Speed Review: John Masters Organics Repair Hair Mask with Honey and Hibiscus

I haven't tried many products from the John Masters Organics range but have liked those which I have tried so was excited to try their new Repair Hair Mask with Honey and Hibiscus.

John Masters Organics describe the recently launched product as "a rich and decadent, silicone-free hair mask that puts hair into rehab. This weekly rescue for extremely dry, damaged hair restores hair structure, locks in moisture and protects hair from further damage. A fusion of organic honey and organic hibiscus work together to restore shine, moisture and manageability, while conditioning bacuri butter and mongogo oil replenish strands. Hair is left stronger, softer and healthier."

Unusually for a hair mask, it's presented in a plastic bottle with a pump. Whilst this might make it harder to identify on a shop shelf, I liked that it's a little different. The brown colour of the plastic bottle isn't the most appealing but I like the overall brand ethos of John Masters Organics so for that reason, I was happy to have it on display in my bathroom. Of course, I'd have preferred if the bottle were transparent to be able to see how much product was remaining- I always do. The directions were clear and easy to follow and I appreciated that the mask gets to work in just 3-5 minutes.

I was initially worried that the pump dispenser wouldn't be suited to the mask formula but I was wrong. The mask has a lightweight cream texture which I found easy to dispense using the pump and actually found that this helped to control how much product I was using, avoiding wastage. That said, I did need quite a few pumps in order to release sufficient product for my long hair. I found the texture easy to work through my hair.

My main recollection, based on the products I've previously tried from John Masters Organics, is of the amazing, natural fragrances and the Repair Hair Mask with Honey and Hibiscus didn't disappoint. It has an incredible botanical fragrance which reiterated the natural branding and added to the sense of indulgence during use. I also noticed that it lingered in my hair following use.

I found the mask relatively easy to rinse out of my hair. I did feel as though there was some residue but it didn't feel uncomfortable or unpleasant- I'd describe it as feeling as though it was adding something to my hair to lock in moisture and protect (in any case, I really like the inclusion of heat protecting ingredients within the formula).

Whilst I describe my fine hair as being in average condition (I don't colour treat it, I heat style approximately once or twice a week and I'm pretty good at keeping up with my treatment regime), i.e. it's not the dry, damaged hair which this mask is meant to target, I nonetheless enjoyed using John Masters Organics Repair Hair Mask with Honey and Hibiscus. It left my hair feeling touchably soft, looking smoothed and shiny and it felt wonderfully conditioned, whilst also being manageable. I'd agree that it lives up to the claims.

At £39 for 125g product, John Masters Organics Repair Hair Mask with Honey and Hibiscus is undeniably expensive. That said, I feel that it's a quality product and as aforementioned, it delivers results. Furthermore, it ticks the "free from" boxes and has a natural ethos so if all of these factors are important to you, I'd say it's definitely worth checking out.

Speed Review: Maui Moisture Frangipani Body Wash

I don't know much about the brand, Maui Moisture but believe they are typically associated with hair care products. As such, it may be surprising that the first product I decided to try from the range is a body wash. The body washes are, in fact, a new addition to the line up (along with the introduction of scrubs and lotions). I picked this up when it was on offer in Boots recently- the "Frangipani" name appealed to me as I love this tropical flower, which reminds me of holidays. It's a relatively unusual ingredient within beauty products although Elemis' ever-popular Exotic range has products based around it.

Maui Moisture describe the product as, "Fragrant frangipani is infused into this gentle body wash, blended with exotic orchid extract and bright cypress oil. This formula helps soothe and nourish your skin to get back a healthy looking glow. Unlike some other body products that start with deionized water, Maui Moisture starts with a unique blend with aloe vera and is infused with coconut water. The results? Moisturised skin and a healthy-looking glow with every use!"

To me, the packaging has a very American feel in terms of the branding. It's a big plastic, squared bottle at over 500ml. Whilst the packaging clearly communicates the key ingredients of frangipani, orchid extract and cypress oil, along with the fact that the Body Wash is sulphate free, the packaging doesn't particularly highlight the aloe vera base which is surprising given the emphasis that the brand seems to place on this, e.g. on their website. I appreciated that the bottle wasn't opaque so that I could tell how much product was remaining as I used it.

Maui Moisture Frangipani Body Wash has a thick jelly texture and I felt that this reiterated the message about the base ingredient being aloe vera. I found the flip top lid on the packaging wasn't best suited to the texture (a tube presentation might be better) as it was a little difficult to control how much product was dispensed and I felt like I was wasting some of the product. That said, I was able to work the jelly into a generous lather so for that reason a little goes a long way. I found this to be particularly impressive given that the product is sulphate free. The Body Wash has a fresh, floral scent and I found it very pleasant to use. That said, the scent didn't linger on my skin following use.

Following use, my skin felt fresh, clean and hydrated (although not to the extent that I could forgo body moisturiser). I enjoyed using Maui Moisture Frangipani Body Wash and would be keen to check out more from the range in future- perhaps the dry body oil from the same range next.

Maui Moisture Frangipani Body Wash costs £8.99 for 577ml.

Speed Review: Elemental Herbology Watermelon & Cucumber Body Moisturiser

I'm a big fan of Elemental Herbology but must confess to being most familiar with their skincare, and less so with the body care range.

I was recently sent Elemental Herbology Watermelon & Cucumber Body Moisturiser. The brand say, "this high-performance body moisturiser helps optimise the life of your tan whilst soothing and cooling the skin. Light and non-greasy, this moisturiser contains cooling and nourishing botanicals, ideal for the summer months."

On first impressions, I liked the packaging which is a plastic bottle with functional pump dispenser. It's in keeping with the branding of Elemental Herbology and looks effortlessly chic- I was happy to have it on display in my bathroom. What's more, I appreciated that the bottle is sufficiently transparent so as to be able to see how much product was remaining. I found the directions clear and also liked the explanation of the key ingredients.

Aside from the brand's description, the Watermelon & Cucumber name gave me the impression that this would be soothing & cooling on the skin, with a fresh scent. Whilst it is indeed soothing and cooling on the skin (and yes, it's perfect for summer use but I'd actually say that it would work well year-round, e.g. to soothe central-heating parched winter skin), the scent wasn't the fresh, fruity (& perhaps sickly) fragrance which I was expecting. Instead, it's a grown-up, spa-like botanical fragrance which I found really indulgent and added to my enjoyment whilst using the product. Following use, I noticed that the scent lingered delicately on my skin.

The pump is well suited to the texture of the product, which is lightweight and easily absorbed into the skin. I'd say that it's akin to a body lotion (so perhaps those who prefer a richer cream in the winter months might enjoy this more as a summer product). There was absolutely no greasy residue left on my skin following use but my skin was left feeling wonderfully hydrated and conditioned.

At £22 for 290ml, Elemental Herbology Watermelon & Cucumber Body Moisturiser isn't a cheap product but I feel that the price reflects the quality of the ingredients and the indulgence factor of the finished product. It would make a lovely gift- or treat to self!

Speed Review: Superdrug Naturally Radiant 2-In-1 Moisturiser and Serum

I've previously tried a couple of products from Superdrug's Naturally Radiant range, namely the Hot Cloth Cleanser and Brightening Renewal Face Mask, both of which I quite liked. As such, when I was browsing the shelves of Superdrug recently, I decided to try out another product from the range and opted for the 2-In-1 Moisturiser and Serum.

Superdrug Naturally Radiant 2-In-1 Moisturiser and Serum is described by the brand as being formulated with a unique energising complex and infused with kiwi fruit & mulberry extracts to help even out skin tone. They state that it is enriched with nourishing fruit acids and that it has a rich, velvety formula to deliver long-lasting moisturisation, whilst also helping to refine skin texture & clarify, for a smoother & more radiant complexion.

I feel that Superdrug have been quite clever in the naming of this range- after all, who doesn't want naturally radiant skin?! The range has gained something of a following within the blogging community and it is certainly the range which I always have a glance at in Superdrug, in case there's anything new which jumps out to me.

Superdrug Naturally Radiant 2-In-1 Moisturiser and Serum is packaged in a small plastic bottle with a pump and this is presented inside an outer box, which adds a little something extra considering it's an affordable brand. That said, I wouldn't say that there's anything luxurious about the packaging. The green colour and text isn't the most modern and it's obvious from the packaging that it's an affordable product. Whilst I appreciated the functionality of the pump dispenser, which lends itself well to the texture of the product and also helps to avoid wastage, I would have preferred if the bottle were transparent in some way so as to be able to tell how much product was remaining.

I found that 2 pumps provided sufficient product to cover my face and as such, it feels as though the bottle would last a while & provide good value for money. The texture is an opaque gel and during use, it reminded me more of a primer than a serum. Despite initially feeling as though it was merely sitting on my skin, I did find the product to be easily absorbed. It has a pleasant, fresh & fruity fragrance which I didn't find overpowering.

Personally, I don't think that this is a 2-In-1 moisturiser for all skin types. Certainly, I couldn't forgo moisturiser and still used it on top. That said, those who usually choose to skip this step or those with very oily skin might get on well with this product.

This isn't my favourite serum and whilst my skin was left feeling hydrated, it wasn't to the same extent as with other products I've used. I feel that the claims are rather over-enthusiastic and as a result, the product is a little disappointing because it fails to deliver on them in my opinion. That said, if you take the claims with a pinch of salt and want a simple product, this might be worth a look. It worked well under makeup but I wouldn't say that it particularly boosted my skin's radiance.

At £5.99 for 50ml, this is an affordable product but one which I personally wouldn't repurchase, simply because there are other serums which I prefer.

Speed Review: Palmer's Coconut Oil Conditioning Shampoo

I recently reviewed Palmer's Coconut Oil Repairing Conditioner and following on from that, today's review is of the Palmer's Coconut Oil Conditioning Shampoo.

Palmer's Coconut Oil Conditioning Shampoo is described as a rich, creamy shampoo which gently cleanses and removes build-up without stripping hair or interrupting its delicate moisture balance. It contains ethically and sustainably sourced coconut oil and Tahitian Monoi, infused with Tiare flower petals.

On first impressions, I thought that the packaging looked cheap and a little dated. Whilst I appreciated the details of what the shampoo is "free from", I must confess to an eye roll when I noticed the gluten free claims- after all, I don't intend to eat my shampoo! I also found the name "Conditioning Shampoo" a little confusing and initially thought that it might be intended for use as a co-wash, however, the clear directions recommend that it be followed with a conditioner.

I liked that the plastic bottle is transparent, allowing me to see how much product was remaining. It features a flip top lid for dispensing the product.

Unsurprisingly, Palmer's Coconut Oil Conditioning Shampoo has a coconut fragrance which I personally didn't find very indulgent. I was, however, quite surprised at the texture of Palmer's Coconut Oil Conditioning Shampoo. Everything from the name to the appearance of the product through the plastic bottle made me expect a thick formula but its actually quite a liquid gel. Despite being sulphate free, it produced an impressive lather. As such, a little goes a long way and I feel that the 400ml bottle would last a long time. I really enjoyed the usage and in particular, the fact that the lather felt silky, suggestive of the natural oils within the formula. This added a more luxurious feel to the product and is the factor which made me most tempted to continue using the shampoo. The rinsability was average.

The first time I used Palmer's Coconut Oil Conditioning Shampoo, I hadn't read the instructions and so I did use it as a co-wash, forgoing a separate conditioner. Despite this not being its intended use, I was pleased with the results. That said, I only have fine hair and those whose hair tangles easily probably couldn't get away with skipping conditioner with this shampoo.

Following use, I could detect a very subtle scent of coconut in my hair. My hair was left feeling soft but I wouldn't say shine was particularly enhanced.

Unfortunately, I felt as though Palmer's Coconut Oil Conditioning Shampoo irritated my sensitive scalp. That said, whilst I had really expected to hate the shampoo, I actually really enjoyed the usage (as aforementioned) and even though I've decided to discontinue use on my hair, I'll be keeping hold of the bottle because I feel that it will be a good shampoo for cleaning my makeup brushes with.

Palmer's Coconut Oil Conditioning Shampoo costs £4.19 for 400ml.

Speed Review: OGX Coconut Milk Shampoo and Conditioner

Today's review is of OGX Coconut Milk Shampoo and Conditioner, which I was recently sent to try. I've tried a few products from OGX over the years but wasn't previously familiar with the Coconut Milk range.

In describing the range, which comprises the Shampoo & Conditioner (including travel sized versions) along with an oil mist and serum, OGX state, "Is your hair ready for a tropical holiday? Retreat to the islands. This exclusive blend with coconut milk, egg white proteins and coconut oils helps bring out your hair's natural strength, elasticity, hydration and balance- all with a shine inspired by the tropics."

On first impressions, I thought that the packaging was in keeping with the OGX branding and affordable price point. Personally, I'd have preferred if there was something other than the text on the plastic bottles to differentiate between the Shampoo & Conditioner for ease of use in the shower, although some customers may like that they match. Admittedly, the colour coding to reflect the key ingredient does make shopping the ranges (there's quite a few!) easier in store. Both bottles feature flip top lid dispensers and I found the directions to be clear and easy to follow.

Firstly, I tried the OGX Coconut Milk Shampoo which is described as a "deliciously creamy and nourishing blend... helps to strengthen and hydrate your hair, leaving it softly scented, super soft and glowing". The shampoo is a white gel and I found the flip top lid dispenser well suited to the texture of the product. I was able to work the shampoo into a generous lather, which rinsed away easily (as tends to be the case with shampoo).

Next up, the OGX Coconut Milk Conditioner. This is designed to leave hair with "more strength and elasticity, and a hint of the tropics that will float with you all day." Further to my earlier comments about wishing that the two products had different packaging, when I came to use the conditioner, I felt even more strongly about this. The conditioner is a thick white cream and whilst I found it was ok to dispense using the flip top lid dispenser at first, as more of the product was used, it was more of a struggle. I feel that the texture means that the conditioner would be better suited to packaging such as a tube. Packaging aside, I found the conditioner easy to work through my hair. When it came to rinsing, I'd say that the conditioner had average rinsability.

Both products have a sweet coconut fragrance which is an obvious choice to match the key ingredient. I found it to be reminiscent of holidays, as will be the case for many people. The scent lingered delicately in my hair once it was dried and styled.

Following use, my hair was left looking shiny and feeling very soft. I also noticed that tangles were noticeably reduced so the products might be worth a look if this is a concern for you. I was impressed that my sensitive scalp wasn't irritated but did find that my roots became greasy very quickly (which is unusual for me) so these products are probably best suited to someone with dry hair.

I wasn't "wowed" by OGX Coconut Milk Shampoo and Conditioner but they did the job and are fine as an affordable duo if you pick them up on offer. In my opinion, they aren't worth the £7 each (for 385ml) price tag.