Balmy weather is wonderful if you're lucky enough to be on holiday. But when you're stuck at work, or in a stifling flat where air con isn't an option, it's enough to make even the most ardent sun-worshipper pray for rain.

Help is at hand, however, if you hit the bottle. No, not the Pimm's (although that helps too), we're talking cooling lotions, mists and gels that will help your temperature - and your stress levels - drop.

These are the products to help you beat the heatwave this summer...

SHOWER POWER

After a sticky, sleepless night, start the day with a cool, reviving shower.

:: Sanctuary Spa Cooling Shower Drench, £7 (www.sanctuary.com), is a sweetly-scented watermelon and cucumber-infused gel that creates a refreshing sensation that lasts long after you've turned the shower off.

:: Lush Refresher Shower Jelly, £3.50, is a gloopy gel that you can keep in the fridge (or even the freezer). Grab a dollop and massage in for a skin-tingling lather (available from Aug 7; www.lush.co.uk).

ICE-LY DOES IT

When the mercury heads north, swap your regular moisturiser or body lotion for an icy alternative - store in the fridge for maximum chill-factor.

:: Skyn Iceland Antidote Cooling Daily Lotion, £32.50 (MarksandSpencer.com), contains glacial water and mint, providing an invigorating feel on your face.

:: For parched patches on your body, Harley Medical Aloe Vera Hydration Gel, £10 (www.harleymedical.co.uk), is a supremely soothing balm that contains 98% aloe vera, the best botanical cooler out there.

NO SWEAT

A dependable deodorant is a must if you want to maintain that early-morning cool throughout the day.

:: Try L'Occitane Citrus Verbena Deodorant Stick, £14 (www.loccitane.com), a zesty, alcohol free formula, or Sure Women Shower Fresh Antiperspirant, £2.09 (www.superdrug.com), a hard-working aerosol in a mini can that's ideal for throwing in your handbag.

GIVE IT A MIST

While we wait for Dyson to invent a tiny, super-powered air conditioning unit that you can pop in your purse, a facial mist housed in the fridge door is the next best thing.

:: Thalgo Reviving Marine Mist, £25 (www.thalgo.co.uk), is light, moisturising spray that smells like the sea and comes in a long-lasting 150ml can.

:: When you're on the go, keep L'Occitane Precious Mist, £14 (www.loccitane.com), to hand, for regular blasts of floral freshness.

SOOTHE YOUR SOLES

Even in your most summery sandals, soles can really suffer on hot days, so a spot of mid-afternoon foot therapy can make all the difference.

:: Give yourself a mini massage with a monty marvel like Rituals Lao Tze Cooling Foot Balm, £10 (www.rituals.com), or Temple Spa AAAHHH! Soothing Balm For Aching Feet & Legs, £20 (www.templespa.com), and let the menthol sensation take over.

AFTER HOURS

Whether you've been catching rays or not, after-sun really comes into its own during warm weather, so finish your day by slathering on a generous layer.

:: Herborist After-Sun Care Crackling Mousse, £25 (FeelUnique.com), fizzes as you apply it, instantly lowering the temperature of your skin, while Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration After Sun Lotion & Soothing Aloe Gel, £6.49 (www.superdrug.com), delivers a big hit of that all-important aloe, alongside a coconut-scented moisturiser.

TRIED AND TESTED

Waxing, shaving or depilatory cream, what's the best at-home hair-remover? Our testers put three new products through their paces.

:: Bliss Fuzz Off Foam, £26 (www.blissworld.co.uk)

"I liked the texture of this mousse, which wasn't as slippery as other hair-removal creams I've used in the past. It was quick and easy to use, the whole process only took 10 minutes, but there were a few hairy patches left on my legs when I'd finished and the usual depilatory cream scent lingered."

3/5

:: Nair Argan Oil Salon Divine Body Wax, £11.99 (www.superdrug.com)

"Once I'd figured out the right amount of product to spread on, this wax was effective and easy to use, because you just pull the wax strips straight off. Of course, no waxing is totally painless, but it's so much cheaper doing it at home than going to the salon, so I'll happily use this again on my bikini line."

4/5

:: Wilkinson Hydro Silk Bikini Razor, currently reduced to £7 from £14.99 (boots.com)

"The moisturising cream which was released on contact with water at the razor end meant a nick-free shave, but it was the bikini line trimmer at the other end that sold this product to me. It won't replace a trip to the salon pre-holiday, but for a quick tidy-up, it's effective."

4/5

BUY IT NOW

Following the success of the Midnight Recovery Concentrate, Kiehl's chemists have been hard at work on a daytime counterpart. Introducing Daily Reviving Concentrate, £36, a nourishing oil proven to reduce the signs of skin fatigue that accumulate during the day. It's out in September, but you can put your name on a waiting list now at www.dailyrevival.co.uk.

BEAUTY BULLETIN

:: TIME TO SHAKE UP YOUR MAKE-UP?

How often do you try a new make-up look? Max Factor's Glamour Expose survey has revealed that a third of UK women (37%) want to shake up their look but most are scared to, with 63% saying they're stuck in a rut. What's holding us back? 'Looking ridiculous' was the greatest fear for most (44%), while a further 35% said 'getting it wrong' was their biggest worry.

:: KNOCK YOUR SPOTS OFF

In a bid to prove that you don't have to visit the doctor to get rid of persistent spots, skincare brand Flint + Flint is looking for 10 acne sufferers; half to test at-home products from the brand, and the other half to try spa treatments from sister company Skin Health Spa. Interested? Email flintplusflint@downatthesocial.co.uk to find out more.

:: STEAL OF THE WEEK

In this season of festivals, picnics or - more likely - hurried packed lunches in the park, hand sanitizer comes in, excuse the pun, very handy. But those squeezy tubes aren't normally very nice to look at, are they? Enter Mad Beauty's little printed versions, pretty and portable Moisturising Hand Sanitizers that are just £2.99 each (www.madbeauty.com).