With the first of the year's Bank Holiday weekends now behind us, the realisation that summer is well and truly on the way is once again creeping up on us.
The days are getting longer, the sun if getting brighter and that means that at some point I'm going to have to get my legs out of hibernation. A scary thought. One thing I'm sure is going to help them get summer-ready is the latest addition to the St. Tropez tanning range, the new Self Tan Luxe Dry Oil (£25 at www.st-tropez.com). The non-greasy, nourishing formula leaves skin supple and conditioned for up to seven days, is fragranced with essential oils so there's no fake tan smell, and has a hint of shimmer for an instant glow.
Another summer beauty must-have for me is a new scent; the heavier, musky fragrances I tend to gravitate towards in the winter are too much as soon as the lighter days of spring arrive. I'm currently wearing the new Crabtree & Evelyn fragrance, Caribbean Island Wild Flowers Eau de Toillette (£39 at www.crabtree-evelyn.co.uk). Formerly known as India Hicks Island Living Spider Lily, the fragrance remains the same, though the EDT is a new product in the range. A delicate and tranquil scent, it mingles wild island flowers with fresh, tropical citrus notes alongside a marine accord. It smells like holidays and instantly transported me back to the Antiguan beach I was on two months ago...
My final new must-have product for sultry summer eyes is going to be Boots 17's Eye Eye Crayon in Molten Metal. Chunky, perfectly smudgeable, a gorgeously glossy bronze shade that's going to look amazing with a tan. Available in Boots stores and www.boots.com now at £3.99, it's also part of the current 3 for 2 on cosmetics offer.
Love Laurel x
