The holiday season is upon us and that means many things, including parties, gifts, eggnog and whatnot. It is also a good time to take stock of the year past and prepare for the new resolutions for the upcoming 365 days and more. So here I am making multiple lists, including a list of cult beauty products, which I will share with you.
But then my October French Vogue floated into view and I decided to expand that idea and present you my rundown of the Cult Beauty Products of All Time. Because you better believe it. I. Have. Tried. Them. All.
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair
As far as anti-aging skincare goes, this has been the first I have ever become aware of and it is still making every beauty editor’s list year on year. Conceived in the year of my birth, no less, this has become my skincare staple only 3 years ago in its second reformulation. I can’t say anything to fault this DNA-repairing, silky smooth, soothing and pleasantly (yet, lightly) scented formula and, for as long as people still do a double take, when they hear my age, I will continue repurchasing this miracle worker.
Source: www.esteelauder.com.aus
YSL Beauty Touche Éclat
Highlighter pen so popular, that 23 years after its launch, it is still everybody’s top pick of the bunch. Numerous brands released equivalents, to little, mixed or great successes, but none matched the sales figures of this miracle pen, even if you adjust it for the time differential.
My personal preference currently lays with another, By Terry Touche Veloutée, for reasons I have covered on my YouTube video on the matter. But guess what? It is no surprise, since the creator of the entire By Terry line, Terry de Gunzburg, founded her makeup brand in the late 90’s, when she was the creative director at YSL, who (you guessed it) created the original highlighter per genius.
I would say that even in my defection, I am still paying homage to the original, as it is all worth it.
(Source: www.yslbeautyus.com )
Clinique 3-Step System
(Source: www.clinique.co.uk )
Half a century ago Clinique came up with the revolutionary “Clean, exfoliate, moisturize” and it has been selling its skincare sets like hot pies. In fact, the last step of the system, Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion is so popular that one bottle sells every 5 seconds. The brand helped instil the basics of good skincare into all of us and we now take the essential three steps for granted.
But this is where my personal admiration runs out. Nowadays, we want more than basic moisturization and hypoallergenic formulas. Call me spoilt but with so much information out there on scientific research, I want my skincare to pump antioxidant protection, boost collagen synthesis, speed up exfoliation, repair DNA damage and more, if possible. Other brands picked up where Clinique left of and took it to another level. I salute the traditional brand but invest into my skin elsewhere nowadays.
Guerlain Terracotta
No bronzer has ever come close to this powerhouse. A brand name so strong, it has all the makings of become generic, like “Kleenex” and “Xerox”. A compact powder is sold every 20 second in the world and for good reason, too. Smooth, finely milled formula, various intensity to suit the lightest and darkest skin shades, instantly recognisable aroma all make this product “it” since 1984.
(Source: www.guerlain.com )
I owned at least three different variations of this bronzer through my makeup-wearing life. The “Blonde” shade suits my milky complexion almost perfectly, except for my beloved Cover FX in “Sunkissed” that still works best in the dead of winter, and any variations upwards of that is a seamless bronze look that blends like a charm and wears like second skin.
La Mer Cream
This was the first ever “super luxe” skincare product I have heard of, back in the earliest 00’s. It was also the very first time I had seen a face cream retail for a triple-digit figure, too. Was I shocked? Yes. Did I want to buy it? Hell, yes!
Well I have done so since then. Numerous times. What is my take, you ask?
For starters, I have had to come to terms that I am a hopeless marketing victim. My name is Bella and I crave all things shiny and new in the world of beauty!
As far as taking care of my skin goes, I will entrust that business to some other brands that have proven scientific findings behind their ingredients and use such ingredients in an efficient manner. Plenty of them out there, from drugstore-level price ranges to other “super deluxe” makes.
I am much more savvy and have spoken to far too many professional dermatologists in my life to believe in the magic properties of something called “the miracle broth”. Plus, I do not love the formula of the original either.
The eye cream on the other hand, might just be my personal favourite now. Though my readers will know that it’s not necessarily because of the stellar product itself but rather the poor competition.
(Source: www.cremedelamer.com )
And this wraps up my current take on the 5 cult beauty products of all time, as inspired by French Vogue. What is your take on the above list? Have anything to add to my assessments? Can’t wait to hear you out!
Bella Sovmiz is a bi-lingual blogger, who is originally Russian and currently resides on the sunny island of Cyprus. She writes for a variety of online publications and is the creator, contributor and editor of ‘The other “F-word” blog, which brings fashion, travel, lifestyle and beauty under one roof. An avid traveler, Bella loves to share all things entertainment and culture from her many urban city escapes.
