Rosehip Plus Hydrating Day Cream

RRP: £24

--What does the promo say?--
"This Hydrating Day Cream is a 100% pure and natural Australian Certified Organic facial moisturiser. It has been formulated with RosehipPLUS® 100% pure Certified Organic cold pressed Rosehip Oil as well as a blend of chamomile, avocado and rose geranium, which supports and encourages a healthier looking skin."

--Packaging--
The orange and white colour scheme is new and different, with the rosehip plant clearly silhouetted. The flip-top lid is practical also.

--Application--
Rub a small amount into your clean, dry face post-cleansing. A little goes a long way, so beware!

--Appearance--
The white cream dissolves invisibly into skin, leaving no residue.

--Scent--
Surprisingly citrusy, although not overpoweringly so.

--Texture and consistency--
As mentioned, blends well without any greasiness or stickiness.

--Effects on the skin--
The product's claims are perhaps a little vague and those with acneic skin may not find that it helps to balance oiliness. Those with drier skin may benefit more from the cream's alleged hydrating properties.

--Value for money--
While the quality of the sourced ingredients is undisputed, and the cream is pleasant to use, it didn't seem right for my skin type - a shame. I have had better success with oil cleansing methods in the past, however, so would be keen to try the rosehip oil from the same range instead.

perfect partners
Rosehip Oil, from £15
Skin Boost Roll-On, £10
Nourishing Night Cream, £29
Daily Cream Cleanser, £19

Trilogy Gentle Facial Exfoliant

RRP: £21.50

--What does the promo say?--
"The fast way to a fresh new complexion with glowing results you'll see instantly, Trilogy Gentle Facial Exfoliant is a gentle, creamy treatment that removes dead skin cells and surface debris that dull your skin's appearance. Formulated with jojoba wax spheres and camellia oil to gently buff away impurities and nourishing botanical oils to reveal softer, smoother, more radiant skin, Trilogy Gentle Facial Exfoliant is an essential part of your beauty regime."

--Packaging--
The red, white and silver colour scheme is a bit spartan, but at least unisex and practical, with the flip-top plastic lid proving robust. Gives you only the information you need and nothing more - so cuts the spin and makes it easy to read.

--Application--
Massage in circular motions onto moistened skin before rinsing off and following with moisturiser. Pretty simple really.

--Appearance--
Off-white, with barely visible grains. No visible residue is left on the skin.

--Scent--
The jojoba and camellia gives a really clean, natural scent that isn't overpowering.

--Texture and consistency--
To quote Trilogy's PR, "The Trilogy range has always been and will always continue to be free of plastic microbeads." This is a great thing, as not only is the environmental impact significant, but natural exfoliants always tend to be more effective anyway. The jojoba microspheres in this product are no exception - pleasantly scrubby without irritating the skin.

--Effects on the skin--
Further to this, the brand mantra is ‘maximum effect on your skin, minimum effect on our environment’. This is borne out by this product, which sloughs off dead skin while moisturising thanks to the natural microspheres and combinations of essential oils.

--Value for money--
While at £21.50 this seems expensive, you can shop around for good deals, and furthermore, this is a high quality product which lasts a long time (a little goes a long way!). You can equally be confident in the knowledge that by buying this product and not one containing microplastics, you are helping to protect the environment too.

perfect partners
Balancing Face Lotion, £26.50
Hydrating Mist Toner, £17.50
Rosehip Oil Antioxidant+, £26.50

Crabtree and Evelyn Gardeners Ultra-Moisturising Hand Therapy

RRP: from £6 for 25g

--What does the promo say?--
"After a long day of handling thorny situations, our Gardeners Hand Therapy is just the help you need. Containing a blend of nutrient-rich shea butter, moisturising glyercin, deodorising clover and soothing bisabolo from camomile our hand therapy will help nourish and condition work-roughened hands.

• Shea butter rich formula
• Soothes
• Conditions
• Restores softness
• New durable polylaminate tube"

--Packaging--

The brown tube is new and different, and echoes the earthiness of the 'gardeners' concept. The octagonal screw-top lid, however, is a bit sharp on the corners and therefore not very nice to undo, especially when tightly screwed on. The range of packaging sizes (25g all the way up to 250ml) is a good move, however, meaning that you're well-equipped whether on the move or in your normal bathroom at home.

--Application--

Rub into dry hands whenever needed. 

--Appearance--

White, but leaves no visible residue on the skin.

--Scent--

Simply gorgeous: the herbal elements, such as the rosemary, sage and thyme, are particularly evident, meaning that the scent can be enjoyed by all as it isn't overpoweringly floral or sweet. Again, very in keeping with the 'gardeners' theme too.

--Texture and consistency--

Smooth, while still being luxuriously thick, and sinks into skin quickly. No stickiness at all.

--Effects on the skin--

Hands feel instantly smoother and soothed. 

--Value for money--

The range of available sizes means there's something for every budget (I was sent the smallest version by Crabtree and Evelyn's PR - perfect for my handbag!), and the pleasing scent and clear smoothing effects are undeniable. However, it would be very much appreciated if Crabtree and Evelyn were to remove palm oil from their products as soon as possible, as the deleterious environmental effects associated with this ingredient are well-documented, and its usage is completely unnecessary in a product that already is jam-packed with luscious essential oils.

perfect partners

Nail and Cuticle Therapy, £10

Hand Recovery Scrub, from £5

Hand Wash, £15

Hand Scrub with Pumice, £13

60 Second Fix Kit for Hands, from £10

Deluxe Gift Set, £50

Dr Hauschka Almond Body Moisturiser

 RRP: £24 for 145ml

--What does the promo say?--
"Ultra-rich care that gently nurtures the senses. Provides intensive, nurturing care for dry, sensitive skin, helps your skin prevent moisture-loss throughout the day, and helps your skin restore and harmonise its natural balance."

--Packaging--
A glass pump-action bottle that would look elegant anywhere. Sadly, no smaller sizes are available for travel.

--Application--
Massage into dry skin, ideally before bed or before getting dressed in the morning.

--Appearance--
A pale, cream-coloured lotion that sinks invisibly into the skin.

--Scent--
The almond scent is obvious as soon as the lotion comes out of the bottle - you don't even need to rub it in for the scent to be activated. Basically makes you smell like cake, which is always a winner.

--Texture and consistency--
Wonderfully creamy and luxurious. Not at all sticky or watery. Takes a bit of time to sink into the skin, however.

--Effects on the skin--
Skin is left beautifully soft both short and long-term, meaning that you wouldn't even need to use this daily to keep up the effects.

--Value for money--
As noted in other Dr Hauschka reviews, you don't get the best value by buying this in the UK - especially given my estimate that 25ml of this stuff will only moisturise your body twice at most (meaning that 145ml will only do 12 applications, tops). In Germany, this is priced at €17, so a much more competitive £14 in today's money, and even in France, with its RRP of nearly €22, you'll save a good £6. Definitely take the opportunity to buy this when in mainland Europe - it's a luxurious yet practical product that ticks all the boxes.

perfect partners
Almond St John's Wort Body Oil, £20
Almond Soothing Body Wash, £13
Almond Soothing Bath Essence, from £3
Moisturising Mask, £38
Almond Desires Gift Set (contains the almond body moisturiser and a soothing body wash sample), £24 

Dr Jart+ Regenerating BB Cream

RRP: £14

--What does the promo say?--
"This professional formula, containing cutting-edge active ingredients, covers and conceals imperfections whilst helping skin regenerate. Featured benefits include skin regeneration, sun protection and nourishing properties whilst helping to eliminate age spots and blemishes. Contains suncream to help protect the skin, macadamia ternifolia seed oil to lubricate the surface of the skin, snail secretion filtrate to hydrate and moisturise, and simmondsia chinensis seed oil to calm and smooth out the skin. Moisturises, protects and corrects, thanks to treatment serum and sunscreen, with no foundation needed. Skin looks smooth, perfect and natural."

--Packaging--
Mine was a free sample, so I haven't had the chance to try the full version of this plastic flip-top tube, but I love the edgy silver-and-black colour scheme.

--Application--
Skip moisturiser if you want and just go straight for this - the macadamia and jojoba oils already moisturise perfectly. If you really want to use foundation primer as well, you can, but again it's probably unnecessary. Just rub a 10p-sized amount between your hands and smooth onto the face. Complete with concealer and powder if desired.

--Appearance--
This is a perfect match for my skin tone, but as Asian BB creams tend to be quite pale by default, it won't suit everyone. Unfortunately BB creams tend to go for a 'one size fits all' approach.

--Scent--
Nothing discernible, in all honesty - not even the seed oils.

--Texture and consistency--
Perfectly smooth and blendable.

--Effects on the skin--
The sun protection factor in this works brilliantly, so there's no need for extra sunscreen to avoid burning - and at factor 30, it's suitable for even sensitive skin. Sunscreens also have proven anti-ageing properties long-term, so that's something that you'll see the rewards of in 20 years' time if you use an SPF on your face regularly. More immediately, good natural coverage is provided, although you'll want to finish off with concealer for any particularly bad spots. Unfortunately my free sample was so small that I wasn't able to see how far it improves skin conditions such as acne even over a few days or weeks, but I can believe that it would. Oiliness is reduced, meaning you don't feel like your face is melting and your makeup sliding off even in hot weather.

--Longevity--
Does better than most tinted moisturisers and as well as most foundations.

--Value for money--
At £21 exclusively at Boots, this competes favourably with high-end Western BB creams from brands such as Clinique and Bobbi Brown. Dr Jart is a genuinely Korean brand, so you know you're getting the real deal with this. The excellent results it provides in terms of coverage and sun protection means I'd buy it again - and with Boots offering 33% off several Dr Jart skincare products at present, it currently poses even better value for money if you can bag it for the discounted price of £14.

perfect partners
Pore Refine Re-Tighten Mask, £19
Pore Refine Tight Effect Toner, £18
Pore Refine Up-Tighten Serum, £13
Pore Refine Clear Away Gel, £16
Pore Refine Recover Primer, £18
Pore Refine Bubble Foam, £13 

Philosophy Spiced Clementine Toddy Gift Set

RRP: £18 (currently £9 in the sale)

--What does the promo say?--
"Share seasonal spirit. Spiced clementine toddy shampoo, shower gel & bubble bath (240 ml.) and body lotion (240 ml.) warm your heart and soul during and after the shower or bath."

--Packaging--
The dotty bow decoration on the box is lovely for a gift (especially for anyone with a January birthday, as you can grab this for half price in the sale at the moment), and the bottles themselves are classic Philosophy: transparent, so you can always see how much is left, with black writing detailing yummy recipes for the foodstuff that inspired the product. The black fliptop plastic lid is stylish, practical and secure.

--Application--
Lather up the 3-in-1 product in the shower, or pour under running water. Clean your hair with it as well if you like before rinsing off. As for the body lotion, rub into slightly damp or dry skin. Easy as pie (well, toddy).

--Appearance--
The bright orange shower gel definitely doesn't stain or even create much colour, foaming to a white/light orange lather. The body lotion is just a creamy colour, leaving no residue on the skin.

--Scent--
I was a little disappointed with the bath and shower product, as it smelled a bit too masculine for me (although I can't find a specific ingredient causing this) and evoked bitter orange peel scents and general alcohol more than spice and the sweetness of orange juice. The body lotion was better for this, meaning you could even share this pack with your better half (you can swipe the body lotion, and he can have the shower gel...how romantic).

--Texture and consistency---
The gel is smooth and quite runny, without being watery or sticky. The body lotion does equally well in this regard, sinking in super-quickly and providing a luxurious experience.

--Effects on skin and hair--
Body skin and hair are left feeling amazingly smooth and soft, with hair feeling volumised and nourished. Definitely a top scorer.

--Value for money--
A little goes a long way with this stuff and you definitely get good results too. Even though it's a pain that you can't buy both products separately, they do represent good value, with this being even truer now that Philosophy's sale is on. Go and get it!

perfect partner
The Microdelivery Peel, £59

Macadamia Natural Oil Rejuvenating Shampoo and Moisturising Rinse

RRP: £4.20 for 60ml (each); £12.65/300ml (shampoo); £15.30 (conditioner); all prices from www.feelunique.com

--What does the promo say?--
"Macadamia Rejuvenating Shampoo is a moisturizing shampoo for all hair types and is excellent for dry, damaged hair. The Rejuvenating Shampoo gently cleanses the hair while weightlessly replenishing moisture and protecting the hair from environmental elements...Ideal for all hair types, Macadamia Moisturizing Rinse is an every day conditioner that gently nourishes, detangles, moisturises and protects, leaving hair soft, manageable and ready to style. Benefits of the Macadamia range:
- Provides intense nourishment, smoothing and a long lasting, tangle-free, frizz-free finish.
- Hair is ultra-smooth, manageable and shiny.
- Instant absorption and light-weight, non-greasy feel.
- Shown to extend the life of colour treatments by reducing fading.
- Natural UV protection.
- Reduces drying time an amazing 40-50%."

--Packaging--
The packaging of these bottles is very unusual with its combination of brown and green as well as its conical shapes. However, on the 60ml size at least, I found the plastic to be very hard to squeeze on the conditioner bottle, so I'm not sure how easy these would be to handle long-term; I can see how after a while this might get on your nerves or lead to some of the product being wasted because you can't get it out of the bottle. It stands up well in the shower, though, with no risk of it wobbling or being difficult to balance.

--Application--
You are supposed to only use a small amount of each of these, working them through wet hair before rinsing out. However, this was difficult to do, as no matter how much or little I used, and no matter how thoroughly I tried to wash it out, it seemed that these products were near impossible to rinse.

--Appearance--
An off-white almost shea butter type of colour. However, this probably comes from the macadamia oil or the oil from the linseed or wheat germ that is also in these products. Fits in well with the image the company is trying to project.

--Scent--
A very pleasant sweet smell which is simultaneously very natural and in keeping with the product's image; a nutty, slightly sugary smell which is occasionally reminiscent of pear drops. Curiously, the lavender oil present in the product is undetectable.

--Texture and consistency--
The shampoo is smooth, runny and glossy, lathering well through the hair. The conditioner is whiter and lumpier, holding its shape well in the hand, but smoothing well through the hair all the same. They are both, nevertheless, perhaps in spite of their initial appearances, tricky to wash out.

--Effects on the hair--
As perhaps anticipated, the consequence of this difficulty in washing the products out of the hair is that my hair felt weighed down and almost greasier than before. I had one glimmer of hope when I got out of bed one morning having washed my hair with the stuff the previous day, as my hair did seem lighter and silkier at this stage, but this was all soon shattered when I passed a hairbrush through my hair, which restored it to its dull and weighed-down state. It therefore goes without saying that I experienced none of the benefits outlined in the promotional material, including any reduction in drying time. I also tried the shampoo with a different conditioner in case it was the moisturising rinse that was causing the heaviness, but to no avail. 

--Value for money--
In short, I would expect so much more than this for the money paid (even if in this case I didn't have to pay), in terms of results (see above) and quality of ingredients (this contains a few industry nasties including SLS (which reportedly has carcinogenic qualities) and disodium EDTA (a persistent organic pollutant). For this price, one should probably go instead to upmarket brands such as Aveda, or to established 'hairdresser' brands such as Bumble & Bumble or Rene Furterer, in order to get a better finish. In any case, there's no need to pay this much even then: lower-priced brands such as Aussie also provide impressive results for a fraction of the price. In future, I would perhaps buy the infused comb or brush, which are innovative and give you all the macadamia oil's alleged benefits in a lighter layer without breaking the bank. But keep your eyes peeled: the Macadamia Natural Oil leave-in conditioner (to be reviewed here soon) is much more impressive.

perfect partners
Healing Oil Treatment, from £4.90/10ml
Deep Repair Masque, from £20.99/250ml
Nourishing Leave-In Cream, £15.95/300ml
Healing Oil Infused Comb, £6.40
Healing Oil Spray, from £12.70/60ml
Oil Infused Brush, £15.95