DAILY SELF-TANNER  Nivea Sunkissed Firming Gradual Tan Body Lotion
Score:  8/10
Price:  £4.09 for 250 ml;  find it on-line here
A definite ‘top tip’ which came in way ahead of other ‘gradual’ self tans that we trialled for this category.  (With these, you build up a light golden colour daily, usually over five to seven days – so no nasty shocks!)  According to Nivea, this fresh-scented lotion contains grapeseed oil, not only to condition skin but to give it the ‘firming’ action promised.  It comes in two shades, and our testers tried the Fair-Medium Skin version (there’s also one for Medium to Dark Skin, but to be on the safe side - unless you’re already quite dark-skinned - we’d always suggest starting with the lighter option.) In trials carried out by Garnier, 94% of women said it left skin feeling supple and soft, with 87% observing an even, flawless-looking tan. 
Comments:  ‘The colour was very subtle, which I liked;  very realistic - the kind of colour my skin would go naturally’ • ‘enough to make me brave enough to go tightless for a special occasion’ • ‘consistency was just right and absorbed well’ • ‘doesn’t streak and doesn’t make you orange’ • ‘would buy it again:  it’s no hassle, provides me with just enough colour to make me look healthy, and smells very nice - a big plus’ • ‘like a natural sun-kissed colour - not fake at all’ • ‘faded evenly’.

BODY SUNCARE  Tesco Sun Protection Lotion High SPF30 
Score:  8.12/10 
Price: £3 for 200 ml;  available at branches of Tesco nationwide.
A very high score indeed for this product, which comes in a flip-top orange bottle, and features what Tesco (whose own-label range Soleil is) describe as ‘skin-firming actives’, while it’s also said to protect against age spots.  You can buy a smaller (100 ml) bottle for handbags (and it’s less than a fiver).  It’s water-resistant, but delivers proven 12-hour moisturisation. 
Comments: ‘Very effective: skin felt really nourished and soft, with none of the usual stickiness; love the holiday fragrance! Good protection and I would definitely buy it’ •  ‘skin felt as if I had applied a moisturiser – liked the light feel which made it sink in quickly, liked the fact it was anti-ageing with green tea and vitamin E’ • ‘left a shimmery appearance that I really liked – like the fact it’s water resistant’ • ‘I loved this on my skin, it felt instantly smoother and looked radiant; wasn’t at all greasy and I would definitely buy this, good for the price’ .

AFTER-SUN Yin-Yang pH-Amino Gold Defence Lotion
Score:  8.27/10
Price:  £16 for 200 ml;  find it on-line here
This incredibly high-scoring product is a paraben-free daily face and body cream packed with antioxidant vitamin E, plus apple cider vinegar to balance the skin’s pH level, along with coconut oil and wheatgerm oil (which is rich in amino acids) to help skin maintain a youthful, healthy appearance.  According Yin Yang, the British Olympic Ski team used this in the 1980s, and it’s also been used in the South Pole Race 2009 by adventurer Teresa Burrows - so its environmentally-protective powers are equally effect in winter as post-sun. 
Comments:  ‘My skin felt very soft and smooth after application – this lasts for hours, too, which is great;  it also smells delicious on skin (orange and bergamot) – what more could you want?’ • ‘I can’t praise it highly enough’ • ‘I burned my shoulders out in the garden and it provided relief to my redness’ • ‘loved the fragrance – smells like citrussy-sherbet;  I kept sniffing my arms!’ • ‘absorbed amazingly quickly’ • ‘the metal container would be easy to pack as it wouldn’t crush or split in your suitcase’ • ‘overall I’m very impressed, and like the fact it can be used on the face and the body’ • ‘would be very good to use on hot children as it’s absorbed so quickly and doesn’t leave a residue for sand to stick to etc.’

DEODORANT  Dove Go Fresh Cool Waterlily & Freshmint Roll-on Deodorant
Score:  8.14/10
Price:  £1.88 for 50 ml. at supermarkets and high street chemists
We initiated our trials into deodorants to find those without parabens, which many readers were concerned by applying close to the breast tissue.  We’ve broadened it out, now, to include not only all-natural deodorants (which frankly underwhelm our testers, generally), but also paraben-free deodorants generally.  A truly stellar performance from this ultra-affordable option, which contains zero alcohol (so no stinging), and is one-quarter Dove moisturizing cream – kind to your pits, then, too!  (Dove also promise that its powers endure for 48 hours.)  Testers loved the fresh waterlily and mint scent.
Comments:  ‘Lasted all day quite easily without me even thinking about it - very dry and comfortable’ • ‘I normally use Mitchum, and I preferred this as it smelt really nice and worked just as well’ • ‘the smell was very light, not overpowering or cloying.  I frequently find that these products make me sneeze, so this one was a pleasant surprise’ • ‘smells fresh and clean and not at all sickly’ • ‘most definitely would buy this - excellent value for money;  I applied first thing and did not feel sweaty at all during the day;  went out boogie-ing with the girls, and felt fresh all night’ • ‘loved this - I have sensitive underams, but I will continue to use this;  smelt fresh and no wet patches.’

WATERPROOF MASCARA Chanel Inimitable Waterproof  
Score:  8.12/10
Price:  £20.50;  find it on-line here
Mascara wand design is really being revolutionized – as the supple, ‘cylindro-conical’ shape of this bendy design shows.  But it was the budge-proof formulation which really impressed our testers:  finding a mascara that really doesn’t flake, crumble or run when challenged by downpours, swimming or sad movies remains a tough challenge.  Chanel rose to the occasion brilliantly with this, which also features beeswax and pro-vitamin B5, to condition lashes.  (In four shades;  our testers had Black.)  They did comment that it was so good at staying put, they’d reserve it for holidays - quite hard to remove!  (Which is the flipside of a mascara that actually stays put…)
Comments:  ‘Fab packaging, fab product - really high-performing mascara which I will buy again’ • ‘went on smoothly;  no clumping and separated lashes effectively;  stayed put and did not crumble or smudge’ • ‘I am impressed:  I always thought mascaras were much of a muchness, but it seems they’re not - it works, and brilliantly!’ • ‘excellent:  I wear glasses and am in front of a screen for much of the day, which makes my eyes itchy so I have a tendency to rub them - but this didn’t smudge, yet made lashes look glossy and lustrous’ • ‘stayed put in the shower - this is genuinely waterproof’ • ‘as a bad hay fever sufferer I have been on the quest for a good waterproof mascara, as my eyes often run - not only is this completely waterproof but it’s a fantastic mascara as well!  Nobody has ever commented on my lashes until I used this…’

LIP GLOSS  new <ID i-Gloss
Score:  8.9/10
Price:  £13;  find it on-line here
Several of our testers wanted to give this more than 10/10 - one (who enthuses below) said it was worthy of 100+ marks!  A great shimmery summer gel-based gloss, in seven shades (our testers had frosted pale Moonstone), this earned praise not only for its moisturising formulation, but for the ingenious packaging:  there’s a built-in light and mirror so you can even apply in the back of a cab (or in the dark!)
Comments: ‘Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous - great shimmery colour but not too bling-y!’ • ‘Lips felt moisturised and the colour is just right, giving lips a very shimmery finish - lips appeared full, like Angelina Jolie!’  • ‘nice and moisturising’ • ‘Absolutely blown away by this product;  it’s glam, it’s glossy, it’s girly, it’s high-tech - they have bottled what girls need and got it down to a T!  My husband is a little bemused at how much time my girlfriends have jabbered on about this product - all the friends I’ve since given it to have left excited, jubilant messages!  If only all make-up and skincare could be this exciting…’ • ‘I was thrilled to see the light and mirror on this product.’

MATTIFYING PRODUCT Clinique Pore Minimizer T-Zone Shine Control
Score:  9/10
Price:  £10.77 for 15 ml;  find it on-line here
Any product which scores 9/10 is pretty flipping impressive by any measure, considering that’s an average from 10 testers.  But for a product which is designed to stop oily, shiny skins from gleaming and glowing?  It’s frankly astonishing.  For all skintypes, this minimizes the appearance of pores while ‘blotting’ shine, and the gel can also be applied over make-up for touch-ups during the day.
Comments:  ‘Can be applied under make-up and reapplied during the day over make-up - and can also be used on its own, as it’s slightly tinted’ • ‘instant results and easy to apply, giving a smooth finish’ • ‘I have an oily T-zone and the cream blends in incredibly well and takes the shine off skin immediately’ • ‘one of those products that quietly gets on with the job and does it very well;  it refines, mattifies and works long and hard t keep make-up fresh, even when things get hot and sweaty.  Like it a lot.  Not sexy, not exciting, just effective’ • ‘immediate mattifying effect and also fills any pores immediately;  a must for my make-up bag when I’m out and about now.’