Easter Beauty Essentials

The changing seasons is always a time for me to shake up my beauty routine and refresh the products I use. Here are a few essentials that will nourish your skin, revitalise your tresses and leave you feeling (and smelling) lovely!

Skincare &  Makeup

Typology Tonique Eclat and Lip Masque – I adore this set for an easy Spring skincare routine. The toner is concentrated in active ingredients vitamin C and lemon verbena water to illuminate the complexion and tone the skin. I found that it reduced pigmentation in my cheeks. When your lips are feeling weather worn and chapped put a little bit of the lip masque on to repair dry lips – ideal as a leave-on overnight treatment.

Skinceuticals Phyto Corrective Masque – This intense but versatile mask is intended to soothe sensitive skin. It can be used daily, and I found it added natural radiance to my complexion. Pair it with the Essence mist for the full effect.

Jones Road Bronzer – It’s finally time to wear bronzer again! Opt for the Jones Road powder bronzers, silky sheer powder that will add an immediate natural warmth to your skin tone.

Never Go Alone Renew Hand Cream – A hydrating, non-greasy hand cream reduces inflammation and dryness and strengthens the skin barrier to reverse signs of ageing and protect from environmental stress. I loved that this hand cream also really repaired my dry cuticles.

Officine Universelle Buly Face Cream – A multi-purpose face cream that is suitable for all skin types. I keep this cream in my handbag for an essential daily moisture boost. It is lovely and light and works well as an overnight cream too.

Cowshed Ultimate Sleep Set – Lovely as a gift to a friend (or yourself) this set has everything you need for a good night’s sleep whether you are at home or travelling – sensual candle, calming pillow mist and truly lovely bath salts. With essential oils, and ingredients like lavender and myrtle these products are sure to relax your mind and body when you most need some down time.

Haircare

R + Co Super Garden – A shampoo and conditioner set with gently cleanses, detangles + imparts moisture without disrupting the scalp’s natural balance. The Super Garden products include Hemp-Derived CBD which has regenerative benefits for your hair and scalp, and also contains coconut oil, a natural hair growth stimulant.

Philip Kingsley Hydration Edit – As the warmer weather slowly comes in I tend to colour (and lighten) my hair more… so I’m always in need of hydrating and nourishing products. This Philip Kingsley set is ideal for fine hair that has a tendency to get greasy at the roots – I found my hair felt stronger but the strands were less oily.

Perfume

Diptyque Papier – Part of the Woody family, L’Eau Papier celebrates the musk and texture of when ink meets paper. It had a comforting and gentle scent on my skin, I love it for Spring but can see myself wearing it all year.

Jo Loves White Rose and Lemon Leaves – A subtle and elegant scent that will give the skin a gentle warmth perfect for this time of the year. The Jo Loves scents tend to last really well on my skin, ensuring I smell delicious all day.

Ostens Impression Rose Oil Isparta – This floral, but genderless, scent combines jammy blackcurrant and Turkish rose. It’s a bold perfume that clevery redesigns the classic rose fragrance. I found it was particularly nice worn as an evening scent.

Roads Neon – A vivid unisex perfume which is intended as a fun and lively scent. The Roads scents represent their original explorations into world culture, people, landscape, and art. This neon edition has top notes of Bergamot and Peach and base notes of Patchouli and Vanilla.

Thameen Fanfare – Inspired by Covent Garden’s iconic Flower Market, Fanfare Cologne Elixir from Thameen embodies the beauty along with the vibrancy and character of the historic site. The fragrance has watery floral and citrus notes, blended over the rich and daring heart note of vermouth. I loved how this complex scent changed and evolved on my skin throughout the day. A very special perfume.

Acqua di Parma, Mirto di Panarea – This fragrance is inspired by Panarea, one of the smallest and oldest of the Aeolian Islands. The fragrance pays homage to the volcanic landscape and the spirit of the Mediterranean with a blend of citrus notes paired with myrtle and fresh juniper notes.

Paul Smith Sunseeker – As Spring unfolds fill your home with this bright and beautiful sunseeker scent from Paul Smith. The candle has notes of Italian bergamot, mandarin, and basil, a fruity and charming smell which you’ll never tire of.

Post includes some press samples.

The Idle Rocks, St Mawes

I’ve been aware of The Idle Rocks hotel for a while, a luxurious 18-bedroom hotel on the water’s edge in St. Mawes, but haven’t previously had the opportunity to stay at this much-loved property. The chic, nautical accommodation is busy year-round, but winter is a quieter, calmer time to visit, which we enjoyed, especially with two young kids.

St. Mawes is a small fishing village found at the end of the Roseland peninsula, and is the home to a few lovely hotels, including The Idle Rocks and its sister hotel St. Mawes Hotel. We were lucky to experience both of these hotels during our stay.

St. Mawes Hotel is just a few minutes walk from The Idle Rocks and is a great place to visit with kids. We had a casual, but tasty, meal here one evening before a viewing at their boutique ‘Hidden Cinema’. The cinema has regular showings and we were lucky to catch Moana, perfect for all four of us! The deluxe reclining seats and freshly made popcorn made the whole experience really special.

At The Idle Rocks, the 18 bedrooms are all unique in decor and style, crisp whites are combined with accents of colour and joyful patterns. The staff were very kind to give us two adjacent rooms to help remedy the effects of two sleep-stealing children! Both rooms had very comfortable Hypnos beds, feather duvets and plenty of plump pillows.

The bathrooms are stocked with complimentary Aromatherapy Associates bath and body products, and particularly fluffy towels and robes.

The living areas in the rooms were designed to encourage relaxation, and we loved sitting with a cup of tea and watching the rowing boats go by on the water outside. We also really enjoyed the bottle of sparkling Knightor wine, made from the vineyards above the shores of St Austell Bay on the south coast of Cornwall.

The ground floor of the hotel has expansive views of the water, various dining areas offer guests options for breakfast, dinner and relaxing with refreshments throughout the day. I loved the more eclectic style of this area, with quirky colourful artwork and bold bright fabrics.

We enjoyed breakfast in the dining room each morning, an appetising spread of continental treats and a menu of indulgent hot dishes. The Eggs Benedict was cooked to perfection and I loved the Potato Rosti with Spicy Beans.

On the final night, we headed downstairs for drinks and dinner in the celebrated Idle Rocks restaurant. Cocktails are superior at The Idle Rocks; opt for a signature serve or ask the experienced bar team for your favourite tipple… we loved the negroni made with Falmouth Loveday gin.

Chef Dorian Janmaat excels in the kitchen, presenting guests with a 7-course tasting menu or an appealing a la carte menu. This talented young chef previously worked at Le Manoir and it’s easy to see the influence of French cooking in his dishes with exemplary sauces and perfect meat and fish cookery. The menus showcase Cornwall’s local seafood and produce – we absolutely loved the Monkfish with hen of the woods, rainbow chard and black garlic ketchup, and my Pork Tenderloin with winter vegetable ragout was the ideal fine dining comfort food on a cold winter’s evening.

We noticed lots of couples relishing the chance for a little January getaway at The Idle Rocks, but it is also a great place to bring the whole family. My older son adored the Kids Room, which is kitted out with all  kinds of toys, dressing up outfits and a chalk board for drawing.

The Idle Rocks (and it’s surrounding area) is a wonderful place to spend time but if you fancy a day trip, I can highly recommend the ferry from St. Mawes to Falmouth. It takes just 15 minutes and you may even spot dolphins on route (we were lucky to see them on both journeys).

More information and book a stay at The Idle Rocks here.

I was a guest of The Idle Rocks Hotel.

Atlanta Trevone Bay, luxury accommodation in North Cornwall

Cornwall has become one of the most popular UK destinations in the holiday season, but in January this beautiful part of the country is extra special, quiet and calm. After a stressful, Covid-filled Christmas, a long weekend away was just what I needed to reset and recharge… and Atlanta Trevone Bay provided the perfect home-away-from-home to do this.

Atlanta Trevone Bay

There are five properties in the Atlanta Trevone Bay collection, each recently decorated in a stylish, luxurious way that takes family needs very much into consideration. For larger groups, the Atlanta House and The Penthouse both sleep 8 guests. We were staying at the pristine Atlanta View (the smallest of the properties) which comfortably hosts 5 and a toddler. Our apartment was full of character and charm, decorated with details that emphasise the Victorian features of the building. The three bedrooms had sumptuous mattresses that made bedtime a real treat, sinking into the cosy beds while the winter winds purred and the waves crashed outside.

Atlanta Trevone Bay

The large windows offer impressive views of Trevone Head and the Lifeboat Station and we loved wandering down to the quiet beach each morning to explore and collect shells.

Atlanta Trevone BayAtlanta Trevone Bay

Eating out is expensive with a family so it was great to be able to cook in the well-appointed kitchen in our accommodation. With a high-tech oven, handy boiling water tap and every kitchen appliance you could need, cooking here was an enjoyable experience. We visited nearby St. Kews Farm shop for local produce and also enjoyed the hamper of treats from boutique Cornish company Lola’s.

Atlanta Trevone Bay

I am usually a keen adventurer, wanting to check out every new cafe and shop in town, but the cosy, calm comfort of Atlanta Trevone encouraged me to slow down and enjoy a few quieter days, which I now know I really needed. Whatever the season, this collection of properties is a lovely place to settle for a memorable Cornish holiday.

More information and book a stay here.

I was a guest of Atlanta Trevone Bay.