It’s all but official. The battle was long and dark, full of cold mornings and scaly skin. Winter fought valiantly, but as we head towards September, with some of the hottest August days on record under our belt, the excitement at the impending warm weather is palpable. Crack out the cotton dresses, let down your hippie hair and dance amonst the freesias. Spring, my sweet friends, is here.
I’ve put together a swag of products that will make the transition from your Winter cocoon that little bit easier. If I could, I would have put an audio of me singing ‘Butterfly’ by Mariah Carey, but we all know there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.
So, enjoy. And emerge from that cocoon smooth, fragrant, footloose and fancy free.
Spring Shower
Freshen up your mornings with Principessa’s Fresh Fiore shower cream. Sporting the signature Principessa scent (which I have genuine addiction issues with) and infused with vitamins, this nourishing product is pink, pretty and perfect for getting into the Spring of things. It’s available at Sassi Sam. RRP $34
Softly Scented
If you’re contemplating a Spring clean, or if you simply need a little lift to sweep the winter cobwebs away, then may I suggest a diffuser? I love these things – they are unintrusive (unlike ghastly room fresheners) and subtle, the scented oil seeping into the wooden sticks and delicately perfuming the air. I love Eutopia’s Frangipani Diffuser - every so often I close my eyes and pretend I’m in Hawaii. I recommend you do the same. RRP $19.99 (and it comes in a set with a matching hand cream)
Sweet Feet
Prepare those hooves for hot sand and thongs with Planet Earth’s Cucumber & Mint Foot Pack. Nothing freshens and conditions quite like this combination, which Planet Earth has used in an intensive repair foot lotion, foot spray and deodorising spray (perhaps a good one for the gym bag?) and a heel balm. Also included is a pedicure kit with three changeable attachments to really get down to the serious foot business. RRP $24.00
Butter Up
Palmers has put a new spin on old faves to help your skin get back to its silken best, just in time for summer dresses. These four body butters each harness a specific wonder ingredient – coconut milk/oil, olive oil, shea butter and cocoa – and boast a thick and creamy texture, for skin that needs a little boost in the hydration department. They also, of course, being Palmers, smell like you’re gadding about the tropics drinking Pina Coladas, but that’s another fantasy for another day. RRP $10.99 each
A Czarinna for a Day
Change up your look. Take a cue from Make Up Store and be inspired by the bygone days of Russian Royalty. The brand new Czarinna range, in stores September 2009, revels in nougat, gold and lavender palettes, with bold, rich dashes of aubergine and bordeaux. I love the aubergine mascara, a deep purple that works for all eye colours at all times of the day. RRP $38
Get Organic
Scrub away the winter scales with Bod Organic Rice Body Scrub with Lime, Mandarin and Nutmeg, available at one of my favourite online boutiques, Bare Naked Beauty. Truly invigorating, and drawing on the cleansing and softening properties of rice, this terrific product also contains active mineral clay and almond oil. Scrubs don’t have to equal taut, tight skin – exfoliate and condition the natural way. RRP $29.95
Firm Up
Okay, so we all know there isn’t a surefire ‘cure’ for cellulite that will smooth out all perfections overnight and give us thighs a professional airbrusher would be proud of. But there are measures we can take to help our skin (which, let’s face the cold, hard facts, begins to lose its elasticity and renewal capabilities from the age of 25) enter its next phase of life gracefully. Nivea Silhouette Refining Gel uses white tea which simulates the breakdown of fat, thus slowing down the accumulation of fat cells, and anise extract which stimulates the collagen producing cells in our skin. It comes in an easily absorbed gel and has the proven ability to tighten and tone our skin, leading to an overall firmer silhouette. RRP $11.90
Treat Yourself
And finally, because there are few things in life that boost one’s mood on a day to day basis like a lip balm/gloss/stick, buy yourself a sweet treat like Benefit Love Your Lip Gloss. High shine, no stickiness and a plethora of Spring shades to choose from. Ah yes, from head to toe, you are now truly ready for your Spring Fling. RRP $32
