Tag Archives: Body cream

The Body Shop Japanese Camellia Cream, French Lavender Massage Oil Review

The Body Shop Japanese Camellia Cream, French Lavender Massage Oil Review

The Body Shop Japanese Camellia Cream, French Lavender Massage Oil Review

Hi guys,

Today I am reviewing two products from The Body Shop’s new Spa Of The World Range. The French Lavender Massage Oil I have been using since quite some time now and the Japanese Camellia Cream I have been using since about 2 weeks.

Both of these products are from the Relaxing Ritual which has 3 more products,a total of 5, i.e. African Ximenia Scrub, Himalayan Charcoal Body Clay and Egyptian Milk & Honey Bath. And there are two other rituals i.e. Revitalizing and Blissful which have different body massage oils and scrubs and 3 products each in that range.

Starting with the Camellia Cream,

What the Company claims: Camellia oil has been used by Japanese women since the 8th century to gently soften and moisturise skin. The exquisite scent of this pure and elegant flower allows mind and body to reconnect with a moment of profound peace. Use this rich body cream with a light, velvety texture as part of our relaxing ritual when you’re in need of a fast-track to tranquillity.

– Velvet moisture body cream
– Makes skin feel beautifully hydrated and delicately scented
– Relaxes body and mind

How to use: Smooth on from décolletage to toes until fully absorbed. Expert tip: “Before applying Spa of the World™ Japanese Camellia Cream, warm hands under running water, take a bit of the cream and massage your hands together to warm the cream. Japanese Camellia Cream is ideal to use every day as a body moisturiser.”

MRP: Rs.2995/- for 350ml

Ingredients:

When I saw the tub, I was surprised, coz it’s huge! Super huge! But it’s made of plastic and quite light weight, also there is a thin transparent layer in between so it looks bigger than it actually is. Entire Spa of the World range come in this brown and black packaging. And all bottles and tubs are plastic, more convenient for oils as the bottles may break easily.

I don’t generally like body butters unless they are quite light weight like the Fuji Green Tea one was. This looked quite rich to me when I first opened the tub and saw it. And as soon as I dipped my finger in it to get the product, I was surprised! This is nothing like a body butter, not at all thick. It’s exactly like whipped cream or mousse. Soft, airy and fluffy. I absolutely loved the texture and as soon as I apply it on the body, it immediately melts in contact with skin and blends super easily. The best part is gets absorbed so quickly that by the time you finish using it all over your body, more than half of it is already absorbed. It feels super light and even in the Mumbai summers, it does not feel sticky or greasy at all.

I love the soft, refreshing smell. I am not sure how Camellia flowers smell but it does have a soft hint of floral. I also like the other ingredients i.e. mango seed oil and shea butter apart from the camellia seed oil.

Skin stays moisturized whole day and no need to re-apply or apply anything else. If you have normal to oily skin or live in humid city, I will definitely suggest getting this one. And if you have dry skin or have harsh winters, the Hawaiian Kukui Cream would work better for you.

It is definitely very pricey but this tub of 350ml will surely last me ages! Not a lot of product comes out when you try to scoop it out since it slips, but then a little goes a long way with this cream, so you don’t even need like huge dollops every time.

And now coming to the French Lavender Oil,

What the Company claims: In the 14th century, King Charles VI of France demanded pillows filled with lavender to soothe him to sleep. Lavender essential oil has a natural relaxing scent which promotes a sense of well-being. Use this calming massage oil as part of our relaxing ritual when you’re in need of a fast-track to tranquillity.

– Relaxing massage oil.
– Soothes body and mind
– With lavender from the south of France.

How to use: Focusing on tense areas, massage onto skin to help relax body and mind. Try using with the Spa of the World™ Thai Wooden Massager to enhance the experience. Expert tip: “Bring this product when you travel, it can work as a body moisturiser and the lavender scent will help you relax before you sleep.”

MRP: Rs.1695/- for 170ml

Ingredients:

The body massage oils come in this small round bottles with a black cap. The dispensing hole is not too huge nor too tiny and dispenses the perfect quantity of oil required at one go.

I absolutely love lavender and if I have to ever pick only one scent for ever, I will go with lavender. Also lavender oil is very relaxing and calming and will also solve insomnia issue. I can’t generally sleep on time, I would lying on my bed for hours but can never sleep early. That’s when I make sure I use this oil.

It has a base of sweet almond oil and sesame oil with jojoba, lavender and few other essential oils combined. I love sweet almond and sesame oils as base coz they are very light and get absorbed quickly. Where as olive or coconut are quite on the heavy side.

Since the ingredients are all oils, you can even use this on your face i.e. if you use oils on your face. I do and sometimes just blend the leftover on my face post using it on the body.

I use it post shower or before sleeping or anytime I feel like. Absolutely love the relaxing lavender scent and how light weight the oil is. The two other massage oils in the Spa of the World Range are Tahitian Orchid and Thai Lemongrass. Where as the Tahitan Orchid is blended with ylang ylang and patchouli and would be quite strong, Thai Lemongrass one is good for body massages, if you get them done at home. But for normal day to day use, if I have to suggest you one, I would say the French Lavender one.

Even the oils are on the little pricier side, but then again it’s 170ml than usual 100ml. I would have loved if The Body Shop had come with smaller variants and pricing too. And that would have been travel friendly versions too, coz these definitely aren’t.

Overall I love both the products and they are absolutely amazing, definitely on the pricey side, but quality super! No doubts about that, the Spa Of The World range is out in the stores now and also available online on The Body Shop India website.

What do you think of The Body Shop Spa Of The World Range? Any favourites?

Bio Glow Cocoa Butter Cream Review

Bio Glow Cocoa Butter Cream Review

I had not heard much about this brand…its manufactured and distributed in England I guess..you can get these at places where one gets all imported products..in Mumbai at Alfa..
It comes in many different variants :
Cocoa Butter,Vitamin E and Aloe Vera: Moisturising and Nourishing
Papaya: Brightening and Clarifying
Lavender and Royal jelly: Deep Nourishing Moisturisation
Cucumber and Avocado: Cooling
Vitamin AEB5
Tea Tree and Lemon extracts

I have the Cocoa Butter, Vitamin E and Aloe Vera one. It also has an Bio Glow Body Scrub which has papaya and walnut seeds as exfoliators.

What the Company claims: Cocoa butter nourishes the skin with its balmy properties, protecting it against roughness and dryness. Aloe Vera & Vitamin E provide UV protection, skin conditioning & moisturising.

  • Natural Cocoa Butter
  • Non Greasy/Instantly absorbed
  • Neutral pH
  • Vitamin E
  • Extra Protection 

Enriched with the beneficial properties of natural Cocoa Butter, Vitamin E and Aloe Vera, Bio glow Moisturising & Nourishing Cocoa Butter is an intensive skin cream which moisturises, smoothes and protects. It provides relief from extra dry skin.Cocoa Butter nourishes and protects the skin.Its soothing and healing properties have the ability to help the skin retain moisture. Vitamin E revitalizes the dead skin cells and thereby preserves the suppleness of the skin. Aloe Vera keeps the skin deeply moisturised.

Bio Glow Moisturising and Nourishing Cocoa Butter Cream is suitable for all skin types. Apply on your face and body for a softer,smoother and younger looking skin. Massage cream into area until it is absorbed. Excellent for elbows, calluses on hands or feet, or any dry patch of skin.

Ingredients: Aqua, Paraffinum liquidum, Propylene Gycol, Theobroma Cacao, Stearic acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Octyldodecanol, Isopropyl Myristate, Aloe Barbadensis, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Etylparabem, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Dimethicone, Parfum, CI 19140,CI 15985,CI 17200, Benzyl Benzoate

MRP: Rs.100/- for 500ml (Theres this get 200 ml extra on this 300 ml tub from like forever)

Coming to the texture, its  neither a  runny lotion nor a thick body butter.This has a mousse like consistency as it reads butter cream…so its super easy to spread it on the skin. It actually feels like cocoa cream..I just love applying it. It looks cream colored but goes on transparent on skin.

Pros:
1. Stands upto its claims…get instantly absorbed,is totally non greasy and enough moisturising.
2. As its aqua based,its super smooth to apply and does not give that sticky greasy feeling like cold creams.
3. Super cheap at Rs. 100/-
4. Comes seal packed on the top.
5. Quantity is amazing..and the texture is such how much ever you use..it would stay for a long time.
6. I have not used it on my face but its amazingly perfect for the body.

Cons:
1 Has parabens as preservatives.
2. Availability would be a problem for some.
3. The smell is of like usual cocoa butters..but I am ok with it and it goes away after some time.
4. As its in a jar, you have to dip your hands in and thats unhygienic.
5. It melts in heat..and turns into a runny liquid..though it still works..using it becomes a little difficult.

Rating:

Quality- 5/5
Value for money- 5/5
Availability- 3/5

Overall rating- 4.5/5

Would I buy it again: Yes…I would always…I want to try different variants of it…its one of the best creams or lotions I have used. I think you should surely try this if you get hold of Bio Glow. It makes for an amazing gift too.

Check out Tanveer’s review on Lavender royal jelly here and Jiya’s review on Papaya here

Have you tried Bio Glow ?