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Only the best: skincare gifts that passed the beauty editor test
Prepare for some A* holy grail product recommendations – and thank us later!
There's a whole lotta noise out there and it can be tricky to separate the magic from the marketing when it comes to shopping for the best skincare products. That's why I asked the rest of the Cosmopolitan beauty team (past and present) which products they genuinely couldn't live without, from face creams to serums and oils to masks – and all of which make perfect gifts for the beauty enthusiast in your life.
These are the holy-grail picks that we go back to every damn time, why? Because they really work. If a skincare product has made it onto this list, you can bet it's an A* buy..
"Just apply two pumps onto your makeup and it’ll melt away everything in a tick." – Lia Mappoura, Beauty Writer
"Since discovering The Body Shop's Cleansing Butter, removing my makeup has become a million times less daunting." – Lia Mappoura, Beauty Writer
Allies Of Skin Peptides & Antioxidants Advanced Firming Daily Treatment
"After a couple of days of use, Allies of Skin Daily Treatment soothed my stubbornly red-tinged cheeks." – Victoria Jowett, Beauty Editor
"I am religious about keeping my skin barrier protected and this is one of the few moisturisers I can always rely on." – Laura Capon, Beauty Editor
Once upon a time, I got overexcited with some exfoliating formulas and was left with very irritated skin – until I tried this. – Hanna Ibraheem, Beauty Editor
"As someone who has incredibly oily skin, this BHA Liquid Exfoliant is a must-have." – Lia Mappoura, Beauty Writer
"After using this gel cream for a few months I noticed how much my skin was glowing before I’d even put on makeup." – Keeks Reid, Beauty Director
"Tan Luxe have concocted the perfect potion to give skin a subtle, natural-looking bronze."– Victoria Jowett, Beauty Editor
"I love The Dewy Skin Cream. It gives a juicy glow to dry complexions.– Victoria Jowett, Beauty Editor
"What can I say? This is a cult classic for a reason." – Charlotte Bitmead, Beauty Writer
"I’m a year-long sufferer of dry lips and this is one of the few products that has ever made a difference." – Hanna Ibraheem, Beauty Editor
Victoria Jowett is an award-winning journalist and the former Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. She was named one of PPA’s 30 Under 30 for her work in beauty journalism and oversees the skincare, hair, makeup and fragrance content across all of Cosmopolitan’s platforms. She's worked in the beauty industry for over 13 years (and tested 1000s of products), making her an expert when it comes to recommending beauty brands that truly work. Having started her career working weekends on a makeup counter, Victoria began interning at the likes of AnOther and IDOL magazine, before landing her first Beauty Writer job at weekly fashion magazine, LOOK. Joining Cosmopolitan in 2016, Victoria has always remained a beauty fanatic and has been lucky enough to interview everyone from Britney Spears to Kourtney Kardashian about their beauty routines. Follow her on LinkedIn.
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
