Saving Face by the Beauty Parlour

This is a daily moisturiser with SPF 8 with Horse Chestnut and Cucumber in 50’s inspired kitsch packaging.  Obvious comparisons can be made to Soap & Glory with the bright colours, 50’s images and playful design.  I actually prefer this packaging; it’s not such a bright pink. and it looks better than the other S&G copycat – Along Came Betty sold in Tesco.

Key Ingredients

Octocrylene & Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane – organic sunscreens
Orange oil, patchouli oil, amyris oil – to give a citrus, exotic and woody natural fragrance
Cucumis Sativus Fruit extract – cucumber extract
Panax Ginseng – anti-oxidant and rejuvinatng benefits

The rest of the ingredients are standard for this type of formulation and its nice to see that petrolatum and paraffin liquidium havent’ been used to cheapen it.  There is synthetic perfume (parfum) at a higher percentage than the natural oils, but the fragrance is still quite nice and is quite unique smelling.

Where is the Horse Chestnut?

This product claims to contain Horse Chestnut but there is no mention of Aesculus hippocastanum on the ingredient label on the pack or the carton – which is a bit odd!  I’m sure it’s an oversight but a bit of an embarrassment for the manufacturers.

SPF 8

This is provided by organic sunscreens; - Octocrylene & Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, there are quite normal sunscreens.  SPF 8 doesn’t give a lot of protection from UV rays, probably enough for typical changeable UK weather, but not adequate for a hotter day.   I personally prefer a SPF 15 or SPF 20 – just to give cover any surprise heat waves in the UK. 

Rating

Value for money – £1.99 from Savers or £7.99 from Superdrug
Effectiveness – there is a bit too much playtime due to the silicone content, and gives the feeling that it sits on the skin, rather than sinking in, but it’s quite nice and will protect from UV rays
Pampering factor – I do like the fragrance which is part synthetic and part exotic oils
Recommended – if you pay £1.99 for a SPF 8 moisturiser than it’s a good deal,
USP – made in the UK – always try and support British manufacturing

Balance Me Discovery Set

I love Rose Otto fragrance and when I noticed that this brand had won awards in 2010 and 2011 I snapped up this trial pack of 4 in the handy 30ml and 55ml travel sizes.  The brand claims 98% and 99% “Natural Origin” and “Super Toning” so I thought I would investigate these claims too.

What does Natural Origin Mean

It means a product either occurs in nature or is extracted from nature without any chemical modification.  So a product which is chemical, synthetic origin or has been processed with chemicals to make it something else cannot be called natural.

There are some products ie Potassium Sorbate that occurs in nature, but the only material supplied is synthetically manufactured from petrochemical ingredients.  Another ingredient; Cocamidoproyl betaine is made from coconut oil and petrochemicals.  So claim these two products are natural origin or are petrochemical free, is downright misleading.  There are a lot of skincare products out there claiming “petrochemical free”, containing ingredients where petrochemicals were used to produce it.   My advice is that if you see a product that has only Latin plants names on it, it’s safe to assume its 100% natural, if you see chemical names than look them up, if it’s important that you only use 100% natural products.  The Soil Association and Ecocert certifications are also good indications of very natural products. 

Super Moisturising Hand Cream 98.8% natural origin

Contains 3 ingredient of chemical/synthetic origin ie Sodium stearoyl lactylate, Potassium sorbate, Dehydroacetic acid

 

Super Toning Bodycream 99% natural origin

Contains 4 ingredients of chemical/synthetic origin ie Sodium stearoyl lactate, Hydrocystearic linolenic oleic polyglycerides, Potassium sorbate, Dehydroacetic acid

Both creams contain amount of vegetable oils & waxes, and essential oils to impart fragrance which is good, the body cream also contains a lot of extracts and I’m always a bit sceptical as extracts tend to be in low concentration in a water system and used in even small concentrations in the final product to actually offer any benefits.

Rose Otto Body Wash 99% natural origin

Contains 8 chemical/synthetic ingredients; - cocamidoproyl betaine, lauryl glucoside, disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate, Dehydroacetic acid, Potassium sorbate, Benzyl salicylate, benzyl benzoate & farnesol

Rose Otto Toning Body Wash 99% natural origin

Contains 5 chemical/synthetic ingredients: - cocamidoproyl betaine, lauryl glucoside, disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate, Dehydroacetic acid, Potassium sorbate

Comparing the two wash ingredient lists there is absolutely nothing to suggest what supports the Toning Claim, as with the exception of two essential oils it contains the same ingredients as Rose Otto Body Wash.

Rating

Value for money – £16.00 for 3x 55ml and 1 x 30ml products – if I brought full sizes I would have paid £55.00

Effectiveness – needed twice as much as my regular Lush Shower Gels

Pampering factor – nice Rose fragrance

Not Recommended – I think there are comparable naturally based products available that are better value for money that are not making false claims ie Neal’s Yard, Lush, Liz Earle to name a few

Spa Therapeutic Gel Bath – Revive Infused with Rosemary

This is a really unique bath product, completely different to other products.  I highly recommend everyone tries at least once, and it makes a very novel gift.

 Ingredients

Sodium Polyacrylate. Perfume, Rosemary oil and Red Colour

How It Works

There are 2 sachets inside the box.  Tip stage 1 into bath water and swirl and watch the bath water turn into gel.  The main ingredient – Sodium Polyacrylate – absorbs 200-300 times its own weight in water it’s a synthetic product and is used in nappies to absorb urine!   The manufacturer recommends only filling the bath half full to get the best effect.   When you add the 2^nd sachet or stage 2, you are adding salt which neutralised the sodium polyacrylate, breaks down its bond and releases the water.

Skin Affinity

The bath water takes on the appearance of loads of little beads, and Rosemary essential oil scent comes through.  You can feel resistance in the bath water, and it has a slight massaging effect on the body when you move around in it.  When you pick it up in your hands, it has a slight exfoliating effect on the skin, and it the water seems to stay hotter for longer.  Once you’ve added the salt, you can than experience the benefit of a detoxifying bath. 

Rating

Value for money – £10.00 for a box which contains sachets for two baths – so a bit expensive for an everyday bath, however this is not an everyday bath experience – so probably worth it, and an very novel gift  for more info and where to buy here is the manufacturers website    http://www.gelicity.com/

Effectiveness – the information on the pack does promote it more as a therapeutic Spa effect, I wouldn’t go that far, but it is an interesting sensation and I ‘m sure it’s slightly beneficial

Pampering factor – I personally find this pampering, and I’ve used it on special occasions when I’ve had a stay at a luxury hotel

Definitely give it a try – it’s unique