Antipodes

Cherry’s Review – Antipode’s Hallelujah Lime & Patchouli Cleanser

by Cherry on February 23, 2011 · 5 comments

After my happy outing with Antipodes Avocado Pear Night Cream several months ago I wanted to try something else from their range. I got the cleanser thinking it would be foaming as well but I was wrong. This turned out not to be for me but I wanted to give it to someone else to try as I do think it’s a quality product. My friend and work colleague Cherry volunteered to have a go with it and scribe her thoughts. So over to you Cherry……

I’m fussy about my cleansers. They have to feel fresh and zingy on my skin. They have to leave my skin squeaky clean and soft, with no residue and no tightness. I prefer them to foam but I’m not so fussy about their smell. My skin is oily, blemished, sensitive and prone to redness. Yuk. So my top criteria is that the cleanser will truly cleanse my skin, gently but firmly.

How does Antipodes’ Hallelujah cleanser measure up? It’s lush. But it’s not for me either. I’ll try to explain. The first thing you’ll notice is the glass bottle. It’s heavy and luxurious. Having this bottle residing proudly on my bathroom shelf makes me feel like I’m in a posh hotel. Not something I can say for the last plastic tube of functional but ugly cleanser to grace my bathroom…

The second thing I noticed? It’s organic. And natural. That scores a big win for me as I love to know that what I’m putting on my skin (and therefore into my body) is good healthy stuff. Squeegee a small amount into your palm. It’s creamy in colour and texture, with a delicate smell of patchouli. It glides onto my skin beautifully and that’s when the scent really makes you feel like you’re in a spa. Its delicate aroma never fails to make me sigh happily. Thank goodness I live alone, or goodness knows what people would think I’m doing…

*This is my bear paw of hand, not Cherry’s*

As it’s a cream cleanser, it doesn’t foam, it just slides gently over your skin. This is where it starts to go wrong for me.  Don’t get me wrong, it feels delicious. But it doesn’t feel like it’s really doing anything. I like my cleansers to make my skin tingle with cleanliness, as if I’m dredging off all the cr*p that’s accumulated on my skin during the day. But this cleanser feels more like I’m adding yet more stuff to my skin.

And then it won’t wash off easily. If you follow the bottle instructions to “rinse with warm and pure water” you will be left with a greasy residue. To wash off thoroughly, I find myself scrubbing my face with a flannel whilst running my fingers over my face to see if it’s all off. For my blemish and redness-prone skin, this is a Bad Thing.

That said, once I’ve toned and moisturised, my skin does feel clean and soft. So maybe the cleanser is doing more for my skin than I give it credit for. So the moral of the story is…  If you like luxurious, delicately scented cream cleansers, then you will love this product.

As for me, my search for my perfect cleanser continues.

Thanks for your review Cherry, this available at Appuru for £22.00. Anyone else try Antipodes skincare?

Annabella’s Review – Antipodes Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream 60ml

by Annabella on August 2, 2010 · 3 comments

I was introduced to this New Zealand brand by Karen, the lovely proprietor of Pimlico natural and organic skincare boutique Appuru. I had never heard of Antipodes before and she explained the philosophy behind the range and the different products they do. I told her I was looking for a good night cream (not one that says that it will make me look 17 again). I just wanted something to repair and nurture my skin while I get my beauty sleep. I also told her I suffered from redness and irritation so she suggested the Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream which contains 100% Avocado pear oil and vitamins E, A, B1, B2, C and D.

This smells amazing, the sandalwood scent envelopes your face like a warm flannel. I put too much cream on the first few times I tried it because I always go overboard. All you really need is a little dab of cream on your cheeks and forehead to get plenty of coverage. I love putting it on at night as the cream sinks right in and I can smell my face until I fall asleep. I didn’t expect to see such quick results but after using it for three nights in a row I noticed a change in my skin. It definitely looked smoother and less blotchy the next morning. Over the few weeks I’ve used the cream I’ve see a continual improvement in my skin tone and texture. I actually now enjoy looking in the bathroom mirror first thing in the morning to see how well my skin looks. I also can’t believe how quickly it has calmed down my redness. It’s great to find something that actually makes an improvement in my skin without ridiculous promises and false hopes.

I’m so happy that I found Appuru and grateful to Karen for introducing me to Antipodes. Appuru is a lovely little skincare boutique in SW1 owned and operated by Karen and her family. They really care about their customers and want everyone to leave happy with their purchases. I observed Karen helping other customers and she has a lot of repeat business. It’s rare to find such enthusiasm at beauty counters nowadays as staff are driven by sales and not by expertise or care, which is why I avoid them for the most part. If you live in London please give her shop a visit at Appuru, 43 Moreton Street, London, SW1V 2N. I’m sure Karen will be more than happy help you with your skincare needs.