They're endlessly praised in the pages of glossy magazines, but are cult beauty products really worth the cash?

IT takes a lot for a beauty product to reach cult status, and in most cases it's got absolutely nothing to do with the amount spent on advertising.

Take Chanel's Rouge Allure polish, for example: it rocketed to fame off the back of Pulp Fiction, when Uma Thurman's character Mia famously wore it on her short, squoval nails. Achieving instant sell-out status, it's been aped by too many brands to count and it continues to sell today, more than 14 years later. Kathy Murray, group buying director at Brown Thomas, thinks she knows why the brand's lacquer has enjoyed such enduring success: “straight from the catwalk, it's a piece of beauty couture in a bottle!”

While some cult buys such as MAC's Spice lipliner have fallen by the wayside due to the vagaries of fashion (no one really wears matte brown lipstick these days), other old favourites endure. Murray tips the hero nod to Elizabeth Arden's enduringly popular Eight Hour Cream and Yves Saint Laurent's best-selling Touche Eclat, a staple in many women's make-up bags. “Cult,” says Murray, “is about discovering something new, and about rediscovering something old — the secret is to spread the word.”

1. NARS COPACABANA Cementing its status as a star buy, NARS' Orgasm was recently joined by Super Orgasm, a vamped up version of the original. But all that focus on one blusher means that there are a couple of other hero products languishing in the NARS stable which are just as deserving. One such is Copacabana, €40.50. This soft, silvery highlighter looks best on cool skintones and can be blended onto cheek and brow bones; it can be used on the cupid’s bow and also on the body for glowy — not showy — shimmer.

2. MAC 187 BRUSH The real deal here is MAC's famous 187 Duo Fibre Brush, €45. Also known as a skunk brush thanks to its black and white colouring, this tool stipples foundation on for a flawless, super-blended finish. A huge fanbase in the beauty blogging community elevated the 187 to cult status and its price is somewhat justified by the fact it can be used to apply blush and bronzer as well. At MAC counters, but buy at the airport to save cash.

3. LIZ EARLE CLEANSE AND POLISH A brand that makes a point of never advertising, Liz Earle's popularity grew through word of mouth. Starting out on QVC and selling through catalogues, the company quickly began to notice that their Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, from €13, was being bought by the truckload. Not without reason: decently priced, this creamy balm deep cleans, removes make-up and lightly exfoliates thanks to the muslin cloth you use to remove it with. Great for sensitive and problem-prone skins. Buy online at www.lizearle.ie or in-store at Wilde & Green, Milltown, Dublin 6.

4. GUERLAIN ISSIMA MIDNIGHT SECRET It's one that crops up on all must-have lists, but is Guerlain's Midnight Secret, at Arnotts and Debenhams, Henry Street, really worth the €89.37 spend? Well, I can report that it does what it says it will: gives you a great complexion the morning after a late night. Not for use every night due to the active ingredients in the formulation, and it can dehydrate dry skins if used very frequently, this is one to keep on hand as an emergency pick-me-up.

5. EVE LOM CLEANSER Dubious-looking, this essential oil-scented thick paste is actually a great cleanser and deserves every accolade; it's one super-duper skin saviour. Available at Harvey Nichols, Dundrum and pricey at €73 a pot, you'll get two-to-three months out of each one as only a small amount is needed to whip off make-up — including waterproof mascara — and leave skin feeling nourished and soft. Dry skins in particular will drink it up and thank you.

6. TWEEZERMAN Every gal needs good tweezers in her arsenal and there are no better tweezers than a Tweezerman. They come in loads of shapes, sizes and colours but I go for the good old-fashioned slanted offering, €19.50 from HQhair.com. Well-sprung with fine tips, this is as good at lifting teeny-weeny short hairs as it is at plucking and shaping unruly brows. The company also offers free lifetime sharpening, so you can send them back whenever they go blunt.

7. BARE ESCENTUALS BARE MINERALS A cult favourite before the mineral craze grew legs and entered the mainstream, Bare Minerals is a product that doesn't deserve to retain hero status. Eclipsed by newer, better brands, its heavy, clunky-looking coverage is old hat next to refined finishes from brands such as Laura Mercier and Prescriptives. But if you really must indulge, then the Bare Minerals Get Started Kit, €67.50, is the one to go for. At BT2 stores.

8. ELIZABETH ARDEN EIGHT HOUR CREAM A massive fan base and a place in many women's make-up bags has ensured that Eight Hour Cream, €28, available at department stores, has remained a firm favourite since its launch in the 1930s. Spanning all age groups — grannies and 20-somethings alike love its multi-tasking ways — you can use it on lips, grazes, cuticles, unruly eyebrows and dry skin. Not everyone loves the strong scent but one tube of this stuff lasts and lasts.

9. BUBBLING UNDER The stars are underground — but not for long. Two products I'm tipping for future cult success are Shu Uemura's amazing paddle brush, €49, at Dylan Bradshaw, and Shiseido's recently reformulated lipsticks, Perfect Rouge, €24, at Arnotts and Brown Thomas.

- Kirstie McDermott