From breathable dresses to beauty buys that go the distance in the rising heat, here’s what we’re loving this week

It’s been seriously heating up in recent weeks, and if you’ve found yourself glued to your desk fan or spritzing facial mists on repeat, you’re not alone. But while we’ve all been busy trying not to sweat through our wardrobes, the Mirror’s shopping team has been hard at work curating this week’s top fashion and beauty picks – some with a much-needed cooling-down theme.

This week’s wishlist includes an open-back dress from Warehouse that resembles Sister Jane’s style (but at a fraction of the price), and a butter-yellow frock from Nobody’s Child that exudes ‘sunshine chic.’ On the beauty front, we’ve found an eco-friendly deodorant to keep sweaty mishaps in check, as well as a self-tanning foam for that just-got-back-from-the-beach look.

Scroll to see our top picks – heatwave or not, these must-haves are sure to delight.

READ MORE: ‘My first try with Trinny London’s new launch was a disaster but final look was flawless’

READ MORE: FatFace’s ‘cool’ summer dress that ‘doesn’t crease’ and will ‘pack well for holidays’

Bethan’s picks

REHAB. Retreat Dose Hydrate Body Oil – was £28, now £22.40

Rehab’s hair oils are one of my favourite products for achieving glossy tresses, so can you imagine my excitement when the Stacey Solomon co-owned brand announced they were dipping their toes into bodycare, too? The brand has taken everything we love, from hydration and glow to sensorial formulas, and extended it beyond hair into a full-body ritual.

Launched on July 2, the REHAB Retreat Dose Hydrate Body Oil is my favourite from the collection, which also includes a shower milk and under-eye patches, to name a few. The supersized capsules contain the perfect dose of grapeseed, sweet almond, jojoba and marula oils to nourish dry skin from head to toe – essential in a heatwave.

The concentrated formula delivers deep hydration while locking in moisture, and is rich in fatty acids and antioxidants to strengthen and repair the skin’s barrier while enhancing elasticity. It’s currently £22.40 as part of an introductory offer, and for a limited time, customers can get a free Bath & Shower Milk with every order (not that I needed another excuse to place one).

Warehouse Jacquard Peplum Hem Open Back Mini Dress – was £49, now £29

If you’ve got an event coming up this summer, Debenhams is a fantastic place to look for your next occasionwear outfit. I’ve been turning to the retailer more and more lately, not only because they almost always have a sale or deal available, but also because I’m consistently impressed by the quality.

I’ve a party coming up this month, so I ordered the Warehouse Jacquard Peplum Hem Open Back Mini Dress on sale for under £30. It reminds me of designs by the likes of Sister Jane, but for a fraction of the price. For example, their DREAM Meri Jacquard Mini Dress is £119 in the sale.

The Warehouse dress is ideal for summer, featuring a mini hemline and sleeveless design. It features a gorgeous metallic jacquard floral pattern, an elegant and on-trend peplum hem detail, and a beautiful open-back design with a tie fastening at the neck. While perfect for weddings, races or formal gatherings, the versatile silhouette works equally well for daytime events when paired with flats and a structured clutch.

47 Skin’s Daily SPF 30 – £24

I’m nearing the end of my usual facial SPF and was looking for a new one to try when I stumbled across 47 Skin’s Daily SPF 30 at Boots. The dermatologist-approved summer must-have is said to be non-greasy and claims to help clear skin instead of clogging it.

The SPF cream is powered by Silver Chitoderm, a unique ingredient clinically tested here in the UK, that claims to eliminate 99.9% of bacteria that cause breakouts, soothes visible inflammation, promotes a visibly clearer, more even complexion and locks in hydration – all while shielding from the sun’s harmful UVA/UVB rays, infrared radiation and pollution.

With a non-sticky, fragrance-free finish, the lightweight product is enriched with hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, allantoin, and vitamin E to hydrate and soothe. It can be worn alone or under makeup for a calm, clear, and healthy-looking complexion.

Shoppers love that it doesn’t pill underneath cosmetic products, either, which is always a bonus. However, others have noted that it’s ‘thicker’ than they’d typically like for a facial SPF.

Elsewhere, BYOMA’s Ultralight Face Fluid SPF50 is £15 at SpaceNK and is loved for being an ultra-lightweight sunscreen that doesn’t leave behind any greasiness or white cast. Another highly-regarded product is the Heliocare 360° Oil-Free Gel Sunscreen Protector Original SPF 50. Currently on offer at Look Fantastic for £23.25, down from £31, it provides broad-spectrum protection with a matte finish.

Lauren’s picks

Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam – £13.99 from £17.49

As a naturally pale girl who could sunbathe for two solid weeks and still walk away with nothing more than a few freckles, I’ve accepted that tanning the natural way isn’t in the cards for me. My long-standing love affair with fake tan has grown and grown over the years, and I’ve tried out pretty much every formula going – from Coco and Eve to the OG cult-favourite St. Tropez.

This summer, though, Bondi Sandi’s Self Tanning Foam has been my saviour. The mousse ticks so many boxes; it glides on like a dream (no streaks), developing into a golden tan that looks like I’ve just returned from Ibiza, not five minutes in my bathroom.

It’s rich, but not too dark, giving me just enough colour to feel alive without being tango-ed. The dry-down time is decent, and unlike other formulas I’ve tried, it doesn’t feel overly sticky. My skin feels soft, not dried out, and the colour fades evenly.

My only gripe is the smell, which has a tell-tale fake tan scent with a chemical edge. But really, do any fake tans smell good? Thankfully, the scent doesn’t linger too long, and it’s a small price to pay for a fake tan that actually delivers.

Pour Moi Free Spirit Swimsuit – £52

With the holiday season in full swing, many of us are searching for that perfect swimsuit. But according to new research from Pour Moi, a staggering 78% of women don’t feel confident in swimwear, and only 7% say they feel completely at ease wearing a swimsuit in public.

Clearly, the quest for flattering, feel-good swimwear is more than just about style; it’s also about comfort and support. That’s why I picked out this gorgeous one-piece from Pour Moi.

In a stunning tropical blue print, it’s sure to turn heads at the pool for all the right reasons. It’s designed with lightly padded cups for shape and coverage, a built-in control panel to smooth the stomach area, and adjustable back straps to find your perfect fit.

It’s been a hit with some reviewers, with one saying: “This is the best swimsuit I have had, it’s a great fit, true to size.” However, one noted: “Lovely swimsuit, but the padded bra top made my bust look huge. So, hence the return, and looking for an unpadded bra costume.”

Yankee Candle Iced Berry Lemonade Reed Diffuser – £16.99

It’s a little too hot to burn candles in this weather, but that doesn’t mean our homes can’t benefit from a mouth-watering scent that easily fills a room. Yankee Candle is known for its iconic, affordable burns, but it also has a great summer range of reed diffusers.

A few different scents tempt me – Black Cherry is right up my street – but it’s the Iced Berry Lemonade that caught my attention. It’s a sun-drenched dream – think sweet lemon sugar, zesty red grapefruit and juicy pomelo, all blended into one gloriously invigorating scent.

Reed diffusers tend to work best in smaller spaces, so I recommend popping this one into a bathroom of hallway for a hit of feel-good fragrance that’ll wake up the senses every time you walk by.

Alternatively, Neom recently launched a stylish update to its much-loved reed diffusers, now housed in a rounded glass bottle that exudes elegance and refinement. My favourite is Squeeze the Day, a bright, uplifting blend of grapefruit, mandarin and a refreshing kick of eucalyptus.

Lush Super Fairy Range – Prices vary

If you’re a Lush lover, you already know that Snow Fairy is a cult classic. The candy-sweet classic has been flying off the shelves every season for years. And then there’s Super Milk – that creamy, dreamy leave-in conditioner spray that’s become a bona fide viral hero.

So imagine the excitement when I found out Lush has blended the two to create something entirely new: Super Fairy. That’s right – two of Lush’s most beloved scents have come together in a citrusy-sweet mashup that smells like a fizzy pink lemonade dream. It’s uplifting, comforting, and it’s got me counting down to my morning shower.

The shower gel is a standout – super silky with a bubbly lather, leaving my skin smelling gorgeous (and bathroom smelling even better). Meanwhile, the body cream is rich but not heavy, hydrating without being sticky.

I haven’t tried the pink bath bomb yet, but if you’re thinking of giving it a go, consider this your friendly PSA: Lush bath bombs are iconic, but they’re also known to stain the tub if you’re not careful. So proceed with caution (and keep a bathroom cleaner handy).

Eve’s picks

Butter Yellow Sleeveless Ariel Midi Dress – £67.15

With butter yellow remaining a constant obsession this July, I just had to include this gorgeous summer dress from Nobody’s Child into my weekend wishlist – especially seeing as it currently has 15% off.

With a shirred waist and romantic, feminine square neckline with relatively thick, bra-appropriate straps, the dress has been praised by shoppers for being ‘cool’ in hot weather as well as ‘beautiful’ in style.

Paired with some gold statement jewellery and heels, it’d make a lovely garden party dress or with sandals for casual sunday lunch attire.

The only thing to note is that for some people, it was slightly too big in their usual size, causing them to return it – so be wary of that.

Glow for It’s lash serum – £29.99

This serum has been on my wishlist for quite some time as I’ve got rather unimpressive, wispy eyelashes that don’t do my eyes many favours. However, Glow For It’s upcoming fifth anniversary is prompting me to hit the checkout button on my shopping cart and try out its award-winning, gravity-defying, lengthening Lash Growth Serum that has helped beauty fans vastly improve the appearance and health of their natural lashes- some within just weeks.

The vegan formula, which costs £29,99, is powered with peptides and is crafted to nourish and stimulate ‘the lash follicle for visible results without the side effects of prostaglandin analogues’.

The brand explains, when it comes to its before and after results, “The Glow For It Lash Serum has a multi-peptide formula that provides your lashes with the nutrients they need to grow. The formula works to keep your eyelash hairs in the growth phase for longer whilst also delaying the fallout stage of the growth cycle. Everyone’s growth cycle is different and some customers even see noticeable results in as little as two weeks!”

Sign me and my wispy little lashes up!

Fussy Deodorant – £12

I’d been toying with the idea of switching out my usual Sure or Dove deodorant for a more natural based product for sometime when I finally took the plunge and ordered my first Fussy Deodorant complete with an adorable refillable case.

I’d been experiencing irritation on the skin under my arms as well as discovering that in warm weather, well, my normal go-to just didn’t work as well and I was conscious of smelling (oh the embarrassment). So after doing some research on more natural, sustainable choices–weighing up the likes of Wild and Making Waves–I opted for Fussy and its subscription model which sends you new refillable pouches of deodorant to fit into your case every *insert the amount you want* months – for me, I chose every three months.

And it’s honestly been a total gamechanger. Not only does the pretty case – made from recycled plastic and has FUSSY etched into its design – make my morning routine way more aesthetically pleasing, but my skin is way less stressed thanks to its natural ingredients and I’m not finding myself reaching for my deodorant stick every few hours to top up because the heat has sweated off the product. In fact, with the scent I chose I can actually smell the wildflower fragrance even hours after applying it, which is just refreshing.

Now, it’s not a cure to stop the sweat – that’s just a natural part of life. But it does help keep any unfriendly scents at bay and has helped hinder the sweating quite so much.

Having tried it out for some time now, I can safely say I’m never going back to store-bought deodorant – I am a Fussy convert through and through. It costs £26 for a one off purchase (including one case and three refills) or by subscribing to get top ups sent to your door, there’s an offer running currently in which one case and one refill will cost £14. This subscription then costs £5 for each new refill with 15% off, and you can switch scent, skip the subscription or cancel at any time.

Boux Avenue’s Amalfi Bikini – £22

When at the beach or on holiday, I always tend to feel a little more comfortable in a swimsuit that ca cover up and skim over any lumps and bumps than when I’m sporting a bikini. However, when I treated myself to Boux Avenue’s Pink Amalfi bikini last summer, all that changed and I found myself with a new found confidence that saw me strutting around an Italian beach bar with no sarong or cover up shorts in sight.

Maybe it was the freshly developed tan or the fact I was in a different country, but the support, structure and prettiness of the bikini made me feel fabulous – and confidence I brought back to the UK, in fact.

With beautiful crinkle fabric in a gorgeously bright pink hue, the bikini top is wired for extra support and its cups have adjustable string-tie ruching. While the bikini can be ordered in a specific bra size, some people did complain that the cups were a little too big for them. However, the string tie makes it a lot easier to adjust the size should this be the case.

The straps are wide, which add to the comfort and support, and together with the matching high waisted, adjustable leg briefs, this set made me feel a million dollars.

While the briefs are OOS, the bikini top is on sale for £22 down from £34.

Narin’s pick

Wild x Cath Kidston collab

Hot on the heels of their adorable Paddington collaboration including an incredible orange marmalade deodorant which left me feeling and smelling fresh through the worst of the recent heatwave, Wild are back with another high profile team-up.

Wild’s deodorants and lip balms buck the trend of throwaway bathroom products by minimising waste and are packed with natural ingredients meaning they’re gentle on users as well as the planet.

Their bundles not only save money but allow you to change up your scents – my favourites so far are sage and eucalyptus, pomegranate and Paddington’s zesty favourite.

Shoppers can currently snag a Cath Kidston refillable aluminium case with a choice of three scents of deodorant refills from £23.20. It’s also possible to get 20% off anything from the site using the code AFFWILD20.