Leading beauty buys tested by the Health & Beauty team

Effortless coverage

Saskia Marsh, Account Manager, tried Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Hydrating Longwear Foundation in 300

‘As someone who doesn’t like the look and feel of heavy make-up, I love that this foundation has a nice, natural finish while still giving medium/full coverage. I was able to find a shade that perfectly matches my skin tone, thanks to the huge range. It’s so lightweight, it just melts into my skin – brilliant!’

Turbocharged shadows

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Turbocharged shadows

Danielle Hine, Health and Lifestyle Director, tried KVD Vegan Beauty* Lolita Por Vida Eyeshadow Palette

‘With eyeshadow, I need drama, serious pigment (my oily lids eat make-up) and sparkle. Plus, it must be easily applied with fingers. Tall order, much? Luckily, this divine palette was up to it, with its combo of rich, earthy base colours, iridescent shimmers and my new ride-or-die eye colour: Reina. Dip the tip of your ring finger into this gold glitter for lids that look coated in tiny sequins. It’s so pigment-tastic, it lasted 12 hours. The. Dream.’
*KVD Vegan Beauty is brand-new to Boots.

Concealer saviour

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Concealer saviour

Abbie Skliarsky, Lifestyle Writer, tried Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Concealer in 140

‘Usually, long-wear concealer creases, making it obvious you’re trying to hide super-tired eyes. Not with this concealer, though! It’s lightweight, which I didn’t expect from the full coverage it offered – and it lasted all day. I applied it by putting a few dots under my eyes and melting and blending it in using just the warmth of my fingers. My new staple, for sure!’

Gelling well

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Gelling well

Adrian Farr, Chief Operations Officer, tried
Ole Henriksen C-Rush Brightening Gel Crème

This was a bit of a revelation – a real upgrade from my regular moisturiser, which I’ve been using for years. Light and easily absorbed, I was really impressed with how it made my skin feel and look. And when a friend commented on how well I looked as we took a (socially distanced) walk, I knew it was a keeper!’

Wow with lashes

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Wow with lashes

Sarah-Jane Corfield-Smith, Beauty Director, tried KVD Vegan Beauty* Go Big Or Go Home Mascara

‘I don’t leave the house without wearing mascara. My lashes are so fair, I need as much help as possible to make them look defined and visible – and this didn’t disappoint. The wand is chunky so grabbed on to all my lashes and coated them with a jet-black formula without clumping. And it didn’t budge all day, even after a drizzly walk and bathing both my children (when I got soaked!).’
*KVD Vegan Beauty is brand-new to Boots.

Set for summer

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Set for summer

Sarah O’Neill, Content Sub-Editor, tried Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Setting Powder

‘I like to wear foundation every day, but finding the right setting powder is difficult. I want it to complement my base without showing up fine lines or looking cakey. Ta-dah! This powder ticks all the beauty boxes. Using a light dusting of it with a large brush, the super-fine finish gives a soft-focus, flattering effect, is long-lasting and feels as light as air. Add to the list the gorgeous, luxury jar and this is staying at the top of my make-up bag.’

Dream lips

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Dream lips

Geraldine Lynch, Creative Director, tried KVD Vegan Beauty* XO Vinyl Lip Cream in Carnation

‘I don’t normally wear lip gloss, as it tends to “fall off“ quickly. But this has great staying power, so was a welcome surprise. The cream comes with a sturdy, easy-to-apply applicator that allows for dramatic shape creation. It has a strong pigment, and I think this shade works perfectly for both day and night (now that lockdown is lifting).’
*KVD Vegan Beauty is brand-new to Boots.

It's magic!

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It's magic!

Charlotte Price, Content Editor, tried Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Crème

‘Whether it’s due to lack of sleep or too much worrying, I’ve noticed bags developing under my eyes in the last few months – not a great look on Zoom. But this magical eye cream has saved the day. Not just a moisturiser, it also brightens the area around my eyes and helps firm up any puffiness. Plus, it’s an amazing base under make-up. It’s really refreshing, too, and somehow makes my skin feel more awake.’

Make an impression

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Make an impression

Michelle Daburn, Advertising Director, tried KVD Vegan Beauty* Liquid Tattoo Liner

‘I never go out without defining my eyes with a liquid liner, and I love that this is smudge-resistant and waterproof – it really did stay-put the whole day. My eyes are quite small, but the precise brush-tip made it really easy to get a perfect winged-eye flick.’ *KVD Vegan Beauty is brand-new to Boots.

Good to glow

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Good to glow

Julia Martin, Head of Content, tried
Ole Henricksen Banana Bright Vitamin C Serum

‘What with hours spent working at the kitchen table, running around after two under-fives and not enough time outside, my skin has been looking decidedly lacklustre of late. So this serum, packed with actives such as hyaluronic acid and vitamin C, was exactly what I needed. The cheery orange packaging and zingy fragrance alone made me feel instantly brighter. And after just a few days, my skin looked sunnier, too – definitely a new routine essential.’

The right balance

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The right balance

Helen Daly, Content Director, tried Ole Henriksen Glow2OH Dark Spot Toner

‘I’ve never really “got” toners before, finding them to be an uneventful addition to my skincare routine, but this has changed all that. It’s super-gentle on my skin, and beneath the sweet smell of lemon, camomile and sandalwood is a hard-working cocktail of glow-giving active ingredients. Glycolic and lactic acids exfoliate away my excess oil and those pesky skin-dulling dead skin cells. As for my dark spots? What dark spots! I’m sold!’

The 11 beauty products Health & Beauty staffers put to the test

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