10 Beauty Products Worth Their Cult Status

The sheer volume of new products hitting the market month after month is enough to leave anyone’s head spinning. However, there are a few time-tested beauty products we can go back to over and over again. These cult beauty products are the stuff legends are made of (we aren’t exaggerating), and are TOTALLY worth the hype. If there was a make-up Hall of Fame, these favourites would figure prominently in it.

 

1. Smith’s Rosebud Salve (Rs 450)

A lot of thought goes behind the packaging of a product. Some look so appealing that I would pick them up just on the basis of how they look. If the product is actually as good as the packaging, there’s no looking back for me. Smith’s Rosebud Salve is one such product. This American drugstore staple been around since 1895(!), and the vintage-y, old-fashioned tin contains a rose oil-infused petroleum balm that not only soften lips, but can even be used to give your eyelids and cheeks a dewy, glossy sheen. It also doubles up as a cuticle softener. Who doesn’t love a multi-purpose balm!

 

2. YSL Touche Éclat (Rs 2,305)

If a product is sold every 10 seconds somewhere in the world, obviously there is a reason why it’s so well-loved. This illuminating wand was launched in 1991, at a time when everyone and their mother was hooked on chalky foundations and heavy concealers. Basically a concealer-higlighter hybrid, the sleek, brush-on pen – its rich liquid is filled with light-reflective pigments – makes skin bright and luminous, diminishing dark shadows instantly.

 

3. NARS Orgasm Blush (Rs 3,219)

Orgasm is one of those blushes that is universally flattering on every complexion. A beautiful peachy-pink shade with golden accents, it adds a healthy, youthful glow to your cheeks; the sort of natural colour that you would get were you to run a short distance. What’s more, it’s the sort of colour you can wear all year round. No wonder it’s such a classic!

 

4. Maybelline Great Lash Mascara (Rs 864)

In 1971, Maybelline invented a water-based mascara and the world was never the same again! A tube of this mascara with amazing staying power – which builds voluminous lashes without clumping – sells every two seconds globally. Are you still wondering why it figures on this list?

 

5. MAC Russian Red (Rs 2,850)

MAC has always had a revolutionary approach towards colour palettes. Russian Red, an intensely pigmented, matte finish, red-with-blue-undertones lipstick was created especially for Madonna’s 1990 Blonde Ambition Tour as a lipstick that would last through an entire performance. It has since become a cult favourite, flattering a range of complexions and undertones while staying put for a solid six hours.

 

6. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream (Rs 1,054)

Originally developed as a salve by Elizabeth Arden for her thoroughbred racehorse’s legs(!) in 1930, the Eight Hour Cream is effective on us mortals as well. Also known as the LBD for skin care and repair, the name came about when a user insisted that the cream healed her son’s scraped knee in eight hours! Enriched with Vitamin E and anti-inflammatory salicylic acid, the Eight Hour Cream is sold every two minutes in the UK and has a celebrity fan following in the likes of Cate Blanchett, Gisele Bündchen, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Claudia Schiffer, Victoria Beckham, and Thandie Newton.

 

7. Clinique Black Honey (Rs 2,024)

Black Honey made its debut in the US in 1971 and the deep, blackened raisin hue became an instant success. In 1989, when it was relaunched as an Almost Lipstick, no one realised how quickly it would become an iconic lip colour. A precise blend of red, blue, orange and yellow pigments in a sheer base allows Black Honey to look beautiful and different on virtually every skin tone, making it a cult favourite. Why don’t I see you adding this to your shopping cart already?

 

8. L’Oréal Elnett Hairspray (Rs 799)

When you want your hair to hold a style for a red carpet event or a shoot, or simply because you have spent a good part of an hour styling it and don’t want humidity to ruin it, L’Oréal Elnett Hairspray should be your go-to product. It has been providing supreme hold without making your hair look or feel dry, dull and/or crunchy since 1960. No wonder it is such a favourite with celebrities and stylists alike.

 

9. Coty Airspun Powder (Rs 2,120)

When you have oily skin, you never stop looking for products that will soak up sebum without making your skin look extremely matte. This finely milled setting powder is a dream-come-true for oily skinned girls. It SHOULD be if it has been around since 1935. It comes with a fluffy white powder puff and is so old school that we’re totally crushing on it.

 

10. Crème de La Mer (Rs 20,941)

The Rolls Royce of face creams and a favourite with celebrities and royalty across the world, La Mer is worthy of being called a legend and here’s why. It is thick (like, seriously thick) and hydrating but doesn’t block your pores. Any guesses why it was invented? The creator of La Mer, an aerospace physicist  for NASA, suffered severe burns on his face after a lab accident and spent the next 12 years developing a product that would heal his scars!