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Upon visiting some of my favourite beauty boutiques recently, I couldn't help but notice they all had one particular trend in common. It was particularly helpful on this weird sunny, windy, warm yet chilly day that each boutique served some sort of refreshment - I was parched. That's right, it's no longer acceptable to browse makeup/skincare/haircare without quenching your thirst first. At Neal's Yard, I sampled some of their delicious warm detox tea. At Aesop and Khiels', it was old faithful water. Even Liz Earle and L'Occitane were jumping on the herbal tea bandwagon - much to my delight. These brands are savvy enough to realise we will linger longer with a cup of brew in hand (especially if it's tongue-scorchingly hot). And this shamelessness is not even a bad thing. It's actually win win.
PS: watch out for more #nextbigbeautything trends coming soon
I am well and truly back home now. And it’s funny how after a couple of days it is almost as if you have never been away. This means that I need my creature comforts more than ever before to ease me back in to the pain of reality.
As I have expressed my love of roses before, I am also eternally in love with the rose’s cousin: the peony. They remind me of my grandparents who used to grow them in their garden. The smell is a gentle childish memory. But making a lovely peony fragrance is not easy. Like lilies of the valley, peonies do not yield an essential oil. L’Occitane has managed to get extract from the root of the peony for their new Pivoine Flora Eau de Parfum and it is the closest you’ll get to the real thing. It’s simply wonderful.
Furthermore, L’Occitane has also create a limited edition makeup range with lipsticks, bronzers and more, all infused with peony. If you are a fan of the smell of lipsticks, this one is the daddy of them all, meddled with a light peony scent. Pucker up girls!
Surrounding myself in flowers can at least help me to remember the fields of flowers in Greece and the two million tulip bulbs I was lucky enough to see bloom in Istanbul.
L’Occitane Pivoine Flora Eau de Parfum, £39
L’Occitane Pivoine Flora Lipstick, £12
L'Occitane Pivoine Flora Face Powder, £20
As I have already established my love of all things coconuts and all things roses, falling straight in to third place, or higher sometimes, is my love of all things lavender.
There is nothing more soothing a smell than lavender. And actually, when I thought about it, I have lavender all over the house. In little pouches in my drawer (thanks Natasha!), in dried form in my grandma's old vase, in my soapdish and even the scent of my mothballs. The last being the least exciting.
For the most relaxing scent lavender is king. I have actually sniffed out a lot of lavender on the high street and L'Occitane's range has the most authentic smell. I have found others too sweet (Roger & Gallet), too cologne-y (Crabtree & Evelyn) or just not right (Yardley). This one smells like the real deal. The Bath Foam is so scented, it's the next best thing to having a bath in the middle of a lavender field. It's utter bliss. And add the lavender candle for good measure. You'll have a total lavender-fest on your hands. And a guaranteed good night's sleep of course.
