Spotlyte 7: Peony Products That’ll Put Some Spring in Your Beauty Routine

We’re selective about the formulas we use on our hair, skin, and nails. The Spotlyte 7^TM highlights recently-released and/or noteworthy products you can add to your makeup bag, one day at a time. Let’s go shopping!

When it comes to flowers, the peony is a crowd pleaser. Between its romantic aroma, fluffy petals, and the fact that the peony’s presence suggests — no, promises — warmer weather on the horizon, the flower has become synonymous with “springtime blooms.” But peonies deliver more than just a treat for your olfactory and visual senses; they’re brimming with beauty benefits, too. From shampoo to cleanser, to (of course) fragrance, we’ve plucked seven of our favorite peony-forward products that’ll have you smelling like spring.The words “scalp relief” hardly sound beautiful, but the Klorane^® Peony Anti-Irritation Shampoo ($15) most certainly is a looker. Peony extract calms inflammation, which helps to soothe dry, itchy scalps — while simultaneously leaving hair smelling like a freshly-picked bouquet.Similar to the brand’s Soy Cleanser, the Fresh^® Peony Cleanser ($43) provides a soft lather and gentle cleanse. A blend of peony extract, licorice root, and vitamin C work to brighten skin over time.The cap on Dolce & Gabbana^® Peony ($120) looks like a flower — albeit more like a rose than a peony. But the rose makes sense: in addition to the fragrance’s namesake flower, this fruity fragrance also contains notes of Bulgarian rose. Top notes include spicy-sweet pear and pink pepper, while patchouli and yellow plum round out the base. And, of course, the packaging looks gorgeous on any vanity.L’Occitane^® has an entire line dedicated to peony (and the blooms are picked in France, of course). We’re partial to the Peony Essence Perfectrice^TM Serum ($49), which leaves skin gleaming, smooth, and ready for makeup — without a hint of greasy residue. We’d be remiss not to mention the formula’s ultra-fine light reflecting pigments, which impart a radiant glow.

The Peony & Blush Suede fragrance from Jo Malone^® is arguably one of the brand’s most iconic scents. So it makes sense that a smattering of spin-off products have popped up with the same accord. Don’t miss the Peony & Blush Suede Body Cream ($80), which delivers the posy’s scent and leaves skin feeling petal soft.

Perhaps the next best thing to keeping fresh flowers on your nightstand is the LAFCO^® Duchess Peony Candle ($65), which emits a subtle waft of floral fragrance when lit. (Who said there’s no such thing as a warm weather candle?)

As the name suggests, the IT Cosmetics^® Confidence in a Cream^® Rosy Tone ($44) imparts a healthy-looking flush (without making skin look ruddy). It also keeps skin looking and feeling moisturized, thanks to heavy-hitters like squalane extract and aloe. Peony extract works to brighten over time, while lipohydroxy acid (a gentle salicylic acid derivative) promotes speedier cell turnover. Lastly, this cream smells amply floral; if you apply it with your eyes closed, you might just believe you’re walking in a field of flowers…