Beauty

Nail news: Spring nudes and the perfect pedi pink



On the nail front, the general consensus is that nude nails are in, and that includes the so-out-it’s-now-in French mani. I haven’t had a French manicure for years but I did go through a phase of having an American (the more subtle version) at Topshop every week. For doing it yourself though, it’s all a bit of a faff. The lazy-girl option could be Dior’s new, one-step clear Nail Glow. According to Vogue, it enhances white tips with one sweep of the brush. (more…)



Beauty buy: Elemental Herbology Purify & Soothe Cleansing Balm



Joining the family of posh cleansing balms on the side of my bath tub is Elemental Herbology’s Purify & Soothe Cleansing Balm. The best way to use this, I have discovered, is to rub a small blob between dry palms and as you massage into your skin, stop to cup your hands over your face so you can inhale the heady essential oil scent of chamomile and frankincense. (more…)



Mmmm is for MARNI’s first fragrance



Please take a look at Marni ‘s first fragrance, complete with its USB stick-holding mascot doll, ‘Bambolina’. isn’t is the funnest thing ever? I love everything about this, from the design of the bottle (incorporating playful Marni signatures like curved edges, polka dots and the red bottle cap that closes with a lovely, audible click), to the scent itself which is a delicious, fresh-but-spicy blend of ginger, cardamom, cedarwood and black rose.

I think I’ll be alternating it with Jo Malone London’s Blackberry & Bay – it has a similar grown up ‘juiciness’. It comes out next month (exclusively at Harrods) along with a shower gel, body lotion and body creme.



mini-me fragrances: Chloé and Rykiel



I adore fragrance miniatures. Not only are they sooo cute but they make sense if you’re short of space. And obviously they’re practical travel companions (my Jo Malone 9ml Pomegranate Noir comes on all my adventures with me). For Valentine’s Day, Chloé is releasing ‘My Little Chloés’, its three popular scents – Love Chloé, Chloé and L’Eau de Chloé – in mini-me 20ml bottles. They’re available from February 1st, £25.

On the subject of mini fragrances*, I finally got hold of some L’eau de Rykiel from one of those fragrance-only emporiums in Westfield that seems to sell every scent you’ve ever heard of. I’ve been wanting this for ever and was happy to find 7.5ml bottle for about a fiver. Truthfully, it’s the packaging that appealed – the classic graphics and the T-shirt-shaped bottle. The juice isn’t bad, it’s quite fresh and soapy and reminds me of something I used to wear (still racking my brains to remember what). But I’m mainly going to use it  for shelf decorating… wouldn’t you?

*PS: oh looky, just discovered Miniature Perfume Shoppe, a website devoted to collectors of miniature fragrances – genius!