The Body Shop Spa of the World Dead Sea Salt Scrub
The Spa of the World Collection launched a few weeks ago and when I popped into my local Body Shop, I made a beeline for the Dead Sea Salt Scrub. I have always been a huge fan of Body Shop body scrubs (in fact, they are the only ones I use) – so I knew this latest offering was going to be a slam dunk.
The combination of the Dead Sea minerals and coarse salt crystals create the perfect consistency for a deliciously gritty exfoliator. This rougher scrub suits my personal preferences just fine – I like to apply it on dry skin and scrub the living daylights out of myself (if you prefer a more gentle exfoliation, then apply on wet skin). I then hop into the shower and once it’s all rinsed off, my skin is super smooth. I then slather myself in my other current obsession, the Body Shop Fuji Green Tea Body Butter. You will never have softer skin, I guarantee it.
Luckily, this is a permanent collection so it will be available forever (rejoice)! Retails for R275/350ml.
Giorgio Armani Si Perfume Oil*
This arrived last week, and my goodness, it really is something special. It is, to the best of my knowledge, the first perfume oil of its kind, and it comes housed in the most magnificent glass bottle which has now taken pride of place on my dresser.
This oil version of the classic Si scent is highly concentrated for a deeper scent, and combines royal blackcurrant nectar, black and creamy woods and an intensified modern Chypre. It is aimed to create a ‘sensual contact with the fragrance’, meaning that you rub a few drops between your hands and then apply the scent to your pulse points, instead of simply spritzing it on as you would a normal fragrance.
I have found the best way to use the oil (on me, anyway), is to dispense a drop of the oil on each wrist and then one drop under each ear, and one drop on the nape of the neck. I found that by rubbing the oil between my palms the scent was diluted a little bit. I also want to mention that the the oil is completely dry so it leaves no greasy residue – you won’t be able to feel it on your skin at all and it won’t stain your clothes.
You can also layer the original Eau De Toilet, Eau De Parfum and Eau De Parfum Intense over the oil to amplify the fragrance. I have been trying this using the original EDT and the effect is really beautiful – very refined and delicate.
This product is innovative, interesting and beautiful – I’ve never seen or used anything like it. It retails for R1,395 for 30ml and will be available exclusively from Stuttafords from October 2015.
MAC ‘Tropic Tonic’ Matte Lipstick
Last week I watched Susie’s (Hello October) MAC Haul + Swatches Video and she couldn’t say enough good things about ‘Tropic Tonic’ – a matte orangey pink lipstick. My subsequent behaviour perfectly illustrates the power of Youtube…I have never owned or worn a matte lipstick, yet I immediately (and I mean, immediately – like, as soon as I finished the video) took myself down to MAC at the V&A Waterfront and bought it.
Matte lipsticks are, by their very nature, quite drying, so I haven’t particularly enjoyed that aspect of this lipstick (shocker – from the girl who is all about hydration and moisture). However, the colour is sublime – I am obsessed. As I type this I am sitting on the couch in Arniston, in my tracksuit pants, on a grey and rainy Saturday, and I’m still wearing it! Gloomy weather notwithstanding, this is the perfect punchy, juicy spring/summer colour – I expect it will be a firm favourite in the coming months.
Side note: if you don’t like matte lipsticks, then I suggest you have a look at MAC’s Vegas Volt lipstick – the colour is very similar to Tropic Tango, but the finish is creamier and more comfortable to wear.
Retails for R210.00
*PR Sample