London Fashion Week starts tomorrow, and with it comes a host of shows, exhibitions and events, all in celebration of the season ahead. In preparation, we’ve gathered together four key products that will prove to be rather handy over the next five days.

It’s as though all sense of routine is thrown out and a diet of Propercorn, caffeine and alcohol becomes the norm. To hide the effects of dehydration, we’ll be applying Aesop’s Elemental Facial Barrier Cream at every chance. Lord & Berry’s Twistick will provide our lips with ample moisture, while leaving a sheer yet pigmented colour. For fragrance we’ve turned to UÈRMÌ, a new line inspired by fabrics such as denim and silk, so now our scent can reflect our sartorial choices. And to keep our hands and body ready for the long days ahead, we’ll be calling upon Rodin’s Luxury Hand and Body Cream.

Lord & Berry Twistick, £13, selfridges.com & Rodin Luxury Hand and Body Cream, £64, goodhoodstore.com

Aesop Elemental Facial Barrier Cream, £37, aesop.com & UÈRMÌ OH ± Denim, £105, roullierwhite.com

Tags: Aesop, LFW, Lord & Berry, Rodin, UÈRMÌ OH

A serum can tend to be rather pricey, but when all you need is a pea-sized amount, those concentrated formulas will last a long time. Think of them as the holy grail to skincare; they target damage and can fight certain skincare issues such as acne, sun damage, ageing or dehydration. The smaller molecules found in them are absorbed by the skin faster and deeper than a moisturiser, and they contain fewer thickening agents, such as nut or seed oils. Most serums are water-based, eliminating oils altogether, leaving your skin feeling nourished and ready to face the day. For best use, apply after toning, wait to dry and then moisturise.

We’ve searched high and low, testing products to give you four of the best serums on the market for all your skincare needs.

Codage Serum N°2 Mattifying and Repairing, £64, selfridges.com & This Works Skin Deep Youth Elixir, £38, thisworks.com

Verso Super Facial Serum, £95, goodhoodstore.com & Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Serum, £45, aesop.com

Tags: Aesop, Codage, Serums, Skincare, This Works, Verso

The perfect body scrub should gently exfoliate, remove any dead skin cells and invigorate your skin, leaving it silky smoothe and prepared for the sun. Now it might not be the perfect weather in London to go bare legged today, but with the hope that the rain will clear soon, Twin has chosen four scrubs to help you get your pins prepared.

Sans [Ceuticals] 
Bio Active Body Exfoliant, £30, thisisbeautymart.com & Diptyque Smoothing body polish, £45, selfridges.com

Geranium Leaf Body Scrub, £25, aesop.com & This Works Daily Boost Body Scrub, £18, spacenk.com 

Tags: Aesop, Diptyque, Sans [Ceuticals], This Works

Aesop is the cultiest of cult beauty brands. Resolutely highbrow, their products are emblazoned with quotes from the likes of Genet, Jung and Gertrude Stein. Interesting architects are co-opted to design all their stores – Rodney Eggleston of March Projects was enlisted for the recent Rue St Honore boutique in Paris. And all three of the London stores – Westbourne, Shoreditch and Mount St are worth visiting to peruse their bijou range of products.

If you’re feeling particularly indulgent Aesop’s Saint Honore skin care kit is especially investment worthy. At £167 it doesn’t come cheap, but inside are a trove of delights for cleansing, toning and moisturising – all including their wonderful Parsley Seed formulation which is high in environmentally protective antioxidants. Aesop tend to use a fusion of hi-tech and natural ingredients in their products making them very au courant: hi-tech naturals and organics are currently the hottest things in skincare.

If you’re on a budget start with something like their Fabulous Face Cleanser with Aloe Leaf, Bergamot rind and Green tea, its mild gently foaming and suitable for most skin types. Or try their Violet Leaf Hair Balm a floral smelling ointment to groom smooth and soften difficult hair. The Aesop website –  aesop.com.au is also great for tips on where to eat, places to visit, books to read and art too see. Is this the most cultured beauty brand in the world?

Words by Bethan Cole

Tags: Aesop, Bethan Cole, March Studio, Rodney Eggleston, Rue St Honore

After high profile fashion pairings such as Lanvin for H&M and Valentino for Gap, perhaps it was only natural that beauty companies too should want a piece of the collaborative action. Cult and cultured Aussie beauty brand Aesop were one of the first – teaming up with clothing brand A.P.C to create a special hand washing detergent earlier in 2010. Then came Marchesa and Le Metier De Beaute who produced a capsule collection of palettes and lipglosses; subtle and subliminal, the perfect accompaniment to a Marchesa evening gown.

Now, there’s Marcel Wanders for MAC, a capsule collection, only available online (maccosmetics.co.uk) that takes make up packaging design to the next level. The beautiful baroque curvilinear packaging stands in marked contrast to the minimalist Nineties design of regular MAC products. These items look like glossy black chess pieces rather than an aesthetes’ make up arsenal.

Wanders claims he was inspired by Vermeer and, Girl With a Pearl Earring and as a result some of the colours are curiously naturalistic. For example there are light gold and golden nude lipglosses that add very lucent party season sparkle to your face. “Designing beauty packaging immediately made me think of the painterly connection,” says Wanders of his work. Indeed the suitably artistic brush roll (£60) is one of the standout items.

Whilst we love Wanders for MAC – it’s doing something truly innovative with product design, more collaborations are on their way. February 1st sees Milly for Clinique hit counters (a palette designed by the cutesy floral NYC brand), and later in spring there’s Tibi for Bobbi Brown, another niche fashion brand allied to a beauty monolith. For now, December, it’s all about Marcel Wanders for us.

Words by Bethan Cole

Tags: Aesop, Bethan Cole, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, MAC, make up, Marcel Wanders