Jo Loves... for Autumn 2021
Here’s what Beauty Bible Co-Editor Jo Fairley is crazy for, as the season changes…
I’m starting with the The Daily Dress Edit pop-up. Yes, I know it’s not at first glance related beauty, or wellbeing – but a couple of reasons to include it. (Not least the fact that this pop-up is gloriously kitted out in Beauty Bible pink!)
I honestly consider dresses essential to my mental wellbeing, because they are so stress-free. You pop one on, and you’re dressed – maybe adding a necklace or two. I hate feeling stressed about getting dressed in the morning and rediscovering frocks (largely thanks to the very entrepreneurial Isabel Spearman’s venture) has definitely helped. (Also: she’s a female entrepreneur and we like to do everything we can, to support fellow women in business.)
Showcasing a wide range of dress labels at varying price points, from names like O Pioneers, Eponine London, Darla and so many more, the pop-up is open from today (29th September) until 17th October, with timed slots – and you can book here, at belgravialondon.com. We suggest doing so swiftly, to avoid disappointment!
You’ll find the Daily Dress Edit pop-up pop-up at 14-15 Eccleston Yards, Belgravia, London, SW1W 9AZ (though as above: you do have to book)
Meanwhile, for dress #inspo, do follow their FAB Insta @dailydressedit
Real Techniques Cleansing Palette
For the record, I first saw this demo-ed by our beauty ed colleague Sali Hughes on her Instagram, and I literally ordered it IMMEDIATELY. I could tell that it really does the business when cleaning brushes – much, much better than just swishing against a bar of soap and hoping for the best. It's basically a tray with nobbles that agitate the bristles, nudging the cleansing agent right into the base (it comes with sachets of cleansing gel but works with any mild detergent or shampoo, I’ve found) right into the base. Result: superclean brushes, with very little effort; you just rinse the rubber tray afterwards, leave to dry and it's ready for next time. (Which, if you follow the advice of every beauty editor we know, should really be: same time next week.)
£11 – buy here
19/99 Lash-Tint Mascara
For the sparse of lash – and I am top of that list – this is amazing. It has quite the tiniest wand I've ever, ever used – super-slim, almost like a dolly wand – but that means that it's just brilliant for accessing every last, teeny lash, even at the inner corners where it's hard to manoeuvre a mascara brush, and for sweeping from root to tip. Now, you don't get a va-va-voom effect – it really does just make your lashes look as if they've been tinted – but that's just the look I like, most days, when I prefer a natural appearance. It's ideal for a sea-bather, like me, because it's water resistant – which also means it comes off with warm-to-hot water, rather than remover. (Took me a while to figure that out, but we got there!) A little gem.
£14 – buy here
Freshly Pro-Repair Jojoba Hand Treatment
The very nice people at the rising star brand Freshly sent me a bumper fun pack of products to try, as we are also conducting one of our Beauty Bible Special Reports for this super-affordable arrival on the UK naturals scene. Of all the products, this is the one I'm loving the absolute most. I keep it on my bedside table and smooth it into hands and nails last thing at night, enjoying the heavenly blend of avocado oil, karité and cotton butters. Really rich, but at the same time easy to massage in, it's just what my super-dry hands need; I also work it into cuticles and the nail bed and my cuticles – which have had a rough ride, with gardening all summer – are looking 1,000 times better. (Well, you know what I mean.) Some of the Freshly products have quite a strong fruity scent, but this is subtle and lovely: elements of apple and peach, and I'm getting a bit of rose in there. Bottom line: something I look forward to, every single night.
£9 for 50ml – buy here
Vintner's Daughter Active Botanical Serum
OK, so I would NEVER normally spend this much on a facial oil, but this cult facial treatment was gifted. However, if money was absolutely no object, I honestly would: it's quite literally the most heavenly oil I've ever massaged into my face, with its orange flower scent. (NB They call it a 'serum', but I promise: it's an oil.) A multi-award-winner, also much loved by beauty editor colleagues, Vintner's Daughter maintain that this contains '22 of the world's most nutrient-rich botanicals', which include phytoceramides, phytonutrients, balancing minerals, brightening vitamins, moisturising fatty acids, nourishing omega oils and lots of antioxidants. All I know is that when my skin has the 'blahs', it's just the ticket for an overnight restorative boost, and when I reach the last drop – which is imminent – I may actually cry.
£175 for 30ml – buy here
