spruced by marlene

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One of the face masks I most frequently use costs about the same as a scoop of ice cream. My favourite hair product, which is as expensive as it is without an alternative, costs about as much as an EasyJet ticket to Thessaloniki. Here’s little summer edition of 12 beauty products that are worth getting – both at budget and first class prices.

Budget

Eau Thermale from URIAGE. What do mothers really want after a week’s holiday on Corsica with four small children? Thirty minutes in a French pharmacy. The one we recently discovered in Porto Veccio was the size of a Tesco Express. We lost our minds a little bit. One of my favourite discoveries: this hypoallergenic thermal water that I use for calming my skin after removing make-up, against skin irritations or simply as a refreshing face mist when it’s hot outside.

Pure Tahiti Monoi Oil from HEI POA. A bottle of pure South Seas. The oil with a frangipani scent can be used for the body as well, but so far I’ve only tried it in my hair: 30 minutes before having a shower, as an overnight mask or just a few drops for smoothing – and my hair feels relieved from the shock of salt water, sweat and sunshine.

Skin Food Body Butter from WELEDA. Long-term readers of this blog know: My father, Victoria Beckham and I swear by Weleda Skin Food. The face cream is a bit rich for me in the summer (although Weleda now also do Skin Food Light). But the Body Butter for dry skin is a delight for all seasons and feels very soothing after a day in the sun.

Boy Brow from GLOSSIER. The reasonable price comes with a footnote. You have to know someone in the US, Canada, France, Denmark, Sweden, the UK or Ireland to send it to you (unless you live there anyway, of course). But in the hope that Glossier will soon start shipping to Germany: Boy Brow is a super light creamy pomade for shaping and filling in eyebrows. Available in four shades. Mine is Blond.

Prêt-à-Volume Mascara from CATRICE. I don’t like wearing a lot of make-up when it’s this hot, but I do like to accentuate my brows, cheeks and eyes a little. This volume mascara doesn’t flake, doesn’t clump and makes lashes look preposterously fluffy.

Deadsea Water Mineral Shower Gel from AHAVA. For a long time my skin would be blotchy, feel tight and look red after showering. Which I blamed on simply having dry skin. Then I read a column by my beauty guru Sali Hughes, in which she described these symptons as being aggravated by shower gels with SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate – the stuff that makes bathing products foamy), since they further dry out the skin. I switched to an SLS and paraben-free shower gel – and it has made a huge difference.

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First Class

Mineral Sunscreen Face Matte Tint SPF 30 from COOLA. When my friend asked me on holiday what Coola was all about, I described it as „One of those Gwyneth Paltrowy brands“. By which I mean the type that’s super fancy, ostensibly organic, usually expensive and thus very Goop. I should mention that I consciously fall for that kind of stuff a lot (see also: rose quartz roller). This time it was worth it, because this mineral face sunscreen is 1. full of good, non-GMO, cruelty-free ingredients and 2. isn’t sticky, gooey, oily, leaves a white cast or is any of the things sunscreens often are, but feels and applies like a light, tinted day cream.

Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt from CHRISTOPHE ROBIN. When you have a little dandruff, are experiencing itchiness, just had your hair coloured or are spending a lot of time in chlorinated swimming pools, this peeling helps the scalp and hair get back into balance. Clearly not cheap, but very rich and you only need a little bit of it for each treatment.

Translucent Bronzing Tint from DR. HAUSCHKA. The lotion is only availabe in one colour and adaptable to lots of different skin tones, as you mix however much you want of it in with your day cream for a sun-kissed look. If I want more coverage, I add a few drops to my foundation (which works wonders against ghostly skin in the winter).

Hoola from BENEFIT. Been using this for years and will keep using it as Hoola is still one of the only bronzers without any shimmer particles, which makes it look very natural.

Beauty Light Wand from CHARLOTTE TILBURY in Neutral. On the other hand: a bit of shimmer on the cheekbones looks great in the summer. I only just discoverd the effect and with the zeal of a late convert let me tell you: Highlighter is a revelation! Or, in other words: Like a filter without the need for an app. On a scale from zero to Kim Kardashian this highlighter from Charlotte Tilbury really hits the spot.

Supershine Moisturizing Cream from ORIBE. Oribe was the hair whisperer of supermodels like Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista, and whenever my hair looks shiny, soft and nourished enough for a photoshoot it’s thanks to this prodct. Quite literally brilliant.