April empties - Origins, L'Occitane, Saaf, Korres, The Bath House, The Body Shop

Body Shop massage oil – I wanted to like this, but I was disappointed. It sounded promising and exotic, but it smells too much of ginger. It might as well be called Ginger massage oil. I would not repurchase as there are other oils in the range.

Saaf face oil serum – love a facial oil. My face is dry and needs hydrating throughout the year. Have already repurchased. I’m very interested in this range of products. 

L’Occitane Jasmine and Green Tea soap 100g – love this and I’ve already repurchased, it looks like it’s discontinued but it sometimes crops up during sales so I stock up whenever I see it.

Origins Night-A-Mins 30ml sample – I've been using silicone-free products lately so this feels way too silicone-y for me and I didn’t really notice much difference after regular use either. I wouldn't repurchase. 

L’Occitane Verbena shower gel 500ml – this massive body wash came as part of a gift set of Verbena products from L’Occitane. I love the authentic fresh fragrance of this body wash, but don’t love the drying sulfates, would repurchase only if L’Occitane ever decide to reformulate to remove the SLES.

L’Occitane Mango flower hand cream 30ml – this is one of the really thick formulations that I prefer to use in cooler weather (the summer ones have more of a gel consistency). I’m not crazy about the fragrance. I have other hand creams in the stash.

Korres Guava Lip Butter – I really like this. I don’t wear this during the day as this guava one turns your lips white, but I use it each night as an overnight treatment. I used to wake up with parched lips each morning and the first thing I’d reach for would be a lip balm, but this works at keeping the lips hydrated. I’m not keen on the ingredients though, looks like there’s nothing but a bunch of plastic in there. I have the Pomegranate one to try next.

Pretty Perfect Orange Blossom shower gel – a sulfate-free body wash bought on clearance from TKMaxx. Great scent, quite unisex with sandalwood. Would repurchase, but I believe this is discontinued. The Bath House offer several other fragrances.

L’Occitane Mango Flower hand cream review

L’Occitane Mango flower hand cream 30ml – this is one of the really thick formulations that I prefer to use in cooler weather (the summer ones have more of a gel consistency). It has a screw cap which can be fiddly when you've just used some, but that's ok. The only thing I don't like about this is the scent. I’m not crazy about this mango fragrance as it’s very strong and fruity, even for me.

Here's a list of the ingredients taken from the back of the tube as the ingredients aren't listed on their website:

Aqua, Butyrospermum Parkii, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloydimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Brasica Campestris Sterols, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Ceteareth-33, Polysorbate 60, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ethylhexlglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Parfum, Limonene.

Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins Mineral-enriched renewal cream review

Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins Mineral-enriched renewal cream - this 30ml sample was a gift with purchase from Origins. I've read good reviews for this product but I'm not a fan. It feels too silicone-y for me once applied and I didn’t notice much difference the next day after regular use. 

I liked the fresh citrus fragrance but I wouldn’t repurchase this or buy a full size as I prefer my Neal's Yard Remedies silicone-free night creams. A full size 50ml jar is £34.

Here's what Origins has to say about their product:

"Put dullness to rest. Wake up radiant & refreshed. Now nature's famed night cream is newly fortified with a system of time-released resurfacers plus Vitamins C, E & H, minerals & moisture-rich replenishers. While relaxing aromas lull you to sleep, skin sloughs away dry, dead layers. Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins™ helps the appearance of dullness.

98% of those who tested it agreed - used regularly, skin was renewed and refreshed in the AM. Helps the slumber deprived wake up on the bright side of the bed. So why face dull skin. Sleep it off tonight."

And here's the list of ingredients:

Water, Methyl Trimethicone, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polysorbate 40, Cetyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Myristyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Glycerin, Orange Peel Oil, Orange Flower Oil, Valerian Root Oil, Cinnamomum Cassia Lead Oil, Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil, Bitter Orange Peel Oil, Vanilla Fruit Extract, Orange Juice, Citral, Linalool, Limonene, Raspberry Leaf Wax, Fennel Seed Extract, Chestnut Seed Extract, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Coleus Barbatus Extract, Wheat Germ Extract, Barley Extract, Panthenol, Biotin, Folic Acid, Pantethine, Glyceryl Stearate, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Arginine, Caprylyl Glycol, Phytosterols, Cholesterol, Linoleic Acid, Palm Oil, Salicylic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Squalene, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium PCA, Ceteareth-20, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phospholipids, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocotrienols, Calcium Carbonate, Carbomer, Hexylene glycol, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol.

Neal’s Yard Remedies Almond Moisturiser review

Neal’s Yard Remedies Almond Moisturiser – "protects and nourishes sensitive skin.
Vitamin rich almond and evening primrose oils are combined with geranium and lemon to prevent moisture loss and tone the skin."

This is a good, simple day cream. It offers a silicone-free basic moisturiser which can also be used as a night cream with some facial oil underneath for extra hydration if you’re extra dry like me. Sometimes, there’s simply no need to any fancy bells and whistles. This is one of Neal's Yard's least expensive creams at £18.75 for 50ml.

Here are the ingredients: 

Aqua (Water), Prunus amygdalus dulcis oil*, Cocos nucifera oil*, Glycerin, Cetyl alcohol, Cetearyl glucoside, Cetearyl olivate, Cera alba*, Helianthus annuus seed oil*, Calendula officinalis flower extract*, Sorbitan olivate, Lecithin, Simmondsia chinensis seed oil*, Oenothera biennis oil*, Chamomilla recutita flower extract*, Lavandula officinalis extract*, Pelargonium graveolens flower oil*, Citrus limon peel oil*, Xanthan gum, Tocopherol, Levulinic acid, Sodium levulinate, Potassium sorbate, Sodium dehydroacetate, Alcohol denat.*, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool.

Weleda Rosemary and Ginger conditioner review

Weleda Rosemary and Ginger conditioner - Weleda is available at Boots and through online retailers. I really liked this silicone free conditioner. I’d previously tried the other two fragrances in this range (orange blossom/calendula?) but hadn’t liked them at all. This was easily my favourite of the three but it looks like Weleda have reformulated and no longer offer this one. 

This 250ml plastic bottle has a pop up lid. This worked well when used after my Chagrin Valley lavender and rosemary shampoo bar. 

Here are the ingredients:

Aqua, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Alcohol, Rosemarius Officinalis Leaf Oil, Glycerin, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Rosmarius Officinalis Leaf Extract, Zingiber Officinalis Root Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Lavandula Augustifolia Oil, Lavandula Hydrida Oil, Zingiber Officinalis Root Oil, Citral, Limonene, Linalool.

Korres Yoghurt Moisturising Cream review

Korres's Yoghurt Moisturing Cream comes in a 50ml glass jar. I suppose it shouldn’t have bought this as it’s intended for oily or combination skin, but I'd read about it and wanted to try. It was only alright. My dry husk of a face requires more hydration than this can deliver, particularly in winter, but this could be ideal for an oilier complexion. One bonus was that this light cream leaves a natural looking matt finish. I wouldn’t repurchase, but simply because of my skin type.

"Greek yogurt is an ancient healing remedy that goes back hundreds of years. In Greece, yogurt is known for its ability to instantly soothe the skin by delivering increased moisture.

The Greek Yoghurt Moisturizing Face Cream contains full-fat, greek yogurt—a natural source of proteins, vitamins, and minerals to nourish and provide instant hydration to dry skin. It also contains vitamin E, olive oil concentrate, and macadamia nuts for antioxidant protection. This nourishing cream can be used every day as a part of your daily skin routine. "

Here are the ingredients:
Water, Yogurt, Butylene Glycol, Steareth-2, Isononyl Isononanoate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil Unsaponifiables, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Steareth-20, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Starch, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Triethylhexanoin, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Amorphophallus Konjak Root Extract, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde,  midazolidinyl Urea, Linalool, Magnesium PCA, Manganese PCA, Parfum (Fragrance), Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sodium PCA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Xylitol, Zinc PCA.

Unique Nature Organic Shampoo and Conditioner review

You can’t rely on TKMaxx having your favourite brands, but they usually have an eclectic mix of salon brands and organic natural brands that's well worth having a root around. Unique Nature is a BUAV approved Danish company and I picked up these huge bottles of sulphate free shampoo and silicone free conditioner. These 1 litre bottles have a pump dispenser and herbal scent. 

Being SLS and SLES free (although there is Sodium Coco-Sulfate in there), the shampoo doesn't lather up too much, but I don't mind that, as long as it gets my hair clean without stripping it and irritating my scalp. Here are the ingredients:

Aqua, Whey, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Sodium PCA, Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract, Alcohol, Sodium Beznoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Perfume, Citral, Limonene.

I like the conditioner as it's effective and silicione free, plus I find it easy to rinse out and it doesn't leave that familiar sticky silicone residue. Here are the ingredients:

Aqua, Whey, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ceterayl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cocoglycerides, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Helianthus Annus, Taraxacum Officinalis Leaf Extract, Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Benzoate, Perfume, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Tocopherol, Citral, Limonene.

These are good for someone who wants to try a more natural hair product and I would repurchase if I ever see them again.