Break the rules with burgundy lips for spring

Many years ago, I had a discussion with a fellow beauty editor about sensorial beauty products. She was a big believer in how skincare makes you feel when you use it; she loved scented skincare and luscious textures. My attitude was ‘never mind all that faffy stuff, I just want it to work!’ After all, the efficacy of a product is paramount. That said, products that focus on sensoriality (how sensations affect our emotions) feel so right for the hard times we are navigating. This incredible body oil by Jo Malone London is an excellent example of that. The oil is part of a new collection of body care from the British fragrance brand, inspired by Roman baths. (The Romans, it turns out, were really dedicated to wellness – and while they didn’t call it that back then, you could argue they were the OGs of self care.) All the products in the range, everything from shower gel to a treatment scrub, are supported by neurological research that shows our brains have an emotional response to such products, which accounts for the positive way we feel when we use them. The oil – a beautiful infusion of jasmine, neroli, primrose and rosehip – leaves your skin beautifully moisturised (and not greasy), but additionally the scents and the act of massaging it into your skin is so soothing, it does a wonderful job of taking you away from everything – even if just for a minute. Jo Malone London Restore Body Oil, £64, selfridges.com