The high street palette we really rate

From tried-and-tested hero products to our new favourite brands, find out what our beauty team is loving before anyone else.

What Stylist’s beauty team are loving this month

From gentle exfoliating pads to a cult waterproof mascara. Plus, a nifty little face massager that makes a visible difference

Hanna, beauty writer

A recent holiday involving saltwater and intense heat (dreamy) left my hair feeling slightly worse for wear (not so dreamy). But L’Oreal Botanicals Arnica Repairing Conditioner has come to my rescue: its star ingredient, arnica flower extract, leaves my hair feeling softer and nourishes my dry split ends. Plus, all of the packaging – minus the caps – is 100% recyclable. £5, Sainsbury’s

Shannon, beauty director

I love an acid-soaked pad, but can’t help feeling a little sorry for my skin after swiping for seven days straight. So I’ve started alternating my heavy-duty AHA ones with Indeed Labs’ noAcid Pads. They come drenched in gentle ingredients such as probiotics and neurobiox, which works a bit like glycolic acid to soften rough skin – just without any of the potential irritation. The dream. £19.99, Boots

Lucy, beauty editor

One of my favourite beauty looks? An easy bronze eye. Maybelline’s The City Mini Palette in Rooftop Bronzes contains shimmery and matte shades that can be worn alone over the lid, or combined for effortless drama. The pigment payoff is impressive (I apply a Nars eyeshadow primer to help the colour last all day) and every shade shows up on darker skin tones. It’s my new go-palette. £5.99, Asos

Ava, junior beauty writer

I generally avoid waterproof mascaras, which tend to make my fine lashes shrink up and harden (I prefer them feather-light and long). But the waterproof version of Essence’s cult Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara has changed my mind. The formula lengthens and fans lashes from the roots, and doesn’t transfer onto lids throughout the day. And I’m sorry, but £3?! £3.29, Feelunique

Stylist Loves’ editor Kat tries a tool that promises to massage the stress out of her skin

I have no issue with ageing: I’m getting older and my laughter lines are growing with me. But I do take care of my skin, and when I recently noticed it looking washed-out and crumpled, I knew that products alone weren’t enough.

Instead of spending on a facial, I tried gua sha at home – an ancient Chinese practice designed to improve skin elasticity. Armed with this teardrop-shaped rose quartz gua sha tool, my favourite oil and this book, I’ve been using the flat stone to massage my neck and face a few nights a week – and what felt strange at first has become a plumping, stimulating and de-stressing part of my evening routine. £14.08, Herbivore Botanicals

Stylist Loves’ deputy editor Moya follows the Instagram feed of Canadian stylist Katie Merchant for easy beauty inspiration

While I admire their talent, I’m not personally inspired by make-up artists who create lengthy, high-glamour looks. (If I haven’t attempted contouring by now, I think it’s unlikely to happen, you know?) Instead, I follow people like Toronto-based stylist and art director Katie Merchant, whose relaxed-but-inventive beauty aesthetic I can actually replicate IRL. Case in point: muted gold nails, a blurred coral lip and peachy cheeks. Lovely.

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