Soin des lèvres au Lait de Jument de Camargue

RRP: 8€

--What does the promo say?—

"Moisturisation and protection guaranteed with our SOIN DES LEVRES! This lip balm is so rich that it will quickly repair and protect your lips from the effects of the cold and the sun. Good for cracked and sore lips, it is rich in moisturising ingredients such as shea butter and beeswax, which reinforce the qualities of Camargue mare’s milk. It nourishes, softens and protects your lips to the maximum. It does not contain a UV filter and is a natural product containing no chemical ingredients. (Any conservation agents used have been approved by Ecocert.) Suitable for daily use."

--Ingredients--

Shea butter, grapeseed oil, beeswax, aloe vera, jojoba oil, argan oil, lemon essential oil. 

--Packaging--

The SOIN DES LEVRES comes in a standard lipstick format. It has a paper wrap- around label with discreet logo of a horse’s head, the Camargue cross, the name of the product in black and green lettering and an attractive picture of mares in the Camargue.

--Application--

Apply like a lipstick, to top and bottom lip, and rub lips together to smooth the product in thoroughly.

--Appearance--

The SOIN DES LEVRES is a solid creamy-yellow stick.

--Scent—

The scent on this is very faint indeed, which I prefer to other lip balms I have used. You are not left with a strong taste on your lips. It feels completely natural.

--Texture and consistency--

The texture is quite solid and hard. I have a feeling that it will last longer than most sticks of this type because it doesn’t ‘melt away’ or wear down quickly as some do.

--Effects on the lips —

My lips feel instantly hydrated and the effect lasts a long time. A bonus: I also apply it around the contours of my lips to reduce the fine lines and it works a treat. Used before going to bed, it keeps my lips moisturised all through the night.

--Value for money--

Very good value for the quality of the product and the fact that it will last a long time.

perfect partners

CRÈME DE SOIN VISAGE (Face cream) 30€

LAIT DEMAQUILLANT (Make-up remover), from €9

CRÈME PEAU SECHE ET SENSIBLE (Cream for dry and sensitive skin), from €9

SAVON AU LAIT DE JUMENT NATUREL ET HYDRATANT (Natural moisturising mare’s milk soap), from €2

CRÈME POUR LES MAINS (Hand cream), 11.90€ 

CRÈME POUR LES PIEDS (Foot cream), 11.90€

COMPLEMENTS ALIMENTAIRES (dietary supplement capsules), 29.90€ 

https://laitdejumentdecamargue.fr/

LQ Liquid Health Skin Hair and Nails

RRP: £29.99 for 10 x 50ml

--What does the promo say?--
"LQ Skin, Hair & Nails is a scientifically formulated daily liquid supplement and is part of the LQ Liquid Health Supplement range. Each daily bottle contains multiple key active ingredients and includes marine collagen (7000mg), hyaluronic acid, resveratrol, silicon, glucosamine, selenium and vitamins. Collagen is the most abundant, naturally occurring protein in the body and each bottle contains 7000mg of high bioavailability Peptan™ marine collagen. High grade resveratrol is extracted from red grapes.

In addition to the multiple key active ingredients LQ Skin, Hair & Nails contains:

- Vitamin C which contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of the skin. It also contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress
- Selenium which contributes to the maintenance of normal skin and hair
- Biotin (vitamin B7) which contributes to the maintenance of normal skin and hair
- Vitamin E which contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress."

--Packaging--

The magenta labels are bright and vibrant and the plastic bottles themselves are practical for travel thanks to their small size and secure screw caps. They are also recyclable, so a win-win situation all round.

--Usage instructions--

Drink one 50ml bottle per day. This can be mixed with water (fizzy or still) if you choose.

--Appearance--

An opaque orange colour reminiscent of the passion fruit it contains. When diluted it turns slightly yellower. No visible residue is left on teeth, lips, tongue or drinking glasses.

--Taste--

A very sweet, rich taste. Luckily, despite this, it's only 31 calories a bottle, so even those on calorie-controlled diets can easily take advantage. This does, however, need to be clearly labelled on the packaging so that dieters are not deterred.

--Texture and consistency--

Slightly cough-syrupy, but mixing this with fizzy water makes it a more palatable supplement to consume. It's also very smooth, not at all bitty, so in this sense it's no struggle to drink either.

--Effects on the body--

As this is supposed to maintain normal skin, hair and nails, the product embodies the same irony as with anti-ageing products: if it works, then nothing should happen! However, nails appear to be strengthened and skin seems clearer. Longer-term use is possibly necessary for effects on the hair to be perceived.

--Value for money--

At £29.99 for 10 shots, and with a minimum of one month's use apparently required for results to be visible, you're talking about a cost of nearly £90 for one month's supply, which is a luxury for most people. Even if you take advantage of deals such as Boots' current offer of 3-for-2 on the product, that is still a monthly cost of £60, which for many is difficult to justify. People would need to see real tangible results after a month to continue investment in the product. If LQ can find a way to bring the price down, more people would potentially be persuaded to buy. This could potentially be done by reducing packaging costs (e.g. sachets containing dissolvable powders, instead of ready-mixed bottles, which also are heavier and cost more to ship than sachets). In short, the product has potential, but still requires improvement in order to boost sales.

perfect partners

Joint Care, £24.99

Advanced Skin Care, £29.99

Heart Care, £24.99

Crabtree and Evelyn Pomegranate, Argan and Grapeseed Body Scrub

--What does the promo say?--
"Instantly reveal smoother skin with the gentle exfoliation of our Pomegranate, Argan & Grapeseed Body Scrub with sunflower wax beads. A nourishing blend of pomegranate, sunflower, jojoba, pumkpin and sesame seed oils replenish and soften the skin while antioxidant-rich grapeseed extract helps to protect the skin.  

• A nourishing blend of pomegranate, sunflower, jojoba, pumpkin, and sesame seed oils replenish and soften
• Antioxidant-rich 
• Conditioning and smoothing 

Fragrance: The tart sweetness of pomegranate coupled with a burst of citrus and fresh fig leaf.

Discover more from our restorative Pomegranate, Argan & Grapeseed collection."

--Packaging--

A chunky tube with a plastic flip top lid which is well thought-out ergonomically speaking, as well as aesthetically: the white and red colour scheme is unusual, dynamic, and beautifully composed.

--Appearance--

A creamy pink lotion in which particles are visible. No visible residue is left on the skin.

--Scent--

Fruity without being heavy; the citrus lifts it. 

--Texture and consistency--

Creamy yet effective in its exfoliation; grapeseed is wonderful for sloughing away dry particles without irritating skin.

--Effects on skin--

Skin feels really clean, and thanks to the seed oils, moisturised rather than stripped.

--Value for money--

At £17, it may seem expensive, but the ingredients are of good quality, the tube is of a generous size, the effects on the skin cannot be argued with, and it's on offer at the moment on the Crabtree and Evelyn website (3 for 2 on selected products from the range). So shop around - you can't go wrong. 

perfect partners

Shower Gel, £15**

Body Lotion, £16**

Body Mist, £15

Body Cream, £22

Hand Wash, £15***

Hand Therapy, £21*

Soap, £18 for 3

Shampoo, £25 for 500ml or 2 for £30

Conditioner, £25 for 500ml or 2 for £30

* also available in travel size

** also available in both travel and maxi sizes

*** also available in maxi size

Spa Technologies SPF45 Tinted Moisturiser

RRP: £35

--What does the promo say?--
"This silky-smooth Tinted Moisturiser protects delicate skin with fortified Antioxidants and reflects the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays with an SPF of 45. It is formulated with the added benefit of Mineral Makeup creating a flawless base and even skin tone."

--Packaging--
This convenient pump-action bottle is decorated with a double band of metallic blue, which helps to give the brand a clear identity. Blue is also an unusual packaging colour in the world of foundation and the glass bottle means that you can always see how much you have left - a definite bonus.

--Application--
After washing your face, apply over primer to commence your makeup routine. Add concealer and powder as necessary to complete your base before proceeding to other makeup.

--Appearance--
Is pale upon emerging from the bottle, but on the face provides no coverage whatsoever.

--Scent--
The cucumber extract comes through strongly, which is unusual and not at all unpleasant.

--Texture and consistency--
Smooth and creamy without weighing the skin down. It also doesn't add white streaks to your face like conventional sunscreen. In that respect it's the best sunscreen I've ever used, whether commercial or natural - it's like using a luxurious face cream rather than the traditional, medicinal 'creaming up' process before going into the sun.

--Effects on the skin--
Given the raft of natural antioxidant and sun-protecting ingredients present in this cream, I have no doubt that you could expect anti-ageing effects over time and that you would avoid sun damage as well. However, as a tinted moisturiser it does not fulfil the brief due to the non-existent coverage. However, I acknowledge that I have acneic skin, and so that this may not be suitable for my needs.

--Value for money--
If I were looking for a tinted moisturiser that offered me coverage as well as protection I would be sorely disappointed to pay £35 for this as it does not keep its promise of creating a "flawless base". However, it's the best sunscreen I've ever used - perfect for the delicate skin on the face, and natural too, with a beautiful consistency, that without doubt protects you from harmful UVA and UVB rays. Price-wise it competes well with other brands offering natural sunscreen such as BareMinerals, as well as luxury brands such as Obagi and Kiehl's. For this reason, I would definitely shell out my hard-earned for it.

perfect partners
Spot Mask Treatment, £35
Restore Kit, £80

Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Antioxidant

RRP: £29.95 for 60 capsules (= 2 months' supply)

--What does the promo say?--
"Skin Antioxidant is formulated with seven super phytonutrients found in plants. Just as plants need antioxidants to protect them from damaging UV rays, so does your skin. Any source of light, even artificial, creates free radicals which cause premature ageing. Protect your skin from the inside with Skin Antioxidant and keep it looking younger for longer!"

--Packaging--
The former slimline plastic zip-lock package was convenient for travel, easy to open and close, took up little space, and keeps the capsules in optimal conditions. Its design was also modern, minimal and discreet, to suit a wide range of possible needs. While the new packaging (pictured above) is extremely sleek, I'm not sure that it would fulfil some of the more practical qualities listed above (e.g. suitability for travel).

--Usage--
Swallow one capsule a day, with liquid, in order to boost your immune system and prevent your skin from environmental damage. The capsules are about 2 centimetres long (possibly a little less), so this is generally easy to accomplish.

--Appearance--
The capsule is an off-white colour with hints of grey and pink. These hues make them easy enough to distinguish from the same company's Skin Vit A capsules, which are a purer white colour. This difference is particularly handy as the two products are sold together in the Skin Complete pack, which encourages you to take the two supplements simultaneously. If you therefore take a few tablets out of each packet in preparation for your travels, you can still know which one you are taking at any given moment.

--Taste and smell--
Nothing discernible.

--Effects on the body--
Tricky to gauge, as unlike some of the other supplements sold by this company, such as the Accumax, immediate results cannot be possible simply due to the Skin Antioxidant's nature. Any anti-ageing effects, therefore, will only be apparent many more months (or even years) down the line. However, the ingredients also are well-known for bolstering the body's immune system, and I'm not sure it's 100% coincidence that just a week or two after my packet finished, I came down with a horrible cold.

--Value for money--
At the supplement's full price, only you can decide if 50p per day is worth it for the possibility of ongoing health and anti-ageing. I'd say it's not bad, just for the wellness effects alone. Value for money is also greatly increased by the twin facts that a) you get £10 off your first order when signing up to their newsletter, and b) once you are signed up, discount vouchers in the region of 10%-20% off are emailed through frequently. So even if I hadn't been sent my first pack for nothing, I'd perhaps be inclined to continue.

perfect partners
Skin Complete, £45.00
The Skin Collection, £77.50