Feeling utterly relaxed, clean and smelling gorgeous is one of life’s simple pleasures, especially in Summer when the heat can leave you feeling tired, sweaty and generally unappealing! This year there’s an abundance of fruity bath soaks, sweet-smelling body creams and even chocolate-inspired beauty products for you to indulge in when you’re feeling worn out and in need of a holiday, and unlike the cocktails and ice-creams that might seem tempting, they won’t make you pile on the pounds!

The first place to start is your skin, which might be in need of some TLC after all the drinking, not-so-healthy eating and hot weather. Give yourself a full body scrub with the Brown Sugar Body Scrub from Fresh. It’s a delicious unrefined-sugar-based scrub which will gently polish off any dead skin cells and leaves a subtle sweet scent on your skin. Then drop a Milk And Honey cupcake-shaped bath bomb (full of cocoa butter and essential oils) from Planet Bomb and relax for hours!

Another product to keep near the shower is S-Factor’s ‘Serious’ Conditioner, available from HQ-Hair. It’s a must-have for hair in need of a good pampering! The intensive hair remedy smoothes split-ends and softens hair to leave it in tip-top condition, and the gorgeous strawberry peppermint flavour means that you can’t help but leave it on your hair to work its magic!

If you prefer spicy to fruity, pick up ‘Spice Odyssey’ Foaming Body Rub from Origins and enjoy the smell of cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and paprika. Finely ground walnut and coconut shells slough away dull, dry skin, while avocado and sweet almond oils moisturise and condition to skin. Once you’re dry, use some of Lush’s Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter to brighten your nails and soften your cuticles. It also works superbly on heels, elbows and toes because the combination of soothing lavender, lemon, chamomile and marigold softens and repairs damaged, hard skin. To complete the experience, light one of Crabtree & Evelyn’s exotic Moroccan Spice Candles and transform your bathroom into a luxurious spa.

To moisturise and nourish skin after exfoliating, use a rich cream like Elle Macpherson’s new Nourishing Honey Body Butter (?9.95 from Boots) or a Body Souffle from TheBodyDeli. These mousse-like moisturisers come in a variety of delicious flavours like Mandarin Infusion, Ginger Spice, Almond Joy and Coconut Cream. Another excellent moisturiser is the Lemon & Sage Body Butter from hot new company Bliss, which smells divine and turns your skin to silk. If you’re not a citrus fan, then try their other flavours – Plum Plum and Vanilla & Bergamot. Their fresh, invigorating Mint Under-Army deodorant is also great for girls who don’t like the normal anti-perspirant fragrances.

Luckily, the beauty companies haven’t forgotten the chocoholics this year. The Body Shop still sell one of our favourite products, Cocoa Buttery Body Scrub, which smells divine and makes your skin as smooth as silk. Once your skin is beautifully soft, why not get someone to give you a massage with Lush’s Black Magic Massage Bar? Topped with real dark chocolate and full of romantic spices, rub it all over your skin for an unforgettable massage! Or for truly kissable lips, try Bonne Bell’s Smackers Lip Frosting in flavours like Buttercream and Milk Chocolate Mint. Not only do they smell gorgeous, they also give your lips a subtle shimmer and have a sweet frosting flavour – good luck trying not to lick it off the second you’ve applied it!

If you’re nervous about indulging in such sweet treats, then grab a bottle of DKNY’s latest fragrance, ‘Be Delicious’. Described as a ‘modern feast for the senses’ and presented in a sleek metal and glass apple bottle, this juicy fragrance combines the scent of apple with a blend of exotic flowers and sensual woods. Light, refreshing and unique, it’s a perfect scent for Spring. However, if you simply can’t resist something sinfully sweet, the ultimate finishing touch is Powdered Sugar Deliciously Kissable Body Shimmer, available from HQ-Hair. Simply apply it to wherever you like with the feather applicator for a subtle and seductive all-over shimmer. It comes in three flavours – Creamy (vanilla, caramel, patisserie-style smell), Fruity (strawberry and raspberry) and Dreamy (chocolate and coconut). Tasty!

So you really have no excuse for looking (and smelling!) worn-out and undesirable this Summer. Fill your bathroom with sugar and spice and all things nice and you’ll soon be the hottest thing on the menu!