Is there a beauty product you keep returning to over and over again? Do you wish there was a beauty product that you would want to keep returning to over and over again? Because that would mean you have finally found something that’s free of fluff and marketing buzz, and actually performs?

I test approximately 693856489 beauty products in a year and yet these are the ones that I keep returning to ALL THE TIME. And I will always have them on hand, whatever new and shiny stuff is trying to vie for my attention. Because when you find a Holy Grail beauty product, you don’t let it go.

So, what better way to start the new year than with a restock of the Holy Grail beauty list?

Tatcha Water Cream

If you have been following me for a while, you will have realised that I am OBSESSED with the Tatcha Water Cream. It has made my ‘Best Of…’ lists ever since it was launched three years back. The gel formula feels like a sprinkler for bare skin, thanks to encapsulated water droplet technology and nutrient-rich botanicals. Plus, I love that it does what a moisturiser should actually do – hydrate the skin – without having a long chemistry lab list of actives alongside. Actives are great and I love them… but sometimes, skin just need pure moisture to layer above all the other serums and tonics without causing a conflict or overdose of ingredients like acids and enzymes. And this one is IT!

Currently in stock: 2 jars

Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate

I have just done a pretty extensive review about the Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate recently, so will keep this short. This is a serum that ticks all the boxes: It’s packed with antioxidants like vitamin C to fade hyperpigmentation and step up collagen production, hyaluronic acid to boost hydration and, of course, the star ingredient – 10% Bifidus Prebiotic, aka Bifida Ferment Lysate – to protect the skin against environmental damage. Plus, the super-lightweight texture leaves behind a glow, satiny finish. And the self loading dropper means you get the correct dosage every single time!

Currently in stock: 1 mega-big bottle (1.7 oz) that will last me a good six months.

Lord Jones CBD Acid Mantle Repair Moisturizer

Talking about actives, too often we don’t realise how we are overloading our skin with acids and other ultra-strong ingredients that wreck its natural acid barrier. Add in things like sun exposure, pollution and stress and you have skin that’s over-sensitised, raw, red, angry, dehydrated and prone to infections because it’s this acid barrier that’s crucial for keeping it safe and healthy.

Lord Jones’ CBD Acid Mantle Repair Moisturizer harnesses the power of full spectrum CBD (read about why that works here) along with ceramides, hyaluronic acid and squalene to repair this natural barrier quickly and effectively. Apply this lightweight cream when you need immediate relief (it calmed down my wind chapped skin within a couple of hours) or when your complexion needs a sustained treatment. I keep a jar handy at all times.

Currently in stock: Yikes! Just realised I am on my last jar… restock coming up!

Bynacht Hypercharged Glass Skin Serum

My skin tends to be dehydrated, so I love a good hyaluronic acid. This wonder-humectant can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. So, when used in topical skincare, it draws moisture into the skin, keeping it hydrated. And hydrated skin is smooth, supple, plump, glowing, happy skin. But there are A LOT of hyaluronic acid based products out there. So, what makes Bynacht special?

Long answer in short: The Hypercharged Glass Skin Serum has eight different weights of hyaluronic acid. This helps it deliver the ingredient to different levels of the skin. Higher molecular weights are larger and remain on the skin’s surface, where they deliver the fastest – though most short lived – results. Lower molecular weights penetrate to deeper layers, where they sustain the cells’ moisture content for a longer lasting effect. This means the Hypercharged Glass Serum delivers both instant and long lasting results, which is what makes it a deep cut above the rest in my book.

Bonus tip: Unless you are living in an extremely humid environment, it’s important to layer a water-based moisturiser over any hyaluronic acid based product. Else, it will pull moisture out of your skin instead (think osmosis!), which is not what we want. My pick? The Tatcha Water Cream. These two make a dream duo.

Currently in stock: Just going through the last one… need a restock.

Olive & June Nail Polishes

Learning to do my own nails is my new superpower. With nail salons being no-go most of last year, I finally bit the bullet and started giving myself mini-manicures at home. Because cheery nails just make me feel that much less gloomy. And Olive & June made the process so much simpler with their streak free polishes that go on like a dream. I have tried a ton of nail polishes in the last few months but keep coming back to these because of (1) the short and wide brush that makes painting within the lines absolutely effortless, (2) long lasting, salon-like finish, and (3) gorgeous colors.

Currently in stock: 14 colors with OJSM being the current favorite .. I don’t keep seconds of nail polishes because they dry out.

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Triple Detox Shampoo

This has been another lockdown discovery. With a deep cleansing and nourishing salon treatment every couple of weeks, I didn’t normally find myself reaching out for detox shampoos at home. But then my hair just kept feeling crunchy and the Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Triple Detox Shampoo became my new love! It works brilliantly at cleaning away all product buildup, pollution and hard water residue. My hair has not looked so clean and healthy in a long time. 

Bonus tip: This one won’t foam well if your hair not soaking wet, so add lots of water! And it dries out hair a lot so you will definitely need a hydrating, nourishing conditioner afterwards.

Currently in stock: Two tubes

WelleCo The Super Elixir Greens

How often have I waxed eloquent about supermodel Elle McPherson’s WelleCo The Super Elixir Greens? Answer: Too often to count. That’s because it’s literally the only thing that helps my chronic flare-ups of acidity and heartburn, which leave me feeling fatigued and sluggish, with lacklustre skin, poor digestion and weight gain.

The Super Elixir Greens combines 45 cold pressed bio-live ingredients (including kelp, turmeric, aloe vera, shiitake mushrooms, barley grass, psyllium husk, and grape seed extract) into a water soluble green powder that’s packed with alkalising vitamins, minerals and probiotics. It has zero synthetics and the proof in the pudding is that when I skip the Super Elixir Greens, my body (and skin) immediately knows the difference.

Bonus tip: The Lemon & Ginger formula rules over Pineapple & Lime any day.

Currently in stock: I bought four packets during the Sephora Holiday Sale, so all is good.

Olly Sleep Gummies

I have always had sleep problems and the last few months have made them just so much worse. Which is why there is always a bottle of this unique blend of melatonin, herbs and botanicals by my bedside! The regular Olly Sleep Gummies have 1.5 mg of melatonin each and the extra strength have 2.5 mg. Most nights just one of the regulars has me sleeping soundly in about half an hour. Other days, I mix and match. What makes them better than other melatonin stuff that I’ve tried and not loved? They don’t give me crazy dreams and there’s no grogginess in the mornings. 

Currently in stock: Two large bottles of the regular and one of the super-strength!

Do you have a Holy Grail beauty product that you keep going back to again and again?