Speed Review: Neal''s Yard Remedies Beauty Sleep Body Butter

I'm not the best sleeper so any products which boast calming benefits appeal to me and as such, I was intrigued to try out the recently launched Beauty Sleep Body Butter from Neal's Yard Remedies.

The packaging is chic and not at all worthy, despite the eco credentials of the product which is 85% organic and free from mineral oils, parabens, phthalates and propylene glycol. As with most body butters, it was presented in a tub and whilst I generally dislike such packaging, I recognise that the rich formulations of certain products means that there's sometimes no other option.

The scent of Neal's Yard Remedies Beauty Sleep Body Butter is incredible and for me, makes it worth the money despite having a hefty price tag of £22.50 for 200g. It's a powerful aromatherapeutic blend of clary sage, ylang ylang, patchouli & cypress and the sensual, woodsy scent lingers on skin. I found it to be reminiscent of a spa experience.

However, the formula was a huge let down- it took a long time to be absorbed into the skin and as I was exhaustedly preparing for bed, I started to wonder "maybe this is why it makes you sleep- after the effort of massaging it in!". It almost felt like trying to rub in a white paste or wax and I can't remember the last time that I found a product so difficult to absorb. Admittedly (& unsurprisingly) there was an improvement when used after exfoliating but it still took some effort.

I was surprised because, unlike some body butters which are almost like a solid balm, the texture was more akin to a rich cream with a base of sunflower seed oil, shea & cocoa butters and aloe vera so I'd have expected it to sink into skin easily. I suspect that the difficulty I experienced is down to the inclusion of beeswax, the 8th ingredient in the list.

The plus point was that when it was finally absorbed, my skin didn't feel overly greasy as I often find is the case with body butters. There was a residue on my skin but it felt velvety smooth rather than greasy.

The difficulty I experienced in working with this product would put me off repurchasing, despite the fantastic scent. I really wanted to like this but was sadly disappointed & wouldn't recommend it.