Call me old-fashioned. That’s it – just call me old-fashioned, because I really am. There’s nothing I like more than a glass of sherry, a copy of People’s Friend and some reruns of Dad’s Army. OK, this could be an exaggeration, but wasn’t there something much more appealing about times past? I’m talking pre-seventies of course. Pre-sixties even. An era when the boot scraper outside your front door wasn’t from Dwell, your Coronation tea towels weren’t ironic, and your blouse could comfortably be described as ‘gay’. Simpler times.

But the products were rubbish. Imagine having to choose between Vosene or Fairy Liquid when you have hair like mine. Or having to take your make-up off with ‘cold cream’. And then, no doubt, having to conceal the resulting pore blockages with a hefty coating of ‘Pan Stick’. I feel itchy just thinking about it. So I’m much happier living in the here and now and just making things look a bit retro. All the fun, without having to find out what powdered egg tastes like, or make something economical using brisket.

So who does the best retro packaging? There are a few contenders out there – and of course, they need to have cracking products enclosed within to make the grade. Otherwise, what’s the point? First up is a brand you’ll all be familiar with, I’m sure. Lovely old Benefit. Founded by twin sisters Jean and Jane Ford back in 1976, the San Francisco based company has a really fabulous retro vibe to its packaging – and some phenomenal products in its range to boot. Too many to name here in fact, but my particular favourites are Benetint, their cult rose-tinted lip and cheek stain (£22.50), Dr Feelgood, a velvety complexion balm (£19.50), and F.Y… Eye (£17.00), an eyeshadow base/primer. Love the names, love the look, love the fact that the products really work.

Benefit’s not cheap, but there is a budget range called Soap & Glory you’ll find at Boots that ticks the ‘retro packaging’ box and delivers pretty well into the baragin. To be honest, I wouldn’t be fussed about using their range for facial skincare, as some of it’s quite highly perfumed. But their ‘spa’ range is really rather nice. I-Foam (£4.50) is an ultra-creamy body wash that lasts for ages, Scrub Actually (£6.50) is a lovely body buffer with brown sugar – and they even do an anti-perspirant called Glad Pits (£4.00). No, I don’t get it either.

Here’s a first: ‘ladies things’. Not something I’ve reviewed before, but the packaging on Moxie’s range is just too good not to mention. They promise to bring a touch of glam to an otherwise very unglamorous part of our lives, and the gorgeous little candy-striped handbag tin you get with their tampons goes some way towards that. Available at Superdrug, Waitrose and Boots.

My final choice is Badger. The look is retro, but not in a kitsch, 1950s way. It’s more a kind of ‘1930s weekend at the hunting lodge’, if you know what I mean. I’m not even sure I do. But have a look and I defy you not to love both the packaging and the range of balms and salves which are indeed as lovely as they sound. I almost took a bite of their Pink Grapefruit Lip Care Stick (£1.95) and the Badger Balm Soothing New Mother & Baby Gift Box (a mere £10.76) is a must-have gift for a new mum. In fact, why didn’t I get one? Maybe I did, I was just too busy painting my legs with gravy browning to notice.

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