ELLE Best of British Beauty Awards 2013

We’re assuming that by now your January issue has taken pride of place on your coffee table, right? Flick to page 162 to see the 14 products that ELLE Beauty Directors from around the globe (44 countries to be exact) have singled out as the best products on the planet in the ELLE International Beauty Awards 2013.

Global brands aside, we thought that our favourite UK products of the year deserved an accolade too – and so the Best of British Awards were born.

With so many exciting brands and new product innovations to choose from it was no easy task to whittle it down to just 10 winners. So we invited some of our favourite experts to help us decide. Introducing the judging panel; our Beauty Director Sophie Beresiner, ELLE’s make-up guru Lisa <

Flick to page 162 of your January issue (on sale now) to see the 14 products that 44 ELLE Beauty Directors from around the globe have singled out as the best products on the planet in the ELLE International Beauty Awards 2013.

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WINNER: Burberry Body Tender EDT 85ml, £62

Burberry’s latest addition to the Burberry Body fragrance family was the unanimous winner. All of our judges agreed that its crisp lemon, rose and white jasmine scent smelt ‘expensive and fresh’, a fragrance you could ‘wear every day without it being overpowering’.

Highly Commended: Jo Malone Peony and Blush Suede Cologne 100ml, £78

The light blend of juicy apple, jasmine and fresh peonies make this a sensory treat. It certainly caught Beauty Director, Sophie’s attention who singled out this fragrance as ‘ticking all the right boxes’. Plus, the classic Jo Malone bottle is always a more than welcome addition to our dressing tables.

WINNER: This Works In Transit Camera Close-up, £30

Dr Sam Bunting raved about this does-it-all product; ‘packed full of hyaluronic acid this is an all-rounder - super hydrating and leaves skin feeling wonderfully dewy’. Our other three judges unanimously agreed. Lisa called it ‘no-nonsense skincare that really delivers’. Add to basket imminently.

Highly Commended: Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream, £70

Make-up artist turned entrepreneur, Charlotte Tilbury launched her eagerly awaited beauty range earlier this year and the most highly anticipated product of all? Charlotte’s ‘Magic Cream’, first created backstage to get models skin looking fresh and dewy before the runway, now available for all. For year-round glowing skin, invest here.

WINNER: Alexa for Eyeko Liquid Eyeliner, £15

Lisa Eldridge loved this eyeliner for it’s ultra thin-tipped applicator, long-wearing formula and intense black pigment. Having recently tested it out on a shoot she told the judging panel that it was one of the easiest to apply eyeliners she’s ever used.

Highly Commended: Rimmel Scandal’eyes Retro Glam Mascara, £6.99

A firm favourite on the ELLE beauty desk, Rimmel’s Scandal’eyes mascara gives you doe-eyed, fluttery lashes with just two coats. And for under £7 it’s a serious bargain.

WINNER: Aromatherapy Associates Rose Infinity Serum, £110

The undisputed winner in its category, every one of the judges wanted to take an extra sample home with them. ‘It’s packed full of hydrating ingredients, the packaging is beautiful and it feels expensive’, explains Sam Bunting. Need we say more?

Highly Commended: Sarah Chapman Skinesis Overnight Body Treatment, £49

Sarah Chapman – celebrity facialist and owner of the brand – creates highly effective and results driven products. This overnight treatment is arguably her best yet, essentially a serum for your body, it combines anti-ageing ingredients with luxury oils, such as baobab and camellia, to keep skin supple and smooth.

WINNER: Bleach London Super Cool Hair Colour in Rose, £5

Sam McKnight coined this at-home hair colourant a ‘quirky, sexy little product that I’d be happy to put into someone’s stocking’. Why? ‘It’s really easy to use, gives even colour throughout and does what it says on the tin’.

Highly Commended: Percy & Reed Shine and Fragrance Spray, £22

Beauty Director Sophie loved ‘the delicate fragrance and really subtle shine’ of this lightweight spray. If you’re thinking to yourself, where does a hair fragrance come in to my daily beauty routine? Take inspiration from Sophie who uses it after cooking to refresh her hair.

WINNER: Ciate Chalkboard Manicure set, £25

Lisa Eldridge couldn’t speak highly enough about UK-born nail brand Ciate, who’s philosophy focuses on, ‘Colour, Innovation, Aspiration, Trend and Extraordinary’, or C.I.A.T.E.

Lisa described the brand as ‘leading innovators in the nail world. They are the first to really push the boundaries and the rest follow’.

This inventive and fun chalkboard kit scored full points from all of the judges.

Highly Commended: Cheeky nail paint in Purpl-exed, £7

Launched earlier this year Cheeky, Cowshed’s little sister brand, has already made it’s way onto our Beauty Director’s most wanted list. Two coats lasted Sophie the whole week without chipping, and with witty names like Purpl-exed, you can expect effective products with a dose of good humour.

WINNER: Boots No.7 Match Made Concealer, £7.50

Talk about insider knowledge, our judge Lisa Eldridge can personally vouch for the years of effort that went in to creating this little stick of wonder. Lisa – who was Boots No.7 Creative Director until July of this year - explained ‘three years of research, with hundreds of participants, went into getting the texture and the shade range exactly right’.

Highly Commended: REN Satin Perfection BB Cream, £26

This year marked REN’s – the all-natural skincare brand that only uses 100% plant and mineral actives in its products - first foray into cosmetics with the launch of this BB Cream. Tried, tested and loved by the Beauty Desk it’s packed full of skincare benefits and gives a dewy complexion (even in December).

WINNER: GHD Eclipse Straightener, £195

The product that Sam McKnight ‘wouldn’t go backstage without’, GHD’s new tri-zone straightening iron is a game-changer. Harnessing the optimum heat to tame even the most challenging of hair types without damaging, its curve-edged plates make it really easy to use and versatile.

Highly Commended: Lee Stafford Large Curling Tong, £29.99

This big barrel tong heats up in less than one minute and gives smooth, big, bouncy curls. What sets it apart from the average Joe curler? The wand is infused with Argan oil to improve hair condition.

WINNER: Tara Smith Feed The Root Conditioner, £10

Hair supremo, Sam McKnight said this nourishing treatment ‘conditioned hair without weighing it down, giving a great texture to work with’. If Sam wants to use it on his vast array of celebrity clients then we will be following suit. For the healthiest hair of your life we suggest you do the same.

Highly Commended: Liz Earle Nourishing Hair Oil, £15

It’s Eight Hour cream for your hair. Intensely nourishing, gives even the most damaged of hair textures a shine boost and even reduces drying time (a Monday morning saviour). Thirsty hair will thank you.