YouGlo WOW Mask

RRP: £100 for 5, or £21 for one
available from www.youglo.co.uk

--What does the promo say?--
"Institute Hyalual Switzerland, a scientific research centre dedicated to skin rejuvenation, created the mask as the simplest and most effective way to combine the moisturising effect of Hyaluronic Acid (HA), Argireline (famed for its skin firming properties) and RMCP-complex (a combination of ingredients that include fruit and leaf cell culture and flower extract).  It’s the interaction between HA, Argireline and RMCP-complex which results in such a complete anti-ageing effect. The mask also uses newly developed Transdermal Cosmetics Delivery technology which is activated by skin temperature to allow the ingredients to reach the deeper layers of skin.  This means that WOW mask provides 200% more hydration than other collagen-based moisturising treatments."

--Packaging--
The sleek foil sachet contains a mask that comes in two pieces. Each piece is folded in half, and once unfolded, each piece cuts across the middle of the face, just below the nose. However, this is slimy and difficult to peel apart, meaning that longer and thinner packaging would be better if it meant the mask did not have to come folded. The mask itself is made from white and clear plastic.

--Application--
After cleansing, peel off one side of the mask and place on the face. Then peel off the rest of the plastic so that only the gel mask remains. This is not an easy feat, because the mouth and eye holes are awkwardly placed, meaning you have to fix it to the contours of your face and then push it down so that full contact is made with the skin. Some areas around the eye do not have gel on them, meaning that some areas particularly prone to wrinkles are missed. The same is also true of the upper lip, where ageing can be most visible. You then need to leave the mask on for 20-40 minutes.

--Appearance--
Once you've got the white and clear plastic off, the mask itself is a transparent jelly, which leaves a slimy gel on the face that needs to be rinsed off once the 20-40 minutes is up.

--Scent--
A mild, inoffensive, natural scent.

--Effects on skin--
In the short term, skin feels moisturised and silky. However, no real long-term effects were noted.

--Sensation and texture--
The gel is slimy and solid and this ultimately creates an unpleasant, almost psychosomatic 'itching' feeling arising from just waiting to remove it. Does not cool, warm or tighten like many other face masks. It did dry out a little, but still retained a lot of moisture.

--Value for money--
While at £20.99 for one mask this is an affordable purchase for the evident short-term effects, you need to be seriously loyal to invest £100. It's possible that if the brand sold these in patches to target specific facial areas, or sold a variety of whole-face masks for different face shapes, they could sell more, especially as packaging also needs to be looked at for easier usability. Ultimately has potential, but needs work to make it even more marketable.

Radical Age-Defying Exfoliating Pads

RRP: £45 for 60 pads

--What does the promo say?--

"Removing dull, dead skin becomes your first anti-aging gesture: its AHA and BHA-multifruit acid based pads, exfoliate, promote cell turnover, and accelerate Radical Skincare products performance. Reduce coarse crow’s feet by 50% in 2 weeks. Reduce pore size and even skin tone while significantly improving skin firmness, texture and elasticity."

--Packaging--

The pads arrive in a lovely shiny silver pot which feels good in the hands and looks good on the dressing table, as well as keeping the pads moist. However, if you like travelling light, you may find it a bit big or bulky. 

--Application--

Rub one pad over the face, neck and decolletage after cleansing. One pad easily does your entire face, neck and chest area, and what's more, as the pads are so moist, you could even cheat a bit and make one pad last two nights. Follow with moisturiser.

--Scent--

The lemon and tangerine scents shine through here, with the AHAs, witch hazel, aloe vera and salicylic acid giving a more medicinal feel. This combination ultimately creates a clean, cleansing smell.

--Texture and consistency--

The pads feel cool and refreshing on the skin. The exfoliant is chemical, rather than coming from bits of beach, so don't expect too much scrubbiness.

--Effects on the skin--

After cleansing your skin feels squeaky clean without feeling 'stripped', as with most deep cleans, meaning that moisturising is definitely the next step. Anti-ageing effects are of course better seen over time, but your skin will probably thank you loads in the years that follow. The presence of aloe vera, witch hazel, AHAs and salicylic acid - traditional acne fighters - also mean that those with problem skin are likely to see an improvement.

--Value for money-- 

This evening cleanse comes highly recommended for anti-agers and acne-fighters alike. While they're not cheap, you can expect a pot to last you two months at least (or four, if you eke one pad out over two nights).  It's even cheaper if you shop around: QVC has good discounts, for example. Definitely put this on your wishlist if you're off to the US, too. If you don't find anything better to suit you, though, it's not unaffordable at all for such a high-quality product. Radical Skincare, we salute you.

perfect partners

Hydrating Cleanser, £30

Peptide Infused Antioxidant Serum, £125

Anti-Ageing Restorative Moisture, £100

Eye Revive Crème, £80

Instant Revitalizing Masque, £40

Firming Neck and Decolleté Gel, £77

5-Piece Discovery Collection, £40¤

Radical Rescue, £120*

*contains a full-size cleanser plus 15ml sizes of two different serums and the anti-ageing restorative moisturiser 

¤contains 8ml samples of the youth infusion serum, hydrating cleanser and anti-ageing restorative moisturiser; a 5ml sample of the eye crème; and 15 exfoliating pads 

Bath and Body Works Paris Amour Shower Gel

RRP: £9.75/295ml

--What does the promo say?--

"Bath and Body Works Shower Gel Paris Amour Shower Gel. A luxurious shower gel with moisturizing Aloe Vera and nourishing Vitamin E that gently clean, soften and fragrance your skin with Paris Amour of French tulips, apple blossoms and sparkling pink champagne."

--Packaging--

The brand's characteristic ergonomically designed curved bottle is complemented this time around by a pink bow and pastel colour design, complete with an Eiffel Tower in the background. Definitely feminine! The push-down lid is practical and easy to use, and labelling is thankfully kept to a minimum - I can't stand it when products are labelled to within an inch of their lives, leaving you without any way of seeing how much of the product is left.

--Application--

Under the shower, lather over your body, keeping away from eyes, mouth, and all other obvious places. Rinse off at leisure.

--Appearance--

The gel is pale pink and lathers into a pale white foam; no visible residue is left on the body after use.

--Scent--

It never ceases to amaze me at how companies manage to achieve the effect they want without using the actual ingredients concerned. Even though this gel does not, of course, contain pink champagne, tulips, or apple, that is strangely exactly what is detected by our noses. (Although who knows whether that's because it's what we've been TOLD to expect?) The shower gel smells fruity and floral with a slight 'fizziness'. Bizarrely, the aloe vera is not at all detectable.

--Texture and consistency--

The gel itself is perhaps a little too viscous for my liking, but it lathers nicely into a foam that's satisfyingly thick (although not absurdly so).

--Longevity--

Sadly, the smell does not linger. While the gel makes body skin feel soft, I'd say the effect of this is no more and no less than any other gel, in spite of the presence of aloe vera and vitamin E.

--Value for money--

While Bath and Body Works products always make great gifts thanks to their tantalising and unusual scent combinations and concepts, and offer a practical purpose combined with a luxurious experience, I can see how some people may begin to find this a bit on the expensive side, especially considering that so few natural ingredients go towards making up the scent itself. Some may consider Ecosoapia's hand and body wash products to offer a more viable alternative - they're £5 for the same amount of product, and are organic, meaning that the origins of the scent are probably more easily traceable. However, Ecosoapia's offerings are fairly standard (peppermint, almond, rose geranium...), whereas Bath and Body Works inject truly new and different fragrances into today's market. What tradeoff/s are you willing to accept? Only you can decide.

perfect partners

Paris Amour Body Mist, £10.45

Paris Amour Body Lotion, £10.15

Paris Amour Body Cream, £10.50

Paris Amour Body Butter, £11.50

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo and Conditioner

RRP: £7.65 for 200ml

--What does the promo say?--

"With West African shea butter, natural source vitamin E, shine-boosting apple and orange extracts plus naturally derived cleansers, our shampoo gently cleans without stripping to leave hair soft, shiny and smooth. Contains no sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate. Naturally active ingredients include natural vitamin E, west african shea butter to moisturise plus apple and orange extracts boost shine. Specially formulated with meadowfoam and yangu oils, blue seakale and shine-boosting apple and orange extracts, our creamy, colour safe conditioner leaves normal hair glossy, hydrated and in perfect condition, ready to style. Naturally active ingredients include meadow foam oil to help condition, Kenyan yangu oil to smooth and soften plus apple and orange extracts to boost shine."

--Packaging--

The blue and white is perhaps a little too conventional in terms of the shampoo and conditioner market in general, but fits in well with the rest of the Liz Earle range. Even though the fact that they contain apple and orange extracts means that they probably could have gone for a pale green or orange colour scheme, I can appreciate that they didn't want things to look too wacky. The plastic tubes are shiny and the flip-top lid is secure; the grass-decoration banner is also successful in conjuring up the desired natural image and hinting at the product ingredients.

--Application--

"Wet hair thoroughly, massage into a rich lather from root to tip – a little shampoo goes a long way," says the Liz Earle website. It continues: "If needed, add water for more lather. Rinse and repeat if required. Massage [the conditioner] into clean, wet hair after using Botanical Shine Shampoo. Apply to mid lengths and ends. Rinse thoroughly." Nothing tricky about any of that.

--Appearance--

The shampoo is a runny, but not too runny, opaque off-white lotion that creates a fine white lather when mixed with water. The conditioner, however, is a stiff white lotion. Neither leaves any visible residue on the hair after rinsing.

--Smell--

If you sniff hard then you can smell the fruit extracts; however, it is not immediately obvious. Overall a fresh and clean scent suitable for both sexes.

--Texture and consistency--

The shampoo, as mentioned, is a runny lotion, while the conditioner is more like a stiff cream; both, though, are easy to spread and work through the hair. A smoothing and luxurious experience on both counts. I am also always amazed by how Liz Earle manages to create such a fine yet rich foam in the company's products without the use of traditional industry foamer SLS.

--Effects on the hair--

Makes hair smoother, cleaner, less frizzy, less tangled, and more manageable. However, as someone with hair that is quite quick to get greasy (although, simultaneously and frustratingly, when it has just been washed it is usually too dry!), I would be interested to try one of their other conditioners: there exists one for dry or damaged hair, as well as one for fine or oily hair.

--Value for money--

Gives a good salon effect with natural ingredients, so I'd say this is quite a good buy. Even though some may balk at the price, it is in the same bracket as the chemical-laden L'Oreal and Tigi, so at the end of the day, I suppose it depends on your priorities.

Botanical Shine Shampoo - for all hair types

Three types of conditioner available: for normal hair, for dry & damaged hair, and for fine & oily hair

All £7.65 for 200ml