BEAUTY BUYS Iconic products
Up-end any beauty junkie’s toiletry bag (you may want to check with them first) and you’re sure to find at least one of these hero products in there. We’re giving them a slow clap for their excellence and longevity!
Chanel No.5, R1443
Legend has it that Coco Chanel met with a Russian perfumer in 1920 and challenged him to make a perfume that would make the wearer ‘smell like a woman and not like a rose’. When he presented her with samples, she picked the fifth, saying: ‘I show my collections on the fifth of May, the fifth month of the year, so let’s leave the number it bears, and this number five will bring it good luck.’ Launched in 1921, the scent has notes of jasmine, ylang-ylang and sandalwood. It has become synonymous with the ‘modern woman’.
Benefit Benetint Cheek & Lip Stain, R195 Believe it or not, this product has been around since the ’70s! It was created for an exotic dancer (the origin story isn’t exactly wholesome) and its popularity has soared ever since. The rose-coloured tint gives your lips a rich, natural hue and doubles as a blush.
Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm, R99
Burt’s Bees has been around since 1984, but launched in SA only last year. A little yellow tube of lip balm is sold every second worldwide. Think about it: that’s 86400 a day! The nourishing balm is a blend of shea butter, botanical oils, vitamin E and beeswax. Available at Dis-Chem or from takealot.com
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Skin Protectant, R315 Created in 1930, this is one of the brand’s most successful products – a tube is sold every 30 seconds. The allpurpose balm can be used to soothe and heal dry skin, chapped lips and irritated skin, as well as minor scrapes and abrasions.
Urban Decay Naked Smoky Eyeshadow Palette, R860 The ’90s are back – and so is the smokey eye! In past decades, this quintessential look was everywhere (although, granted, not everyone was equally successful in their attempts to pull it off). This smokey palette has all the shades you’ll ever need to recreate a sultry look, and includes a double-ended brush to smudge and blend.
Kiehl’s Creme de Corps, R460 Don’t let the plain Jane packaging fool you. This product has been a bestseller for four decades. Even Oprah can’t resist the Cocoa Butter, Squalane and Beta-carotene formula that leaves your skin feeling soft, supple and moisturised.
MAC red lipstick in Ruby Woo, R260
First launched in 1999, Ruby Woo became an instant hit. The Retro Matte lippy is the bestselling lipstick in the world, but what is it that makes it so great? For starters, it looks good on almost everybody. Don’t believe us? It’s a go-to shade for the likes of Rihanna, Taylor Swift and Sia.
YSL Touche Éclat , R610
Apparently, six of these pens are sold every minute worldwide. The light, vitamin E-infused formula brightens dark circles under the eyes and doubles as a highlighter on the cheekbones.