Coachella Beauty....

It's Coachella time here in the States, and I love everything about it – perfect weather, beautiful setting, dry, soft grass underfoot and a fun, relaxed area for a weekend away. The music isn't bad either. Sadly, I'm not going this year, so by rights I should be sulking and vindictive, especially with Pulp and Arctic Monkeys on the same day. Be still my Britpop-beating heart... Instead, I'm going to try to be helpful, and share my list of beauty essentials, the music festival edition of what's in my handbag?

It's a long day (or days) under hot sun - so keep makeup simple, with a hint of cool, easy edge, and bring along pint-sized products for minimum fuss and maximum glam. Here's my top ten - all of which will fit very nicely into a tiny, across the body purse or wristlet, so as not to hinder your ace dance moves - just make sure it zips or fastens up – you don’t want things spilling everywhere when you pass out in the front row. Not that I’d know anything about that…

1) Super by Perricone Sun Kissed SPF 25 - start with this light sun protection with a hint of tint, for natural, glowing skin.

2) Caudalie Beauty Elixir - to refresh and invigorate tired skin with rosemary and mint. Heaven on a hot, dusty day.

3) Josie Maran Bear Naked Facial Wipes - gentle and mild for quick touch ups. Also, there's polar bears on the packaging, which will always get points from me.

4) Laura Mercer Kohl in Antique Jade - because black is very rock, but oh so dull - this creamy stick lines eyes with a rich, warm shade that has a hint of green depth and will look so much prettier in the outdoor light.

5) Laura Mercier Caviar Shadow Stick in Khaki -smudge your liner with this fabulous cream shadow/liner - for undone but glam eyes that will look magic in the desert sunset. Follow rock rules when it smudges/fades - just add more over top.

6) Eyeko Skinny Mascara – for long, fluttery lashes that last and last, with none of the dry, prickly feeling of a waterproof mascara. You should probably bring along the included guitar pick - someone's sure to need it, and you just might save the day.

7) Burt's Bees Grapefruit Lip Balm - don't mess with fancy new glosses or balms on a day in the desert - play it safe with what you know works. Refreshing citrus smell and super hydrating formula leaves lips plump and natural, and you can tuck it in your bra when you dance. That's what I do anyway.

8) Klorane Gentle Oat Milk Dry Shampoo - freshen up roots and add some cool texture to your locks in between sets.

9) Tocca Stella Scented SPF 30 Wipes - touch up shoulders, arms and chest throughout the day with these heavenly, blood-orange scented SPF towelettes. Don't forget your feet - gladiator sandal tan is never attractive.

10) NARS Paradise Brush/Bronzer/Highlighter Trio - the perfect festival compact - in a genius padded, zip package, with universally flattering hues for defined, sunkissed cheeks and temples.

Who’s your favorite in the Coachella line-up this year? Do you have a must-have item for long days in the sun? Share your tips below!

Marvelous Mists

It may not be the most entirely necessary piece of a good skincare routine, but a gentle toner is definitely my favorite part of the daily ritual. If I had buckets of money I would go through whole bottles a day - standing groggily at the vanity in the morning, spraying my tired skin repeatedly until the aroma sinks in through my pores. And throughout the day I'd have an employee whose sole job was to follow me around and react when I shouted "spritz!!" to freshen up my tired skin and brain.

First of all throw away all notions of teenage toners that smell like paint thinner and are used to desperately strip the skin of all its oils. A good toner moistens the skin after cleansing and before moisturizing - brightening lightly with gentle tonics and helping to pull the moisture deeper into the skin. And they smell and feel lovely - it's a ritual. Of course I can put my moisturizer on right after my cleanser, but I don't have to like it - it doesn't feel as nice. They're also wonderful for setting makeup, smoothing and softening and giving a dewy finish to powders and blushes.

Below are my top four, all of which I highly recommend....

Caudalie Beauty Elixir - the name sounds like a heady potion of freshness and glow, and I'm damned if it doesn't bestow just that - it's a decadent and invigorating revamp of the famed Queen of Hungary water, that classic combination of fine essential oils and extracts, plus Caudalie's grape magic. It's pricey, so I keep it as a treat - the mintiness and invigorating feeling it bestows can be too much for very sensitive skin, so that helps me to use it sparingly as well. A triumph, basically. I wish it ran from my shower and taps. Go to a Sephora and test it out - see if you think I'm exaggerating.

Lush EauRoma - this is my daily standby - gentle and soft, it smells of rose and lavender water, and has only the nicest, natural ingredients that moisturize and soothe. I keep it in my fridge in the summer, and the flower and herb essences perk me right up. That or the blast of cold spray hitting my face.

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic- I don't know what the combination of scents is exactly, but this smells divine, somehow very comforting. Lovely on the skin as well, but the spray cap is too concentrated and fiddly - it needs a revamp - I end up usually pouring it into another bottle. The only criticism of a gorgeous product.

Yonka Lotion PS - well, this one's lovely too. It's called a "lotion", but it's not, it's a toner. Full of the same beautiful ingredients like geranium, rosemary, rose and glycerin, but the essential oils are a little stronger in this, more like the Caudalie - I dilute it with distilled water, and it's perfect. It's fantastic to use in removing Yonka's gommage masks, and for soothing and healing irritated skin. This also boast the most INCREDIBLE spray top on it's bottle - it's a heavy duty mister that sprays the finest, broadest fog of moisture. Take note, Liz.