It is 8.30am on a Tuesday morning, and rather than forcing myself into an hot and sweaty tube carriage, I have somehow founnd myself supping a smoothie at the super chic Kensington Roof Gardens. After a brief wander past the flamingos (yes, really), and an exuberant greeting from an incredibly cute duckling, it is time to settle down and head back inside for the real reason I’m here: the Cosmopolitan Beauty Awards 2009.

82 products in 13 categories have been tried, tested, judged and awarded by readers and celebrities alike. And not just any old celebs, these guys really know what they're talking about and the panel includes Anastasia Achilleos, facialist to the stars, Errol Douglas, hair maestro (and last year’s Cosmopolitan’s ‘Ultimate Man’ winner at The Cosmopolitan Ultimate Women of the Year Awards) and Cosmo's Beauty Director Ingeborg van Lotringen are among them. Plus, mere mortals like you and me have also had their say, awarding the coveted ‘Reader's Kiss of Approval’ to 16 favourite products.

Products range from cheap to chic, but all of them come with the Cosmo seal of approval. If you’re planning some serious summer skin prep, why not take their advice and start by exfoliating with Jo Malone’s Vitamin E Body Scrub (best body scrub), moisturize with Lancôme Nutrix Royal Body Butter (best body moisturiser) and then add some colour courtesy of St Tropez Bronzing Mousse (best body self-tan) or the new Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Natural Bronze Body Lotion (best gradual self-tan). And for that finishing touch, top your toes with a summer bright from readers’ favourite OPI Nail Lacquer (Readers’ Kiss of Approval ultimate nail polish)…

Perhaps two of the most coveted awards were the Beauty Classic and the Beauty Breakthrough. Chosen by Cosmopolitan’s Beauty Director, the lovely Ingeborg van Lotringen, they were unexpected, but truly deserved. The first, The Beauty Classic, went to something that, I think we will all agree, has been a staple of bathroom cabinets for many a year, and as van Ingeborg said, has been much imitated, but never beaten: The Body Shop Body Butters. The Breakthrough Award was a little more controversial and went to a product that isn’t new on the market this year, but was revolutionary for its time, changing the way we thought about hair colour: Clairol Perfect Ten.

It was reassuring to see a few familiar lotions and potions amongst the winners, although it might have been nice to see special recognition for organic or natural products. That aside, the list is a pretty comprehensive guide for which products work, and, whether they’re a high street wonder balm or a more expensive must-have-fix, Cosmo promises that they’re worth it.

Cosmopolitan Beauty Awards Winners – 2009

Cosmo Beauty Classic Award – The Body Shop Body Butters

Cosmo Beauty Breakthrough Award- Clairol Perfect 10

Lips

Best colour-rich lipstick
YSL Rouge Volupté Lipstick

Best sheer lipstick
Chanel Aqualumière Sheer Colour Lipshine SPF15

Best lipgloss
Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect

Best lip balm
Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1

Readers’ Kiss of Approval Ultimate Lipstick
Mac Lipstick

Eyes

Best Mascara
Estée Lauder Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara

Best Eyeshadow
Rimmel London Colour Mousse Eyeshadow

Best Eyeliner
Clinique Cream Shaper For Eyes

Best Eye-Colour Palette
Givenchy Prisme Again! Eyeshadow Quartet

Readers’ Kiss of Approval Ultimate mascara
Maybelline New York Great Lash Mascara

Cleansing

Best cleanser
Kate Somerville Gentle Daily Wash

Best facial refresher
Dermalogica Antioxidant Hydramist

Best eye makeup-remover
Simple Kind to Eyes Eye Make-Up Remover

Best Facial Scrub
Olay Regenerist Daily Thermal Skin Polisher

Readers’ Kiss of Approval Ultimate cleansing wipes
Simple Skincare Cleansing Facial Wipes

Face

Best foundation
Chanel Mat Lumière Long Lasting Makeup SPF15

Best blemish concealer
Bobbi Brown Face Touch-Up Stick

Best tinted moisturiser
Olay Complete Care Touch of Foundation

Best face powder
Mac Blot Pressed Powder

Best cream/liquid/gel blush
Max Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush

Best powder blush
Mac Mineralize Blush

Best Bronzer
Guerlain Terracotta Moisturising Bronzing Powder

Best under-eye brightener
La Prairie Light Fantastic Cellular Concealing Brightening

Eye Treatment

Readers’ Kiss of Approval Ultimate blusher
Bourjois Little Round Pot Blusher

Readers’ Kiss of Approval Ultimate foundation
Maybelline New York Dream Matte Mousse Foundation

Skincare

Best everyday moisturiser
Chanel Hydramax + Active Moisture Cream

Best ‘green’ skincare
REN Rose Synergy 012 Restoring Facial Serum

Best face mask
Chanel Sublimage Hydrating Masque

Best blemish buster
La Roche-Posay Effaclar K

Readers’ Kiss of Approval Ultimate moisturiser
Nivea Visage Anti-Wrinkle Q10 Plus Day Cream SPF15

Anti-ageing

Best anti-ageing moisturiser
Dior Capture R60/80 XP Ultimate Wrinkle Restoring Crème

Best age-defying serum
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Protective Recovery Complex

Best line-fading eye cream
Givenchy Radically No Surgetics Day & Night Eye Treatment

Best age-busting night cream
Elizabeth Arden Prevage Anti-Aging Night Cream

Readers’ Kiss of Approval Ultimate anti-ageing product
No7 Protect and Perfect Beauty Serum

Body

Best body cleanser
Good Works Good Karma Shower Gel

Best body scrub - Pictured
Jo Malone Vitamin E Body Treatment Scrub

Best bath bubbles or milk
Philosophy Field of Flowers

Best bath and body oil
Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning Bath and Shower Oil

Best hair removal product
Gillette Venus Breeze

Best body moisturiser - Pictured
Lancôme Nutrix Royal Body Butter

Best deodorant
Dove Hair Minimising Anti-Perspirant Deodorant

Best body-firming potion
Elizabeth Arden Prevage Body Total Transforming Anti-Aging Moisturizer

Readers’ Kiss of Approval Ultimate body lotion
Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Lotion

Readers’ Kiss of Approval Ultimate hair-removal product
Gillette Venus

Hair

Best hairspray
L’Oreal Paris Elnett

Best volumiser
Shockwaves Styling Plus Gloss & Body Mousse

Best frizz controller
John Frieda Weather Works Style Sealant Crème

Best home colourant
Clairol Perfect 10

Best shampoo
Charles Worthington Time Defy Moisture Renew Shampoo

Best conditioner
Paul Labrecque Daily Condition Moisture Mud Instant Repair

Best leave-in treatment
TRESemmé Curl Hydration Leave-In Cream

Best hair mask
Kérastase Masque Chroma Riche

Readers’ Kiss of Approval Ultimate hair colourant
L’Oreal Paris Excell 10’

Readers’ Kiss of Approval Ultimate shampoo & conditioner
Herbal Essences Shampoo & Conditioner

Tool Kit

Best hairbrush
Goody Gel Handled Brushes

Best make-up brushes
Daniel Sandler

Best heat styler
GHD IV Styler

Best beauty gadget
Neutrogena Wave

Readers’ Kiss of Approval Ultimate hairstyling gadget
GHD IV Styler

Suncare

Best facial sun protection
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Extreme Fluid SPF50

Best all-over sun protection
Lancaster Suncare Tanning Lotion SPF15

Best anti-ageing sun protection
Clarins Sun Wrinkle Control Cream High Protection

Best after sun
Lancaster Tan Maximiser Soothing Moisturizer

Readers’ Kiss of Approval Ultimate suntan lotion
Nivea Sun Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF15

Self tanning and Bronzing

Best facial self-tan
Garnier Ambre Solaire No Streaks Bronzer Dry Face Mist

Best body self-tan
St Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse

Best gradual self-tan
Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Natural Bronze Body Lotion

Best wash-off body tanner
Guerlain Terracotta Teint Doré Bronzing Spray for Body

Readers’ Kiss of Approval Ultimate self tanner
St Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Spray

Men

Best hair texturiser
Fudge Matte Hed

Best face cream
Biotherm Homme Force Supreme Neutralizer

Best shaving lotion
Clinique Skin Supplies for Men M Shave Aloe Gel

Best eye cream
Lab Series Instant Moisture Eye Gel

Readers’ Kiss of Approval Ultimate aftershave
Boss by Hugo Boss Aftershave Lotion

Hands and Feet

Best nail polish
Revlon Nail Enamel

Best Hand Cream
Jurlique Citrus Hand Cream

Best foot treat
Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Cracked Heel Foot Cream

Best nail rescuer
Sally Hansen Miracle Cure

Readers’ Kiss of Approval Ultimate nail polish - Pictured
OPI Nail Lacquer