My Top Six Products

I'm a firm believer that you can judge a man by his shoes and a woman by the contents of her bathroom cabinet, although god knows what people would say about me after seeing mine - it's bursting with everything from a freebie scent samples to my treasured Chanel Rouge Noir nail varnish (but more on that later).

Being the addict that I am, I just can't pass a makeup counter without trying new products (and more often, new versions of products I already own) and there seems to be some sort of strange magnetic attraction between me and the nearest Boots  Chemist  where  I can happily while away the hours testing new lotions and potions.  That said there are six products (I just couldn't whittle it down to five!) that I buy over and over again. Here they are:

1.       Chanel Rouge Noir Nail Varnish £16.50

                I bought this on the spur of the moment in an airport as my name was being called over the loudspeaker to urgently board my flight - one of the many nearly sticky situations my beauty product addiction has pulled me in to. It's a dark enough red to be edgy (and almost vampy) but the high shine finish means that it remains glamorous and the fact that it remains chip free for days is a major selling point. This varnish is always sure to attract compliments.

2.       Bobbi Brown Matte Bronzer in Light £23.50

                Another duty free purchase, this won't make you look like an aging 80s throwback because it is sparkle-free. This is the best option for me to get a warm glow as I'm always a bit nervous of using fake tan on my face. The beauty of this pressed bronzer in "light"  is that you can build it up from a sun-kissed daytime look to a darker evening look so it's much more versatile than the more dramatic powders that most premium brands seem to offer.

3.       Ponds Cold Cream Cleanser £3.99

                An oldie but a goody. This is by far the best cleanser I have bought for under a tenner. I slather this thick cream on in the evening over my whole face and neck and rinse it off with a muslin cloth and warm water. It's rose and jasmine smell is divine and its natural oils leaves my skin soft enough to skip moisturiser and practically dissolve even waterproof mascara.

4.       Vaseline £1.29 - £1.89 for 20g lip balm tin, £1.99 for 100g pot
                    Something everyone should have. I keep pots of Vaseline as permanent fixtures in all of my handbags  to make sure I'm never without a slick of this wonder balm. If you haven't already, try the Rose and Almond oil version which works a treat on chapped lips and smells amazing. The original is fabulous for taming unruly brows and I have been known to cover my hands and feet with it before going to bed - it makes them super soft.

5.       Jo Malone Lime, Basil and Mandarin Cologne £34 for 30ml, £68 for 100ml
                   This fresh and zesty scent is the perfect Christmas present for any lucky female friends and relations. It's young, easy to wear and not overbearing but noticeable enough that I often get asked what perfume I'm wearing. It's not cheap but a bottle lasts for a long time and I never tire of its delicious smell.

6.       Batiste Dry Shampoo £2.30 - £3.49

              Admittedly the original version of this smells synthetic and slightly medicinal, but there are eleven different types to choose from including my favourite floral smelling Blush and Diva, special coloured versions for brunettes and redheads and even one with sparkles - perfect for the festive season! Thanks to this genius product I can skip a shampoo every now and then without a hint of grease; perfect for festivals and after blowdries or if you're just feeling a bit lazy. Just make sure you rub this white spray in well enough - occasionally I get strange looks and realise that I look far beyond my years with a white stripe through my hair.