THEY are not only romantic (and a perfect gift for Valentine’s Day) but scented candles can be good for mood, stress levels, overall mental health and even depression. Today I look at therapeutic candles and our Beauty Editor puts red lipsticks to the test. Health with Jane Atkinson NOISE EFFECTS – Subluceo candles are free […]
THEY are not only romantic (and a perfect gift for Valentine’s Day) but scented candles can be good for mood, stress levels, overall mental health and even depression.
Today I look at therapeutic candles and our Beauty Editor puts red lipsticks to the test.
NOISE EFFECTS – Subluceo candles are free from paraffin, plastic and other hidden nasties that can be harmful to your health and the planet.
The rose, sandalwood and musk is packed with essential oils but the bit I love is the crackling wooden wick, which makes a warm and cosy sound when it burns.
Perfect for relaxing as sandalwood induces relaxation and calmness and promotes positive thinking and clarity, and is combined with aromatic musk. £20 for 180ml, burns for 30-35 hours, subluceo.com/shop.
REJUVENATING – Holistic Impact has a range of CBD and essential oil products formulated by osteopath Kemmy Gichaba following her personal journey with anxiety and panic attacks.
The rejuvenating lemongrass and eucalyptus candle also contains soothing wild vetivert.
One study found that participants exposed to lemongrass essential oil had an immediate reduction in anxiety and tension and recovered quickly. It is made with organic coconut wax. The scent lasts for ages. £25 for 170ml, burns for approximately 45 hours, holisticimpact.co.uk/.
CALMING – This candle from Neal’s Yard Remedies, which is pioneers in wellbeing, contains essential oils, rose that can relax and even soothe your heart rate, and geranium, which has been used to treat health conditions for centuries.
There is scientific data indicating that geranium oil may be beneficial for a number of conditions, such as anxiety and depression.
This is very subtle but lasts for ages and the floral rose scent is stunning. £35 for 190g, burns for around 36 hours, nealsyardremedies.com/.
BUGDET – NYX Professional Makeup Shout Loud satin lipstick in Red Haute, (£8, lookfantastic.com): I was pleasantly surprised by the colour pay-off given it costs less than a tenner. One swipe gave me bold, full coverage.
The formula was more matte than I expected, but it didn’t settle into the cracks or dehydrate my dry lips further thanks to the conditioning ingredients.
But it never fully dried on my lips, so everything they touched ended up with a red imprint. It’s quite heavily fragranced, so if you have sensitive skin you might find it irritating.
MID – Vieve Modern matte lipstick in Muse (£19, cultbeauty.co.uk): If anyone knows how to make a good lipstick, it’s make-up artist turned influencer Jamie Genevieve.
Her cosmetics line is full of heavy hitters and the signature red lipstick is no different. The shade Muse is a true red, so will pretty much suit everyone. The matte finish is long wearing, if on the slightly drying side, but nothing a good lip balm can’t fix.
It stayed put through lunch and dinner and doesn’t bleed over the lip into fine lines and wrinkles.
The brand has a matching lip-liner, which takes the guess work out of choosing one with the same undertones, and made my lips look way more polished.
LUXURY – Hourglass Confession ultra-slim high- intensity refillable lipstick in Red 0 (£35, cultbeauty.co.uk): The ultra-thin bullet makes it easy to stay within the lip line and means you don’t need lip liner – perfect for nights out when handbag space is limited.
It has a satin finish that feels hydrating and stays put under your mask. The slightly blue tone makes your teeth look whiter, always an added bonus.
I love that it’s refillable too, so when you get to the bottom you only need to buy a new insert, rather than replace the lot.
