An Essex Wedding - Mar/Apr 2017 (Issue 79)

Wedding wellness Ivana Sidey looks at new products, tips and tricks for feeling your big-day best If you love sheet masks but would prefer your skincare to be a little more natural then I may have found the solution. As Living Nature celebrates 30 years of providing certified natural Manuka honey products to the world, it’s launched a first – a bee venom mask. This is the first sheet mask from this highly-respected New Zealand-based company, providing a 100 per cent natural alternative to the synthetic masks currently on the market. What’s more, it contains the rejuvenating benefits of bee venom so you can look and feel good. Priced from £8 from botanicalbrands.com My face tends to get very dry in the colder weather, but luckily KORRES has launched its Black Pine 3D Sculpting, Firming and Lifting skincare collection. It features a night cream and serum but I love the day cream. If your body needs a boost too, you may want to try an exfoliator. Following the ban on microbeads I happily support this Natura Siberica Oblepikha & Honey scrub that contains no plastics of any kind, while the buckhorn oil deeply nourishes. KORRES is from £36 from marksandspencer.com , Natura Siberica is £6 from naturasiberica.co.uk Cult skincare brand Aromatherapy Associates has just added six more facial oils to its award-winning wardrobe. It’s been formulating highly potent oils for almost 30 years and is acknowledged as one of the true global experts. Deeply nourishing, I’ve found these to be one of the most effective ways to improve my skin’s appearance and add some much- needed radiance. My pick of the collection is its Hydrating, Revitalising Face Oil. What makes this different is the fact it works like a cream but instantly absorbs like a serum. Priced £53, from the website aromatherapyassociates.com The little-known ingredient Yuzu is being hailed as an Asian superfood. It’s used in many fusion dishes, however, I’ve heard that this unusual fruit also has fantastic anti-ageing properties. Combine that with 24k gold and we’re seeing two of the hottest skincare ingredients of 2018 and a great (really satisfying) way to exfoliate away dead skin cells. Expect to see this all over Instagram. Priced at £35 from janjira.co.uk Cabbages & Roses has launched its home scent range. It boasts timeless fragrances; such as the fresh Hyacinth & Gardenia. The candle and reed diffusers are all beautifully presented in its signature striped box that would make a great gift. The candle has a 40-hour burn time (£30) while the reed diffuser is priced at £34 from johnlewis.com Following the success of the Handmade Beauty Book, Handmade Spa details exciting and healthy ways to recreate the spa experience at home. Not only are the recipes easy to follow, they can also be tailored to your own specific needs. I’ve found the advice to be salon-worthy and after trying several new ideas, such as the hot cloth cleanser, I was left with a feeling of wellbeing having learnt a new skill and being able to actually relax in the process! Priced £16.99 from all good book stores. Who thinks looking good at the gym is as important as actually going? Me too, which is why I’m so happy to discover the monthly subscription box – Fit Bitch Club. Each subscriber is sent a box containing three fitness items every month, ranging from apparel and accessories to nutrition and beauty products (saving money on the RRP). Each one is curated with items of clothing from tried and tested brands, ready to inspire you to live fearlessly and instill confidence in one another. Founder Linda Cerminara says, “Fit Bitch Club represents all the women out there who have pushed or are pushing forward. It’s also about redefining the word.” If that isn’t inspiration to get down the gym I don’t know what is. Available at £39 from fitbitchclub.co.uk As skincare becomes more advanced we, as consumers, also become a lot more savvy and demanding. The latest buzzword is alkaline skincare to help fight problem skin. I feel that one of the leaders here is Sönd – a brand so gentle it can easily be used on all the family. Created for sensitive and reactive skin, the range of five products is targeted at improving and re-balancing PH level. It features a cleanser, night and day cream and serum to help you feel good to glow. Priced from £22 from sondskin.co.uk Neutrogena’s new light therapy device is designed to help tackle inflammatory breakouts by delivering a targeted dose of red and blue light to attack bacteria and reduce redness. I predict this quick, on-the-go solution is set to be the saviour of many a savvy spot-sufferers and help bring added confidence in times of need. This is easily my new hero product. Priced at £29.99 from boots.com 100