Jo Loves... for Summer 2024
Smoke-infused skincare, a life-changing book, a budge-proof (and ultra-glam) lipstick, a stylish phone bag. (And there’s a Happy Ending…)
Menteath (pictured above)
I am as susceptible to an Instagram ad as the next person, and as a lover of smokiness – Diptyque Feu de Bois candle, Rare Tea Company Tarry Souchong tea – this range had me at ‘hello’. And it really DOES smell super-smoky – not to everyone’s taste, perhaps, but very much mine, with wafts of woodsmoke drifting through the products. I bought the Discovery Set, to check it out, and wasn’t so taken with the smoked cleanser or facial oil – but love, love, love the Smoked Bay Body Ritual, which is really grounding, infused with bay leaf smoke, thyme and juniper oils in a nourishing base of jojoba, wheatgerm and olive oils. Which reminds me: I’ve finished the sample size and need to replenish with a full size.
Menteath Discovery Set/£30 – buy here (NB you have a choice of two cleansers, facial oils and body oils)
I’m not big on Instagram influencers, but Emily Jane Johnston is different: 44 years old, a real, statuesque, humorous, self-effacing, knowledgeable person with an actual day job who just happens to have a highly successful account, sharing good stuff (mostly fashion, some beauty, occasional golden retrievers). One of her most-asked questions by her legions of fans is: ‘What is your red lipstick?’ (it is her signature), and when Emily shared the answer – Dior Rouge Forever, in pillarbox 999 Forever Dior – and swore that it really does stay put all day, I reckoned I ought to give it a go, and bagged Emily’s shade, 999 Forever Dior.
Boy, does this go the distance! But TBH, I’m not quite brave enough to go for Emily’s full coverage – a really strong scarlet lip (she’s brunette and can get away with it). So I blot it down and the stain lasts and lasts and lasts and lasts. (I’m contemplating a more rosewood shade, such as 518 Forever Confident, as I’d feel less shy about applying this more fully.) By the way, for a long-lasting lipstick, this is surprisingly non-drying.
Dior Rouge Forever/£37 – buy here
The right handbag is a wellbeing product, in my book, because it quite simply saves your back – and since I bought my first BEEN London Ella Phone Bag, earlier this year, I’ve almost ditched weighing myself down with a handbag entirely. RRP is £145 but the bags are currently on sale at £102 (at time of press), and I am so happy with my original Rainforest Green option that I bought one in black. (Sadly, this has sold out as I write this – but I’m pretty sure they’ll be back in the autumn, if not before, with more shades.)
There’s room in the back for a credit card, an Oyster card or a tenner, and with a lipstick in a pocket, I’m good to go – something for which my back is extremely grateful. The ‘leather’ that Been London uses, meanwhile, is either vegan or recycled. Love that, too.
£145 – buy here
A Better Second Half, by Liz Earle
It’s scary to think that I’ve known Liz for over 40 years. The amazing thing is that during that time, despite five kids, two divorces and the creation and sale of her namesake skincare brand, she’s stayed looking pretty much the same. So, Liz has now distilled all her wisdom (including a lot about menopause and beyond), into A Better Second Half, which takes a deep-dive into ways we can all make more of the second halves of our life.
It is science-grounded, easy-to-read and utterly inspirational. I actually went to hear Liz talk about the book at the Tunbridge Wells LitFest (big hugs afterwards), and was so inspired that I’ve bought copies for many of the women I know – not all of them apparently at midlife, but honestly, the sooner we prepare the better.
Not at all surprised that this topped The Sunday Times bestseller lists for weeks – it belongs on every woman’s bookshelf. (As an Audible subscriber, I also downloaded the audiobook, read by Liz, which got me through it more swiftly, as I tend to be a two-pages-at-bedtime-and-I’m-out-like-a-light person.
I now start my day by earthing myself on the lawn, glug back a creatine-enriched berry smoothie and have adjusted my supplement regime, based on her recommendations. It’s a 10/10 from me – and as I say, I’ve bought several copies for friends and family, in the hope it’ll change their life as well as mine.
£22 – buy here
Train loos, eh? I spend a lot of time on trains, and if you do the same, you’ll understand what I’m talking about. Finding a loo in which the soap, water AND drier are working is equivalent to a win on a slot machine. I carry these everywhere, then, for hand-cleaning on the go: that leave you feeling clean, not icky, and feature a touch of skin-friendly glycerine, too. (At Beauty Bible we’re not generally fans of single-use products, but these are 100% biodegradeable, sustainably-farmed bamboo wipes, and sometimes, needs must.) Unlike hand sanitiser, they actually remove grub – and there’s a lot of that, on trains…
£1.10 for 12 wipes – buy here
Hair by Sam McKnight Happy Endings Nourishing Cream
I have a secret stash of Sam McKnight products backstage at John Frieda, where I have a weekly blow-dry. (My extravagance, but it means that in between blow-dries, because of the nature of my hard-to-tame but ultimately brilliantly-behaved hair, all I have to do is run a wide-toothed comb through it each morning.) More than one blow-dry a week actually fries my hair – but that’s what I had to have, recently, in preparation for speaking events. And it REALLY took its toll: my hair became dry, lacklustre and the ends were a frizzed nightmare.
This saved my bacon: a styling cream that can be used on dry hair to nudge it back into shape, while also smoothing, softening and restoring gloss. At the same time, it fragrances beautifully – one reason I’m so unswervingly devoted to the Sam McKnight range (quite apart from being a mate of over 40 years’ standing) is the scent of his products, created by genius Lyn Harris (of Perfumer H). It’s fresh, green, light, summery, garden-like and altogether heavenly.
£36 for 80ml – buy here