Archive for the ‘Scrubs & Shower Gels’ Category
I never thought I would see the day I would use FemFresh. There you go, I’ve confessed. Well who admits to using a ‘feminine hygiene’ product? And what’s the point of it? If you keep yourself clean every day, you’re not likely to be aggravated ‘down there’, are you? And if you are, well sometimes the reasons are beyond your control and that’s when a trip to the GP or chemist is in order…or have I misunderstood the need for this product?
FemFresh, which has been repackaged and relaunched in a choice of 3 scents (the one above is enriched with cranberry oils), is safe enough to wash with so your lady parts won’t be agitated, which can often be the case with some soaps and gels that are highly perfumed. However the emphasis with FemFresh now is that it’s not just limited for ‘down there’, it is a shower cream for all over…so that’s less embarrassing.
It’s a very plain and simple wash, subtly scented but doesn’t linger on the skin. I reckon this product would be ideal post-pregnancy or indeed for anyone super-sensitive and at £3.49 for 250ml a bottle, it will last a long time.
FemFresh also has a travel size available and interestingly wipes, which would be perfect for festivals although they should do handbag sizes for emergencies. How many times have you gone to the loo and there wasn’t any toilet roll? Precisely the case on South Beach when I was bursting to release the bladder. Too much? Sorry.
Come on then, do you use femine hygiene products or do you reckon it’s all a load of…?
For further information visit www.femfresh.co.uk.
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I love indulging in scrubs (as I do with lip glosses, eyeshadows, blushers, foundations, serums, creams…oh, the whole shebang!) I am not sure why…maybe it’s because a scrub exfoliates and makes you feel really clean. Your skin certainly glows after the dead skin on the surface is removed, which reminds me, I must book myself in for another Turkish hammam…
It is essential you use a facial scrub at least twice a week but you shouldn’t also neglect the rest of your body. Apart from removing dead skin, a good body scrub will eliminate in-growing hairs and rejuvenate blood circulation.
Rituals recently sent me Sunrise Scrub (£8.90/150ml), their latest product to test. Enriched with sweet orange and Cedar, the subtly scented citrus fragrance infused is just the thing you need to wake you up in the mornings.
The scrub also incorporates a cream to cleanse and nourish the skin and it feels luxurious to use. Some scrubs can leave your skin feeling sticky and greasy – usually it’s sugary based scrubs. I realise sugar is an effective ingredient in exfoliation but it can also be a nuisance if the product itself isn’t formulated well.
As far as scrubs go, this one is very gentle though some may expect a more rigorous and effective scrub, which this is far from. I would say a gentle scrub such as Sunrise can be used a few times a week.
How much it costs is another factor, and £8.90 is considerably more than other similar products on the market. There is also a Sunrise Foaming Shower Gel Sensation (£6.90/200ml) available.
I am new to Rituals so if you have any recommendations of other products from their extensive range that I should try, please let me know. Often I pass their shop in St Pancras International station but don’t know what to go for.
Sunrise is available from Ritual stores, www.rituals.com, selected House of Fraser stores and John Lewis stores nationwide.
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As one part of London was engulfed with the start of London Fashion Week recently, another part was an ambience of serenity and relaxation, where I was in fact. To be precise, I had been invited to the internationally reknowned Jane Packer Flower School (a stone’s throw-away from Oxford street) for a spot of afternoon tea and a lesson in flower arranging, courtesy of the ladies of Yardley.
Yardley prides itself on floral scents so nothing could be more appropriate than an activity using the key ingredients that form the basis of their perfumes.
We had our teacher Akira to show us how things should be done by creating a simple hat box with pink English roses, white Gerberas and lavender and then we were left to our own devices. And do you know what? I absolutely loved every moment. There are some images at the end of this post from the flower arranging session. I have to say, I am kind of proud with what I managed to cobble together…
Any way, it’s almost a year since Helen and I visited Yardley at its home in Windsor when the historical British soap and perfumery business introduced us to its new fragrance, the delicately scented Royal English Daisy. Inspired by Kate Middleton (sorry, the Duchess of Cambridge) to commemorate her engagement of Prince William and aimed at a more youthful market, Yardley hoped it would re-establish the brand with a new following. Well this looks to go further as Yardley unveiled their spring advertising campaign for 2012 with Royal English Daisy at the forefront.
Yardley London has also introduced a new addition to their range in the shape and form of Bath & Body Skincare collection to compliment their key scents – English Lavender, Royal English Daisy, English Rose, Lily of the Valley and Peony – which comprise of a luxury body wash, moisturising body lotion and hand and nail cream and are affordably priced at £3.50 for the body wash (200ml), £5.99 for the body lotion (250ml) and £3.99 for the hand and nail cream (100ml).
Out of the five choices, the one I like the most is Royal English Daisy – a light, refreshing scent that’s perfect for everyday wear so I was keen to try its bath and body products.
All of Yardley’s bath and body products contain Q10, which helps to moisturise and nourish the skin, and Shea butter, vitamin E, grapeseed oil and sweet almond oil, natural anti-oxidants that help the skin fight against ageing.
The shower gel is thick, creamy and foams up nicely. For £3.50 it’s stupendous value for money for a little luxury and perfect for daily use.
body wash ingredients
To accompany it, the body lotion is very light to use (its pump dispenses just the right amount needed) and absorbs into the skin immediately leaving no greasy residue. It also dries very quickly, so you’re not waiting around to get dressed.
body lotion ingredients
The hand and nail cream, however, is one I could take or leave. It feels like silicone coating my skin rather than absorbing into it. My hands get so dry during the cold months like many people will agree so it’s important I can reach for a product that serves its purpose, even if it means paying that little bit extra.
hand and nail cream ingredients
In other news, Yardley London is to launch a new scent, Royal Diamond this year to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, which will be available to buy from their website next month before its general release through Boots in June.
For more information on Yardley London and its vast range of products, visit www.yardleylondon.co.uk. Yardley London is also available at www.boots.com and in store.
I’d like to thank Yardley London and the Jane Packer flower school for organising this day.
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...and here's what I ended up with!
A little while ago I was approached to see if I wanted to test out some items from a new company called Jainnisa. I was immediately intrigued by the prospect of turning my bathroom into a Thai Spa, with cruelty-free products that are designed to calm, relax and invigorate.
I was sent a bottle of moisturising shower milk and a body scrub to test out. The shower milk contains Blue Lotus (a traditional aphrodisiac that stimulates circulation and creates a feeling of well-being and calm), White Champaca (restores and nourishes the skin, keeping it in top condition), Ylang Ylang (relaxes and increases altertness and awareness), Frangipani (keeps the skin healthy and in top condition), and sunflower seed oil (combats ageing and makes the skin more supple). Phew.
So what is it like to use? Well, “milk” is right. It’s very very thin and without use of a areful hand, it’s very easy to pour this anywhere other than where you want it. I got the hang of it by using a shower puff thing, cupping my hand underneath it to prevent the excess running straight down the drain. After my shower, I noticed that my skin was a lot more supple and smooth, and this feeling lasted all day. The scent is really pleasant as well – reminiscent of various spas and hotels I have visited in the past. So, although the bottle didn’t last me longer than about three weeks, I really liked this product and would definitely buy it.
The scrub is also absolutely divine. I do like a body scrub from time to time, to refresh my skin and often prepare for a bout of fake tanning. I also like doing body scrubs in the winter as they make you feel more alive and glowy. The Invigorating scrub contains many of the same components as the shower milk, plus rice granules. It is in a small pot but you don’t need a lot, and the combination of a scrub then a rinse with the milk is really very pleasant.
I haven’t been to Thailand, and due to my husband’s fear of flying and also of exotic destinations, its unlikely that I will ever visit there, unfortunately. However, at least I can harness a little component of a traditional Thai spa without even having to leave my bathroom. There are over 20 products in the range, and the ones with the blue colour scheme are designed to be calming and relaxing, and the red labels are designed to be stimulating and invigorating.
Jainnisa is launching soon in the UK, with prices starting from around £15.00. To find out more, keep an eye on the website, which should be going live soon.
Helen
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