While awards season brings accolades to the TV shows and movies we can’t get enough of, it’s not just the gongs that we’re interested in. It’s the red carpet, and while most (OK, let’s face it, all) of the fashion is out of our price range, it turns out that the bathrooms and make-up bags of many celebrities contain products that we just so happen to use, too.
From Simone Ashley’s £10 secret to keeping her make-up in place, to Emily Blunt’s multi-tasking beauty hero, these are beauty products that the Digital Spy team rely on day after day.
Jump to:L’Oreal Paris Infallible Setting Spray, £9.99L’Oreal Paris Elnett Hairspray, £5.15Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream, £54Shark FlexStyle Hair Dryer and Styler, £249.99Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Cheat Nude Lip Liner, £22Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, £31Fenty Beauty Freestyle highlighter in Trophy Wife, £32Fenty Beauty Trace’d Out Lip Pencil in Rose Amber, £20L’Oréal Paris Lumi Glotion, £11.99Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminzer in Hot Chocolit, £20L’Oreal Paris Infallible Setting Spray, £9.99
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Used on Simone Ashley at the 2026 Met Gala
Setting sprays are helpful at any time of the year, but they come into their own in warmer weather. This lightweight mist will help to stop your make-up streaking or melting off and the effect is long-lasting, so you can do one fast spritz and forget about it. It’s waterproof and transfer-proof and works immediately, producing an illuminating effect. You can use this on your body over bronzer on your shoulders and legs too to make it last longer.
You’ll currently find a small discount on Amazon but it’s available widely, including at Boots and Superdrug.
Elsa McAlonan, Best Magazine Beauty Columnist
L’Oreal Paris Elnett Hairspray, £5.15
Another favourite of Simone Ashley’s, the Devil Wears Prada 2 star has used this cult classic hairspray for years. While its iconic scent is easily identifable, its unfragranced version – used by Simone at this year’s Met Gala – is quickly becoming popular. While countless hair products have filled shops in recent years, hairspray is still a staple for me. When I need a reliable product to smooth down my flyaways and hold everything in place without any ‘crunch’, this will do it.
You’ll find it in most places, but Boots currently has a 25% discount.
Helen Pike, Deputy Lifestyle Editor
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream, £54
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Used on Emily Blunt at the 2026 Met Gala
If you were to ask me to name one of my desert island beauty products, Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream loved by Devil Wears Prada star Emily Blunt would make one of my top five! While it’s a considered purchase, I find it makes a great primer, so you don’t need to purchase a separate product. It’s packed full of skin care heroes: hyaluronic acid, rosehip oil, oat extract, vitamin C, vitamin E and peptide complex, all of which work to hydrate, smooth, brighten and even out the skin tone.
There’s no denying it’s a rich cream, so I find a little goes a long way, but once applied my skin looks rested and concealer or foundation glides on and doesn’t look cakey. While it comes into its own when applying under heavier make-up, it’s also great to apply on make-up free days as it gives skin a healthy glow, especially when you have been burning the candle at both ends.
It comes with a refill option, which is slightly cheaper than purchasing a new jar. I’ve also snapped up the travel size, which doesn’t take up much room in a make-up bag. If you have particularly oily skin, this might not be the cream for you, so you might want to consider the Magic Water Cream instead.
Lara Nugent, Lifestyle Editor
Shark FlexStyle Hair Dryer and Styler, £249.99 
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Used on Nicole Kidman at the 2026 Met Gala
I’m not interested in keeping several hair tools on standby, so the fact that I can have one with separate attachments at the ready is a real bonus. Far from being intimidating, these attachments are really easy to swap between for user-friendly experience.
Each attachment has its own distinct use; the dryer does what it says on the tin, the oval brush helps encourage a bouncier blow dry, while the paddle brush creates a sleeker effect similar to Nicole’s hair at the Met Gala. The wrap curlers (one to use on your left hand side, the other on the right) are great at creating waves without direct heat, so I never feel like I’m scorching my hair.
Shark Shark FlexStyle Hair Styler and Dryer HD426SLUK
Besides the attachments it boasts, the two big factors that keep me committed to this dryer is its power – a 1,650-watt motor that dries my hair quicker than any others I’ve used before – and its weight. Previous hairdryer models would leave my arm feeling the weight after a while, but Shark’s model is more akin to a travel dryer in weight and size.
You can order it directly through the Shark website, or take advantage of £100 off at Boots at the moment.
Helen Pike, Deputy Lifestyle Editor
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Cheat Nude Lip Liner, £22 
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Worn by Cher at the 2026 Met Gala
This soft, pinky-nude is so flattering, it’s no wonder celebrities and makeup artists adore it. I use the original shade, which is perfect for fair-to-medium skin tones. However, you can also purchase fair, medium and deep options.
Unlike many lip liners, it’s not at all scratchy to apply; thanks to the velvety formula, it glides around the lip line. It’s great to use under lipstick and lip gloss, although I sometimes use it all over my lips as a matte lipstick, as I find it more flattering and less drying. Once applied, it stays in place for ages and helps prevent feathering around the lips.
Lara Nugent, Lifestyle Editor
Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, £31
Julian Hamilton//Getty Images
Used by Claire Foy before the 2026 Met Gala
This certainly isn’t an impulsive purchase, but I’m ready to defend the cost of this super luxurious cleanser. This pot puts back all the joy and pleasure into a mundane task like washing your face. Even just catching its rich, floral scent when opening the lid works wonders on my mood, allowing me to pretend my humble bathroom is a spa for a few moments.
Fragrance aside, the balm itself is potent enough that you really don’t need a lot to do the job. I’ve made a tub last well over two months. I have quite sensitive skin so I’m selective about my skincare, and this feels like a thorough clean without feeling aggravated.
If you’re looking for a good deal, you can upgrade to a 100g tub with a 20% discount on Look Fantastic.
Helen Pike, Deputy Lifestyle Editor
Fenty Beauty Freestyle highlighter in Trophy Wife, £32
ANGELA WEISS//Getty Images
Used by Rihanna at the 2026 Met Gala
Shyvonne Thomas, Photo Director
Fenty Beauty Trace’d Out Lip Pencil in Rose Amber, £20Fenty Beauty Trace’D Out Pencil Lip Liner 1.24g (Various Shades)
This lip liner has a smooth, creamy formula and doesn’t stab my lips when applying. To get Rih’s overlined pout, I start with Fenty Beauty Trace’d Out Lip Pencil in Rose Amber. I have quite full lips so I tend to line my natural lip shape, but it works just as well overlined for a more dramatic look. I’ll often use the liner to shade my lips before topping with lip or gloss.
Shyvonne Thomas, Photo Director
L’Oréal Paris Lumi Glotion, £11.99 
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Worn by Kendall Jenner at the 2026 Met Gala
Highlighters are one of those make-up products that either make you look really healthy with minimal effort, or overly shiny. Luckily L’Oreal Paris Lumi Glotion falls into the former category. There’s four shades (I use Light Glow on my pale skin), which means there’s more chance of it blending seamlessly into your skin.
It’s really versatile, too – I often use it on its own to perk up my skin after a long week, or mix it into my foundation when I need a little more coverage. There’s minimal ’sparkle’, which means a much more natural result. I’m not surprised it’s often used on the red carpet (Heidi Klum reportedly used it at last year’s Met Gala).
We’ve spied a 20% discount on Look Fantastic, a third off at Amazon, and you can also find it stocked at Boots and Superdrug.
Helen Pike, Deputy Lifestyle Editor
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminzer in Hot Chocolit, £20
Fenty Beauty’s Gloss Bomb Lip Luminizer in Hot Chocolit is a deep brown lip gloss that melts into my lips and blends well with the lip liner. The gloss leaves the bottle without being all gloopy and lasts a good few hours before needing a top-up. This particular shade has a soft glow and shimmer which catches the light beautifully.
Find it at a wide range of stockists including Look Fantastic, where it’s currently 20% off.
Shyvonne Thomas, Photo Director
Deputy Lifestyle Editor, Entertainment Portfolio
Helen has worked at Hearst UK for nearly 20 years, most recently on Best magazine as Deputy Lifestyle Editor.
Helen’s covered all manner of topics during her time as a journalist – from fashion to gardening and even pets – but it’s beauty that remains her big passion (and her bursting bathroom cabinet is proof of it).
Helen has contributed to Digital Spy’s Top of the Shops newsletter since early 2025. When she’s not searching for the latest deals or shopping trends, you can find Helen either building LEGO with her son or down at her allotment plot.