Body Shop Coconut Shower Cream

RRP: from £2

--What does the promo say?--
"Indulge in the tropical, fresh scent of coconuts with our creamy, soap-free shower cream. Enriched with virgin coconut oil, your skin will feel softer and cleansed after every use. Rich, creamy texture. Sweet, light coconut scent. Community Trade cold-pressed virgin coconut oil from Samoa, Polynesia. Community Trade organic soya oil from Brazil."

--Packaging--
The bottle is mostly made of clear plastic, meaning you can easily see how much is left. The iconic Body Shop logo is clearly visible, backed by a brown circle evoking the coconut scent. The black band behind this is sophisticated and minimalistic, as is the text on the bottle, and the black flip-top lid is practical for use in the shower.

--Usage--
Squeeze some shower cream into your hand and rub over wet skin before rinsing off.

--Appearance--
The cream is nacreous in appearance and produces a slight white lather. No visible residue is left on the skin.

--Scent--
The coconut is of course dominant and feels authentic - likely thanks to the incorporation of virgin coconut oil. Sadly, it doesn't last on the skin as well as I might have liked.

--Texture and consistency--
The cream is extremely thick and viscous, but slackens on contact with water. Little lather is created due to the cream being soap-free. A luxurious effect is therefore created.

--Effects on the skin--
Skin feels constantly moisturised: at the moment I am using no other body moisturising product on my arms. I have been using some after-sun due to a touch of sunburn last weekend, but the difference is that while elsewhere on my body the sunburn has peeled (even with use of the aftersun), on my arms the sunburn has healed very naturally with no peeling at all. All hail the power of the oils!

--Value for money--
At £2 for a travel size you can't go wrong - and even £5 for 250ml is hardly going to break the bank. A little of the product goes a long way and it is a joy to use. Mine was a gift, but I would consider spending my own money on this for myself or others. Body Shop, you've done it again.

perfect partners
Coconut Hand Cleanse Gel, £2.50
Coconut Soap, £2.50
Coconut Milk Body Lotion, from £3
Coconut Lip Butter, from £4.50
Coconut Hand Cream, £5
Coconut Oil Hair Shine, from £5.50
Coconut Exfoliating Cream Body Scrub, from £6
Coconut Nourishing Body Butter, from £6
Coconut Treats, from £6
Coconut Body Mist, £8
Coconut Oil Brilliantly Nourishing Pre-Shampoo Hair Oil, £8
Coconut Eau de Toilette, £9
Coconut Essential Selection, from £20
Coconut Premium Collection, from £30

The Body Shop Mango Beautifying Oil

RRP: £9/100ml

--What does the promo say?--
"Beautifying Oil is pure beauty in a bottle. Made with a lightweight blend of nut oils including Community Fair Trade marula oil, it gives instant hydration and a shimmering finish. This one has an exotic mango scent."

--Packaging--
The flip top plastic lid is sadly inconvenient, as it's difficult to control the flow of oil from the bottle, inevitably resulting in wastage. A pump-action bottle would be better. However, I love the see-through bottle, as the golden colour of the oil is complemented beautifully by the bronzed colour of the lid, as well as by the mango motif. Plus, a see-through bottle means you can always see how much remains.

--Application--
Rub between your hands to warm slightly. Use to remove makeup (just wipe off the oil using a cotton pad), to hydrate your face and body, to give shine to hair, or as a massage oil. There's nothing difficult about any of this, as any excess can be rubbed into any exposed skin on your body (arms, legs, feet...).

--Appearance--
While the oil has a golden sheen in the bottle, it's not at all shimmery and so slicks on invisibly when it comes to most uses. However, I found that when used as a facial hydrator it did 'sit' on the skin for a bit longer than I would have liked it to, so don't use it right before going out unless you particularly like looking shiny.

--Scent--
Smells gorgeously of mango. Definitely delivers on its promise there!

--Texture and consistency--
Not at all sticky, and sinks in quickly when used to nourish body skin. However, I wasn't brave enough to try it on my hair thanks to my perennially greasy roots, and when I tried using it as a facial hydrator, I found that it took a bit too long to sink in, really, even though I was careful to use it sparingly on my face.

--Effects on the skin--
I'd class this as an effective body hydrator and will probably continue to use the product in this way, as well as using it as a makeup remover (this effectively removes most makeup, apart from a few stubborn types of mascara). However, my acneic facial skin never did take well to this - skin felt greasier and I had more spots, which is a shame, as I've had more success with other facial oils in the past.

--Value for money--
I was kindly sent this by The Body Shop's PR, so didn't pay on this occasion. However, its cost of £9 is probably fair. It's made with high-quality ingredients, a multi-use product is always appreciated (remember that I did find two good uses for it, so other people are likely to find this and more besides), and even though the bottle looks small you need very little each time (meaning that the bottle is likely to last ages). I would therefore recommend this to others - and for those who aren't mango fans, the oil is also available in other variants (including sweet lemon, moringa, and brazil nut). 

perfect partners
Mango Body Butter, £13 
Mango Hand Cleanse Gel, £2.50
Mango Lip Butter, £4
Mango Whip Body Lotion, from £3
Mango Body Scrub, £12.50
Mango Bath Shower Gel Cream, from £2
Mango Soap, £2

Smoothing your skin into winter wonderment

SPONSORED CONTENT

just one of the brands of body lotion lurking by my bedside

 If you're anything like me, you've got a whole host of body lotions by your bed (and in a big box under it...and stuffed into the bathroom cabinet...) in a quest to find the best one to keep you from turning into a lizard. From Molton Brown to Bath & Body Works, and from Villainess to Body Shop - you'll probably find it all within arm's reach at any given time at my place. Heck, my collection probably deserves its own postcode.

One of the perks of blogging is that I get sent quite a few different kinds to try. One of them is Deep Heat's latest version - great for easing physical and mental stress thanks to its aromatherapeutic qualities, and its warming sensation means it's great for autumn and winter too. People tend to go into overdrive in the summer, moisturising and buffing their bodies to a state of perfection so that they're ready for the beach, but come winter they tend to let themselves go. Not I: I'm constantly basting myself not just to combat dry skin and ageing generally, but also in pursuit of a luxurious experience that will make me smell lovely. 

Some creams and oils are extremely effective - such as Astral's body lotion and Johnson's baby oil, both of which I was also sent this year by generous PRs. However, they err more on the side of functional than spa-tacular, and when I get to choose, I'm looking for a product that not only leaves me smooth and strokable (sort of like one of those hairless cats) but also feeling like a million dollars - all year round.

The Japanese Cherry Blossom body butter...one of my undying favourites

Consequently, the Body Shop bodycare collection is one that I keep going back to. Catering for every possible need (including aromatherapy, massage, deodorants, and intensive foot rescues), they also don't forget the classics that people love them for while still adding new stuff. Their body butters are one such classic (and there's 50% off them online at the moment with the code 50BUTTER, woo!), and looking at the array of scents available, it's easy to see why one is sold every two seconds. There really is something for everyone, from the summery pink grapefruit to their typically spicy and fruity winter collections (candied ginger, anyone?). 

But for those of you who don't like the thick-and-creamy feeling so much, the Body Shop's fantastic body lotion offers a lighter option, without losing that sumptuous feeling. Browsing the website makes me marvel at and fall in love with their innovative concepts all over again. The classic yet creative Dewberry and Satsuma scents that I've loved since teenagehood is still there, but there are plenty of new ideas too. You can bet your bottom dollar that once I come back from this week's business trip to the south of France (OH isn't life awful?!), you'll find me down my local branch discovering their Love Etc body lotion (which contains babassu oil and grape seed oil), as well as their Dreams Unlimited lotion (its ingredients include sesame, brazil nut, shea, coumarin, lemon and geranium).

The Body Shop's 2008 winter collection

That should certainly tide me over until the Body Shop's newest winter collection (of which no word yet, sadly). It's great to know that there are ranges you can always rely on for efficacy and luxury - come rain or shine - and that thanks to this, none of us should have no trouble keeping our smooth summer skin in a state of winter wonder.

Body Shop Mango Bath Shower Gel

--What does the promo say?--

"This soap-free shower gel contains real mango seed oil and has a deliciously exotic scent."

--Packaging--

Coming in a range of sizes (250ml, 400ml, and, as part of the Mango Mini Gift Cube, 60ml for travel) means that there is something to suit your every need. The plastic flip top style bottle, while potentially fragile, in fact travels well without leakage. The see-throughness is also handy; I hate not knowing how much of a product is left. Information on the bottle tells you everything you need to know without being overcrowded.

--Application--

Lather up under the shower, or in the bath, and rub all over the body, keeping it away from the face, eyes, and other sensitive areas, and then rinse off. Easy AS.

--Appearance--

A slightly viscous and translucent yellowy-orange gel which replicate the mango's natural colour faithfully. It lathers into a fine white foam which rinses off easily (but not too easily now), leaving no visible residue on the body.

--Scent--

As with the colour, the scent is very accurate - just what you would hope for in a mango shower gel. Rich and natural-smelling, even though the natural mango extract is supplemented by artificial fragrances and limonene.

--Texture and consistency--

Has the reliability that we have all come to expect from the Body Shop - lathers up instantly and favourably, is not sticky at all, and washes off well when you want it to. Good work.

--Effects on the skin--

It seems to leave skin soft enough, but nothing exceptional. The same could be said of the smell; it smells amazing when you're actually in the shower, but doesn't last for hours on the skin.

--Value for money--

Scaling only to the dizzy heights of £5.50 even for the largest size, I'd say you're buying into a good deal here, as even the dinky 60ml bottle lasts ages, and this shower gel delivers a pleasurable truly multi-sensory experience all round. However, if you're more concerned about buying something more environmentally conscious, you could always try the shower gels by Faith In Nature, which are similarly priced and seem to contain a higher proportion of natural ingredients. Nevertheless, I'm not planning on giving up on Body Shop completely - its range of new and unusual scents is virtually unrivalled elsewhere, and with such temptations on offer as moringa, dewberry, arber, kistna and bakula, who could possibly resist?

perfect partners

Mango Soap, from £2

Mango Body Butter, from £12.50

Mango Mini Gift Cube, from £5

Mango Lip Butter, from £4
Mango Body Scrub, from £12.50

Born Lippy Mango and Peach Lip Balm, from £2

Mango Whip Body Lotion, from £8

Make Your Summer Sparkle

POST SUPPORTED BY WWW.MYJEWELRYBOX.COM

So they say that diamonds are a girl's best friend? Fine - until your jaw hits the floor at what are normally stratospheric prices. You're very often looking at three figures before you even begin - and that's often for a diamond that you need a magnifying glass to look at. But as with most things these days, if you shop around a bit (thank you, Google Shopping) you can often get what you want closer to the price you want.

Another way to get diamonds more cheaply than having a socking great rock on one finger is to think smaller: diamond earrings, for instance, will be cheaper than a diamond ring. One such website bringing you the sparkly stuff for less is MyJewelryBox.com, and you can also look around for sales at the major retailers such as H Samuel and Ernest Jones. If the prices at MyJewelryBox.com are too good to refuse, but you balk in the UK at the $50 shipping charge, it's equally easy to go in with friends or to take the chance to buy some dazzling gifts in order to get maximum value out of your order.

If you're not really into jewellery, though (after all, this is a beauty website), there are still plenty of other ways to inject some sparkle into your summer, both on the high street and off. Starting with the body, you can find lots of glitter on your local high street, whether this is with Body Shop's Brilliance Powder (which has slightly flawed packaging but still does a good job) or with the ethical competitor, Lush's Iridescent Glitterbug or their Shimmy Shimmy glitter bar (which you just rub over your body until the desired effect is achieved). If you set your sights a little higher in the sophistication stakes, though, you could always try Cacharel's Noa Perfumed Body Lotion, which starts at just over £20 online and provides a divine glow as well as smelling gorgeous.

There are also seemingly infinite numbers of options for adding some sparkle to your face. For the eyes, try Avon's Colour Sparkle Lash and Line, which incorporates a glitter liner and a mascara all into one handy tube, or for a more full-on look, try MAC Pigments for wow-factor and easily achievable fairy princess looks (or their less expensive cousin, Stargazer Eye Dusts). Even the nails can carry off a Dorothy-style look as you paint your nails with Barry M Nail Paints, whose sparkly variants can make you feel like you've stepped straight out of The Wizard of Oz.

Want something more subtle? No problem. There's a plethora of glittery products out there for even the most shrinking of violets, including Bourjois' Little Round Pot Blusher, which has colours carrying the tiniest glitter particles you ever saw, and Sally Hansen's Diamond Lip Treatment, which looks natural while still making you sparkle. It's good for your lips, is hard-wearing, and is even decorated with a small faux diamond on the front of the tube. However, that's not to say that perhaps a real diamond would not be better.

Body Shop Born Lippy (Passionberry)

RRP: £4 for 10ml
# of flavours available: 7 (passionberry, mint, satsuma, mango/peach, strawberry, raspberry, and watermelon)
contains: beeswax and lanolin (both natural moisturisers)

--What does the promo say?--
"A glossy and moisturising lip balm with an exotic berry flavour, that leaves lips looking and feeling soft, smooth and kissable."

--Packaging--
The label for these used to be natural-looking, artistic images of fruit, but now they're more modern and jazzy in a computer-art type way. They look good both ways: not sure which I prefer. Simple plastic circular screw-top pot, of a size that fits easily in your pocket. Closes securely, but is easy to open when you need to use it. It also seems to preserve the lip balm itself quite well, protecting it from age or from extreme temperatures.

--Application--
Apply liberally to lips, using fingers or a lip brush.

--Appearance--
A sexy, rich colour in the pot, but turns sheer and transparent on the lips. Can be worn over lipstick to vamp up existing colour, or alone for simple winter care while keeping a natural look.

--Scent--
A really natural, fruity smell. Almost smells good enough to eat! (But don't.)

--Texture/consistency--
Luxurious; not sticky, gloopy or runny.

--Longevity--
Its staying power is average, but its effects can be felt long-term, with dry skin being sent packing. One tiny tub also lasts months, even years, and it doesn't seem to degenerate with age, meaning you can keep a pot for as long as you like.

--Value for money--
This is Body Shop doing what Body Shop does best: bringing people a little luxury in their day-to-day products. You COULD use Nivea or Vaseline, but somehow, I don't want to. This is just such an utter pleasure to use, and even better, it's been a Body Shop staple for many years, showing their complete commitment to developing the product and making it stay the distance. This may even be my favourite lip balm range of all time, even beating Elizabeth Arden's 8 Hour care for lips. Go and buy it now - and if the quality of these is anything to go by, why not add an extra £1 to your budget and get their Christmas versions (vanilla spice and cranberry, which were brought out as body butters last year)?

Body Shop Seaweed Purifying Facial Cleanser

RRP: £6.50 for 200ml

--What does the promo say?--
"A mild oil-free and soap-free milky cleansing lotion. Effectively removes make-up, impurities and daily grime,without drying the skin. Leaves the skin feeling cleansed, soft and supple with a shine-free, matte finish."

--Packaging--
A clear, hard plastic bottle with an opaque plastic flip-top lid. The label is simple and evocative of the sea, with its white, light blue and dark blue colour scheme, and the bottle itself is secure, with little risk of leakage, as the lid closes firmly.

--Application--
This one is best used out of the shower. Over the sink, rub a 50p-sized amount of the lotion between your palms and smooth over clean, dry face. Leave on skin for 2-3 minutes if desired so that the skin may benefit maximally from the ingredients, and then wash off with a damp flannel, or wipe off with a dry tissue or cotton pad. More like a moisturiser to use than a cleanser.

--Scent--
This product is virtually scent-free, with perhaps a slight salty tinge but not a lot else.

--Appearance--
The cream is slightly watery and translucent, and is an off-white colour. Not really luxurious, but at the price, you can't really complain. Rubbed between the hands and onto the face, the cream becomes even more translucent, and there is no visible residue left on the skin.

--Immediate effects--
The skin appears slightly mattified (but nothing miraculous) and a smooth, fresh feeling is quickly apparent, which is a Godsend on waking up or when scraping off your makeup. It does also effectively remove makeup, though I don't really use it for this.

--Long-term effects--
I bought this as a temporary fix when I was too short of money to buy my usual Clinique, and while it's OK, in that my skin didn't break out and I didn't experience any total skin disasters while using the Seaweed range, I definitely didn't see the same level of improvement as I saw with the Clinique, and nor did I see the excellency of the overall results that the Clinique range delivers.

--Value for money--
It's perhaps unfair to compare the effectiveness of the range to Clinique's skincare regimes given the obvious differences in price. However, while as a long-term acne sufferer I clearly require something more specialised, I would imagine that this would be suitable for the majority of the general public who don't need to bring things quite so much under control. It's nice enough to use, and the price tag is certainly attractive; however, the lack of long-term effects for me mean that I'll soon be running back to my Clinique.

perfect partners
Body Shop Seaweed Clarifying Toner, £6.50
Body Shop Seaweed Mattifying Moisture Lotion SPF 15, £10
Body Shop Seaweed Clarifying Night Treatment, £10

Body Shop Strawberry Body Polish

RRP: £4 for 75ml, £8 for 200ml

--What does the promo say?--
"Have good, clean fun and smooth skin at the same time thanks to this fragrance foaming gel-based scrub that's gentle enough to use everyday. Dead skin cells are removed in no time, revealing brighter, healthy-looking skin thanks to natural exfoliators. Containing Community Trade organic honey."

--Packaging--
Simple squeezy tube that can stand up on its base. Is transparent so that you can see the rich red gel within, and the Body Shop logo and product information is displayed simply and clearly. The lid is a plastic flip-top. Beautiful and very sturdy.

--Usage--
Squeeze out a small amount and lather all over the chest and arms while bathing or showering, and then wash off shortly afterwards.

--Lather--
Moderate. Not seriously bubbly, but definitely works up a good lather that's easily washed off while still leaving the skin smelling lovely.

--Scent--
Really strong, non-sickly, natural strawberry smell.

--Texture/consistency--
The gel provides smoothness while the kiwi seeds and walnut shells add gentle scrubbiness. Not itchy or rough.

--Long-term effects on the skin--
It sloughs off dry skin well and provides long-lasting softness, as well as the beautiful scent on your skin. However, the one thing I was really hoping for was an improvement in the acne on my body, since on the Body Shop website they claim that the strawberry juice in the product is "rich in salicylic acid, which has good pore-cleansing properties." Sadly, I noticed absolutely no difference, which is a shame.

--Longevity--
Excellent - one tube lasts ages.

--Value for money--
Not bad overall, but if you're looking for any specific acne-clearing qualities, you'll be better off looking elsewhere.

perfect partners
Round Body Brush, £7
Strawberry Puree Body Lotion, £8 for 250ml or £3 for 60ml

Body Shop Japanese Cherry Blossom Body Puree

RRP: £9 for 250ml

--What does the promo say?--
"A lightweight moisturiser that softens, smoothes and hydrates the skin. Leaves skin delicately scented with the decadent Japanese cherry blossom fragrance."

--Packaging--
Pump-action pink bottle with a black pump, decorated with beautiful pink blossom illustrations and with the product information written in white. The only thing I could think of for improvement would be to make the pinkness of the bottle translucent rather than solid so that you could see how much was left. All very nice to look at :) Having tested this product on a sample basis, I can't comment on how easy it is to use, but there's only so difficult a pump-action bottle can be ;)

--Application--
Simple really - pump out the amount desired and rub into places on your body where people will be able to smell it: arms, decolletage etc. Note that this is not a facial moisturiser, so don't get too carried away (this is a disclaimer so that people don't whinge at me for indirectly ruining their previously perfect complexions, mmkay?).

--Texture/consistency--
Not stiff like the body butters that the Body Shop is famous for; rather, the 'body puree' is more watery, but still of a good consistency that absorbs nicely and doesn't run off your fingers while you're still trying to rub it in. Good if you are after something more delicate and everyday than the intensive rescue of the body butters.

--Appearance--
A pink, translucent, slightly runny cream/gel type substance. No residue is left on the skin.

--Scent--
Just gorgeous: deep, fruity and yet still musky, sophisticated and light. I smelt it walking past the Brighton branch of Body Shop and just had to go in because my first thought was 'my God, what IS that?' [Thanks to the staff in the Brighton branch, by the way, you were so lovely and helpful :) ] On the skin it smells just as intense and distinctive without being overpowering.

--Longevity--
You will only need to apply this once to make it last all day. It is an absolute joy to smell this on your skin right up until you go to bed.

--Value for money--
I was somewhat doubtful as I couldn't seem to justify spending £9 on a bottle of that size, which is why I got a sample. However, I would definitely go back and buy it now. A lot of brands have jumped on the Japanese plants bandwagon recently (Avon and SKII come to mind, though SKII is if you like the 'original' brand to cotton on to this) and I think the Body Shop is very wise to follow. I don't suffer with dry skin myself, but this product is lovely even if you don't: already my skin feels smoother after just one application. Because the gel is so thin, it spreads very well, so you don't need to use much on an application-by-application basis. A bottle would therefore last quite a long time and the fact that the smell lasts so long too makes a bottle of this a worthy investment - especially given its limited edition status along with all its other Japanese Cherry Blossom cousins.

perfect partners
Japanese Cherry Blossom Reed Diffuser, £12 for 80ml
Japanese Cherry Blossom Eau de Toilette, £14 for 50ml
Japanese Cherry Blossom Body Butter, £14 for 200ml
Japanese Cherry Blossom Shower Gel, £8 for 250ml

Body Shop Body Butter

RRP: £12 for 200ml, £5 for 50ml
no. of scents available: 12 on normal range, + 5 on limited edition (plum, pomegranate, avocado, cranberry, blueberry)

--What does the promo say?--
"For Normal to Dry Skin. Our deliciously rich Body Butter soaks in almost instantly but moisturises non-stop for up to 24 hours."

--Packaging--
A round plastic pot with a screw-top lid, colour-co-ordinated to reflect what the body butter is made of. The lid of each body butter has a large round sticker with photographs of the main ingredient, and the Body Shop logo and name of the product on it in a circular design. Busy, but good. The pot is easy to open and close and there is no leakage. However, the lid would benefit from some grips on the side to ease closure after moisturising, when you still have some body butter residue on your hands.

--Application--
Scoop out a dollop of body butter with your fingers after showering and moisturise liberally wherever required (though perhaps somewhat obviously, not on the face). The product absorbs well and is easy to rub in.

--Appearance--
In the pot, the colours seem very natural and without additional enhancers. On the body, they are invisible once fully rubbed in.

--Scent--
All of the scents that I've tested so far (the limited editions cranberry and plum, and the now defunct also limited edition vanilla spice) have seemed very natural, rather than being sickly or artificial.

--Longevity--
The scents linger nicely and the fast-acting moisturiser keeps you feeling smooth all day.

--How does your body feel afterwards?--
My feet had taken a serious shredding while I was working all day every day in the run up to Christmas, so they needed some TLC. I popped some moisturising socks on over my feet once I'd applied the body butter and I was amazed at the difference the next morning.

--Value for money--
Try and catch them in the sales and you really will get a bargain, with some prices currently being slashed to £6 for a big pot (oh, January sales, how we love you). If you don't want to pay the full price for the rest of the year, try buying them as part of a gift set (most of the body butters are available in this way). A top notch product that will send your dry skin packing.

perfect partner
Round Body Brush, £7

Body Shop Lipscuff

RRP: £7.50

--What does the promo say?--
"A moisturising lip care product that gently exfoliates the lips to help remove dead skin cells, leaving the lips feeling smooth, soft and conditioned which evens the surface of the skin to better absorb lip colour, making it last longer. Dermatologically tested."

--Packaging--
Sleek, unisex and very very handy. Has a silver lid and a black base, with the Body Shop logo burnished onto the slanted top of the lid.

--Application--
As you would a normal lip product: pull off the lid and apply directly to the lips.

--Appearance--
The stick itself is green, but on the lips it appears an off-white colour, which surprisingly doesn't look weird. It does, however, perhaps because of the exfoliate-y bits (crushed fig stone granules apparently), appear slightly uneven in application.

--Texture/Sensation--
Scrubby, but nice, and you get the simultaneous feelings of exfoliation and moisturisation (thanks to the marula oil) for quite a long time. The menthol also makes your lips feel slightly tingly.

--Scent--
Mmmmm minty. Tastes good too.

--Longevity--
Pretty good - it does last for hours - but you will need to reapply after eating.

--Value for money--
It is pretty expensive as far as lip care goes. However, I've seen nothing else like it, and it really is an absolute Godsend on those cold wintry days when a normal lip balm just won't cut it and you need that dry skin gone FAST. The speed at which it makes your lips smooth and kissable again is probably worth your £7.50 by itself.

perfect partners
Body Shop Lip Care
Body Shop Lip Gloss Dot, £5.50
Body Shop Lipstick and Concealer Brush, £8

Body Shop Seaweed Deep Cleansing Facial Wash

RRP: £6 for 100ml

--What does the promo say?--
"A mild oil-free and soap-free foaming cleansing gel. Effectively deep cleanses to clear open pores and rinse away excess oils, make-up, impurities and daily grime. Leaves the skin feeling cleansed, purified and refreshed with a shine-free, matte finish."

--Packaging--
Pretty simple really. Plastic transparent bottle, with a flip-top lid on which the bottle stands. The label is turquoise and unisex, with the product information on it in white, easy-to-read font, and is also sufficiently waterproof that it doesn't peel off in the shower. The flip top lid is easy to open and close, and no gel escapes from it. All in all, pretty functional.

--Application--
Just flip open the lid, squeeze a little into your palms/onto your fingertips, lather up with some water. Rub all over your face (of course avoiding the eye area), and then wash off.

--Appearance--
As with the Murad gel that I tried before, it's a yellowish gel, which isn't especially attractive. However, it leaves no visible residue or staining on the skin. In the shower it lathers well into a white foam.

--Texture--
It's a smooth gel that's just the right consistency - not too runny and not too lumpy.

--Scent--
Smells just like soap - no detectable scent of salt, seaweed or tea-tree like smells.

--How does your skin feel afterwards?--
Smooth and clean and like it's had a really good wash. There is also no stinging or any other kind of irritation.

--Improvement--
While this is no miracle worker, it's certainly very good at keeping the skin balanced and at a consistent level of clarity. It's definitely an everyday staple rather than some sort of wonder product, but the price reflects this and I didn't expect anything more from it, since that is how I always intended to use it.

--Value for money--
It keeps your skin feeling balanced, clean, clear and refreshed, is a day-to-day must have, and all for £6. Hardly the cheapest product on the market, but a long way from being the most expensive too, as well as being from an organisation with a vaguely ethical ethos. Score.

perfect partners
Body Shop Seaweed Clarifying Toner, £6 for 200ml
Body Shop Seaweed Mattifying Moisture Lotion, £9 for 50ml

Body Shop Cocoa Butter Lip Care Stick

RRP: £4/4.2g

--What does the promo say?--
"Next time you're hit with a chocolatey craving, try smoothing on this lip luxury. With Community Trade organic beeswax, plus moisturising olive, coconut and sweet almond oils."

--Packaging--
A very appropriate cream-and-brown colour scheme is used for this dinky little lip care stick, with all of the information you need on the label without things looking too crowded. The lid is a translucent cream colour and you twist the bottom of the tube to make more of this creamy lip butter appear at the top. The tube is a nice size as well at just 6cm long.

--Application--
No surprises here - just pull off the lid, twist the bottom of the tube, and apply directly to lips.

--Appearance--
The lip butter is a matte cream colour, and on the lips it takes a slightly off-white colour that surprisingly doesn't look at all unnatural, though it does have a tendency to highlight any dry bits of skin.

--Texture--
Luxurious, conditioning, and smooth without being sticky or slippy.

--Scent--
Smells like milk chocolate. Yummy.

--Taste--
Sadly not as strong as the scent, but that's OK.

--Longevity--
For a lip product that isn't marketed as being long-lasting, it lasts a surprisingly long time. It even lasts for a limited amount of time after eating before you need to apply more.

--Long-term and short-term effects--
With the weather getting colder, this is a total Godsend. After a cold bike ride back from today's lectures, I put some of this on and my lips immediately felt better. Long-term, lips become visibly smoother and softer.

--Value for money--
While this lip care stick is more on the expensive side than other lip care sticks on the market (Nivea's sticks, for example, start from just £1.68 for 4.8g), I'd say it's worth it for the luxuriousness alone, whereas Nivea's lip care range seems more for everyday use rather than being something to make you feel special. Everything has its place and all that!

Body Shop Brilliance Powder

RRP: £14.00/4.5g (or €23, or USD$18.50)
No. of shades: 4 - lustrous rose, shimmer bronze, matte bronze and shimmer gold

--What does the promo say?--
"Just push the button and the Brilliance Powder is in the brush. A lightweight sparkle powder with shimmering pearls that provides a natural-looking sun-kissed finish for the face and body. Available in a shimmer or matte finish. Dermatologically tested. Contains marula oil (a very effective moisturiser that also helps to condition the skin over time. Also provides essential fatty acids that help to repair the skin's moisture barrier, thus helping to restore moisture, smoothness and suppleness.), vitamin E (an antioxidant that helps to soften, condition and protect the skin), and light diffusing particles (instantly brighten the skin and help reduce the appearance of lines)."

--Packaging--
The packaging looks just like a blusher brush, the handle of which is mostly transparent so that you can see the powder inside. The brush is quite cheap and very synthetic-looking (I don't mind it being synthetic but this really does look plasticated), and is a sort of reddish-brown colour. The button is a sort of gold colour, as is most of the non-transparent packaging, and the Body Shop logo etc is written in small writing on the transparent bit. It's quite a sophisticated looking thing and is a nice size too. It also comes with a lid to put over the brush's bristles when you're done, which is nice in theory, but once you've used the brush on your face, even for the first time and even if you're careful, the bristles fan out and it's a challenge to stuff them back into the lid.

--Application--
Sounds so simple in the promo, doesn't it? "Just push the button." I wish. I stood there for 10 minutes pushing the silly little button until my thumb hurt with the appearance of no powder whatsoever when suddenly - whoosh! A load of powder deposits itself onto my hand as if to say "There." Luckily I was able to brush most of this onto my skin, but dearie me, it is a silly way of getting there. Happily this only happened the first time - once it got going it was very easy to use.

--Appearance--
Through the tube the powder looks lovely and iridescent without being over the top, and on the face there's no disappointment either. The glitter is not as subtle as some products I've used, but the product is versatile - you can layer the powder so that it's suitable for everyday wear or for a night out.

--Texture--
Very light. When the powder was on, you couldn't even tell it was there. No heaviness or caked-on feelings with this.

--Longevity--
Excellent - I wore this for a dinner out. We left at 8 and when we came back at midnight it hadn't budged.

--Does it do what it says it will?--
On the whole, yes, though saying it will reduce the appearance of lines seems to be going a bit far.

--Value for money--
You need so little of this powder that you'll get a lot of mileage out of one brush. However, looking at the prices, our American friends are undoubtedly better off, with the Europeans faring worst in terms of price (God damn, I knew I should have waited until I got home to buy this).

--Other comments--
The versatility of this product is amazing. Buy the white one (shimmer gold) and it's a highlighter. Buy the pink one (lustrous rose) and it's a blusher. Buy either of the bronze ones and it's a bronzer! Genius!

perfect partners
Body Shop Shimmer Cubes Eye Shadow, $17.50/£14.00/€22 for 4 colours
Body Shop Bronzing Powder, $14.00/£11.50/€16 for 11.5g

Body Shop Peppermint Smoothing Pumice Foot Scrub

RRP: £5.00/100ml
(also available as part of the Feet Treat Petite, £10, which includes Peppermint Cooling Pumice Foot Scrub 15 ml, Peppermint Cooling Foot Lotion 60 ml, Peppermint Cooling Foot Spray 50 ml, Mini File A Foot and Foot Shaped Toe Dividers; and available also as part of the Feet Treat Complete, £16, which includes Peppermint Cooling Foot Lotion 125ml, Peppermint Cooling Pumice Foot Scrub 100ml, Peppermint Cooling Foot Spray 100ml, File A Foot & Footsie Roller)

--Packaging--
A round blue pot with a teal footprint design gracing the lid, with the Body Shop logo and all the info in white, easy-to-read font. Young, funky-looking design. Tells you everything you need to know on the lid.

--What does the promo say?--
"Cleanse and polish your tootsies pretty with this gel-based potion that feels great after a long walk."

--Application--
Scoop the scrub out of the pot with your fingers and apply to your feet. Massage into your feet using your hands or a pumice stone for as long as you want and wash off.

--Appearance--
Grey, sludgy, slightly jelly-like, looks like wet sand. You can see the pumice granules straight away.

--Scent--
You can smell the peppermint straight away. It's strong, but not overpowering.

--Texture--
Rough. And scrubby. But not painful. As you might expect from a scrub. It's exfoliating, smoothing and soothing.

--Lather--
Some, but not too much.

--Is it easy to wash off?--
Yes.

--How does it make your skin feel afterwards?--
Lovely and smooth. I only began using it a week ago and it's already made a huuuuuge difference to my dry, cracked heels (with everyday usage). I've been following it up with the Peppermint Cooling Lotion, also made by Body Shop, for even greater smoothness...

--Value for money--
I got my pot as part of the Feet Treat Petite set, and while I was initially a little disappointed with the runtiness of the pot, I wasn't counting on how fast acting it is, and now I would undoubtedly buy a full size pot (keeping the smaller pot, so that I can decant some of the stuff into it for travel!).

perfect partners (all from Body Shop):
foot file, £4.50
terracotta pumice, £3
peppermint cooling foot lotion, £8 for 250ml
peppermint cooling foot spray, £5 for 100ml
peppermint cooling foot soak, £7 for 200ml
peppermint cooling leg gel, £5 for 125ml
peppermint cooling foot rescue treatment, £9 for 100ml