Beauty Director’s Edit | September 2020

Inhaling | ​New luxury home scents

Jo Malone has just launched the epitome of a capital candle – a range to ‘capture the curious characters and unique moments within a London townhouse’.

I’ve opted for Glowing Embers for the forthcoming cosy nights in front of the fire – it has a smokiness, lightened by golden amber, silver fir and vetiver.

Auli London is a contemporary lifestyle brand that doesn’t sacrifice either style or sustainability, with non-toxic fragrances to enrich your home life.

I have the Per Alfeo, which lives up to its description: ‘a tale of serendipity. Subtle extravagance. Mesmerising dreams. Deep woods, subtle spices, delicate flowers’. It has a season-less appeal – both woody and light at the same time – and it comes in a stylish, minimalist vessel handmade by a master craftsman in Valencia.

I also have my eye on the new Balmain x Trudon Limited Edition Classic Candle – it has notes of gunpowder, black rose and cedar and looks as statement-making as their catwalk collections.

Jo Malone Glowing Embers Townhouse Candle, £90 – buy here

Auli London Per Alfeo Reed Diffuser, £58 – buy here

Balmain x Trudon Limited Edition Classic Candle, £120 – buy here

​Post-summer, dry skin remedy | Spa-grade skincare by marocMaroc

If there’s one thing I miss about living in the Middle East, it’s the amazing hammam experiences and the no-holds-barred skin sloughing - and the softer, baby-like skin that followed. Instead of the six-hour flight back to DXB, I’m investing in some exotic skincare options that give you the same spa-grade hammam results at home.

The marocMaroc Grains de Lumière Exfoliating Wax-Cream gently polishes skin and gives you a post-facial softness. The Miel d’Ambre Detoxifying Exfoliating Body Balm is inspired by the traditional black soap used in Morocco, and nothing beats it to clear away the dead skin of summer. Both smell dreamy, so are easy to fit into your wellness routine.

marocMaroc Grains de Lumière Exfoliating Wax-Cream, £58 – buy here

marocMaroc Miel d’Ambre Detoxifying Exfoliating Body Balm, £73 – buy here

Reading | Jikoni: Proudly Inauthentic Recipes from an Immigrant Kitchen by Ravinder Bhogal

A dear friend, marvellous cook and restaurateur, Ravinder Bhogal, has just published her second cookbook: Jikoni: Proudly Inauthentic Recipes from an Immigrant Kitchen.

This book is a pure delight and showcases recipes from her London restaurant of the same name and the unique history and journey behind them.

It offers exciting fusions of recipes – from her Indian family cooking in Kenya, to British and Asian that are melded seamlessly together in a wonderful global melting pot of yumminess. Try the duck rendang, cauliflower popcorn, spicy aubergine salad, or skate with lime pickle brown butter – your taste buds will never be bored again.

It not only provides some much-needed inspiration for my kitchen, but it’s also an absolute joy to read the stories that influenced her award-winning cooking.

One day, hopefully soon, I will venture back to her Marylebone outpost, but until then, I’ll be rustling up one of these delightful dishes…

Jikoni: Proudly Inauthentic Recipes from an Immigrant Kitchen by Ravinder Bhogal (Bloomsbury, £18.34) – buy here

​The skin tint I can wear comfortably under a face mask | Kevyn Aucoin Stripped Nude Skin Tint

I’ve been wearing this throughout the summer and won’t be changing it anytime soon. It’s weightless, doesn’t feel like you’re wearing foundation, but offers an elegant, light coverage with a plumped-up moisturised glow.

It’s formulated with hyaluronic acid and butterfly-bush flower extracts to protect against free radicals and damaging blue light; plus, I find it works well under a mask; it hasn’t clogged pores while helping to protect from the friction by the fabric.

Kevyn Aucoin Stripped Nude Skin Tint, £36 – buy here

​The new re-usable cotton pads that look and feel like the real deal | by LastObject

Did you know that cotton might not be as environmentally friendly as once thought? Although it’s plant-based and biodegradable, it does take around 20,000 litres of water to create 1kg of cotton.

Some facilities also contribute to environmental pollution through pesticides and insecticides, exposing the growers to toxic chemicals.

With this in mind – I’m road-testing LastRound; they’re the latest sustainable swap to launch and can replace up to 1,000 of their less eco-friendly counterparts.

They’re made from 70% Scandinavian wood fibres certified by the FSC, and the remaining 30% is from cotton that would otherwise be going to waste in the textile industry due to the fibres being too short.

I'm happy to report that they look and feel like the original; they are robust but feel super-soft and smooth and have the same saturation levels needed for your toner.

They are easy to clean; you can either rinse and store or pop them in a laundry bag and wash in the machine. It’s great to have two packs – one to use while the other is in the wash. I’m a convert.

Find LastRound at LastObject, which also sells re-usable swabs and tissues. For more information, click here

​Stocking up for flu season | The Nue Co. Defence Drops

I protect myself from the usual round of wintry colds with these anti-fungal, antibacterial and antimicrobial Defence Drops. At the first sign of a cold or feeling run-down, I’ll add 12 drops to any liquid.

This tincture, loaded with echinacea, mistletoe, adaptogenic Schisandra and rosemary, will help to bolster the immune system. Hopefully, this winter will help stop a potential cough in its tracks, so I don’t suffer fear and loathing from passersby.

The Nue Co. Defence Drops, £25 – buy here