TAAJ MAHARANI Crème de la reine Anti-âge absolu

 

by Sarah Cross

RRP: €59/£42.60 for 50ml

--What does the promo say?—

“Crème de la Reine” (The Queen’s cream) contains 40 rare, precious and natural anti-ageing ingredients plus hyaluronic acid, collagen and elastin. It contains no silicones. An exceptional face cream, it envelops your skin in a gentle protective veil, leaving a satiny and comfortable finish. Skin is left visibly younger, plumped up and revitalised. Firmness and elasticity are restored, wrinkles are smoothed and the complexion becomes radiant and uniform.

The MAHARANI cream is inspired by the legend of Amrita. The Amrita is the nectar of immortality of the Hindu gods and goddesses. It is said that only the MAHARANIS, queens and wives of the maharajas, held the recipe and poured a few drops into their skin care to preserve their youth. Recommended for mature skin."

--Ingredients--

“Developed in France in partnership with a laboratory in India on the plateaux of the Himalayas, TAAJ beauty products are made from Himalayan spring water and extracts of plants and essential oils whose properties are beneficial to the body.

Himalayan spring water is the company’s star active ingredient. It is particularly pure; its pH of 7.3 respects sensitive skin whilst contributing to enhancing the active ingredients it contains. Its calcium concentration helps to regulate the body’s own pH. Rich in Silicium oxide, a molecule that consolidates the structure of Hyaluronic Acid, Himalayan Spring Water helps to combat ageing skin. The emulsion formed from this spring water and the associated oils is therefore more than a simple excipient and is the solid base for all our skincare products.”

--Company Philosophy—

TAAJ is the first modern French range of beauty products to be inspired by the philosophy of AYURVEDA. It has adapted ancestral principles to the highest standard for international cosmetics. Through its refined galenics and exquisite fragrances, TAAJ offers high quality and effective beauty products to women all over the world.

The website has much information on the ayurvedic philosophy and you can fill in a questionnaire to ascertain your own ayurvedic ‘profile’ to determine your ‘dosha’ (biological humors and psycho-physiological energies described in the Ayurveda) with associated beauty products, lifestyle and food recommendations.

80% of TAAJ products are also certified VEGAN by the Global Vegetarian Certification Services. The rest of the products contain beeswax or honey derivatives, which remain close to the principle of veganism because the beeswax used does not come from ‘domestic’ hives but from wild bee colonies in India.

--Packaging--
TAAJ products are generally in white or transparent boxes/containers with the distinctive TAAJ logo in gold lettering. However, the precious Maharani face cream stands out from the crowd in that it comes in a rich, royal blue box with gold lettering.

I love the fact that the cardboard box contains all the instructions and details of the ingredients printed on the inside, rather than additional folded paper inside the box - representing a saving on packaging. There is also a special card with the legend of ‘Amrita’ printed on it and small colour pictures of all the different ingredients. In a quality product, it was nice to see that so much attention had been paid to the detail of the special ingredients. 

The cream itself is in a cylindrical royal blue pump-action dispenser with gold lettering and has a gold top encased in a clear cap.

Whilst I find this container beautiful, there are two disadvantages. One is that you cannot tell how much you have used; the only way is through the diminishing weight of the container in your hands. (Why don’t the manufacturers leave a thin line section of this type of pump clear at the back so that you can see when you are reaching the bottom?) Secondly, because the tube is hard, you cannot cut it in half, as I do with so many of my beauty products, to scrape out whatever remains of the cream inside once the pump is no longer working. I have often found that I can use products for up to two weeks after the pump no longer works if I can cut the tube open, so I find myself gazing wistfully at this dispenser when I re-cycle it, wondering just how much of that precious cream is still lurking inside.

Only a minor disadvantage, though, as I feel the product benefits from being hermetically sealed in this way.

--Application--

Apply morning and/or evening to freshly cleansed face and neck.

--Appearance--

An opaque white cream that comes out in a small squiggle on your fingertip. The amount dispensed with one pump action is just right for one side of your face and neck. So, two small pumps and you are done!

--Scent—

Hardly surprising, with all these amazing ayurvedic ingredients, that this cream smells totally DIVINE. Aromatherapy in a pot. I would wear this as a perfume.

--Texture and consistency--

Relatively thick and creamy but fluid enough to spread easily over your face. A little goes a long way.

--Effects on the skin—

Blends in easily and leaves the skin silky smooth. Attenuates fine lines. My dry skin loves it.

--Value for money--

Compared to some face creams on the market this is at the top of the range but is, I feel, well worth the money for the quality of the product and the research and care that has gone into producing it. I started using my first tube just after Christmas and I am still using it, morning and night, at the beginning of May.

--perfect partners--

HUILE DELHICIEUSE 100ml 22.40€

EAU MICELLAIRE 500ml 13.20€

EAU MICELLAIRE PEAUX SENSIBLES 500ml 14.50€

LE REGARD DE REINE eye and lip contour cream 44.90€

Noble Isle Lightning Oak Hair and Body Wash

RRP: £20

--What does the promo say?--
"An enduring, handsome fragrance, balancing smoky wood aromas with modern notes of crushed pepper and bergamot, enriched with toning extract of English oak."

--Packaging--
As classy as a plastic pump-action bottle can be thanks to its traditional logo and minimalist text, all embossed with an opaque finish. You also can't go wrong with it being see-through - I personally prize always being able to see how much product I have remaining.

--Application--
Lather up and rub over wet skin, or through wet hair. Rinse off when done.

--Appearance--
A sage green in the bottle, but turns white upon lathering and leaves no visible residue.

--Scent--
The website promises a mixture of bergamot, grapefruit, cardamom, clove, vetiver and sandalwood. Vetiver in particular is a very masculine fragrance, and I don't normally like it. However, in this case it's not overwhelming. None of the other scents are especially detectable; however, this could be considered the mark of a good fragrance, as it means they are all well-balanced.

--Texture and consistency--
Lathers up encouragingly and rinses out well, both from the hair and off the skin.

--Effects on the skin and hair--
Leaves skin feeling smooth and soft, and while I'm often sceptical of these products that claim to be multi-use, effects on the hair are also positive, with volume, luminosity and texture all restored.

--Value for money--
While £20 might seem pricy, this product's luxurious nature, high-quality results and multi-purpose application make it worth the money.

perfect partners
Warm and Woody Trio, £19.50
Bath and Shower Trio, £19.50
Bath and Body Gift Set, £29
Mini Love, £15
Lightning Oak Soap Bar, £15
Lightning Oak Candle and Snuffer, £39
Fragrance Sampler, £12
Deluxe Traveller, £29 

Liz Earle Botanical Essence Eau de Parfum No. 1

RRP: £39.50/50ml

--What does the promo say?--
"For our first ever bespoke fragrance, we’ve used the finest natural botanical ingredients from around the world and the expert skills of a distinguished perfumer from Grasse, France. We gave him the time to indulge in this age-old art, skilfully hand-crafting this complex scent with true passion to create a vibrant, sparkling fragrance translating into warmth and sensuality – and it’s just won its first award, in the Grazia Beauty Awards.

Over 98% directly derived from natural ingredients, this sensuous fragrance can be worn every day. Spritz generously all over any time your spirits need a boost."

--Packaging--
Beautiful in their simplicity, the white box and the clear glass bottle are uncluttered and peaceful-looking, bearing only the most essential information and the gentlest touches of colour and illustration. There is a blue fabric tag with which to pull out the inner box from the outer one, and it is easy enough once you've got the knack to very lightly grasp the top and bottom edges of the inner box and shake the bottle out into your waiting hand. The classic spray top is adorned with a satisfyingly heavy silvery lid.

--Application--
Spray onto pulse points, or spray into the air and then walk into the fragrance so that you are covered in a light mist of it.

--Appearance--
The liquid in the bottle appears dark yellow to light green, but there are no visible traces left on the skin.

--Irritation--
No irritation was experienced during the use of this product.

--Scent--
Possibly slightly off-putting, as the bitter orange combined with bergamot makes for a rather masculine and arresting start. However, it settles into something more subtle, yet complex, as its different flavours come to the fore. I'm no botanist, so could not say which was the most prominent, but can confirm that even once the heart notes are in session, the scent is still on the masculine side, meaning that some die-hard girly scent fans might be eliminated at this stage. Nevertheless, despite the fragrance's unisex nature, don't worry that men will be put off: my fiancé loves this on me and comments on it every time I wear it.

--Longevity--
Most long-lasting scent ever: my fiancé commented on the smell one MORNING and it was the same spritz that I'd applied the previous afternoon. Most impressive.

--Value for money--
Given the high percentage of natural content, the unusual scent and the longevity factor, this scent has a lot going for it. Buying a scent without being able to smell it is always a gamble, though, so like many Liz Earle products, you're relying on word of mouth to help you decide whether or not to buy. If your perfume collection is almost exclusively girly and sweet (like YSL's Parisienne) then you may not like this one; however, if you like musks and peppery scents just as much as the ones that remind you of sweetshops, then give this a go: at just under £40 for 50ml its value for money equals or surpasses many high street fragrances, especially when you consider how long it lasts on the skin. Not least, this multitudinal perfume is an absolute pleasure to unwrap as you try to decipher its scent, and is a sure coup for Liz Earle.

Bath and Body Works Lemongrass Cardamom Shower Gel

RRP: $13 for 10 fl.oz.

--What does the promo say?--
"Just relax. Lemongrass essential oil enhances clarity. Cardamom essential Oil helps soothe the mind. This nourishing body wash contains green tea extract to help keep skin looking younger and healthier."

--Packaging--
A nice contrast from the Lemongrass Cardamom Body Lotion, but still visibly part of the Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy range, the shower gel uses a similar style of label, but this time on a clear rather than a green plastic bottle, to create a sophisticated and useable result.

--Usage--
Very easy - just lather up whenever you're in the shower or bath, massage over body, and then rinse off.

--Appearance--
A transparent, slightly yellowy gel.

--Scent--
The citrus element comes through even more strongly than with the body lotion in the range, but it's not lemon - it definitely has something more sophisticated to it. Lemongrass definitely a good choice, but I still wished that I could smell the cardamom more.

--Texture/consistency--
That of your average shower gel: gloopy and viscous, but not sticky. It lathers well, though, creating a light film of bubbles that is easy to wash off.

--Effects on skin--
Makes skin soft, but the scent barely lingers - a couple of hours after showering, it's gone.

--Value for money--
While it's nice enough, for this money I prefer the body lotion, and for other shower gels in this price bracket, I'd prefer one by Caudalie, Escada, or, ironically, Crabtree & Evelyn.

perfect partners
Lemongrass Cardamom Body Lotion, $13
Lemongrass Cardamom Body Mist, $15
Lemongrass Cardamom Pillow Mist, $10

Bath and Body Works Lemongrass Cardamom Body Lotion

RRP: $13 for 6.5fl.oz.

--What does the promo say?--
"Just relax. Lemongrass essential oil enhances clarity. Cardamom essential oil helps soothe the mind. This ultra-creamy body lotion contains natural soybean oil to nourish and moisturize skin and glycerin to attract moisture to skin."

--Packaging--
A translucent green pump-action bottle, evoking the colour of cardamom pods. The label is classy and understated, and is reminiscent of Crabtree and Evelyn packaging. A class act all the way.

--Application--
Massage into arms, legs, stomach and chest area after bathing.

--Appearance--
Although it is not really visible through the bottle, the lotion is a simple creamy white, and leaves no discernible residue on the skin when rubbed in.

--Scent--
While the cardamom is less detectable than the lemongrass, the two combine expertly to create a pleasant scent. It is a subtle and sophisticated scent that is perceivable but not overpowering.

--Texture/consistency--
Not too runny or sticky, though perhaps I would prefer it to be slightly more creamy and luxurious. However, it rubs in very easily and smoothens skin effectively.

--Effects on the skin--
Helps to maintain a good overall skin condition, balancing out any irritation or dryness.

--Value for money--
For a mere $13, you just can't miss out. Stock up whenever you're Stateside.

perfect partners
Lemongrass Cardamom Body Wash and Foam Bath, $13
Lemongrass Cardamom Body Mist, $15
Lemongrass Cardamom Pillow Mist, $10