The Luxe List

When it comes to summer travels this year, it was obvious that we weren’t going to be getting away anywhere too exotic. Even though you’re technically allowed to travel again, I worry way too much to be able to enjoy a break with every possibility that you’d have to up and head home at any moment. Plus, spending time on a plane with a mask doesn’t sound ideal. So instead, we decided to head down to The Cotswolds. It’s an area we go to pretty regularly, but we’d never been down during the summer, and I had a hit list of places to head to – top of which was The Wild Rabbit.

Part of the Daylesford Group, the Wild Rabbit is the absolute dream of Olde English Inn realised in the stunning village of Kingham. I’ve been wanting to check-in for a while, but it’s always fully booked, so, back in March I got our reservation in, and confirmed the Mouse Room for a few nights away. Depending on your needs, The Wild Rabbit have a variety of accommodation options which range from the cosy (The Mouse) through to multi-bedroomed cottages perfect for family breaks away. A number of them are pet-friendly too!

We knew booking that the Mouse was the smallest room on offer, but honestly, I fell in love with it. Cotswolds stone took pride of place with a beautifully lit feature wall, and although it was small, everything was so well thought-out. A bathroom, with full bath, came stocked with luxe Bamford toiletries, whilst the bed itself was the comfiest of clouds, super king in size, and decked out in crisp white linen sheets.

Throughout the Wild Rabbit, you’ll find Hugo Guinness’ charming Lino cuts, and each room comes with its own, specially designed motif. In a really cute detail, you get a postcard version to take home.

Breakfast comes included with your roommate, and it would be a crime to miss it. A mix of pastries, yoghurt and cooked options, they really cater for everyone’s tastes. We’re not big breakfast people, but it was still lovely to start the day with a bit of scrambled eggs and sausage, and the Daylesford coffee is always delicious!

We actually ate at The Wild Rabbit twice during our stay, and due to the steak being so delicious, we had it both times! With a seasonal menu which changes regularly, it was such a treat getting to enjoy such local produce, and the touches like the amuse bouche and warmed bread were seriously appreciated!

A ribeye is never going to be the most photogenic of dishes, but this was, without a doubt, one of the most delicious steaks I’ve ever had. Flame-grilled with a sprinkling of pepper, and perfectly rare inside, it was absolutely divine. Served with perfectly crunchy fries and rich hollandaise sauce, it was a Last Supper-worthy.

Nights at The Wild Rabbit start at £125 per night

When it comes to this time of year, I cannot tell you how clean I want my face to feel. Truly, wearing a face-full of heavy makeup as the temperatures start to rise feels like an absolute nightmare, and I’d much rather spend my days in tinted moisturiser than have to worry about thick or powdery formulas. I’ve also been switching up my skincare routine to keep my skin as happy as possible too. Now that salons are back open, I’ve resumed my routine of a microdermalbrasion facial every six weeks, which means I don’t need to worry too much about exfoliation, and I’ve been wanting to switch up my cleansing routine after powering through my last tube.

I stumbled on a bottle of Glossier’s Milky Jelly Cleanser a couple of weeks ago, and honestly, I’d forgotten how much I like it. It’s easy to write-off Glossier as a fad brand, their marketing and packaging is a bit of a love-it-or-loathe it (I fall into the former category), but their products tend to work well for me. I love the easiness of them, and the cleanser is no different. A light, jelly-like consistency with the merest hint of a rose fragrance, it’s super cooling on skin, and if you’ve been in the sun, it feels like a bit of a godsend. It doesn’t foam as such, and it doesn’t sting your eyes either. Instead, it just leaves skin feeling clean and refreshed rather than stripped. For skin that’s in need of a little TLC, this is a must-have.

Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser is priced at £15, and is available here.

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If, like me, you’ve got sensitive skin, making sure you properly cleanse and exfoliate your face can be a bit of a juggling act. Too gentle a formula with a soft cloth leaves residue of both skincare and makeup behind, whilst if you use anything too rough, you’re left with skin which looks and feels ravaged. So, when it comes to daily washing, I like to mix up my facecloth/face pad routine to get the best results.

Konjac sponges like this one are perfect if you’re looking for a gentle but effective cleanse. Saturate the sponge with warm water, then use to foam up a cleanser, making sure to thoroughly cleanse and rinse the sponge before leaving to dry. Since it’s a natural sponge, it doesn’t stretch or rasp skin, and when it’s fully saturated, it has almost a jelly consistency, so it’s perfect for the most sensitive of skin types. This one has Green Tea added for antioxidant properties, so it leaves skin perfectly cleansed and prepped for your next skincare steps.

Face It Tea Love Skin Green Tea Konjac Sponge is priced at £8.99 and is available Face It Tea Love Skin Green Tea Konjac Sponge

Is there anything better than a seriously long soak in the tub? I can happily spend an hour or two soaking away, book in hand, music on – it’s the easiest way to relax and unwind, so I’m always on the lookout for truly great bath products. I’ve found an absolute gem in the form of Jason Himalayan Pink Salt 2 in 1 Bath Soak & Body Wash – an affordable, yet indulgent feeling project which leaves skin soft and my mind relaxed.

Packaged in a generous pump-top bottle, on a day to day basis, I’ve been keeping it in the shower for luxe morning showers. Pink Himalayan Salt is thought to have antibacterial and antiseptic properties, so it leaves skin feeling super fresh, and I’m obsessed with the spa-like scent which mixes lavender, bergamot and clary sage. In the evening, I love using a couple of pumps for a perfect bubble bath. The formula foams up like a dream, and I feel like the salt is great for soothing aching muscles. It feels like spa treatment, and it’s such a great end to an evening.

Jason Himalayan Pink Salt 2 in 1 Bath Soak & Body Wash is priced at £11.99 and is available here.

Over the past few months I’d been quite good at keeping my beauty spending to a minimum. With lockdown in full force, it felt a little pointless buying new lipglosses and creams which I could only wear heading out to the supermarket, but in the last couple of weeks, I feel like I’ve treated myself quite a bit more than usual. I’m not feeling too guilty about it though, because I’ve found some new absolute gems, one of which is the Glossier Hand Cream.

This had been on my Wishlist, pretty much since it launched, but up until last month I hadn’t had my nails done since before Christmas, and I was working my way through my tubes and tubs of body and hand balms. So, when Glossier launched their summer sale, I snaffled all the bits I’d been lusting over since pre-Covid. Coming packaged in a seriously pleasing snappy and squeezy tube, the Hand Cream is pretty much a dream. Rich and hydrating without feeling sticky or too much, it hydrates hands without leaving them feeling greasy, and the smell is incredible. It’s equal parts laundry detergent and summer holidays. Despite not enjoying the Glossier perfume, which it’s supposedly based on, I’m obsessed with the scent of the cream. It’s also significantly helped me soften and smooth my hands, which were looking and feeling rough after 6 months mani-free.

Glossie Hand Cream is priced at £16 and is available here.

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