Australian beauty editors share the products they always repurchase
words by Sarah Tarca and Sherine Youssef
Rinse and repeat.
Sarah Tarca and Sherine Youssef are Australian beauty editors and the founders of Gloss Etc, a weekly newsletter dedicated to the best beauty reviews, news and tips.
One of the biggest perks of beauty journalism is the never-ending assortment of products that land on our doorstep. We won’t gloss over it, it’s a lot. This much, in fact. Naturally, we’re on “How’s the family?” terms with our Australia Post delivery person and the DHL driver always gives us a wave with the parcel drop-off. It’s safe to assume we haven’t purchased a shampoo, mascara or body cream in roughly 20 years.
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The privilege isn’t lost on us, but the other side of this product tsunami is that it’s very, very rare for us to finish one all the way to the end. Because even when we like a product, you can’t have 10 vitamin C serums open at the same time because a) they’ll go off before you use them, and b) we only have a finite amount of real estate to use said products on. It’s far better off being gifted to family members, friends or the local post office staff instead.
So, when we hoard products and actually do finish something, it means a lot. It means we loved this, hard. Here’s a non-exhaustive snapshot of some of our favourites we finish to the very last drop. Add to cart, don’t overthink it.
Kora Organics Turmeric Glow Moisturiser
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If I can just brag for a sec, the number of people I’ve turned onto this moisturiser and the number of “Ohmygosh this is amazing, thank you for the rec!” messages I’ve received is significant. It’s a lush, custard-y cream but it has zero greasy after-feel, and a subtle turmeric scent that won’t upset your nose. It leaves my skin feeling incredibly plush, healthy and plump. Try it and send me flowers, I’ll be home all afternoon to accept them. – Sherine
Get it here.
Vida Glow Pro Collagen+
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I’ve been a marine collagen girlie for over half a decade now but this particular variant is a new empty for me. Vida Glow uses the most well-researched and scientifically supported collagen on the market, and it shows in the results. I personally see crazy hair and nail growth with the original, but this one is specifically formulated to increase skin hydration (via a clinically-studied dose of hyaluronic acid), and target deeper lines via the collagen and tripeptides. I noticed both of these benefits in my skin after about a month of trial and was especially impressed with the delicious plumpness, so I’m officially a convert. – Sarah
Get it here.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian APOM
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I don’t know if it’s the narcotic white florals or the connection I feel to this perfume’s backstory (Mr Kurkdjian was inspired by a trip to Lebanon, the birthplace of my parents), but this fragrance… it does things to me. And for me; the compliments it elicits are truly special. The brand discontinued this for a few years, but a new juice has just launched and it’s as heady as the original. – Sherine
Get it here.
Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Skincaring Concealer
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This concealer is so underrated. I’m genuinely baffled that it doesn’t have more hype because it hits all the right notes: it’s creamy and lightweight but long-wearing, it brightens and conceals but doesn’t cake, and it’s loaded with skincare ingredients (like hyaluronic acid and vitamins A and C). But the real kicker is it doesn’t settle into any creases and it blends in a second-skin kind of way — exactly what a concealer is meant to do. – Sarah
Get it here.
Tronque Rich as Croseus Firming Body Butter
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Much to Sarah’s disappointment, I’m not a regular body moisturiser user. I do it maybe, maybe once a week. For whatever reason, I just don’t pay much attention to the skin south of my neck. This product, however, I scraped out to the very end. A rich body butter that feels more lotion-like, it sinks in fast and leaves behind the kind of soft and smooth skin I definitely don’t deserve. – Sherine
Get it here.
KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner Liquid Eyeliner
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Every beauty editor has a thing they’re good at and mine is a winged liquid eyeliner. Sadly, I also have super oily eyelids, which makes most eyeliner redundant — except this, the best, most immovable one in the market. It goes on in a satisfying jet black with the pen-style tip and it stays on without wandering upwards to the brow bone. It’s the only product in years I’ve purchased (and repurchased) multiple times with my own money. – Sarah
Get it here.
Skinceuticals CE Ferulic Serum
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It’s painfully predictable of me to say, but this list wouldn’t be complete without this serum. It’s Sherine and my joint favourite vitamin C that we’ll literally hoard Doomsday-style, ’cause it is the best in the market. And I’m sorry to say, though many have tried, there’s no dupe out there. It gives you all the antioxidant protection you need, elite levels of brightening, and it gets to work on fine lines too. The only downfall is that it’s a bit whiffy (like ‘left the meat out’ whiffy) and you know it must be good if we’re still willingly dousing our faces in it. – Sarah
Get it here.
Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey
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Like approximately 583,647 other people, I’m obsessed with this product, the original ‘your lips but better’ lip colour. Launched in 1971, the idea was for this to be a sort of ‘black turtleneck’ for lips, a hardworking piece that looked good on every lip colour and skin tone. A moisturising gloss-lipstick hybrid, it feels good on and the super sheer, almost-black burgundy shade is perfection, giving me just enough colour so it looks like I’ve put in some effort, but not too much. – Sherine
Get it here.
Robe Clean + Finish
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The entire Robe range (created by Aussie hairdresser, Lauren Mackellar) is so great, but this product is in a league of its own. A three-in-one, it cleanses, conditions and adds texture so when you air dry your hair, it looks French-girl undone, and not like you’ve stumbled home at 4am. I’ve already finished two bottles. It transforms my limp, almost-wavy hair into something resembling cool, and it’s the only hair product I ever bring away with me for that reason. – Sarah
Get it here.
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
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Because I’ve never been one of those people who just splashes their face with water in the morning, and because I’m a zealous double-cleanser at night, face wash is the one beauty product I go through the fastest. I’m not loyal to any brand and I don’t think you need to drop a wad of cash on one either, because it literally goes down the drain. I usually have one of these in my bathroom because it not only does its job effectively with minimum fuss, it doesn’t upset my eyes or skin, which can sometimes be prickly from all that skincare testing. – Sherine
Get it here.
For more on the beauty products editors repurchase, head here.