Product Podium 2022
Which products made the cut for me in 2022? What have I loved using and repeatedly gone back to? Which new products have joined my forever stash? These are the 16 products that I came back to time and time again.
Shiseido Ultimune Concentrate - you don’t know how good this is until you stop using it. It wins for being a fabulous all rounder anti-ageing antioxidant product and if you haven’t got any skincare concerns but just want to ensure your skin is the best health and condition it could possibly be, use this. It also makes anything else you’re doing one hundred times better.
Shani Darden Lactic Acid Serum - Shani is my person, I sat on a call with her once and I loved her no-nonsense attitude. This serum is a great night time alternative to retinoids. It’s a treatment in its own right and I love how it decongests and smooths the skin without striping it. I always get compliments when I’m using this product.
Beauty Pie Featherlight SPF50 - you cannot go wrong with sunscreen and this partiucular one has been a mainstay for me this year. Firstly, it’s lightweight (lol). Literally disappears into the skin with minimal rubbing, no white residue, plays well with make and gives the skin a lovely glow.
Skin Better Science Even Tone Serum - consistently helps to deliver clear skin, fade dark marks and also boost the overall radiance of my skin. There is a reason it’s a best seller at West Room Aesthetics and nobody that uses this product that has a bad word to say about it.
Esho Coat Lip Balm - this lives on the kitchen island in my house because it’s a great all rounder for everyone - grown ups and kiddos alike. It has both squalene and golden jojoba oil so it’s extremely moisturising. We use it for lips, crusty noses and dry cuticles. I also use it as a nourishing lip gloss over a lip liner.
Merit Great Skin Instant Glow Serum - this is one of those products when skincare meets make up - hyaluronic acid to plump the skin, niacinamide to brighten and antioxidants to stimulate. My skin looks a just plumped smooth satin pillow with a natural lit from within radiance. Whether you choose to use make up after is up to you! Fingers-crossed Merit lands in the UK this year.
Dermatica Azelaic Acid - 2022 was really the year I pushed retinoids to the back seat in favour of other active ingredients. Azelaic Acid is fantastic if you are blemish prone, have sensitive skin or superficial hyperpigmentation or you’re pregnant. It helps to refine the skin condition, without putting it under stress.
Aveeno Skin Relief Body Oil Spray - Man! I love this spray - whether straight after a shower on damp skin or layered over body lotion, it keeps skin moisturised, soft and supple. It’s not a greasy oil either, it’s lightweight and just enough for glossy skin.
S’ Able Labs Blackseed Toner - totally had no expectations of this product, but it’s somehow managed to become a staple for me after cleansing. The mist is super light so it’s refreshing and it’s a strong and effective ingredient list - Vitamin C, Ferulic Acid and Vitamin E (antioxidants), Vitamin B to bind moisture to the skin, Black Seed extract which is also an antioxidant/anti-inflammatory agent and natural fruit acid exfoliators. It’s even misleading to call this a toner, I would called it refining skin booster treatment.
Maybelline Superstar 24 Matte Ink Lipstick - Pioneer Red was made for me (really!) it’s the truest and bestest matte red lipstick (move over Ruby Woo) and it’s an OG veteran on my product podium list. It suits skin tones and all undertones. If we ever return to the mask wearing twilight zone again, this is the lipstick to use. My tip, make sure your lips are smooth and exfoliated as this really grips and dry, flaky will show you up.
Naturium Vitamin C Complex - love the gel consistency that enables it to slip and slide over the skin easily. I don’t normally tolerate a pure L-Ascorbic Acid product - I find them irritating, but this is just perfect and suitable for even the most sensitive skin.
Strivectin Daily Reveal Exfoliating Pads - Used consistently, I always get complimented on how great my skin looks - zero dullness, super smooth, less visible pores. This is all down to the quadruple ingredient combination: Alpha Hydroxy Acids (glycolic, azelaic), Beta Hydroxy Acids (salicylic acid), Poly Hydroxy Acid (gluconolacctone) and Transexamic Acid. If I have a photoshoot coming up and I want my make up so look flawless, I use these every other day in the days leading up.
Tatcha Moisturisers (all of them!) - they arrived in the UK market and literally ate it up. I love that they have one for every single skin type so that nobody misses out on plump, juicy and dewy skin. They also just feel nice to use, and you deserve niceness. If I had to chose, I’d say the Water Cream is my fave and the best for sometimes oily combination skin.
Moniker Blunder Beauty Cover Foundation/Concealer - these are my go-to for a natural make up look. The finish is very realistic to skin and you can use it sheer or build up for more coverage. A little goes a very long way and I love the ‘half’ shades as well which mean that its easier to get the perfect skin colour match. This is a very solid product and I have a few different shades to contour and highlight if needed. My only gripe is that it’s in a glass container, which I have dropped and shattered before.
Salcura Bioskin Junior - I love this range for dry eczema prone skin which is exactly what my son has. This really helps to soothe his skin and I’ve noticed a real difference in how quickly his skin recovers and we have less need for steroids. We use the Junior Daily Nourishing Spray and the Junior Outbreak Rescue Cream to drench his skin in moisture and prevent dryness.
Cerave Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser - Again for the kiddos as soap and regular body washes can be very drying and harsh. This is an excelent option that keeps their skin clean but not stripped. In fact it helps to replenish with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, essential fatty acids, squalene and glycerin. It’s a gentle foam and it washing off without an oily residue. Winner!