BEST BEAUTY BUYS..

I was recently featured in HELLO! magazine talking through some of my ‘must have’ beauty products. So, I thought I’d expand on some of these a bit, and explain why they’re staples on my bathroom shelf.

Firstly, I start my day with a shot of Symprove on an empty stomach. The bacteria in our gut can easily become unbalanced, and Symprove’s formula is a multi-strain supplement of four live bacteria which helps to restore this. I originally started their twelve-week programme (£158 for 3 x 4 bottle packs, available at symprove.com) because of problems with digestion and bloating. I’m a big believer in probiotics – taken both orally and in skincare – and I’ve posted on the subject before. For anyone suffering with skin complaints, tummy issues, constipation, acid reflux or IBS, I really recommend giving this product a go. Plus, if you buy eight weeks of the shots on their website, you get the remaining four weeks free.

I’m also obsessed with eye masks and under eye patches as they help to hydrate and lessen the appearance of fine lines, puffiness and dark circles. MZ Hydra-Bright Golden Eye Masks (£65 for a pack of five, available at MZskin.com) are my hero product when it comes to tired eyes. If I have had a big night without much sleep, my eyes are the first thing to suffer. And so I pop them on in the morning, stick my sunglasses over the top, and then set about my day. Sure, I sometimes get the odd look, but it’s a price I’m willing to pay! Plus, they’re a great way to prep your eyes while applying eyeshadow before a night out. Not only do they leave you with radiant under eyes, but they also catch any powder in the process. At £65, these eye masks are definitely a splurge, but packed full gorgeous ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid and collagen, I promise you they’re well worth treating yourself to!

My other go-to eye treatment is Talika’s Eye Therapy Patches (£50 for 110g, available at spacenk.com). They not only help ease the look of tired eyes, but they’re reusable and go a long way, too. They’ve been around for the last fifteen years or so and have proved popular among celebs and make-up artists, too.

When it comes to fake tan, my absolute favourite is ESPA’s Gradual Tan Face Concentrate (£25 for 15ml, available at espaskincare.com). This fool proof tan can be applied over moisturiser, mixed into your serum or creams, or even used alone. It works magically with your skin’s own Biochemistry to develop a gorgeous, natural-looking glow. I apply over my night cream before going to bed, and love waking up looking tanned and well rested. It’s also great for daytime application as it gradually builds over the hours. I’d recommend starting by mixing it into your night cream, gradually building to your own desired shade. Apply with a mitt to stop any staining on your hands. Packed full of Neroli, rose and sweet orange, it dries almost instantly with none of that awful, biscuity smell! I’d also recommend their Gradual Tan for the body, too – amazing for getting glowing skin in the cold months ahead.

One of my reasons for using fake tan is that I suffer from hyperpigmentation – a hangover from my younger years, when I would regularly bake myself in the sun. When it comes to these dark patches, I’ve found this amazing, relatively new product from Murad. Their Rapid Age Spot Correcting Serum (£70 for 30ml, available at murad.co.uk) is packed full of powerful ingredients that help to even out skin tone and fight signs of aging. I use this day and night under my normal lotions and potions and it’s truly making a big difference to my skin.

Because of this, I’m extremely vigilant about applying SPF 50 when I’m out in the sun, and even in the winter to help ward off damage from UVA, UVB and blue light bouncing off our numerous devices – iPhones, Laptops, TVs etc. – which are also responsible for signs of aging and hyperpigmentation. Better to be safe than sorry, I say!

So, there you have it, a round-up of some of my favourite, must-have beauty buys. Do you have any products you can’t live without? If so, pop them in the comments box below!

LSx