Nivea Pearl and Beauty Spray

RRP: from £2.29

--What does the promo say?--
"NIVEA Pearl & Beauty Deodorant – for beautiful, smooth underarms. Together with NIVEA’s 48-hour protection against underarm wetness and odour, its caring formula with precious pearl extracts leaves underarms feeling soft and looking beautiful. It’s the perfect combination of NIVEA‘s mild care and reliable protection."

--Packaging--
Mine is actually in a tiny mini format (so would have cost less than £2.29 too), so it's great to have all these different size options depending on your needs. There's also no lid to worry about losing: instead, you twist the deodorant open and closed to reveal or hide the spray hole respectively. The pink and navy colour scheme is pleasant, moving it just that little bit away from the usual cliché.

--Usage--
Once you are clean and dry after your bath or shower, just spray onto your underarms, holding the aerosol of course at a safe distance from your mouth and nose. I tend to open the bathroom door as well when using sprays, just for better ventilation (though I guess whether you want to do this depends on how sensitive your fire alarm is!).

--Scent--
Powdery and soapy. Not too floral or chemical.

--Appearance--
No white marks on clothes or skin. Yay!!

--Effects on the skin--
It's mid-June and yet skin was kept dry and smell-free all day. Admittedly, it wasn't terribly hot today, and it was a quiet day at work too (a day of invigilation is hardly comparable to tearing around the classroom checking student work or supervising interactive quizzes). Nonetheless, a solid performance.

--Value for money--
Despite my usual general contempt for these (suspiciously?) cheap high street brands, I probably would buy this again for its sheer efficacy. The baby travel sizes are also great ideas for stocking fillers (thanks, Mum!).

perfect partners
Gentle Facial Cleansing Wipes, £4 for 40
Cashmere Moments Shower Cream, £1.89 

Beauty Byte: Feeling Closer with Nivea

Sponsored Post

NIVEA is celebrating its 100th birthday with its Feel Closer campaign, and to find out just how close we are in this new decade of iPads, Facebook and smartphones, has commissioned research by UK psychologist Geoff Beattie - and the results are good.

In spite of all the new technology at our disposal, we are in fact closer than ever to our friends and families. That can only be a positive sign for the future of our health, relationships and overall wellbeing. Research has even shown that not staying connected to those we're close to can be physically bad for you, as closeness with others can help to lower our blood pressure and stress levels and improve our mental health. If we have strong support networks in the form of friends and family, we may be less likely to turn to vices such as drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes, and have the self-esteem boost from our relationships to motivate us to care about our health. The built-up stress over the years as a result of a lonely life can also even accelerate ageing - so it even comes down to beauty, too, as to the effects of friendship and closeness on our health. All the more reason then for Nivea, one of the world's best-known beauty companies, to get involved!

You can therefore show just how close to your nearest and dearest you are by participating in Nivea's A Million Moments of Closeness campaign - upload photos of you with them to www.facebook.com/niveauk from the comfort of your own home, or look out for Nivea's roadshows where travelling photo booths will enable you to upload photos to the campaign more interactively and just as instantly. And there's more benefit than just the feel-good factor: every day Geoff Beattie will choose his picture of the day, with the winner receiving £100 as a prize. What's more, you can debate online via Nivea's pages about whether long-distance relationships can work (I say they can!), whether a text can really take the place of a face-to-face chat, and more. Now that's what we call valuing closeness.

Viral video by ebuzzing

Nivea Visage Refreshing Cleansing Lotion

RRP: £2.99

--What does the promo say?--
"Normal and combination skin needs intensive moisturisation, even during cleansing: its natural moisture balance should be respected to keep skin supple all day long. NIVEA VISAGE ® Refreshing Cleansing Lotion has been especially developed by the NIVEA Laboratories to meet the specific needs of normal and combination skin.

NIVEA VISAGE REFRESHING CLEANSING LOTION effectively yet gently cleanses normal and combination skin. Enriched with lotus extract & vitamins, the skin is optimally hydrated, keeping its natural moisture balance while make-up and daily impurities are removed. The gentle formula is so soft that it is even suitable for the delicate eye area.

Result:
The skin is effectively cleansed and hydrated for a fresh skin feeling."

--Packaging--
They've changed it lately, but it doesn't look that different: it's kept the same unisex blue and white colour scheme, and although the Nivea Visage logo has also changed slightly, it still has the silver edging for a bit more zing. They've also kept the flat plastic flip-top lid, which looks fragile, but is in fact rather durable, with a strong hinge.

--Application--
Squeeze a 10p-sized amount onto a cotton disc, and then sweep over face, leaving the eyes to last. Repeat once more to ensure that no traces of makeup remain.
Alternatively, you can spread a similar amount all over your face, creating a light film. Leave for a few minutes and then remove with a clean cotton disc or with a flannel.

--Scent--
My boyfriend thinks this smells lovely - very fresh, homely and clean - and he's all over me after I've used it. The cucumber smell comes through too, but not too strongly.

--Texture/consistency--
Creamy, and yet simultaneously light and non-comedogenic, which bodes well for Nivea's moisturisers for this skin type (even though I had bad experiences with their night cream, which made me break out). Not too runny either - nice!

--Effectiveness--
This both cleanses and removes makeup effectively, leaving face feeling clean, matte, balanced, and non-greasy. Not a bad performance for something not specifically aimed at oily skin like mine (it's aimed at normal to combination skin). You also almost don't need to moisturise afterwards either, as it leaves skin feeling smooth and soft too.

--Value for money--
You certainly can't argue with £2.99, even if the toner and moisturiser in the range are slightly more expensive. This cleanser/makeup remover, even with its 'normal/combination skin' label, should suit the vast majority of skin types, even if you normally go straight for the 'oily' or 'dry' skin products. One bottle lasts ages (perhaps even over six months), even with everyday use, and the product itself certainly delivers on its promises.

perfect partners
Refreshing Toner, £4.07 from www.britishfooddirect.com
Light Moisturising Day Cream, £5.99

Nivea Visage Young Smooth It! Mild Exfoliating Scrub

RRP: £4.65 for 75ml

--What does the promo say?--
"Is NIVEA VISAGE YOUNG smooth it! Mild Exfoliating Scrub the right product for me?

* yes, if you have normal or combination young skin
* yes, if you want a gentle scrub for peachy-soft skin

How does it work?

* extra fine exfoliators effectively remove dead skin cells to smooth the complexion
* cleanses gently without drying out the skin
* enriched with Peach Extracts, the mild formula softens the skin

The result:
Your complexion looks beautifully radiant and feels smooth & peachy-soft."

--Packaging--
A very attractive yellow and white flowery squeezy tube. It's easily identifiable as being part of the Nivea Young range, of which all the products are similarly styled. It's translucent too, so that the product is visible through the tube.

--Usage instructions--
Squeeze out a little of the exfoliator, rub onto slightly damp face, and then wash off.

--Appearance--
It's not really rough-looking like most exfoliators: it's a white lotion with tiny pink beads embedded. It's attractive to look at, and doesn't leave any residue on the face after use.

--Texture/consistency--
Really smooth - as I said, it's more like a lotion than an exfoliator. However, you can feel the beads, and after use, you do feel like the exfoliator has worked effectively, even though it's also very gentle.

--Overall effects--
Effective smoothness and reduction of dry patches.

--Longevity--
I've only trialled this on a sample basis, but I got about 3 usages from one tiny sachet, indicating that one tube would last quite a long time.

--Value for money--
I have to admit that the price is a little higher than I was expecting. However, it's not expensive by any stretch of the imagination, and for something that's easy and pleasant to use, that actually works (though it may not reduce acne, it doesn't claim to do this), it's worth every penny. An excellent choice for young first-time exfoliant buyers.

perfect partners
Nivea Visage Young Wash Off! Mild Cleansing Gel, £4.65
Nivea Visage Young Stay Clear! Purifying Toner, £4.65
Nivea Visage Young Control Shine! Mattifying Gel Cream, £4.65*

*£4.65 is the RRP; however, www.gordons-chemists.com has these products retailing at between £3.18 and £3.49.

Nivea Repair and Protection Lipcare

RRP: £2.49 for 4.8g

--What does the promo say?--
"NIVEA Lip Care Repair & Protection provides effective care and protection for dry, chapped lips. The soothing formula with skin conditioning panthenol, calming bisabolol, protective vitamin E and UV filters helps prevent dryness and chapped lips."

--Packaging--
Very in keeping with the Nivea brand and easily identifiable as part of a set when compared to the other Nivea lip care types. As well as the trademark Nivea logo, the product information appears on the pale mint-green lid in white, to match the white twisty base. All of the products in the range have this design along with their own pastel colour for the lid. It's distinctive, and of a good portable size too, measuring about 8cm in length.

--Application--
As normal - pull off the lid, smear lightly onto the lips.

--Appearance--
On the lips it resembles Vaseline - sheer but not shiny. The stick itself is yellower than Vaseline, but has the same degree of shine.

--Texture--
Smooth, but not too slidy or sticky.

--Scent--
Slightly of vanilla, though sadly there is no taste.

--Longevity--
Not great - unlike the Body Shop's lip balms, you have to reapply this frequently.

--Value for money--
You certainly can't argue with the low price, especially since it definitely banishes dry skin. However, the frequency of reapplication that's needed lets it down slightly, and it's not in any way luxurious. It's definitely a good everyday product, but if you want something with a little more wow-factor, push your price range up a bit and go for Body Shop.

Nivea Visage Tinted Moisturising Cream

RRP: £4.95 for 75ml

--What does the promo say?--
"Is NIVEA VISAGE YOUNG be beautiful! Tinted Moisturiser the right product for me?
* yes, if you have normal or combination young skin
* yes, if you want beautifully radiant skin without using make-up
How does it work?
* the oil-free formula provides your skin with instant moisture & is quickly absorbed
* skin refining tinted pigments adapt to your natural skin tone and visibly beautify your complexion without
clogging pores
* the special texture leaves your skin feeling noticeably softer & smoother
* an UVA/UVB filter system helps protect from the sun’s radiation
The result:
Your complexion looks naturally radiant and even. Your skin feels fresh and soft."

--Packaging--
Ordinary plastic squeezy tube which stands on its end. The tube design is quite bright and cheerful, using a white, blue and orange colour scheme. The distinctly feminine flowery design scheme is offset by the chunky blue and silver Nivea Visage logo. All very nice to look at.

--Application--
Just squeeze out and apply to clean dry skin.

--Appearance--
The moisturiser is worryingly dark, but even on pale skin it adapts cleverly to your skintone. On the skin, it looks muddy. Be careful to rub out any streaks too, so that it doesn't look like fake tan gone wrong.

--How does your face feel?--
Moisturised, but no more so than any other moisturiser.

--Texture/consistency--
Creamy without being too thick, and it's not too runny. It's quite matte as well and looks more like a foundation than a traditional moisturiser.

--Coverage--
Not great. As with most of these things, fine if you have clear skin already, but if not then it doesn't have too many advantages for you.

--Longevity--
Not great either - it seems to slide off quite quickly.

--Value for money--
While it's got a low price tag, you have to apply an awful lot each time to see any effects, and you have to keep reapplying it too. Plus, if you don't have clear skin to begin with it's simply a wasted buy.