It's Oscar time. Phyl Clarkechooses products worthy of the red carpet.
Lights, camera, action - all set for the Oscars tomorrow night? I will no doubt plan to stay up just long enough to check out the dresses when the stars arrive, only to find myself still sitting there, boggle-eyed, at five am. When the good and the great come out in their finery, let's face it, we're hoping for a few style disasters to snigger at, and comfort ourselves with the fact that money can't buy taste. We are in award ceremony season, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank . . . sorry, to award, my own Beauty Oscars, for my best new products of the past year.
BEST COLLABORATION:When Estée Lauder commissioned the services of Tom Ford, its image rocketed. The colours, the packaging, the Black Orchid fragrance: take a bit of magic home.
BEST FOUNDATION:This year it has to be YSL Radiant Touch (€41). The fact that Touch Éclat, the YSL under-eye brightener, is sold every few seconds somewhere in the world probably gave them the idea that they were on to a winner. So they've expanded the formula into a radiant foundation. Smooth and light-reflecting, it also incorporates the beauty tool of the year, a foundation brush, which is incorporated into the dispenser. A winner in two categories.
BEST NAIL COLOUR:This goes to for its Black range in Satin and Ceramic (€18.50). Who'd have thought the dark nail could once again be so chic? The trick is to keep them short à la Kate Moss.
BEST EYE CREAM:Prevage by Elizabeth Arden (€99). Developed with the makers of Botox, this cream has a great non-greasy texture, claims to offer an immediate soothing effect and I'm sure I noticed a little lift to the eye area.
BEST PRODUCT YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU NEEDED:To be honest, I never felt an urgent need to protect myself against electromagnetic waves, but when Clarins rushed me a sample of their Screen Mist (€37) to save me from the above, and a host of other pollutants, they got my attention. Working in the city can have its downsides for your skin. Whatever the longterm effects, this product delivers a cool, refreshing spritz.
BEST MASCARA:Masterpiece by Max Factor. When I brought it home, more expensive mascaras were left untouched, while Masterpiece swept the boards. Simply cannot be beaten for quality at this price (€12.49).
THE ANTI-COMB-OVER AWARD:I'm not forgetting you guys out there. While making a purchase at the counter recently, a chap beside me was buying Adenogen Hair Energising Formula (€65), and he was clearly no stranger to the product. This product is like a vitamin pill for the hair, and although the word baldness is never mentioned, the underlying premise is that the key ingredient fosters hair growth. This fella had a grand mop of his own hair in any case.
BEST HAIR HELPER:Sometimes you need help when there is another week to go before your hair colour appointment, and those roots are jumping out at you in the mirror. Nice 'n' Easy Root Touch Up (€6.50) will save the day until you can get professional help.
BEST TREATMENT CREAM:Lancome's Secret de Vie is a velvety winner. It's a water-in-silicone emulsion that's recommended for night time use, but I've been treating my skin to it each morning, too. It'll cost you €186 for the privilege. Eek
BEST FACE MASK:The upper half of the face is prone to wrinkling, the lower half to sagging, so with that horrible thought in mind Crème de la Mer has come up with the ultimate home facial treatment. To call this a mask is not really doing it justice. Radiant Facial starts with a primer and follows up with a two-part mask. With eight treatments in the box, which costs a hefty €385, you'll be lucky to have any change left for the moisturising face cream which they recommend you use afterwards. But your skin will feel like a baby's, and who can put a price on that?