Lush Toothy Tabs

RRP: £6.50 for 50g (around 100 tabs)

--What does the promo say?--
"Keep your mouth in mint condition. Cleansing kaolin and a triple whammy of minty goodness ensure this solid toothpaste will freshen up your mouth and make your teeth sparkle." 

--Packaging--
These used to come in a cardboard box. Sadly now, though, they come in a plastic bottle. At least this bottle is recyclable - so you can either throw it into the recycling bin at home (unlike a normal toothpaste tube) or take it into a Lush store for recycling (recycle 5 in one shot and you get a free product). It was really this environmental factor that led me to switch from traditional toothpaste. The monochrome label is unisex and minimalist and so should appeal to all. The travel advantage is also obvious: the bottle is much smaller than any toothpaste tube and the tabs clearly don't count towards your liquid allowance when flying.

--Usage--
"For intensely icy airwaves," the website instructs, "simply nibble one between your teeth and start brushing." This really is as simple as it sounds (although I went in with some trepidation). 

--Appearance--
This depends on the flavour you choose. Limelight is green with yellow streaked through, Boom! is black, and the two I went for - Dirty and Miles Of Smiles - are white. Not feeling quite brave enough to try the former, the latter two are more like traditional toothpastes in appearance, dissolving quickly in the mouth to create a white foam.

--Scent and taste--
Miles of Smiles is a really very minty concoction whose aftertaste lasts hours. As a result, I tend to use this in the morning, switching to Dirty in the evening, which is mint and neroli flavoured, and slightly milder as a result. It's an unusual combination, but taste-wise really works for me (although I've read reviews by others who disliked it - so it's definitely personal and you should definitely have a sniff in the shop before buying). 

--Texture and consistency--
These tabs are based on kaolin (clay) and bicarbonate of soda, leading to a chalky texture. This is fine and doesn't take long to get used to: the tabs are small, so break down quickly upon chewing and with the addition of water, the chalkiness giving way to a smooth, fine foam. However, I have found that the binding elements of kaolin and bicarb do tend to gel with any excess saliva in the mouth overnight, leading to yucky strings of white gel populating in my mouth that I then have to scrape out. Yep. Lovely. BUT other reviews don't suggest that this happens to other people. So I'd recommend trying it first before discounting the possibility.

--Effects on the teeth--
Teeth feel clean after use and the flavourings make breath feel fresh for hours. 

--Value for money--
At £6.50 a pop this isn't cheap - especially if it turns out not to be for you. As for myself, I really wanted to like this product as I so loved the concept. However, the mouth residue is not something I can live with long-term, which is such a shame. Once my 2 bottles are finished, I'll be looking for other toothpaste alternatives.

perfect partner
Mouthwash Tabs, £6.50*

*available in 3 flavours: clove & mint, mint, and lemon

Beuti Beauty Sleep Elixir

RRP: £42 for 30ml

--What does the promo say?--
"With its 14 precious plant oils Beauty Sleep Elixir supports skin barrier function and plays a key role in fighting inflammation. Packed with anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients that counteract irritation and inflammation. Beauty Sleep Elixir can be worn under makeup in the evening and boosts skin tone, acting as an on the spot blemish treatment due to its anti-inflammatory powers and brightens the complexion for no makeup days. During precious beauty sleep, skin renews itself thanks to this product's super boost of vitamins, minerals and a complete omega hit of 3,5,6,7 and 9, letting you wake up to beautiful glowing skin. Softalia, from a sustainable plantation in Australia, counteracts inflammation and has unique activity on the skin due to its ximenynic acid content, helping hydration and reducing fine lines. Caribbean coral neutralizes the enzyme responsible for skin ageing, acne and sunburn and is one of the worlds most potent anti-inflammatory ingredients."

--Packaging--
The opaque glass bottle is perfect for a product of this type as it enables you to see exactly how much is left at all times, as well as letting the beautiful amber colour of the oil shine through. Equally, the minimalist product information on the bottle and the silvery band and lid contribute to a classy effect. The pump-action mechanism is practical and minimises waste.

--Application--
Massage into face, hands or body for use as a moisturiser. You can also use it to cleanse or remove makeup with by massaging over the face and then removing the oil immediately with a cotton pad.

--Appearance--
A golden orange oil that disappears invisibly into the skin, leaving no residue.

--Scent--
The woodier scents are dominant in this, so I'm guessing the sandalwood is largely at play here. However, a citrus element is also detectable thanks to the sea buckthorn: a hard berry reminiscent of orange and lemon.

--Texture and consistency--
A smooth, non-greasy oil which absorbs quickly into the skin.

--Effects on the skin--
Has deeply moisturising properties which work well on all areas of the body as well as the face. Perfect for these sunnier times of the year when skin may dry out from exposure to the sun, the sea, or chlorinated swimming pools.

--Value for money--
A little goes a very long way and the product is clearly composed of high quality ingredients (which, for what it's worth, are 98% organic and 100% natural). An excellent multi-purpose product for affordable luxury moisturisation.

Diptyque Radiance Boosting Powder

RRP: £38 for 40g

--What does the promo say?--
"Natural white clay powder, which purifies and remineralizes skin, is combined with powdered rose, jasmine, and neroli petals to hydrate. With a splash of water, Radiance Boosting Powder turns into a creamy lather that leaves skin clean and clear, ready for the next steps in your skincare ritual."

--Packaging--
My sample from Diptyque's PR arrived in a convenient travel sachet, whereas the full-size version appears to come in a bottle, which seems a little bizarre but will hopefully minimise wastage compared to, say, a pot with a wide opening. The black and white colour scheme is minimalist and unisex, and the botanical logo is both beautiful and informative, summing up the diptyque philosophy inherent in its plant-based products.

--Application--
Place approximately half a teaspoon into your cupped palm and rub in enough toner (diptyque's, or your own preference) to make a paste that's thick enough to massage into your skin. This can be left on for a while and used as a mask, or wiped off immediately with a wet flannel. This was fun to do and surprisingly efficient - no powder all over your bathroom :)

--Appearance--
The white powder becomes a slightly grainy paste when mixed with fluid, but leaves no visible residue on the skin.

--Scent--
Despite the essential oils of orange, neroli and jasmine, the clay itself was the overriding scent.

--Texture and consistency--
The powder gels into a spreadable paste easily upon contact with liquid and does not go runny and insipid easily. As mentioned, this has a slightly exfoliating effect, but is non-irritating and is easily rinsed off.

--Effects on the skin--
Skin appears calmed and more matte while simultaneously increasing in radiance. The use of salicylic acid in the product also meant I saw an improvement in my acne while using it - win :)

--Value for money--
While expensive, it remains an affordable luxury - particularly given that a mere two grams of this product lasted me around a week, and probably would have lasted even longer if I'd tried hard (I was not sparing with the powder!). This means the 40g in the bottle would last 20 weeks minimum (around 5 months) if used every day. It's an extremely high quality product which gave me rapid results, mattifying my skin and just generally making it less red and angry. Would recommend.

perfect partners (click for reviews!)
Infused Facial Water, £35
Protective Moisturising Lotion, £44
Deluxe Face Care Gift Set, £48

Fushi Total Repair Herbal Shampoo

RRP: £15.26/250ml

--What does the promo say?--

"A nourishing shampoo for normal to dry, damaged hair types. Generously medicated with the soothing and healing properties of Calendula and the tonifying and rejuvenating action of Frankincense and Neroli, these actions are combined with the nourishing attributes of Sandalwood and Avocado oil and dull hair is lifted and refreshed with orange essential oil."

--Packaging--

The plastic bottle is transparent, so it's easy to see how much you have left at any given time. The black, white and pink label is decorated with flowers, creating a calming Asiatic feel, and writing is kept minimal. The lid is a push-down top, which closes flat and opens at an angle, revealing the aperture through which you squeeze the shampoo. Very secure and easy to use.

--Application--

Lather into wet hair before rinsing. Repeat if necessary and follow with Fushi's Repair and Soothe hair conditioner.

--Appearance--

A translucent dark yellow colour (isn't actually as gross as it sounds, really), which foams into a white lather on contact with water. Leaves no visible residue.

--Scent--

The citric notes from the orange, calendula and neroli are clearly detectable, but are given extra dimension by the musky sandalwood and frankincense. Not too sweet or too masculine, so ideal for all the family. It lingers really nicely in the hair after use, too, without interfering with perfume.

--Texture and consistency--

Strikes the perfect balance between viscous and liquid, and the foam it lathers into is abundant and luxurious. Make sure you rinse well though as you risk weighing your hair down if you don't.

--Effects on the hair--

Hair is left volumised, silky and in control thanks to the shampoo's ace detangling qualities. Once fully brushed through hair is tamed and feels cared for. Definitely palpable and positive results.

--Value for money--

Organic or natural products which work as well as their commercial equivalents can be difficult to find, but Fushi ticks a lot of boxes here. The only thing holding back some people is perhaps the cost, as £15 for a shampoo can seem a high initial outlay. However, with this putting Fushi in the same price bracket as high-end salon brands such as Aveda, Rene Furterer and Bumble and Bumble, I'd say it's wholly reasonable - especially given that one bottle will last you ages. A great everyday organic option and a lovely gift for others.

perfect partners

Repair and Soothe Herbal Conditioner, £18.34

Total Repair Dry Hair Balm, £17.32

Liz Earle Superskin Concentrate

RRP: £38.75/28ml

--What does the promo say?--

"The intense, aromatic blend of 100% pure plant oils in this rich, restoring night-time treat is suitable for all skin types. It helps to soften dry or mature skin and balance combination or oily skin."

--Packaging--

Clean and pretty at the same time, this packaging denotes quality in its detail. 

--Application--

You can apply this separately, before moisturiser, or mix it with your moisturiser for the final step in your skincare routine. I usually prefer to mix oil with moisturiser, but you can just choose what's best for you.

--Appearance--

Looks like a high-end, good quality product from the moment it comes out of the bottle. Its golden colour sinks invisibly into skin.

--Scent--

Unlike the rest of the Superskin range - which can seem to have little scent - the Superskin Concentrate has a natural, herbal fragrance that is evident without being too strong.

--Texture and consistency--

Smooth and enriching, the product sinks easily into skin.

--Effects on the skin--

As well as smoothening the skin, it also leaves it feeling softer and non-greasy.

--Value for money--

While not the cheapest product on the market, this is far from being the most expensive. It's good value for the quality of the product, and it lasts a reasonable period of time as well as you don't need to use it in excessive quantities. Nonetheless, as a bargain hunter I would say that you are better off searching out a deal in store or on QVC rather than paying full price ;-)

perfect partners

Eye and Lip Treatment, £26.50

Moisturiser, from £12.75

Bust Treatment, £27.25

Body Cream, from £12.50

Superskin Essentials, £56.70

Superskin Try-Me Kit, £27.50

Superskin Christmas Collection, £78.00

Absolution Day Cream

RRP: £52.95/30ml
--What does the promo say?--
"Absolution skincare day cream is a certified organic moisturiser for women with mineral sunscreen. This complete skin care is high in antioxidants, anti-radical and hydrating active principles. The perfect ally of your hectic days. To obtain your bespoke skin care, adapted to your skin’s mood, you just have to add one drop of La Solution + of your choice to target and reinforce its efficiency. La Crème du Jour anti-ageing action is combined with a mineral sunscreen (Mica). Everything you need to enjoy life with serenity! Certified organic by Eco Cert."

--Packaging--
Very edgy, urban, modern and unisex, combining Art Deco style angles with Mary Quant monochrome. My sample (part of the box of goodies I received from Being Content ) was just a sachet, but this apparently delivers, in its full-size form, an efficient pump-action system to allow the correct dosage to be dispensed.

--Application--
I was using this 'neat', as it were, but if you're using the full range, what you're supposed to do is dispense the required amount and then mix it with a drop of "La Solution" that suits you best (the idea of the brand is for you to create your own bespoke skincare by mixing and matching the more specific elements that you need with their 'basic' creams). As it was, even using the day cream on its own gave no problems.

--Scent--
A very strong smell of bitter orange characterises the overwhelming first impression that you get, to the extent that it's almost masculine, even though there is a day cream for men as well (which my fiancé informs me actually has a milder scent). If you don't like it, steer clear: I doubt that the "Solution" of your choice would do much to mask or alter the scent.

--Appearance--
A white, slightly stiff and lumpy cream.

--Texture/consistency--
Blends in well, but takes a long time to do so.

--Effects on the skin--
For this amount of money, and for something packed with such a diverse range of ingredients whose effects have been proved positive (such as green tea, aloe vera, borage, hyaluronic acid, neroli, and centella) I was surprised to see no effect whatsoever on my skin - positive or negative.

--Value for money--
See above. You pay over £50 only for nothing to happen whatsoever, and then to see something happen, you have to pay another £63 ON TOP OF THAT (since the Solutions can't, I don't think, be used by themselves) to see any effect at all. Woof. Since the cream in itself is targeted as an anti-ageing product (the inclusion of hyaluronic acid gives a strong clue), the older generation might have more luck in seeing tangible effects on their skin, and may feel the pinch a bit less when it comes to paying for the stuff. So even though the bespoke aspect of this is all very original and impressive and everything, I think I'll be giving this one a miss.

perfect partners
Absolution Cleansing Water, £27.50/50ml
Absolution Night Cream, £54.75/30ml
Absolution La Solution Anti-Ageing, £62.75/15ml
Absolution La Solution Energie, £62.75/15ml
Absolution La Solution Radiance, £62.75/15ml
Absolution La Solution Controle, £62.75/15ml

Liz Earle Superbalm

RRP: £15 for 30ml

--What does the promo say?--
"Our ‘emergency’ skin salve rescues and soothes skin. Made from pure plant oils and natural waxes plus shea butter, it gently softens and calms dry skin on hands, heels, elbows, lips and helps condition nails and cuticles."

--Packaging--
The silver and transparent combination is a successful one, conveying something special without being too glitzy. It's simple, unisex and sophisticated, and the screw-top lid makes it easy to open it when you need it and to close it when you don't. The plastic packaging also means it's light, but the downside of this is that the fact of it not being made of glass and metal means you don't feel that you're holding something luxurious in your hand that carries the weight of every penny paid.

--Application--
Smear onto any area of dry skin that needs attention, from your feet to your lips. The opening to the balm is also of just the right size that you can roll your heels and elbows in it quite comfortably, but for hygiene reasons I wouldn't recommend this unless you're really only going to use the balm on one part of your body (and you're not going to share the Superbalm with others). The only difficulty comes from the fact that the balm is very hard, rather than being softer like Vaseline or like your standard lip balm: it can mean that on larger areas of the body (e.g. feet) you have to be patient as it's not especially spreadable and you have to keep dipping back into the pot.

--Appearance--
A pale, creamy, slightly yellow balm that leaves no visible residue on the skin.

--Texture--
A very hard balm, but it rubs into the skin very easily.

--Scent--
Divine - a bit like tea, though it's difficult to tell where this comes from due to the cornucopia of oils and waxes used in this product (specifically hazelnut, rosehip, avocado, neroli, lavender and camomile oils, and candelilla and carnauba waxes, as well as shea butter, beeswax, vitamin E, and echinacea). The citrusy scent of the neroli is also predominantly detectable.

--Effects on the skin--
Persistently hard and tough skin is made to feel baby-soft and like new. This effect is felt wherever the Superbalm is used on the body, making skin caressable and comfortable, and with irritation being greatly reduced. Wonderful stuff!

--Value for money--
Clearly palpable effects, both short and long term, coupled with highly reasonable pricing, make this not only a perfect personal treat but also a wonderful gift and an indispensable travel essential (anything multi-use is always good). It's also available in tiny 5g jars for under £5 should you want it for sample or travel purposes. Top marks.

perfect partners
Superskin Eye and Lip Treatment, £25/15ml
Superskin Moisturiser, from £11.50/15ml
Superskin Concentrate, from £17.75/10ml
Superskin Body Cream, from £12/50ml