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Scroll through your social media feeds and you’re likely confronted with dozens of ads extolling the miraculous properties of some expensive product, be that eternal youth, the perfect night’s sleep or – holiest of holies – foundation shade-matching (lies…). With so much beauty noise out there, we asked those in the know to fill us in on the beauty investments that are worth every penny. From celebrity hairstylists and makeup artists to GRAZIA’s very own beauty team, these are the beauty products worth buying and splashing out on.
Dom Seely – Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer
Catwalk hairstylist and glam squad extraordinaire Dom Seeley tends to the tresses of Selena Gomez, Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner and Eva Longoria among his clients. Not forgetting our very own Huda Kattan, of course. He’s also the Creative Director of Color Wow.
“I couldn’t be without my Dyson Tools. They might be pricey, but the technology behind them is what sets them apart. They changed the game with their Supersonic hair dryer – since the day it launched, I haven’t used another. The attachments are really well thought-out: they give anyone and everyone the power to create almost any look. It’s quiet, it’s lightweight and the intelligent heat control is faultless. It has never let me down. Don’t be caught out by dupe culture and counterfeits. Often it’s worth spending that little bit more to get the real deal. Lots of dupes don’t work, and counterfeits are unregulated and can cause permanent damage to your hair and health.”
Ruby Hammer – Armani Foundation
Ruby Hammer is a makeup artist, entrepreneur and the founder of Ruby Hammer Beauty. She was a pioneer of shade inclusivity way back in the late 90s, and has been a champion of individuality ever since. In 2007, she was awarded an MBE for her long-standing contribution to the cosmetics industry.
“If you are looking to invest in cosmetics start with a great foundation. One that seamlessly matches your skin tone, lasts all day and provides coverage that you know is there, but nobody else knows is cosmetic. I love Armani Luminous Silk Foundation for a lightweight, natural-looking glow that blurs imperfections without looking like you’re wearing foundation. A must-have in both my personal and work kit.”
NICOLA CHAPMAN – RED LIGHT THERAPY
Makeup artist, author and bona fide beauty royalty Nicola Chapman is one of the industry’s original influencers, who built an empire vlogging as one half of Pixiwoo, together with her sister Samantha.
“As a makeup artist, you would think my holy grail beauty investment would be a cosmetic. In fact, it’s red light therapy. Something you can do at home, RLT is a treatment that uses low-wavelength red light to improve your skin’s appearance, such as reducing wrinkles, scars, redness and acne. As well as helping make your skin appear better on the outside. It also helps on the inside. I have MS (Multiple Sclerosis) and I found that RLT really helps me. As an added bonus, I started to notice my brows growing thicker than they have ever been before.”
Allan Avendaño – Theraface pro
Known for his playful use of colour, celebrity MUA and TikTok wunderkind Allan Avendaño is on the speed dial of pretty much every major celeb, Gigi Hadid, Camila Cabello, Joey King and Zendaya included.
“The beginning of great beauty routines starts with great skin prep. I think investing in a tool like Therabody’s TheraFace Pro is worth every penny. It’s an all-in-one toning device that helps to lift, tone, depuff and clean your face. This tool is invaluable and will really help your beauty products go on more effectively and give your makeup looks a great canvas to start with.”
FRANKIE JABARKHYL – luxury perfume
GRAZIA Middle East’s Beauty Editor and self-confessed fragrance addict, Frankie Jabarkhyl, has worked for leading luxury titles in both the Middle East and the UK for over a decade.
“The power of perfume is undeniable – it can make you feel sexier, stronger, or just put a smile on your face in seconds. However, not all perfumes are created equally, and I strongly believe in splashing out on a top-quality scent rather than scrimping on a cheap knockoff. Not only do you get more bang for your buck (premium perfumes last much longer and require just a spritz or two), but – simply put – you can smell if something has been made with cheap ingredients. My most precious perfumes have adorned my vanity for years, and they’re still going strong. Not to mention the fact that just spritzing on a luxury fragrance is a sensory experience in itself. Choosing just one brand or perfume is like asking me to choose my favourite child – literally impossible. I am also a Libra, FYI. Which means choosing anything is painful. But one scent I always go back to is Tom Ford’s Noir de Noir. It’s indulgent, dark, rich and oh-so-addictive, and literally one spray lasts all night long.”
Teresa Tarmey – heliocare SPF
World-renowned facialist Teresa Tarmey has cleansed, peeled and microneedled some of the most recognisable faces in showbiz. With more than two decades of experience, her no-nonsense approach has amassed a cult-like following.
“My holy grail is a high-quality SPF 50+, hands down. It’s a must for me. I encounter so many people who think that wearing an SPF all year round isn’t necessary. But it’s not just sunshine that harms the skin, UVA and UVB can cause damage all year round – even indoors, on a cloudy day and in winter. SPF prevents sunspots, age spots, liver spots and hyperpigmentation, and it reduces skin ageing. We spend so much money on makeup, skincare and treatment. Why not use that one product that protects our skin better than the rest of them put together?”
MARCELA ALCALÁ – Augustinus bader the rich cream
The exquisite Marcela Alcalá, better known to the wider world as @MexicanButJapanese, is an NYC-based influencer exploring her multiracial identity through beauty, fashion and culture – often alongside her mother, Norma, who goes by @platinumpunk.
“My holy grail beauty investment is the Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream! I first got hooked during a masterclass with the Kardashian’s makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic. It’s like a facial-in-a-bottle! Immediately your skin looks so hydrated, plump and super glowy – but it also has all age prevention benefits. Most importantly it makes your makeup go on like butter. This is certainly my holy grail. A pricey one, but totally worth it!”
Annie Vischer – Shiseido Bio-Performance Skin Filler
Skincare aficionado Annie Vischer is the Beauty Director of Grazia UK and host of the brilliant Words on a Wedding podcast which covers all things bridal glamour.
“My skin loves hyaluronic acid (a moisture magnet ingredient that keeps it looking plump all day long) and last year Shiseido launched a skincare duo that elevated my bathroom cabinet line-up no end. Most hyaluronic acid serums work by holding water fast to the surface of your skin, but these go deeper. The Night Serum delivers compressed hyaluronic acid particles to the lower layers of the epidermis and the day serum expands them to deliver bouncy, juicy skin from within – think of it as Zip File-style tech adapted for skincare. Shiseido’s hyaluronic acid legacy dates back to the 80s, so it makes sense that they’re still well ahead of the game today.”
inge theron – Facegym hydrating active roller
Inge Theron is a former beauty and wellness and columnist, self-confessed spa junkie and the founder of everybody’s favourite facial PT FaceGym.
“I am a huge believer in hacking your collagen through face massage and bio-engineered topicals. Collagen is the cornerstone of firm youthful and plump-looking skin. My daily routine sees me boost it in the morning with the FaceGym Hydrating Active Roller. It stimulates collagen through rolling but also embeds the phyto retinol into my skin and makes my follow-on serum penetrate much better. After 5 min rolling I use my FaceGym Active Blast, specially-dosed balls of engineered collagen. This has literally changed my skin. My skin is so firm and clear since using this product and that’s because it’s clinically proven to be 200% stronger than any marine-derived product out there.”
Wendy and May – kate somerville cream & Kiehl’s serum
Wendy Asamadu and May Tahmina are MUAs, content creators and besties who recently teamed up as Wendy and May. Together, they showcase how different products appear on black and brown skin.
May: “I love the Kate Somerville Water Cream. All her products are exceptional, but this is one I’ve gone through so many times and would repurchase if I didn’t have backups! It’s perfect for sensitive skin and doesn’t clog your pores.”
Wendy: “I swear by the Kiehl’s Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate. I was recommended this many years ago and I’ve been using it ever since. It has improved my dehydrated skin so much and is worth every penny.”
Humeara Mohamed – Votary Intense Overnight Mask
GRAZIA’s own London-based beauty contributor Humeara Mohamed also leads the copy team at The Estée Lauder Companies’ in-house creative agency.
“My holy grail is Votary’s Intense Overnight Mask. My skin is, by society’s standards, a mess. Think: acne, scarring, eczema, the lot. As a beauty insider, I have access to the industry’s finest, but this doesn’t necessarily help. What people forget is that conditions like acne and eczema are chronic skin diseases; there’s no quick fix, only management. It therefore takes a lot for a non-doctor-prescribed product to really capture my heart. Votary’s Intense Overnight Mask is one of the chosen few thanks to its incredible skin-soothing properties. It’s packed with sensitive-skin favourites like hyaluronic acid and oat kernel, which flood my skin with moisture and keep it protected without irritating it, even with everyday use – no mean feat, trust me.”
