Because no-one, and we mean no-one, will ever come close to our treasured {skin care}, {make up} and {hair} collections, (who else would be there for us at 2am after a complete hair-bleaching meltdown? {OUAI Haircare}, that’s who) we’ve scoured the kits of Cult Beauty HQ for the ultimate beauty must-haves. From {supplements} to {oils} and über-satisfying {peels}, these are the hot ticket items that #TeamCultBeauty are in fully committed relationships with – bottle after bottle, year after year – because when it comes to choosing between our beauty arsenals and our love lives, beauty wins, every time.
(Wife/husband/boyfriend/girlfriend/partner who?)
THE FAIL-SAFE CLEANSERS
“Valentine’s Day? Pfft, give me a date with a (recyclable!) bottle of {VOTARY’s} {Clarifying Cleansing Oil – Rosemary and Oat} over sticky cinema seats any day. The very definition of luxury, this treat makes an end-of-day chore feel like a decadent spa ritual – simply massage into skin and dampen the provided super-soft {face cloth} before wiping away the day. I’m on my fourth bottle – it’s potentially the only {cleanser} that doesn’t sting my skin alongside my industrial-strength dermatologist-prescribed acne cream, and it effortlessly melts {mascara}, {SPF} and even {Huda Beauty’s} super strong {Overachiever Concealer} in a single swipe without stripping or drying. Formulated with 100% natural plant oils, there are different formulas for different skin concerns – I like this one because the peach and jojoba help with healing, but they’re all so calming and soothing. I’ve got my mum hooked on the OG {Cleansing Oil – Rose Geranium & Apricot} – she’s on her second bottle! – and now my skin care-averse mother-in-law wants one too!” – Humeara, Cult Beauty Copy
“{The After Show Treatment Cleanser for Sensitive Skin} by {Jordan Samuel Skin} is without a doubt my Holy Grail product. It’s the one thing that will always have a place in my routine, and the one cleanser that I will always recommend to friends. The gel formula boasts a bunch of nourishing oils that lift grime, soothe and hydrate without clogging pores – it’s ideal as a second cleanse when you need to give exceptionally stubborn make up the boot, and it makes your face feel so refreshed and clean without causing any irritation!” – Sarah, Cult Beauty Influencer Marketing
THE HAIR NECESSITIES
“I adore – nay, love – the {Hair Oil} by OUAI Haircare, because you can leave it in for two days and then have the softest, silkiest, swishiest hair when it comes to washing it out. Pumped with amino acids and plant oils to strengthen, hydrate, repair and protect, you can kiss goodbye to unruly frizz and damaged split ends. It smells incredible and I’ve bought it three times already – just don’t tell my husband!” – Kajal, Cult Beauty Customer Service
THE GLOW GETTERS
“There’s no other face scrub quite like {Wishful’s} {Yo Glow Enzyme Scrub}. A fruity cocktail of alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids with brightening papaya and pineapple, it leaves my skin looking luminous, fresh and delightfully energised. I love that you can literally see the dead skin flaking away with – wait for it – no irritation at all! I repeat: no irritation! It’s so satisfying. I can see a huge difference in the tone and texture of my skin, and that’s just with once-weekly use. A true godsend. I think I’m on my sixth tube…” – Olivia, Cult Beauty CRM
“I’m obsessed (no, really, it’s an addiction) with the {Defense Essential Glow Moisturizer SPF30} by {PAULA’S CHOICE}. I recommend it to everyone. I’ve converted a bunch of colleagues into avid users and – more impressively – have even managed to convince my boyfriend of its greatness! He now gets worried as soon as he’s running low! It’s a lovely, lightweight {moisturiser} that leaves you with a glimmering but not glittery glow for that lit-from-within look during make up-free days, and it sits beautifully under make up too. It’s got a good level of SPF for everyday wear, and it’s seriously hydrating with vitamin-powered antioxidant support to help defend against pollution – great for city-living! I’m on my fifth tube now – it’s a truly committed relationship.” – Bella, Cult Beauty Marketing
THE MOISTURE MAGNETS
“The {Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Serum} by {Aesop} is like a hydrating slurp of water for your skin. Everyone has those mornings where they wake up looking and feeling like the deserted depths of the Sahara desert, and this is just the remedy. Helping you to fake awake by making you look alive again, it deeply nourishes skin with moisturising oils and antioxidant-rich botanical extracts without leaving it feeling greasy or oily. For those who are wary of {serums} in case they ‘sit’ on your skin, this quick-dry formula is perfect!” – Daria, Cult Beauty Design
“Hands down my favourite facial and {hand moisturiser}, (it’s brilliantly multitasking – you can even use it on the hair and {body}, or as a {shaving oil}!) the {100% Squalane Oil} by {Biossance} feels lightweight and natural. Plus, it melts beautifully into my skin without leaving an oily or sticky feeling. The bottle lasts a good three months and the sustainably-sourced squalane traps in moisture while encouraging the natural cell renewal process.” – Hassan, Cult Beauty Marketing
“{Medik8’s} {Hydr8 B5} has completely revolutionised my ‘get up and go’ routine. I put six drops on after a shower and within seconds my skin is plump, glowing and moisturised. I do use a {vitamin C} serum and SPF too, but I no longer feel like I have to use a heavy moisturiser. People keep asking me if I’ve been on a detox or ‘had some work done’! It’s all down to this magic bottle of serum with hyaluronic acid and panthenol to hydrate, hydrate and then hydrate some more.” – Brian, Cult Beauty Tech
THE MAKE UP MARVELS
“The {Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Concealer} by {Laura Mercier} is hands down the best {concealer} I have ever used. It boasts an intense level of coverage without ever looking cakey, it’s long-lasting, crease-resistant, hydrating, and I’m even certain that it blurs the skin, because it leaves the most flawless finish that’s unlike anything else I’ve ever tried. I’ve recommended it to so many people, and they’ve all fallen in love with it too! It’s the only valentine I need.” – Holly, Cult Beauty Marketing
THE BODY BOOSTS
“The {Daily Cleanse} supplements by {HUM Nutrition} are a staple in my daily routine. Not only is my skin much clearer since taking them, but my digestion has also improved. I’ve found myself rebuying this jar over and over again since it came out, and it’s by far my favourite supplement to take. If you don’t already have this in your daily routine, you need it! It houses thirteen detoxifying ingredients like green algae and herbs with copper and manganese minerals and more to aid liver, maintain cell function, boost elasticity and encourage blood flow.” – Kaj, Cult Beauty Merchandising