10 CULT BEAUTY BUYS THAT ARE WORTH THE HYPE
HOT PRODUCTS:
La Mer, NARS Blush, Baccarat Rouge 540: the luxury essentials with a devoted following for a reason.
Every season has its trending serums, backstage secrets and TikTok darlings. But a cult product? These are the rides-or-dies. The formulas that earn their reputation the hard way, by actually doing what they say. Think winter-proof moisturisers, mascaras that refuse to smudge, and fragrances that enter the room before you do. From high-tech skincare to high-impact colour, meet the cult classics that deserve their forever spots on your top shelf.
1. AUGUSTINUS BADER THE CREAM
The moisturiser equivalent of having a facialist on speed-dial. Augustinus Bader’s The Cream is skincare folklore at this point, all thanks to the brand’s famous TFC8 complex. It works with your skin to encourage repair, renewal, and that plumpness that normally follows a professional facial. It’s the one celebrities, editors and that one suspiciously well-rested looking friend swear by.
2. LA MER THE MOISTURIZING SOFT CREAM
If cashmere were reincarnated as skincare, it would be this. The Soft Cream gives all the La Mer luxury and more with cloud-like, soothing hydration powered by the iconic Miracle Broth. Winter dryness? Gone. Tight cheeks? Handled. Your skin? Glowing. No wonder this is the cream people refill religiously. Once you’re hooked, you’re hooked.
3. KIEHL’S CREME DE CORPS
Ask any beauty obsessive for their winter MVP and this bottle pops up faster than a pumpkin spice latte in October. Creme de Corps has been a cold-weather staple for decades because it simply delivers: velvety texture, slow-release hydration, ridiculously soft skin. The formula’s blend of cocoa butter, squalane, and nourishing oils gives even the driest skin a smoother, healthier look that lasts longer than your good intentions to drink more water.
4. LANCÔME LASH IDÔLE MASCARA
Lash Idôle is one of those rare mascaras that manages to be both dramatic and refined. It lifts, lengthens and fans out lashes with zero clumps or smudging, even when winter wind is doing the absolute most. One coat looks natural and pretty. Three coats looks like you’ve just stepped off a beauty campaign set. Either way, she works hard.
5. BACCARAT ROUGE 540
The fragrance. The myth. The olfactory celebrity. Baccarat Rouge 540 has reached Icon status for its warm, airy blend of amber, saffron and cedarwood. A.k.a, it's the scent that turns heads and sparks compliments from complete strangers. It’s addictive, unmistakable, and a true icon with global influence.
6. NARS NEW BLUSH
NARS basically invented the modern blush era, and the New Blush formula proves they’re still running the show. It’s silky, seamless and gives that instant “I’m alive!” freshness. Build it up, keep it soft, wear it on no-makeup days. It always works, and it always flatters. A winter skin saviour.
7. ESTÉE LAUDER ADVANCED NIGHT REPAIR
ANR is the serum equivalent of drinking a litre of water and actually sleeping eight hours. It brightens, smooths, hydrates and strengthens the skin barrier, all while you’re unconscious. Dullness? Fine lines? Gone. This serum actually lives up to its reputation, and with a bottle sold every minute worldwide, clearly everyone else agrees.
8. CHARLOTTE TILBURY PILLOW TALK
A matte lipstick… that’s comfortable? Yes. Apparently, dreams do come true. Matte Revolution glides on like satin, stays put and makes every outfit look intentional. Whether you love a soft nude or a punchy red, the shades are engineered to flatter. No wonder it’s become one of Charlotte Tilbury’s most iconic launches.
9. YSL TOUCHE ÉCLAT RADIANT TOUCH
The closest thing beauty has to a magic wand. With one click, dark circles lighten, cheekbones lift and everything just looks… brighter. No glitter, no cakiness, just pure, smooth luminosity. Ideal for mornings when your face insists on telling people you didn’t sleep.
10. PHILIP KINGSLEY ELASTICIZER
Created for Audrey Hepburn (which tells you everything), Elasticizer is the pre-shampoo treatment that brings hair back from the brink. Applied before shampooing, it drenches the lengths in moisture and helps reduce breakage, frizz, and dryness, especially during winter. Leave it on while you scroll, clean, or bed rot, then rinse for bouncier, healthier lengths. A hair icon.