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  • Superdrug’s Vitamin E All Over Body Cream with Hibiscus Extract

    Currently in the UK, it’s not warm it’s ROASTING! This is not the time for me to forget about looking after the skin on my body. One trip to put something in the bin outside my house makes me feel like a dried out piece of oven baked chicken. So besides the use of sun cream/lotion, I’m upping my body’s moisture, not only from the inside but the outside too in the form of body creams. On my current body care rotation I am using Superdrug’s Vitamin E All Over Body Cream with Hibiscus Extract. This costs £4.99, but I bought it when it was a buy one get one half price deal within the Vitamin E range.

    Superdrug’s Vitamin E Body Cream with Hibiscus Extract

    Why did I buy this?

    I’m a body lotion/cream/butter addict! I love applying it, even if I’m in a rush. I hate dry skin on the body and it’s a part of my routine I rarely deviate from. And with so many textures and fragrances out there, it’s fun to try as many as I can out. This particular one I ordered because of the multibuy offer, and there were various products from the range I wanted to try and could afford to. This seemed a good size, interesting fragrance and a good price so why not?

    What is this & who is it for?

    Designed for normal to dry skin, this body cream is supposed to moisturise the skin while leaving it fragrant and smooth. With the added addition of Vitamin E, this helps to protect the skin from environmental damage and premature ageing.

    Packaging.

    465ml of body cream is housed in a screw top tub. Quite simple in look and design, with it’s splashes of cream and peachy pink colouring. Quite Summer and flowery like in look, with mentions of it supporting the charity Marie Curie. 15% of the price of the body cream goes to them.

    Fragrance.

    This fragrance is noticeable and not subtle. It’s a sweet floral scent which is quite specific, good strength to it but not something my 12 year old son would probably want to smell like. Not old fashioned at all, quite pretty and feminine. I quite like this. But be warned, if your sense of smell is easily aggravated or sensitive e.g hay fever, this might be too much.

    Texture.

    The fact that it lives in a tub means this isn’t a sloppy and lose body lotion. It definitely IS a cream! Thicker than a lotion but not as thick as a body butter. It holds it’s shape while in the tub but when you take it out the texture isn’t as thick as it appears.

    On the skin.

    I hate being stingy with body lotions. I would rather use more than less. But this body cream is quite rich and you don’t need to use too much. Despite how thick this looks when you scoop some out and apply it, it’s consistency is more body lotion like in use. Very easy to rub into the skin if you don’t use too much. There is a slight waxiness to it, but it’s not too much and doesn’t leave the skin sticky. It doesn’t leave my skin looking shiny but a very delicate appearance of being hydrated with a sheen.

    I find when this is first applied the fragrance is very much there. But it doesn’t seem to linger as time and hours go on. The fragrance is stronger than most of my current collection of body lotions/creams, but because it doesn’t continue with the same strength it’s good as it dies down naturally and fades.

    After use.

    This moisturises fine for me. I don’t feel like my skin is thirsty and needs reapplication once its used in the morning or evening. My skin I would say is normal. I moisturise twice a day so I don’t allow my skin to dry out for nothing or no one! So it’s in a decent condition and this works for me. Also, the occasional patch of psoriasis doesn’t seem to be set off or made worse by this product which is good.

    Is this really for normal to dry skin?

    Normal definitely! It will do the job well. Dry? Just about I think, but without suffering from dry skin I wouldn’t want to give a definite no or yes.

    Recommended?

    Yes I would, for the following reasons. You get a whopping amount for the price. And despite the relatively low everyday price, this product and range regularly are on offer so you can get it even cheaper! The cream is lovely to use, does the moisturising job and fragranced well. Just be mindful if fragrance isn’t your thing in body care or/and you aren’t a fan of floral scents this won’t be for you.

    Good news is at time of writing, this body cream and others from the Vitamin E range are on a buy one get one half price. So grab your multi buy deal here now to help combat your dried out skin thanks to the UK sun!

  • Primark’s Soothing Vitamin E Eye Patches

    I LOVE my friends! I don’t have many (quality over quantity!), and those I have I suspect know me better than I know myself at times. They understand my quirky sense of humour. They respect the fact I get up very early in the morning to work out when most people aren’t awake for hours. And they know how much I love skin and body care. So a slight squeal may or may not have left my lips when one of my amazing friends gave my a selection of goodies a few months ago, containing food and skincare. One item being Primark’s Soothing Vitamin E Eye Patches. Cost, £1.50.

    Primark’s Soothing Eye Patches

    Why was I excited over these?

    I love eye treatments! Eyes are definitely the windows of the soul, and as a busy mum of 2 who works and writes, tiredness is my middle name. And tiredness will ALWAYS show in the eye area. I would never say that eye patches totally transform the eye area and be the holy grail of eye care. But for an instant sense of relief feel and look wise, I find these to be very handy.

    What are these & what are they supposed to do?

    Gathering the very little information there is on the packaging, there are 15 treatments included. Placed under the eye area, they are designed to soothe and nourish the skin under the eyes. Ingredients include glycerin (moisturising), Papaya extract (rich in antioxidants), Morus Alba Bark Extract (another anti oxidant and calms irritations) and of course Vitamin E.

    Packaging.

    These eye patches come in a packet. The packet itself has quite a relaxing and chilled out look reflecting the soothing action of these patches, thanks to the green colouring. Resealable once the top of it is ripped open, means the rest of the patches won’t dry out and and be ruined. Instructions and details on the back are beyond small so get your specs out. And what information is present is very basic.

    What do they look like?

    When I opened the packet I was greeted with two thick stacks of eye patches. Quite standard basic eye patches. White in colour, under eye shaped and opaque. Very similar in feel to a face tissue mask.

    Fragrance?

    No obvious fragrance as such but there was something very faint. It remained me of how aloe vera gel smells, a delicate watery plant like fresh type smell.

    How to use.

    Apply onto clean face. Place under the eye area and leave on for 15-20 minutes.

    In use.

    I’ve used these about 4 or 5 times. I left them in the fridge so they were nice and cold. I had to separate the patches from each other which took a bit of time, but when I did it was noticeable they were soaked in some form of serum/solution. Thickness of the patches were enough to work with and helped with application. Easy to apply, although I needed to work out a few creases so they lay flat and in position. But they stayed still, no moving, for the full 20 minutes of usage. Quite comfortable on, very cooling and it felt quite pleasant.

    After use.

    Touching my under eyes I did feel a little tackiness, but they didn’t look oily and I didn’t see any obvious residue. Did the under of my eyes look any different? No. Did they feel a little more relaxed and hydrated? Yes they did. They were nice enough to use and to be honest I got the experience and results I expected so I’m not complaining.

    Recommended?

    If you are looking for a serious eye product where you want a specific result such as reduction of lines, getting rid of dark circles, then no. To me, this isn’t serious skincare, its a bit of fun and pampering. And if you treat it like that you wont be disappointed. Pop them in the fridge, run a bath and use a good quality bath bomb. Light a candle, eat some chocolate and slap these on. So would I buy these myself? I might, because they are cheap and provide light relief. But I wouldn’t rely on these changing my eyes dramatically or permanently.

  • Fragrantasia’s Magonlia Orange Blossom Wax Melt

    If I had a list of all the fragrances I wanted to try in wax melt form, the list would be absolutely massive! There is only so many hours in the day to melt wax, and only so many wax warmers a woman can own, so it takes time for me to try out all my wax goodies. But one wax melt I have really wanted to try over the last few years has got to be Magnolia Orange Blossom. I was kindly given a selection of wax melts, including this one, from Amy at Fragrantasia.

    Fragrantasia’s Magnolia Orange Blossom Wax Melt

    Why this one?

    It was actually Amy who has mentioned on so many occasions how this is her favourite wax melt fragrance. And many others in the wax community I am a part of have raved about what a lovely scent this is. So I wanted to see for myself if this was any good.

    The look.

    I love the variety of wax melt shapes from Fragrantasia. This wax melt is is a creamy orange coloured multi petalled flower shape. Great size, very chunky and perfect to pop the whole thing in a warmer. I love these individually shaped melts because there’s no cutting or breaking involved, easy to store and super cute.

    Fragrance.

    Not what I was expecting! The scent name was absolutely no help to me when guessing how this smells if I’m honest. I wrongly assumed this would smell like a citrus, sharp orange scent with sweet florals mixed in. NOPE! Straight away this is very unusual. It has a similar style in scent as the usual laundry ones on the market. It’s clean, fresh, powdery notes with lots of strength to it. Mixed with this is white florals. So not your sweet, feminine blooms you may have sniffed before. These add to the cleanness of this scent. Think of a slightly earthy, clean floral laundry scent which packs a punch but isn’t eye watering like a lot of traditional laundry scents. This is how to smells to me.

    In melt.

    This went from an orange flower to a pool of wax quite quickly as it was a warm day. No glitter, pigment, no shapes, purely orange wax. Which to be honest was still nice to look at because unless it’s Halloween, I don’t seem to purchase much wax this colour. It’s a great Summer-inspired wax solid and warmed through.

    Strength & Longevity.

    On both of these scores this did not disappoint! The scent was there before the wax warmer was even turned on. It became more stronger the more liquid it became. Melting away happily in my kitchen, this spread through the downstairs of my house like wild fire! So strength wise it’s way up there. Longevity wise, this surpassed 3 days of continuous fragrance. By Day 3, the strength had become a little less as you can imagine. But my wax warmer was on for at least 5 hours a day at a time. 10 out of 10 for both strength and longevity.

    Fragrantasia’s wax melt shapes, wax chunk pots and various other shapes.

    Recommended?

    Since this wasn’t what I expected, I did a lot of thinking on the lines of do I actually like this? And I do! The fragrance is different and not something I’ve smelt before. It’ a great alternative to the laundry scents out there we all are aware of and probably used. It’s not as in your face as standard laundry scents and is softened, but still has a full on force. The white florals add to this and gives it a more broader appeal rather than making it too feminine in fragrance. So, great scent, great strength and great longevity RECCOMENDED! Oh, did I mention price? This wax melt is only £1.00! Great price to try various scents without spending too much at Fragrantasia! Grab your Magnolia Orange Blossom wax melt here. I dare you not to add more waxy treats to your basket! Go on, I won’t tell!x

  • Treacle Moon’s Papaya Summer Body Scrub

    Body and skincare for me isn’t just the act of cleaning and moisturising the face and body, it’s about selfcare. Not sounding dramatic, but it’s about spending a small amount of time on your own making yourself physically and mentally look and feel better. There are times of course it’s all very rushed and part of an everyday routine, and then it can be spending an hour in the bath in a coma. So these products are important to me, along with their quality and price. One product I picked up recently from my local ASDA store, was Treacle Moon’s Papaya Summer Body Scrub. Reduced in price, wait for it….to 87p!!

    Treacle Moon Papaya Summer Body Scrub

    Why did I buy this?

    I’ve tried different products from Treacle Moon, and none of them have disappointed me! So they are definitely a brand I go to for quality and affordable bath and body products. I’ve used the Coconut Island body scrub before which I loved, and Papaya Summer looked so appealing. The name, the colour and of course the price! I would have been crazy not to pick this up!

    Do you need a body scrub? What are they supposed to do?

    For me, a body scrub primes the skin like a facial scrub does. It removes dead skin cells leaving the skin feeling smoother and looking less dull. This gets it ready for whatever lotions and potions you want to put onto the skin, making them more effective. So, although it’s not something I use as regularly as I should, it’s a must for me and a very satisfying process.

    Packaging.

    225ml of scrub comes in a plastic flip top tube. The tube is clear and see through, so you can see the scrub inside it. And what I think is fun is the illustrations on the front. It has a holiday vibe to it with palm trees and dancing silhouettes of people visible. All brightly coloured, which is set off by the bright colour of the scrub itself underneath.

    Fragrance.

    Totally yum! Off the top of my head I can’t even think what a papaya smells like. But this to me has the sweetness of a ripe, fleshy, tropical fruit. Mixed with a little ice cream and a sprinkling of sweets on top. This IS my kind of scent and it’s delicious!

    Texture & Look.

    Colour wise, this is vibrant! A very bright orange colour with tiny brown speckles in it which makes this product stand out. I thought this would be similar to a body lotion in it’s consistency, which it was and wasn’t at the same time. When squeezed out of the tube it did remind me of a lotion, but the look and feel of it had a lighter, slightly whipped texture to it. Airy, and between the finger tips felt like it wanted to melt (which it didn’t).

    How to use.

    Apply onto damp skin, rinse then towel dry the body.

    In the shower.

    I ran a bath as I always do when using a body scrub. Once I finish using a scrub I soak in the bath for a good 30minutes. I wet my skin while the shower was on, and used a healthy blob of this on each section of my body. Easy to rub in and I could feel the coconut shell straight away. I thought they would be bigger but they were big enough to do the job. I didn’t need to apply too much pressure, and although the exfoliating bits were present the rest of the scrub slowly disappeared into my damp skin.

    But it was the smell of this that made the scrub for me. Beautiful, fragrant, mouth watering and totally enjoyable!

    Once I finished I didn’t rinse this off, I just lay in the bath and let the water run it off my body naturally. Any few stray bits of exfoliate I removed but to be honest it pretty much came off with a sweep of the hand.

    Skin afterwards.

    Felt clean and smooth, not dry at all and totally matt. Unlike most recent body scrubs I’ve been using, this left no residue at all. No oil, no layer of anything, it just left clean skin. My skin was lightly scented which was a pleasant surprise, as I love the smell of this far too much!

    Who would love this?

    If you love the idea of scrubs but don’t like the idea of them being oil based but you don’t want to experience the dried out feeling afterwards, this is for you. Loving fruity scents? Then you will adore this. And if you want an affordable body scrub that is effective and always low in price as standard hands down this is a great purchase.

    Recommended?

    Yet again Treacle Moon have not let me down, I love this scrub! I probably would use this 2 times a week, which means with the amount in the tube it would last a good amount of time. The texture and scent of this was delightful, easy to use and remove, and can be grabbed off the shelf in certain supermarkets, so an easy purchase. The price I paid for this was brilliant! But their products normally are affordable all the time anyway so can be repeat purchased without going into bankruptcy. I can’t remember how much Tesco or ASDA normally sell this for, possibly £1.95 or £2.95? Regardless, I recommend this 110% as I would with all products I’ve tried so far from this brand!