No. 1 – I can honestly say Bodhi’s Mint Thé Temple Balm has just cancelled out 99% of the rest of the “peace/mint” balms on the market (for me.) It really delivers a massively refreshing wake-up mint hit it, mixed with frankincense, may chang, rosemary, lavender, white thyme and wild camphor bark oil (and more… but too many to squeeze in).
It’s £15 for a 15g glossy black pot, worth every penny, this has gone on my ‘auto-reorder’ shortlist already.
So if you’re looking for a “clear head” saviour for the office – or just “LIFE”! – this anti-flagging, anti-dragging balm will help soothe tension headaches, travel sickness, muscle aches, while its natural antiseptic properties will knock itchy insect bites and minor skin irritations on the head.
Get it for the beach bag, handbag and keep one on your desk, that’s where mine is right now. Think of it as your antidote for stressful office meetings, it’s a lovely mini multi-tasking reviver to whisk away on holiday with you. 100% pure, Bodhi-style.
Get yourself a pot before these sell out! Available at BODHI
Massage into temple and pulse points as needed. Or apply liberally onto wrist and inhale. Works wonders on tired feet and legs for an instant pick-me-up.
No. 2 – Clarins Creme Jeunesse des Mains £16/100ml at Escentual. TWO words. B—-y brilliant. Softens, minimises age spots and strengthens nails (and totally non-sticky, hydrating and visible results I might add). Have a read of the reviews on Escentual.com
No. 3 – Leading the probiotic skincare revolution this year (Nude Skincare is another probiotic brand) is Aurelia Skincare and we know Kate Shapland is a fan – you’ll find Aurelia on her brilliant beauty edit, MyShowcase.com. Aurelia’s founder, Claire Vero, has launched what we predict will be one of THE biggest British skincare brands in the next few years (we’re willing to bet on this one.)
Anyway, I’ve only been using Aurelia’s Cell Revitalise Day Moisturiser for about 10 days but can tell it’s a keeper, already. I think it’s probably one of the most “illuminating” day creams I’ve tried this year, so if you want to up the “radiance wattage” check this product out. £42/60ml.
What’s inside the pot? They say: Concentrated BioOrganic 100% pure botanicals include Baobab, rich in precious Omega 3, 6 & 9 to revitalise the skin, soothing and firming Kigelia Africana and Hibiscus to fight oxidative stress. Borage oil is one of the richest sources of the essential fatty acid GLA which locks in moisture whilst regenerative Mongongo oil offers high levels of natural vitamin E.
We say: Switching moisturisers soon? Give this one a go, especially if your skin needs re-balancing. Because it’s suitable for all skin types (especially sensitive) and at the end of the day, when all is said and tested, balancing your skin is the key to healthy skin.
No. 4 – Kure Bazaar. Ooh hello, you delicious new shades for summer! Kure Bazaar’s new “free from” aquas and corals have “beach” written all over them. Kure’s nail polish colours (£14.95 each) offer one of the best shade spectrums around – there isn’t an uncool shade in the whole beautiful lot.
If pressed to pick our favourite 2013 red for summer toes it might just be Cherie, a deep, glowy red that’s bright enough to showcase toes without going into darker Gothic territory – much as we love an almost-black – and the new aqua blues are gorgeous. Having said that, Caicos (top row, middle) is more of a mint green in real life than it appears on Selfridges‘ website where it looks pale blue so if you love a pale mint green, great, if you think it’s blue, it’s technically not. Tip: better longevity with a protective clear top coat.
No. 5– Dr. Hauschka’s Toned Day Cream. Probably best suited to dry/normal skin, this will be too much for oily skin types. But if your skin’s lacking that radiance factor, this is brilliant stuff. Plus, you don’t need a lot – instant glow factor via the fingertips. I mix mine with a dab of day cream as the texture is slightly like glossy acrylic paint – but the results are worth it – they do a £4 trial size too. If you hit it off with the trial size, you’ll probably wonder how you lived without it. (Fantastic reviews on the Dr. H site).