THIS WAS THE YEAR WHEN…

This was the year when…

Beauty priorities changed in 2020, but these best buys kept us going

SKIN NEEDED CALMING, MOODS NEEDED SOOTHING, AND WE ALL WONDERED HOW TO LOOK LOVELIER ON ZOOM. FROM THE INSTANT LIFT OF A BOLD LIP STAIN TO THE SPF WE WORE TO SOCIALISE OUTSIDE, HERE ARE THE PRODUCTS THAT HELPED TO HOLD RED’S BEAUTY TEAM TOGETHER

…we really needed to relax

AND WHAT BUOYS THE SOUL BETTER THAN BEAUTY?

Best bath salts

ESPA MODERN ALCHEMY THE GROUNDING CRYSTALS, £35 Like an upscale spa – the kind that leaves you feeling personally transformed – in a jar.

Best for brightening ORIGINS GINZING INTO THE GLOW BRIGHTENING SERUM, £39

An effective blend of powerhouses vitamin C, AHAS and hyaluronic acid, this works like an espresso shot to enliven lacklustre skin.

Best retinol MURAD RESURGENCE RETINOL YOUTH RENEWAL SERUM, £75 For newbies and retinoid aficionados alike, this delivers without irritating even sensitive skin (though we’d always advise a cautious approach).

Best aromatherapy range AROMATHERAPY ASSOCIATES ROSE, FROM £20

A totally different take on rose from one of the cleverest aromatherapy brands around. Rich, peppery and powerful, these uplift and reassure. (Shown here: Aromatherapy Associates Rose Hand Cream, £20; Rose Bath & Shower Oil, £49)

Best pre-sleep spritz BLOOM & BLOSSOM PYJAMARAMA DRY BODY OIL, £20 One pump covers your chest and arms with rest-inducing frankincense (you can mist this all over, but we don’t think you need to). Truly lovely.

…we invested in our skincare routines

HIGHPERFORMANCE SERUMS WERE TOP OF THE LIST

Best for everything

U BEAUTY RESURFACING COMPOUND, FROM £85

All of skincare’s most high-spec ingredients in one clever liquid. Give it two weeks and it’ll give you the most polished skin of your life.

Best vitality boost

LADY A DAILY FIX CAPSULES, £55 FOR 30 Chic CBD capsules with matcha green tea for slow-release caffeine with a side order of calm (and so easy to take on the go).

Best wellness fragrance

THE NUE CO. FOREST LUNGS, £80

This lush and resinous perfume replicates molecular compounds found in nature to capture the healing properties of walking through the woods – which it really does.

Best for radiance OLE HENRIKSEN BANANA BRIGHT VITAMIN C SERUM, £53 Banana powder-inspired pigments create an immediate glow, while vitamin C, backed up by polyhydroxy acid (think gentle exfoliation with hydrating benefits), provides the longer term illuminating, dark spot-fading magic.

Best for texture PAULA’S CHOICE CLINICAL NIACINAMIDE 20% TREATMENT, £45 A high percentage of the proven active from the woman who knows a thing or two about minimising pores and creating a more even skin tone. It’s impressive.

…we perfected our Zoom face

FAST WINS FOR DEFINITION ON-SCREEN, HELPING US LOOK PULLED TOGETHER EVEN IF WE DIDN’T FEEL IT

Best blush

FENTY BEAUTY CHEEKS OUT FREESTYLE CREAM BLUSH, £19 These punchy, non-greasy creams blend out to a sheer and pretty flush. A little goes a long way, melting into the skin but sticking around.

Best highlighter SAIE GLOWY SUPER GEL, £22

A beautiful liquid halo, which feels more like skincare than make-up and gives faces that thoroughly modern, freshly moisturised kind of gleam.

Best self-tan JAMES READ GRADUAL TAN CLICK & GLOW TAN DROPS, £25

This light, glowy and juicy-looking tan came into its own under the cold blue light of our screens. Mix into skincare for adaptable colour.

Best lip stain ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS LIP STAIN, £19

As weightless as water yet bolder than most stains, these are an easy way to brighten a bare face without feeling made-up (and we can’t overstate how long-lasting they are).

Best lipstick KEVYN AUCOIN UNFORGETTABLE LIPSTICK, £24 The perfect lipstick: unctuous but long lasting, in three finishes (Cream, Shine or Matte) and non-flashy shades that suit everyone. We wanted them all.

Best liquid liner BYREDO EYELINER IN TECHNICAL BLACK, £31 With a long, firm brush that’s easy to use, it practically draws the flicks for you. This flows on without skipping and stays all day.

Best all-day moisturiser CLINIQUE MOISTURE SURGE INTENSE 72-HOUR LIPID-REPLENISHING HYDRATOR, FROM £13

There’s no afternoon skin slump with the latest version of the classic cream-gel. Even dry skin looks freshly plumped on a 4pm call.

…we scrubbed up well WHO KNEW WE WOULDN’T GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT HAND SANITISER?

Best bubbles FARMOLOGIE BATH SOAK IN PINK GRAPEFRUIT, £5.99 From the makers of excellent kids’ line Childs Farm, this is zing in a bottle, but with oat-derived antioxidants and gentle foam to suit all skins.

Best body care VENN SYNBIOTIC POLYAMINE BODY WASH, £34 There’s something extraordinarily comforting about this silky, almost medically scented probiotic wash, which leaves skin feeling so ‘right’, it doesn’t need moisturising.

Best hand sanitiser SALTEE HANDS, £16 With 70% alcohol content (between 60% and 80% is recommended for microbial protection), plus aloe and dreamy neroli essential oil, this is elegant and effective.

Best hand wash DIPTYQUE SOFTENING HAND WASH, £45; REFILLS, £26 Smart glass bottles, therapeutic floral waters, then an amber-scented warmth… we couldn’t wait to wash our hands.

Best emergency skincare

KATE SOMERVILLE DELIKATE RECOVERY CREAM, £69 Everything Kate Somerville does is standout; this is exceptional. It quickly calms and restores long-term glow.

…our complexions were challenged FROM MASKNE TO STRESS-INDUCED FLARE-UPS, SKIN NEVER HAD IT SO HARD

Best mask THE BODY SHOP CBD SOOTHING OIL-BALM CLEANSING MASK, £17

A deep cleanse with velvet gloves on. White clay and nourishing oils leave skin feeling fresh, but also comforted.

Best day cream GARNIER ORGANIC RESTORING HEMP MULTI-RESTORE GEL CREAM, £7.99

A beautifully lightweight cream for tight and dry skin, this cools, hydrates and feels far more expensive than it is.

Best cleanser

THE INKEY LIST OAT CLEANSING BALM, £9.99

A simple, non-stripping cleansing balm we’ve reached for again and again, and have recommended on repeat, especially for sensitive skin.

Best spot treatment VICHY NORMADERM PHYTOSOLUTION S.O.S ANTI-BLEMISH SULPHUR PASTE, £17

In a world where spot treatments rarely work, this is a real find, shrinking blemishes and reducing redness night after night, without ravaging the skin.

Best soothing serum PAI INSTANT KALMER, £49

It takes the heat out of flustered skin almost immediately, while ceramides work to make the skin barrier more resilient.

Best acne serum LA ROCHE-POSAY EFFACLAR ULTRA CONCENTRATED SERUM, £32 With three acids (lactic, glycolic and salicylic) plus niacinamide and glycerine, this unclogs and resurfaces without drying, and sees off lingering dark marks.

…we wanted to look good WFH BUT WE WANTED TO FEEL GOOD, TOO – CUE COMFORTABLE MAKE-UP WITH SKINCARE BENEFITS

Best primer ELEMIS SUPERFOOD GLOW PRIMING MOISTURISER, £39 When you don’t want to reach for a base, this provides a little bit of blurring and a lot of dew. A pretty, healthy looking glow made easy.

Best foundation GIORGIO ARMANI NEO NUDE GLOW FOUNDATION, £32 An elevated tinted moisturiser, this foundation and skincare hybrid is easy to apply with fingers for a soft-focus, real-skin finish.

Best lip balm HONEST BEAUTY TINTED LIP BALM, £10

With the perfect ratio of tint to balm, this creamy (not waxy) stick hydrates and colours, without the need to constantly reapply.

Best powder BOBBI BROWN SHEER FINISH LOOSE POWDER, £31

Six nuanced shades allow for a match that’s invisible on the skin. Fine and non-drying, shine is dimmed throughout the day, even for oilier skin types.

Best concealer SHISEIDO SYNCHRO SKIN CORRECTING GELSTICK CONCEALER, £29 This innovative formula adapts to skin texture and condition for seamless coverage. It’s your skin at its best.

...we needed a good sunscreen BECAUSE IF WE WEREN’T IN FRONT OF A SCREEN, WE WERE IN THE PARK

Best SPF

SKINGREDIENTS SKIN SHIELD SPF50 PA+++, £39

A wonderfully silky sunscreen with a peachy tint that leaves skin looking filtered, and hard-to-find iron oxide for protection against blue light from screens and the sun.

...we dreamed of facials SKINCARE WAS OUR SELF-CARE, AS WE DIY’D OUR WAY TO BETTER GLOW

Best acid toner MEDIK8 PRESS & GLOW DAILY EXFOLIATING PHA TONIC, £25 (REFILL, £23) It’s gentle enough to use every day, but still steps up brightness by a noticeable gear. We love that it’s refillable, too.

Best all-rounder mask BALANCE ME AHA GLOW MASK, £20 Remove this and you’ll look a little pink for five minutes. Next time you glance in a mirror, you’ll admire your peachy-fresh, gloriously clean and bright complexion.

Best home peel PHILOSOPHY THE MICRODELIVERY DREAM PEEL, £45 We use this overnight resurfacer three nights in a row to create skin that’s significantly more radiant and less congested. A facial in a tube.

Best skin polisher WISHFUL YO GLOW ENZYME SCRUB, FROM £18

A speed date to smoother, more luminous skin with fruit and salicylic acids and non-scratchy polishing particles. Bonus points for the delicately pretty floral-fruity scent.

Best intensive moisturiser NUXE BIO ORGANIC CITRUS CELLS GLOW RICH MOISTURISING CREAM, £36 Like luxury lemon curd, if lemon curd could pack skin with hydration and gloss. Heavenly skincare with impeccable eco credentials.

...we let our eyes do the talking BECAUSE WHEN YOU’RE WEARING A MASK, THEY NEED TO SPEAK VOLUMES

Best mascara HOURGLASS UNLOCKED INSTANT EXTENSIONS MASCARA, £29

This deeply black tubing formula is more about length than heft. Great for expensive-looking lashes that don’t clog, bulk or smudge.

Best for brows

BENEFIT BROW MICROFILLING PEN, £22.50

We loved how this smart three-pronged pen filled and feathered our brows at a stroke, making so much more of less.

Best eye illuminator

L’ORÉAL PARIS TRUE MATCH EYE-CREAM

IN A CONCEALER, £9.99 Brightening pigments in a gleaming base with plenty of slip. Fan it all the way out around the eyes and you might not even need foundation.

Best eye colour MAYBELLINE COLOR STRIKE CREAMTO-POWDER EYESHADOW PEN, £7.99 Scribble and blend for a wash of colour, build up for a smoky eye or use the tip to line. Shades are perfectly judged; they’re effortlessly cool.

Best eye treatment STRIVECTIN HYPERLIFT EYE INSTANT EYE FIX, £38

Apply just the tiniest amount and watch as it dries to tighten up tired, baggy, puffy under-eyes (a fix until your next cleanse).

…we needed inspiration for our hair FUSS-FREE, HIGH-IMPACT FINDS SAW US THROUGH BETWEEN SALON APPOINTMENTS

Best for afro hair CHARLOTTE MENSAH MANKETTI OIL HAIR POMADE, £52 Why use an arsenal of products when one multipurpose balm does it all? This hydrates, defines and softens curls, tames edges and prevents flyaways.

Best shampoo & conditioner LARRY KING GOOD LIFE FOR YOUR HAIR SHAMPOO REFILL, £21, AND LIQUID HAIRBRUSH CONDITIONER REFILL, £23

All the gloss and swishiness you’d hope for, and King has shown the big guns how to do haircare more sustainably.

Best for blondes LIVING PROOF PERFECT HAIR DAY TRIPLE DETOX SHAMPOO, £25 Used as a weekly treatment, we found this lifts, brightens and adds sparkle to blonde hair that’s been dulled by hard-water deposits and product build-up.

Best colour boost

JOSH WOOD COLOUR GLOSS RED COLLECTION, £19 EACH (COPPER GOLD, CHERRY, ROSE BRUNETTE AND BERRY BRUNETTE)

In the past, redheads didn’t have extensive choice when it came to home-colour care. No more. These semi-permanent tinted glosses are game-changers, refreshing or adding depth to tone and amping up vibrancy and shine.

Best styling tool

GHD RISE, £169

Essential for styling and shaping wayward mops into something far more beautiful. Our blow-dries looked (almost) professional.

Best for curls TREPADORA BAMBOO GINSENG CURLING GLAZE, FROM £5 Definition, hold, shine, frizz-fighting; this gel ticked all our boxes for the prettiest waves, loose and tight curls.