Speed Review: Radox Nourish Shower Cream

Today's review is of Radox Nourish Shower Cream. For those readers who recall my review of the brand's Cherry Blast Shower Gel (click here to read), it may seem surprising that I've revisited Radox's shower products. In actual fact, I picked this up at the same time as the Cherry Blast Shower Gel. Despite my previous negative review, I aimed to keep an open mind when trialling the Nourish Shower Cream.

 



As you'd expect, the packaging isn't exactly luxurious but it is functional with a squeeze dispenser at the base. I liked that it had a plastic hook at the top which could be flicked up if you prefer to hang your body wash in the shower. What's more, I liked that the transparent packaging meant that I could see how much was remaining.

 

 

Given the wallet friendly price tag, it was unsurprising that the second ingredient is Sodium Laureth Sulphate. This meant that I was easily able to work the shower cream into a generous lather. However, I tend to find SLS strips my skin and leaves it feeling dry. As such, I wasn't able to forgo moisturiser following use and I certainly didn't notice any skin nourishing benefits, as the name suggests. 

 

The packaging boasts a "feel good fragrance" and a nurturing blend of shea butter and ginger. It has a fruity fragrance which I found to be pleasant and not sickly sweet. I didn't notice that the scent lingered on my skin once I was out of the shower.

 

I felt as though I went through this body wash quite quickly so I'd recommend using a bath puff with it to make it go further.

I preferred this to the Cherry Blast Shower Gel. I felt that the packaging had been given more consideration and also, the scent was more to my personal taste. Having said this, I still didn't love Radox Nourish Shower Cream. It's fine and does the job (although I'd argue its "nourishing" claims) but there are other products which I prefer so I won't be repurchasing. 

Speed Review: Soapsmith Limehouse Bar Soap

I rarely feature bar soaps here on Skin Deep, preferring to opt for liquid soaps and shower gels. However, one which has made the cut is Soapsmith, a British Brand specialising in hand-crafted & hand-cut soaps made using the traditional Cold Process method to retain the quality of the ingredients, each inspired by the owner's love of London. The soaps are paraben free and contain sustainably sourced palm oil.

I've recently been testing out the Limehouse soap, named after the London region and unsurprisingly, scented with a fresh, clean and zesty lemon and lime fragrance.

I absolutely adored the packaging which reiterates the "inspired by London" message, thanks to the incorporation of a London map. On the side of the box, the benefits of the key ingredients are listed. For example, lime essential oil boasts antiseptic and astringent properties, lemongrass essential oils is refreshing, stimulating and uplifting whilst cocoa butter and shea butters are rich & nourishing. The bar itself was perfectly cut and embossed with the brand's logo.

It took a little work to create a lather. During use, the citrus scent that is apparent when you open the box doesn't come through particularly strongly. In fact, I noticed a slightly clinical fragrance, however, following use my skin was left feeling clean and a delicate fresh fragrance lingered.

I was impressed at how long the soap lasted, particularly in comparison to other, cheaper bar soaps which I've tried. As such, I feel that the price tag of £6 is justified.

As the festive season approaches, Soapsmith Bar Soaps would make fantastic stocking fillers or token gifts, particularly for any London dwelling friends. In addition to the Limehouse scent, there are soaps with fragrances inspired by Brick Lane, Marble Arch, Baker Street, Bloomsbury, Lavender Hill and Green Park.

Speed Review: Heaven by Deborah Mitchell EllaJane Celebrity Skin Wipes

I have to admit that when I first heard that one of my favourite skincare brands, Heaven by Deborah Mitchell, was launching cleansing wipes, I was dubious. I've repeatedly stated my dislike for cleansing wipes for a variety of reasons but mainly because I simply don't feel that they offer a sufficiently effective cleanse. Having said this, I can appreciate their convenience, particularly at this time of year as we head into party season and I realise that they're better than nothing when you're in a pinch.

 

I like the story behind Heaven's Celebrity Skin Wipes. Founder, Deborah Mitchell and her daughter, Ella developed the wipes together and it's clear that they are intended to appeal to a younger audience in addition to fans of the main Heaven line.

The packaging is minimalist and chic. Those who place importance upon eco credentials will appreciate that the plastic packaging is made from renewable materials and uses far less oil than other plastic. What's more, the wipes themselves are made from certified organic cotton. I liked that the packaging includes an expiration date.

The packet of 30 wipes is rather bulky and this means that they wouldn't be my first choice for travel. Having said this, the reason for the bulkiness is down to the size and quality of the wipes. I'd have preferred a secure clip fastening rather than the sticker closure.

The wipes themselves are the most generously sized I've come across. I normally find that when using wipes, I need to use a couple which makes them something of a false economy. However, with the Heaven by Deborah Mitchell EllaJane Celebrity Skin Wipes, I only needed to use one each time. The quality of the wipes also impressed me. They're thick and easily passed my "tear test".

The wipes contain skincare ingredients such as Apple Pectin, Honey and Peppermint and are sufficiently saturated so that there's no need to rub at skin. I noticed a slightly medicinal scent but it's not offensive.

At £7.30 for a pack of 30 wipes, Heaven by Deborah Mitchell EllaJane Celebrity Skin Wipes are more expensive than many on the market. However, they're some of the best I've come across and I feel that the quality makes them worth the extra money. I still can't bring myself to actually recommend wipes but if I was going to, it would be these.

Speed Review: Le Petit Marseillais Lait D'Amande Douce (Sweet Almond Milk Shower Cream)

 

Today's review is of a body wash from the affordable brand, Le Petit Marseillais, which I picked up in a French supermarket on a recent trip.

The packaging isn't anything special but nonetheless, the continental aesthetic appealed to me. I found the flip top dispenser to be functional, however, I'd have preferred if the plastic bottle wasn't opaque so that I could tell how much product was remaining.

As the name suggests, it's a shower cream as opposed to a gel. In fact, I'd describe the texture as a shower milk.

The scent is incredible and lives up to the sweet almond description. It's a comforting scent, reminiscent of frangipane but not sickly. I didn't notice that it lingered on my skin following use. I liked the scent so much that I'd be tempted to find out if there's an accompanying body milk if I were to return to France.

The inclusion of SLS meant that I was able to create a generous lather, however, it also makes me question the validity of the claims that it's a hydrating and nourishing product. I certainly didn't feel able to forgo moisturiser following use.

If you find yourself in France, I'd recommend looking out for this. It's worth trying for the scent alone but what's more, it's an affordable way to indulge.

Speed Review: HealGel Body

Despite launching back in 2008, the HealGel range has recently seemed to spring up out of nowhere, making leaps in popularity and becoming an overnight success story, winning various awards.

I've recently been trialling the latest addition to the range, HealGel Body. The product is described as an advanced, scientifically- designed, skin rescue body formula.

British model, Suki Waterhouse is already a fan, stating, "As a model I often work in extreme weather conditions or under harsh lighting so my skin can get a bit dry. I've started to use HealGel Body in between shoots and it helps keep my skin really soft and smooth."

As is the case with the other products in the range, HealGel Body is presented in a white box which is colour coded to signify the product inside, in this case, yellow. The packaging has a clinical feel to it that gives a nod to the cult brand's origins. Inside is a 100ml tube with an appearance which reflects that of the outer packaging.

Whilst travel friendly, 100ml is an unusually small size for a body moisturiser and I'm not sure how long the tube would last, particularly given that the directions recommend applying 2-3 times per day (seriously, who has the time?!). I was quite surprised at the ingredients listing, which includes a high concentration of propylene glycol as well as silicones.

It is a slightly opaque gel which absorbed with incredible ease into my skin. I've never previously come across a body moisturiser that leaves absolutely zero noticeable residue on the skin- there was no stickiness or greasiness, making it ideal for busy ladies.

I personally found the slightly medicinal scent to be pleasant although it may not be to everyone's liking. It's a clean and fresh scent that lingers delicately on the skin following use but isn't overpowering.

As the name suggests, HealGel Body is designed to be healing and this is most evident in the inclusion of a relatively high concentration of arnica within the ingredients. I'm very clumsy and often notice unsightly bruises and nicks on my legs (which I generally have no recollection of getting) so I was keen to see if this would aid healing. Whether it was psychological or not, it's hard to say but I did feel that it boosted the recovery time.

At £39.50 for just 100ml of product, HealGel Body is undeniably expensive and I'd find it difficult to justify a repurchase. However, it is unlike anything else I've come across so I could be tempted- particularly before occasions such as summer which require baring my legs.

Speed Review: Radox Cherry Blast Shower Gel

I don't usually opt for cheaper shower gels but I recently picked up the Radox Cherry Blast Shower Gel on a whim when it was on offer for just £1 in Boots. The bright, bold packaging stood out to me on the shop shelf and whilst it's by no means luxurious, it is functional with a flip top dispenser on the base.

The gel itself is a rather alarming red colour. As it is high in SLS, it can be worked into a relatively generous lather. However, the downside is that I found it to be drying on my skin and I needed to take extra care to moisturise following use.

There's nothing wrong with this shower gel- it's perfectly fine and does the job but I won't be repurchasing. Personally, I prefer to inject a little luxury into the otherwise mundane task of my daily shower so I'll be sticking to higher end brands in future.

Along with cherry blast, there's also berry burst & coconut kiss options.