I’ve been up in Far North Queensland for a few days, doing little more than lolling around and reading books. I’ve just finished the gorgeous Love in a Cold Climate (ironic because I’m looking very sweaty, frizzy and generally un-lovely in a very hot climate) from the fabulous Popular Penguin collection. I don’t know if it’s the book’s orange-covered influence or the general Queensland love for all things bright, but I’ve just succumbed to an urge to paint my toenails Penguin-orange – Bloom Nail Polish in Bettina 1, $19.95 from Bloom, is actually a very close match.
Some other beauty observations from FNQ:
• Body oils are so much better suited to up here. There’s none of this freezing-up business you get living down south. My Hei Poa vanilla oil ($30 from Kit) is especially spreadable and divine up here.
• Never forget to pack your pimple treatment when going somewhere sticky and sweaty.
• The Clarins after-sun range is just about the best après-chic around. I don’t even go out in the sun and still find an excuse to slather it all over.
• Sometimes you just have to go with the flow – and the frizz. If you tried to fight it in this kind of heat, you’d end up drowning in a pool of silicone.
• If I could get away with wearing a frangipani behind my ear every day, I would.
Oooooh whereabouts in NQ are you, Kat?? Hope you’re enjoying our part of the world - the weather couldn’t be better for you at the moment!
You’re so right about the beauty dilemmas presented by hot weather though. I am getting my fringe re-cut today and am starting to think I may regret the decision this afternoon. It’s also incredibly hard to stay clear-skinned, matte, sleek and fresh when the air outside feels like warm pea soup. Still, cold-weather beauty is just as difficult and I wouldn’t swap living at the pointy end of Australia for anything. Hope you have a great time while you’re up here!
Comment by Katherine — November 17, 2008 @ 10:51 am
Hi neighbour!
I’m in Palm Cove and state of utter bliss, drinking coconut milk and slurping on mangoes. Heaven.
So a fringe huh? Just a bit of salicylic each night and a quick wash each morning and you should be right. I think it will look gorgeous, very flapper it-girl.
K x
Comment by Kat — November 17, 2008 @ 11:00 am
I have to get a copy of LIACC in that Penguin edition! Also, I want the vanilla body oil as I love vanilla in anything. Clarins have some lovely products. I’m addicted to their beauty flash balm and will look out for their after sun care. x
Comment by Jo — November 19, 2008 @ 3:06 pm
Jo, try out the Hei Poa monoi oil in Vanilla (available from Kit) - the scent is so strong and lovely and it totally obliterates the need for perfume!
I always embrace oils in summer too - it seems so wrong but feels so right. My favourites are Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Body Oil Spray, and Neutrogena’s newly released body oil. Oh and it seems quite random, but plain old apricot oil from the health food section is a lovely body moisturiser in summer too - looks nice and sheeny on tanned skin, but is fragrance free so won’t interfere with perfume.
Comment by Katherine — November 19, 2008 @ 10:25 pm
Duh I can’t believe I just recommended what was already recommended in the blog post. I’m a giant dorkus. On the other hand I have another oil suggestion (it’s scary how much knowledge I have in the “moisturising body oils” category). The Body Shop have a “bath oil” which you can scent with your choice of fragrance. The oils are meant to be used in the bath but I smooth them over damp skin as a moisturiser. The best part is they are insanely good value and you can have them as strongly or faintly scented as you like.
Comment by Katherine — November 19, 2008 @ 10:28 pm
Thanks Katherine for those great tips! x
Comment by Jo — November 22, 2008 @ 10:32 pm