Boots Deep Moisturising Foot Cream

RRP: £3.86 for 100ml pot

--What does the promo say?--
"A soothing, medicated and antiseptic foot cream with natural extracts of mint, lavender and marshmallow to nourish and soften hard dry skin. Suitable for all skin types. Lanolin free."

--Packaging--
A slightly-smaller-than-palm-size glass pot, which allows you to see the green lotion within. Simple green label detailing the key ingredients and with a clearly-placed Boots logo. White plastic screw-top lid. It's a bit big to take in your hand baggage on holiday, but it would be easy enough to decant out what you need. If you did want to take it on holiday, the lid closes securely and there are no problems with leakage.

--Application--
Slather onto dry feet and rub in thoroughly. Wear moisturising socks to make absorption more effective if desired. Unfortunately the cream does not absorb really quickly as compared to its Body Shop and Efasit competitors.

--Appearance--
A pale mint green colour that perfectly matches the label and evokes the key ingredients. Nicely done. On the feet there is no visible residue.

--Scent--
The lavender and mint combine really nicely to create a unique fusion scent, although both scents are discernible separately if you concentrate hard enough. It's a little disappointing that the sweetness of the marshmallow isn't really detectable, but I suspect it's more there for softness and smoothness than for the scent, which is fair enough.

--Texture--
A bit too runny for me really, although not to the point of unmanageability. I think it's because of its runniness that it doesn't absorb too well, which is a bit of a shame. I also found it slightly greasy to rub in.

--How does your skin feel afterwards?--
Even with the help of moisturising socks, I wouldn't say it's as effective as creams I've used in the past. It does moisturise feet a little bit, but there just isn't the wow factor and repeated applications are definitely needed more than with the other creams I've used.

--Longevity--
No/few noticeable long-term effects.

--Does it do what it says it will?--
While it does smooth out hard skin, the effects are so short-term that the repeated applications hardly seem worth it. The addition of marshmallow also puzzles me: why put it in there if it will have no effect? According to wikipedia (the fount of all knowledge, of course), mint and lavender have proven antiseptic and medicinal qualities, while marshmallow has none. So is it just to seduce customers with images of softness and bounciness? Who knows? However, as promised, this product contains no lanolin, making this product suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

--Value for money--
While you can't argue with the price, it's no good to have a product at a lower price if it doesn't stand up to its competitors. Sorry Boots.

Avon Footworks Moisturising Socks

RRP: £4 (one size fits all)

--What does the promo say?--
"Team up these lavish treats for twice the delight - massage on the luxurious cream then wear the moisturising socks to intensify the treatment! (Socks 92% cotton, 8% elastane)"

--Packaging--
These socks come in their own delightful little stripy plastic travel pouch, which is a really nice touch. Think they probably come wrapped in cellophane or something when new as well (it's been a while since I bought mine so memory is slightly hazy...).

--Usage--
Pretty simple really - massage into your feet whatever cream you want or need, whether medicinal or luxury, pop on the socks and let them work their magic while you walk around the house or while you sleep.

--Appearance--
I apologise for the picture I've had to use for this entry, it really is awful and cheesy. The picture in the catalogue is much better - the socks are white, and it appears that the pink design on the bottom is a recent addition. They've also apparently made another inferior change - the 'old style' socks, the ones I bought just a few months ago, have a sort of v-shape on the top of the foot, kind of like pop socks/trainer socks, which just looks a bit cooler than the ankle sock style in the picture. The socks also get dirty quite quickly. Shame.

--Texture--
The socks themselves are very soft and because of the high levels of cotton, they won't irritate your feet at all. Hoorah.

--Fabric quality--
First of all, I don't believe the one-size-fits-all claim. While I think the elastane would stretch nicely for the larger foot (up to a women's size 8 I'm guessing), these socks would probably be seriously baggy on a smaller foot. I'm a UK size 6 and these socks really sag on my heels (meaning they come off really easily during the night as well, even though they don't fall off if I'm walking around them during the day). They would probably, then, best suit women of a UK size 5-8 foot. Any smaller and they'll probably fall off, any bigger and they probably won't fit. Beyond that, their shape and size doesn't change during washing (good thing), and as already mentioned, they're kind to your feet too.

--Efficacy--
These socks really do their stuff, both medicinally and in terms of luxury. Recently I had a bit of a case of athlete's foot on one foot, while my other foot was fine. I slathered the normal foot in Body Shop Body Butter and popped on the sock, while on the other foot I did the same but with athlete's foot cream. A few hours of walking around the house later and BOTH feet were perfectly soft and smooth. I kid you not. Athlete's foot = gone. Definitely much more effective than the usual rubbing into the skin and hoping for the best.

--Value for money--
These socks are of course reusable, and despite the slight sagginess and general non-fulfilment of the one size fits all claim, they really do their stuff and restore your feet to soft tootsie heaven. Brill.

perfect partner
Foot and Elbow Cream with AHA, £4 (75ml)

No7 Quick Thinking 4 in 1 Wipes

RRP: £6.50

--What does the promo say?--
"Speedy Skincare with No7 Quick Thinking 4 in 1 Wipes. Be good to your skin, even when you're short of time with these gentle, fragrance-free wipes. Specially created for your busiest days, they sweep away impurities, tone your skin, remove waterproof eye make-up and moisturise, quick as a flash. With pro vitamin B5 to moisturise and soften, plus natural extracts of witch hazel and fennel to clear pores and leave your skin feeling smooth and fresh. Fragrance free and hypo-allergenic. This product is best used in conjunction with any No7 Moisturiser."

--Packaging--
A cool blue, nicely sized rectangular plastic package with a white lid made from hard plastic. The white lid bears the No7 logo and product information in black and gold, so all very simplistic and in keeping with the No7 brand. You then lift the lid and peel back the protective film to reach the face wipes. The lid seems unnecessary: I didn't find it kept the wipes any more moist than usual and I'm sure that given the extra materials used it must drive the price up, so I'm not really too impressed with that.

--Usage--
Take out one wipe from the packet, close the lid, and sweep over your face, neck and eyelids to wipe away impurities and remove makeup. This product claims to cleanse, tone, moisturise and remove makeup simultaneously, so you shouldn't need to do anything else before or after. I'd only recommend moisturising afterwards as the Boots website tells you to if you have really dry skin.

--Scent--
The scent was just really clean and clear. Reminded me of freshly laundered towels.

--How does it feel on the skin?--
The wipes are cool and refreshing and the stuff they're soaked in isn't at all harsh or abrasive.

--Does it do what it says it will?/How does your skin feel afterwards?--
It removes makeup perfectly and you really feel like your face has been cleansed, toned and moisturised. Your face feels clean and smooth and it really gets rid of excess sweat after a workout too. The only thing I didn't notice was any improvement in my skin, which was slightly surprising given the presence of witch hazel in the product.

--Value for money--
While this product was pleasant to use, it's a LOT more than I would normally spend on face wipes. You only get 25 wipes or so in the pack and that's not really very much for the money paid. One good thing this product did was introduce me to the concept of 4-in-1 wipes, and I will definitely be on the lookout for other 4-in-1 wipes that do the same thing just as well for a nicer price.

perfect partners
No7 Smooth and Soothed Gentle Cleanser, £7
No7 Beautifully Balanced Purifying Toner, £7
No7 Intelligent Balance Day Fluid, £9.25
No7 Intelligent Balance Night Fluid, £9.25

Skyn Iceland Pure Cloud Cream

RRP: $75 or £57.40 for 50g (£51.66 if you buy 2 or more)

--What does the promo say?--
"Symptom: Winter weather can ravage your skin. Cosmetic procedures put it through the wringer. What you're left with is stressed, irritated, uncomfortable skin that needs immediate relief!

Solution: Pure Cloud Cream is the cosmetic equivalent of kid gloves. Incredibly soothing and comforting, this light-as-air cream provides hyper-protection and healing relief for super-sensitive skin. Formulated to rescue skin from external aggressors like harsh weather and provide comfort after dermatological procedures and surgeries, it pampers and calms seriously stressed skin. Irritation and inflammation are soothed away by aloe and oat extract while peptides stimulate the release of feel-good endorphins. Hydrolyzed rice protein and ImmunoBoost help bolster skin’s immunity and inhibit collagen breakdown for improved healing."

--Ingredients--
Water (Aqua), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrogenated Didecene, Angelica Archangelica Root Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Canola Oil, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Bisabalol, Buddleja Davidii Extract, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Flower/Leaf Extract, Simondsia Chinensis, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Avena Sativa (Oat) Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Retinyl Palmitate, Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Gold, Silver, Copper Sulfate, Glycosphingolipids, Cetyl Alcohol, Oleth-10 Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Monostearate, PEG-75 Shea Butter Glycerides, Lecithin, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Perfluorodecalin, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Trideceth-6, Lauryl Glucoside, Laureth-3, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol

--Packaging--
Really nice opaque, dreamy-looking pot that is really reminiscent of clouds of white, adorned with minimal writing in a simple grey font. Utterly luxurious and almost breathtaking. The lid is a simple white plastic screw top, and there's little/no risk of leakage.

--Application--
Sweep a little out of the pot using your finger, and apply to your face. Very little is needed to moisturise the whole face.

--Appearance--
Quite a thick, stiff cream, but still smooth rather than lumpy. A real creamy white colour that's just a joy to look at. On the face, it doesn't leave any visible residue.

--Texture/consistency--
Stiff - it stands up on its own as egg whites would do. However, it's still very easy to rub in and it absorbs really well.

--Scent--
My first thought was that it smelt of lemons, which was a very pleasant surprise. On closer inspection, though, there is also a chalkier, more powdery smell in there. The grapefruit scent comes through nicely though perhaps it would be nicer to be able to smell the other scents, like aloe vera, as well.

--Does it do what it says it will?--
Yes - my skin felt fabulously smooth even after going out in strong winds (well, if it can withstand Iceland, it can handle merrie old England, right?). However, it didn't do anything that my Liz Earle intensive treatment doesn't do. (Please note that my skin is too oily to use this as an everyday moisturiser, so I am using this as a rescue treatment only.)

--Value for money--
I was disappointed to find that this product was so expensive: not because I didn't like it, but because in principle I refuse to spend that much on a face cream. If I was going to buy it, I would buy it in America, where at today's current conversion rate it is approximately £20 less than the current British RRP. I'd guess that a pot would last quite a long time, seeing as each application requires so little of the stuff, so given that, and given that it works so well, it probably is good value for money in a sense. Oh well. Perhaps one day when I am rich...

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

Liz Earle Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask

RRP: £4 for 15ml, £10.25 for 50ml, £11.00 for 50ml + Liz Earle muslin cloth

*contains borage oil, comfrey, pro-vitamin B5, geranium, glycerin, shea butter and St John's Wort*

--What does the promo say?--
"Calming and deeply nourishing, this nutrient rich mask is a sanctuary for dehydrated, dry skin, or stressed skin. The perfect treat for skin overnight or whilst soaking in the bath."

--Packaging--
Everything about Liz Earle's packaging screams - or should that be whispers? - calmness and serenity. A pastel theme runs throughout the range's packaging - this one is a pale yellow, flat rectangular plastic bottle, featuring the Liz Earle logo and product information in elegant black capital letters. It's easy to open and close (just screw/unscrew the lid) and there is no leakage.

--Application--
Squeeze some lotion from the tube and apply liberally to the face. Leave on for 10-15 minutes (they say you can do this overnight but unless you only apply a little I think it would be quite messy!) before washing off (preferably using the Liz Earle muslin cloth, but any flannel will do). They recommend that you follow this treatment with a toner and moisturiser.

--Appearance--
If you've not used it for a while then it might be an idea to give this a shake before opening, as otherwise a clear liquid will seep out just before the cream. The cream itself, however, is an off-white colour, and when applied liberally enough to the face then the 'mask' is clearly visible. After use, there is no shine - it absorbs really well.

--Texture/consistency--
Slightly lumpy, but it all smoothens out when the lotion is applied to the face. It feels wonderful - very soothing, relaxing and non-irritating.

--How does your face feel afterwards?--
Incredibly smooth. It honestly is the best facial treatment I've ever used in this respect. After applying it, I toned and moisturised as normal before going out, and despite spending half an hour in cold winds, my face was just as smooth when I came back and it stayed this way all day, even after the application of makeup.

--Value for money--
Really excellent for a premium beauty product. Having received mine as part of a set, I wasn't aware of how much it was, but having seen the prices I would undoubtedly replace mine as soon as it ran out. Even though liberal application is advised, I wouldn't say the amount needed is at all excessive and that a tube is therefore likely to last a long time. Buy it now.