The Perfect 10

"She's a perfect 10. But she wears a 12. Baby keep a little 2 for me." I will use any excuse to break out into song... even when writing. I have brainstormed and stormbrained for days reducing my top 10 beauty product list to an OCD-pleasing 10. You may notice that there are few (in fact only one) makeup item on my list - clearly I'm much more accepting to change in this department. Without fur a due, drumroll please...

1. Garnier Summer Body Gradual Tan Lotion

It took me a while to get used to gradual tanners as for years I have been a die-hard mahogany lover. But since sporting a more suiting hair colour I have taken a trip down natural lane and fallen in love with this product. You can see a difference after the first application and after that you can choose to build it up to your desired colour. I absolutely hate it when it takes a gradual tanner 3 days to show a mild colour but then again I always buy the dark versions. I am a firm believer that you're better using less of dark than more of a light version as the darker version will have a browner undertone compared to the often orangey undertone of the light version. This does leave a slight greasy 'film' over your skin so I always apply it before bed which means you can wake up glowing, moisturised and smelling of apricots. WIN WIN.

2. Body Shop Body Butter

I've tried countless copycats and none have ever matched up to the ever powerful, the ever great Body Shop Body Butter. In fact, I recently had an allergic reaction to this Sainsbury's version not so long ago (FYI I've had an allergic reaction to Sainsbury's products in the past - SORT IT AAT SAINZ). I put this on after my shower before bed to reap the full effects of it's deep moisturising qualities and wake up still feeling silky smooth and smelling good enough to eat (don't eat it though, I've tried that...). If I had to pick a favourite flavour I think it would be Coconut... or Cherry... or Satsuma. HECK, I can't decide; they all smell amazing and are super moisterising!

3. Real Techniques Buffing Brush

I honestly can't remember how I applied my makeup before this little baby was invented. This is perfect for all liquid foundations and I will, without fail, use this every day. It works product seamlessly into the skin, offering a flawless coverage which I'm sure has saved me a few pennies splashing out on new foundations. You can buy it as part of the Core Collection set from Boots in the UK but a little tip for you if you're not interested in owning the whole set you can either buy or sell on eBay. I can vouch for both of these methods after loosing two brushes to the dance floor.

4. Tangle Teezer Original

I have had the original Tangle Teezer for just over 2 years now. Any later and I think I would have had to have dreadlocks cut out of my hair by now. What more can I say than IT BLOODY WORKS. My hair is so thick and quite long so brushing it has always seemed like a chore but this makes life so much easier as the bristles are really gentle when it comes to brushing out tangles. My sister says it looks a bit like a horse brush but that's a small price to pay and with the latest colours and designs I'm sure there's one to suit every personality. I love it so much I'm currently looking into buying the Aqua Splash for after swimming practice and the Compact Styler for on the go hair nightmares.

5. Revlon ColorStay Foundation for Oily/Combination

If you read my blog post yesterday you won't be surprised to find this product amongst my top 10. I truly believe Revlon are the KINGS of drug-store foundations and I am yet to find one that matches up to the coverage this one gives - particularly on my oily skin. I think it will always be a staple piece in my collection because it's price to quality ratio currently remains unbeaten. If you'd like to read a more in-depth review click here but for now I will just say that I love it and throughly recommend it!

6. GHD IV Limited Edition Styler

This is a slightly more obscure item on the list as I don't actually straighten my hair a great deal. That, mainly being due to how thick and long it's now gotten - it's a bloomin' workout and a half! That said a life without these straighteners makes me shudder. I am sure there are other great brands out there but GHD have always worked for me and everyone else. I have also had a couple of pairs break on me thanks to an African plug socket and a tripped fuse and GHD have been the best company I've ever had to deal with, sending a completely new set, no questions asked. My exact model is no longer available but you can see the ruddy wonderful new limited edition sets right here. My favourite is the yellow?

7. St. Moriz Instant Self Tanning Mousse

Ahh, the bargain of all bargains. With a RRP of £4.99 this has to be one of the cheapest fake tanners around. It is not my favourite tanner but considering the price tag it is the one I will repurchase the most and I have to throw it out there I do prefer it to the similarly named St. Tropez. This is a great product to start of with if you're a first time tanner as you can see instantly where you're applying it. Although it dries very quickly so make sure you work on small areas at a time and maybe try the medium version first as the dark version is DARK. That, however, is what I like most about this product - there is no hint of orange-ness what-so-ever (unless you apply 50 layers perhaps?) and leaves you with a natural (but not) glow.

This can be purchased at discount stores such as Savers, Wilkinsons or TJ Hughs and online at Missguided, Katy's Cosmetics and, of course, eBay.

8. No.7 Eyelash Curlers

I can't compare these to the cult favourite - Shu Uemura but what I can say is that these transform my straight-ass lashes into cupids curls within a couple of seconds. They are easy peasy to use and with a good mascara the curl will last all day. I love the dark sheen finish, giving them a more expensive look but at £7.25 they are a cheaper alternative to the Shu Uemera and an absolute steal if you happen to have a No.7 £5 off Voucher to hand like I did!

9. Bioderma Sensiblo H20

It may sound a bit dramatic but this product has changed my night time skin care routine. For years I have been scared to stray from my Johnson's Sensitive Wipes after suffering numerous allergic reactions to all kinds of skincare. But after reading countless reviews and knowing the positive reputation French skin care has I took the plunge. Luckily I wasn't disappointed and I love this so much I've even got the mini bottle for travelling. I use this to take my makeup off at night followed by a deeper cleanser and alone as a cleanser in the morning. It's absolutely perfect for removing all traces of make-up quickly and effectively whilst still remaining gentle. 4 for you Bioderma, you go Bioderma. Despite it's popularity, it's still not readily available to purchase in the UK but I currently buy mine from this seller on eBay. I do hear from certain sources (1, 2 and 3) that it is set to arrive any day though... *fingers crossed*

10. Murad Blemish Spot Treatment

I have had troublesome skin from since I can remember. It has never been regarded as acne but I've always had regular, and sometimes severe, breakouts. As a result I have tried numerous spot treatments and many, including some of the big brands have failed me. Last year, nearing the end of uni, I was on the hunt for a new treatment to combat my 'super stress spots' developed from third year hand-ins and came across the Murad range. I apply a thin layer of this over the target area at night and often by the morning I am completely spot free. This really is what you'd always hoped your toothpaste would achieve as a teenager!


So there you have it my complete 'Perfect 10' list and I think I could live quite happily with just these items (as long as the desert island is included of course). I challenge you all to create one of these lists - you may even surprise yourself  with what you go for when you really think hard. If you do, don't forget to link back to me here as I'd love to read them all if you do. Also why not leave some of your own 'holy grail' products below? I'm always on the look out for trying new things!