Treat yourself to a better morning shower or evening bath. Here’s our pick of the best bath and body treats around right now, from €6 – they’re all moisturising and beautifully scented, ready for more skin-baring in summer…
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THE BUDGET RANGE
The new body care range by M&S is clearly designed to step into the space vacated by The Body Shop, whose original lipbalms in cherry, peppermint and kiwi were the cornerstone of that business (I’ve always thought the 1980s originals were far lovelier than anything more recent, and wondered why they didn’t bring them back). Anyway, Marks & Spencer has gone back to fruity basics, with its new Burst Bodycare range (which you’ll find by following the bright colours – it isn’t particularly labelled Burst). The Cherry shower gel (€10 for 500ml) and Orange hand wash (€6.75) are particularly fun – sweet, bright, cheerful.
I’m also intrigued by the M&S Fragrance Society shower gels, in appealing combinations such as orange, bergamot and lemongrass, or lime, grapefruit and mandarin (€10 for 500ml). Steer clear of the body butters, which are not as good as they used to be, according to devotees of the original shea formula. When you consider that Jo Malone London body washes are €58 for the same size, it could be time to try something new, particularly when it all ends up down the plughole… www.marksandspencer.com.
THE MIGHTY MID-RANGE
Matiere Premiere do some of the best shower and body products around. So often you find that body items feature a watered-down version of the original scent you fell in love with. But not here. I’ve been using the Crystal Saffron shower gel and find it a glorious surprise every morning – it has all the spicy punch and panache of the original eau de parfum, and it leaves a properly lasting scent on your skin. I think they are astonishingly good value, too, particularly as the brand is very particular about the raw materials used: hand and body wash (€45, 300ml) and lotion (€55, 300ml). They contain 88-92 per cent natural ingredients, and are free of silicones, parabens, mineral oils and petrolatum. They’ve just launched in the bestselling Vanilla Powder scent, too – this scent is an absolute scorcher. And that’s from someone who usually veers away from vanilla at all costs. Don’t be fooled by the simple packaging: these scents are strong, dynamic and really beautiful – think of them as fairly priced Tom Ford scents. Radical Rose is your gateway drug – start there, and you’ll be powerless to resist the rest. www.matiere-premiere.com
THE LUXURIES
Le Bain Hermès is the latest addition to the luxe beauty collection, and offers bathing and body items in eight different scents, from classic colognes Eau d’orange verte and Eau de citron noir to stars from the Jardin collection, including Un Jardin sur le Nil. And it’s all in colourful, refillable glass bottles. Perfumed bath and shower gel is €59 (200ml), with hair and body shower gels at €47, and refills at €43. I love the H24 solid soap for face, body and hair, too (€33); body lotions are €80. www.hermes.com
THE ALL-IRISH STAR
We’ve featured Banor, “the skin’s shepherd”, before – we love the story (the line is created by pharmacist and a dairy expert, both from farming backgrounds), the ingredients – lanolin-rich and nutritious Tipperary sheep milk – and the gentle, nicely presented products, scented with natural oils. Try the Body Wool Oil and Hand & Body Milk Lotion (€60 for both). www.banor.ie
