beauty

'I will be buried with it.' 15 brands the You Beauty team can't live without.

You know what beauty experts hate doing? Choosing their favourite beauty children.

And you know what Mamamia made the co-hosts of theYou Beauty podcast do? Choose their favourite beauty children.

Evil, we know.

Watch: Speaking of evil, have you heard of the viral 10-pump foundation hack? Mamamia's beauty editor tried it. And here's what happened. Post continues below.


Video via Mamamia

Off the back of the whirlwind that was the inaugural You Beauty Awards, You Beauty co-hosts Leigh Campbell, Kelly McCarren and I sat down to answer the hardest question yet: What is your absolute ride-or-die, favourite beauty brand of all time?

Let's find out. 

One product that's always in our handbag.

Image: Lanolips; Chemist Warehouse; Myer; Mamamia.

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Erin: Lanolips 101 Ointment Multipurpose Superbalm, $14.95.

"The original multipurpose balm – I always, always have it in my handbag. I even have a keyring that attaches to my keys, and it's like a little pouch for my lip balm."

Kelly: Dermal Therapy Sanitising Hand Cream, $8.

"It's very COVID mum – forgetting hand sanitiser is like forgetting a nappy at this point. It kind of does leave a bit of a weird film on your hands, but they're clean and they're moisturised."

Leigh: HERMÈS Plein Air Blotting Papers, $70 (spendy).

"I can't live without blotting papers. I'm a combo girl and can't be bothered with a brush and a powder, so I've always got blotting paper in my bag. It was my birthday a few weeks ago – what do you buy the woman who has everything, particularly in beauty? HERMÈS Blotting Papers. I just love it. At $70, it's outrageously expensive – but what a good gift for a combo girl that has everything!

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Leigh: MECCA MAX Life Proof Hemp Blotting Papers, $10 (savey).

I have also brought a savey version to this category, which is typically not allowed – but my favourite cheaper alternative is the Mecca Max Life Proof Hemp Blotting Papers. 

Favourite ultimate savey brand.

Image: Mecca; Revolution Beauty; Adore Beauty; Mamamia.

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Erin: CeraVe.

"It's one of those in-between brands that I always use when I've been trying heaps of products and my face it's like, I'm hurting. I love just scaling it all back with these formulas. I have so many staples, but the Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum is one of my recent favourites as well as the Skin Renewing Overnight Cream."

Kelly: Revolution Beauty.

"I was like, 'what do I have the most of?' And it's probably Revolution Beauty. They are such good quality, affordable products. That's what I would recommend to someone if they were like looking for affordable makeup. Go check it out because it's such a huge range and they always pick up the latest trends."

Leigh: Mecca Max.

"I had to go with Mecca Max. They do skin and makeup – they're clever, they are inspired by the best-selling products, and the Mecca Max Sunlit Powder Bronzer is what I will be buried with – like, at the morgue they will bronze me up with it. I have many – this is very hard for us. I hope everyone realises that!"

Favourite ultimate spendy brand.

Image: Adore Beauty; Charlotte Tilbury; Mecca; Mamamia.

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Erin: SkinCeuticals.

"Hands-down, SkinCeuticals. This stuff is just next level. It's science backed, it's dermatologist recommended. You can't go wrong with the CE Ferulic Serum – it's a cult product for good reason."

Kelly: Charlotte Tilbury.

"I would just never choose a skincare brand! If I can only shop for one spendy brand, I'm like Charlotte Tilbury! She's got skincare, she's got makeup. My favourites are the Pillow Talk Beauty Wands for the cheek and the new matte blushes. Also, Flawless Filter and the pop sockets – I'm wearing it right now."

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Leigh: Westman Atelier.

"It's a new love affair, but it is deep. There are three products I love right now. I went into Mecca to buy another one of the Western Atelier Complexion Drops because I needed a more wintry shade and then I saw they have minis, and I was like, well goodbye bank account. But they're a good way to try it.

"She's getting me into bronzer stick, too. Her pressed translucent powder has changed my life because it's actually pressed skincare – I know that just sounds like marketing and maybe it is – but I'm just in love with her."

Favourite sustainability brand.

Image: L'Occitane; Sephora; Mecca; Mamamia.

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Erin: Emma Lewisham.

"Emma Lewisham. For obvious reasons. This brand has changed the whole sustainable skincare game. We talked about it a bunch of times but ICYMI, they were the first brand with 100 per cent circular packaging system. What they basically do is they take all the packaging back free of charge, sterilise, refill and recycle it all. They make it easy!"

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Kelly: L'Occitane.

Leigh and I are actually together on this one. Although, I do have a very strong Aussie contender and I do think it deserves an honourable mention because they're so good: Esmi. They're way more affordable than other brands on the market for such effective skincare. However, if I did have to pick one brand, L'Occitane! 

Leigh: L'Occitane.

"I guess it's because I've evolved with the brand and I both love the shower oil except now I get the big pouches and I refill my Forever Bottles at Bondi Junction in Sydney – so it's really easy. It's also just a beautiful concept store and definitely worth checking out."

Favourite newcomer brand.

Image: Holme Beauty; Brillo Beauty; Mamamia.

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Erin: Holme Beauty.

Leigh and I are matching on this one, Holme Beauty. They launched in 2021 but they feel like they've been around for ages. They have a small range of products, but they're all so good. My favourite is the Primer in 'BANG!'.

Leigh: Holme Beauty.

"Hilary, who is the Melbourne-based makeup artist of which this brand is named and it's her brand, she did my makeup when I was three months post-partum. I went from feeling like a dead frog on the road to feeling actually quite like myself. As a makeup artist, she has a really beautiful energy and from there I fell in love with her. And then she was like, 'Hey, I'm launching a brand' and she started with the primer. Now there's lip gloss, the setting spray, brushes – and there's more on the way!"

Kelly: Brillo Beauty.

"I kind of wish that Leigh was my boss at the moment because she'd give me a pay rise after this – because my pick is Brillo Beauty. Not just because Leigh's our beautiful co-host, but because every single product is outstanding. It is such a beautiful brand – it is sustainable, and it's good for everyone, even. Coming into winter, I particularly like The Butter – it's not sticky and if you're really dry, may I suggest you put the body butter on and then lock it in with the oil."

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Favourite all-time beauty brand.

Image: Adore Beauty; Charlotte Tilbury; Mecca; amamia.

Erin: La Roche-Posay.

"I have a good reason for this. I know, I know – it's another skincare brand, but skincare for me is like the 'thing'. Everything La Roche-Posay do is just amazing – the products are high quality, dermatologist-tested and at a good price point. When I was in Paris towards the end of last year, I was in HEAVEN – because as someone with sensitive skin, this brand is a no-brainer for me."

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Kelly: Charlotte Tilbury.

"I have to say, Charlotte Tilbury. I know I've already mentioned it, but I'm just thinking about what get the most excited to receive in the mail. When I see that brown box – even my husband Luke will be like, 'You're gonna be real happy.' Even if I wasn't a beauty expert, I'd spend my own coin on it. Oh, and if there was an island and it could only have one store, it would be a Charlotte Tilbury store."

Leigh: Estee Lauder.

"This was extremely hard for me. I walked around my house moping, and then I went into my beauty cabinet and my gift cupboard and there was the most of Estee Lauder. I love the Double Wear Foundation. I still use that quite often when I'm not using the Westman Atelier drops. Also, the Advanced Night Repair serum – it's such a cult product. I also love their eye creams. I absolutely love their fragrances – one of their fragrances was my mum's fragrance growing up. And so I've always really liked it."

Do you use any of the above products in your beauty routine? What's your favourite? Share with us in the comment section below.

Feature image: Mamamia.

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