Our Top 7 Editor’s Picks Of The Year

Finding the right fragrance, whether for yourself or your home, is an activity everyone loves, and my new favourite brand Atelier LUMIRA makes it easy to find the perfect scent! I've already written about how the atelier's coveted Cuban Tobacco candle is one of my favourite home scents for this season, but the rest of LUMIRA's line-up is just as sensational. I've kept their lipstick-sized Tuscan Fig perfume oil by my side since I've received it and absolutely adore the richness and muskiness it holds with notes of cedarwood and iris infused into it. Another cult favourite is their Arabian Oud oil, which will envelope you in the deep scent that transports you to warmer surroundings. If you've been looking for the perfect scent for this season or simply want a great gift to give a loved one, look no further! You can never go wrong with LUMIRA...trust me.

The lockdowns this year have made snacking an almost inescapable scenario, and I've tried to find healthy yet delicious snacks to keep me going. One brand I'm absolutely loving recently is LOVECORN, who have perfected the flavoured corn snack. Their "premium crunchy snacks" come in four flavours: smoked bbq, sea salt, salt & vinegar and habanero. I've loved having the smoked bbq or sea salt packs as a snack between lunch and dinner as they taste great and are surprisingly very filling. They come in either small 20g pouches or bigger 45g re-sealable packs, perfect for either eating alone or with a friend. As the holidays near and lockdowns ease, LOVECORN is also something I'd really recommend as a snack to have when you're entertaining. Pour a few pouches into a bowl for game night or as a post-dinner nibble with a drink! The brand is really such a great find and I hope you enjoy their crunchy corn as much as I do!

I'm a big fan of Alain de Botton, and even more so of his 'School of Life'. I have the books and the prompt cards, I've visited the store more times than I'd like to admit (pre-COVID, of course), and I never miss an opportunity to tell someone about them! The 'School of Life' are, by their own definition, "a global organisation helping people lead more fulfilled lives". They produce books, products, films, courses and events across a range of different topics from relationships and careers to emotional intelligence and art. The first product of theirs I ever bought was their book Calm, which I devoured on a two hour train ride. It's a beautifully written exploration of the skill (and yes, it is a skill) of remaining calm. It examines the different circumstances that may cause a rise in emotions, such as impatience or work stress, and delicately and in-detail walks us through the reasons for those heightened emotions so that we can better understand our own psychology. It then goes on to give really helpful tips on how to remain calm amidst everything and highlights the different sources of calm we may find in our lives. It's a book that really changed my perspective on everything around me, and its teachings consistently help me find calmness. I hope it does the same for you. Happy reading,

I was sent Hayou's Gua Sha facial tool last week in the exciting new subscription box by Ayusya and I've used it every day since. No, really...every day. I've been less consistent with my jade facial roller, but I'm blown away by the benefits of the Gua Sha that I've already noticed! Gua Shas, like a lot of other facial tools, are designed to help improve circulation and blood flow, lift and sculpt, and reduce lines and wrinkles on the face. They're great for use after your morning routine across the face in different motions, and I've already begun to see the benefits! From the first few uses my skin felt a lot softer and the benefits of my serums are beginning to show more clearly as I've used the Gua Sha to help them sink deeper into my skin. I'm also a fan of crystals and anything jade has my heart, so grab yourself this Gua Sha tool!

I've recently climbed on board the aromatherapy train and have been trying out a few new products. One brand that I love is ilāpothecary, and while I've written about them on FLAURA I thought I would spotlight one specific product that has been a really great addition to my day! Their Beat the Blues room spray has been, without failure or exaggeration, a product that instantly lifts my mood. I'm not an aromatherapy expert, but the explanation of their blend of clary sage ("nature's happiness inducing oil") and petitgran ("a releasing self-accepting angelic fragrance") explains why a few bursts of this combination can get me out of any fog I was in before. I've been using this room spray whenever I feel I need a burst of energy or inspiration and it truly never fails to deliver. It''s also great for clearing the space and mind and has opened me up to a whole new world of essential oils and aromas. Try it below, and I'd love to know if it works wonders for you as it's done for me!

I tried ashwagandha for the first time earlier this year and haven't stopped raving about it. The medicinal herb is used to treat a host of things from diabetes to high cholesterol, but one of its most famous benefits is that it can help to reduce stress and anxiety. The exact science behind the way the herb works to relax and de-stress can be found in detail across the web. I'll spare you the nitty gritty and instead give you a personal testimony that it does work! Pour a bit of this powder into a cup of hot water or blend into your morning smoothie for an almost instant rush of relaxation, akin to that you would feel if you took valerian root or a CBD-infused product. I really haven't been able to get enough of ashwagandha and I hope by sharing my little de-stressing secret with you all it may help a few of you find some moments of calm during this lockdown!

I know that lockdown has made a lot of people suffer from insomnia, as stress, anxiety, or just having watched a bit too much Haunting of Hill House has made getting to sleep at night harder. One app that will help (trust me, I've tried it) is Loóna. Loóna is perhaps one of the most beautiful apps that I have ever downloaded. Developed by Forbes’ “30 under 30” consumer tech entrepreneurs and the creators of Facebook’s AR effects platform, and in conjunction with scientific evidence, the app features detailed and emotionally evocative graphics that work together with activities to make the perfect sleepscapes. The first scenario you'll encounter is 'The Dragon's Shrine': you'll be guided through an interactive, 3-D colouring activity where you'll be invited to illuminate different parts of a shrine until the entire portrait is filled with dazzling colours. Along with the activity, you'll get relaxing tales of the mythology of the Chinese dragon and the East Asian belief of the red string of fate. Other sleepscapes include 'One Night in Paris', 'The Light of Hope', and more. I've downloaded and tried a lot of apps that claim to help you reduce stress, anxiety and get to sleep, but I'm yet to find one as effective and with so many beautifully integrated pieces as this. Loóna really is a wondrous creation, and I'd urge you to give it a go.