Credit: Stylist
Credit: Stylist
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The 10 beauty products we liked so much that we finished them.
May’s record high temperatures had us desperately trying to stay cool, dusting off our sandals and religiously reapplying SPF, which meant we relied on our beauty routines a lot: from trying to banish flyaways to preventing make-up melting off our faces on the Central line.
Every month, the Stylist beauty team rifles through our recycling bins to review the beauty products we tested so thoroughly that we finished them. May had us using up some gold-standard products. Ones that we will instantly be replenishing…
From the silky sunscreen to the brow pencil that allows you to mimic every tiny hair, here are all the empties the Stylist team tested and finished in May.
L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Extensionist Lengthening & Curling Mascara
“I’m a longtime fan of the Telescopic range from L’Oréal Paris and their newest offering, the Extensionist Lengthening & Curling Mascara, is no exception. It really is a lash extension in a tube, providing the perfect elongated flutter and definition to my sparse lashes. Although it doesn’t claim to be waterproof (and certainly isn’t as hard to remove as one), this didn’t smudge or bleed when I shed a few (read: many) happy tears when Arsenal won the league this month – a real testament to how hardy this formula is.” – Charlotte Bitmead, senior beauty writer
Available at L’Oreal Paris, £13.99
buy nowTatcha The Silk Sunscreen SPF 50
“Given the recent heatwave, I was zooming through SPF at lightening speed (and I hope you all were, too). The one I found myself constantly reaching for was Tatcha’s The Silk Sunscreen. When you dispense the formula, it has a slight beige tint, but don’t let that put you off. It doesn’t add any kind of tint to skin but instead blends out for a glowy finish. The milky texture is inspired by the popular milk-like textures that line the shelves in Japan and it feels so lightweight. It is comfortable and soothing on skin, thanks to the added aloe from Okinawa, and I actually looked forward to applying it – a rarity in the world of SPFs.” – Hanna Ibraheem, beauty director
buy nowLa Roche-Posay MelaB3 Serum
“While I’m diligent with SPF, I do suffer from post-acne scarring no matter how well I treat said spots when they erupt. This juicy serum applies like a gel, adding instant hydration and freshness to skin. Unlike many of the other niacinamide serums aiming to target hyperpigmentation, this didn’t upset my sensitive skin one bit and I definitely did see my complexion looking more even by the end of the bottle.” – Charlotte Bitmead, senior beauty writer
buy nowDr Sebagh Serum Repair
“With dry, often dehydrated skin, I rely on high-performance serums and this (which is also Dr Sebagh’s most iconic serum) is one of the most hydrating hyaluronic acids I’ve tried. It combines hyaluronic acid with collagen-boosting peptides that can be used day and night to instantly plump and repair all skin types.” – Kitty McGee, executive fashion and beauty director
buy nowLiving Proof Style Refresh Mist
“The recent heat meant I not only wanted to avoid heat styling, but I also couldn’t bear the idea of trying to style my hair every day while sitting in front of a fan circulating warm air. For me, a quick curling tong session on fresh hair on day one was enough. Enter: Living Proof’s Style Refresh Mist. As the name suggests, a quick spritz of this spray will refresh your hair and revive your original styling without making it look greasy. Plus, it offers heat protection up to 230°C, which I appreciated when taking lunchtime walks around the local park. Now for the sun to come back…” – Hanna Ibraheem, beauty director
buy nowAuthentic Beauty Replenish Cleanser
“This nourishing shampoo with shea butter, rice protein and rice water smells amazing and makes hair feel noticeably smoother – perfect for frazzled summer strands.” – Kitty McGee, executive fashion and beauty director
Available at Authentic Beauty Concept, £24
buy nowMimétique Skin Restore Crème Visage
“A fellow beauty journalist urged me to try this French beauty brand and I’m so glad they did. Despite its buttery texture, this didn’t overload my skin and left it looking visibly healthier and plumper from the get-go. It’s like a comfort blanket for your skin and makes the best base for make-up. Due to the aluminium tube, this has travelled with me everywhere in the last few months, and I was sad to squeeze out the last drop.” – Charlotte Bitmead, senior beauty writer
BUY NOWSkin Matters Calming Gel
“Formulated by Skin Matters founder and expert facialist Joanne Evans, this balm-to-gel formula has been amazing at tacking my misbehaving skin during the punishing summer months (hot temps, excess boozing and eating badly always cause skin issues for me). Formulated with a soothing blend of advanced niacinamide, alpine mallow and hydrators, this miracle gel can be applied on large areas – the whole face if needed – or on smaller targeted areas where there might be redness or spots. I’m ordering more as you read this.” – Kitty McGee, executive fashion and beauty director
Available at Skin Matters, £65
buy nowRefy Brow Pencil
“I’m pretty sure this is my third brow pencil from Refy that I’ve gone through, so you could say I’m a committed fan. I love how tiny the nib is, allowing you to create and mimic individual hairs for sparse areas. The undertones in the shade offerings are also spot on. As I dye my hair red, it’s tough to create a natural reddish tint to my brows, but this brow pencil always earns me compliments and has people convinced I tint my brows to match my faux copper roots.” – Charlotte Bitmead, senior beauty writer
BUY NOWKlira Skin The Klira Special
“Consultant dermatologist Dr Emma Craythorne is so impressive; not only does she have outrageously long waiting lists thanks to her skin expertise, but her skincare line Klira offers high-quality, effective products in the simplest format. I use The Klira Special, which is a bespoke prescription serum applied once a night. My sensitive skin can’t take some of the very potent formulas like tretinoin, but it has a high dose of azelaic acid, which naturally exfoliates and resets my skin if it’s starting to get angry.” – Kitty McGee, executive fashion and beauty director
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