SKIN DEEP

For all that's new and lovely and guaranteed to help you feel and look better

OIL on WATER

Bath oils are a wonderful idea - soft and silky to loll in and gentle on the skin…but what a pain some of them can be when you want to get out of the bath and end up slithering around like an eel…let alone trying to remove the ring they leave around the tub.

Welcome to the luxurious world of DIPTYCH, the makers of everybody's favourite candles, who have just launched their bath and body range with super-rich body butter, creamy body wash and, best of all, their Huiles Precieuses. This is an amalgam of organic sweet almond oil mixed with macadamia nut and argan for the finest oil known to skin.

Smooth a few drops over your driest limbs or, best of all, a tiny amount in the bath, which anoints your body, not the bath. Not cheap at £40 for 125ml, but a small amount goes a long way. From all Diptych stockists.

On BOARD BREATHING

Flying can be a pleasure, but more often than not it can be tiring, stressful and overwhelming. Most of us know what to wear, what to eat and drink not to be bloated or dehydrated and to move around in the cabin to keep the blood moving.

However QATAR AIRWAYS have gone a step further and employed the knowledge and expertise of yoga and wellbeing guru Deepak Chopra to devise an in-flight programme which shows you how to do in-seat yoga and self massage as well as simple meditation exercises. So, next time you fly with them, pick up a leaflet and keep it close to you for all other flights.

SPRING CLEAN

At this time of the year our skin, as well as our home, needs a good spring clean. One of the most effective ways of deep cleansing our skin is the latest mask from NUDE, one of the best natural skincare ranges. Free from chemicals, Nude's Deep Cleansing Mask is a light mousse that works in minutes to eliminate impurities and absorb excess oils. All the ingredients are natural, from propolis extract for purifying, to apple pectin which protects against environmental damage, and there is super-effective organic shea butter which locks in moisture to help the skin repair (£28 from Space NK branches).

GOLDEN GLOW

Pale skin is lovely and oh-so-desirable, especially if you look like Scarlett Johansson or Nicole Kidman, but the rest of us mere mortals simply look washed out and grey - which is why we rush for the tan-without-the-sun look. For some reason, most of us feel and look better with a tan and, of all the fakes, top of the bill still goes to ST TROPEZ. For, whatever your shade of skin to start with, you do not end up looking orange!

Of course, you can go to a salon and have it applied for you, but, in these credit crunch days, most of us can apply it well enough at home with a little concentration. Do remember though to exfoliate first, especially around elbows, heels and knees. As well as the traditional formulation, there is now a super-light spray called Everyday Airbrush, which is great for maintenance (from £ t/c).

SHINE ON

Hair products are now so sophisticated there appears to be one for every type, colour and length of hair. It can be confusing but really all we want is something that gives us healthy, shiny hair; if it can add volume, too, so much the better. Supersoft from SCHWARZKOPF is a whole new range, none of which costs more than £2.59. There are Supersoft Smoothie shampoos and conditioners for all hair types while the Volumising Mousse is great for fine hair and the Shine Spray makes every head a show-stopper (from Morrison's and most independent chemists).

The SCENT of SUMMER

It's pink for a girl and blue for a boy with BURBERRY'S new summer fragrances. Summer for women (£29) is a fruit floral smell with a hint of citrus mandarin and a dollop of musk, with white cedarwood and sandalwood that is both delicate and refreshing - ideal for summer days and nights. It comes in a warm pink bottle, while Summer for men (£32) is in a seasonal sea-blue. This is a woody fragrance with a hint of mint and some white musk, but it smells good on girls, too!