Summer 2016 hasn’t had the best of starts. We’ve had too much rain, England were humiliated in Euro 16, there was the horrific terrorist attack in Turkey and I still can’t come to terms with the fact that more than half the country voted to leave the EU. However, there’s one thing that I don’t feel let down by and that’s the current crop of beauty launches. When times are dire it’s often the small things that can make one feel more positive and for me, unsurprisingly, the small things are feel-good beauty products. Here are three things that I’ve recently been loving…

Issey Miyake – L’Eau D’Issey Pour Homme Fraiche

It’s thought that 30% of masculine fragrances are being bought women for themselves and, if anything, I’m surprised it’s not more. I find masculines tend to be less complex and have an understated sexiness to them. I think it’s comparable to when a woman wears a man’s crisp white shirt – it comes across as confident and alluring. A great example of a fragrance that swings both ways is L’Eau D’Issey Pour Home Fraiche which can be worn all year round but works especially well in the Summer months. It opens with quite sharp citrus notes which are paired with mint and rosemary. It then softens and becomes a bit more earthy and tea-like. I’m sure I can pick out vetiver but maybe my nose is confusing this with mate which is accompanied by rose and pink pepper. I feel the pink pepper adds a light spicy element which is often what I love most about male fragrances. The base is musk and patchouli which is a classic mix as it’s so good at underpinning the other notes. Unlike a lot of fresh and airy fragrances, this one has remarkable longevity and I can still smell it on my skin at the end of the day. L’Eau D’Issey Pour Homme Fraiche starts at £34 for 50ml and is available HERE.

Aveda Beautifying Radiance Polish

This product makes prepping skin a delight. After months of being neglected and covered up by long sleeves and tights I need something serious to get my skin summer-ready. This Beautifying Radiance Polish has salt crystals to slough away the dead skin cells and its base of rich oils (Olive and Safflower) are so nourishing I don’t feel I need to apply moisturiser post shower. And then there’s the scent. The mix of Rosemary, Lavender and Bergamot is out of this world. Generally, I don’t find I need to use the Beautifying Radiance Polish more than once or twice a week. An exception to this rule is when I’ve been swimming as I really feel it removes the chlorine from my skin better than anything. The Beautifying Radiance Polish is £36 and is available HERE.

& Other Stories – Samite Gold Body Oil

Samite Gold Body Oil is very easy to apply and adds a flattering golden sheen to skin. The effect is more subtle than you might expect if you only use a small amount. This means it can be worn in the day without feeling you look over done. While it looks a tad better on skin that’s already got a hint of colour to it, it still works very well on untanned skin. However, the thing that makes this a standout product is (again) its scent. It’s described as Wild Figs but to me it smells of sun-kissed skin. I haven’t come across a product that’s been able to replicate so naturally that smell skin gets after being in the sun and it really is quite sublime. If you’re not already familiar with the & Other Stories range of beauty products they really are worth taking a look at. Their fragrances, in particular, are worth checking out as they were created by the perfumer, Jérôme Epinette, who’s the nose behind the Byredo range. Suffice to say, they punch well above their £26 price tag. The Samite Gold  Body Oil is £17.50 for 50ml and available HERE.