Must-Have Makeup
There may be bright and buzzy new makeup launching daily, but there’s a set of classic products that we return to, year after year, that form the backbone of our collection and that we could never go without. Consider these the forever staples of your makeup bag.
Luminous Silk
Frankly we’ve lost count of the number of makeup artists and celebrities who swear by Armani’s iconic foundation for red carpet events, their day-to-day makeup, and every imaginable situation in between. It manages to give a glowing, perfected finish while also being light-weight and skin-like. Incomparably good.
Hypnôse Mascara
The aptly-named Hypnôse mascara has cemented itself as a category leader, and for good reason: a few coats gives separated but voluminous lashes – not unlike a lash lift in a bottle. The perennially polished Kate Middleton is a reported fan, as are a few of the Kardashian clan (who have no shortage of the world’s best makeup to choose from).
Météorites Pearls
A makeup lover’s staple for over 30 years, Guerlain’s Météorites powder manages to be as beautiful on the skin as in its tin: a kaleidoscope of candy-hued pearls in colour-correcting tones that would make any dressing table look more luxurious. It sits somewhere between a traditional face powder and a highlighter – it’s designed to finish and bring radiance to the complexion in a natural but perfecting way.
Backstage Eye Palette
Dior’s Backstage collection was conceived by Dior Beauty’s Creative and Image Director Peter Philips to translate catwalk-worthy makeup into high quality makeup staples for everyday wear, and we’re obsessed. One of our favourite picks from the range is this eyeshadow palette – it’s got everything you need to create a natural and super flattering day-to-day look all in the one tidy palette. One of the squares is actually a (very effective) eye primer, which minimises the number of products you have to lug around with you, and keeps your eyeshadow looking as good as when you first applied it. Never have the basics looked so good.
Laguna Bronzing Powder
Easily the most beloved product amongst out WHO profilees, any bona fide beauty junkie has one of these in their collection. It inspired a whole range of eponymous spinoffs, but we just can’t quit the original – it’s flattering on a broad spectrum of skintones and gives a subtle, undetectably gorgeous glow.
Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Liner
Everything you could want from an eye pencil – it has good colour payoff and longevity, and it’s creamy and easy to apply, all at a very attractive price point but with a formula that performs like a much pricier counterpart. It’s ideal for subtly adding more definition to the lashline in an undetectable way, or perfect for crafting that sexy smoky eye.
Original Beautyblender
Forget smudged foundation and ‘tidemarks’ – the Beautyblender makes seamless base makeup application a breeze every single time. Depending on your preference, you can achieve a natural, skin-like finish, or a fuller coverage, more polished look easily and beautifully – it’s kind of revolutionised the way we apply makeup.
Stylo-Expert Click Stick
How do we love thee, By Terry Stylo-Expert Click Stick? Let us count the (many) ways: its creamy but long-lasting (read: it won’t crease) formula is a massive plus, as is its clever teardrop design that slots easily under the eye for seamless application. It was designed by Terry de Gunzburg, the brains behind YSL’s pioneering Touche Éclat, and it’s arguably an evolution of that concept in a more high-coverage, perfecting way. It’s also a bit of a holy grail in the makeup world, because unlike many other concealers, it performs equally excellently under the eyes as on blemishes and areas of redness.
Convertible Colour
Streamline your makeup bag with Stila’s Convertible Colour – this two-in-one lip and cheek cream is gorgeous and a cinch to apply. Dab on cheeks for a youthful, healthy glow, and tie together the look with a slick on the lips too. It’s no-makeup makeup at its finest.
Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk
There’s iconic, and then there’s Pillow Talk. In the space of a few years since it hit the market, this pinky-nude hue (that somehow is almost universally flattering) has scored itself a legion of fervent fans, including Alexa Chung and Gywneth Paltrow. It’s got that elusive my-lips-but-better quality that we’re always looking for – we’re relieved to tell you the hunt is now over.