Seven wonders the team have discovered this week...
This week's beauty bulletin comes to you from Budapest, with love. As the city is chocka with spas and thermal baths, the beauty desk thought this would be the perfect spot to shed some stress and potentially a couple of pounds. Here's a smorgasbord of the new products we've discovered both here and in London this week (and a couple of spa treatments that may tempt you to book a flight...):
THE HOTEL: The Kempinski Hotel Corvinus
First things first, we need to tell you about the Kempinski, where we're holed up. A stone's throw from the Danube on the Pest side of the river (as opposed to 'Buda'), it's a five minute walk from Andrassy Avenue (which is where you want to go to browse the big designer shops) and Kiraly Utca, where you'll find more offbeat offerings. We've only seen the charms of the outside world fleetingly as, between the spa, sweet shop and Nobu that all reside under the one roof, there's been more than enough to keep us busy in the hotel.
THE TREATMENT: Omorovicza Facial on Andrassy Utca
Fly to Budapest and not stop in at the flagship spa of one of our favourite brands? Impossible. While we were in the Omorovicza shop, it would've been rude not to stick around for one of their signature facials. The facial, much like the product range, makes use of the Hungarian thermal waters and mineral-rich muds. Our skin looked smoother and clearer after an hour.
THE CLEANSER: Eve Lom Cleanser, £140 for 450ml
Are you one of the army of staunch Eve Lom Cleanser devotees? Your ship has come in; this is the biggest pot of Eve's cleanser yet (at £140 for 450ml it works out at the best cost per cleanse they've made). In case you're new to this one, it is the original balmy cleanser that makes quick work of removing make-up and surface grime. Our top tip? Make sure you're using a clean muslin daily to buff off the cleanser to keep skin clear and bright.
THE NAILS: Chanel Les Beiges 2015 Les Vernis, £18
Chanel's summer collection inspired collective glee among the team. A paean to the power of neutral, the two limited edition and two permanent nudes due out in June will instantly make your nails look pristine. Top marks for the slight variations in the beige hue that make finding the right neutral for different skin tones a doddle - if your skin is on the pink side, just use the slightly pinky Precious Beige. Yellow undertone? Go for Beige Pur. Etc.
THE TRAVEL ESSENTIAL: Sew Lomax Airplane Wash Bag, £20
The beauty desk do not enjoy the process of hastily flinging all our beloved products into clear plastic bags at the airport. Now that we have Sewlomax's transparent travel bag, we are delighted to announce we don't have to anymore. If you're prone to forgetting essentials such as your phone charger, kirby grips, tampons or earring backs, get the SOS Kit, which comes in the same see-through wash bag packed full of useful bits and bobs.
THE HEALTH: Udo's Choice Omega Blend Capsules, £19.99
A dermatologist once told us that she unfailing prescribes daily omegas to her clients as the difference in surface plumpness and hydration is so pronounced after a week's consumption that sometimes buying lots of moisturisers simply isn't necessary. It's advice we've heeded and we now take a couple of these every day alongside a meal (this is the optimum time to take supplements, unless advised otherwise). If your skin looks dry and a little less lustrous than you'd like at the moment, try this approach and expect a more glowing complexion by the time spring has really kicked in.
THE EYESHADOW: Nars Dual-Intensity Narsissist Palette, £45
8 eyeshadows in the one palette that also double up as intensely-pigmented liners? Hell yes. We don't like to play favourites but trust us when we say that the frisson of excitement on discovering a new make-up must-have is rarely as pronounced as it is in the case of a Nars addition. We feel this one deserves every plaudit - the colours are at once thrilling and wearable, adjustable in intensity to make for day and night shades, and between the eight have managed to satisfy our eye make-up needs for, oh, about three weeks now... (this is officially a record for the rapacious beauty desk).