Life can get a little frantic sometimes, leaving us feeling fraught, frazzled and a little unhappy. And while we’re not claiming that lighting a scented candle and rubbing essential oils onto your temples will eliminate stress in an instant, we know the power of slowing down and taking a moment for yourself.
In honour of Stress Awareness Month, we’ve rounded up our favourite products that help to ease tension and deliver a dose of much-needed calm.
Our edit of the best beauty products to help you de-stress…
This tension-melting body lotion is like yoga in a bottle. Though deliciously rich, it sinks nicely into the skin and it's packed full of organic French lavender and clary sage to calm the mind and balance the body. After a long day at the office spend a few moments massaging this luxurious cream into your limbs post-soak and prepare to feel significantly more chilled out.
Aveda Stress-Fix Body Lotion, £27, available at aveda.com
Rub a few drops of this soothing pulse point gel onto your temples, ear lobes and neck for a serious dose of calm. The powerful blend of essential oils helps to restore tranquility and leave you feeling more relaxed. A must for headache-prone anxious types with a less than ideal work/life balance.
Elemis Quiet Mind Temple Balm, £18.50, available at elemis.com
Though the act of lighting a candle alone can bring about a sense of wellbeing and tranquility, Mauli's sublime hand-blown creation - scented with jasmine, rose and comforting sandalwood - takes the notion to whole a new level. Long day? Pull on your favourite pair of slinky pyjamas, light this and let your troubles drift away.
Mauli Sundaram & Silence Candle, £55, available at maulirituals.com
Tackle stress head on with this calming and conditioning hair treatment from This Works. It's enriched with nourishing oils to restore vitality to the hair as well as neroli, patchouli and camomile to dispel feelings of anxiety. Oh, and the mood-boosting fragrance is activated by movement, so it'll continue to keep you feeling serene as you go about your day. Clever, no?
This Works Stress Check Hair Elixir, £25, available at thisworks.com
A heady fusion of zesty blissfulness, Tisserand's aromatherapy mist is just right for spritzing about the place when your day is proving more stressful than usual. Bursting with uplifting orange, balancing geranium and confidence-boosting rose, you'll have a sunnier outlook before you can say "aah."
Tisserand De-Stress Mist, £8.95, available at tisserand.com
You can rely on this creamy, beautifully scented scrub to help you temporarily forget all of your woes. Avocado oil hydrates the hands while clever micro-crystals buff away dryness and vetiver oil soothes the soul. Give your hands and fingers a good massage, rinse with warm water and get set to enter spa-like Zen.
Prismologie Jade & Vetiver Hand Exfoliant, £30, available at prismologie.com
Just a few drops of this calm-inducing oil blend in your diffuser will send tension on its way. Roman chamomile comes together with bergamot and mandarin to gently soothe over-active minds and leave you feeling a little more serene.
Neal's Yard Aromatherapy Blend - Calming, £9.70, available at nealsyardremedies.com