Hot and bothered...?

Couldn't resist this new poster about 'sauna etiquette'. Although they did forget to put something about not using your mobile phone in a sauna. (And yes, we've seen it done. Till his screen fogged up, anyway.)  Coming (in laminated format) to a sauna near you in September - including Titanic Spa, The Chelsea Club and Malvern Spa - via Dalesauna.

Marshall Street Baths - back in the swim!

Once upon a time, long, long ago, every morning before hitting her desk, Jo would plunge into the waters at Soho's Marshall Street Baths and do 30 brisk lengths.  These amazing 1930s baths were closed in 1997, but have just reopened - with a full gym and workout centre, plus two exercise/dance studios.  We've got ever-so-slightly mixed feelings about the replacement of the original wooden changing rooms with swanky modern versions (we won't miss the discarded plasters on a less-than-pristine floor, we will miss the panelled retro feel) - but there is really no excuse for anyone who lives, works or hangs out in Soho not to be ploughing up and down the lanes of this gorgeously refitted bathing venue, with its fabulous sky-lit vaulted ceiling.  Swimcaps to the ready, girls.

Marshall Street Leisure Centre, 15 Marshall Street, London W1F 7EL/07801-477 750

Bored with scented candles...?

Let's face it, they've become pretty ubiquitous. There are some brands that still quicken Beauty Bible's heart - Cire Trudon, some Diptyque, NEOM and a new-ish natural brand called Pure Light - but many have us yawning. (And/or throwing open the windows.) This window display in Selfridges relit our passion, though: candles as decoration, not just pretty background smells. (Beauty Bible tip: remember, everyone looks 1000 per cent better by the flicker of candlelight.)

We are LOVIN' Bloglovin'...

So. You read blogs. (Or you wouldn't be reading this.) But if you're anything like us, you don't want to clog up your inbox with e-mails that tell you that your favourite blog has been updated. (Even if it's from us.) So Beauty Bible Blog is delighted to tell you about Bloglovin, which lets you keep track of all your fave blogs via one cleanly-designed site. (Tip: cut and paste the URL from your chosen site into the Search box - otherwise it sometimes doesn't recognise blogs you're looking to add to your list of 'followed' sites.)

Honestly, it's lifechangin'.

www.bloglovin.com

All the best things...

... come in small packages. Especially when you're flying and anything but the smallest size of skin-rehydrator/lip balm/hand cream is likely to be confiscated at check-in. So www.3floz.com is a fantastically clever idea: everything on the site is in plane-friendly sizes (and they'll ship from the USA). Brands range from Dr. Hauschka to Ole Henriksen via Weleda, Anthony For Men, Malin + Goetz and Molton Brown, plus this flight-specific Air Repair Kit. Alternatively, Beauty Bible suggests decanting your own favourite rehydrators and skin treats into the very brilliant clear plastic Alida Travelling Light Kit at www.victoriahealth.com: three empty bottles, two jars, two spatulas, a funnel, all perfectly sized to be green-lighted at check-in. So: so no having your precious moisturiser whipped away and binned before you board.

www.3floz.com
www.victoriahealth.com

Before you swing for Botox...

... Beauty Bible suggests an eye test and some new specs. It's extraordinary how many brow-furrows and laugh lines are actually sight-related. (Squinting at print, or trying to refocus on the number of that distant red bus...) Glasses, however, can be pricey. One of our favourite tips - which we were reminded of by this beautiful line-drawing from an intriguing blog (see below) - is to scoop up vintage specs and have them retro-fitted with your prescription. Jo has hers done at The Optical Lounge, an extremely cool and groovy (and very reasonably-priced) spec shop in her home town of Hastings where so many fab shops are springing up. (But you'll need your own prescription - easily acquired at Specsavers, for instance - as the store doesn't offer eye tests.) You'll also find a pretty darned stylish selection of sunnies and specs, some exclusive to this funky boutique: Paul Frank, Anne et Valentin, Kirk Originals and Maui Jim. And The Optical Lounge has a terrific new on-line store, too. So: hold that syringe, doc...

www.theopticallounge.co.uk 36-37 George Street, Hastings TN34 3EA/01424-713900

PS As for the blog? It's a project in which San Francisco blogger and illustrator Lisa Congdon is photographing (or drawing) one of her collections, every day for 365 days till the end of the year.

www.collectionaday2010.blogspot.com

Something for the weekend...?

Ever since Beauty Bible first met Zoe Phayre-Mudge (the unlikely-named founder of ZPM - well, now you know why she uses her initials...), we have been fans of her hang-it-over-the-bathroom-door-and-store-all-your-beauty-clutter kit-bag. (It's called a Weekender.) This pretty pink 'Lovebird' version (very 'us') has just been launched, part of a new collection all a-flutter with pretty avian designs, from birdcages to these 'Lovebirds'. (Er, should we be Tweeting this, rather than blogging it...?)

www.zpm.com