Beauty: Wish away winter

Think Happy Organic Surge Fresh Ocean Body Butter. Photo / Babiche Martens

The shortest day has just passed, but the outlook is for plenty more winter weather ahead. If you can't escape the cold and wet for real, then take a trip to somewhere tropical without leaving home, by getting steamy in the bathroom. Surround yourself with enticing aromas, slather on soothing unguents and wear warming shades that speak of summers to come.

1 Chanel Nail Colour in Orange Fizz $44

Paint your nails a sunny colour. This sort of shade is showing strongly in spring makeup ranges, so how about investing in some early cheer? Golden Sand is another warming, but more restrained shade from Chanel's current Cote d'Azur collection. From Chanel counters.

2 Marc Jacobs shell mirror compact $44

Leave it lying prettily on the vanity, or pop it into your bag. The lightweight clam compact opens to a magnifying mirror and a normal one. From World Beauty stores.

3 The Body Shop Coconut Body Scrub $34

Samoa is the latest focus for The Body Shop's community trade outreach, tapping into the Pacific nation's bounty to bring its coconut products to a worldwide market by working with an indigenous group called Women in Business Development. If you love the smell of coconut, then check out the new range, which harnesses the intense moisturising properties of coconut oil in everything from this scrub (which exfoliates with husk particles), through soap ($6), hand wash ($12) and shower cream ($15) to a rich body butter ($35). From the Body Shop.

4 Jo Malone Sweet Lime and Cedar Body Creme $160

Thailand is the inspiration for the exotic, tangy fragrance combination in this deliciously different all-over moisturiser. Makes an envigorating change from florals. From Jo Malone, Chancery or 0800 JOMSHOP.

5 YSL Tresor D'Afrique 5 Colour Harmony for Lips $112

These African-inspired lip colours are hot, hot, hot and come in a limited edition compact. Just the thing for livening up a dull day. There's also an eye palette, with the colours of burnt earth and brilliant skies to brighten your outlook. From YSL counters.

6 Avalon Organics Bath & Shower Gel, Ylang Ylang $19.95

A newish to New Zealand, Australian organic range that offers nice products at good prices, suitable for all skin types including sensitive. Lie back in a warm bath and lather up. From Smith & Caughey, selected health food stores and pharmacies. Ph 0800 118 331 for your nearest stockist.

7 Organic Surge Fresh Ocean Body Butter $20

A light scent and light on the wallet, this organic offering comes in a range of fragrances, including this one and the appealing Tropical Bergamot. From selected pharmacies and supermarkets.

8 Bobbi Brown Beach eau de parfum 50ml $100

Splash this on for a crisp wake-up call, more bracing Atlantic seashore than tropical in character. From department store and pharmacy brand counters.

9 Pure Fiji Coconut Milk Shower Gel, Frangipani Infusion $30

Part of the proceeds of these spa-quality products, made in Fiji using natural ingredients, help support rural villages. The bodycare range is available in eight tropical fragrance infusions. Gingerlily is my personal favourite, but this milky gel is equally redolent of somewhere an outdoor shower wouldn't feel like idiocy. For beauty salon and spa stockists Ph 0800 7873 3454 or purefiji.com.