A gorgeously groomed welcome to this seventh annual Inspire Beauty Awards.
Since I had the joy of taking over your cosmetics column in 2021, the industry, like the country at large, has been on a wild ride: Covid, lockdowns, cost of living crises and more leaders than one can imagine ( cuticle) stick. And it’s not like the rest of the world has been a bastion of calm.
Still, beautification rituals have always stabilized, excited and diverted us, lifting the spirits of humanity when the world seems a vast and confusing place. Taking care of our hair, nourishing our body and decorating our face provide simple but profound pleasures.
As a result, the beauty industry is booming, worth £27.2 billion annually, according to the British Beauty Council.
The sector’s employment rates expanded 10 percent in 2023, supporting a workforce of more than 603,000 people, many of them working women. It is an achievement that all Britons should be proud of.
Our creatives, our business moguls, our products lead the world, whether it’s Charlotte Tilbury’s foundations, Pat McGrath’s palettes, Lisa Eldridge’s lipsticks, Victoria Beckham’s eye pencils or the wonderful products so abundantly available at Superdrug and Boots; The first will turn 60 this year, the second 175 years old.
All things considered, the industry grew an impressive 11 percent last year, with more brands (and more dazzling levels of choice) than ever before.
How do you, the punters looking for satisfaction and solutions, navigate such a wide range of products?
From mascara to hair care, eyeliner to nails, have your say in our seventh annual Beauty Awards.
The answer, as always, is with the help of your friends here at Inspire, which is where this year’s Inspire Beauty Awards come into play.
We asked three beauty obsessives what their product passions are in 2024: British Beauty Council chief executive and founder Millie Kendall OBE; makeup artist and brand owner Ruby Hammer MBE; plus skincare fanatic and Inspire editor Katherine Spenley.
Naturally, I’ve also given you my favorites. After all, I’ve tried countless blushes, balms, and brushes on your behalf over the past 12 months. My list checks off the crème de la crème: the beauty purchases I’ve lived with, loved, and trusted time and time again.
So stop what you’re doing right now and take a look at our inventory of excellence. Choose your loved ones’ Christmas stockings and then vote for the winners.
INTRODUCING OUR PANEL OF JUDGES
MILLIE KENDALL, OBE
Whether as a brand founder, consultant or PR, Millie, CEO of the British Beauty Council, has been involved in the industry for almost 40 years.
Millie Kendall (pictured) chose a Skin Rocks flannel as her favorite beauty tool
I see that many brands are betting on line extensions instead of new launches, and I think that’s very smart. That’s how Glossier works: you give the consumer what they want. For example, L’Occitane expanded their Almond line, although I chose the original shower oil which I love. So they relied on what they know works. I think that means you’ll find more in the stores you like.
If you don’t know the Canadian brand 19/99, designed to appeal to everyone aged 19 to 99, you really should. Their brow pencil is hard enough to draw hair-like lines and the shades are bright – the light one is the perfect taupe shade for dirty blondes like me.
When it comes to tools, you might expect me to choose a makeup brush but as I’ve gotten older, it’s a lot about skin care and a good cleanse is the foundation. Some love muslins, but I prefer flannels and Skin Rocks has the best. It’s great quality and big enough to cover your face. My family couldn’t live without them.
(instagram.com/milliekendall)
RUBY HAMMER, MBE
Makeup artist Ruby has been a beauty staple since the 1980s and launched her range, Ruby Hammer, in 2019.
Ruby Hammer (pictured) chose Natrium body wash as her top choice for the shower
I’m price conscious when it comes to beauty, but that doesn’t mean everything has to be cheap. If something works then you are willing to pay for it. I especially enjoy discovering smaller brands that offer products at an affordable price.
Take Hildun, an Irish company, for example: their Beauty Silk to Set Kajal Liner is a lovely and versatile eyeliner. It’s no different than the Victoria Beckham, but Hildun is half the price. Refy is another brand you may not have heard of: their eyebrow pencil has the perfect texture and is also hard.
I first discovered my shower choice, Naturium, in the United States. The body wash comes in 500ml bottles and is one of those products that people love.
Rehab is an eco-conscious British brand and I love their hair oil capsules. They are versatile (you can use them on wet or dry hair) and I think they are great when you have those gray hairs that have a different texture, they just straighten and soften them.
(instagram.com/rubyhammer)
HANNAH BETTING
Inspire beauty columnist Hannah lives in London with his companion Terence and the dog Pimlico.
According to Inspire beauty columnist Hannah Betts (pictured), Glossier’s Boy Brow Arch delivers the dreamy natural look.
Makeup has been truly beautiful in 2024: cutting-edge tints replace foundation; blush usurping the contour; flatteringly revealing mascara; lipstick giving way to subtle and voluminous pencils.
Eyebrow technology also appeared – great news for over-plucked people. Glossier’s Boy Brow Arch is a natural-looking dream: a precision tip for hair-like strokes and a flat side to fill in gaps, long-wearing, and resistant to water, smudges, and humidity.
But then I could have included Glossier as a foundation, concealer, lipstick and body cream. It is an exceptional brand for all ages. You could also feature Kiko in several categories: a budget-friendly, but brilliant choice.
I have become devoted to Heliocare 360° AR Emulsion SPF50+. Loved by dermatologists for its comprehensive protection, its pure beige glow fades into the skin, minimizing redness. It is also an excellent base that keeps makeup in good condition.
As always, I’m a high-low shopper: expensive on foundation (Bobbi Brown), cheap on cleanser (Avène); I spend on bath oil (Olverum), cheap body lotion (M&S), both with a sublime scent. You pay your money, you make your choice. This is mine.
KATHERINE SPENLEY
Inspire editor Katherine lives in London with her husband Anthony.
Inspire editor Katherine Spenley (pictured) can’t live without Batiste dry shampoo
For me, the best beauty products are those that turn (or fake) me into an improved version of myself. I’m a skincare obsessive and a devotee of the minimalist look.
Take Every & One, my choice for body cream. My main criteria for a body cream is that it works quickly. I’d love to have time for a wonderfully scented oil to slowly work its magic, but every day? Frankly, who does it? This is also gentle enough to use on your face.
I have very fine long hair and I am always looking to add volume; I really can’t live without Batiste dry shampoo; A fine mist on clean hair is an instant shortcut to bounce. Likewise, my Shiseido eyelash curlers are hands down the best way to fake an extra hour of sleep.
I love taking a long bath with a generous swirl of Jo by Jo Loves gel. And when it comes to an indulgent night cream, Hannah introduced me to the excellent, if expensive, Tatcha Dewy skin range. I love the ritual of taking a little bit of this rich cream with its delicate golden spoon, and so do the results.
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