Which make-up and beauty saviours can the MC team not live without? We've delved into the desk drawers of some our busiest editors to see which products help them through their hectic days packed full of meetings, deadlines, shoots and parties.
Get your shopping lists ready, these are the beauty buys we've come to rely on:
Trish Halpin, Editor-in-Chief Balance Me Rose Otto Hand Cream, £14.50 'Smells heavenly and is luscious and thick – perfect for my annoyingly dry hands.’
Clarins Mosiac Bronzing Palette, £26 ‘I love this palette – it’s so pretty. This is in my evening make up kit in my drawer, as I often have to go straight to dinners, launches and parties after work.’ Clarins Rouge Eclat in 01 Nude Rose, £19.50 ‘I have a small mouth so can’t wear bright colours, this is the perfect everyday pinky nude.’
Chanel Vitalumiére Loose Powder Foundation SPF15, £55 ‘I usually just wear tinted moisturizer, but sometimes need a bit more help and a sweep of this smoothes away shine and evens things out’
Hermés Jour d'Hermés Absolu, £105 for 85ml ‘This is the winner of our fragrance awards and I’ve been spraying it on myself and around my office all summer. It’s gorgeous!’
Veridian Nutritional Supplements ‘I’m hopeless at remembering to take supplements at home so leave these out on my desk as a lunchtime reminder.’
Bottega Veneta, £50 for 50ml ‘I wear this when I’m going straight from work to an evening event. It’s heady and sultry and helps me switch into party mode.’
Suzanne Scott, Beauty Editor
John Frieda Full Repair Touch-up Flyaway Tamer, £10.99 'I honestly don’t know what I would do without this stuff. I’m plagued by annoying fluffy and broken hair around my hairline and a lick of this serum is the only thing that calms it.'
Cowshed Cow Slip Natural Antibacterial & Soothing Hand Gel, £7 'I’m a bit of a hygiene freak and so getting the tube is a nightmare! I wash my hands when I get in the office and top-up with this anti-bac gel. I pop it in my bag for germy situations while I’m out and about too. It’s not drying and it smells good.'
Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream, £21 'My hands get dry, probably because I wash them so much. This hand cream is really hydrating without being greasy.'
Ole Henriksen Nurture Me Cleansing Cloths, £12 for 30 'Wipes are an absolute must on the beauty desk. More often than not my hands reflect a patch-work of make-up swatches so a pack of wipes need to be at hand at all times. These ones don’t strip my skin because they don’t contain alcohol and they smell delicious.'
Vichy Dermablend Total Body Corrective Foundation 16hr, £29.75 'I’m always interviewing people in this job and while I don’t find that particularly stressful my neck tells another story. I call it my ‘stress rash’ and it makes my neck awfully red. This foundation covers it with ease, it blends in with fingers and it doesn’t rub off onto my clothing. This stuff is genius.'
Aromatherapy Associates Relax Light from the Essential Travel Oils set, £33 'This job can be a little stressful, what with the deadlines, the last minute appointments and interviews and what-not. This is my go-to destresser, my little slice of nirvana in another wise hectic day. I pour a couple of drops into my plams, rub them together and then cup my face and breath in the essentials oils. Bliss.'
Siân Parry, Photography Director
Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist Intense, £42 'A gorgeous spritz of rosewater mist. Great to keep on the desk for warm days, or to perk up and moisturise, even on top of make-up, especially in air-con offices.'
Paul & Joe Blotting Papers, £4 'So handy for reducing shine without a build up of power if you've got a long day ahead.'
Percy & Reed Shine & Fragrance Spray, £22 'I love this spray to freshen up hair especially if I'm going out straight from the office, it makes my bob shine and smells divine!'
Fracas by Robert Piquet Solid Parfum, £65 'My favourite perfume in a solid form. More subtle for the office, I can dab on rather than blasting everyone with a cloud of tuberose! The tiny compact is perfect to pop into an evening purse too.'
Lipstick Queen Velvet Rope Lipstick, £36 'I'm never far away from a red lipstick, and this is my current favourite. Brat Pack is a matte, heavily pigmented classic 1940s red, but with a light texture. I love it.'
Aerin Rose Hand & Body Cream, £36 'Hand cream, an office drawer essential, but no reason not to make it a luxurious one.'
Aromatherapy Associates Support Breathe Essence, £18 'Comfort on the more challenging days. Deep breaths…'
Victoria Moss, Acting Fashion Features Director
Tom Ford Costa Azzura, £142 for 50ml 'A good perfume is a desk essential. This is bright, uplifting and a touch masculine.'
Bobbi Brown Sheer Color Cheek Tint in Sheer Pink, £17 'This is discontinued but I love it. It’s super easy to blend too.'
Chanel Le Vernis in 623 Mirabella, £18 'A bright, coral/pink is the perfect nail colour for warmer months.'
Sisley Lipstick in L30, £33 'A slick of lipstick instantly makes you look more groomed.'
Clinique High Impact Waterproof Mascara, £17.50 'THE best mascara ever, once it’s on it doesn’t budge.'
Balance Me Daily Essentials Skin Bright Hydrating Face Mist, £20 'I find the air conditioning in the office really dries out my skin so a hydrating face mist is always on hand.'
What desk beauty essentials could you not live without? Share your tips and tricks in the comment box below...
Photos by Siân Parry.
