With more and more shops reopening, life is slowly returning back to a new normal, although there is no Notting Hill Carnival in London this month, but why not embrace the vibrant celebrations in your own unique way with a Fortum & Mason hamper that would be ideal for picnics in the park over the bank holiday weekend.
If you are in the need of a wardrobe update, head to Anine Bing in Mayfair to invest in a statement t-shirt that is so versatile that you can literally team it with anything and will take you straight into AW20.
We have also found the perfect pair of sculpting workout leggings by Nailah, wear to your favourite studios now the gyms are finally back open – we’ve already tested out the Essenza set at Barrecore last weekend and received so many complements. Plus, no shopping round-up could be complete without some key beauty launches that will make you want to make room in your bathroom cabinet for pronto.
Fortnum & Mason Summer Celebration Hamper, £150
There can only be one picnic hamper of choice and ours is Fortnum & Mason without question. A hamper is always a welcome gift for the summer season and the British department store is famed for its decadent selections. This August we recommend the summer celebration hamper, a special selection of Fortnum & Mason favourites ideally suited to summer staycations or seaside picnics, now the heatwave is to return this weekend in London.
The hamper includes an array of sunny day essentials including alcohol-free alternative to champagne Fortnum’s sparkling tea, and the store’s own traditional potted stilton, waxed cheddar truckle, stilton cheese straws, butter crackers, British Piccadilly piccalilli, caramelised red onion, pepper & jalapeno stuffed olives, garlic & chilli nuts, Darjeeling tea, moreish chocolate & macadamia biscuits and salted caramel chocolate Florentines – the wicker hamper can also double up as a storage basket after to keep children’s toys organised or use it to store beauty products.
Sisley Triple Oil Balm Make-Up Remover & Cleanser, £88
A new Sisley skincare launch is certainly something to get excited about, especially one that removes all traces of make-up, even waterproof mascara. Sisley Triple Oil Balm with three nourishing and softening oils (Babassu, Shea and Macadamia) which cleanses the skin, softens, nourishes and delivers radiance.
Nailah Essenza Plum Seamless Set, £55 No fitness wardrobe is complete without a piece or two from Nailah and our favourite being the Essenza plum set, a bestseller for a very good reason. Featuring moisture-wicking technology, 4-way stretch technology fabric for durability and a sculpted fit, ideal forreformer Pilates, yoga or barre style workouts.
Chanel Ultra Le Teint Foundation, £37
Chanel is our go-to brand for innovative new make-up formulas. We love the flawless matte finish of Ultra Le Teint foundation, it delivers that desirable radiant, dewy glow with up to 24 hours wearing time – plus it stays put even during a heatwave.
Diptyque Parfum De Voyage Eau Rose, £90
Looking for a new fragrance to mark the green light to travel? Diptyque’s new travel-friendly bottles filled with four of Diptyque’s iconic scents. The enchanting aroma of Eau Rose being our top pick, this irresistible blend of bergamot, blackcurrant, juicy lychee, musk, cedar, honey and the two star ingredients rose damascene and rose centifolia, automatically transports the wearer to a garden full of blooming roses.
Superga Organics Collection, from £75 available from August 13th
We swear by Superga trainers as our footwear brand of choice for comfort and stylish enough to team with summer dresses. And now we are even more obsessed with the with the brand’s first foray into the world of sustainable footwear, sourcing organic fabrics that are grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Available in three styles (2790, 2750 and the 2490 model) all in neutral beige tones.
Agua de Madre sparkling water kefir, from £21.50 for 75cl x2
Summer heralds the return of barbecues and outdoor drinks, and those looking to adopt a cleaner lifestyle, or abstain from high alcohol content or sugary soft drinks, should discover Agua de Madre. The brand uses a 2000 year old Mexican culture from the opuntia cactus and the only water kefir on the market with 55 billion live cultures per 100ml.
We hear Megan Markle is a big fan too of this naturally uplifting, vegan-friendly, organic, low alcohol with 1.2% ABV and good for you sparkling water. Available in four flavours original, pomegranate & hibiscus and two new flavours elderflower & apple and passion fruit & raspberry that can both be enjoyed on the rocks, or experiment with your cocktail mixer of choice.
Nuxe Bio Organic Range, from £17
Nuxe adds to acclaimed skincare line with a new certified organic and vegan skincare range inspired by all of nature’s benefits. This effective organic collection features a powerful cocktail of highly concentrated natural and organic ingredients, combined with eco-friendly technologies and recyclable packaging wherever possible to help to protect the planet. Consisting of ten products including rice oil extract night recovery oil, radiance detox mask and our highlight being the chia seeds antioxidant serum that smells divine.
Yolke Orange Thebe short set, £180 exclusive to YOLKE.co.uk
Who would say no to a new pair of Yolke pyjamas? This new clementine print is available from this weekend and is made from 100% sustainable linen, sourced and produced in Europe – why not add a personal touch with some bespoke embroidery by Cressida Jamieson? It would be rude not to.
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex, £82
We challenge you to find a better night treatment than Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair. If you thought Estee Lauder’s iconic Night Repair couldn’t get any better, the brand has just launched a new and improved formula, which helps skin increase the natural renewal of fresh new cells and production of collagen for firmer skin. This is one product we truly look forward to applying in the evening. You will wake up to radiant and truly rested skin that’s deeply nourished, and experience noticeably softer and plumper results in the morning.
Waterpik Cordless Select Water Flosser, £79.99
Now is the time to rethink your flossing regime with the number one water flosser in the world, Waterpik Cordless Select. This upgraded version not only delivers a professional deep clean and promotes healthier gums as the original cordless plus, but this new advanced version features a 4-hour rapid charging system, is ultra-quiet to use and waterproof. Trust us, from the first use you’ll wonder how you ever lived without.
Anine Bing X Terry O’Neil Lili Tee, £89
Scandi-cool label Anine Bing and iconic photographer Terry O’Neil have joined forces again to create another standout capsule collection that features two famous photographs of David Bowie and Faye Dunaway. The range is available in a sweatshirt or T-Shirt form, that can both be easily dressed up or down and will be your go to wardrobe staple for years to come – team with leather trousers that creates a look that is the epitome of cool.
Dr Irena Eris Volumeric Neck & Décolleté Sculpting, £43
Neck and décolleté creams are having a bit of a moment and it’s clear to see why with Dr Irena Eris Volumeric sculpting concentrate is one of the best we’ve tested and available exclusively at John Bell & Croyden. Think of this as an intense sculpting and tightening workout for fine skin around the neck and décolleté area, infused with precious oils, liquid wax, antioxidants and tri-peptide. After continuous use expect improved elasticity of the skin and noticeably smoother wrinkles.
Away colour collide luggage collection, from £225 available from August 11th
Whether you are planning a staycation or holiday abroad, arrive in style with Away’s new colour collide collection. Away has created the perfect travel companion in the form of their new polycarbonate and expandable luggage collection available in a rainbow of bold colours, guaranteed to make an impact upon arrival to your destination of choice. The luggage collection is like no other out there and has been curated to target frequent flyers’ needs with a serious injection of colour.
Glossybox skincare, from £12
The beauty launch of the year has finally arrived, subscription-based beauty box brand Glossybox reveals a 10-piece strong skincare collection to the world onthe 12th August. Think high-performance skincare, minus the high-end price point, that’s cruelty-free and vegan-friendly and housed in 100% recyclable sugarcane packaging. Plus, the new collection was born in the UK and produced in the UK, raising the high flag for best of British beauty brands.
Charlotte Tilbury Limited-Edition Pillow Talk Lip & Cheek Glow, £30
For all those Charlotte Tilbury pillow talk fans look no further than the latest lip & cheek glow. Perfect your summer pout and cheeks with this creamy sheer formula, available in two radiant shades, ideal for a hint of colour, luscious shine and super-dewy cheeks.
Ruifier Gems of Cosmo Sapphire Gem Ring, £325
British luxury jewellery brand designer Ruifier has been inspired by the vibrant colours and radiance of the universe this season, with the Gems of Cosmo collection. Our highlight is the Sapphire Gem ring, set on 18ct yellow gold with a UFO-inspired 0.30ct Sapphire blue stone. Wear individually, or stack different colours to create your own look.
Life Amour Super Me, £30 at John Bell & Croyden
There is a reason why these mood-boosting supplements are award-winning. They contain KSM-66 Ashwagandha, which is super effective in combating the long-term resilience of stress and anxiety -especially useful in these uncertain times. We even noticed a difference to our energy levels after taking a short course.
Paul & Joe 2020 Limited Edition Lipstick 060, £21
A Paul & Joe lipstick is just the thing to welcome the arrival of autumn. This berry-toned matte lipstick not only has the most Instagram-worthy packaging, but the lightweight formula glides on with ease resulting in a creamy finish.
Bromelia Anastacia One-Piece, £133
We cannot think of a better way to lounge around the pool than in this one-piece swimsuit from California-based swimwear brand Bromelia, an ethically made brand whose entire creative team is made up of female, black, Latina, and LGBTQ community members. The Anastacia is definitely not to be missed and provides instant style, with the most flattering fit and perfect for a mini break to the Greek islands.
Bare by Vogue Williams Mist & Glow, £13.50
There will be no going back to your regular fake tan once you’ve tried out these collagen boosting facial tanning mists by Bare by Vogue Williams. Expect a fast-drying tan that mimics two weeks spent in Capri in four hours flat. Plus, the whole Bare range is vegan-friendly, 100% Cruelty Free, silicone and paraben free.
Kate Somerville’s new range of Delikate Recovery Serum, £70
Kate Somerville’s new range of Delikate skincare was built in Kate’s renowned Hollywood skin clinics to soothe post-treatment irritation and prevent future skin flare-ups. If you suffer from stressed out skin – think redness, dry, tight and sunburnt skin then you’ll want to add this new range to your bathroom cabinet pronto.
Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara, £29
The instant extensions name won us over and the results really do live up to the name – expect lashes thatmimics the effect of a lash extension treatment, with incredible lift, length and definition.
Sun Bum Sunscreen SPF 50, £15.59
Don’t forget to stock up on sunscreen before heading outdoors to enjoy the last month or so of sunshine. Sum Bum landed in the UK this summer all the way from Cocoa beach, Florida and includes a range of SPF’s, protective lip balm and after sun that are all cruelty free, reef-friendly and dermatology tested. Plus, the collection smells like summer bottled up – we find ourselves wanting to apply the sunscreen as an all year round body lotion the smell is that good.
