What would Sarah Jossel do?

Blame Sarah Jossel. The Sunday Times Style beauty director-at-large has become Britain’s best-known beauty journalist by mixing serious product knowledge with honesty about acne, ageing and cosmetic procedures. The women I work with love her because she simplifies unfathomable modern skincare and they have already bought her debut book Diary of a Beauty Editor, which deserves a mazeltov.

For her, not them. Ms Jossel, 39, is inspiring and it felt right to channel some of her “real woman in the bathroom cabinet” tone in this summer round-up. After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery one can pay to greatness, although I was getting Botox when “injectables” were flu jabs and saw Bobbi Brown launch Essentials at Bergdorf Goodman in 1991.

Esther Fieldgrass, founder of EE Medispa, has some beauty mileage and is becoming a Life regular. That’s because she understands lasers, sculpting machines and collagen boosting, so when she recommends  Dermastamp Exosome treatment before a holiday, you do it even if you’re staying here in Blighty.

The treatment (from £299) combines microneedling with exosomes – tiny signalling particles designed to encourage skin’s natural repair process and stimulate collagen and elastin. In plain English? It makes your face look tighter and brighter by targeting fine lines, pigmentation and skin laxity, while calming inflammation and reclaiming the elusive glow. My therapist Joanna made the treatment relaxing and, once exosomes were applied, she put me under an LED lamp to doze. Ten minutes later, I emerged slightly pink but looking healthy and the pink faded fast. Importantly, I already have good skin but, since the treatment, it’s noticeably firmer, more even-toned and, best of all, my neck has gone from turkey to poussin. Smoother, tighter, younger. At 62, that is more than a perk-up – it’s a minor resurrection. Sarah will I hope appreciate the effort.

Book an appointment  efmedispa.com

Want to smell good?

We know that Sarah Jossel smells gorgeous. But does she think summer calls for fragrance switching? Face it – a heavy winter scent is like wearing cashmere on the beach, so don’t be nervous about ditching your signature perfume as heat and the great outdoors changes how fragrance sits on the skin. Such a change doesn’t have to be pricey and you could even wind up smelling edible if you try  the new range of SO…? Delish Body Mists (£4.99)at Superdrug. Inspired by bubble tea, matcha and iced latte, hide them from your teenage daughter as she’ll want them all but you get first dibs.I’ve long maintained (can’t swear for Sarah) that Miller Harris produces some of the best fragrances in Britain. Lost in the City has been on my shelf for years and now there’s Tea Tonique Extrait de Parfum (£120) with bergamot, tea notes and soft peach blossom that smells crisp and expensive. People move closer when you’re wearing it. https://millerharris.com

Moroccanoil Lumière du Jour Eau de Parfum (£76) is all Mediterranean light: fig leaf, jasmine and soft woods with just enough saltiness to stop it becoming too pretty-pretty. Smells like a holiday which is always nice!
https://uk.moroccanoil.com

Gen Z is moving away from traditional perfume and towards fragranced hair mists as they are more subtle and add shine. Lee Stafford London has launched Red Idol, Papaya Punch and Caramel Brûlée (£7.99) and, as the names suggest, your hair smells good enough to eat, and that lingers. leestafford.com and Boots

So to the new cream in my bathroom. I’m not sure Sarah has been sent Biossance Squalane + Growth Factor Firming Moisturiser (£52) but it’s a “biohacking moisturiser”, which sounds illegal but means serious hydration with added firming technology. It’s got peptides and vegan collagen, with reviewers reporting firmer skin and fewer fine lines. Always mention new products to a certain friend and now she wants mine. Selfridge, Space NK an lookfantastic.com 

Genuinely useful summer discovery  Naked Sundays mineral peptide sun stick with SPF50 can be reapplied over make-up without spoiling it. Born under the brutal Australian sun, the quirky brand knows women will wear SPF if it’s easy, glowy and handbag-friendly. /uk.nakedsundays.com/ and Sephora 

I know that Sarah would never do this as she is a fan of fake tan – and my advice if you have fair skin and frazzle in the sun is to stay away from
The Fox Tan (£11.99). As I’m dark skinned I appreciate its kick-start to  a tan in limited sun, but be warned – it has zero protection, which is awful so
I should not have mentioned it.
https://lookfantastic.com

With Sarah Jossel for inspiration, here is one of her beauty holy grails – Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pads (£20) at Space NK. The pads exfoliate, brighten and leave skin looking as it should after proper sleep.  More mature? And I am older than lovely Sarah, so  find comfort in Libi & Daughters’ No. 79 Peeling Solution has you covered, gently shedding skin to avoid becoming an overenthusiastic tomato. It’s pricey ( £190, gulp), but it lasts forever.