Beauty: brilliant tools for the job

http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2014/may/03/sali-hughes-beauty-brilliant-tools-for-job

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The joy of my job is that I get to recommend brilliantly effective and useful products that might otherwise be ignored. Occasionally, this occurs to me as I'm using something on which I am so dependent that even I have begun to take it for granted. Muji nail clippers (£3.95) are a perfect example: I've used them for more than 10 years and won't let any other sharp implement near my nail tips (I even take them to nail bars). Why? They are so sharp, strong and precise that I never need to use a nail file afterwards (I'm convinced that regular filing, even when done professionally, damages nails). The Muji clippers leave a perfectly smooth surface and are in a different league from common or garden clippers. There's a (bigger) toenail version, too.

Other bargain tools that cannot be bettered include the Wet Brush (£9.99), which makes detangling wet hair a fast, painless and frizz-free job – I use it daily on my children as well as on myself – and the Tweezerman Deluxe Cosmetic Sharpener (£5.50), which accommodates any cosmetic pencil – from slim liner to fat, chunky crayon, thanks to an adjustable aperture. You will never need another sharpener.

Sali loves… exfoliating body lotions

Palmer's Skin Smoothing Lotion, £2.66If you can cope with the (short-lived) smell, you will love the results. This is what I turn to when my skin goes very flaky as the seasons change. De-flakes in four to five days.

Mario Badescu Papaya Body Lotion, £9.95Smells lovely and feels rich and moist on the skin (you can very definitely feel it, so not ideal if you're not a regular body lotion user). Great for minimising tiny bumps on the upper arms, and dry, flaky skin on lower limbs.

Avene Akerat Smoothing Body Cream, £23.95A rich, milder cream for drier and more sensitive types. Exfoliates gently enough for skin conditions such as psoriasis, provided the skin is unbroken. Leaves skin soft and cosseted.

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