This is available at Mankind!

A few weeks ago when James was placing an order for some men’s bits at Mankind he stupidly asked me if I wanted/needed anything. He probably thought I would say no as it’s a men’s site. Yeah right like I wouldn’t find something to buy?! I’ve always loved scrubs and masks that contain dirt, grit, mud, sand, rocks etc. and men’s products seem to have these in abundance. I immediately spotted this lava mask under ‘Editor’s Choice’ so I knew I had to get it. When I opened the packaging it contained a little card that I would consider to be a ‘love note’ telling me it contains volcanic mud and sand.

The scent of this mask is really hard to place. It reminds me of the fresh air of the Colorado Rockies but it also reminds me of freshly washed laundry. I was expecting the mask to be black but it’s a very pale ash colour. There was a pool of liquid at the top when I opened it but you just need to stir it. The liquid helps to keep the mask from drying out. You can also add additional water if you need too. This was a bit tricky to apply. You need to make sure your face is damp otherwise the mask just keeps coming off and then you end up putting more on. Once the mask is on it starts to have an immediate cooling affect that lasts the entire time you leave it on. I don’t know if this is a side effect but it feels really nice. This says it will draw out excess oils and toxins from the skin so I left two angry spots unattended (it was very difficult to do) just to see if this mask would draw them to the surface and sure enough it did!

Just as it was difficult to put on, it was also a bit of faff to get off. It didn’t quite peel off it kind of came off in chunks. I made a bit of mess in the bathroom. James asked me why it looked like someone dropped cement on the floor! For all the difficulties get it on and off the results are totally worth it. Plus the cooling feature of this mask is really unique, almost like you having an ice pack on your face. My skin felt so smooth afterwards that James was eager to have a go. He also got fantastic results, smooth skin that looked refreshed and clear. I would definitely buy this again. If you have oily or problem skin (when mother nature brings your monthly bill) then this is a real treat!

Let’s face it, Ocean Salt doesn’t really need a review does it? I think we all know how great it is. This really is the ultimate 3 in 1 product that cleanses, exfoliates, and tones. This is all with the help of sea salt, vodka, lime, and grapefruit juices. Many skincare products claim to be multi-functioning but Ocean Salt is one of the few that gets it spot on. One of life’s great pleasures is waking up in the morning knowing that you have a fresh pot waiting for you in the shower. It’s even better if you’ve put your Ocean Salt in the fridge the night before. There is usually a fight between me and James as to who is going to use the new pot first. I usually try to hide it from him because when he goes to use it, he scoops loads out like a bulldozer and doesn’t leave me any of the salty blue bits that are at the top.

James uses it to lift the hairs on his face before he shaves and I love kissing him afterwards because his face smells gorgeous. I love using the big crunchy bits of salt on my neck and decolletage. My friend Christine uses it for the breakouts on her back. Of course James and I also argue who is going to use the last bit too. This is why it is essential that we always buy the bigger pot or else it would be handbags at dawn!

This is available at Lush Cosmetics!

Figs and Rouge is natural French boudoir beauty made here in the UK. These gorgeous vintage Art Nouveau inspired tins contain 100% organic ingredients certified by the Soil Association.

(Left) Peppermint & Tea Tree – this is an icy cool fresh scent and makes your lips tingle. It also freshens your breath with the peppermint oil. I’ve also used this to soothe scratches and paper cuts.

(Right) Sweet  Geranium – is a flowery fragrance that I normally wouldn’t have chosen but it smells like a bouquet on your lips. I think this would also make a great solid perfume.

Both lip balms are quite smooth and are great for making a homemade lip scrub. If you are lucky enough to have rosebud lips, these balms are wonderful if you don’t want to add any colour to them. They give your lips a nice gloss without being sticky and gooey. As these aren’t creamy like other lip balms you may feel that you need to re-apply them more often. I absolutely love this packaging and the fact that they are made in the UK. They also do a Rambling Rose lip balm that would also be great as a solid perfume.

These are available at Super Smoocher who offer free delivery in the UK over £9!

Malin & Goetz Apothecary and Lab operate out of New York but fortunately their goodies are available in the UK. I like the simple design of the packaging, no non-sense formulations, and their use of natural fragrances and colours.

Grapefruit Face Cleanser – This zesty smelling cleanser cuts through the oil on my face like a treat. It rinses clean and eliminates the need for toner afterwards. This gel is a lot thinner than most cleansers but it’s highly concentrated so you only need about a 5p size amount to wash your face.

Lime and Rum Hand Washes – These hand washes smell divine and get your hands remarkably clean without stripping your skin. They are cheaper if you buy them in a gift set, I keep one in the bathroom and one in the kitchen.

Eucalyptus Shower Gel – This has a very strong medicinal smell of Eucalyptus which I love but it’s not for everyone. I use this in the summer when I feel hot, grimy, and worn out. Afterwards I feel sanitised and refreshed. As with the face cleanser you only need a small amount to get a good lather.

This is available at Boots!

When I met James in 2008 he was using leftover Lynx and other Christmas gift sets for shower gel. He would use whatever was around. Fast forward a few years later and he promptly turned his nose up when he saw this! I said that just because something isn’t expensive doesn’t mean it won’t work. I’m now eating those words for my tea.

Dead Sea Source says of it’s Invigorating Coffee Body Wash – “It contains marine extracts combined with Fair Trade coffee and lemongrass, basil and black pepper. It is a great antioxidant cleanser for the whole body and leaves skin soft and smooth.”

I bought this because of the promise of coffee to invigorate my skin and get me going. I like the bottle, it reminds me of a flask and it’s quite a generous size. I road tested it on a Monday morning as I need all the help I can get to start the week. The scent unfortunately doesn’t smell like coffee. James says (and I agree) that it smells really sweet like a powdery cocoa with caramel thrown in. This is fine if you like chocolate but I was expecting to be hit with the smell of a freshly ground roast.

The shower gel lathers really well and does get you clean but this didn’t feel like anything special. The powdery cocoa scent doesn’t even last very long so what’s the point? Dead Sea Source do other body washes but I would hazard a guess that they have the bog standard marine/sea salt type smell. In my opinion this sits in no mans land for shower gels. Probably a little pricier than some people are willing to pay but not pricey enough to make you think it’s good quality. It’s a shame, I was looking for a good alternative to Korres and there is no chance of that with this! Somehow Korres manage to get it right with their quality and price point but Dead Sea Source have missed the mark. I think I will start a petition to Starbucks for a bath and body range!

Benefit are mostly known for their quirky and cutesy makeup, but every now and again they dip into skincare and bath/body products. Lipscription has been around for awhile now and for some reason I’ve never bothered to try it. I think I thought it might be a bit gimmicky but not actually deliver any real results. The set contains a lip scrub and a lip balm to use together.

The Buffing Lip Beads (top) are suspended in an unscented cream with a texture not dissimilar to toothpaste. If you’ve been sitting on the fence about using lip scrubs then you should find this easy to use as it isn’t oily. The buffing beads actually do a pretty good job yet they are gentle enough not to scratch your lips. Benefit recommends you use this 2-3 times a week.

Silky Lip Balm (bottom) this is very smooth and not creamy like other lip balms. It is unscented and lasts on the lips for a long time. The balm works well when you use the lip scrub beforehand, but it can also be used on its own.

The scrub and balm should last a long time as you don’t need much to get the ‘benefit’ from either product. If you suffer from constant dry lips I think this set would be worth the investment. It would also make a cute gift for someone who is a bit clueless about lip care!

This is available from Boots and Lookfantastic!

When I was a child we used to have these pink soaps in the bathroom in the shape of rosettes. We were never allowed to use them as they were only for decoration. We had to use the boring old pump soap instead. My dad, however broke ranks one day and used a handful of the rosettes to wash his hands as we had run out of the pump stuff. My mum knew someone had used them as they were congealed in the soap dish and no longer resembled the perfect little flower buds. After that my mum never bought decorative soap again.

I’ve never understood the not using something because it’s too pretty/expensive/save it for best theory. If you buy something it’s meant to be used, if someone gives you something as a gift that has a function i.e. soap, china, or whatever – use it! I would guess these tinned Scottish Fine Soaps undoubtedly fall victim to the ‘too pretty use scenario’ but I was glad to rip them open and start using them.

Rose – I chose this in honour of Hyacinth Bucket, it looks like something she would have in her bathroom but you wouldn’t be allowed to touch it. I used this in the shower and it has a lovely lather and smells very pretty.

Oatmeal – James brought this one to my attention and I used it on my face for several days running, it seems to work well with my greasy skin. It also has lovely bits of oatmeal for exfoliation. I don’t know if it’s meant to be used on your face but it worked for me.

Seaweed – This smells similar to Molton Brown Seamoss Shower Gel. It also has lovely scrubby bits of loofah for exfoliation.

All of the triple milled soaps made my body and face feel lovely and clean. These are perfect for summer to get rid of the dirt and grime after being at work all day in a stuffy office. Other scents in the tinned soap range include Jasmine, White Lily, Lavender, Heather, and Bluebell. They are also coming out with new ones for the summer which I will be purchasing!

These are available at Scottish Fine Soaps!

I usually avoid body lotions in the summer. When the weather is hot and sticky it’s the last thing I want to put on especially after I’ve just had a nice cool shower. If you make a habit of using a good body scrub on a regular basis during the summer you shouldn’t need any lotion unless you have extremely dry skin all year round.

This body lotion is really light, sinks in really well, and isn’t expensive. What I didn’t like is getting the mica particles all over my hands. To avoid getting mica onto your clothes you need to wipe your hands straight after you apply it. It’s not dissimilar to using body glitter products. If you like a bit of shimmer on your decolletage, shoulders, and arms then this could work for you. The mica particles didn’t make much of a difference to my pale skin as you can see here.

This would definitely look better on naturally darker black and asian skins as they would reflect the mica particles better. So all in all not really great for me. However all is not lost, I gave this to my friend Claire and she loves it so it has gone to a good home!

This is available at Lookfantastic and Boots!

According to St. Ives their Apricot Facial Scrub is the best selling scrub in the UK. I’m not surprised, I’m sure it’s graced the bathrooms of more than a few teenagers over the years. This is from St. Ives Elements skincare range that came out last year.

I think the heat from a warming mineral products can be quite comforting which is the reason I wanted to try this out. The scrub is quite thick so you really have to squeeze the tube to get it out. I couldn’t place the scent of this at first, it reminded me of blackberry and apple cordial. After using it for several days running I decided it smelled more like sugary strawberries. I used this in shower and made the mistake of rubbing it in my hand before I put it on my face. The heat doesn’t last very long so by the time I got it on my face there wasn’t any warmth. I’ve realised the best way to use this scrub is to just squeeze it in my hand and slap it on my face straight away instead of mixing it around first.

This is a very gentle scrub so it won’t scratch your face and the scrub grains disintegrate into a creamy white paste. It does rinse well but I always like to use toner when I’ve put something creamy on my face to get clean up any residue. I think this scrub is okay for normal/oily skin types but I don’t think you will notice a huge difference to your complexion unless you use it several times a week. I wasn’t impressed with this at first but it grew on me the more I used it. My only complaint is that I wish the heat would last longer.

This is available at Superdrug!

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.