HIDDEN GEMS
World-renowned brands like Chanel, Dior, and YSL Beauty have been turning out blockbuster beauty products for decades—in some cases, for more than a century. (Shiseido turns 150 this year.) With such extensive catalogs, they have had no shortage of hits, but their quieter successes are often equally intriguing. For every Chanel No. 5, there’s a Chanel Cuir de Russie, a perfume that beauty insiders are just as quick to recommend. “When I first bought it in 2005, the salesperson had to bring it out from the back. It wasn’t even on display,” says Tania Sanchez, coauthor of Perfumes: The Guide, the definitive compendium of scents. Here, a roundup of some of the other stealthy favorites that you may not know about…yet.
BROW DOWN Makeup artist Daniel Martin, who works with Meghan Markle, swears by Shu Uemura Hard Formula Eyebrow Pencil ($26). Pro tip: Martin uses Stone Gray for Asian clients. “It gives brows depth without appearing too dark.”
STROKE OF GENIUS Shiseido MicroLiner Ink ($22) is one of the most versatile tools in makeup artist Benjamin Puckey’s kit. “I’m obsessed with how fine the tip is,” he says. “Work it into the root of your lashes for contrast, create a sharp winged liner, or smoke it out with a brush.”
SOMETHING SWEET Kayali founder Mona Kattan has more than 3,000 perfumes in her collection but regularly reaches for Van Cleef & Arpels Orchidée Vanille ($220). “It’s my go-to scent for layering,” she says.
POP SENSATION This late-’90s scent is so on trend, in sync with fashion’s current embrace of the decade. Dior Hypnotic Poison ($62) has a subtle root-beer-like scent that still feels elevated.
GENTLE CYCLE Paris-based line René Furterer is known for its botanically based formulas, earning it a following among hairstylists like Mara Roszak. She recommends Naturia Extra-Gentle Shampoo ($26) in particular, “which cleanses without stripping and leaves hair fresh and full of movement.”
SCENT OF THE CITY In Manhattan’s C.O. Bigelow, established in 1838, Roger & Gallet travel soaps ($36 for three) can barely stay on the legendary pharmacy’s shelves. “The Jean Marie Farina scent is an amazing colonia,” says Bigelow president Ian Ginsberg, referring to the soap’s crisp citrus fragrance.
FRENCH CONNECTION YSL Beauty Rive Gauche ($84) is not a starter perfume. With oakmoss, vetiver, and musk, it’s “the big ’70s aldehydic floral,” says Sanchez of the 1971 scent. While it’s intense at first spray, “fading allows its inner light to radiate more. It’s a masterpiece.”
ANCIENT ELIXIR Since 1897, Shiseido Eudermine Revitalizing Essence ($62) has been pulling off a tricky feat: The watery, peony-scented lotion adds moisture with hardly any weight.
CLEAN SWEEP Erno Laszlo is a brand steeped in Hollywood heritage (Katharine Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe were top clients), and it has some of the best basics available. The Phelityl Cleansing Bar ($40) is a dream for dry complexions. The formula is packed with essential fatty acids to help rebalance skin.
FAST FIX Makeup artist Sarah Uslan, who works with Olivia Colman, relies on Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation Stick ($44) “for quick, easy coverage.” It also comes in a wide shade range.
VERY VERSATILE Armani Beauty Eye & Brow Maestro ($35) is the ne plus ultra of on-the-go makeup. “It’s a brow gel, a cream shadow, and an eyeliner, and it doesn’t fade,” says makeup artist Nick Barose, who works with Lupita Nyong’o.
RAY OF LIGHT Since she was a little girl in Paris, makeup artist Violette has been “captivated” by Guerlain Météorites ($64) highlighting powder. It gives cheeks an incandescent glow.
BRUSH WITH GREATNESS The Nars Yachiyo Kabuki brush ($40) has a fluffy dome head that works perfectly for sculpting cheeks, says Puckey.
HIGH DRAMA Don’t get hung up on the name. Chanel Cuir de Russie ($250) translates to “Russian leather,” but it doesn’t have a tanning-factory scent. “It’s luxurious and outrageous and has the cosseting effect of throwing on a floor-length chinchilla coat without any chinchillas coming to harm,” says Sanchez.
SECOND SKIN “M.A.C. Blot Powder ($30) is the unsung hero of pressed powders,” says makeup artist
Fara Homidi, who works with Bella Hadid. “It never adds any coverage, and there’s no fear of buildup with reapplication. I like to use it around the lips after applying lipstick to avoid feathering.”
WARM THOUGHTS It’s all about the drydown, says Kattan, talking about her beloved Hermès Ambre Narguilé ($280). The sweet amber scent evolves into a smoky, sophisticated fragrance as the day goes on. HB