Top beauty products of all time

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The classics

1. Vaseline Petroleum Jelly - coveted by Tyra Banks - the humble pot of Vaseline, it was revealed, works wonders for lips, feet, dry legs and even teeth to prevent lipstick from sticking
2. Nivea Creme - According to Nivea, a pot of Creme is sold every second throughout 170 countries today.
3. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant - debuted in 1932 - Sir Edmund Hillary slathered on Eight Hour Cream to combat windburn while he conquered Mount Everest in 1953.
4. Oil of Olay
5. Clinique's 3-Step Program - cleanse, exfoliate and moisturise - has become a modern skincare mantra. In fact, according to Clinique, the company consistently ships 41 units of 3-Step each minute
6. Crème de La Mer - developed by NASA physicist Max Huber
7. La Prairie’s Skin Caviar - For women who love the idea of luxury and first appearing in 1987, the Caviar range is still perceived as state-of-the-art.
8. Clarins Beauty Flash Balm - contains algae extracts to tighten and firm, and give skin a healthy glow. Launched back in 1980 it was a trailblazer. Used after moisturising and under make-up, it’s a favourite for giving skin an instant pick-me-up.
9. Bourjois Blush - In 1863 Alexander Napoleon Bourjois created the first powder blush to replace the common rouge agents of beetroot and strawberry juice.
10. Max Factor Pan-Cake Makeup - first water-soluble matt make-up, was created in 1937 to solve problems presented by the use of colour film.
11. Revlon Nail Enamel - During the ‘40s, founder Charles Revson was the first to bring out seasonal make-up collections to coordinate with the autumn and spring fashions.
12. Maybelline's Great Lash Mascara - hard-to-miss candy pink and green tube, according to Maybelline, Great Lash remains the world’s best-selling mascara
13. Chanel No.5 eau de parfum - remains the top-selling fragrance around the world. No.5’s recipe is a closely guarded secret and its ingredients are subject to strict quality controls to ensure its composition never changes
14. Charlie eau de toilette - quinessential fragrance of the 1970's.
15. Opium by Yves Saint Laurent - brought oriental fragrances back into vogue, but not without controversy

FUTURE CLASSICS
1. Nars The Multiple - multi-purpose make-up stick that gives a flattering all-over glow to eyes, lips, cheeks and body
2. Chanel Rouge Noir Nail Enamel - appearing on catwalks and then on Uma Thurman’s nails in Pulp Fiction, this deep red enamel set the benchmark for dark polish
3. Olay Age Total Effects Cream - The cream is Australia’s most awarded anti-ageing moisturiser
4. Estée Lauder Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia - Created by Aerin Lauder, this re-interpretation of a perfume released by her grandmother in 1973 is of exceptional quality.
5. Revlon Colorstay Makeup - long wearing foundation.

Words: Victoria Meppem.