I'm a Beauty Editor – I get sent thousands of products a year, but these are the six items I spend my money on
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Tara Ledden's job comes with some serious perks, including testing hundreds of products every month. But despite the freebies, there are some star items that she'll always return to
BEST BUYS I'm a Beauty Editor – I get sent thousands of products a year, but these are the six items I spend my money on
EVERY time I tell someone that I'm a beauty editor, I know exactly what they're going to say next.
'Do you get loads of free beauty products?"
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As a beauty editor, Tara gets sent hundreds of products, and says Monday Muse The Cleanser is great for sensitive skin
Credit: Tara Ledden
In short, the answer is yes.
It's actually quite obscene - a quick look at the Fabulous beauty launches spreadsheet (where we keep track of everything new we've been sent to try) tells me that there's a whopping 402 products launching this month, and that's just the ones we've been told about!
My job is to test them all, which means there's not much room for me to be loyal to any one brand or product, as I'm constantly chopping and changing.
However, there are a few that I can't part with, and will happily repurchase myself every time they run out.
These are the products I always go back to...
THE ONE-STEP CLEANSER
Last year, Monday Muse The Cleanser went out of stock for a period of time and I spent weeks trying to find a replacement that would stand up to it's acne-safe, gentle, make-up and grime melting powers.
It turns out, there isn't a replacement - it's one of a kind.
So, when it was back on shelves I stocked up, and now I've got it on subscription.
It cuts through make-up without being oily or greasy, lightly foams without drying skin, and doesn't irritate my eyes at all.
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Monday Muse The Cleanser is suitable for all skin types
Credit: Monday Muse
Monday Muse The Cleanser, £28
The only thing it's not a match for is waterproof mascara, but I don't tend to wear that often.
Forget double cleansing, I use it every night without fail with a flannel and get rid of everything in one step.
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Dior's Foundation Stick has been Tara's go to for over 6 months
Credit: Tara Ledden
THE COVERS ALL BASE
I generally light to use a product a few times, and really put it through it's paces, before I sing it's praises.
But when I tried Dior Forever Skin Perfect Foundation Stick for the first time, it instantly won me over.
I've got lots of redness in my skin, and a fair few acne scars, so I tend to wear full coverage foundations and a heavy duty concealer on top - which can feel heavy on my skin.
This miracle stick completely changed that.
It blends out super easily and doesn't feel drying, but it completely camouflages imperfections.
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Dior Forever Skin Perfect Foundation Stick renders concealer redundant
Credit: Dior
Dior Forever Skin Perfect Foundation Stick, £48
Even after using it for over six months, I'm still in awe of how quickly and easily it makes my skin look near flawless without feeling (or looking) cakey.
I've been getting regular compliments on how good my skin looks since using it, and they're still coming in thick and fast.
I've used it throughout the depths of winter, and this week of soaring temperatures in London, and it looks just as seamless at the end of the day as it did when I first apply it.
I've yet to find a single fault - other than the price tag, but given I don't need to use a separate concealer or setting powder in tandem with it, I'm saving money there
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Clinisoothe has an unlimited number of uses
Credit: Clinisoothe
THE ACNE CLEARING MSIT
For the marble tray of pretty perfumes sitting on my dresser, there's also an equally stacked bathroom cupboard of, frankly, ugly beauty products that I wouldn't dream of parting with.
By a country mile Clinisoothe Skin Purifier is my most-used unpretty product.
I spray it on my face straight after cleansing morning and night, and if I've got any cuts or sore patches elsewhere, they get spritzed too.
It contains hypochlorous acid, which is a natural disinfectant, so it kills bacteria (especially the acne-causing kind) on contact.
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Clinisoothe is used by before cosmetic treatments for it's bacteria killing powers
Credit: Clinisoothe
Clinisoothe Skin Purifier, £14.95
It also reduces inflammation and helping wounds heal quicker without causing any dryness or irritation.
If I'm travelling, I'll take Vital Baby Hygiene Aquaint® Cleansing Water, £2.49, with me instead, as it's under the 100ml limit, and contains hypochlorous acid too.
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Arkive has been a mainstay in Tara's routine for three years
Credit: Tara Ledden
THE SHINE ENHANCING SHAMPO0
Since the brand launched in March 2022, I've been consistently loyal to Arkive All Day Everyday Shampoo & Conditioner.
Before using it, I wasn't fussy when it came to shampoo and conditioner thinking that none of them were quite right for my hair that's oily at the roots and dry at the ends.
This has completely changed the game, and my expectations for shampoo and conditioner going forward.
The shampoo lathers easily and leaves my scalp free of build up without that dry squeaky clean feeling.
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Arkive's refill pouches make restocking easier
Credit: Arkive
Arkive All Day Everyday Shampoo & Conditioner, £12 each
While the conditioner melts through tangles and deposits more shine than any salon shampoo I've used without weighing my hair down.
Plus, they both smell delicious - with notes of mandarin, vanilla, rhubarb and musk.
I've even managed to influence my mum into being a huge fan after a life-time of Alberto Balsam.
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It's not glamorous, but Kosas Chemistry Deodorant is the best out there
Credit: Tara Ledden
THE BO-BUSTING DEODORANT
Picking one single product as my ultimate favourite is, I imagine, akin to choosing a favourite child - in that it changes daily, rather than it's impossible, but without a doubt Kosas Chemistry Deodorant has revolutionised my life.
The whole brand is great - Kosas Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer, £26 and Kosas Cloud Set Baked Setting & Smoothing Powder, £32, have also made it into my make-up bag since the brand launched in Space NK in March 2023, but the AHA deodorant easily takes top spot.
I've used natural deodorant for nearly three years now, and it's by far the best at keeping odour at bay without irritating my armpits.
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Tara prefers the fragrance free version, but there's also two scented ones on offer
Credit: Kosas
Kosas Chemistry Deodorant, £14
The exfoliating acid based formula changes the pH of under-arm skin to kill bacteria on contact.
Technically, I could live without it, but it would be a smelly existence!
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Batiste Dry Shampoo is an oldie but a goodie
Credit: Tara Ledden
THE OG DRY SHAMPOO
There's a running joke amongst the Fabulous team that if there's one item I'll never give away, it's Batiste Dry Shampoo, and they're not far wrong.
I've tried dry shampoo's with price tags more than 10 that of the can I used as a teen, and none of them match up to it's oil absorbing powers.
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Sometimes, they're classics for a reason
Credit: Batiste
Batiste Dry Shampoo, £3.25
My favourites are the original and the blush scent, but I'll grab whatever's on the shelf.
I love that it makes my hair feel clean as well as looking clean, which isn't the case with most of the expensive dry shampoos which leave my roots feeling gritty.
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