- The Observer, Sunday October 7 2007
Stila Smoky Eye Palette,
10.4g, £35, 01273 408 800
It makes you look pretty and it talks to you! Really, it does, through a little speaker in the lid. Marriages have been forged on less.
Creme de la Mer lip balm,
9g, £35, 0870 034 2566
Extraordinary silkiness from the deluxe brand. It'll make your lips happy.
John Masters Deep Scalp Follicle Treatment and Volumizer
59ml, £21, 01874 610 667
Plumps follicles but no more than a decent conditioner.
L'Oreal Tec Volume Architect Thickening Blow Dry Lotion
125ml, £10.25, 0800 072 6699
Light but sticky - clumped hair together but puffed it up nicely.
Phil Smith Be Gorgeous Lift Thicken and Shine Spray
200ml, £4.99, Sainsbury's, 0800 636 262
Delicate spray, which holds hair in place, spruces it up but little else.
John Frieda Volume Thickening Blow Dry Lotion
125ml, £4.49, Boots, 0845 070 8090
Gooey and runny. Less thickening, more burdening. Not great.
Crystal Clear Eye Pen
4 x 5ml refills, £135, 08705 934 934
Spending seven minutes working it into the skin is boring but ye gods, it works!
Ren Phyto Dynamic Instant Lifting Gel
50ml, £28, 0845 225 5600
Lots of hyaluronic acid for moisturising, but surprisingly good tautening effect, too.
Dermyn
30ml, £45, Holland & Barrett, 0870 606 6605
Clear serum that tingles excitingly and has a small but definite tightening effect.
Mary Cohr Lifting Radiance Instant Beauty Balm
50ml, £29.95, thebeautyroom.co.uk
Great for brightening skin, but not much lifting effect.
DDF Glycolic Body Lotion
240ml, £42, 0800 037 1700
Brilliant. After three weeks, my knees and shins are noticeably less scaly.
Alpha-H Body Zone
200ml, £24, beautyexpert.co.uk
Colour and fragrance-free; slower to sink in than the others but did an equally good job.
Natura Bisse Glyco Skin
200ml, £59, 020 7730 1234
Runny liquid, so spreads on fast and thinly. Great results - skin is smoother and softer.
MD Formulations Hand and Body Cream
180ml, £26, 0870 850 6655 Another cracking product. Slightly sharp acidic smell with the same solid results.
Estee Lauder High Gloss in Pink Ribbon
£13, www.esteelauder.co.uk
Thick, shiny, highly pigmented - and wonderful. Pucker up and pout for the cause!
Stila Breast Cancer Awareness Lip Gloss Trio
£30, hqhair.com
Glorious trio of tinted glosses (one for the handbag, one for the car...).
Bobbi Brown Pink Ribbon Lip Colour in Sandwash Pink
£22, 0870 034 2566
A smooth, matt, nude good pink.
Prestige Cosmetics Satin Pearl Lipstick in Hope
£5.99, Boots
Looks scarily coral and comes out a bit too Jordan - all light and shiny-sheeny. Sorry.
Nars Lili Marlene
£15, narscosmetics.co.uk
Nice, solid texture which coats the eyelid thoroughly and gives an almost seamless colour.
Paul & Joe Eye Colour No.19 £13.50, paul-joe-beaute.com
Need to reapply this luxuriously soft but almost too subtle shade often. Only works on lighter tones.
MAC Cumulus
£10, maccosmetics.co.uk
A creamy, steely shade with a silver shimmer. Lasts all night, though tends to stick in creases.
M&S Autograph Mercury Eye Shadow
£9.50, 0845 302 1234
The colours are weak and it needs a few applications. The lumps of glitter are also a touch too much.
Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax Bath and Shower Oil
£33, 020 8569 7030.
Vetiver, camomile, sandalwood. An instant knockout.
Micheline Arcier Lavande
100ml £48, michelinearcier.com
If you don't believe lavender has soporific powers, this is the one to change your mind.
Abahna Himalayan Cedarwood & Rose Otto Dispersing Bath Oil
100ml, £20, abahna.co.uk
Delicious combination of fragrant cedar and soft rose.
Pure Alchemy Stillness
100ml, £30, www.purealchemy.co.uk
Seductive blend from Michelle Roques O'Neal, though too heavy on the camomile for me.
Tom Ford Private Blend in Tuscan Leather
50ml, £90, Harvey Nichols, 020 7235 5000
Can't get enough of this jasmine-and-amber-enhanced chypre.
Fendi Palazzo
90ml £68, 020 7660 0392
Woody base, orange top notes, jasmine in the middle, this is thick, sensual and fabulous.
Tocca Cleopatra
50ml, £48, 0800 123 400
Sweet (blackcurrant and peach) deep (patchouli and amber in the heart) and intriguing .
Shiseido Zen
50ml, £48, 020 7313 4774
From the blue rose and pineapple to freesias and a musky base, this is light, spicy and decidedly different.
