We’ve all got ’em. Those unsung, unraved about, but in no way shape or form unloved, hero products that we pick up everyday without even realising what a bloody good find they are. Perhaps it’s something you’ve used for so many years that repurchasing your next hit is reflex nature in the aisles of Boots or maybe it’s because it’s not the ‘sexiest’ of items in your stash – we’ve all got a beauty focused wandering eye. Whatever the reason I’m putting the spotlight on the everyday basics today that have paid their dues in my routine and are well overdue a love-in. Some new, some old faces in there and some perhaps a little bizarre choices, but you know a girl’s got to have a favourite brand of cotton wool, non?
Seeing as I’ve already mentioned my cotton wool thang I may as well begin with it. Boots Cotton Wool Double Faced Round Pads are my favourite. I’ve tried others but I always come back to these – it does sound a little dramatic in the context of cotton pads but they really are that good. No disintegrating in your fingertips and they work equally well at soaking off mascara, nail polish, whatever. Sidenote: I prefer the small bobbly surface. Continuing on with the more tool-side of my unsung heroes I’m never without my Eco-Tools Spoolie: collecting dust from the depths of my makeup drawers since 2011. This was part of a travel-set which they no longer sell, but nothing compares. The bristles are just the right size to set my brows back into place and despite the fact that numerous washes have not ridded it of its fluff collecting issue, I still use it everyday.
Moving onto products and I know I’ve mentioned it before, but the unattractively packaged Boots Expert Anti-Build Up Removal Shampoo rocks. I always find this to be a tough one to spot on the shelves, so when I do – I stock up (I currently have four bottles in my bathroom drawers). I go through clarifying shampoos in a flash and though I love my Bumble and Bumble Sunday one, this comes very close and is a quarter of the price. Sold. Another product that I’ve used for years, and I mean years is the Rimmel Sunshimmer Instant Tan (may I recommend the Light Matte one?), which has recently been reformulated to be water resistant – genius move. I’m a lazy tanner these days but whenever I want a quick wash of colour I slap this on a mitt and have a sun kissed appearance in minutes. I’ll never be without a bottle of this stuff.
Regular readers of VDM will know how my daily makeup routine shapes up by now: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk, L’Oreal Telescopic Waterproof Mascara, Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil etc etc… But there are two items I reach for on pretty much an everyday basis that I don’t think have got much love round these parts to date. Well that all changes today; enter the Estée Lauder Double-Wear Stay In Place High Cover Concealer. For dark-eyed days nothing covers quite like this does, it’s like warpaint for your bags. Pigmented, but creamy and blendable and it stays put. A similarly oft-used item comes in the form of Charlotte Tilbury’s Lip Cheat in Pillowtalk. Now I’ve never really been one for lip liner, but the shade of this is so close to my natural pout that I could line this on in my sleep. It defines the edges of my lips despite my slightly freckly appearance round there and acts as a glue for whatever I put on next. Simples. Rave complete, over and out.
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