Bella Freud Candle

Say hello to my latest obsession... Bella Freud's divine smelling fig leaf and tomato scented candle which recaptures the natural accord of vine leaves, fresh tomato and mediterranean fig. Emblazed with her signature playful slogans, the candles whose scents also include incense wood and oud and snow lily mark the knitwear designer's first foray into beauty. Here's hoping it's not her last!

Available to buy from Space NK and Bella's online shop.

The Edit: Winter Skincare

There’s no such thing as an all-purpose approach to beauty so when the seasons change, just like your wardrobe, so should your beauty regime.  Here's a brief outline of my hero products this particularly chilly winter season...  

In the long winter months skin can often become dull and lifeless thanks to freezing temperatures and the dehydrating effects of central heating. I like to combat the inevitable dryness by adding an oil to my skincare regime underneath my regular nighttime moisturiser.  Aesop's Fabulous Facial Oil is my current standby. A couple of drops massaged in under my favourite moisturisers from Embryolisse and La Roche Posay are highly moisturising without feeling too heavy. I've been alternating the Aesop with de Mamiel's Winter Oil which is specifically designed to work in harmony with the natural cycles of the environment. The Winter Oil restores moisture to dry and dehydrated skin and protects it during the winter months through its unique combination of flower essences, essential oils, plant extracts and base oils. On top of all this, it smells divine! As well as using oils, twice a week I'll be aiming to incorporate a face mask into my regime. Caudalie's Moisturizing Mask when stored in the fridge simultaneously de-puffs, soothes and locks in much needed moisture. Klorane's soothing and relaxing eye patches for tired eyes have a similarly decongesting and brightening effect thanks to extracts of cornflower (soothes and softens), arnica (drains and decongests) and chamomile (relaxes and calms). Great for curing the effects of festive reveling! My lipbalm addiction reaches dangerous levels in the winter, so I always have either Caudalie's lip conditioner or Lucas' Pawpaw ointment to hand. It goes without saying really but make sure you also hydrate from within. Don't forget to drink plenty of water and incorporate oily fish into your diet to improve the appearance of your skin.  

With the prospect of 4 months hidden under wooly tights, attending to the rest of your body can often fall by the wayside. Don't let this happen!! Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! Kiehl's Soy Milk and Honey body polish is a personal favourite of mine which I follow up with a generous helping of body moisturiser. Aesop's refreshing and hydrating Geranium Leaf Body Balm would be my desert island choice. It sinks in almost immediately, great for when you don't have time to marinate! If the dryness is a little more stubborn, Bliss's High Intensity 24–‘heaven’™ Healing Body Balm does exactly what it says on the tin, as does the cult classic Kiehl's Crème de Corps. As with your face, adding an oil to your bathtime regime is a great way to rehydrate dry skin. Aromatherapy Associates is my go-to, especially their multi award winning Relax Deep bath and shower oil which promotes deep, comforting sleep. Body-oil wise, Ligne St Barths do a lovely Avocado oil which is excellent for combatting dry skin and hair. Apply to slightly damp skin for added suppleness and to lock in moisture. For any other problem areas (elbows anyone?!) Weleda's Skin Food does the job.

When it comes to makeup, my routine hardly ever wavers whatever the season. That said, as my summer tan fades, I have switched my summer standby (Chanel's Rouge Coco Lipstick in Sari Doré) for a more reddish hue. Poppy King's Lipstick Queen lipstick in Medieval is a sheer, flattering red which can be layered up accordingly. Great for those who (like me) are afraid of too much pigment! 

(Image: Kate Moss by Sante D’Orazio.)
Products available to buy here.

Off-duty hair

When it comes to matters of beauty you just can't go wrong with a fresh face and an effortlessly tousled mop. Take Clémence Poésy for example (who is giving me serious hair envy in the above image) - what could be better than that winning combination of minimal make-up and those messy, lived-in locks? As with most "effortless" looks, off duty hair is notoriously hard to achieve! On the rare occasions I actually wear my hair down, I get frustrated with the limpness and lifelessness that super silky, freshly washed hair can have. Not so with my latest discovery - the winning combination of Bumble and Bumble Texture hair(un)dressing creme and Klorane's gentle oatmilk dry shampoo. I start with a small amount of the (un)dressing creme on damp hair, let it sit for a minute and then ruffle it up. After air drying, I spritz a bit of dry shampoo to create a drier texture. The combination gives elusive second day hair in no time at all, creating an easy, off duty look with just the right amount of imperfection. Great for those, like me, who want to achieve effortless looking hair with, well, very little effort!

Bumble and Bumble is available to purchase here.

(Photo credit: tumblr)

The Beauty Product: RMS Beauty Living Luminizer

When it comes to matters of beauty I have a confession to make: I have a morbid fear of looking matte. Call it a reaction to growing up in the Spice Girls era where fake tan and lip liner reigned, but to me there's nothing worse than that caked on, one dimensional look; layer upon layer of foundation disguising the natural luminosity of the skin. I'm all for the transformative power of makeup but the vast majority of people really don't need full coverage. That said there's a very fine between having naturally dewy skin and just looking plain greasy. That's where RMS Beauty's 100% organic Living Luminizer comes in. Applied to the browbone, the cupid's bow, and across the cheekbones, this mineral highlighter creates a subtle sheen minus the sparkle and shimmer of other products in the same category. Skin appears fresh, healthy and glowing, and, most importantly, not at all shiny. A must have for the matte-averse among us!

RMS Beauty is available to purchase from organic skincare store Being Content & Cult Beauty

Interview: Nicola Elliott, NEOM Luxury Organics

After 7 years in the fashion industry as an editor for In Style and Glamour magazines, Nicola Elliott turned her hand to natural beauty co-founding luxury, organic bath and body products range NEOM with business partner Oliver Mennell in 2005. Since then NEOM has gone from strength to strength with a fan base including Kate Moss and Sienna Miller. I caught up with Nicola to discuss the benefits of organic beauty and her must-have beauty products.

Hi Nicola. Tell us about yourself. How did you get into beauty? Before creating Neom Luxury Organics, I studied Art History at Northumbria University, and then spent seven years as an Editor at In Style and Glamour amongst other consumer magazines where I was constantly surrounded by beauty products; it was the start of the beauty bug!

What made you create Neom? Was there a particular event that triggered it or have you been an advocate of organic living your entire life? I have to admit I haven’t been an advocate of organic living my whole life. My sister Katie was the real environmentalist in the family and used to work at Friends of the Earth. One Christmas, I was searching for a gift for Katie which was high in organic content but would also make a gorgeous and luxurious gift and I couldn’t find a single one that fit that description. After more research and attending night classes in aromatherapy whilst I was still working at Glamour, I embarked upon Neom and made it my ambition to provide luxurious and glam products that are made with only the finest organic ingredients and essential oils.

Neom uses only natural, organic ingredients. Why do you think people should use organic products? After I learnt that our skin absorbs up to 60% of substances used on it and its only 2mm thick it hit me and I had to find an alternative. Women everywhere were covering their bodies in over 200 chemicals daily, including petrochemicals, SLS, parabens and pegs. I believe it is essential that every person where possible opt for an organic alternative.

Tell us about the manufacturing process. We buy oils and extracts from different countries and make them up in small bottles so we can test every 500 products.

What tips do you have for blending your own essential oils? Rose is a perfect oil for comforting and when relaxing use a few drops in a bath, lavender is great for after sun, and peppermint for after exercise!

What is your favourite product from the range? That is such a tricky question but the one I would have to say at the moment is our Real Luxury Body Scrub, I find with two small children I have to often skip a step in my beauty regime and this product is perfect for just that! It scrubs away all the dead skin cells and being packed full of jojoba it acts as a moisturiser too,  it is my beauty savior.

What are your 5 beauty essentials? Trilogy’s organic Rosehip oil, I use it under my face cream for added TLC. Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer in Blowing Raspberries, it is my favourite all time colour, Cellular Protection Sun Cream SPF 30 from the organic Pharmacy, Neom Real Luxury Body Oil and Dr. Hauschka Rozen Crème.

Describe your perfect day. I love living in Yorkshire and one of the reasons I love it so much is the countryside. My perfect day would most likely be a day at the farm with my children and husband or a walk along the Yorkshire Dales or better yet, a trip down to Ripley, they do the best ice cream there.

NEOM is available to purchase here

The Beauty Product: Rodin Olio Lusso Luxury Face Oil

If, like me, you're an avid reader of Emily Weiss' beauty bible Into The Gloss, you'll be aware of cult beauty product Olio Lusso. A staple both backstage and in the medicine cabinets of everyone from Lady Amanda Harlech and Vanessa Traina to creator herself, stylist and former Harper's Bazaar editor Linda Rodin, Olio Lusso luxury face oil promises to deliver 100% natural hydration, resulting in a healthy, luminous glow. Disillusioned with a market saturated with empty anti-aging claims, Rodin created the product in her bathroom by blending eleven different essential oils including jasmine, neroli and apricot known for their calming and nourishing properties. Since its launch in 2007, Olio Lusso has maintained its place as the (often fickle) beauty industry’s hero product. Intrigued, I requested some samples to try out.

Initially I was skeptical - "Won’t an oil make my combination skin break out?” “Can it really be worth the £96 price tag?” – but having used the product sparingly for a week now, I’ve been converted. I'm even tempted to try blending my own! After 2 drops massaged into just cleansed, slightly damp skin once a day, my skin is visibly clearer.  Any redness I had has been reduced and my skin has that elusive glow I’ve never experienced with a cream before. As for the luxury price tag -yes, it’s astronomical, but you only need the tiniest amount (after two weeks use, I’m only at the end of one of the 1.5ml sample bottles) and the dewy glow is definitely worth it!

I’ve always been a firm believer that beauty comes from the inside out, but if you need a little help along the way, Rodin's Olio Lusso more than delivers.

Rodin Olio Lusso is available to buy here.

(Image from OlioLusso.com)

The French Pharmacy

One of the many charms of living in Paris for the year includes having constant access to that holy grail of beauty: the French Pharmacy. If pouring over Into the Gloss and tearing out pages out of the beauty supplements of Vogue has taught me one thing, it is that, when it comes to skin care, French products are the crème de la crème of the skin care industry. Here are a few of my favourite French discoveries, any other recommendations are welcome!

Bioderma Crealine H2O Micelle Solution: A favourite amongst make up artists, this is frankly the best cleanser you will ever use, it is super calming on the most sensitive skins and gets rid of even the most stubborn eye makeup.

Homeoplasmine: Meant for skin irritations, works perfectly on chapped lips to condition and plump. The French equivalent of Lucas Paw Paw Ointment.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Sunscreen: A very effective and affordable sunscreen that has a large selection of skin type specific variations. As someone who burns incredibly easily, this is a must-have. It doesn't appear greasy on the skin so I can wear it as a substitute to moisturiser in the summer season.

Avibon: Rich in vitamin A, this product is great for getting rid of blemishes and tackling dry skin.

Embryolisse: Cult moisturiser used by everyone from Jane Birkin to Gaia Repossi which is said to simultaneously cleanse and moisturise the skin. It can also be applied as a mask for when your skin is feeling especially parched. Also a great primer for makeup.

Klorane Camomile Shampoo: I usually like to chop and change the products that I use in my regime so that my skin and hair don't get too used to anything. Having said that I have used this shampoo every time I have washed my hair for the past year! It leaves my hair clean and soft and actually lives up the claims that it enhances and lifts your natural highlights. Their Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oatmilk is also brilliant for in between washes.

Decléor Aromessence Rose D'Orient: This oil immediately calms irritations and gives a luminessence to the skin. Smells absolutely DIVINE.

If you happen to be in Paris, my recommendation would be City-Pharma in St Germain as it's tax free!

(Photograph: Into The Gloss)