Review | Elemis Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow*

Hands up if you're a body scrub fanatic? Yep, me too! I usually reach for Soap & Glory, my favourite high street range, but when the opportunity arose to test out the wonderful Elemis Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow* from the Sp@ Home Body Exotics range I couldn't resist. I've always been hugely impressed with Elemis bath and body products, particularly their Frangipani Monoi Shower Cream which I was lucky enough to receive as a gift from my fiance last Christmas, and so I knew it was likely I'd fall in love with the newly released Skin Softening Salt Scrub. 

Aiming to gently exfoliate skin through the inclusion of mineral rich salts and hibiscus plant, as well as deliver a long lasting moisture boost via the scrub's soothing coconut oil base, Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow is a truly luxurious body scrub perfect for a spot of me-time pampering and indulgence. Clearly I'm not the only one who thinks so, as my tub's contents has been mysteriously decreasing in size ever since I left it in the bathroom! 

I couldn't write a review on this without at least attempting to convey the wonderfully rich, warm aroma of the Frangipani range. Aaagh it smells amazing! I'm not brilliant at describing fragrances but I figured I'd play a little game of word association and hope for the best (!): 

Exotic

Warmth

Comfort

Spice

Musk

Cocoon

Lingering

Enveloping

Nourishing

Cosy

Some more 'technical' words would be 'Tahitian Monoi Oil' and 'fragipani flowers' but in case you're not sure what such a blend would smell like/feel like, word association is surely the way to go! Needless to say, it smells divine. Rich, full, heady and delicious, a seriously luxurious fragrance that lingers long after my bath, both in the bathroom and on the skin. I love it when products leave a subtle scent after rinsing, and this is no exception. 

Admittedly the somewhat hefty price tag of £36.50 might cause a few wide eyes, but the tub is a generous size (480g) and a little really does go a long way. Plus, it really does work. I like to scoop out a small handful of scrub while in the bath and massage it on to my skin gently in small circles, starting at my feet and working my way up to my arms. While the product doesn't 'lather' as such it does have a creaminess to it that makes it easy to spread and massage on to the skin with no dragging or scratching. The scrub particles vary from super fine to larger pieces but they're comfortable and not at all irritating. I was instantly struck by how softening I found the scrub to be, noticeable even on wet skin. The bath water develops a lovely soft, slightly oily texture meaning you feel very much cocooned in moisture. Upon rinsing with warm water my skin feels noticeably nourished and smooth, meaning that once dry I can skip body lotion without risking tightness or dryness on problem areas such as my legs and upper arms. This nourishment lasts, unlike some bath products that claim to lock in moisture for a long period of time yet fail to follow through.

The tub the scrub is housed in is super sturdy and although it looks like glass it's actually a strong plastic that holds well and shouldn't break if you happen to drop it on the bathroom floor. The metal lock keeps the contents secure and it looks pretty darn lovely on my bathroom shelf! 

While expensive, Elemis Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow is well worth the price in my opinion as it's such a treat to use and should last a long time (so long as my mum stops pinching it!) Speaking of my mum, after trying it for the first time she came downstairs, a look of amazement on her face, before exclaiming 'Imy, feel how soft my skin is! It's a miracle!' A truly impartial nugget of praise from my mum there! If you're looking for a pampering product that delivers high quality results and is a joy to use, then this is definitely something to try. Remember, it's only three months until Christmas..! 

Browse Elemis Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow and other products in the range here

Baci e abbracci, 

                                                         

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* PR sample. Review is entirely my own, as explained further in my Disclaimer.

Primark beauty haul: Hair, tan and storage!

'Primark' and 'beauty' isn't really a combination that instantly fills me with excitement to be honest. Bargain bikinis and ballet shoes, yes. But beauty products? Hmm...

However, having noticed Hask's range of Argan Oil and Macadamia Oil products on my last few shopping trips, and having heard good things about them from fellow bloggers, I thought I'd put my Primark prejudice aside and give them a go. Of course, as soon as I started browsing the beauty shelves I found lots of other goodies I wanted to try, hence one hair mask turning into a Primark beauty haul. Oops! Here are the bits and bobs I picked up. 

Hask hair treatment masks, £2 each 

Macadamia hot oil treatment £2, Argan oil £2.50

I went in looking for Hask products and found the Argan Oil and Macadamia Nut masks, plus a Macadamia Nut hot oil treatment and Argan Oil shine oil to use on wet and dry hair. I used the Macadamia Nut mask this morning and I was extremely impressed; expect a review over the next few days. 

Hair Essentials with Argan oil shampoo and conditioner, £2.50 each 

This Argan oil shampoo and conditioner duo is actually made especially for Primark, unlike Hask which is a division of an American hair care company. I'm intrigued to see what these are like. The bottles are reminiscent of the infamous Moroccan Oil range, although I'm sort of doubting the quality will be quite as good. I'll be testing these this week and will report back with my verdict.

Anti-Imperfection face mask 90p

Who didn't love these Montagne Jeunesse face masks during their teen years?! I'm still a fan, especially as they come in a range of wonderful colours with hilarious images on the front of each sachet. Where can I get me some leaves like that?! This one contains aloe vera and willow which I thought sounded very soothing, and since I've been making an effort to use a mask once or twice a week to encourage clearer pores I figured this 90p (!) classic might help. 

Sunkissed Gradual Tan £2.90

My nickname when I was younger and holidaying in Italy with my Stepmum's Italian family was 'mozzarella'. Which just about sums up how pale I am and how stubborn my skin is when it comes to tanning. OK, so I actually hate sunbathing and would rather stick pins in my eyes than lie out on a beach towel for hours at a time (I don't cope very well in extreme heat!) But still, my legs don't even pick up a 'walking around being a tourist' tan. I rely on gradual tan to see me through the summer months, because as much as I try go by the pale and interesting tag my legs are more translucent than white. I usually use Palmer's Cocoa Butter gradual tan but thought I'd give this a go as it makes a cheaper alternative. The packaging looks sleek and the initial smell is quite cocoa buttery. It's not made specifically for Primark as far as I can tell, but is part of a wider range of tanning products made a company Sunkissed. I slapped some on my pins this morning after my bath, so I'll be judging the results this evening before bed. Fingers crossed!

Large 'Ditzy' wash bag £3 and small 'Ditzy' make-up bag £2

Last but not least, I couldn't resist picking up a few make-up bags. The larger one was only £3 and the smaller one was £2, and I love the floral design. I seem to have hundreds of make-up bags but really needed a bigger one to dump my everyday items into, rather than having three of four small bags spilling everywhere on the bathroom floor. The smaller bag is perfect for holding handbag essentials, so I'll be bringing it everywhere with me. If I'm being honest I seem to get a kick out of collecting make-up bags and these were just too cute to resist!

Have you tried any beauty products from Primark? I'd love to hear your thoughts! 

Nivea In-Shower Body Moisturiser Skin Conditioner

I have so many pots of body butter and bottles of body lotion in my bathroom that it's actually getting a little hard to walk from the door to the bath without knocking something over! I love the ritual of applying a nourishing cream post-bath but sometimes I just don't have time. Plus, it's annoying when you can't pull up your skinny jeans due to lotion leg! 

So when I spied this Nivea In-Shower Body Moisturiser Skin Conditioner (bit of a mouthful) in Boots recently I was intrigued. An in-shower body lotion that's quick to apply and doesn't require absorption time? Sold! But does it really work? 

There are two formulas available, one for normal skin and one for dry skin. I went for the dry skin one as sometimes after a bath or shower my skin can feel a little tight and itchy. After using my regular shower gel I squeezed out a small amount of this and applied it to wet skin, as directed on the back of the bottle. It's scented with the classic Nivea smell, very pleasant and quite sweet. The consistency reminds me of hair conditioner, making it perfect for using as a shaving cream as well as an 'in-shower' body lotion. Upon rinsing I noticed my skin felt soft and comfortable, and after drying my skin didn't suffer from any itching or 'tightness' that dry skin often suffers from when skipping body lotion. 

However, I'm not sure I'd say it's effects are comparable to a regular body lotion. My skin may not have felt tight when I got out of the bath but it definitely didn't feel as mosturised as it would with a regular lotion, and the effects weren't as long lasting. While my skin felt comfortable it didn't feel particularly nourished. It makes a great quick fix for busy mornings, but I don't think I'd use it regularly instead of a normal lotion, butter or cream. It's a great concept, but I sort of feel I'd get the same result by smothering myself in hair conditioner... Now there's something to try! 

Pros

• Interesting concept 
• Pleasant scent 
• Leaves skin feeling comfortable
• Quick and easy to use

Cons

• Doesn't replace a normal body lotion in terms of long-lasting skin softness and nourishment

Have you tried Nivea's In-Shower moisturiser? Did you like it or did you wonder what the fuss was all about? 

Nivea In-Shower Body Moisturiser Skin Conditioner can be found at Boots, currently retailing at £3.54.

Chocoholics unite! The Body Shop Chocomania range: shower cream, body scrub, body butter & lip butter

This post should come with a warning: the following products, on purchase, may cause you to drool/want to lick yourself. Therefore I suggest having a chocolate bar close at hand when bathing with The Body Shop's new Chocomania range, in order to alleviate such cravings. Trust me, you'll need it! (Just so you know, the bottles come with a warning sign: unfit for consumption. So as much as you might want to consume them, don't!)

If you're a chocolate fan you'll most definitely appreciate the scent of Chocomania shower cream, body scrub, body butter and lip butter. Unlike some chocolate scented products produced by other brands, these actually smell like chocolate. Real, creamy, cocoa-y, buttery chocolate. Mmm. There's no other way to explain it; sweet, sugary but not sickly, warm and luxurious.

Chocomania Shower Cream 

I bought the products this morning and decided to test them out this evening. First up, the shower cream. Now don't be alarmed at the brown colour. Yes, it may seem a little bit strange at first but the smell more than makes up for the colour, especially as it really does seem as if you're bathing in chocolate sauce (in a very good way!) It lathers up excellently and has a gorgeous creamy texture. Did I mention the smell?!

I then opened the body scrub, which at first glance might also be said to look a little strange; dark brown, the colour of a baked chocolate brownie. But, oh, the smell! This is the product that smells the most authentically like a real bar of chocolate, so much so that I really did want to lick my arm and see if it tasted as good as I thought it might (I didn't though, hence the handy chocolate bar I nibbled on post-bath!)

Chocomania Body Scrub 

The scrub has a thick, gooey texture and rubs in easily, with a mixture of small and large buffers that really help slough away dead skin. It worked a treat at smoothing the tops of my arms and my sad winter feet.  

To finish I used the body butter. I've tried lots of Body Shop body butters in the past, including coconut, mango and olive, and they've all been great quality. This didn't let me down. Thick, with a balm-like texture which melts on contact with the skin, it sinks in quickly and leaves behind that scrumptious chocolate scent. It feels indulgent, a sophisticated chocolate body product rather than the cheaper ones you see on the high street. It's worth the investment if you're a die-hard chocoholic like me. 

And I just couldn't resist the matching lip butter, which shares that same delicious scent. It has a creamy texture and feels moisturising; and as it's applied to the mouth I think I can get away with giving it a few licks without anyone thinking I'm truly bonkers. Mmm. 

Chocomania lip butter 

Chocoholics unite and let me know what you think of the Chocomania range! 

Chocomania Body Scrub & Body Butter (200ml each)on offer 2 for £15 at The Body Shop (24/2/2012)

Shower Cream £4 (250ml)

Lip Butter £4 (10ml)

The Body Shop Chocomania full product range