Earn your sea legs at home with Voya Lazy Days

As far as beauty treatments go, it's pretty hard to re-create the real deal at home... a few candles by the side of the tub (and that's if (if) you can stand taking a bath), maybe some oils or bubbles, a scrub and a mask. You can have virtually all the bits and bobs there needed to re-create a spa at home but it still feels like home, with just a bit lower lighting and maybe a touch more fragrant.

However, I have come across a mind-bogglingly crazy product that might make home feel that much more like the spa... or the sea. If you're one of those who absolutely cringes as the feel of seaweed against the leg while swimming (followed by a quick doggy paddle as high up in the water as possible in the opposite direction to avoid any further run-ins, sort of like a cartoon), then maybe this product's not for you. If you don't mind a little tussle with the green stuff, though, then immediately buy Voya Lazy Days dehydrated seaweed... it re-hydrates (duh) in your bath! Get right in for a proper seaweed bath.

The seaweed is cut by hand by the people at Voya and apparently they've been doing this stuff for donkeys... can you think of introducing anything more foreign (yet fun!?) to your bathtub? Never before have I even imagined filling my tube with anything seaweed related unless in powder form or as an ingredient listed on the back of a bottle (which would decidedly NOT be filled with whole pieces of seaweed). I'm game though... seaweed's meant to have fantastic effects on the skin. It's full of minerals, apparently has a smoothing and tightening affect on the skin (read about all the health benefits of seaweed here). Personally, I love to eat it stuff (stop cringing, I won't eat the seaweed out of my bath) in full-on sheets (Nori) from the Japanese deli...

Back to Voya, a company I just think is the bee's knees... even if I am in no need of new products, I'd buy from them all the same, simply because I'm such a big fan. I mean, they sell hand-harvested de-hydrated seaweed for the bath!? It doesn't get much cooler than that. And, yes, lest I forget, they have an entire slew of other seaweed-rific products and a spa (if you're in Ireland any time soon). 

Who's ready to bring a little slice of the Irish mer home? 

Take a trip to the Village Barn with Abigail James

The Organic Therapist Abigail James has just announced that she'll be giving treatments at a lovely little wellness center in the English Countryside: The Village Barn. I mean... an anglophile worth their salt must be quivering in their wellies at the mere mention of such a quintessential English wellness experience... Visions of health spas like Pennyhill Park and Grayshot dancing in their heads.

Abigail's been in the business for years, most recently as the senior therapist at The Haybarn for Daylesford Organic for the last two years. She's an expert in both face and body treatments (Swedish, deep tissue, thai, ayurvedic, a variety of face rejuvenation methods, Japanese face therapy, manual lymphatic drainage, etc.) and she'll be offering signature treatments, Dr. Alkaitis (WAHEEE!) and Dr. Hauschka treatments at The Village Barn.

If you can't make the trip to the home counties, never fear as Abigail is decamping to North London's favourite beauty spot on three separate occasions this fall. Lost In Beauty will play host to the Organic Therapist on the following dates: October 7th, November 4th, December 2nd.

More about The Village Barn... this sort of place my absolute most favouritest type of beauty place to visit. Housed in a 300 year-old barn (how sweet and quaint!) in the countryside (no urban terror upon leaving the front door), it offers all sorts of treatments, workshops, programmes and consultations for a multitude of sins. There are nutrition and cooking courses, yoga classes, face and body treatments. Whether the treatments work or not, I'd come away feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. 

So, two new British beauty finds today: Abigail James (aka The Organic Therapist) and The Village Barn.

Yes we Cannes Cannes: Beauty on the Riviera

The minute I realised Cannes Film Festival was here again, I instantly thought about the timeless, simple red bottles of musky, sweet perfume from France's Hotel Costes. The scent is heady (not unlike Intelligent Nutrients Seductive Spray) and, I think, perfect with just a summer dress and sandals. I also had a think about Doux Me the brand launched its Cannes spa at the Carlton Hotel on La Croisette last spring and, conveniently, also has a 'Beautyroom' at Hotel Costes. What are your favourite French brands?