SPOTLIGHT: September Empties!...

Not a particularly riveting selection this month, and five body washes (again because they were left over from previous seasons), but the main thing is that I'm getting through them, and freeing up some much needed space. My bathroom cupboard is so chockers that to find anything, I have to take out half of what's there and then put it all back, and that's no fun lol, so here we go...

Original Source Lime Shower Gel (250ml RRP $4.40)

Absolutely raved about this delish product HERE. Zingy, zesty, and zensational lol! 

Repurchase?

That's a yes, and an "already have"- it's an absolute MUST for hot weather ♥...

The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Sleeping Cream (80ml RRP $54.95)

One of the products in the last Marie Claire Ageless Parcel, and an absolute stunner. The smell of it puts me off a bit though - it's quite a strong floral scent, but hey, the cream itself is amazing. One of the best I've ever tried in fact, beautifully hydrating & softening, non-greasy, and it's on special at the moment on their website for $38.47. I am drowning in skin care supplies right now, so I'm torn as to whether to order it or not. Merde - what a dilemma! It contains cold pressed Black Cumin, Camellia and Rosehip seed oils, plus seven other essential oils. I reckon any skin type would benefit, but especially if your face is dry, dry, dry...

Repurchase?

Even if I don't take advantage of the current sale, I will DEFINITELY be buying a jar of this ♥...

Natralus Natural Paw Paw Lip Butter - Coconut (10g RRP $5.75)

Rave HERE - I'm still undecided as to whether I prefer this to the strawberry one ♥...

Repurchase?

Yessiree, there's already a backup in the drawer ♥...

Imperial Leather Invigorating Mango & Juicy Papaya Shower Cream (250ml RRP $3.95)

Found this (and the next one) at Chemist Warehouse a while back, but haven't seen it since. Fresh & juicy fragrance, but nowhere near enough moisturising power. I used it up all the same...

Repurchase?

No - their Triple Moisturising range is far superior, and I'd rather pay more for something that gives my skin some juice...

Imperial Leather Revitalising Grapefruit & Pomegranate Shower Cream (250ml RRP $3.95)

Ditto the above, but I preferred the smell of this one - absolutely delicious!...

Repurchase?

No, for the same reason as above...

Natures Commonscents Natural Paw Paw Body Wash (500ml RRP $8.00) 
I bought this at Coles SO long ago, and now they don't stock it any more. Big boo as it's really quite something. Very strong but authentic paw paw scent, and contains the actual fruit. Packaging is the most sturdy I've ever come across, and virtually indestructible. The white cream is amazingly moisturising, contains Vitamin E, no parabens, no sulphates, Australian made, and they don't test on animals. They have a website HERE, but only seem to sell the body wash in packs of three ♥...

Repurchase?

While I'm a fanatical fruit fragrance fan, the smell of this is possibly TOO genuine, and I'm not that keen on paw paw. I'd certainly try the Goats Milk variety if I could find it in a store because the formula is awesome ♥...

L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Concealer Pen - Natural (RRP $19.95)

An amazing concealer - stunning coverage, perfect colour match for my skin, lasts all day and blends like a dream. Could well have been awarded my HG title, but...I'm so pissed off as there's so very little product in the wind-up tube. This lasted three weeks only, and for $20, I expect a whole lot more product than that. The packaging is just over 100mm long, but there's actually only 20mm of concealer inside - grrrrrrr....

Repurchase?

Tempting because it works so well, but as yet I'm not over the feeling that I've been ripped off...

Garnier Nutrisse Creme Permanent Nourishing Hair Colour - Light Crystal Brown (RRP $14.95)

I do love this formula, and the colour is a gorgeous warm gold with a hint of amber. I use this for my roots, and then add blond streaks over the top ♥...

Repurchase?

Definitely ♥...

L'Oreal Preference Hair Colour - Siena (Golden Brown) (RRP $19.45)

L'Oreal do brilliant home hair colour kits - not too stinky, contains everything you need, plus this one comes with an additional tube of Colour Extender so you can refresh between sessions. Terrific idea to counteract colour fade, although I didn't actually use it...

Repurchase?

Yes, but not this shade - it's too dark for what I'm after, and not enough warmth...

NeoStrata Pigment Controller (30ml RRP $49.95)

I had reasonably high hopes for this product, but saw absolutely no change in my pigmentation by the end of the tube. Having said that I'm pretty far gone and have had freckles all my life, but I was expecting the in-between patches of age-related darkening to show some improvement. I've read reviews where other gals have had exceptional success with this cream, but only because they persisted, and so I would probably have to do the same. Lovely cream though and excellent packaging - stands up on the bench, and the pump works a treat, no discernible scent, contains retinol and various plant extracts. I reckon I need something more heavy duty, like IPL, especially after seeing the fabulous results of Barbe's treatments ♥...

Repurchase?
Probably not - four tubes of this cost the same as an IPL session, so I'd rather invest in something that is almost a sure bet...

SK-II R.N.A Eye Cream (15g RRP $149)

Another sample from the last Marie Claire Ageless Parcel - over the moon to try it as I wouldn't normally spend that much on ANY beauty product. Can't say I'm going to invest in a full-sized jar though - it's a gorgeous cream, amazingly hydrating, absorbs well and has a pretty much instantaneous freshening effect, but I didn't find it performed any better than Clarins Super Restorative Total Eye Concentrate, which is only $90. Having said that, a 2.5g jar is not really enough to make a proper assessment, especially given my age...

Repurchase?

Hmmm, I doubt it - it's quite a bit outside my budget, and I know the Clarins one works brilliantly for me..

LUX Moisturising Body Wash - Vanilla Flower & Sandalwood (400ml RRP $5.99)

Hard to beat the vanilla & sandalwood combo for the cooler months - this was actually left over from last Winter, and I really enjoyed finishing it off. Love the LUX formula - it's enriching and really leaves my skin feeling soft and cared for. Great price, and readily available at supermarkets...

Repurchase?

Yes, but not till next Autumn ♥...

Take care of you,
kats xxx

CONFESSIONS: of a Body Washaholic (Part 7)...

Yikes, up to Part 7 already? My discovery of the fabulous Imperial Leather body washes kinda slowed down the cycling of my collection, but I've caught up a bit now. These are the last of the ones from the Part 5 photo, so Part 8 will have a new "current collection" pic ♥. I reached the conclusion many moons ago that this particular fascination of mine is never EVER going to end, so you can count on this series being a regular feature on my blog...

Grace Cole Passionfruit & Guava Shower Gel...

Yumbo! If you want to kick-start your appetite first thing in the morning, then this is the body wash that'll do it - I find myself craving a platter of fresh fruit whenever I slather on this passion fruit and guava scented cleanser. Non-drying, costs less than $5, and if you want confirmation, the beautiful Hailey O MUA wrote a rave review about it back in November last year. Like Hailey, I'd rather the gel had a thicker consistency, and because it's such a delicate lavender shade, I'd prefer the tube to be clear so I could appreciate the pretty hue before it hits my flannel. Other than that, if you're a fruity fragrance fan, you won't be disappointed. I've only ever seen it at Chemist Warehouse, and they stock a bunch of other fragrance matched body products from Grace Cole too...

LUX Passionate Spell Fragranced Body Wash...

Divine colour, scintillatingly sensuous smell - the base notes are similar to the purple Magical Spell in this range. I waxed lyrical about that particular one back in Part 5, but this one is even more potent, like...wow! Can't say I can actually identify the Passion Fruit or Fiery Orange Rose content, but the combo is a winner. It's spicy and warming, exceptionally intoxicating, and because of that, right up there at the top of my list for the cooler months. More like a pricey oriental from a perfume house, my skin stays fragrant for a good couple of hours. Definitely NOT for anyone with scent sensitivities, my nose picks up some earthy vanilla and sandalwood too, so this might even be a hit with the guys...

Bit of a Soft Touch Jojoba, Peach and Vanilla Bean Extract Moisturising Body Wash...

I fondled this bottle in the supermarket on at least three separate occasions before I actually bought it  - loved the fragrance, and it was excellent value (around $8 for 500ml), but I thought the packaging was terribly ordinary. Yeah I know I'm fussy, but I want to love the look of what I'm reaching for in the shower, and this was all a bit bleah and uninspiring. But it just goes to show that you can never judge a body wash by its container - what's inside turned out to be quite stunning ♥ Can't smell any vanilla at all, but the peach is ultra refreshing, crisp and mouth wateringly fruity - in short it's an absolute delight, a resounding hit with all family members, and has amazing skin hydrating qualities. The label is highly informative and tells me it contains jojoba and antioxidants, and the added bonus is that it's SLS and PBA free. Despite its decidedly unglamorous appearance, I'll be trying more from this all-Australian range - it was voted Product of the Year in the Bodycare Category, based on Nielsen research...

Palmolive Naturals Moisturising Shower Cremes - Pomegranate, Kiwifruit, Mandarin...

Sadly these are no longer in production, but I stumbled across the whole set about a month ago in My Chemist for $5 each, and snapped them up because I have such a soft spot for all three. It was actually my rave review of these body washes that scored me a beautyheaven Glosscars prize way back in 2011! Highly recommended if you ever see them in a discount store...

Pomegranate

All of these shower creams are thick and lovingly moisturising, and squeeze from the bottom of the fat tubby bottles. The pomegranate one is unbelievably sweet, and conjures up a gourmet dessert of meringue with a colourful fruit coulis. The fragrance is 100% girly, and I find myself grinning like a loon while I'm showering - anything that puts me in such a happy mood gets my seal of approval...

Kiwifruit

This one smells exactly like kiwi fruit, and has me salivating whenever I indulge in it. It has a sour zingy edge that instantly flags it as a summertime shower staple - on hot days I'm not interested in flowery or heady exotic fragrances. Instead I want something zesty and crisp that will make me feel refreshed, cool and clean - bingo!

Mandarin

A delightful blend of citrus and baby powder, and the most delicately perfumed of the three. Best summed up as a calming and comforting caress - a fave for lazy Sunday mornings when I want to stave off thinking about Monday. In short, a darn shame they stopped making it...

EDIT: I can't bear leading anyone astray, so I'm adding that after trying these a few times in the shower (they smelt fine from the bottle), they really are past their prime - they've lost the zingy freshness they had when they were first released. Bummer, as I miss them :-( 

And if you missed them, the rest of the series is here...
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6...

Take care of you,
kats xxx

CONFESSIONS: of a Body Washaholic (Part 5)...

Seeing as how we're now up to Part 5, it's time to refresh the picture of the my current collection - I only have 10 on the go at the moment because some of them are fat round bottles, and I can't fit so many in my wire hangers in the shower (lol, is that classified as a First World Beauty Problem?). I've used up quite a few of the old ones (proudly pats herself on the back), but I admit my vanity cupboard already has some extras just itching for their chance to be part of the next show...

LUX Magical Spell Fragranced Body Wash...

Success at last! I've been searching for this one since April when Sam D. mentioned it in her comment on the Part 1 article, and it was well worth the wait (and thank you Sam ♥). The purple hue is even more vibrant than the Palmolive Aroma Therapy Anti-Stress one, and the fragrance is markedly different, this one being a delicious mix of Black Orchid and Juniper Oil. It's a comforting and caressingly sweet floral, but there's something decidedly exotic about it too - it conjures up a fragrant garden on a hot night in some mysterious and far away land. Captivating, sophisticated and elegant, and definitely not one for the boys...

Palmolive Ayurituel Peaceful Shower Gel with Jasmine & Patchouli...

Bless you Palmolive! I was SO hoping you'd extend this fabulous range ♥ Spotted this aqua blue treasure in an out-of-the-way supermarket about a month ago, and let out a squeal of delight (which startled a few of the other shoppers). I grabbed it immediately, and then my heart sank when I read the label - jasmine! Oh boo - jasmine and I just don't get on, and I hesitated for a good 30 seconds before I flipped the cap to take a sniff. BUT, I needn't have worried - the patchouli counteracts the (for me) headache inducing sickly sweetness of the jasmine, and the resultant blend is refreshingly different from anything else I've come across. (Note: I adore REAL jasmine flowers, but can't tolerate the fragrance whenever it's in a product - weird huh?) This is a fascinating blend of sweet and sour, beautifully balanced, and the colour is just so darn pretty...

I love...mango & papaya bubble bath & shower creme...

I've been eyeing off this UK brand in Target for months, but had never taken the plunge, mainly because I could NEVER decide which flavour to buy because they all smelt so delicious. But the decision was made for me when I found this on special for $5 - it became obvious why when I discovered that most of the bottles on the shelf were all dented or the cap was broken, but I poked around and found one that wasn't damaged. The colour is so tantalisingly uplifting and cheerful, and it smells like the real deal - refreshingly fruity and zingy. To me the packaging is very similar to the Philosophy brand, but around half the price. Unfortunately the fragrance loses a lot of it's potency in the shower, and my skin felt a little dry afterwards - nothing dramatic, but I prefer my shower creams to be a tad more hydrating. It might work better as a bubble bath, but hey, it was only five bucks...

Urban Rituelle Turkish Rose & Vanilla Bath & Shower Gel...

Another of the goodies that came in my UR prize pack from Kate's giveaway. This is possibly the most beautiful shower gel I've ever used ♥. It's a clear liquid that doesn't foam up very much, but it lovingly and ever so gently cleanses my bod, and the fragrance (oh the fragrance!) is PURE BLISS, and it makes my skin so incredibly soft and silky, so much so that I don't have to moisturise with my in-shower lotion, or anything else afterwards for that matter. The formula contains a bucket-load of natural and skin loving ingredients - ginseng, gingko biloba, chamomile, calendula and witch hazel, and the pump-topped bottle is a generous 500ml. The elegant and understated packaging is also a standout - makes the rest of my collection look quite tacky and trashy. Yep, in case you hadn't noticed, I'm turning into an Urban Rituelle FANATIC!...

If you missed them, here are the links to Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 & Part 4 ♥

Well my lovelies, Part 6 isn't far off, so till then...

Take care of you,
kats xxx

CONFESSIONS: of a Body Washaholic (Part 4)...

This is actually a double-confession - ermmm I went out and bought four more body washes, even though I'd only finished off one of my existing ones from Parts 1, 2 & 3. Gee wiz, I just couldn't help myself :-( At this stage this just HAS to be it for a while though because as you can imagine, there's simply NO room at the inn...

As a reminder, here's what was already bulging out of my shower caddys...

Ok now that I've fessed up, there's little point dwelling on past sins, so here's what tempted me...

Grace Cole Fruitworks Strawberry & Kiwi Shower Gel

Loving body washes as I do, I've been on a mission to find some new and interesting ones to add to my collection. Spotted this in Chemist Warehouse, and it had me at first sniff. I reckon it's a bargain for $4.99 and there's quite a few varieties in the range (along with other matching body products), but given the fact that my mouth waters at the first hint of strawberries and kiwi fruit, the other scent combos didn't really get a look-in this time around. It's made in England, paraben free, and I've not seen it for sale anywhere else. The clear berry coloured gel is quite runny so be careful when you pop the flip-top lid - I cup my flannel and squeeze a bit into the middle, then mash the edges together before slathering the fruity suds all over my bod. Non-drying and zingily refreshing, I'll be exploring the other yummy scents once I have some space lol (I'm almost certain there was a pink grapefruit one, so that'll be next...)

Radox Coconut Rush Body Wash

Oddly enough, in the past I've avoided coconut fragranced products - haven't a clue why, and actually after trying this beauty from Radox, I'm wondering what past experience could possibly have induced this silly scent-blockage, but whatever it is, I'm over it because I LOVE this stuff - the name alone makes me feel energised. The smell is very definitely coconut, but it's not overly sweet or cloying. The liquid is thick and pearly white, soap free, and according to the back of the big fat bottle, contains Sorbitol (third item listed in the ingredients) to moisturise, and that it does. Most definitely scoring a place on my "regulars' list, the 500ml bottle is available in supermarkets and pharmacies for just under $7, and there's also a giant 1 litre pump container for less than $10. A massive thank you to Gemma Sapphire for inspiring me get over my coconut phobia ♥

Lux Soft Touch Cherry Cream Body Wash

Oh now this is a pretty one - forget it fellas, this is a 100% girly fragrance, a blend of cherry blossom and baby powder ♥ You know I really should note down where I buy things as soon as I walk in the door - by the time I get around to reviewing, I'm struggling to remember the source, which is a pain when I want to find it again. Anyway my seniors brain is telling me The Reject Shop for around the $5 mark. A gorgeous pastel pink liquid that's thick and pearly, this body wash is said to contain Silk Protein Extract and Cherry Cream - well it sure makes my skin feel as smooth as silk, nicely hydrated, and the ultra-feminine fragrance lingers for a while without interfering with my perfume...

Palmer's Tropical Shea Butter Body Wash

If the smell of fruit salad and cream appeals to you, then I can highly recommend this body wash. It's the first Palmer's one I've tried, and like most of their products, the Shea Butter content delivers a rich boost of moisture with every squirt, without making my skin feel slippery or slimy. Can't see any fruit listed in the ingredients, but it does have a lovely tropical tang to it, and the consistency is nice and thick. Interestingly there's not one review of it on beautyheaven, but the Coconut flavour won a 2014 Glosscars. This 400ml bottle has only just appeared at my local Coles for $5.99, is sulfate & paraben free, and Palmer's are against animal testing....

Well I'm calling the Body Washaholic series a wrap for the time being, but you just KNOW I'll be doing a Part 5 in the not too distant future now don't you? Ha ha...

Take care of you,
kats xxx

CONFESSIONS: of a Body Washaholic (Part 1)...

Yep time to fess up to another one of my addictions. Hard to believe that four years ago, I had ONE cake of soap on my shower shelf. These days I'm a total convert to luscious liquid latherers, and as a result, I have to have four of those hanging wire shelf units to hold all my bottles - methinks I may have to invest in more if my passion continues to blossom at the current rate, although I'll probably need another bathroom first...

There's only 12 bottles in this pic, simply because that's all I can fit in my bathroom at any one time! As you can see almost half of them are by Palmolive - I'm an avid fan of their washes and gels. They seem to know exactly what fragrances I adore, and out of the selection available at the supermarket, this is the brand that I buy over and over again. Actually now that I can see them all lined up, the majority of my body washes are fruit scented - I do find the freshness of fruity fragrances so invigorating, wakes me up and gets my day started just right...

I'll review all these individually, and as is my way I've grouped them by COLOUR (how odd hey?) so let's get on with the details...

Palmolive Invigorating Pomegranate & Mango Shower Gel

This shower gel is what got me started on my passionate body wash journey of discovery. It was the first one I fell utterly and completely in love with. At the time my bathroom had red accents, and I bought it mainly for the colour. But on first wash, I was a goner - this is just so unbelievably refreshing! The fruity fragrance combo is such a delight, and I'm fascinated by the little moisture beads that are suspended in the gel. I love that it's not too sudsy either ♥ Not in the least bit drying, I'm over the moon that it comes in such a giant bottle for around $8 - it's a problem child in my shower though because it's just SO heavy and bulky, but I decant the liquid into a small squirty container so that I've got room for all the others :-) Warning: It's quite runny so you'll need to be careful when dispensing onto a flannel or else you'll waste a fair bit. My beautyheaven review of it (from 2010!) is here...

Juliet (Aldi) Indulge Palm Milk & Pomegranate Exfoliating Body Wash

I spotted this at Aldi a few weeks ago, and for less than $3, thought I'd give it a shot. It's a nice thick consistency, bright berry red with some gentle grainy bits for sloughing the skin, and it's not too heavy on the sudsing side of things, but the fragrance is disappointing. I guess you get what you pay for, and I reckon it's supposed to be a dupe of the Lux one below, but the scent is kind of sugary sweet rather than fruity fresh. So although I'll probably use this up, I won't be buying it again...

Lux Tahitian Escape Pomegranate Seeds & Palm Milk Exfoliating Body Wash

This is another one I adore, and have purchased many times. You may have already guessed I'm a bit of a pomegranate passionista, and this one never fails to lift my spirits, or cleanse my bod in a revitalising way. The grainy bits in it are firm but sparse, so it's quite gentle and yet very effective for giving the skin surface a good exfoliation, while moisturising at the same time. The best of both worlds hey? This is 100% soap free and ph balanced, and if you're into tropical scents, you're guaranteed to love this. My beautyheaven review is here...

.

Lux Tropical Sunset Soft & Silky Mango & Grapefruit Oils Body Wash

Another beauty from Lux - this one takes me off to Hawaii every time I use it (not that I've ever been there, but you know what I mean). Mango is another scent that's close to my heart (or rather...my nose) in the shower department. This luscious liquid is non-drying and the fragrance has a real zing to it - more mango than grapefruit, but the balance of the two fruits is a masterful concoction. And although this strikes me as a summertime body wash, I'll continue to use it throughout the cooler months to keep me going with the promise of sunshine and warmth on the other side of winter...

Edit: Part 2 is up now too :-)

Are you a body wash/shower gel nut? What's your favourite shower time indulgence?

Take care of you,
kats xxx