Jo loves… New discoveries for sparkly toes, gleaming teeth, velvety skin and naturally fragrant pulse-points - plus a must-have make-up how-to book...

Melvita Apicosma Fondant Balm, £12.50 for 150 ml.  Melvita is a new-to-the-UK brand (you might have read about them on our blog) owned by the folks at L’Occitane.  After many evenings spent slathering my way through a bumper fun pack of all-natural, Ecocert-certified goodies (there are 172 products in the range altogether!) I can declare this my absolute favourite:  a rich body cream with a mousse-like texture and a delectable apricot fragrance, which pulls off the trick of being light-but-ultra-nourisihing.  (‘Mel’ comes from honey – a universal ingredient in the range – and ‘vita’ means life.) 

OPI Nail Lacquer, in Absolutely Alice.  As a Yoga bunny (three mornings a week I’ll have you know!), I feel honour-bound to have prettily-varnished toes when I hit the mat.  Right now they are polished to perfection with two coats of this ultra-glittery blue polish (from a collection inspired by the new Alice in Wonderland/Tim Burton film).  It’s selling out fast so you’ll have to hurry like the white rabbit to get your hands (toes?) on it.  Doing a forward bend on gloomy winter mornings, my OPI-ed toenails have made me smile.  (Not my usual expression in this less-than-favourite pose.)  It’s £9.65 at www.beautyexpert.co.uk, but you’re entitled to a 10% discount – added automatically at checkout.  Just click here… 

Boots Expert 0.4mm Interdental Brushes, £2.99.  After several sessions with my homoeopathic dentist lately, I have become obsessed with these brushes.  I always thought it was enough to brush (using normal toothbrush) and floss.  But no.  Now I don’t feel my teeth are clean until I’ve scrubbed in-between with these teeny brushes, which dislodge debris (don’t ask) and leave teeth super-sparkling.  My trick is to douse them with the amazing Dental Splendour neem-based tooth powder, which can then get into the gums to work its healing magic.  All this might be too much information, but since teeth (and in particular gum health) are inextricably linked with overall health and wellbeing, I just thought I’d share!  (NB  Everyone’s tooth-gaps are different, so you might want to try the trial ‘variety pack’ of varying sizes, which is also £2.99 at www.boots.com if you click here.)  Dental Splendour, meanwhile, is £15.36 for 10 g at www.victoriahealth.com if you click here – but you get an automatic 5% discount (deducted at checkout) and free p & p, as one of our ‘insiders’. 

About Face by Scott Barnes, £14.99 (or £9.74 at www.amazon.co.uk if you click here).  Scott Barnes is a hugely talented make-up artist beloved by the famous (he’s also personal stylist to Jennifer Lopez, just in case that floats your boat).  More than any book (except Bobbi Brown’s), I think this demonstrates the truly transformative power of make-up with step-by-step photos and absolutely ace advice on skincare and maquillage.  The make-up is dramatic and bold, rather than low-key everyday – but for life’s red carpet moments, a fantastic addition to anyone’s beauty bookshelf, and I’m pleased to have it on mine. 

17 Candy Collection, from £2.99. The gorgeous sherbets and pretty, pretty pastel shades in this limited edition collection have already got me dreaming of spring!  I must admit the trio eyeshadow looks a little scary at first (with its mint green, candy floss pink and canary yellow colours) but you can really make the effect as subtle or as bold as you like.  My particular favourites, though, are the Lasting Fix Nail Colours:  there are five shades to choose from and currently I love Parma Violet, a great way to have a little dabble in this season’s lilac trend - but at £2.99 each, you could try them all! 

Diptyque (RED) Candle, £38.  There’s nothing quite like a lovely scented candle flickering away in the background - and no better creator, to my mind, than the fabulous Diptyque.  So it was great news to hear that they had partnered with (RED) – which regularly joins forces with the world’s most iconic brands (think American Express, Apple and Nike) to produce (RED) branded products - and a portion of the profits from each product sold goes directly to The Global Fund, to help fight AIDS in Africa.  The Diptyque (RED) Candle is a delicious combination of spicy Indian and Madagascan Vanilla with light, floral rooibos notes – and Diptyque are contributing 10% of the proceeds from each candle sold to help The Global Fund.  A lovely way to give something back (but it’s limited edition so better be quick!) Find it on-line here. 

W7 Bronze Shimmer, £2.99.  This bronzing powder in the form of shimmering candy-coloured pearls comes from a fantastic and extremely affordable brand which proved a hit with many of our testers (three of their lip balms alone were winners in our Beauty Bible Awards - check them out in Beauty Bible Beauty Steals).  I love this little box of treasure in its gorgeous Art Deco style packaging (with a very handy mirror in the lid).  Just swish a big brush around the pot and apply all over to give a radiant glow, or use to highlight brow, cheekbones and cupid’s bow.  Find it here. 

Clinique Superdefense SPF25, £34 for 50 ml.  One beauty mantra I learned even before I joined Beauty Bible is that prevention is MUCH better than cure.  So now that we’re coming into longer and slightly sunnier days, this SPF25 barrier is a fantastic way to protect skin against the damaging, ageing effects of UVA and UVB rays.  I find it’s also a great base for make-up and leaves my skin feeling plump and soothed.  And as a bonus Clinique have added red microalgae extract, a stress-neutralising sea extract, to help treat the appearance of lines and uneven skin tone. At www.boots.co.uk, or find it here. 

John Frieda Root Awakening, £4.79 for each product.  As someone who washes her hair almost every day, I am constantly trying to find something that makes my hair and me happy – and I think I have found it!  John Frieda’s new Root Awakening range consists of Strength Infusing Shampoo and Conditioner for both normal and dry hair and Strength Boosting Leave-In Spray.  (They all harness the power of eucalyptus, which has been used for centuries as a natural nourisher.) I have been using them for a couple of weeks now and my hair is the best it has been in ages - much bouncier, fuller and definitely feels stronger. The best thing is the delicious addition of invigorating peppermint oil, to really invigorate your scalp and your senses - just what I need first thing in the morning.