Tried and tested

Salt, sugar or sand — which is the best exfoliator? Our testers find out with three new scented scrubs.

Sanctuary Spa Cooling Glacial Scrub, €11 ( www.boots.ie )

Even opening the jar of this exfoliating scrub, and breathing in its cool cucumber and aloe-based aroma, is refreshing. The thick sea-salt is gentle, but still sloughs away dead skin cells, while the cooling effect is pleasing, but subtle. I’m left feeling silky smooth and awakened.

***

Rituals Mandi Lulur Summer Limited Edition Frangipani & Rice Milk Body Scrub, €19.50 ( www.arnotts.ie )

A soft, bubbly body wash will quickly pitch me back into sleep, and at 7am I need jolting awake.

Luckily, this frangipani-and-rice-milk sugar scrub does the job. Sweet, nicely grainy and fragrant (if a bit flowery), it scours and buffs, leaving skin smooth, moisturised and invigorated.

****

Molton Brown Heavenly Gingerlily Caressing Body Polisher, €40 ( www.brownthomas.com )

With a lovely silkiness and a soft, beaded texture, this scrub is fine enough to use even on the decollete and throat, without causing redness.

With lovely aromas of warm spice and cardamom, there was no greasy residue and it was easy to shower off, leaving my skin soft, scented and moisturised.

*****

BUY IT NOW

With the big appetite for all things nail art, OPI’s latest collection is sure to be a hit. ColorPaints is a new range, comprising a silver-canvas undercoat and eight, semi-transparent colours that you can blend, while wet, to create abstract print effects.

Individual polishes are €15 each, while the OPI ColorPaints Trio, €39.95, comes with a nail-art brush. ( www.hennessyhb.ie ).

BEAUTY BULLETIN

PURCHASE PRESSURE

The heaving high street is often the motive for buying online, but new research reveals another surprising reason.

The survey of more than 2,200 people, by VoucherCloud.com, found that 52% shop online to avoid being “hassled” by sales reps trying to ply their wares.

That was the second most popular reason. The number one appeal of e-shops, however, was the array of deals and offers.

STEAL OF THE WEEK

Airline-approved sets of cosmetic minis are handy for holidays, but even if you’re not heading abroad, they’re an affordable way of trying new products, before splashing out on the full-size offerings.

The Clinique 3-step intro kit, €30, features three of the brand’s must haves. Available from Boots.