Speed Review: Lavera Repair & Care Shampoo and Conditioner

I've said before that I'm not strict in my approach to natural beauty but nonetheless, I enjoy trying natural brands especially because many now have a luxurious quality which makes the worthy & apologetic "green" brands of old seem like a distant memory. Today's review is of Lavera Repair & Care Shampoo and the accompanying conditioner.

On first impressions, I liked that the shampoo and conditioner were packaged differently so that they could be easily distinguished from each other in the shower. What's more, I liked that the packaging features use by dates. Having said that, it's obvious from the packaging that Lavera is an affordable brand as the packaging doesn't look luxurious. Whilst I liked the slimline shampoo bottle, the natural colours and imagery aren't the most modern. I'd have preferred if it was easier to see how much product was remaining but I did appreciate the functionality of the flip top dispenser on the shampoo and the handy tube which the conditioner is presented in.

Lavera Repair & Care Shampoo is a clear gel with a fresh, floral fragrance. Rose is detailed as a key ingredient but I found the scent to be subtle and not old fashioned or "granny-like". I was pleasantly surprised at how generous a lather the shampoo created, despite the formula being free from SLS & ALS. For this reason, a little goes a long way. It rinsed out easily.

Lavera Repair & Care Shampoo works effectively but isn't anything special or indulgent and for that reason, I have to confess that I was rather surprised at the relatively hefty price tag of £9.45 for 200ml.

Lavera Repair & Care Conditioner is a thick cream with a stronger fragrance than the shampoo, which I can't say I was the biggest fan of. I found it easy to work through my hair in the shower. Interestingly, when I came to rinse out the conditioner, it felt as though there was very little product remaining, as though my hair had absorbed the conditioner. It rinsed easily and I didn't notice any residue once my hair had been dried & styled. Following use, I was impressed that my fine hair wasn't left weighed down but instead, had movement & shine. The conditioner costs £8.45 for 150ml.

Speed Review: Simple Kind to Skin Moisturising Facial Wash

I've previously veered away from Simple skincare because, whilst I'm not strict in my approach to natural beauty, it annoys me that the brand has sometimes been pitched as "pure" despite the inclusion of "nasties" such as parabens, SLS, etc.. That said, I like the eye makeup remover and the cleansing wipes are also rather good so when I received the Moisturising Facial Wash in a goodie bag at a recent event, I decided to give it a go.

I tend to use oil based cleansers as I find they have a balancing effect on my combination, acne prone skin so it's unlikely that this would appeal to me if I saw it on a shop shelf. Having said that, I appreciated the functionality of the tube packaging. What's more, the directions are clear and easy to follow.

The formula is a pearlised gel which needs to be worked into a lather in hands before applying to a dampened face. It was quick and easy to use, including in the shower. The gel created a very soft lather which felt pleasant on the skin. Additionally, it created a generous lather which is perhaps unsurprising given the inclusion of ingredients such as Sodium Laureth Sulphate but also meant that a little goes a long way & that the 150ml tube will last for some time. It has a fresh, delicate scent which is inoffensive. It felt refreshing to use, which I enjoyed particularly given the warmer weather.

The face wash rinsed away easily & removed my face makeup but because I avoided contact with the eye area, I needed to use a separate eye makeup remover.

Simple Kind to Skin Moisturising Facial Wash left my skin feeling "squeaky clean" which I didn't like because it felt as though my skin had been stripped. I'm not convinced by the moisturising claims because my skin felt tight following use and I definitely couldn't forgo moisturiser.

At just £3.39 for 150ml, Simple Kind to Skin Moisturising Facial Wash is incredibly wallet friendly. I also like that it's available in a travel friendly 50ml trial size for £1.29 but personally, I wouldn't repurchase because I don't like this format of cleanser.

Speed Review: Ole Henriksen Nurture Me Cleansing Cloths

One of my earliest blog posts here on Skin Deep was a review of Ole Henriksen's Truth To Go Cleansing Wipes and so whilst I don't rate wipes as an effective cleansing method, I was intrigued to revisit ones by Ole Henriksen. Today's review is of the brand's Nurture Me Makeup Removing Cleansing Cloths, which contain Moringa and Borage Seed oils and are designed to remove all traces of waterproof makeup, including waterproof mascara. Whilst I don't use waterproof mascara, I do wear a full face of long-wearing makeup on most days so I was keen to see whether these would live up to the claims.

I liked the packaging which features the bold colours signature to Ole Henriksen. I like that, despite being a celebrity facialist brand, the packaging is fun and not too clinical. What's more, I appreciated the functionality of the clip fastening which particularly appeals to me because I don't use wipes on a daily basis so I like that this prevents them drying out. Along with the clip, there's also a sticker fastening.

The directions were clear and I noted that the wipes are suitable for use over the delicate eye area. I appreciated that the wipes were easily removed individually, rather than in a concertina fashion. They have a pleasant fruity fragrance.

The wipes themselves are good quality & passed my "tear test". They are sufficiently moist so as to remove makeup rather than feeling as though it was simply being moved around my face. I was impressed that just one wipe worked effectively to remove my makeup, including eye makeup. Whilst they are more expensive than the average wipes, I felt that only having to use one wipe meant that they're relatively good value for money. They didn't leave a residue on the skin following use.

On the whole, I was impressed with Ole Henriksen Nurture Me Cleansing Cloths & whilst I don't go so far as to recommend cleaning wipes as a general rule, these are amongst the most effective makeup removing wipes which I've tried. Despite being initially cynical, I do feel that they delivered on the claims and I would consider repurchasing.

A pack of Ole Henriksen Nurture Me Cleansing Cloths contains 30 "satin spun" cloths and costs £12.