- guardian.co.uk, Sunday February 10 2008 00.18 GMT
- The Observer, Sunday February 10 2008
Blushing Daisies,
£15, 8.5g, Body Shop
Shimmering blush that's too pretty for words .
Roja Dove Scandal Eau de Parfum,
£95, 100ml, 07815 101 430
Intoxicating floral from the world's only Professeur de Parfums. Extravagant and dangerous.
Navy nail varnish
Chanel in Blue Satin
£13, 13ml, 020 7493 3836
The sexiest of the bunch and enough to convert even non-nail colour wearers to the dark side.
5 stars
Essie in Aruba Blue
£8.50, 15ml, www.nailsbymail.co.uk
This is a nice one. Good, sexy, vibrant evening colour and sets evenly, even after one coat.
4 stars
Nails Inc. in Kabaret
£9.50, 10ml, 020 7499 8333
First impressions are wishy-washy but matures to a dark, sophisticated colour once a second coat is applied.
3 stars
Barry M in 292
£2.95, 10ml, www.barrym.co.uk
The colour is super, but more royal than navy. It takes ages to dry and is a bit chippy. Good value.
3 stars
Microdermabrasion kits
Chanel Microsolutions Microdermabrasion
£150, 020 7493 3836 Superb two-phase, three-week-course kit. Couldn't believe how smooth my skin felt afterwards.
5 stars
Dr Denese Microdermabrasion Kit
£19.95, 60ml, 0870 190 0003
Battery-powered applicator has not just brush and sponge heads, but a massage one for after. Fab.
4 stars
RoC MicroDermabrasion Expert Kit
£39.95, 0845 600 4477
Proper kit: battery-operated applicator, two sponge and abrasive cream. Just don't press too hard ...
3 stars
Skin Wisdom Salon Professional Microdermabrasion Kit
£9.97, available at Tesco
Glorified exfoliator - but it comes with healing balm and SPF15.
2 stars
Body creams
Laughing Bird Shea and Cocoa Butter Body Cream
£9.25, 250ml, www.purely-natural.net
Looks like nappy cream but smells divine and sinks in a treat.
4 stars
Body creams
Dr Andrew Weil for Origins Mega Mushroom Body Cream
£40, 200ml, 0800 731 4039
Goes on smoothly and silkily, creamy but light, a real winner.
5 stars
Laidbare Organic Shea Body Butter
£10, 120g. www.victoriahealth.com
Thick but unslimy, vanishes into skin without stickiness.
4 stars
Indigo Wild Coco Zum £10, 120g. www.victoriahealth.com
Very rich and smells fabulous but left skin too nut-buttery- oily for me.
2 stars
Bright red lips
Lancôme Color Fever in Red and Sensual Java
£16, available nationwide
Fabulous fiery bright red with high shine. Daring but wearable.
5 stars
Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Plump Perfect Lipstick in Perfect Red
£15, 020 7574 2714
Red but leaning to fuchsia, deep and glossy.
4 stars
Chanel Rouge Allure in Lover
£18, 020 7493 3836
Lush and strong and glossy, again leaning to fuchsia. Irresistible pop-up packaging, too.
4 stars
Jane Iredale PureMoist Lip Colour in Nicole
£15, 020 8450 7111
Sheer, so comes out less screechingly bright than it looks. Red for scaredy-cats.
3 stars
Blusher brushes under £10
Barbara Daly for Tesco
£5.74 Tesco
A great big softie that does the job beautifully. Absolute bargain too.
5 stars
Girl2go
£4.95, 01242 225726
Cute and chunky with a good, big head, one for the make-up bag.
4 stars
Lily Lolo
Small and neat but not quite enough volume for spreading powder with.
2 stars
Cosmopolitan
Beauty Expert £5.95, Superdrug
Bit rough and bristly compared to the others, gives a less even finish.
2 stars
Mineral powder blushers
Susan Posnick ColorMe Blush in Lilly
£21.95, 4g, 020 8997 8541
Gives a gorgeous natural pinky blush once you get the hang of the spongy applicator.
4 stars
Inika Mineral Blush in Kiss Kiss
£15, 3.5g, www.inikacosmetics.co.uk
Gives a strong and slightly iridescent brackish colour; use with a light hand.
3 stars
Youngblood Crushed Mineral Blush in Tulip
£19, 3g, 01306 886425
Barely-there pale pink, more of a highlighter than a blusher.
2 stars
Lily Lilo in Doll Face Blush £7, 5g, www.lilylolo.co.uk
Develops into a pretty peach colour, but very sparkly; keep for parties unless you're under 18.
2 stars
Natural lip balms
Dermalogica Climate Control Lip Treatment
£6.50, 4.5g, 0800 591 818
Excellent package; soothing ingredients that allow lips to breathe.
5 stars
Bod lip balm
£6.50, 10g, 0845 838 6117
Nice and soft and ultra-natural, rather slippery with a good shine, so you get a bit of gloss.
4 stars
Origins Organic
£11, 4.2g, 0800 731 4039
Lovely and light, feels protective and 97 per cent organic - but ouch! The price!
3 stars
A'kin Sweet Blossom & Jojoba
£4.99, 10ml, www.purist.com
Soft buttery balm with no chemical nasties. Oddly grainy, though it melts at once on the lips.
2 stars
