Barefoot in the park

'Twas in the spring, then spring became the summer, it got too hot to wear a cardigan... uh, I don't know where I'm going with that too-poor-to-be-a-parody, so let's just move right along to today's topic: skincare! I don't know about you, but I've been revelling in the recent warm weather: sunbathing every day, skipping to work in skirts, bare legs and sandals, getting my skin out...

...and of course, all that sun, combined with already dry skin that's been under wraps all winter, has taken its toll. I'm in need of some serious skincare TLC, and have bust open my cupboard full of ultra-rich body butters, oils and moisturisers to try and quench my dry skin. Because when you're flashing the flesh in a summer dress, skin needs to be plump, dewy, and happy.

Annoyingly, you can no longer seem to get one of my favourite body moisturisers, the Barefoot Doctor's Damn Sexy Heavenly Body Butter. This might have something to do with the fact the good doctor had sex with a bunch of his patients, major scandal, and so on; but c'mon, what's a bit of unprofessional behaviour when moisturised skin is at stake?

Here are some of my favourites:

Bidadari Shimmering Body Souffle, by Sanctuary, comes in a pleasingly heavy glass jar with a fancy metal fastening: you feel special just popping open the lid, before you've even plunged your fingers into the jellyish souffle. The texture is soft and wobbly, like lightly whipped cream, and spreads easily and generously: you only need a small blob for each leg, rather than a whopping great handful. The scent is an acquired taste, however, and it is a shimmer product: but subtly so, adding a gentle glimmer to sheeny skin, rather than a Pussycat Dolls-style glitter overload.

Soap and Glory Big Butter Lemon, Flowers and Orange, comes in a bog-standard plastic pot, but don't let the whiff of cheap packaging fool ya: this product is scent-sational! (Yes, I went there. No, I'm not proud.) I actually like the kitschtastic Rainbow Brite-ish packaging, but it's not the chicest product out there. However, it does smell creamily, dreamily good, and butters you up a treat.

Buffy the Backside Slayer, a butt-buffing body butter bar by Lush, is practically perfect in every way: it's a little bit gritty, to exfoliate; it's a little bit greasy, to moisturise; it's a little bit scented; it leaves buttucks so peachy you could make cobbler with them; and it's got a funny name. If it doesn't leave you as bootilicious as it should, try the more emoliant Aqua Mirabilis bar instead: just as good, minus the great name.

Cocoa Buttercream Frosting Body Butter is not for the mature palate: in fact, none of Jaqua's products are. They may come in sophisticated card boxes, with elegantly stickered tubs inside, but they all basically smell like a 6-year-old sugar addict's dream. If you like chocolate, vanilla, icing, sugar, marshmallows, etc., this is no bad thing. The thick butter spreads on skin brilliantly, though it is really, really rich -- use just a couple of times a week, and be warned, wasps and bees will probably follow you around.


[Sorry everyone -- Photobucket hates booty, for some reason. Image will be restored when I'm back in my Bunker O' Photoshop. Sheesh. I bet Style.com never has this problem.]
Bidadari Shimmering Body Souffle, £9.95 by Sanctuary
Buffy the Backside Slayer, from £4.50 by Lush
"touch me then try to leave" body cream, $28.00 by Benefit
Soap and Glory Big Butter Lemon, Flowers and Orange, £9.50 at Boots
Johnson's Baby Oil, $5.29 from Drugstore.com
Cocoa Buttercream Frosting Body Butter, $22.00 by Jaqua

Enjoy showing off your beautiful new skin this summer, but: don't forget to use suntan lotion and after-sun!!! You'll thank me when you're old and yet un-wrinkly. You may feel greasier than Peter Andre, and have to wash your sheets all the damn time, but seriously: USE SUNSCREEN!!! [/End of TFFF mini-lecture]

Scans You Like It

As promised at the request of, well, one reader (but I know you all wanna see), here are the scans from the Observer Woman magazine as previously discussed. (You know, the ones that were supposed to be so "shocking" to us.)

The models are Elizabeth Satherlund (blonde) and Kate Smith (brunette). I'm not a big fan of Kate Smith's stuff, but OMG Elizabeth is a total betty, by name and nature.

I'm not so keen on the hairstyling on the cover - I think they could have gone further, for a more styled 1950s polished roll of curls - but I love the effect of the corsetry on the derriere!

What do you think? Holla at us!


Clickity click on the icons for full-sized (no pun intended) images.

The Sweet Smell of Success: Six Summer Scents

Its impossible for me to talk about summer fashion without at least mentioning perfume. I think of perfume in terms of seasons so whenever the weather changes I like to switch things up and wear something that fits with the overall mood. What I'd wear in January isn't what I'd wear come July and when things start to get warm all I want is that perfect summer fragrance ie. something light and refreshing enough to get me through the steamy days and breezy nights yet unique enough to avoid the monotony of smelling like everyone else. Finding a good perfume can be akin to finding a needle in a haystack I offer up six perfumes road tested and guaranteed to get you through the heat.



Hermes Un Jardin Sur le Nil

Notes: Green Mango, Grapefruit, Calamus, Lotus, Sycamore, Frankincense

This is just heavenly! Tart green mango and lotus infused with an incredible woody note that lingers. There is something so sophisitcated about this fragrance that makes it great for evenings as well as day. Hermes lists this as a unisex scent but to my nose it smells very feminine. The drydown is absolutely amazing, whenever I wear this I wind up getting compliments. Jardin Sur le Nil's cousin Un Jardin En Mediterranee, is also beautiful for this time of year, the fig note is especially impressive if you (like me) just love fig scents.

Bond No. 9 Coney Island

Notes: Margarita, Melon, Guava, Cinnamon, Chocolate, Caramel, Musk, Vanilla, Cedarwood, Sandalwood

If you like Pina Coladas...This is hands down the most fun you will ever find in a perfume bottle it smells like the absolute best cocktail you've ever had. Sweet guava, a nice sharp lemon lime note and just the right hint of vanilla. I know the name Coney Island probably brings to mind images of boardwalks and ferris wheels but trust that this is a far more glamorous concoction. I can't help but think of Esther Williams and her decorative swimcaps when I smell this.

L'Artisan Ananas Fizz

Notes: Pineapple, Citrus essence Lemon Rind, Bitter Orange, Bergamot, Pink Grapefruit, Pure Rum, Cedar, Precious Woods, Cocoa Milk, Lychee Sap, Vanilla

Now this is just genius. The perfect fizzy pineapple. Sometimes fruity sites can get too sweet or saccharine but this is just right; there is almost a spicy quality to it that separates it from all the other fruity scents out there right now. For an even lovelier experience there is also a Creme De Ananas body lotion that is simply heavily either layered with the perfume or all by its lonesome.

Tom Ford for Estee Lauder Azuree Soliel

Notes: Tahitian gardenia, Coconut, Orange Flower, Jasmine, Magnolia, Myrrh, Bergamot, Mandarin, Amber, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Caramel.

This is the beach in a bottle. Not the sea salt and surf version of the beach but the suntan oil and tropical flowers variant. Everything about this screams "expensive and exotic holiday" not to mention sexy, since Tom Ford may be the the worlds foremost purveyor of all things sex. Since Azuree is meant to be a "skin-scent" the concentration is unique compared with the usual EDT's and EDP's . Since nothing gold can ever stay this scent is unfortunately a limited edition much like its cousin last years amazing Azuree body oil spray. Fingers crossed that Estee Lauder sees what a goldmine they've tapped into an decides to make this a permanent product.

Marc Jacobs Rain

Notes: Wet Cut Grass, Wild Strawberry, Clementine Zest, Dewy Cypress, Tropical Rain Accord, Passion Flower, Sunshine Flower, White Orchid, Beech Amber, Musk, Tree Moss, Teak Wood.

Refreshing is probably my biggest keyword during the summer months and this delivers the goods. Rain is meant to echo the scent just after a downpour and while there is no way to bottle that kind of indescribable freshness this certainly comes close. Everything about it is light, fresh and clean. The cool green element of Rain is done just right and there is something very comforting about the scent in general. Plus since its a splash you can feel free to spritz on more whenever the mood strikes you without worrying about perfume overkill.

Annick Goutal Eau De Hadrien

Notes: Lemon, Citron, Cypress, Grapefruit

A blast of invigorating citrus that calls to mind every summer lemonade stand you ever saw as a kid without ever being childish or juvenile. Its just a light crisp lemon and grapefruit mix that is just what the doctor ordered once the weather starts hitting triple digit degrees. Eau de Hadrien is like walking through a lemon grove on a warm day, its so simple and pleasant almost minimalist. I also find that this is a great perfume for layering, if you're in the mood for something more intense a spritz of Kiehl's musk layered over Eau De Hadrien is astonishing.


All fragrances available online Aedes, Sephora and Estee Lauder though I highly reccomend heading out and trying them on in advance. Nothing is riskier than trying a perfume unsniffed.

Which fragrances do you guys like for the summer months?