The best BEAUTY BUYS IN THE universe 67 products to make you look out of this world JANUARY 2013 COSMOPOLITAN * 167
Here it is! Our annual list of the best beauty booty on planet earth. The Cosmo Beauty Awards, now in their 11th year, are more important than ever. With hundreds of new products hitting the shelves every month, you need to know what s worth your hard-earned cash. Our expert judges have made it their mission to find the perfect products so that you can look and smell amazing. Among tried-and-tested favourites you ll find hot new discoveries, including a brilliant cleansing water and a blow-your-mind hair gadget. And look out for your very own Awards together we ve created the ultimate beauty wish list. Now go forth and beautify! Meet the judges Best Foundation Lancôme Teint Visionnaire Skin Perfecting Makeup Duo SPF20, 36 A lovely texture and great coverage. Love the concealer in the lid. Pixiwoo Best Blemish Concealer Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Flawless Wear Concealer SPF10, 20 Blends seamlessly and the coverage is fantastic. Pixiwoo I love the mirrored compact, and there s a great choice of shades to suit all skin tones. Pixiwoo Best Blusher Estée Lauder Pure Color Blush, 24 This blended well Face and looked elegant, not shimmery. It lasted all day long. Louise Readers Kiss Of Approval Ultimate Foundation Rimmel London Wake Me Up SPF15, 8.99 Flawless, wide-awake skin is the big beauty want. This formula gives a glowy-notshowy finish. Ultimate Bronzer Rimmel London Natural Bronzer, 5.59 A lightweight powder for all your sun-kissed needs. This go-to skin warmer also has SPF8 to add to its many accolades. Louise Court Editor Ingeborg van Lotringen Beauty Director Kate Turner Beauty Editor Best Undereye Brightener BareMinerals Stroke Of Light Eye Brightener, 22 A blendable texture that bounces light right back, making you look wide awake. Cassie Cassie Powney Beauty Writer Nick Gilbert expert Terry Barber Director of makeup artistry EMEA and UK, Mac Cosmetics Bridget March Online Beauty Editor Debbie Thomas Advanced skincare expert Pixiwoo Makeup artists and online beauty experts Jamie Stevens Award-winning hairdresser Look out for the red hearts that tell you how many times a product has won a Cosmo Beauty Award Best Lipstick Givenchy Le Rouge Lipstick, 24 This has a rich, balmy texture with a fantastically chic suedematt finish. It goes on smoothly with instantly beautiful, high-pigment coverage. Terry Best Lipgloss Rimmel London Apocalips Lip Lips Lacquer, 5.99 When I want a power lip, I reach for this. Best described as a liquid lipstick, it offers intense colour and a sexy wetlook finish. Cassie Best Lip Balm Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butters, 7.99 These are properly balmy, with good colour pay-off and a range of fab, fashionled shades. I want them all! Inge Ultimate Lipstick Mac Lipstick in Ruby Woo, 14 How does this retro, blue-based red lipstick manage to look so good on everyone? We think Mac would have to kill us if they told us. Best BB/cc Cream Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream SPF30 Hydrating Colour Corrector, 22 You only need a small amount for great coverage, and there are nine shades. Kate Best Face Powder Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Sheer Glow Powder SPF15, 38 A beautiful product! It gives a radiant finish and smells amazing too. Pixiwoo Best Bronzer Clarins Bronzing Duo SPF15 Mineral Powder Compact, 28 It s brilliant to test premium and high-street brands headto-head to discover what products really stand out. Kate 168 * OCTOBER 2013 COSMOPOLITAN * 169
Best Mascara Maybelline The Rocket Volum Express, 7.99 One of the best mascaras I ve tried for ages. Lengthening and long-wearing, it gives just enough volume for slightly more than a natural lash. Terry Best Brow Booster Eyeko Brow Gel, 18 Move over pencils; it s all about brow gel now. This one lets you comb and tint in one swift step for beautifully enhanced brows. Kate Best Eyeshadow Origins GinZing Brightening Cream Eyeshadow, 16 Who knew Origins Eyes could do great makeup? This comes in fantastic shades (I love Storm Surge), glides on, and lasts and lasts. Kate Best Eyeliner Smashbox Waterproof Shadow Liner, 17 Goes on beautifully and doesn t budge. Simply the best pencil liner I ve tried. Inge Ultimate Mascara Benefit They re Real!, 19.50 This is the UK s No.1 best-selling mascara for a reason. Jetblack finish? Tick! Longer lashes? Tick! Plumping and curling? Tick! (We could go on ) Best Cleanser Bioderma Sensibio H2O, from 4.50 This gentle micellar lotion is suitable for all skin types and great for makeup removal; even the eyes. Debbie Cleansing Best Eye- Makeup Remover Smashbox It s A Wrap! Waterproof Makeup Remover, 16.50 It dissolved even my toughest waterproof mascara, felt refreshing and didn t irritate my eyes one bit. Bridget Best Face Exfoliator Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pore & Shine Daily Scrub, 4.49 These not-too-scrubby micro-beads leave skin feeling clean and smooth not sore! Plus, the mouthwatering scent really wakes you up. Cassie Ultimate Cleanser Simple Kind To Skin Purifying Cleansing Lotion, 2.99 Proof that clean skin needn t feel dry and stripped of goodness or break the bank. 170 *
Best Garnier Skin Naturals Moisture Match, 5.99 How refreshing to find a good-value basic hydrator with different versions for a wide range of skin concerns. There are a variety of finishes too, from illuminating to mattifying. Kate Best Problem Solver SkinCeuticals Redness Neutralizer, 70 A very easy-to-use, light serum that calms irritated-feeling skin really quickly. With continued use, both flushing and redness in general are reduced. Debbie Best Anti-Ageing L Oréal Paris Revitalift Laser Renew Advanced Day, 19.99 This lovely moisturiser contains L Oréal s highest concentration of Pro-Xylane, a powerful compound that helps re-plump the skin. It s a pleasure to use, with impressive long-term results. Kate Skincare Best Age- Busting Night Cream YSL Forever Youth Liberator Night Cream, 60 This delivered visible results pretty quickly. It melted beautifully into the skin and I woke up to a brighter and smoother complexion. Debbie Best Age- Defying Serum Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate, 55 A unique blend of serum and oils, this concentrate really revives skin. Inge Best Eye Cream Vichy Liftactiv Serum 10 Eyes & Lashes, 24.50 This went on really easily with no sticky residue. I started seeing a difference in about a week mascara sat better on the lashes and skin looked plumper, smoother and brighter. Debbie Ultimate Simple Kind To Skin Hydrating Light, 3.79 This replenishing vitamin-packed hydrator is great for thirsty skins, even really sensitive ones. Ultimate Anti- Ageing Product Olay Total Effects 7-In-1 Day SPF15, 14.99 You won t be letting any of the seven signs of ageing slip under your radar with this nifty wrinkle-fading, glow-giving, tonebalancing moisturiser. 172 *
Self -tan and sun protection Best Facial Sun Protection La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL SPF50+ Dry Touch Gel- Cream, 16.50 A lovely rich formula that blends in easily and dries quickly. I love that it s packed full of thermal water to quench the skin. Bridget Best All-Over Sun Protection Nivea Sun Protect & Refresh, 11 This cooling spray is a welcome delight in warm weather. It leaves your skin feeling silky-smooth and not at all sticky. Bridget Best Facial Self-Tan Lancôme Flash Bronzer Self-Tanner Face Gel, 23 I have fairly oily skin so finding a facial selftan that doesn t clog my pores is a challenge. This is one of the very few that I can wear confidently without breaking out. Whereas some facial tans are a bit on the weedy side, this makes you go, Wow, I ve caught the sun, when you look in the mirror. Kate Best Body Self-Tan Dior Bronze Self- Tanning Oil, 28.50 Finally, a product that makes the process of tanning feel 174 * luxurious! This uberfine mist is effortless to apply and leaves skin with a classy sunkissed colour. Cassie Best Gradual Self-Tan Dove Summer Glow Nourishing Lotion, 4.99 You ll find this old favourite in almost every beauty editor s bathroom. It s simply the easiest way to sport a subtle golden glow (never orange), without the hassle or telltale whiff of fake tan. It makes me happy. Kate Best Wash-Off Body Tanner Guerlain Terracotta Jambes De Gazelle Cooling Bronzing Mist, 36 This smells divine; like an exotic holiday! The natural glow it gives can be layered up for a darker tan and it lasts all day without staining. Bridget Ultimate Self-Tan St.Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse, 30.64 Kate Moss bared her body for the brand (looking bronzed and beautiful, obviously), and it appears you share her good taste in self-tan. Best Body Cleanser Nourish Balance Purifying Shower Gel, 9.95 This smells of proper, cloudy apple juice and is beautifully kind to skin. Inge Best Body Scrub Soap & Glory The Breakfast Scrub, 8 Could a body scrub be more delicious? Oats, bananas, almond and maple make for a ridiculously tasty sensory experience. My skin is wonderfully soft and really rather edible. Kate Best Firming Potion Dior Svelte Body Desire, 55 This is a dream to apply. It s not too scented and leaves skin gorgeously glossy brilliant if your legs are on show. Skin definitely looks and feels tighter and Body smoother after a few weeks use. Bridget Best Body Hotel Chocolat Cocoa Juvenate Revive Body Butter, 20 I loved this! It looks gorgeous and smells divine fresh, citrusy and exotic (I was expecting it to smell of chocolate but it doesn t). It contains argan oil, which made my skin amazingly smooth. This would make a great gift. Bridget Ultimate Body Lotion Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter, 10.50 An all-rounder when it comes to a girl s beauty needs, but you ve homed in on its softening shea butter and aloe vera combo. Testing top brands every single day is part of our job, so we can tell instantly whether something lives up to its hype. All our winners really do work wonders. Inge OCTOBER 2013 COSMOPOLITAN * 175
Tecni Art Fresh Dust, 9.80 Gives unwashed hair a vampy, fuller look. When brushing out, the product disappears but the body remains. 10 out of 10! Jamie Best Hair Oil Leonor Greyl Huile Secret de Beauté, 40.50 This is one of the few oils I ve found that s not packed with silicones. Smells divine and spreads into the hair and onto skin like a dream. Cassie Best Hair Treatment Kérastase Elixir Ultime Beautifying Oil-Enriched Masque, 28.50 Beautiful packaging, just as you d expect. Leaves hair soft and silky. Jamie Best Shampoo Tigi Bed Head Recharge, 13.95 Love the hot-pink packaging. The small glitter particles brings hair back to life with lots of shine great for blondes. Jamie Best Conditioner Shu Uemura Art Of Hair Muroto Volume, 32 Pricey but worth it from the packaging to the texture and fragrance, this oozes Hair luxury. It made my hair feel nourished and full of body. Louise Best Styling Product John Frieda Luxurious Volume Fine To Full Blow- Out Spray, 6.99 Serious big-hair volume from a spray something I don t often see. Inge Best Dry Shampoo L Oréal Professionnel Ultimate Shampoo And Conditioner Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo, 4.49, and Conditioner, 5.99 Instructions that make you LOL + everyday shine for parched hair = a winning formula! Ultimate Hair Colourant L Oréal Paris Casting Crème Gloss, 6.49 Over 60% of British women dye their hair at home and this is the one you DIYdyers are buying. OCTOBER 2013 COSMOPOLITAN * 177
Best Nail Polish Essie Nail Colours, 11 The brush is nice and soft for ease of use and the beautiful vibrant colours are seriously long-lasting. Pixiwoo Nails polish that looks lovely and shiny on, but also works hard to strengthen even the weakest of nails. I make sure I have a pot sitting on my desk at all times. Cassie Best Nail Effects Nails Inc Bling It On, from 19 These are really fun and easy to use! The leather and denim effects are particularly good totally brilliant idea. Pixiwoo Best Nail Rescuer OPI Nail Envy, 18.55 An easy-to-apply Ultimate Nail Polish Barry M Nail Paint, 2.99 So many amazing colours to choose from; so few pennies to part with. Every woman should have at least one gorgeous Barry M Nail Paint in her kit. Best Makeup Brushes Suqqu, from 22 These wands of wonder are like silk on the skin. There s no chance of bodging up your bronzer with bristles as soft and fluffy as this. Cassie Best Beauty Gadget Gillette Venus Naked Skin Intense Pulsed Light Hair Reduction System, 449.99 As a lover of laser, I m a fan of the freedom Tools this gives you to tackle long-term hair removal at home, without the fuss or price tag of sessions in a clinic. Bridget Ultimate Hairstyling Gadget GHD IV Styler, 99 A recent survey revealed that nearly a third of women would rather have a pair of GHDs than a new man. Go figure. 178 *
Best Premium Marni Eau de Parfum, from 68 The fizzy incense and scorched floral notes make this utterly fabulous. The sweet accent is nicely done and not overwhelming truly artistic. Nick Best Niche L Occitane Collection de Grasse Vanille & Narcisse, 49 This smells creamy, delicate, delectable and sexy; it s sweet, yes, but in a classy, grown-up way. Inge Sex Appeal In A Bottle Valentino Valentina Assoluto, from 61 Sexy with ease and subtlety. I can t get enough of the gorgeous creamyjasmine combination and peachy top note. Nick Best Celebrity Nicki Minaj Pink Friday, from 24 You have to respect the audacity and vanity of this bottle. One hell of a sugar rush that s calmed down by its fresh, fruity notes. Nick Ultimate Women s Marc Jacobs Daisy, from 45 This pretty bottle already feels iconic and it helps that the juice inside is fabulously fresh and feminine, and seems to sit happily on everyone s skin. Ultimate Men s Paco Rabanne 1 Million, from 40 Oh hello, sexy-man smell! Every guy has a chance when he s wearing masculine notes of spice, leather and amber. 180 *
Beauty Classic Award ESTÉE LAUDER Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II, 44 A perennial beauty editor s favourite, this superior antioxidant blend has been souped up with yet more cutting-edge technology. With sleeplessness on the rise, this could not be more on trend, 30 years on. Beauty Trend Setter CLINIQUE Chubby Sticks, 16 each When the Chubby Stick lip balm launched in 2011, the world went gaga for the cute twist-up crayons with pretty, balmy colours. Fast-forward two years and countless brands have tried to recreate the magic blend. Clinique keeps the bar high now, we re crushing over the Chubby Stick for eyes. Bloggers Award: Brand To Watch KIKO This super-cool Italian brand has just landed on London s Regent Street, marking it out as a serious shopping destination. Our bloggers commended its awesome range of makeup colours, high-tech sensory skincare and unbelievable prices. By Kate Turner and Cassie Powney. Still lifes Dennis Pedersen and Studio 33. Stats provided by Fabriah.com and Scott Cornwall Colour Restore WIN The entire Cosmo Beauty Awards collection We re offering one lucky reader the chance to win every single Beauty Award-winning product yep, that s all 67, worth over 2,000! To enter, visit Cosmopolitan.co.uk/beautyawards, click on the competition link and fill out your details. Winner will be notified after the closing date of 8 October 2013. Beauty Breakthrough Award BaByliss Pro Perfect Curl, 165 This incredible gadget has revolutionised the way we curl our hair. Fiendishly quick to use and with foolproof results, now you don t have to be confident with a pair of tongs to get a style that s worthy of a salon. 182 *