There is so much joy to be found in the changing trends that the fashion and beauty industries conjure up each season. Autumn/Winter 2024 is a manifesto in carefree jubilation, with shiny skin, smokey eyes and artfully undone hairstyles set to leap from the catwalk and into real life. However, as much as I love experimenting with new products, my true passion lies in the more unsexy formulations that we all rather quietly rely on to help put our best foot forward each day. These products might not come in cutesy packaging or be spotted in the aesthetic backdrops of the latest viral TikTok get ready with me but, trust me, they work hard. Whether it’s a deodorant for severe sweaters, a foot cream that tackles cracked heels or spot stickers for hormonal breakouts, these no-frills beauty products are the backbone of most of our genuine daily beauty routines. And as a beauty editor with excessively oily skin, I’ve got another one to add to the lineup—blotting papers.
Of course, blotting papers are nothing new, these tiny sheets of oil-absorbent paper have been used for hundreds of years as a way of soaking up excess oil on your skin and dialling back shine. However, this summer they became an essential for me—especially when the temperature hit 30 degrees in London and my skin became a permanent disco ball. And while I tried a few different versions, there’s one that has become a non-negotiable addition to my handbag—the Tatcha Aburatorigami Blotting Papers.
