In this week’s issue of ON MY DESK I take a look at some of the gorgeous body products I’ve come across recently.
Beauty products this week are all shot against illustrations by the talented and fabulous Kelly Thompson. You can view more of her art and buy artworks at her website www.kellythompson.co.nz
Savar Body Wash and Luxury Travel Set
Why we love it: Too good to save for a holiday, you should buy this set and just use it at home! It has five 30ml bottles of premium skincare products all crafted in New Zealand from all-natural botanical ingredients. They’ve cleverly made three variants to suit everyone too: there’s a normal/dry, combination/oily, and all skin types set. Each set is ideal for men or women, and all are fine for those with sensitive skins. Active ingredients include a veritable fruit salad of goodness, with goji berries, marshmellow extract, bilberry, blackcurrant oil, fig, lime flower and lemon balm.
My faves are the lemon balm Energising Body Wash which smells divine, and the luxury Face Wash which felt so clean (but not stripped-clean) and had a pleasant fresh smell and felt lovely to use.
Where to buy: $89 for the 5 mini products set at selected pharmacies, department stores and beauty therapists and online from www.savaronline.com
Pai Comfrey & Calendula Calming Body Cream and Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil
Pai is Maori for good and this stuff is really, really good. Whilst the Pai Comfrey & Calendula Calming Body Cream is a new fave to me – I love its feel on my skin – the Pai Skincare Rosehip Bioregenerate Fruit and Seed Oil Blend is a fave I have used up before, and am already a third of the way through this bottle since taking this photo.
Why we love it: It’s top quality yet reasonably priced and has high standards and beautiful packaging.
Where to buy: Pai Body Cream $38 and Rosehip oil $48 from Apotheka in Osbourne Street Newmarket and online at www.glamorpusscosmetics.co.nz
Human+kind All-in-one Body Oil
Human+kind products – which have now arrived in New Zealand from Ireland – have a philosophy of simplifying your life with multi-use products. As such, their aptly-titled All-in-one Body Oil may be used on your hair, body, and face as a petrochemical-free alternative to bio oils.
Why we love it: It has a blend of sunflower, jojoba oil and wheatgerm to use on scars and dry skin or hair.
Where to buy: It retails for $26.70 for 75ml from St Lukes and Albany Farmers stores.
ORLY Smudge Fixer and Orly Color Care Polish Bond
I have to say, I did think of a spy film when I saw the names Smudge Fixer and Polish Bond, but this is a crime fixer of a different type – to put to use when you’ve murdered your manicure, and this Bond is not from Poland at all but Polish Bond is a basecoat for longer-lasting nail colour. ORLY Smudge Fixer and Orly Color Care Polish Bond are part of the ORLY Color Care range of nail care products for home use. I came pretty late in life to the basecoat party; I’m not sure why I never bothered until now. It seemed I think like an extra step but actually it’s a time-saver when you factor in that it lasts way longer and chips less, requiring less touch-ups.
Why we love it: They have a nice grippy lid which makes it easy to remove with my left hand. They are free from any of the 3 nailpolish nasties: DBP, Toluene, and Formaldehyde.
Where to buy: $14.99 each from Farmers stores only.
Burberry BRIT Rhythm
Burberry BRIT Rhythm is the latest women’s perfume from the iconic British fashion house Burberry.
Why we love it: I have been wearing this literally non-stop since getting it and have received so many compliments on its fragrance. My husband says it’s his fave on me, too. It may be the closest I get to owning a Burberry trenchcoat, so I’m going to wear this Burberry, instead.
Where to buy: Department stores nationwide for $150 for 90ml edt, $120 for 50ml edt, $89 for 30ml and $70 for 150ml body lotion.
Evolu Refreshing Body Wash
Evolu Refreshing Body Wash is in my shower right now and I am enjoying using it everyday.
Why we love it: I particularly like its texture; quite substantial and you do feel like it is cleaning you, without stripping skin. It is also a nice change from most shower gels which are very floral or fruity – this has more of a herbal, clean fragrance, thanks to the clary sage, eucalyptus and citrus.
Where to buy: At selected department stores and pharmacies nationwide for $19.99 and online at www.evolu.com
Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Yuzu
Green Tea Yuzu is the newest member of the popular Elizabeth Arden Green Tea family. If you’re not familiar with yuzu, it’s been used for thousands of years in traditional bathing rituals in the East particular in celebrating health and wealth in the New Year.
Why we love it: Yuzu adds a zing of energy to the classic Green Tea fragrance. It has notes of Yuzu zest, sheer bergamot, and sparkling lemon. At the heart of the fragrance is Yuzu pulp accord with wild thyme, spearmint, black currant buds, green tea leaves and Tunisian neroli. The base has sensual notes of soft musk with ambrette seed and white birch.
Where to buy: At Elizabeth Arden counters for $39 for 30ml (exclusively at Farmers), $52 for 50ml, $73 for 100ml, and $52 for body cream 250ml from 1st August.
Therapy Man by The Aromatherapy Company
Lastly, one for the guys. The Aromatherapy Company’s Therapy Man skincare line.
Why we love it: I have made my guy put this through its paces and he really rates it, especially the Hair & Body Wash which not only smells amazing and clean and fresh with sandalwood and cypress, it is a space-saver as it’s a multi-tasking wash for bodies and hair. And yes, you can totally steal his products in the shower.
Where to buy: Gift stores, pharmacies, and department stores nationwide. See www.thearomatherapycompany.co.nz for both stockists, and links to online stores that sell Therapy Man online.
Illustration credit Kelly Thompson. Read here about the Kelly Thompson Maybelline art class we attended.
Words and photos, Megan Robinson
6th August 2014
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