Beauty icons

Tired of using products that don’t live up to the marketing hype? We’ve put together the best of the best; cult classics that are worth every big buck you spend on them and have withstood the test of time (and a zillion blogger swatch tests). If all you want today is not be disappointed, try one of these.

Urban Decay Naked Palette
There are eyeshadow palettes, and there’s this one. Every single shade on this 12-colour neutrals box has great pigment payoff, and you can mix and match to suit every occasion from wedding to Monday morning meetings.

YSL Touche Éclat
Nearly 30 of these are sold every minute in the US, and it’s not hard to see why. This multipurpose illuminator can instantly perk up tired eyes, highlight and, mixed with foundation, help give your skin a dewy, healthy glow.

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm
Last-minute redness or just plain dull, tired skin? This award-winning SOS solution helps calm down irritation and light skin up in 10 minutes flat.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream
An absolute favourite with make-up artists around the world, this is your go-to for everything from rough elbows and knees, wind-burnt skin or just to give your eyelids a hint of dewiness.

Chanel No 5
No 5 is to perfumes what Eiffel Tower is to Paris: it’s the first thing that pops in your head when the subject is brought up. A bit old-school, heady and probably not for everyone, the perfume enjoys unwavering patronage by loyalists.