The Beauty Insider’s Guide: The Staples Pros Swear By

Beauty trends may change with the seasons, but the principles professionals rely on rarely do. Spend time in a hair salon, peek inside a makeup artist’s kit (don’t worry, we’re nosey too), chat to a dermatologist about their go-to formulas or look closely at the products celebrity glam teams keep on hand, and a pattern starts to emerge.

Certain ingredients, technologies and product types earn their place because they consistently deliver dreamy results. Some of these formulas have built cult followings over time, while others represent the latest wave of innovation – but all are shaped by the professionals and experts who know beauty best.

Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Leave-In Treatment

Bleaching, colouring and frequent heat styling can weaken the bonds that keep hair strong – which is why bond-repair treatments have become a staple in many hairstylists’ routines. And anyone who experiences frizz, dryness or split ends can benefit from using bond-building products in their hair care line up (which is most of us, let's be honest).

Redken’s Acidic Bonding Concentrate Leave-In Treatment helps reinforce weakened hair bonds while smoothing frizz and improving softness. As if that wasn’t enough, it’s also part of the repair-focused system used to maintain Sabrina Carpenter’s signature blonde. The kind of backstage staple that keeps hair looking smooth, strong, and camera-ready.

What to expect: that glorious just-left-the-salon feeling – smoother, glossier hair with bond-strengthening benefits, up to two times less breakage ^[1], and heat protection up to 230°C.

CeraVe Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

If there’s one thing dermatologists will tell you, it’s that healthy-looking hair starts with a healthy scalp. That’s why scalp care has started borrowing ideas from skincare – and this shampoo is a good example of that shift. Developed with dermatologists, CeraVe’s Anti-Dandruff Shampoo is designed to help remove visible flakes while supporting the scalp’s moisture barrier. It also borrows a few beloved ingredients from skincare, including ceramides, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, helping keep both scalp and hair feeling comfortable, hydrated and balanced.

What to expect: up to 100% reduction in visible flakes, without disrupting the scalp’s moisture barrier ^[4].

Matrix Food For Soft Multi-Use Hair Oil Serum

One of the easiest ways to spot a professional blow-dry is the reflective shine. Stylists often finish a style with a lightweight oil to smooth the cuticle and enhance gloss without weighing hair down. Matrix’s Food For Soft Oil taps into that same principle, combining avocado oil and hyaluronic acid to help replenish moisture while delivering that just-stepped-out-of-the-salon shine that makes you catch your reflection in every mirror.

What to expect: lightweight hydration and shine that smooths frizz, delivers up to seven times more hydration ^[2], and leaves hair feeling silky without heaviness.

L’Oréal Professionnel Metal Detox Mask

Colourists know that metals in everyday water can quietly build up inside the hair fibre over time – something that can increase the risk of breakage and affect colour results during services like balayage or lightening. The Metal Detox Mask was developed to help tackle that problem, using a molecule called Glicoamine to help trap and neutralise metal particles within the hair. The result is hair that feels smoother and stronger, with colour that stays looking fresher between salon visits – so good your favourite hairstylist might start to wonder if you’ve been seeing someone else behind their back…

What to expect: softer, shinier hair with improved strength and protection for colour-treated strands – with up to 97% less breakage after just one use ^[3].

Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water

A powerful yet gentle cleanser, this micellar water has long held cult status among makeup artists and French women alike. Loved for its ability to sweep away makeup and impurities without harsh rubbing, it’s become a reliable staple for quick cleansing and skin prep, as well as cleaning up any application errors (we’re looking at you, liquid eyeliner).

What to expect: effortless makeup removal and refreshed skin without the need to rinse.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Ultra Invisible Fluid SPF50+^*

La Roche-Posay has long been a go-to for sun protection, and the Anthelios range is one many experts recommend for daily wear. The new Anthelios UV Mune 400 includes a breakthrough filter Mexoryl 400^, the brand’s biggest innovation in UV protection in over 20 years –  it was designed to help protect against UVA and UVB rays, as well as premature ageing. Despite the high level of protection, the fluid texture remains incredibly lightweight and invisible on the skin, making it easy to wear every day and layer under makeup.

What to expect: a lightweight, invisible SPF50+ fluid that absorbs quickly, won’t clog pores and provides very high broad-spectrum sun protection.

^{^Methoxypropylamino cyclohexenylidene ethoxyethylcyanoacetate}

Maybelline Sky High Mascara

Few mascaras have achieved cult status quite like Maybelline’s Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara. While the formula first exploded on socials in 2020 – and was still ranked the number one mascara as recently as last year ^[5] – it’s also earned a place in many beauty editors’ top picks thanks to its ability to create lifted, fanned-out lashes without clumping.The flexible Flex Tower brush bends to coat lashes from root to tip, while the lightweight formula infused with bamboo extract and fibres helps deliver noticeable length and volume without weighing lashes down.

What to expect: limitless length and volume thanks to a super flexible brush designed to reach every last lash.

NYX Jelly Job Full Bodied Shine Gloss

NYX has long been a favourite among makeup artists and beauty editors balancing high-performance formulas and accessible price points. Products from the brand regularly show up in professional kits, especially when artists want bold pigment, playful textures and trend-led finishes without the luxury price tag. Right on cue with the glossy-lip comeback, the Jelly Job Shine Gloss range features a jelly-textured formula that delivers a glassy, smooth finish, juicy colour and a fuller-looking effect.

What to expect: a juicy, smooth lip finish with a lightweight jelly texture, infused with conditioning ingredients like cherry oil and peptides.

L’Oréal Paris Infallible 3-Second Jumbo Setting Mist

L’Oréal Paris’s Infallible 3-Second Setting Mist is the kind of formula makeup artists reach for whenever a look needs to last – from runways and red carpets to weddings and even space (yes, outer space). Case in point: Katy Perry’s makeup artist used it to keep her look in place from take-off to landing. It’s also been making plenty of appearances on our feeds, thanks to its fine, even mist and serious staying power. Designed to lock makeup in place quickly without leaving behind stickiness or visible droplets, it’s the kind of formula experts rely on when they need a look to go the distance, whether you’re heading to a wedding or a little further afield.

What to expect: lightweight, long-wear hold with no stickiness or visible residue, now in a jumbo size, because we know you’ll use it time and time again. 

Giorgio Armani Sì Intense EDP

Few fragrances capture modern femininity quite like Giorgio Armani’s Sì. Fronted for over a decade by none other than *the* Cate Blanchett, the scent has become a signature for those who love something rich, sensual and confident. The Intense version opens with juicy blackcurrant nectar before unfolding into a floral heart of rose damascena and davana. As it settles, warm bourbon vanilla and black tea create a velvety finish that lingers beautifully on the skin. 

What to expect: a rich, feminine fragrance with blackcurrant, rose and warm vanilla depth.

Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb EDT

Some fragrances become signatures almost overnight, and Spicebomb has held that status since its 2012 launch. Often described as fiery and addictive, acclaimed perfumer Olivier Polge layers warm spices like cinnamon, saffron and pink pepper with bursts of bergamot and grapefruit, before settling into deeper notes of leather and vetiver. The result is bold, warm and instantly recognisable – the kind of scent that leaves a lasting impression.

What to expect: a warm, spicy fragrance with bright citrus, rich spices and smoky leather depth.

YSL Y Eau de Parfum

Behind every iconic fragrance is a master perfumer, and Y Eau de Parfum was created by legendary nose Dominique Ropion, known for crafting some of modern perfumery’s most recognisable scents. This fragrance plays on contrast – a crisp white accord of sage and geranium layered over deeper notes of sensual woods and tonka bean. The result is a modern fougère that feels fresh, clean and confident without losing depth.

What to expect: a fresh yet warm fragrance with aromatic sage, soft woods and tonka bean that lingers on the skin.

Your expert routine doesn’t need to be complicated – just considered. These are the formulas and brands the pros trust, all in one place. Discover now online and in-store at Chemist Warehouse.

^{*Always read the label and follow the directions for use. Wear protective clothing, hats, and eyewear when exposed to the sun. Prolonged sun exposure should be avoided. Frequent use and re-application in accordance with directions is required for effective sun protection.} 

^1. After application of Acidic Bonding Concentrate Leave-In Treatment vs non-conditioning shampoo

^2. Using system of Food For Soft Shampoo, Conditioner or mask and oil

^3. Instrumental test after application of a non-conditioning shampoo + Metal Detox mask on sensitised hair vs hair washed with non-conditioning shampoo only

^4. Consumer test, 157 subjects, after 6 weeks of twice weekly usage of the shampoo + conditioner

^5. IQVIA Sell Out Service. Mascara Make Up, Australian Pharmacy and Grocery. Total Value Sales & Units, 52 wks ending 26/07/2025

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^{Sponsored content in partnership with L’Oréal Groupe.}