- The Observer, Sunday October 8 2006
New fragrances
Agent Provocateur
Eau Emotionnelle, 50ml, £36, 020 7620 23333
Another great fragrance from the saucy undies people. Bit lighter, still as sexy as the original.
5 stars
Chanel
Allure Sensuelle, 50ml, £48.50, available nationwide
Heady, sexy, very 80s in a good way. Slightly masculine at first, but gets sweeter.
4 stars
DKNY
Red Delicious, 50ml, £35, available nationwide Fresh, sweet and very apple-y, but disappointingly a bit teenage.
3 stars
Armani
Code, 50ml, £42, available nationwide Not that memorable.
2 stars
Nail polish
Helena Rubinstein
Ritual Color in Deep Purple, €20, Galeries Lafayette, 0033 1 42 82 34 56
This is the one used in the A/W Louis Vuitton and Roberto Cavalli ads, a rich dark purple with a real sense of drama.
5 stars
Estée Lauder
A7 Platinum, £12, available nationwide
Sophisticated silvery-taupe. Nice finish after only one coat.
3 stars
Nails Inc
EL 1090, £8.50, 020 7382 9353
Pretty reddy-brown with slight sparkle. Just not that interesting.
2 stars
Mac
Cream Molasses, £8, 020 7534 9222
Beautiful in the pot, but looks like you washed your nails in potato-peeling water.
No stars
Couture make-up
ColourLab
Custom Blend Lipstick, £21, Selfridges,0870 837 7377
Fabulous made-to-measure red shade, with satin texture, slight shimmer, and shade name all created by moi.
4 stars
Prescriptive
Custom Blend Concealer, £23, Harrods, 020 7730 123
The shade created in front of me was the perfect match for my dark under-eye shadows.
3 stars
Serge Lutens
Finishing Powder, £100, Harrods, as before
Minimalist compact for those who like their luxury streamlined. Powder is ultra light, with soft sheen, very pretty.
3 stars
By Terry
Ombre Couleur Joues, £32, Space NK,020 8740 2085
Something seductively heavyweight about this blush compact. Strong highlighting effect.
3 stars
New season's lipsticks
Maybelline
Moisture Extreme in 401 Deep Plum, £4.99, available nationwide
Fantastic plum shade, very moisturising, love it.
4 stars
Lancôme
125 Drapée de Rouge £15.50, available nationwide
The packaging is divine. The bronze-red shade is pretty gorgeous too.
4 stars
Laura Mercier
Plum Suede, £25, 0870 837 7377
Soft suede finish sadly vanishes the first time you use it, but clever palette, with four wearable colours.
4 stars
Origins
Libra Lips Lip Duo 03 First Flame, £15, www.origins.co.uk
This I just don't get. Two shades of practically the same colour, and texture in one compact. Why?
1 star
New season's eye shadows
Mac
Well Plumed Eyes, £29, 020 7534 9222
The brown looks dull in the palette, but it's dark, brooding and mysterious on, and the copper and purple are great together.
4 stars
Lancôme
Ellipse 01, £15,available nationwide
Metallic sage powder in gloriously weighty packaging. Ultra tactile, highly covetable.
4 stars
Laura Mercier
Constellation Mineral Eye Powder, £16, 0870 837 7377
They don't get much more smoky-eyed than this. Glittery, rock-star eyes without having to try.
4 stars
Dior
5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette in 370 Secret Charm, £32,01932 233 909
Beautiful in palette; harder to please on eyelids.
3 stars
Body creams
Crème de la Mer
The Body Crème, 300ml, £145,0870 034 256
I must be the only person on the planet not to be overly impressed by the rest of the range, but I absolutely love this.
5 stars
Neal's Yard
Organic Frankincense Toning Body Cream 150g, £20, 0845 262 3145
Slightly waxy texture. Wonderful smell.
4 stars
Payot Spa
Pampering Body Cream, 200ml, £33,0707 499 4420
Lurid lilac pot, but cream does the job.
3 stars
Nivea Body
Essential Care Body Moisturiser, 250ml, £4.39, available nationwide
Comforting smell, light texture, sinks in easily, a good all-rounder, possibly not moisturising enough if your skin is really dry.
3 stars
Men's deodorants (tested by men)
Nivea
Dry, 250ml, £2.85,available nationwide
Works a treat in hot weather. Barely a bead of back sweat all day. Smell is fresh and lasting.
5 stars
Hugo Boss
Emotion Limited Edition Stick, 75ml, £16,available nationwide
Something very classy about the smell. It's got that citrus thing going on, like an aftershave. Mmm.
4 stars
Dunhill
Classic, 75g, £12.50, department stores nationwide
Cannot fault the packaging - anyone would want this sitting in the bathroom cabinet. The scent is too weak though.
3 stars
Lynx
Dry Click, 175ml, £2.49, available nationwide
A bit 'my first deodorant' and wears off in a couple of hours. Definitely won't score any points with the opposite sex.
2 stars
