Lush Sandy Santa Sugar Scrub

RRP: £2.95

--What does the promo say?--

"Those great Christmas traditions of sun, surf and Santa! A sunny citrus body scrub with hints of floral, to perk up winter skin or get summer skin swimming-suit ready."

--Packaging--

In traditional Lush style, packaging is limited to a yellow paper sleeve. However, I'd strongly advise the purchase of an additional tin for this product due to reasons stated below.

--Application--

Rub gently over damp skin during a shower. Don't scrub too hard - the sugar particles will do all of the work. Then rinse off.

--Appearance--

Despite the fire-engine red of Santa's hat, this doesn't leave any visible residue on the skin (although it might make your shower look like you've been filming a scene from Psycho for a few minutes). This is one of the reasons why you will need a tin with a lid for this product as the colour does leach out quite a bit on contact with water - a soap dish with no lid just doesn't cut it. The shape of the scrub bar is very definitely a Santa head with a hat on, so perfect for getting you into a festive mood.

--Scent--

The overriding smell is that of peppermint, which along with the product's red and white colours really helps to evoke seasonal images of candy canes. This doesn't last as long on the skin as it could, though, and is strange, as it appears to deliberately contradict the main scents actually featuring in the ingredients list: rosewood, sandalwood and orange!

--Texture and consistency--

Delightfully scrubby without being too abrasive. However, it does have a tendency to fall apart or dissolve on contact with water (another reason why a tin with a lid is needed) and some of the larger crystals don't actually break down, leading to a small amount of wastage.

--Effects on the skin--

The essential oils used, combined with the exfoliating properties of the sugar, lead to super smooth and soft skin. Definitely a must in these cold winter months while trying to dodge dry patches.

--Value for money--

At a mere £2.95 this makes a fun stocking filler and it actually lasts a few weeks too, making it great for making your bathroom look a lot like Christmas. Just make sure you get the tin with it, no matter who you're buying for.

perfect partners

Orange Blossom Perfume, £5.50

Melting Snowman Bath Melt, £1.95

North Pole Soap, £3.25/100g

Father Christmas Bath Bomb, £3.25

Bubblebeard Bubble Bar, £4.95

Aura-Soma AEOS Cleansing Oil Dé-Maq

RRP: £39.98 for 75ml

--What does the promo say?--
"An oil-based cleanser containing a blend of organic and biodynamic essential oils, plant extracts, for skin that tends towards dehydration. Rich in Vitamin E and extracts from avocado oil help keep the skin hydrated. Natural oils from sesame seeds soften the skin and help in the removal of make-up for a deep down cleanse. Can also be used for removing eye make up."

--Packaging--
An opaque plastic bottle with a pump-action top that is so easy to control (unlike Dr Hauschka's products, whose pump action mechanisms are useless). Text on the bottle is also minimal, making the product look luxurious and uncluttered.

--Application--
One of Aura-Soma's retailers, Dolphins and Angels, recommends "[m]oisten[ing] cotton wool pads with water, add[ing] a few drops of the Dé-Maq cleanser and apply[ing] using upward sweeping movements over the face and neck. Repeat as necessary to remove all traces of dirt and make up. Use separate pads for each eye area when removing eye make up." However, I find it doesn't need to be this labour-intensive if you're in a rush: you can just use the pump action to drop five drops of oil into your palm, rubbing together over your palms to create a filmy layer, and then rubbing over your face before sweeping a dry cotton wool pad over.

--Appearance--
The oil is a golden yellow, non-shimmery colour that leaves no visible residues on the skin.

--Scent--
Sophisticated and not without finesse, the scent is luxurious without being too heavy. It's difficult to tell where this comes from, though - perhaps the rosewood, as I wouldn't say that the avocado or sesame oils are at all detectable. Certainly very pleasant and elegant at any rate.

--Texture and consistency--
Despite being an oil, I found that this was completely non-greasy and easy to wipe off with cotton wool.

--Effects on the skin--
It removes makeup effortlessly, but does not cleanse and remove makeup in one go - if you want to cleanse with it you'll need to repeat the process after removing makeup. However, it does cleanse well too and I may have even noticed a slight improvement in my acneic skin during the use of this product.

--Value for money--
At nearly £40 it is expensive (the brand is possibly punching above its weight a little - to put it into perspective, La Prairie, Sisley and Gatineau makeup removers cost this much) and I would arguably expect a product like that to cleanse and remove makeup in just one step. However, of the Aura-Soma products I've tried it is probably the one I'd be most likely to repurchase thanks to its luxuriousness and its efficacy and removing makeup, even though I don't normally spend anything like this much on makeup remover. Plus, we have to remember that all of these organic and biodynamic ingredients can't come cheap and we have to accept that you need to pay what something costs to make, first and foremost. Truly a spa experience at home, this bottle is likely to last a long time and not disappoint.

perfect partners
Gentle Exfoliant Yellow, £36
Enriching Moisturiser Blue, £59
Refreshing Hydrating Mist, £55
Dew Facial Wash, £40