Compiled by PHYL CLARKE
Feet first
If you’ve run out of time to have a pedicure before going on holiday, this cheap and cheerful kit has all you need to make your tootsies respectable for the beach. Best In Toe contains toenail clippers, a miniature salon board, nail brush, pumice, toe separators and wooden cuticle sticks, all for €13.43 from Boots
Finish your DIY pedicure with this revitalising moisturiser which instantly cools feet and has a refreshing aroma. The Body Shop Peppermint Cooling Foot Lotion (€13.70) contains rich cocoa butter and almond and peppermint oils to soften feet. It’s also a gem for soothing tired feet after a busy day.
Fresh fragrance
Feeling overcome by the muggy summer we’re having? A spritz of one of these fresh scents is the perfect antidote to heavy weather, and their mood-lifting qualities will lighten your spirits.
CLASSIC COOL
Ô de Lancôme (€35) The original O scent was created back in 1969 and its blend of sparkling citrus freshness was an instant hit. There are now two new additions to the range, combining the essence of the classic lemon mix with either a rose or orange heart.
FEEL GOOD FRAGRANCE
Roger Gallet fleur d’Osmanthus (€39) In its native China the osmanthus is known as the happiness plant due to its stress-reducing and uplifting effect, so it’s surprising it doesn’t crop up more often as a fragrance ingredient. This range also includes purse-friendly body care, so you can enjoy this delicate scent in a variety of ways.
LEMON AID
L’Occitane Sun Verbena (€43) A zingy fresh scent with a clean mix of lemon and grapefruit, combined with organic verbena from Corsica. It is light enough to spray liberally for a fresh feeling on even the hottest day, and is also great as a room freshening spray.
ONE OF A KIND
Eccentric Molecules (€75) This unconventional scent sounds very space age. Its use of a synthetic “aroma chemical” with the decidedly unglamorous name of Iso E Super sounded like a too-clever marketing ploy. Described as a “feeling” rather than a fragrance, it smells of not too much at all when applied, so no big statement there, but I was pleasantly surprised by the level of interest it garnered. Available at Samui, Cork, tel: 021-4278080, samuifashions.com
MAGIC NUMBER
Chanel No 19 Poudre (€55) No 5 may be the world’s best-selling fragrance, but those in the know love No 19. Originally created in 1971, this fragrance was a favourite of Coco Chanel’s – the number signifying the date of her birthday, August 19th. The modern twist, adding powder to the original iris heart, results in a coolly elegant scent that tells the world just how discreetly sophisticated you are.
Bronze beauty
Bobbi Brown has a knack for producing palettes in harmonising, wearable shades, so there’s never a colour pan left untouched as you scrape the ends out of the one beside it. This Tortoiseshell set (€57.50) is a good example – eight earthy shades which combine matt and shimmer textures in a chic tortoiseshell compact. It comes in two colour ways – Sand or Bronze – suitable for light or dark complexions. You can use it now and it will take you through autumn.