I’ve seen on some news report that apparently the recession is over? I don’t know about you but I’m still skint as I ever was. The one thing I never like to compromise on when it comes to budgeting is beauty. I’d rather eat beans on toast for a month than go without beauty products. It’s a good thing I don’t have children or else Social Services would be around my house and my only saving grace would be that my kids would have great skin! The founder of the Bliss range created the Soap and Glory range for her cash strapped sis-tahs. The bottles and tubes are cute and kitsch with ’so bad they’re good’ puns written on them. These are available at Boots. Here are some of my faves from the extensive range:

Scrub Your Nose In It Face Scrub 125ml

This claims to help refine large pores and prevent blemishes. My pores are the size of the Grand Canyon. I swear they can be seen from space. Anything that would claim to refine, shrink or erase them would be a miracle product.

This has a lovely texture with fine mild scrubbing action. It would be difficult to damage your skin as this is quite gentle which I did not expect. The smell and appearance is like tooth paste which some how seems to work. It does make your skin feel clean and mattified afterwards. It can also be used as a mask if you leave it on for a few minutes longer.

Contains: Kaolin

Some Like It Hot Body Softening Thermal Scrub 200ml

I love thermal scrubs. They remind me of my trip to the Blue Lagoon Spa in Iceland. This has a pink gooey consistency that I would class as a moderate scrub. It’s best used on damp skin to get the full effect of the warming thermal action. The scent has quite a fresh smell reminiscent of summers at the swimming pool. It also has a mattifying effect on the skin and skin is left feeling warm and purified. It rinses away on the skin really well and doesn’t leave a ring around the tub.

Contains: Macadamia oil, white sand grains

Butter Up Special Dry Skin Spa Formula Deluxe Body Smoothing Cream 200ml

What a mouthful! I as a rule can’t stand body butters but the smell of this made me buy it. It reminds me of orange creamsicles or tropical Soleros. My main issue with body butters (especially used in the summer months) are they are quite heavy and just sit on the skin. I suppose I never have dry enough skin to get the full effect of body butters but this one sinks into the skin and absorbs pretty much straight away. It works really well on dry chapped elbows which if you work in an office like me is a constant problem. I’m always putting my elbows on my desk whilst on the phone or staring at the computer trying to figure out what I’m supposed to be doing. As a result the thin skin on the elbow gets scuffed and it can be quite difficult to get rid of the roughness once it sets in. I used this week for several weeks and it has really helped soothe and smooth that area.

Contains: Cocoa Butter, Sweet Almond Oil

Verdict

The range is definitely cheap and cheerful. I say this not to put you off but you get what you pay for. If you are used to using more expensive treatments then you may be disappointed with the results/smell/texture of these goodies. Part of their charm is the packaging so they are ideal for gifts for young adults or friends/relatives that are in need of a skincare regime (and all the hints you’ve dropped haven’t worked).

Country of Origin:

United Kingdom

Mario Badescu Skin Care always seems to be linked celebrities. As you know this is not always the best way to judge a beauty product. The website boasts an impressive roster of tinseltown’s finest. This is not why I bought this though, I was enticed by the name of the product picturing crushed strawberries in a jar. This is available at HQhair.

Application

Well I was sort of right about the idea I had in my head. It is a jar of strawberry seeds floating in what looks and smells  like strawberry yoghurt. I haven’t missed the fact that it says ‘non-abrasive’ scrub so I wasn’t expecting it to be like sandpaper. The texture is lovely and creamy and it smells wonderful. The strawberry seeds would offer great exfoliation but there isn’t enough of them to make a difference (to me anyway). This face scrub is a concoction conundrum. If it were just a creamy gentle cleanser then it would work but add the strawberry seeds and it just becomes annoying. I have a feeling this is intended for individuals who have really dry skin and those who cannot tolerate too much exfoliation.

Good Stuff

• Smells and feels like strawberry yoghurt
• Non-irritating

Bad Stuff

• Won’t be rough enough for some
• Difficult to rinse off need toner afterwards

Verdict

This one isn’t for me but someone with really dry skin would probably benefit from the cooling sensation of the creamy texture and the gentle action of the strawberry seeds.

Contains:

Strawberry Fruit Extract

Country of Origin:

USA

Okay before I start this review can I just say that I am sooo jealous that I didn’t think of this product first. This truly is an innovation. Having said that if I would have created it I doubt it would have ever gone past my own bathroom so well done Sara Happ for doing it first. This is available at HQhair.

How to use

How could I not buy this product? It comes in a gorgeous little box like some beautiful jewelry but it’s better than jewelry in my book. All you need is a little dab to thoroughly massage your  lips to softness. This is a moderate to hardcore scrub so if your lips are really chapped or have open cuts I would not use this until they have healed. I wouldn’t recommend it to someone who is just going to buy it because it’s cute you have to use it to appreciate it’s ability. Sara recommends removing it with tissue but I found this difficult so I used a wet paper towel instead and it came off just fine. My lips felt plumped and full afterwards as well as being soft.

It had occurred to me through my pleasure overloaded brain that this could be an expensive habit. However after I used it I realised that this little pot will last a long time. The surface area of my lips isn’t that big, and I was able to use what was on the little plastic film lid and not even have to delve into the pot itself.

Before I forget it comes in other ‘flavours’ Almond Creme, Peppermint, Vanilla Bean, Brown Sugar, and Cocoa.

The Good

• Easy to apply
• Will last for ages
• Lips look plumped afterwards

The Bad

• Umm can’t think of anything bad

Verdict

I would be officially stupid if I didn’t buy this again. For a self-proclaimed exfoliation Queen this product is a must have.

Contains:

Sucrose, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark

Country of Origin:

USA

I’ve been using Burt’s Bees products for several years now and even though they have become more global they haven’t lost their ‘down home’ roots or their passion for the environment and ethical business practices. They regularly support community projects and work tirelessly on new packaging innovations to ease the stress on our natural resources. This is available from HQhair.

Application

Not many cleansers come little glass pots these days but this one does and it makes you feel like you have a treasure from days gone by. When you twist open the metal lid the smell hits you, it’s not citrus but a nutmegy fruit cake smell. The scrub itself is pretty much solid in the jar so you need to wet you fingers a little to get some out. It’s not a harsh scrub I would say mild to moderate. It’s best to make some in a little paste before you put it on otherwise it will not move. I like to use this before I do a face masque as it exfoliates but doesn’t strip your skin. The small jar should last fairly long as you don’t need much to get a good wash. This would also travel well due to the size and doesn’t cost the earth.

Advantages

• A little goes a long way
• Scrummy smell makes you want to eat it
• Gives a good scrub without being to harsh
• Won’t break the bank

Disadvantages

• A bit fiddly to get out of the jar
• Glass jar might not be practical

Verdict

Burt and his bees are always winners in my book and this scrub is a lovely surprise.  If you care about the environment and want to look good at the same time then let Burt show you the way.

Contains:

Sweet Almond Oil, Orange Oil, Nutmeg, Clove

Country of Origin:

USA

The immature child in me bought this product purely on the name alone. Who is this lucky tiger? I needed to know. The Lucky Tiger brand has been around since 1935. Surely he must collecting his pension by now. This is available at HQhair.

Application

This is a very concentrated product as in you hardly need any to get a good proper wash. Of course the first time I used it I poured too much in my palm (I think I was too excited to focus) so after subsequent uses I made sure I was more economical with my dollop.

I would class this as a mild scrub as the exfoliating action is quite gentle for everyday use. It has a lovely delicate smell of orange oil so the fragrance is quite ambiguous. If you have oily skin like me then this is perfect to wash the day off especially if you live in a city and feel grimy after work. I’ve used this to wash my face before re-applying makeup to go out in the evening and it does wash all my skin sins away. Lucky Tiger recommends that you use this after cleansing but I think this doubles up as both a cleanser and exfoliator. This face scrub is perfect for those couples who like to use each other’s stuff and looks wicked on the bathroom shelf.

What I love

• Very economical a little goes a long way
• The fragrance is quite uplifting
• Cuts through greasy skin

What I don’t love

• The stopper that dispenses the face scrub makes it difficult to get out

Verdict

Will definitely be buying this one again, but it won’t be for some time as this bottle will last ages! UPDATE as of 14.03.10 we still have the same bottle and we use it every day!

Contains:

Organic Honey Hibiscus and Green Tea

Country of Origin:

USA