Our 2015 Beauty Shortlist Awards aren’t far away (entries close this Friday!) and one of the most striking things about this year’s entries is how healing and aromatherapy-centric so many of the product entries are – it’s incredible and it shows how we’re turning to beauty for more than just products that make us look younger – it’s more about wellbeing, being well, feeling happy (big topic, no time to go into it all here but would love to hear what you think about the rise and rise of aromatherapy at the moment?)
So with healing beauty very much on our minds, we’ve been shopping for this Christmas’s “heavenly healers”. Like a good night’s sleep, nourishing food, a warm bed and lots of love, these gifts go way beyond being “just” a beauty gift – they’re comforts and joys.
Starting with…
Above: Blend Collective’s Unwinding Gift Pack (hand cream + shower/bath oil duo)
NEOM Organics’ Christmas Wish Candle (this has been burning since last week and everyone who’s come through the door – without exception – has commented on how beautiful it smells. Christmas Wish is a blend of mandarin cinnamon and tonka bean – it’s warm and spicy but never overpowering and the mandarin really shines through after a few minutes’ burn – it’s like a sunlit December morning and perfect for the frostiest nights. We got the 3-wick version – well worth the extra splurge for £45.
Tisserand’s Rosehip Beauty Oil for face and decolletage (or…no turkey neck this Christmas!)
Rosehip oil is one of nature’s wonder workers and this concentrated oil is simplicity at its finest. If you’re a one oil person, rosehip and also squalene oil (from olives) are two of the natural oils we rate highest of all – and a little of this will go a long way. Ideal for skin that’s had a bit of “wear and tear”, is sun-damaged or winter weary, and brilliant for older skin. An £18 healing beauty steal.
THE candle of the week! NEOM’s utterly delectable 3-wick Christmas Wish £45 #worththesplurge
WOT? You haven’t tried Michelle Roques-O’Neil’s THERAPIE range yet? In that case you’re in for a stress melting (Christmas) treat. Michelle was named one of British Vogue’s Top 10 aromatherapists in the world and she’s just launched special mini editions of some of her best-sellers as well as the gift sets to end all festive sets. Her products work at a deep level, they go beyond the uplifting/energising/calming/balancing effects of aromatherapy, they really get into our DNA and the results can be borderline magical. If you’ve ever had problems getting to sleep, or wake frequently during the night, her award-winning Himalayan Detox Bath Salts have become a cult legend and a beauty editor favourite. Pop into the Christmas Shop at www.roquesoneil.com Everyone from Stylist to the Sunday Times is loving Michelle’s brand at the moment and if you want to dip in first, try her Christmas “minis”, just £10 each.
Making a name for herself for her delicate, plant-powered facial oils, Blue Labelle founder Pascale has just launched some really cute Christmas sets which are refreshingly clean and beachy in a sea of festive sparkle and glitter. Here’s the Rejuvenating Set featuring 100% organic Argan & Sea Buckthorn Face Oil and Petitgrain & Tamanu Cleansing Oil from her Biologique range along with one of her new organic hemp facial cloths, in a custom-made limited edition cosmetic bag by Wyatt & Jack.
The bag’s made from repurposed Sandown Bay deck chair canvas in blue & turquoise stripes matching the gift set blend labels and we – and she – love the fact that these deck chairs were soaking up the sun on beaches just 4 miles up the coast on the beautiful Isle of Wight, close to where Pascale blends her skincare formulas. £29 from www.bluelabelle.co.uk
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At £225 we’ve picked The Organic Pharmacy’s most expensive gift set (probably?) but you only live once and they’ve also got a special limited edition Moroccan Orange Blossom fragrance for Christmas, flecked with real 24 carat gold (£155) which looks gorgeous! If you’d rather be in a luxe Marrakech riad over the hols, bronzing your skin on a warm Moroccan sunlounger (travel advisory: you’ll be indoors the minute the sun goes down though, in December – take warm clothes for after dark!) this is the next best thing…
Love to read this amazing blog. Fabulous!!!
xxx
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