Here it is, as promised, my new “most-used” category; a monthly round-up of the five beauty products that I’ve used again and again. Helpful, I hope, for anyone wanting to know what I turn to day in, day out, rather than flash-in-the-pan lipstick love affairs and impulsive face mask experiments.

It’s so difficult to narrow down my most-used products to the top five, but I’ve started being incredibly analytical about my skincare routines and (mainly due to time constraints) a lot more selective about the products I test. So, in general, testing fewer things for longer. Not that I was ever that prolific in terms of whizzing through great stacks of skincare – my face doesn’t like it if I change routine and product type too often, so I tend to have a set of staple products and then swap in some interesting bits and pieces every few weeks.

So, the top five for February. A few of them (namely the Talika and the Darphin balm) would probably have headed up January’s list too, had I managed to compile one in time, but the Cerave cleanser is a new entry and the Elemental Herbology eye cream is one that I’m desperately trying to use up so that I can start something different! Not that there’s anything wrong with it at all – you can read my rave review here – it’s just that I’ve finished a few bottles of it before so I know it inside out. I’m excited for a pot or tube of something else. (I have a retinol eye cream from Space NK I want to get started with and also a pot of Skinceuticals cream. Hopefully one of those will appear in next month’s Most-Used video.)

Anyway: all is revealed in the video, so press play and try not to focus too much on my shoddy camera work and echoing bathroom. I’ll make sure I have a tripod next time, and I’m trying to source a nice big rug for the floor so that the sound is softer in there. It’s like an aircraft hanger, except tiled in travertine.

Guerlain Lingerie de Peau Cushion Foundation*: http://tidd.ly/4255f5e8

Elemental Herbology Eye Elixir: https://www.ruthcrilly.co.uk/2016/…

Talika Gentle Eye Cleanser*: http://tidd.ly/406600b6

Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser: Boots nationwide, or very widely available in the US

Darphin Renewing Balm: https://www.ruthcrilly.co.uk/2018/…