I consider May to be officially summer. I know it isn’t, but as a Londoner, I have grown accustomed to inclement weather and having to choose my own seasons.
So, it is summer to me now, and seeing as the weather isn’t playing along, I have turned to my beloved beauty cupboard to create the holiday spirit around me. Firstly, the delicate scent of fig is wafting in my direction, as if I were on a Tuscan hillside. Thank you, Space NK – if I shut my eyes your Mediterranean Fig candle transports me.
I have swapped all my staid spring skincare for summer scents. Rose feels suitably seasonal, so Espa’s Nourishing Cleansing Balm has won over others for now – it smooths on and off like a dream, as a bonus. For moisturiser, I am madly slathering on Lubatti’s Dreamy Night Cream. The name really says it all, but I will add that this is great for dry skin and the founder, Tracey Malone, is Jo’s sister, so you can expect dreaminess from this sort of scent pedigree.
Would summer be summer without coconut? No it wouldn’t. So, for days, I indulge in Super’s Hyper Hydrator, which is packed with coconut oil. Delicious. In fact, this brand is so addictive, that I have moved on and got the Watercress Detox Elixir. Not only does it smell of watercress, but it seems to perk me up when I working away.
If holidays make you wish for a few drinks and careless evenings, you can find whispers of these in the shops, too. I kid you not. For those who like a neat drink, try Malin + Goetz’s brilliant rum tonic eau de toilette. It just smells of distant climes. For you cocktail drinkers, there’s Philosophy’s , shower gel and bubble bath. Not your tipple? They also make a mean Melon Daiquiri.
All these indulgences aside, I feel it is my duty to remind you that now is the time to start the summer prep. I myself have started in the most gentle possible way. Firstly, I am banishing ingrown hairs withRelax & Wax’s Scrub’Me’Luscious Lemon Drop scrub and Get the Bump Outta Here. It works damn hard on stopping hairs from creating those bikini-unfriendly lumps.
I don’t love my arms (wobble-free is most necessary in sleeveless), so I am targeting them with Rodial’s Arm Sculpt Gel. Now, I have to stress that this won’t give you the arms of Madonna minus gym visits. What it will do it help the appearance of arm skin and just tone things up a bit. I don’t know how, or why it does (the website blurb has left me none the wiser), but my arms look better. And I was told the other night that they felt ‘smoother than usual’, so I am going to stick with it.
Wishful thinking it may be, but I am now feeling wonderfully summery. Seeing as I can’t rely on the weather, I am going to continue down this route, and suggest you join me in my delightful delusion. Maxi dresses and gladiator sandals on. The mantra is summer, summer, summer…
