I'm a beauty writer and these were my favourite products from 2022

I work in an office full of Trinny London die-hards, but I was late to the party myself. Since sampling a few of Woodall’s best, I’ve fallen in love with the brand’s cream bronzer, blush and highlighter. But the BFF De-Stress takes the cake for me. Radiant, lightweight, and blurring, it’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a complexion product and more. It also earned me a mountain of compliments in 2022. The genius of this stuff lies in its skin care-led formula, which hydrates, plumps and smooths skin. It also manages the effects of stress on the complexion. 

$75 at Trinny London

In 2022, I overcame my fear of peels. I have dry skin that can be sensitive at times so overdoing it with chemical exfoliants has real consequences for me. Think: flaking, red and irritated skin. But after introducing this 2-step peel system of botanical acids, copper tripeptide, and enzymes into my skin care routine, all I’ve experienced is clear, smooth, soft and luminous skin. When it comes to resurfacing my skin and revealing the complexion I’ve always wanted, there’s nothing I trust more than this.

$167 at The Parlour Room

This didn’t just make my 2022 favourites list, it also made my mums. Considering we have very different skin needs and lifestyles, the fact that we can both get something out of this ceramide-rich formula speaks volumes. Technically, this moisturiser should be reserved for your evening routine, but if you have dry skin like me, then I’m sure you’ll welcome the extra hit of hydration in the AM too. It melts into skin and layers effortlessly under sunscreen and makeup. 

$38.99 at Adore Beauty

I bleached my eyebrows for the first few months of 2022, and subsequently enjoyed a minimal brow routine. So when I returned to my natural shade of dark brunette, I was less than happy about it. Rather than a few lazy strokes of clear brow gel, I found myself painstakingly sketching arches with a fine point brow pencil. That is until I was sent this brown eyebrow mascara. It’s almost criminal how easy it is to use. A few light-handed strokes of the micro brush applicator and this stuff gives me the fluffy, full brows I’ve always deserved but was never able to accomplish on my own. 

$48 at MYER

The bimbofication of my fragrance wardrobe started with Prada Paradoxe. I’ve always been a bit of a snob when it comes to sweet-smelling perfumes (I typically prefer woodier ouds) but with notes of jasmine and amber calling my name and an Emma Watson co-sign, I succumbed to my curiosity and called in the emblematic bottle. Is it sweet? Yes. But it’s also subtle, balanced and sophisticated. 

$179 at MYER

This unisex summer fragrance was launched in the final hour of 2022, but despite its late entry into the year’s fragrance stable, ‘No Vacancy’ holds its own among more tenured scents. I was gifted a 100ml bottle and 10ml travel atomiser of the parfum in December, and stupidly shared the former with my partner, thinking I’d have trouble getting through the smaller size in one summer. I sprinted through the spritz in just a few weeks, and, as a result, ashamedly douse myself in the stuff whenever I pass my partner’s perfume stash. 

$139 at SŚAINT

As aforementioned I have sensitive skin — everywhere. So you’d think that when this face and body cleanser for sensitive skin slid across my desk I’d launch myself at it. In reality, I’m a magpie for aesthetically pleasing packaging. After I’d run through a few trendier options, I turned to this budget-friendly buy out of necessity, and subsequently fell in love. I get keratosis pilaris on my upper arms, and I don’t think my skin has ever felt softer or looked clearer than when I was using this stuff every day. The formula is packed full of ceramides, niacinamide and glycerin, and while it’s great on its own, I would recommend following up with the Ego QV Ceramides Lotion ($11.99 at Chemist Warehouse) for next level lightweight hydration. 

$10.99 at Chemist Warehouse