There is a scene in Father of the Bride in which Steve Martin's character, George Banks, paws through someone else's bathroom cabinet. You may find this a deplorable invasion of privacy, but I find it very relatable indeed. Don't get me wrong, unlike Banks, I'm not trying to unearth any scandalous secrets; if I'm snooping, it's because I'm on the hunt for beauty recommendations.
Other people's bathrooms/bedrooms/make-up tables are where you find the things they really rely on, you see; they're home to the cream that works so well their skin looks preternaturally glowing; the hairspray that gives them that tousled, fluffy mane you've always admired; the eyeliner that always smudges just so.
I extend this policy to celebrities and the celebrated, although I will generally ask them to show me the jewels of their collections if I'm ever in their houses conducting an interview. I've found that, by and large, they're more than happy to talk me through them.
This nosiness is precisely how I ended up in Dolly Alderton's flat while she dashed into her bedroom to retrieve her beloved bottle of Do Son by Diptyque. It is also how I became acquainted with Chanel's Vitalumiere foundation — Sadie Frost showed it to me in her make-up bag.
Another variation on the theme: perusing a make-up artist's table. Whether backstage or at a shoot, I always find it riveting to trawl through their products, and usually leave with more than a tip or two. Make-up artists are also my go-tos for general SOS beauty products, because they have so much practice at quickly fixing anything from puffy eyes to skin that needs a glow-up.
Here, 13 top artists each share a product they would never be without.
Katie Jane Hughes
Tower 28 MakeWaves mascara (£18, cultbeauty.com) is my holy grail. I use it every day on myself, I have it in my kit, and it comes out for almost every single client I do. It just gets the job done, quickly, with volume. I find it to be an incredible builder, but also gives separation and flutter to lashes. You can have a full blown-up lash with it or go subtle and simple.
Kenneth Soh
The Serum Stick by Tatcha (£49, tatcha.co.uk) is super handy to carry around and use on the go. You can pat it on under make-up for targeted hydration, but it is also amazing patted over make-up to refresh and give glow and juiciness wherever I want.
Charlotte Tilbury
I love Cool Girl Barely There texture mist from Hair by Sam McKnight (£27, sammcknight.com) — as does Kate Moss. My hair is very dry and very porous; I need something to give it a natural look. This provides body without drying out my hair.
Lisa Eldridge
SPF should be your skin's constant companion. I love Ultra Violette's offerings, and my favourite formula is Queen Screen (£38, cultbeauty.com). It gives effective, broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection in a silky formula and creates the perfect luminous base.
Daniel Martin
One product I can't live without in my kit is Dior's Rouge Dior lipstick in 999 (£39, dior.com). It's the perfect red for any skin tone, while still being a comfortable finish on the lips.
Jamie Genevieve
I'm obsessed with La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 multipurpose repairing balm (£18.90, boots.com). I apply a generous layer every night and then wake up with bouncy, hydrated skin. It's great for dry areas on the body, too.
Pat McGrath
I love my Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water (£13, sephora.com) — wipe on, wipe off! This iconic cleansing liquid removes make-up, pollutants and debris while pampering sensitive skin.
Lan Nguyen-Grealis
The top thing I use myself and on all my clients has to be the Seoulista Beauty 5 Min Primer Mask (£5.50, seoulistabeauty.com). It is an instant saver for rebalancing the skin all year round. Plumping, hydrating, and calming, it’s a natural product that has both healing and fast reactive ingredients and is effective by itself or before you apply makeup.
Ruby Hammer
It has to be Laura Mercier Translucent Powder (£38.50, boots.com). It does much more than just take away shine: it blurs, sets, helps keep make-up in place longer, can be used to blend out heavy application, or used in between stages of make-up.
Wendy Rowe
I love a mask before going out. The 111 Skin Black Diamond Lifting and Firming Face Mask (£100 for five, spacenk.com) dramatically changes the texture of the skin. It only lasts so long, but if you need amazing skin on that evening, it really works well.
Mary Greenwell
My favourite foundation is Sublimage L'Essence De Teint by Chanel (£135, chanel.com) — it's like silk. It's not too much coverage, but you can use concealer if needed.
Linda Hallberg
A product I can’t live without: Danessa Myricks Matte and Shimmery Colorfixes (£16.50, cultbeauty.co.uk). They are so incredibly versatile and can be used in a million ways. Also, the pigments are out of this world.
Nathalie Eleni
One of my favourite things ever is the Chantecaille Future Skin Foundation (£80, cultbeauty.co.uk). I’ve used it for over two decades, it’s oil free so never gets greasy, is natural but enhances skin; it’s basically a flawless filter skin before there was even a Paris filter on Instagram.
