Cottage essentials from Vichy, Avon and RoC!

I spent the last week at the cottage and while it was really nice to spend such a hot week in a chaise lounger armed with trashy books and adult beverages relaxing by the lake I realized that there were 3 important things that I forgot to pack!

Even by the water with a bit of breeze it was unbearably hot - I'm not a water lover so getting in the lake wasn't an option so I wish I had brought a water spray to douse myself with - nothing feels better on hot skin then a spritz of spa water and you can even keep in the cooler with the beer to keep it chilled!

Vichy Eau Thermale - 50ml - $7.95, 150ml - $14, 300ml - $19.95 - a thermal spa water from the 2000 year old volcanic mountains of Vichy, France which has 15 beneficial minerals, each with a significant impact upon the skin and is the ultimate skin revitalizer - that soothes - reducing discomfort, diminishing redness, ideal for even the most sensitive skin; fortifies - neutralizing free radicals and slowing down the skin's water loss; and regenerates - its minerals encourage skin renewal.

I forgot there would be bugs and there was about an hour or two every night where you had to hide inside if you didn't have protection they were so bad! Skin So Soft has been my secret weapon for repelling bugs from way back - anyone who is or is related to an Avon lady (my grandma was one) knows this trick so it's nice that Avon has finally made it legit!

Avon Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus Icaridin - 118ml - $14 - strong and dependable protection with time-release technology that creates an invisible barrier of protection to repel mosquitoes (up to 5 hours) and deer ticks (up to 7 hours) that is DEET free and best of all, it doesn't stink!

Available from your Avon rep - 1-800-265-AVON or online at www.avon.ca

You know what a harpy I am about sunscreen so I am especially ashamed to admit that I managed to burn my feet. I was diligent about applying my sunscreen every couple of hours but I somehow managed to totally forget to do my feet. Of course it would have been much easier if I had my spray version with me - then I can spray my feet without having to  put down my drink!

RoC Soleil Protexion+ Velvet Moisture Spray Lotion SPF 30 - 200ml - $24 - offers triple-action broad-spectrum protection in the form of micronised droplets that contains a combination of sunscreen filters that act to absorb, diffuse and relect UVA/UVB rays, as well as skin-conditioning anti-oxidants tthat protects skin from harmful environmental elements even on hard to reach areas with a continuous transparent mist and a quick-drying formula for maximum ease and comfort. Waterproof and sweatproof and also available in SPF 45.

- Lisamarie -