Words by Verity Clark
From mood boosting fragrances, to make-up colours and textures that fill you with confidence and joy, beauty isn’t just about how you look, it’s about how you feel too. This summer, play with bold colours and unexpected combinations, spray sunny scents and smother yourself in uplifting skincare. Why? To embrace the art of emotioneering - using your beauty routine to engineer your emotions - and add a splash of brightness, inside and out.
Below find 18 beauty products that all promise to inject vim and joy into your day.
Trust Elemis to deliver a seriously clever face cream. This one adjusts to temperature changes throughout the day to help protect your skin from the stressors of different conditions. The rich, nourishing cream provides a lovely dose of TLC for your skin barrier and leaves skin bouncy, radiant and resilient. Smart.
If you’re feeling a little out of sorts, consider a spritz of this grounding fragrance from The Harmonist. Taking the soothing power of Yin energy as its inspiration the sophisticated blend of amber, Bulgarian rose, vanilla and bergamot has a uniquely calming effect on the wearer; a sense of serenity is underpinned with a feel-good factor sparked by the floral cocktail. A fragrance for helping you through the madness of modern life.
Meet the moisturiser that consistently tops beauty editors ‘must-have’ skincare lists, with celebrities and make-up artists just as hardcore fans. With a decadantely rich texture, The Dewy Skin Cream instantly hydrates even the most parched of complexions with a potent mix of hyaluronic acid, red algae, biomimetic squalane and Japanese purple rice. Hello gloriously dewy, luminous skin. Clinically proven to also visibly plump lines, protect from oxidative stress, and improve softness and suppleness, it’s no wonder this iconic purple jar with the gold spoon is everywhere – including Harrods.
Is there anything more joyful than a blooming bouquet of roses, peonies and lilies? Well, if you bottle the heavenly scent then yes. And that’s exactly what Parfums de Marly have done with their iconic Delina fragrance. The internet goes wild for it and Snoop Dogg (yes, really) has even said that this is his favourite scent. Spritz once and you’ll see why. The sweet florals are cut with a fresh, fruity mix of rhubarb and lychee that cloak you in a cloud of sumptuous powder before drying down to a subtle but lingering scent of vanilla, musk and cashmeran. And breathe.
The Paseo por Madrid collection uses scents to showcase what the Spanish capital has to offer and Casa de Campo is a verdant tribute to the former royal hunting estate Casa de Campo Park. The oasis of trees, water and wildlife is frequented by city dwellers in search of some peace and quiet away from urban life. The fragrance conjures up similar feelings of rest and relaxation through a calming concoction of woody and floral notes. Imagine violet, sandalwood and musk mingling with patchouli, tarragon, mandarin, blood orange and lavender. And, relax.
Sugar and spice and all things nice should be the tagline for this deliciously moreish light fragrance. Fun fact: Cheirosa (sheh-ro-zah) is the Brazilian word used to describe smelling delightful from sunrise to sundown, given that this stuff is designed to be spritzed over your body and hair you’ll have no problem ticking that box. The blend of salted caramel, pistachio and vanilla is warm and sugary and can’t fail to raise a smile, even on those who claim not to have a sweet tooth.
Can’t decide between a balm or a lipstick? Enter the Hermès Rouge Silky Lipsticks, a pretty perfect hybrid of the two. With extracts of raspberry leaf to moisturise and sesame seed to smooth expect all the moisturising benefits of a balm but with the added delight that comes from swiping on a bold colour. Choose from any of the 14 joyful shades and feel instantly perked up.
They say good things come to those who wait and that is certainly true of the arrival of Prada’s first mascara. Much like the rest of the Prada Beauty line, the mascara takes inspiration from the fashion house. In this case, the iconic re-nylon (regenerated nylon) material was the basis for this lash lengthening formula. The brush uses nylon fibre bristles to expertly, and precisely, coat each individual lash from root to tip. Expect dramatic black, fluttering lashes that have a glossy edge thanks to the addition of hyaluronic acid - very Prada.
When it comes to beauty products, sometimes bigger really is better. Happily, the Japanese-inspired French skincare brand EviDenS de Beauté created an exclusive Jumbo version of their best selling The Special Mask to celebrate Harrods’ 175th Anniversary. Designed to be used once or twice a week as a rejuvenating skin treat, the mask cocoons, calms and cools skin for some proper skincare R&R - that’s refreshed and rejuvenated.
Name a better duo than Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Finish and the brand’s Pillow Talk Love Blush. We’ll wait. Now, the two icons are available as a dynamic duo so that you can enjoy all the blurring, colour correcting benefits of the Flawless Finish with the fresh-faced flush that one swipe of the blush achieves. Swipe and glow.
There’s make-up palettes and then there is this Dolce & Gabbana work of art. A combination of mattes, shimmers and glitters there’s a finish for every occasion and 12 different shades provide a colour for every mood. Think flattering neutrals and pinks to eye-catching blues and indigos. The real draw though is the multi-use nature of the formulas. Try the matte black as a gel liner, take a vibrant pink onto your cheeks or use a shimmering nude as a soft-focus highlighter. It’s time to get creative.
Sunnier days are coming, hopefully, but in the meantime Sensai's water-based gel provides a natural flush of colour to the face. The fool-proof formula is easy to use, doesn’t leave any tell-tale streaks and, crucially, mimics that fresh off the beach glow. The water-base keeps things lightweight, providing a lovely silky sheen to the skin.
Dr Barbara Sturm, the woman behind her eponymous skincare range, calls the Hyaluronic Serum the ‘white T-shirt’ of her skincare routine. Why? She believes it’s key to healthy skin. This is a super lightweight offering with none of the tackiness associated with other hyaluronic acids. Plus, it sinks into your skin almost instantly and you can almost see your skin plumping out with the relief of being given what is essentially a drink of water for your complexion.
A firm favourite amongst beauty editors and make-up artists, this glow-giving Armani foundation is considered one of the best skin veils out there, particularly impressive considering it’s been around for 25 years. The secret to its success lies in the almost unbeatable formula; weightless, buildable coverage and a skin-like finish, this ticks most people’s foundation boxes and is suitable for everything from workdays to weddings.
When it comes to powder blush there are a few things that are non-negotiable; pretty pigment, buildable formula and staying true to colour - the new YSL powder blush delivers on all three counts. Spanning the blush colour spectrum of hot pinks to muted mauves and available in shimmer and matte finishes, there’s a blush for everyone and if you can’t decide between them then consider layering up and creating a bespoke blush look.
You don’t need to be on a date to fall in love with Maison Margiela's cosy, gentle floral scent. In fact, the medley of rose, vetiver and patchouli is intended to transport you to the vineyards of Provence - an admittedly romantic spot. The fragrance is at once cocooning and sensual as well as sparklingly vibrant, just like all the best first encounters.
Sometimes it’s the little things that truly brighten up your day. That first coffee of the morning, spotting a blooming Mimosa on the way to work or, applying your favourite lip balm. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of swiping a truly hydrating balm onto dry lips, this Lancôme one is rich in squalane and ceramides for a thorough moisturising moment. Plus, enjoy a subtle hint of colour for an additional burst of happiness.
Packed with essential fatty acids and hydrating vitamins B+E the brunch time favourite isn’t just delicious on toast but is a choice ingredient for eye cream. The gorgeous whipped texture helps nourish the delicate eye area but, crucially, it’s rich in another morning staple, caffeine. The hard stuff isn’t just useful for waking up tired minds, it can aid in de-puffing sleepy eyes too. That’s one Kiehl's skincare smoothie for breakfast, please.
Partnership Hermès, Lancôme, Maison Margiela, YSL Beauty, Armani, Dr Barbara Sturm, Charlotte Tilbury, Loewe, Sensai, Dolce & Gabbana, The Harmonist, Parfums de Marly, Prada Beauty, Evidens de Beauté, Kiehl’s, Elemis, Tatcha, Sol de Janeiro