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Beauty

  • Rose Matafeo photographed by Perou for the Observer New Review. Styling by Sam Deaman. HMU by Sara Fagan.

    Original Observer Photography

    From Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s ‘life on a plate’ to Rose Matafeo introducing our puzzle special, the best original photographs from the Observer commissioned in December 2024
  • A composite image of a grid of pictures all on a mint green background: a vape, a cucumber, an electric Lime bike, a pint of Guinness, Austin Butler, a Stanley cup, a Bic lighter, a brown bra and a bottle of La Vieille Ferme wine

    The year in stuff – from chicken wine to cucumbers and mini mullets

  • ‘I tapped my finger across the shade and rubbed it across my inner lid – it takes no time.’

    Eyeshadows in strong shades for a big impact

  • Julia Roberts waves at the London premiere of Notting Hill, revealing her underarm hair

    Women’s body hair shouldn’t be controversial. It’s time to stop policing our physical choices

    Nova Weetman
  • An illustration of someone taking a photo of a woman on a cellphone

    Photos of myself make me shudder in horror. Does that mean I’m hideous?

  • Round Up

    Final call for festive shopping! Tick off the last of your Christmas gifts with the Filter

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Sali Hughes on beauty

  • A mockup of some budget Botox

    Safe Botox isn’t only for Harley Street – it should be on the high street, too

  • red nail varnish being poured onto a nail

    Looking for a ‘hard as nails’ manicure? Add a layer of builder gel

    The additional base layer won’t set you back much, protects nails and means you can go longer between treatments
  • Ilia Balmy Gloss Tinted Lip Oils.

    How to choose the ideal ‘your lips but better’ lipstick shade

    There are some whacky ideas about finding the right nude lipstick tone, but really it is very simple…
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The beauty spot

  • Model wearing blush.

    Go bigger and bolder with your blusher

  • Hands of woman holding scented candle at home<br>2J9HXJM Hands of woman holding scented candle at home

    Festive candles: 10 of the best

  • woman with brown eyeshadow

    Low-key eyeshadow for a modern look

  • JL ADVENT CALENDAR 19

    The best beauty Advent calendars

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Skincare

  • Wearing my SPF!<br>Photo of a young woman applying sunscreen while being outdoors, at the beach; making silly faces while reapplying SPF and protecting her skin from the sun.

    How to wear sunscreen: ‘Put it on so it feels like there is too much on, then put more on’

    Australia’s sun care guidelines differ depending on your skin tone – but most people are not adequately protecting themselves
  • Comp of beauty products held by illustrated hands

    The best beauty gifts: Sali Hughes’s present picks for Christmas 2024

  • discounted makeup products in a bin

    Dozens of ‘high hazard’ toxins are common in beauty products – report

  • Ask Ugly: I was prescribed medicine for a zit. Should I take it?

  • Do you really need to exfoliate your face?

  • The child skincare boom - podcast

  • Skincare for tweens is booming. But they already look perfect…

    Eva Wiseman

  • Do collagen supplements actually help your skin?

Make up

  • Handbag illustration

    Help! It’s a style crisis: handbag essentials fashionistas never leave home without

  • A composite image of a young blonde woman with her hair tied back, wearing a black, round-neck top, and an elderly lady with white hair pulled back from her face, dangly earrings and a pale blue cardigan, shot against a pale blue background

    Be honest, have you had work? 11 people open up about what they do – or don’t do – to their face

  • Full of cringe … Elizabeth Banks in Skincare.

    Skincare review – Elizabeth Banks horror thriller is a thing of beauty

  • Melissa Davey

    The sunscreen myth: could it really be causing skin cancer?

    Melissa Davey
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Hair

  • David Bowie 1965<br>British pop singer David Bowie pictured when he was known as Davie Jones, outside the BBC Television Centre waiting to speak to Barry Langford, producer of the show 'Gadzooks Its All Happening !'. Davie and his group were banned due to the length of their hair but the producer eventually allowed them to appear on the Monday's evening show on condition they get their hair done by BBC TV Make up department, 5th March 1965 . (Photo by Alisdair MacDonald/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)

    I was a long-haired teenage boy in the 1960s. Why did everyone hate us so much?

    Alan Clayson
  • back of person's head as they wash their hair in shower

    How often do I need to shampoo and how do I pick one that suits my hair?

  • Sale tags hanging

    The best Black Friday deals on the products we love: Apple, clothes steamers and the Always Pan

  • A woman with long curly red hair and glasses, shot from the side wearing a red and cream Fair Isle jumper and eight hats piled on top of each other

    Winter is coming … but don’t panic! 54 expert tips on getting through the cold, dark months ahead

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Fragrance

  • Reece Clarke

    On my radar: Reece Clarke’s cultural highlights

  • Illustration of woman spraying perfume

    How do I know if a perfume is going to suit me?

  • montage of perfume atomisers

    Smells like teen spirit: first scents young people will love

  • A brown bichon frisé sits on a chair next to the green bottle of dog scent

    ‘Delicate, authentic, charismatic’: Dolce & Gabbana launches €99 dog perfume

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Road test

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