TRIED AND TESTED

Life magazine’s favourite beauty buys

Evo Pete Ionic Paddle Brush, $46, shop.colleen.nz Recommended by Rebecca Wadey, Ensemble co-founder and partnerships director

“I have long, thick, curly hair, and the only time it’s ever brushed is when I go to the hairdresser. But I was so inspired by the how-to videos that Lauren Gunn, owner of Auckland salon Colleen, did for Ensemble that I clicked through to its online store and bought this hairbrush.

“It feels so nice to brush my hair and my ponytails are now so sleek. I always thought good hairbrushes were very expensive, like good hairdryers – another thing I don’t own – but this was affordable, and has made a huge difference to my grooming.

“I now sit with it beside my computer and make myself vaguely presentable before each video call. I might be the only person who becomes less groomed as I return to office life.”

Urban Decay Original Eyeshadow Primer Potion, $40, meccabeauty.co.nz Recommended by Natalia Deyr, Ensemble editorial assistant

“The hooded eye: a constant adversary to those who possess it yet love makeup. My eyes are my best feature and, as such, I have always focused my attention on nailing my eye makeup. It takes up 97 per cent of my makeup routine.

“The problem was that my expertly applied liner and shadow would end up a hot mess come midday, sitting in my crease all oily and an unknown shade of brown. Sick and tired of creating a beautiful eye only to have it turn into brown tidal foam, I sought the expert opinion of a retail assistant at Mecca. She recommended, without hesitation, Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion.

“This little product doesn’t come cheap, however I am still working through my first tube, which I’m pretty sure I bought last year. This product really works, keeping my makeup in place and looking sharp throughout the day. It also makes your colours more vibrant, which is a win as I am partial to bright blue eye makeup.”

Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Water Essence, $38 from Hikoco, hikoco.co.nz Recommended by Tyson Beckett, Life publishing co-ordinator

“I have oily sensitive skin and find most intensive moisturisers are just too heavy. This fragrance-free essence is super hydrating, but has a lightweight milky formula that my skin happily laps up.

“I apply it after cleansing while my skin is still wet. It draws moisture into my skin and I wake up with a dewy, plump and calm face.”

Estee Lauder Double Wear Zero-smudge Lengthening Mascara, $65, farmers.co.nz Recommended by Zoe Walker Ahwa, Ensemble co-founder and Stuff style editor

“I don’t wear a lot of makeup day-to-day, but with my tiny eyes, mascara is an absolute must. This claims to have 15-hour staying power, and it does a great job. It doesn’t smudge or flake like many other mascaras I’ve tried, and it’s actually pigmented enough to make a difference, and make me look slightly more wide-eyed and awake.

“I especially like its dainty wand. It curls, separates and coats the lashes, but doesn’t overdo it and make them look clumpy (unless you want it to look clumpy on purpose, by reapplying a few times).”

Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt, $80, adorebeauty.co.nz Recommended by Harriet Pudney, Life columnist

“I’m sure I’ve recommended this before, but it’s like a facial for your scalp. I love a scalp scrub because it gives such good volume when your hair has dried, and this is the best in show.

“Other scrubs can leave grit in your hair if your shower isn’t at fire-hose levels, but because this one exfoliates with salt, it just dissolves when you rinse. Genius.

“I know it’s expensive but a tub of this lasts me a year, and I have a lot of hair. Use weekly.”

Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Eye Base, $95, meccabeauty.co.nz Recommended by Sacha Wackrow, art director

“This is my go-to product, it is like a little pot of magic. It doesn’t matter how little sleep I’ve had, this will give me an instant mood boost, de-puff, smooth and brighten my eyes. It’s lightweight, refreshing, and it really plumps up your skin. I have converted all of my friends to it. I have quite dry skin and I used to find it hard to find a cream that worked with my foundation and concealer – after a few hours, it would tend to go patchy or crease, but this solved all of that. It is a perfect primer for makeup and your concealer will not budge all day. Super hydrating too.”

Trilogy Rosehip Transformation Cleansing Oil, $35, trilogyproducts.co.nz

Recommended by Emma Chamberlain, Life editor

“As a late-comer to the wonders of double cleansing, Trilogy’s Rosehip Transformation Cleansing Oil is a recent addition to my ‘less has to be more’ skincare regime. A tiny bit does the job, and the result is soft, supple skin that isn’t stripped of all its natural oils. It’s also great at removing all traces of makeup. I follow up with a foaming cleanser as per the double cleanse doctrine.”

Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40, $77, meccabeauty.co.nz

Recommended by James Dobson, co-founder of Beauty Benders and Life columnist

“‘Clean beauty’ and ‘makeup with skincare properties’ aren’t really strong sales points for me, and seem to be a little overused in beauty right now, so I had low expectations for this product. But this is the skin tint for me.

“It’s super lightweight, super easy to blend into the skin with fingers, and is on the perfect side of dewy. Also, if you have facial hair/stubble like I do, it doesn’t cling or go weird around these areas. I love it mixed in with a higher coverage foundation to make it look a little more skin-like and radiant.

Chef ’s kiss.”

After more beauty recommendations? Find some handy supermarket beauty buys at ensemblemagazine.co.nz.