Top Products 2008-9

Best Shampoo: Kiehl's Rice and Wheat Volumising Shampoo
Gives some vigour to lifeless hair, making it silky soft too.

Best Hair Conditioning Treatment: Alberto Balsam VO5 Hot Oil Treatments
The ultimate salon-quality rescue treatment in your bathroom.

Best Heat Protection Hair Product: Tresemmé Heat Protection Spray
Still got it.

Best Deodorant Brand: Mitchum
Yes, you really can go for 48 hours on one application.

Best Skincare Regime: it's a tie! Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions/Liz Earle
Clinique gets you the results you want - fast - with the greatest in lab technology. Liz Earle is not quite as quick, but you will get results eventually - all with luxurious natural products.
A special mention also goes to Garnier's Vital Restore Daily Beauty Serum and to Lloydspharmacy YOUR Organics Anti-Ageing Night Cream, for restoring vitality and smoothness to skin.

Best Exfoliator: another tie! Lush Ocean Salt/Purity Organic Skincare Facial Exfoliator
Purity uses coconut shell to send dry skin packing, while Ocean Salt uses (as you'd expect) great chunks of sea salt. Both strong natural contenders to get you smooth skin.

Best Face Mask: Crème de La Mer Refining Facial
Expensive, but oh so worth it. That diamond dust really does get you some sparkling results.

Best Intensive Moisturiser: Liz Earle Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask
Wakes up your skin with its essential oils and creamy texture.

Best Suncare Brand: still Vichy.
Its facial suncare smells of celery, but protects marvellously and doesn't bring you out in spots. Top.

Best Hand Cream: Atrixo
Sends dry patches packing.

Best Foot Cream: Boots Gorgeous Feet Reviving Overnight Rescue
Smells like chocolate and vanilla, and restores your feet to smoothness in no time.

Best Body Moisturiser: Jergens
At supermarket prices, it hydrates your skin and banishes cellulite naturally.

Best Primer: No7 Shine-Free Makeup Base
Works so well that you can even use it to fight shine when you're not wearing any makeup at all.

Best Eye Primer: Benefit Lemon Aid
While a little pricey for what it is, there's no denying that it evens skin tone around the eyes and keeps eye makeup in place.

Best Concealer: L'Oréal Touche Magique
There's quite simply none better to create a flawless look with great value for money.

Best Tinted Moisturiser: Avon Personal Match Barely There Makeup
It's had some stiff competition this year, but the rivals just couldn't knock it off the top spot.

Best Foundation: No7 Stay Perfect
Creates a flawless base that minimises redness and stays in place all day, without feeling too heavy on your face in the summer.

Best Face Powder: Benefit Dandelion
Excellent for a flawless finish and for adding extra glow and colour. A versatile product - just make sure you go bargain hunting for it.

Best Eye Colour: Guerlain Ombre Eclat Paradis Exotique
This has been the best addition to my makeup bag in a long time: as well as staying put all day, the colours are innovative, fresh, and great for spring and summer.

Best Mascara: Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes
Originally touted as a limited-edition product only, I rushed out and bought it, and wasn't disappointed. The good news, however, is that it's still around. Get it now.

Best Kohl Eyeliner: it's a tie: Avon Color Trend/Giorgio Armani Smooth Silk
Pick the Avon for its cheap and cheerful durability, and Giorgio Armani for this plus sophistication and versatility.

Best Blusher: Bourjois Little Round Pot
Quite simply the best.

Best Lipstick: MAC Pro Longwear LipColour
While it can occasionally feel a little gritty on the lips, this is easily forgiven by the fact that it won't move an inch by day, but is easily removable when you finally want to kiss it goodbye.

Best Lip Balm: Kiehl's #1 Lip Balm
Having the reparative facility of a balm, but with the shine of a gloss, it's perfect for any girl who needs a glamorous lip balm that works miracles at a reasonable price.

Best Lip Gloss: Benefit Her Glossiness
Again, not worth the high street RRP, but with its gorgeous colours, witty names and fruity scents, it's well worth bargain hunting for.

Best Makeup Compact: Too Faced Little Pink Book
Contains everything you need in one tiny, lightweight 'book'. Genius.

Best Makeup Remover: Estée Lauder Take It Away
Melts away makeup without a trace.

Best Brand: Liz Earle
They are ambassadors for beauty, providing head to toe natural care for men and women and for all skin types and ages. A modern, honest brand that delivers palpable results at reasonable prices. Truly a job well done.

Top Products 2007-8

Best Shampoo: L'Oreal Re-Nutrition/Vive Pro Hydra Gloss Moisturising Shampoo
Top marks for restoring silkiness and enhancing hair's natural tones.

Best Conditioner: Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Intensive Conditioner
Brings hair back from the brink of dryness.

Best Heat Protection Hair Product: Tresemme Heat Protection Spray
Whether drying, curling, or straightening your hair, this will protect it from damage.

Best Deodorant Brand: Mitchum
The only brand guaranteed to keep the sweat at bay.

Best Skincare Regime: Clinique Anti-Blemish 3-Step
Sends even the most stubborn spots packing. The results have to be seen to be believed.

Best Exfoliator: Lush Ocean Salt
Helps to clear complexions and give you that real squeaky-clean feeling.

Best Face Mask: Lush Catastrophe Cosmetic
Improves skin complaints and brings super-soft smoothness to boot.

Best Intensive Moisturiser: Liz Earle Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask
For babysoft smoothness and protection against the elements in no time.

Best Suncare Brand: Vichy
Excellent care for your whole body at a reasonable price.

Best Primer: No7 Shine Free Makeup Base
So good at busting shine that it can even be used on its own.

Best Eye Primer: Lola Refine Eye Mousse Base and Primer
Adapts cleverly to your skin tone to provide a long-lasting base for eyeshadow as well as covering dark under-eye circles.

Best Concealer: L'Oreal Touche Magique
Excellent coverage, great number of shades available, great price. What's not to like?

Best Tinted Moisturiser: Avon Personal Match Barely There Makeup
Starts out colourless, then cleverly adapts to your skintone. Excellent coverage for a tinted moisturiser, suiting even those with quite poor complexion.

Best Foundation: it's a tie! Lily Lolo Mineral Foundation and No7 Intelligent Moisture foundation
The latter has a texture to die for and gives a wonderful dewy glow without clogging pores. The former is perfect for the summer and those suffering from breakouts, providing light, perfect coverage without sliding off.

Best Face Powder: L'Oreal True Match powder
Lots of shades available and perfect for that flawless finish.

Best Eye Colour: MAC Pigments
While Prescriptives' Moonbeam comes highly commended, this wins for its sheer dexterity: apply sheer for daytime or vamp up for night.

Best Mascara: yet another tie! between Avon Daring Curves and Phenomen'Eyes by Givenchy for Sephora
Avon's mascara is excellent as an all-rounder, but this mildly pricey limited edition from Givenchy, in association with Sephora, maximises the use of its mini brush to bring every tiny lash to perfection.

Best Kohl Eyeliner: Avon Color Trend Kajal Stick
Smooth enough for use on the lid, but tough enough for use on the waterline, and doesn't move an inch on either.

Best Blusher: Bourjois Little Round Pot Blush
Nothing could topple the age-old classic this year.

Best Lipstick: L'Oreal Made For Me Naturals Lipstick
Makes the process of choosing your perfect lipstick idiot-proof.

Best Lip Balm: Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Lip Protectant Stick
This is what the gods use on their lips for instant winter protection.

Best Lip Gloss: Too Faced Lip Injection
Visibly plumps lips and has a real long-lasting quality at a very good price.

Best Makeup Compact: Too Faced Little Pink Book
Provides everything a girl could need on the go.

Best Brand: Prescriptives
I don't believe any other company provides such a personalised service at such a reasonable price. Hats off.
*runners-up: L'Oreal and Avon, for consistently high quality