

Miracle Pure Golden Glow Bronzer, £9.99 | Max Factor

“Powders are normally my preference for bronzer, but I’ve been loving this from Max Factor. Like a liquid sun-tan, you only need a tiny amount. I recommend buffing it in with a brush for a natural-looking glow. It warms skin up and gives it a healthy quality I can’t get enough of. The hyaluronic acid and squalane inside add to the juicy, dewy volume – especially on the cheeks. At £9.99, this is a great rival for similar but more expensive ones on the market.”

Double Serum, £92 | Clarins

“My dry, sometimes irritated skin has always loved Clarins’ iconic Double Serum. Now, it loves it even more as it’s been reformulated with something called Epi-ageing defense technology. This has been added to enhance its existing anti-ageing promise. It continues to both hydrate and moisturise skin, but also renew cells and stimulate them to boost better hydration, protection and nutrition. It’s only been a few weeks of testing out the new formula, but I can hand on heart say that whenever I use this, my complexion looks bright and refreshed. The texture is still unrivalled too – think light, gentle and discreet, and it never interferes with anything else in your routine.”

Kao Japan Aqua Rich Essence Sun Cream SPF 50+, £21 | Bioré

“For me, few facial SPFs rival those by La Roche-Posay or Garnier, but this comes close. Affordable and gentle, it has a featherlight texture that quite literally disappears into the skin. It’s watery too, with a gel quality that feels so good. It leaves zero white or ashy cast behind and it offers factor 50 protection without irritating the eyes or causing sensitivities. Lastly, it mattifies the skin, so make-up has a great base to adhere to. In short, it ticks every box; I only wish it was more readily available in stores – you may find you have to order this one online.”