Sunday 24 October 2010

JML Pampered Toes


RRP: £9.99/pair

--What does the promo say?--
"When you look in the mirror what do you see? Your face? Your body? What about your feet? Being constantly on the go, no-one considers the daily pressures and tensions your feet are subject to. They particularly suffer when crammed into high heels, shoved into pumps or wedged into sandals. Don't ignore them - use Pampered Toes to stretch and strengthen them! Pampered Toes are a plastic toe stretching device that helps to revive and condition cramped feet....[I]nspired by yoga exercises for your feet[,] the device helps to increase circulation and stretch your tendons. It makes exercising your tootsies as easy as watching TV. When life runs you off your feet, take a few minutes to relax with Pampered Toes."

--Packaging--
See-through plastic packaging and clear no-nonsense titling helps the product to make immediate impact. However, it is not easy to open and there is one big CON: once opened, even as carefully as possible, the Pampered Toes are left with no form of more permanent packaging, such as a carry case or storage device. The reason why this is so annoying will come later...

--Usage instructions--
We are advised by JML to "simply slip them over the tops of [the] feet". This seems fairly easy at the outset, with there being one hole in the "ladder" for each toe. However, this is slightly reliant on your feet being a certain shape or size: my little toes are ridiculously small and piggy and so only just barely fit into the hole meant for them, even with the plastic "ladder" being fully wedged down between my toes. Perhaps these need to come in different sizes?

--Appearance--
These are a pleasant pale pink, and also come in blue. Of course you look stupid with your toes poking out of them, but I think by now we girls are used to looking stupid in the name of beauty (designer shoes, face masks, pore strips...). A more obvious up side is that it really doesn't take very long: just 10 or 15 minutes for your feet to feel more relaxed.

--Texture/consistency--
This is why the fact of these not having their own box or storage facility is extremely annoying: the gel from which these are made is not exactly sticky (and in fact, to the contrary, their softness, coolness and pliability makes them feel extremely pleasant on the feet), they do seem to attract dust and hair, meaning you will basically need to wash them every time you want to use them, or keep them in a Ziploc bag. This is definitely something that could do with improving - the prospect of washing mine is extremely offputting (although admittedly it doesn't help that I defied the health and safety warnings on the packaging and also walked around while wearing them).

--Effects on the feet--
There seem to be a lot of medical (or at least holistic or therapeutic) terminology and meaning attached to this product, which seems to on immediate sight lack any verification by a recognised health professional (by "recognised" I mean someone that the general public would recognise, such as Embarrassing Bodies' Dr Christian Jessen). It would therefore need a doctor to tell me whether these really did prevent hammer toes, poor circulation or bunions, stretch my tendons or strengthen my toes, as claimed by the product's PR. However, this much is obvious: it is, for whatever reasons, a very relaxing experience: feet really do feel less stressed and tense after use.

--Value for money--
I'd really want an endorsement from some kind of health professional before I made any judgement on the perceived physical benefits of this product. However, for a relaxing spa-style experience I would definitely recommend it to make you feel like you're walking on air - they just need to give the poor things a home of their own to make the experience completely hassle-free. Now, where's my Enya CD, incense sticks and face mask...?

perfect partners
Ped Egg, £9.99
Snuggie, £24.99 for 2
Circulation Enhancer, £149.99
Deluxe Bath Spa, £59.99

Johnson & Johnson 24 Hour Exfoliating Body Wash with Shea Butter

RRP: £3

--What does the promo say?--
"JOHNSON’S® Gentle Exfoliating Wash gently exfoliates with unique beads that melt and condition your skin to leave it feeling soft and smooth. This soft, lathering, creamy formula hydrates and pampers your skin, leaving it moisturized for 24 hours. While other exfoliating washes may feel harsh, JOHNSON'S® Gentle Exfoliating Wash has been developed to be gentle enough for everyday use, even on sensitive skin. So every day you can enjoy light exfoliation to reveal beautifully fresh, radiant skin."

--Packaging--
Its soft, near-chocolatey colour gives the impression of luxury, with the feather illustration adding softness and the sturdy plastic flip-top lid and the bottle's ergonomic shape making the whole thing practical to use. All in all, a perfect package.

--Application--
Lather up with a little water and rub over the body, paying special attention to areas where you want to avoid ingrown hairs, such as under the arms, and then rinse off. This can be done just using your hands, but for extra exfoliating power you can always use a sponge exfoliating puff, or loofah.

--Appearance--
A translucent brownish-gold gel with faint dark exfoliating beads embedded in it. No visible residue left after use.

--Scent--
Buttery and chocolatey. Simply delicious; a sublime start to winter mornings.

--Texture and consistency--
Exfoliates well without being too harsh, and the gel, while not making a supremely creamy lather, uses what little lather it does make to its fullest advantage, providing a silky cleansing experience.

--Effects on the skin--
As well as leaving skin smooth, clean and soft, it also has an immense practical use, particularly for those who wax or epilate, as it makes significant headway in eliminating and preventing ingrown hairs. I definitely noticed the difference when I stopped using it. This definitely ticks all the right boxes.

--Value for money--
Your £3 buys you an undoubtedly perfect beauty product that pampers you to princess-like perfection while taking care of your body at the same time, so that it's in a state you're proud of. Full marks - I don't think I'd be without this in my shower now. Useful AND beautiful!

perfect partners
Johnson & Johnson 24 Hour Moisture Hand Cream, £1.99
Johnson & Johnson 24 Hour Body Lotion with Vitamin E, £2.99
Johnson & Johnson 24 Hour Moisture Radiance Body Lotion with Shea & Cocoa Butters, £2.99

Sunday 10 October 2010

Liz Earle Foot Scrub

RRP: £10.25/100ml

--What does the promo say?--
"Our new Foot Scrub gently yet intensively exfoliates hard, rough skin on your feet to leave them ultra-smooth and buffed to perfection. This hard-working scrub contains natural pumice to remove dead skin cells, softening avocado oil and wheatgerm oil rich in vitamin E plus the invigorating aromas of peppermint and rosemary essential oils."

--The packaging--
More practical than the frankly bizarre pump-action foot cream in the range, this squeezy plastic bottle sits comfortably on its lid and is easy to grip in the shower.

--Application--
Liz Earle recommend daily use on damp skin, concentrating on the balls of the feet, the heels, and between the toes.

--Appearance--
A light blue-grey colour that seems entirely natural to the product, scrubs white onto skin, and leaves nothing visible in its wake after rinsing.

--Scent--
Fits in well with the rest of the range to eliminate odour without being too clinical; the peppermint and rosemary smells are most prominent.

--Texture/consistency--
Simultaneously creamy and scrubby; provides the perfect combination in order to tackle tough skin while still pampering your feet luxuriously. Non-irritating.

--Effects on the skin--
Following the directions of daily use on damp skin showed great improvement, especially in conjunction with the companion moisturiser.

--Value for money--
£10.25 seems expensive at face value, but this stuff is packed full of natural and effective ingredients, basically fulfilling my requirement of what makes the perfect beauty product: something that is a luxurious treatment while being effective. In addition, other products in this category seem to offer much less for prices that are far more jaw-dropping: Benefit, Bliss and Jo Wood's body scrubs will all send your wallet running for the hills. Liz Earle's prices therefore seem to sit nicely between cheaper high street products that are of lesser quality, more expensive high street products that also fail to emulate it, and higher-end brands such as Biotherm, Clarins and Clinique that offer an experience similar in quality but much higher in price. And best of all? It comes in travel size as well from just £4.50. Don't hesitate to invest in this for your feet: your toes will soon thank you for it.

perfect partners
Foot Moisturiser, from £4.50
Foot Spritzer, from £4.50
Cotton Rich Socks, £4.50