The one beauty product that experts think is worth every penny

Many of my favourite industry insiders have founded sensational brands that I swear by; others are affiliated with, or work for, other brands I love. But strip all that away, and what would they buy? I asked 50 of them to name the single product that they couldn’t live without. Here’s what they had to say…Nicola Clarke, colourist and founderKate Winslet put me on to Oslo Skin Lab The Solution Beauty Collagen a few months ago after I commented on how great her skin looked. I can already see the benefits in my skin and hair and take a sachet a day in my coffee.Luke Hersheson, session stylist and founderLorealMy desert island product is L’Oréal Paris Elnett. When I was 21, I was on a shoot with a well-known photographer and a big model. He spotted another hairspray in my kit and said, ‘What the f*** is that? Why aren’t you using Elnett? This is shit.’ Quite an introduction, but I soon understood. It gives control, shape and hold, but lets hair feel like hair. Annee de Mamiel, acupuncturist and facialistI wouldn’t want to be without Cecily Braden’s lymphatic brushes. The touch is light, but afterwards my face looks fresher and less puffy. Mine live on the coffee table. , Rob Rea, performance coach and breathwork practitionerIn 2014, I was working on a shoot in New York with the legendary make-up artist Mary Greenwell. She found it hilarious that I didn’t have a skincare routine and told me that La Roche-Posay SPF50+ face cream was the best thing I could use. I’ve done so religiously ever since. La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF50+, Dr Ophelia Veraitch, dermatologistShavita Shavata has done my brows for 20 years and I wouldn’t be without her castor oil Brow & Lash Strengthener. Castor oil is high in ricinoleic acid, a fatty acid that conditions the hair shaft and stops brow hairs getting dry and brittle, so they look fuller and sit better. Cetera Lamb, colourist and creative directorOne day I was doing Barbara Sturm’s hair, moaning about looking like a tired mum. The next minute, someone from her boutique, close to the John Frieda Salon in Mayfair, arrived with her Glow Drops. I’ve since repurchased them over and over, and will do so forever. They make me look alive! Vanita Parti, beauty entrepreneur and founderMy hair is my greatest asset and nemesis. As a child my mother used mustard oil to tame the frizz. Today I swear by Hershesons Almost Anything Cream. It works on wet and dry hair and puts stubborn strays immediately to rest.Kate Kerr, facialistThese masks are a bit expensive, but their hydrating and soothing powers are worth it, especially when skin is feeling sensitive. I love using them as part of a DIY facial and on flights. Medik8 Ultimate Recovery Bio-Cellulose Mask, Dr David Jack, aesthetic doctor and founderHermesMy “One” is Hermès Un Jardin en Méditerranée, a fresh, woody fig and citrus blend that takes me back to Italian holidays. A spritz of this and I am back in the sun. Rose Ferguson, nutritionist and functional medicine practitionerI love the Victoria Beckham Beauty Reflect Highlighter Stick. VB told me I’d love it and she was right! In summer, it’s beautiful on sun-kissed skin, and in winter it brings light when my complexion needs a lift. It’s amazing! Debbie Thomas, skin and laser expert and founderMy one, were you cruel enough to make me choose, would be BioEffect EGF Serum. What sets it apart is how quickly I feel a difference. I use it at night and on waking my complexion is notably different. I use, make and sell a lot of very good products which I know deliver great benefits, but this one has real satisfaction due to the speedy boost. Milly Mason, nail artistI buy 10 tubes of LCN’s 10% Urea Foot Masks at a time and think it’s the best thing in my kit. It’s affordable, no-frills and smells incredible. No sticky residue, no washing it off, no fuss. Just soft skin. 1000/10.Hollie Parkes, brow artistHourglassThe Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette is one of my biggest make-up hacks. I can do almost my entire face with it, every shade is wearable, and it has the perfect mirror for on-the-go.Bryony Basse, pilates instructor and founderI have had an attachment to my Skinny Confidential Mint Ice Roller for years. It has carried my face through sleepless nights of new motherhood, and comes everywhere with me — even to the beach where I pop it in the ice bucket. Dr Tamsin Lewis, medical doctor, longevity expert and founderWeleda’s Arnica Massage Balm came into my life when I was a triathlete. I carry the glass bottle into the sauna so it warms — exfoliate with a salt scrub, shower, then work it into damp skin. It’s thick and natural, and the heat draws out a heady scent that people ask about again and again. Dr Sam Bunting, dermatologist and founderRobert Piguet Fracas is locked into my identity and I would never dream of changing my scent with the seasons. A heady mix of tuberose, jasmine and sandalwood, it is unapologetically glamorous. Bobbi Brown, make-up artist and founderSam McKnight I can’t live without Hair by Sam McKnight’s Love Me Do Nourishing Shine Oil. I recently overbleached my hair, leaving it brittle and straw-like. A friend introduced me to this and I’ve been hooked ever since. It’s incredibly lightweight and makes my hair feel soft without weighing it down. DR Wassim Taktouk, aesthetic doctorI love Byredo Bal d’Afrique because it connects two parts of who I am: I spent my early life in Africa, and have Lebanese heritage. It’s warm and woody, but with a freshness that makes it modern. It also reminds me of my dad, who loved a woody fragrance. The cedar notes take me back to Lebanon.Dr Karen Doherty, aesthetic doctor and founderI take my Dermalux LED Face Mask everywhere and even wore it on the Underground recently. I’m a huge believer in LED therapy and its ability to support collagen production, calm redness and improve overall skin health. Sam McKnight, session hairstylist and founderI am a Diptyque fan and have been since 1985, when my friend Mary Greenwell had an apartment on the Left Bank in Paris. Whenever we worked there, we would visit the store at 34 Boulevard Saint-Germain. Mary’s apartment was full of lovely candles, but my favourite was Fig and I became addicted. In those days, it was more economical to buy a box of 36 and have it shipped to London. Once a year, I would buy one or two boxes, and have continued that tradition to this day. In fact, I have just had my Christmas delivery!Jamie Genevieve, make-up artist and founderJohn Lewis To me Byredo Gypsy Water is about new beginnings and adventures — I wore it on my honeymoon and also during the early months of both my girls being born. It’s clean and fresh, but sexy, and powerfully feminine. I feel lifted and put-together whenever I wear it. Halley Brisker, hairstylistMy favourite tool is a wide-tooth wooden comb for brushing out waves and curls with zero static. They aren’t always easy to come by, but after years of frustration with plastic combs and flyaways, I finally found The One. Dr Federica Amati, nutritionist and authorGreat skin and hair start on your plate, but I also love beautiful products. My One is Calecim Hair Serum. I knew it was working when both my skin doctor, Dr Ashwin Soni, and my hairdresser, Sophie Love, complimented me on its effects. Dr Christine Hall, aesthetics doctorI heard about Wrinkles Schminkles from a friend who swore by their Chest Wrinkle Patches. Medical-grade silicone is used in the medical world to help with scarring, so it’s clever to see it used in this way. I pop them on before bed, and my skin looks smoother and more hydrated come morning. Shane Cooper, aesthetician and founderA client introduced me to Sisley’s tinted Phyto-Touche Gel years ago when I was visiting her at home. Her skin always looked healthy, radiant and sun-kissed, but completely natural. She said her secret was this and I’ve been hooked ever since. Zoë Irwin, hairdresser and trend forecasterMacMAC Ruby Woo is the lipstick that got me caught out. On a work weekend away I left a trail of Ruby Woo kisses on a man I should not have been kissing. The tale-tale signs were traced back to me when his colleague recognised the shade on my lips the next night. Proof of its long-lasting powers and distinctive colour. Tom Smith, hairstylist and founderI’ve worn Another 13 by Le Labo for almost 15 years. It began as a commission by AnOther Magazine and was stocked in Colette, the since shuttered but always fabulous boutique in Paris. I’d head there twice a year for stock-ups. Despite my efforts to find something equally exclusive, it remains my number one. Jini Sanassy, head of PR, Space nkAt work we play a game: if Space NK was closing and you had 30 seconds to grab something, what would it be? For me it’s NARS Notorious Mascara. I look ill without mascara — but 90 per cent of them smudge on me throughout the day, which drives me crazy. This one doesn’t move or crumble. Dr Rachna Murthy, oculoplastic surgeonThe skin around the eyes is the thinnest on the face, and rubbing it leads to irritation, lost lashes and, over time, laxity. I’ve used Lancôme Bi-Facil Eye Makeup Remover for years because it does the hard work for you. Even waterproof mascara slides off without scrubbing. Dr Clare Kiely, dermatologistBare by Vogue I’m obsessive about sun protection and have near translucent Irish skin! I’ve used active skincare ingredients on my face for years, but we haven’t had the same choice of sophisticated skincare for the rest of the body. I think body skincare is the next big frontier, but in the meantime, Bare by Vogue Medium Self Tan Foam is a saviour. Teresa Tarmey, advanced facialist and founderI can’t live without YSL Touché Éclat. I’ve tried every concealer and this is the best. I discovered it from a make-up artist who was behind all the Hollywood actresses’ red carpet looks. She gave it to me and I thought, maybe this has been on Nicole Kidman’s face. Who knew a few years on, I’d get to do some of their faces too… Larry King, session stylist and founderSince I have white hair, I use the St Tropez Sunlit Skin Bronzing Tint + Tan on my face to add warmth to my complexion, particularly during the winter months when I can look a little pale. It gives a subtle, natural glow.Rochelle Humes, singer and EULAH founderI don’t think I’ve ever gone to quite such lengths for a beauty product as Chanel No 1 De Chanel Lip and Cheek Balm in Healthy Pink. The first time my make-up artist used it on me, I knew I had to have it immediately. The only problem was that it was sold out everywhere! I went from shop to shop, hailing cabs to take me to the next Boots.Sharmadean Reid, beauty entrepreneur and founderYou know when you find a lip colour so good you want one in every handbag? That’s ILIA Lip Sketch in Tableau. It’s beautifully soft and matches my natural lip colour perfectly. And I’m quite particular about what I put on my lips, so the clean beauty side really matters to me. Dr Galyna Selezneva, Aesthetic and Regenerative Medicine specialist at The LanesboroughSuperdrug I discovered Xémose Cleansing Soothing Oil from the French pharmaceutical brand Uriage and it’s now a staple in our family. It effectively cleanses without stripping moisture, helping to soothe, nourish and protect sensitive, eczema-prone skin. Dr Louise Newson, GP and woman’s hormone specialistMy desert island product is Trinny London’s Take Back Time Overnight Hand Transformation. I’ve only used it for a few weeks, but my hands are already looking different and a pigmented “age spot” on the back of my hand is fading. Dr Barbara Sturm, skincare pioneer and founderI’ve spent years researching and working with hydrogen in skincare. When I believe in something, I go all in — I use hydrogen for breathing and bathing, and I certainly wouldn’t be without my Dropvital hydrogen-infused water system. Molecular hydrogen is a powerful and selective antioxidant that targets some of the most damaging free radicals and helps defend against oxidative stress — a key driver of inflammation and skin ageing. Charlotte Mensah, hairstylist and founderI swear by Dove’s original Beauty Bar. It’s been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up in the 1970s, it was what my grandmother used. It’s reasonably priced, incredibly moisturising and I love the scent. I’ve even been known to use it on my face! Dr Alexis Granite, dermatologist and founderI come from a long line of lip balm addicts and can’t live without Smith’s Lip Balm. Some of my earliest memories are as a toddler in NYC, my mother coating my lips with ChapStick before we headed into the cold. I have one in every bag, pocket and drawer. Mina Lee, facialist and founderBeauty of Joseon Beauty of Joseon’s Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser was the first product my daughter ever recommended to me, and I fell in love. It’s affordable, backed by South Korean skin philosophy, gives an instant glow, cleanses deeply and doesn’t irritate or dry. Millie Kendall, CEO of British Beauty CouncilI’d be lost without my Tweezerman tweezers. I launched the brand in the UK back in the 1990s. The owner was a windsurfer who I’d met while living in California. I bought as many as I could for £2k and sold them by mail order. We sold out in under 48 hours. They were hand-filed so never missed a pluck, and you can get them sharpened for free, which is epic.Mary Greenwell, make-up artistAugustinus Bader The Rich Cream is The One for me. Why? Because it’s nourishing, smells divine and the packaging is wonderful. It is the most fantastic product.Sarah Creal, beauty brand builder and founderVictoria [Beckham] and I have talked beauty for many years, and throughout the development of her brand, so when she gave me Victoria Beckham Beauty The Foundation Drops I knew they would be good. It’s a flawless foundation that feels light and “skin”-like but with great coverage. Dr Rasha, cosmetic doctor and founderA Qatari royal with impeccable taste introduced me to Violette’s Bisou Balm and I’ve been hooked ever since. The sheer, buildable colour and soft matte finish create a beautifully blurred, soft-focus lip. Dr Sophie Shotter, aesthetic doctor and founderA friend told me about a serum made from sprout extract. I despise sprouts, but the clinical studies blew me away. It helps increase ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy currency of your cells to get your skin working like it is younger. The results are beautiful. I’m never letting go! Revision D.E.J Daily Boosting Serum,Hadda, facialist and founderMy niece introduced me to my most-loved product. I mentioned an event I had that evening with no time to get my hair done. She disappeared to her room and came back with K18 AirWash. It’s unbelievably good: a fine mist that goes on like water and dries in seconds, with no white cast or residue. Just hair that looks and smells freshly washed.Susanne Kaufmann, skincare expert and founderEscentric Molecules Molecule 01 is a fragrance made of a single aroma molecule, Iso E Super. It settles on skin and becomes something slightly different on everyone who wears it. I love its quiet presence. Rhian Stephenson, Nutritionist and founderWith low ferritin after two babies, I had severe hair fall, so the CurrentBody Hair Growth Helmet caught my attention and I noticed a difference after six weeks. I’ve been pairing it with Sisley’s hair baume (£105, spacenk.com) and am shocked at the difference. It’s an expensive ritual, but when you’ve experienced hair loss, you know how much it means to feel yourself again! Keren Bartov, aesthetician and founderVictoria BeckhamVictoria Beckham Beauty’s Satin Kajal Liner in Cocoa is my secret weapon for feeling glamorous fast. Victoria gave it to me when she visited my clinic for a treatment and told me how to use it. Glowing skin, a touch of eyeliner and I’m ready to go. Farzanah Nasser, nutritionist and functional medicine practitionerI have curly hair and the slightest bit of British drizzle turns me into Monica on her Barbados holiday! Rahua Smoothing Hair Balm is always in my bag for these moments. It’s compact, smells delicious and is made with beautifully clean ingredients.