spf + aftersun. done naturally.

The summer heatwave is well and truly here, and by the looks of it, it's not going anywhere for a few weeks yet. Naturally, we've had lots of people coming in asking for sun protection.

Gone are the days when a mineral-based sunscreen left you looking like Casper the Friendly Ghost. We're now championing Odyskin's natural SPF, in both 30 and 50. Customers come in, give it a try, and I so often hear the same thing: "wow, it really sinks in — and it feels so moisturising too."

We also send everyone home with a little tube squeezer, as it can be tricky to get every last bit out of the tube. At first we worried this might put people off — but honestly, we've come to love the ritual of it. Turn the key, and get every last drop.

It's easy to become so focused on which SPF we're using that we forget the sun's rays aren't the only thing to protect against. The warm air dries the skin out too, so it's just as important to renourish it. I'm a huge fan of Dr. Hauschka's Lavender Body Oil through the winter, but now the temperature's up for the foreseeable, I've moved over to their Bergamot Lemongrass Vitalising Body Milk. It keeps skin beautifully hydrated and smells wonderfully fresh — exactly what you want on those days that leave you feeling heavy and sticky.

It also doubles perfectly as an after-sun. We'll always love a good aloe vera gel, but sometimes you want something a little more luxurious and comforting.