COUNTRY FILE
ARABELLA’S GUIDE TO RUSTIC REJUVENATION
SKINCARE: Much of my life is now lived outdoors. I spend hours in the garden, along the footpaths that surround our home, and on blustery walks on the Kent shoreline, taking in bracing lungfuls of fresh air. A good SPF is more important than ever, especially as I am prone to pigmentation: I rate Dr Dennis Gross Dark Spot Sun Defense, which provides a vital barrier.
HAIR: My lifestyle in the countryside was improved immeasurably by discovering a brilliant hair colourist, the Rye Retreat’s salon director Lisa. My most recent hair discovery has been Sort of Coal’s Shiro shampoo, which I picked up in Paris’ Dover Street Market. I’ve studied the ingredient list and have no idea why it’s so good, but my increasingly frizzy hair is behaving wonderfully.
FRAGRANCE: I am a fusspot when it comes to perfume, I think perhaps because of my time spent in the garden and working with natural essential oils, but I do adore Hermès Un Jardin sur la Lagune, which is floral yet woody and perfectly fits my preference for unisex scents.
MAKE-UP: I am still devoted to a number of old favourites. Nars makes the best tinted moisturiser and concealer – I’ve tried others and always come back. Hourglass bronzer keeps me glowing through the dark winter months. For a few years now, I have used Estée Lauder Little Black Primer as my mascara – it’s great for everyday definition, and doesn’t budge even in a Force 10 on the dunes at Camber. I finish with a slick of Votary Natural Lip Oil and feel instantly pulled together.