It’s National Stress Awareness Day today (November 6) so we’ve done a quick round up of some of our “keep your cortisol under control” beauty favourites to help keep you calm and centred when you feel your elastic is ready to snap.
ELEMIS Quiet Mind Relaxing Bath Elixir (second from right) £21. Long, mad day? Ditch the iPad and escape to the bathroom for a long soak in Elemis’s bath potion packed with aromatic oils (ho wood – good for healing the immune system and for colds – plus lemon and eucalyptus) to help soothe a jangled mind and nerves, while the natural cocoa butter helps soften skin.
NEW: Joie Uplifting Bath Infusion
THERAPIE Joie Bath Infusion £42. What do we want for Christmas? Peace, Love and a catering pack of Joie Bath Infusion.
Created by top British aromatherapist Michelle Roques-O’Neil, Joie launched today at www.roquesoneil.com and if you already love Michelle’s award-winning Himalayan Detox Bath Salts (“Best Bath Salts 2013” and now available in mini pouches, £10 each) you’ll be wanting some extra Joie in your life, too.
Michelle describes Joie as a “blissful aromatherapeutic infusion for a lift when your feeling a little flat and down in the dumps, wafting a bit of aromatic fairy dust to lift your spirits whilst indulging your body in a lush combination of traditional powders that tone, soften & protect”. We’d describe it as “magical and mandatory”. If you’re feeling particularly stressed or emotionally wobbly, try Therapie’s comforting, stabilising Restore Aura Spray, as seen in Stylist mag‘s Aromatherapy Saviours recently – it works.
Joie Bath Infusion: Efficacy – A soulful nod towards ancient traditions of spiritual bathing in which body and mind are nourished in equal measure, Joie’s fragrant powder is made of organic Buttermilk, renowned for its moisturising properties, grounding Mysore Sandalwood powder, protective Frankincense resin hand ground to a finest dust, sacred Himalayan Cedarwood and organic Rose powder for toning and rejuvenating the skin, with a mineral infusion of pink clay to soothe, a dusting of powdered Jasper to protect and promote, and heart comforting Rose Quartz, delicately infused with a beautifully uplifting blend of wild rose, tangerine,geranium and honeysuckle.
This winter’s most unique bath product is available from www.roquesoneil.com and you’ll also find it at Cult Beauty.
Bodhi’s handbag (and airport-friendly) little black stress-less pot
BODHI Mint Thé Temple Balm £15. Pop it in your handbag or keep it on your desk (by the phone is a good idea – dab temples liberally during stressful phone calls or use for muscle aches and to help clear congestion due to winter colds). Amazingly, Bodhi have managed to pack a lot of keep calmers into one small glossy black pot, making it “clearing” as well as antiseptic, antiviral and anti-inflammatory. Brilliant for de-fuzzing a frazzled brain, or while doing your tax return this month (gah!)
White Camphor – White Camphor oil is a brilliant oil for the treatment of muscle aches, sprains and bruises. It has excellent anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties and is traditionally used to treat minor pain and wounds. Also helps to alleviate stress and anxiety.
Cajeput – Cajeput possesses strong analgesic properties, making it highly effectively in the management of joint and muscle pain. Its purifying and curative properties helps ease headaches and abdominal pain. A potent antiseptic, it is beneficial in the management of cuts and bruises and hastens healing and reduces scaring of the skin.
Eucalyptus – A highly beneficial oil, it is antibacterial, anti-fungal, antimicrobial, antiseptic, antiviral, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and decongestant in nature. Its stimulating quality helps dispel mental exhaustion and rejuvenate the spirit. It is also effective in treating insect bites and stings.
Frankincense – Frankincense relieves muscle aches and has superb skin rejuvenation properties. High in sesquiterpenes, its anti-depressant qualities help revive lost energy.
Winter’s newest candle, Abahna’s warming Vetiver & Cedarwood blend
ABAHNA’s new Vetiver & Cedarwood Candle £22 With candle season upon us, here’s one of winter’s newest, from Abahna London’s brand new “BALANCING” collection. Vetiver is said to restore equilibrium while Cedarwood is thought to be inspiring, confidence building and reviving, having been used in medicine and beautification by the ancient Sumerians, Egyptians and Tibetans. Abahna’s candles are made from 100% natural soy wax (“palm free”) and really deliver an aromatherapy “hit”. Well priced, too, at £22/180g – nice one for the Christmas gift list.
www.abahna.co.uk