The Hidden Skincare Gems MECCA HQ Swears By
January 1 | 3 minute read
Words by Maddie Stewart
Originally published on | March 27
Be it an under-the-radar coffee spot, a too-good-to-be-true clothing brand no-one in your office is wearing yet, or a skincare product that has people stopping to ask for your facialist’s details. The power! The secrecy! The temptation to gatekeep!
Often overlooked for big-ticket trends and social sensations, MECCA’s skincare range is loaded with hidden gems long coveted by industry experts and in-store Skin Specialists alike. And when you find one yourself? It’s undeniably thrilling.
Admittedly, we struggle to keep a secret for very long, so we’re here to reveal MECCA HQ’s hidden skincare gems. Consider this permission to tell your best friend – but keep it just between the two of you…
The cleanser that makes you feel like you’re at the spa
According to Customer Education Manager Francesca, using legendary facialist Tammy Fender's eponymous brand feels like a five-star treatment, rather than five minutes in your bathroom.
As someone who doesn't typically enjoy cleansing, Francesca makes it feel like a ritual – rather than a chore – with products that provide that ‘day spa’ feeling. Enter: the Tammy Fender Cleansing Milk.
"It's so rich and nourishing, melting away any makeup and leaving my skin feeling like velvet – and the luxe rose scent feels like a treat at the end of a big day," she says. To really sink into relaxation, Francesca will also play a 10-minute guided meditation.
The ‘jeans and a white T-shirt’ of moisturisers
The process of finding a favourite moisturiser can feel like the search for the perfect denim. When you get it right, you won't even notice you’re wearing it; get it wrong, and it’ll play on your mind all day.
Social Media Specialist Makenzie found her perfect moisturiser in the Kat Burki Vitamin C Intensive Face Cream. "The nourishing, lightweight cream floods my typically dry skin with hydration, and absorbs quickly, so I can press on swiftly with the rest of my routine," she reveals. It also has 15% vitamin C to help brighten the skin – and it’s gentle enough to use every day.
The Parisian skincare brand that deserves the hype
The French do a lot of things well: fashion, food, fromage and, of course, beauty. While we’re all familiar with the luxury fragrance houses and pharmacy staples, there’s one under-the-radar skincare brand that MECCA Influencer Relations Assistant Ava swears by – Darphin.
Her pick from the range is the Hydraskin Light Cream Gel, which “does everything you want a moisturiser to do and nothing you don't! Plus, the scent makes you feel like you're somewhere in the south of France.”
The makeup artists’ must-have to prep skin
We love nothing more than peeping into our makeup artists’ kits on the set of a MECCA campaign, and the hidden gem Makeup Artist and Education Cadet Jeremy always has on hand is AMOREPACIFIC's The Essential Cream Fluid. We needed to know more!
"It's the perfect texture for all skin types," Jeremy tells us. "It preps skin beautifully for makeup, ensuring it looks plump and firm, but never greasy."
The very best night-before-a-big-day treatment
RéVive’s Moisturizing Renewal Cream Nightly Retexturizer is truly one of those 'if you know, you know' products. A beloved overnight treatment for those in the know, MECCA Skin Specialists (and obsessives) swear by it ahead of every on-camera, need-to-look-my-best event – including Vivian, Social Media Specialist and certified RéVive superfan.
"It's hydrating and exfoliating all in one go!” she says. “I always wake up with brighter, more refreshed-looking skin when I use this cream, and it saves me from an extra step or two."
The mist to bring you back to life
While the world has (justifiably) gone wild for her legendary Hollywood Flawless Filter, Charlotte Tilbury’s high-science skin formulas continue to reign as the quiet (over) achievers of skincare routines around the world.
So, when our Editorial Content Manager Kerri spotted Charlotte’s Magic Hydrator Mist moistening the face of Saltburn star Barry Keoghan ahead of the BAFTAs, she was quick to adopt.
“I don’t know why, but I’ll trust anything that man uses,” she half-joked. “I now use the mist before serums to boost their effect, and throughout the day over makeup as my skin soaks up my glow.” She adds: “It’s a big call, but it might just be the best mist I’ve tried!”
