I'm a Beauty Editor—These Are the 7 Things I'm Spending My Money on This Year

As a beauty editor whose job it is to test out a lot of beauty products, it’s fair to say that I have gone through a somewhat shameful amount of skincare in my time. As I am sure you can imagine, getting sent all the latest and greatest skincare products free of charge opens up a world of opportunities for my skin. It means that whenever my skin is feeling a certain way, whether it be stresseddry or breaking out beyond belief, I usually have the best product for its exact need somewhere in my stash. 

But after nearly seven years in this job and very rarely buying beauty products, this year, I’m vowing to make a change. No, I’m not quitting my job, but rather, I’m going to start buying my own skincare products again. Why, you ask? Because the truth is when you get sent the best beauty products for free, it’s very easy to lose touch of which ones are actually important.

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(Image credit: @SHANNONLAWLOR)

One of the questions I get asked the most is What are the most important skincare products? And while this question doesn’t sit particularly well with me (when it comes to specific product recommendations, they’re different for everybody), I do appreciate that when we’re all strapped for time and cash, it’s really all anybody wants to know.

While I’m still going to need to test and trial products for work, when it comes to my skincare mainstays, I’m switching things up. In a bid to definitively answer beauty’s million-pound question, I’m vowing to clear out my stash and just use the products that really are the most important.

Before we get into this, I would like to highlight that just because I am "getting rid” of certain products in my main line-up doesn’t mean I’m ditching them altogether or that they’re no good. I will, of course, still keep hold of them for when their time comes. Without further ado, here’s a roundup of the products that I’m going to invest some more time and money in this year, and the ones I’m bidding adieu to (sorta).

1. CLEANSER

Buying: Cleansing Creams

Stashing: Cleansing Foams

2. TONERS

Buying: Mists

Stashing: Exfoliating Essences

3. MASKS

Buying: Calming Masks

Stashing: Sheet Masks

This, believe it or not, is the only product category on this list that I will not own a single one of in 2022. Last year, I used up a lot of leftover sheet masks from years gone by, and they are finally all gone. Sheet masks aren't just a great example of beauty's shocking display of waste, but they also don't do a huge amount for your skin. Face masks should contain an abundance of hard-working ingredients, and the rewards of which just can't be reaped when they're in sheet form.

4. SERUMS

Buying: Vitamin C

Stashing: Hyaluronic Acid

5. EXFOLIANTS

Buying: Wash-Offs

Stashing: Leave-On Acids

6. MOISTURISERS

Buying: Basic Hydrators

Stashing: Active Creams

7. SPF

Buying: Creams

Stashing: SPF-Infused Moisturisers

Freelance Beauty Editor

Shannon Lawlor is a renowned beauty journalist and has contributed to Who What Wear’s beauty content since 2020. As a leading beauty editor, expert and brand consultant, she has over eight years of experience working for some of the industry’s most esteemed titles, including Who What Wear (of course), Glamour UK, Stylist, Refinery29 and Fabulous. Having also worked behind the scenes with some of the industry’s biggest brands and retailers, Shannon has a unique insight into what people really want from their beauty routines. Understanding that beauty lovers seek honest, open and responsible advice, she has it made her mission to demystify the intimidating world of beauty, taking a no-frills approach to the most relatable topics. While Shannon is the first to admit she doesn’t hold the answer to every beauty question out there, she is dedicated to sharing her expert insights in a bid to help. As a self-proclaimed lazy girl, Shannon has an affinity for easy-to-use, foolproof beauty products and has made it her mission to scope out the best of the best. When she’s not working, Shannon is likely soaking in the bath or giving no-holds-barred beauty reviews on Instagram from her bathroom floor.