Thousands of creams, serums and other beautifying concoctions are launched every year, not to mention mountains of make-up and fragrances, each clamouring for space in our shopping baskets.

In such a competitive market, it takes a truly remarkable product to stand out, so when sales soar, you know you've got a real winner on your hands (or face).

In a bid to suss out the champs from the also-rans, we asked a clutch of our favourite cult brands to reveal what flies off the shelves fastest.

From body butter to blusher and scent to scrub, meet the beauty bestsellers...

THE HANDY HERO

More than 20 years since it debuted, L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream, £19, remains the brand's number one seller. One tube of this rich but fast-absorbing formula is sold every three seconds - devotees won't leave home without it their mini tube (www.loccitane.com).

THE PRO-APPROVED PRIMER

Make-up artists swear by Illamasqua Hydra Veil, £32, a silky gel that leaves skin superbly smooth and perfectly primed for make-up. The shiny jet black pot comes with a dinky scoop for measuring out the ideal dose to apply with a foundation brush (www.illamasqua.com).

THE PERFECT PERFUME

It may be phenomenally popular, but this is no lowest common denominator or one-note wonder scent. Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Cologne, £85 for 100ml, is bold, succulent and unforgettable (www.jomalone.co.uk).

THE CALMING BALM

The tea tree has long been harnessed for its blemish-busting and skin-calming properties. The Body Shop's Tea Tree Oil, £8, is Fairtrade, organic and a bargain to boot. No wonder one is sold every eight seconds (www.thebodyshop.co.uk).

THE MEGA-HIT MASCARA

Benefit's They're Real mascara isn't just a top seller for the brand, it's been the UK's bestselling mascara for the last four years. To celebrate, the They're Real Sexy Steal set, £19.50, containing the original mascara plus a mini liner and remover, has just hit the shops (www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk).

THE WONDER OIL

Originally a hit in its native France, Melvita L'Or Rose Firming Oil, £30, is a gorgeously scented cellulite-targeting treatment. Only launched in the UK in April, so many bottles have already been sold that if they were all stacked up, they'd reach the height of six and a half Eiffel Towers. Tres bien, non? (www.melvita.com).

THE CULT CREAM

Not only does it have a pun-tastic name, Soap & Glory's The Righteous Butter, £10, is a thick, luscious lotion that's loved the world over. One pink tub is sold every 20 seconds worldwide and it's won a stack of awards too (www.boots.com).

THE HAIR-OIC TREATMENT

Originally created for Audrey Hepburn more than 40 years ago, Philip Kingsley Elasticizer has continued its reign as the most intensive conditioning product out there. Now, the first ever scented version of the treatment is out, Geranium & Neroli Elasticizer, £31.50 (www.philipkingsley.co.uk).

THE SUPER SCRUB

Sabon has a huge following in its native Israel and has just opened an online shop in the UK. The brand's sea salt scrubs are massively popular, with the delicious-sounding Lavender Apples Body Scrub, £31, being the global bestseller (www.sabonuk.co.uk).

THE SUITS-ALL SHADE

The legendary Orgasm shade from NARS - a warm, peachy hue - is responsible for shifting 135 units per hour, be it blusher, lipstick or the famous Multiple sticks. Where to start if you haven't tried this ultra-flattering pink yet? The Orgasm Blush, £23, will have you screaming with delight (www.narscosmetics.co.uk).

THE ANTI-AGEING ICON

The product of 20 years of dermatology research, Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate, £60, uses a unique complex to boost skin's immunity, and it's proven a hit with consumers since it debuted last year - one bottle is sold every 18 seconds worldwide (www.shiseido.com).

TRIED AND TESTED

Katie Wright tries a unique new collagen-boosting facial from high-tech brand Environ.

"My facial starts off in the usual manner with a consultation, where my therapist Haley makes recommendations for my diet [more water] and skin [more eye cream], followed by a thorough triple cleanse to remove all my make-up.

"Then comes the science bit. After applying a peptide-rich serum, a probe is moved slowly over my face, emitting a low-frequency sound wave that creates reservoirs under the skin, drawing the serum in deeper. Apart from a couple of points near my ears where it feels like tinnitus, it's not uncomfortable and I feel really relaxed - even more so when a cool mask is applied, and a low-voltage current is pulsed through the mask while I'm given a hand and arm massage.

"When the mask's peeled off, my skin looks plumper and more refreshed. Monthly treatments promise cumulative effects, but I'm really impressed by the instant results too."

:: Environ Collagen Power Facial, £100 for 90 minutes, launches nationwide in September. To find your nearest salon, visit www.iiaa.eu

BUY IT NOW

A moisturising spritz is the best way to keep moisture levels up throughout the day without messing up your make-up, and SK-II's latest has been given Cate Blanchett's seal of approval. The actress had a mini bottle of the Mid-Day Essence with Pitera, £54, in her purse at this year's Oscars to keep her skin fresh, and it's now available at Harrods (www.harrods.com).

BEAUTY BULLETIN

:: CONFIDENCE COACHING

Younger women have better body confidence, right? Not necessarily; a new survey by Bio-Oil reveals that nearly half of all teens worry about being overweight, while a quarter worry about the size of their breasts and 25% have been bullied about the way they look. Bio-Oil is working in schools with the charity Body Gossip, and asking people to share their own confidence-boosting tips on www.mybodyphilosophy.com to inspire youngsters.

STEAL OF THE WEEK

Haircare brand Label M has collaborated for the third time with renowned London-born designer Jean-Pierre Braganza, this time on a pair of sunglasses inspired by the designer's last catwalk collection. Buy any two products in salon, or three online, and get the sunnies free while stocks last (www.labelm.com).