I confess that I am somewhat of a beauty junkie. I am constantly searching for that next miracle product that will stay with me forever and not be another passing fad. ESPA’s spa products have an illustrious following so I was looking forward to seeing if my so far futile search could finally be put to a halt. I was sent their popular “Pink Hair and Scalp Mud” as well as the “Body Smoothing Shower Gel”. These are just two of a huge array of products that can be bought individually or now in an impressive range of 22 gift packages that are “designed to suit every lifestyle, mood and occasion.”

The hair and scalp mud (which can also be used as a skin conditioner) claims to leave hair as soft and as smooth as silk with its mineral rich ingredients of red and white clay, apricot kernel and watercress extract. The product itself feels less like mud but more like a common hair conditioner, the only difference being the rather garish pink colouring. It recommends that you apply to dry or damp hair and leave for at least 20 minutes or overnight for intense conditioning. I tried it overnight and the next morning my hair, which recently has been battered and bruised by both the glorious English winter and my fondness for straighteners, seemed in a much healthier state, with the effect lasting for several days.

The shower gel on the other hand was not quite as rewarding. An exfoliating gel which claims to “nourish, cleanse and revive”, it is gentle enough to use every day. Whilst the product did feel mild and soothing, the overtly masculine smell put me off. To be fair I believe the product is unisex as it appears in both the men’s and women’s range of gift packages, however I’d rather a product didn’t leave me smelling like I had borrowed my boyfriend’s shower gel.

Whilst pricey (the hair and scalp mud weighs in at a hefty £29 and the shower gel at £19.50) the products’ versatility and luxury go some way to justifying the price tags. I don’t think the search has stopped for my miracle products but ESPA have certainly sustained my appetite for a little while.

ESPA products and gift packages (which come gift wrapped with a personalised note) can be bought online at espaonline.com or at a number of stockists.

Joanna Crawley