 Vanilla & Cardamom Body Soufflé by Umi at Waitrose (165ml) £4.99
This moisturiser promises to give you velvety soft skin, whilstsounding and smelling like something you should eat rather than rub on. It instantly stimulates the senses with its luxurious, crème brulée texture and mouth watering, toffee-yogurt scent.
The Umi philosophy is one of affordable luxury, and they really do deliver on this. For less than £5, you get a really exclusive looking and generously filled glass jar that wouldn’t look out of place in a Covent Garden health spa, and gives wonderful results.
Produced in the UK (for those of you concious of your carbon footprint), The Umi Body Souffle uses natural ingredients like sweet almond oil and shea butter, and is enriched with Vitamin E and Pro-Vitamin B5, all of which aim to enhance the skins softness. Vanilla and Cardamom extracts not only make the moisturiser smell divine, they also warm, soothe and soften both the skin and the mind.
I couldn’t help but feel special as I schmeared the body souffle all over myself. It feels really light and greaseless leaving the skin feeling silky-soft, quenched and radiant. Also, as it sinks lavishly into the skin you start to smell just like a freshly baking cake- which means you get lots of attention!
 Grandma Vines Natural Vitamin E Cream For The Face- Available at www.lifeplan.co.uk - £4.99/80g
This 24-hour intensive moisturiser promises to hydrate, soothe and protect your skin, whilst simultaneously increasing skin elasticity and fighting the signs of ageing, by harnessing the beneficial properties of botanicals to deliver skin-health nutrients.
Grandma Vines Natural Vitamin E Cream is made in the UK, uses all natural, biodegradable and environmentally sustainable ingredients, is free from Parabens, petrochemicals, steroids, colourings, preservatives and animal products; so it’s even suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
On application, this cream feels quite dense and tingly, but absorbs quickly and greaslessly into the skin, with a nice sherbet scent. The end result is quite satisfying; leaving even the most troublesome areas hydrated and flake free. Apply in the morning before makeup application for a smooth matt surface, and reapply generously at bedtime to ensure maximum absorption.
Inspired by a family history of chronic Eczema, Grandma Vine’s face cream concentrates on being gentle yet effective, using extracts of Rosemary and Calendula to sooth cracked or inflamed skin. Although the packaging is a little uninspired, I would definitely recommend it to those suffering from sunburn, acne, psoriasis or other skin complaints, as well as those who just need a little sensitive pampering.
Skin Wisdom Restore & Replenish Restorative Night Cream by Bharti Vyas for Tescos
This is a nourishing night cream developed specifically for the care and restoration of mature skin. Its aim is to deliver smooth, firm and radiant skin as you sleep, by aiding its natural overnight regeneration process. Created by Kenyan born Holistic Beauty-Therapist, Bharti Vyas, Skin Wisdom Restore & Replenish Restorative Night Cream draws inspiration from traditional Ayurvedic remedies and traditions. Vyas believes, quite rightly, that “everyone has a right to look and feel good – beauty does not solely belong to those who can afford it”, which is why she’s teamed up with Tesco’s to provide high end, low cost beauty products, made in the UK.
The Restorative Night Cream is surprisingly light and cooling on application and melts effortlessly into the skin. It has a light, feminine fragrance that is pleasant yet discreet, and its minimalist packaging design looks quite exclusive. As with Grandma Vines’ Face cream, this restorative night cream uses calendula oil for its healing and soothing properties- it also gives the cream a nice peachy hue. I did find that if I applied too much to my face in one go, it would dry before being fully absorbed; leaving a residue that could rub off and be problematic if used before applying makeup. However, as it’s a night cream this shouldn’t be a problem, as it will be absorbed fully by the time you wake up in the morning.
 Kalahari Watermelon Body Moisturiser from Akamuti (www.akamuti.co.uk) 120ml £9
This smells mouth-wateringly delicious! Its impossible not to feel refreshed just from the fruity scent of this moisturiser. Although it’s at the higher end of the price range, Akamuti’s Kalahari Watermelon Body Moisturiser uses natural, organic and community traded ingredients and nothing else. The watermelon oil used is Omega rich, and, when combined with olive oil, may chung, lime and chamomile; it results in a refreshing, toning and nourishing moisturiser.
Because Kalahari Watermelon Moisturiser has a high content of essential oils, it feels lovely and light, and a little goes a very long way- I only needed a fingertip-sized amount to treat my whole face and it actually encouraged me to massage my skin more thoroughly when applying- a great way to improve circulation and break down toxins in the skin.
I did find that it took quite a long time for the moisturiser to be fully absorbed, which resulted, temporarily, in a slightly sweaty look, and I had to wait longer than normal before applying makeup. However, it made my skin feel and smell lovely all over, so it’s worth the wait. I found my skin felt soft, smooth and clean, and I smelt just like summer. I like the packaging too, it looks really rustic in a cute little glass jar with a metal screw top lid. Be sure to store it somewhere cool though, as it has a tendency to soften and go a bit runny.
Beauty on a budget - Pamper Treatments
Beauty On A Budget: Facial Wipes |
