Beachy Bath and Body

Mmm...looking at these pictures I could inhale a Piña Colada right now. Or maybe a Bahama Mama? Might be time for a little after work cocktail ;)

In the meantime, here are some more beachy delights for you. My number one skin tip would always be to use a good body scrub, especially in the summer when you're probably flashing a lot more of it! They feel great, they wake you up and stimulate circulation, and ultimately are wonderful for your skin (particularly if you're prone to spots on your back). Here are two for your body, by The Body Shop and Hei Poa, and one lovely ocean salt facial scrub by Lush. Most good scrubs won't leave you feeling dried out, but if you are always use a nice moisturiser. Try this frangipani-scented Tahitian Hei Poa Monoi Oil!

If you fancy starting your day with some beachy shower gel, how about Philosophy Cabana Girl? Or if you're recreating your own little lagoon at home, Lush Floating Island Bath Melts or The Body Shop Polynesian Spa range are lovely.

Lastly, if you've actually been out in the sun, these are some wonderful After Sun care products from Hawaiian Tropic, Banana Boat and Korres.

There's something about all these coconutty, salty, frangipani fragrances that really put me in a holiday state of mind, and they really lift my spirits when I smell them. Every time I catch a whiff of coconut I'm off and away on an island dream :) Go on, get in the spirit of things now that we actually have some sunshine here! Think Hawaii, Tahiti, Polynesia; beaches, coconuts, fruity rum cocktails, sunscreen, frangipani, and aloe vera, and the smell of sun-warmed skin and sand. I can almost hear the waves now.

1. Philosophy Cabana Girl Shower gel 2. Hei Poa Tiare Black Sand Body Scrub 3. Banana Boat Aloe Vera Gel 4. Hawaiian Tropic After Sun Coconut Body Butter 5. Lush Ocean Salt Facial Scrub 6. Lush Floating Island Luxury Bath Melt 7. Hei Poa Frangipani Monoi Beauty Oil 8. The Body Shop Polynesian Spa Lotus and Frangipani Flower Bath Milk 9. The Body Shop Coconut Body Scrub 10. Korres Yoghurt After Sun Cooling Gel


Cocktail images from http://dailyscocktails.com/recipes

Beachy Beauty

Amazingly, it's actually starting to feel like summer now that the sun is out. The weather is absolutely gorgeous, and as a result, I'm loving beachy beauty and scents like coconut and frangipani. Think Hawaii and Polynesia.

The three things that sum up beach beauty for me are wavy tousled hair, gorgeous colour in the cheeks, and waterproof mascara. I've never understood the magazines that do elaborate beach beauty editorials that involve layers and layers of slap. It's not pretty or flattering, and I can't imagine getting a face full of slap covered in sweat and salty seawater is good for anyone's skin. I'm a fan of extending this carefree attitude to recreating the beach look at home as well. Wear a bit of waterproof mascara if you really can't go barefaced; try a gorgeous bronzer like Nars The Multiple Bronzer in Malaysia or my own personal favourite, Benefit Dallas; and spray some Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray in your hair (if you can't afford the cult product, try the slightly cheaper Lush Sea Spray). I like spraying my hair and then braiding it for an hour or two to make lovely beachy waves. Make sure you go for a loose braid to get that surfer look!

If you want to make the look a bit more complicated, the only thing I'd suggest adding is some sheer lip tint in a natural rather than bright colour- believe me, I love a bright lip as much as the next girl, but this look is all about barefaced beauty. Clinique Black Honey is one of my all time favourite lipsticks- sheer, buildable colour in a universally flattering russet, it is honestly just beautiful. It's alarmingly dark in the tube but translates wonderfully. You can also layer some blusher with your bronzer- I like a dusty rose and this No 7 one is a real beauty.

If you want to go the whole hog, try the Nars Multipurpose Beauty Oil for a wonderful tint and lovely glowing, moisturised skin.

Ultimately wear the products that make you feel comfortable, but remember the most attractive thing about a surfer girl is her laid back attitude. Don't hide behind loads of make up- let your own natural beauty shine through! I'm embracing the chilled out beach holiday mindset and relaxing, and suddenly, things aren't getting to me anywhere near as much.

1. Benefit Dallas bronzer 2. Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray 3. Lush Sea Spray 4. No. 7 Blush Tint Cream Blush 5. Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey 7. Nars Body Glow Multipurpose Beauty Oil 8. Nars The Multiple Bronzer in Malaysia 9. Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara


And lastly, always always wear sunscreen and take care of your skin. Read the fabulous Sali Hughes' recommendations for the best.

Desk Brights

Now that it's summer (hah!) most people are taking it easy, but unfortunately this is a period where us grad students are meant to knuckle down and really get things done. I'm getting my work face on by redoing my desk so that it looks welcoming and nice, rather than buried beneath heaps of papers and work. I'm loving the trend for neon brights this year, and I think adding some pops of colour to my desk can't hurt! After all, anything that cheers you up while you're working through hurricanes in July must be a good thing.

I LOVE these neon accented bright lamps, but they're a little out of my price range. One day :) 

These Pantone boxes are wonderful as well; they come in a great range of colours, and you can get your favourites and stack them up. I love the orange, red and pink together. I store papers in mine, but they would work for most things, and would definitely cheer up your desk with their sleekness and brightness. 

You could go for bright calculators, pen holders, pencil cases, paper clips, mugs- anything really. The main thing about adding colour to your desk is to give it some personality, so pick things you really love and try going for something quirky. How about a Penguin mug of your favourite book or some silly moustache clips to make you laugh?

I also love these cheerful and ethical Betty Books; I use a bright yellow one (made in India!) that I bought at Oxfam, but they're also available from Not On The High Street. I also use very bright Post-its; no one misses a note written on one of those.

1. Upcycled lime green letter holder, TrashThings on Etsy 2. Blue and yellow pencil case, Paperchase 3. Red calculator, Paperchase 4. Orange stapler, Paperchase 5. Pantone Storage, Amazon 6. Penguin Classics mugs, Art Meets Matter 7. Pink aluminium card case, Paperchase 8. Moustache paper clips, Paperchase 9. Pen pot, Ryman 10. Betty Book, Not On The High Street 11. Retro Industrial Gooseneck Desk Lamp, EarthSeaWarrior on Etsy

And if you really want to add some quirk to your desk, try these. 

Make your desk your own space- make sure there are things you love on it, and things that make you smile. One of my biggest struggles in life is keeping my desk clean and tidy, and a pleasant place to work. This post is to help me love my desk by making it welcoming and friendly and organised- hopefully it'll help you too!

Heather and Grey

The weather is still miserable, and I'm really feeling a corresponding palette of heathers and greys. Soft soothing colours, with some petal pink thrown in for good measure. I've been wearing a lot of these lately, but always with a twist- usually a very bright colour! Grey goes with everything, even more so than black or navy, and it really looks fantastic with pops of bright colour. I've been going for soft neutral clothes, with very bright painted nails. I use my hands a lot while I talk, like most Indians) and a sudden flash of fuchsia always surprises people. It also keeps me happy when I catch a glimpse of them as I type, write, cook or run errands.

Bright nail polish- wakes up your outfit, pulls it together, and will make you smile every time you see it. And the greys and heathers? Chic AND cosy. What more could you want?

1. Cocoon cardigan, Dorothy Perkins 2. Grey marl dress, Dorothy Perkins 3. Lafayette brogues, Dune 3. Engraved earrings, Topshop 4. Cable dinky snood, Accessorize 5. Essie nail polish in Bachelorette Bash

Stormy Weather

The rain is torrential at the moment, and there are flood warnings for Cambridge. The weather is wild and the only thing to do is stay indoors, have a long soak in the bath, and then wrap up and settle in with a cup of tea and a good book. My windows are wide open so I can watch the storm breaking, and the Seashore candle and the rain against my face really makes me feel like I'm near the sea. I love these dark and stormy nights, but I wouldn't want to be out in them! 

Some of these things embrace the wild weather; the others fight against it for comfort. I guess I'm torn between the two. The storm does wonders for my state of mind, but it is much much colder than the monsoon rain I'm used to.

1. West Bay Throw 2. Essie nail polish in Go Overboard 3. Wild Cow Bath Oil 4. Rob Ryan Stars Shine Mug 5. Howling on the Wind Sweater 6. The Sound and the Fury 

Stay warm! I hope all those in flood warning areas are staying safe.

How do you deal with stormy weather? Singing in the rain or staying indoors?

Hi.

I grew up inland in India. Now I live in England, in Cambridge, in a picturesque old city with wonderful architecture and wonderful history. I love the seaside, in any country. My style is eclectic; nautical and dreamy meets preppy; I love bright Indian colours, embroidered details and broderie anglaise; peonies, roses and jasmine; seafoam green, Cambridge blue, white, navy, cream and fuchsia.

This blog is about lifestyle, interiors, fashion and trying to achieve a peaceful state of mind in beautiful surroundings. Maybe it'll help me to do that and hopefully you'll see something here that you like too.