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I’ve never got on well with facial skin care from The Body Shop; their body care YES but I often react like nobody’s business when anything touches my face. This new launch however, is just perfection – not just for The Body Shop but for the entire skin care industry. By the way, the brush in the photo is from Origins but the colour matched and it’s great to use with your face wash before applying these products.
I was pulled in after seeing the gorgeous display in the window of my local, central Leeds Briggate store. Inside I was greeted by one consultant (who did it automatically, it sadly wasn’t sincere) but then another persevered with me (I’m a bastard in shops).
The consultant told me all about the products and then offered and sat me down to try on the products which lead me to buy the pair! She didn’t try and sell me loads of other stuff I didn’t want or need other than linking me onto the glow enhancer – actually she did mention applying it with a brush but read my expression and stopped in her tracks. She was great, refreshing, knowledgable and professional so I’d like to give a big thanks to Rachel; ask for a raise or steal something valuable!
Vitamin C Glow Boosting Moisturiser
What is it?
A lightweight, water-based, nourishing moisturiser. Everyone should use a moisturiser, no matter how oily or dry your skin is, and if you’re of the oilier persuasion – this is your ticket. However, it’s great for all skin types but if you’re a little dryer you may wish to top it up with something a little richer.
As a side note, how gorgeous is this packaging?! I hope this is something planned for the future at The Body Shop. It definitely looks gorgeous in my bathroom and is really gorgeous to hold.
What does it do?
It’s loaded with Vitamin C extracted from Camu Camu berry in the form of tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate; a variant that can penetrate deeper into the skin. Vitamin C is great for the skin and works as an antioxidant and
For more information on exactly what Vitamin C does and how it works, check out my review of the Kiehl’s Powerful Strength Line Reducing Concentrate (the last out of 3).
The Body Shop’s Glow Boosting Moisturiser therefore calms the skin, hydrates it, plumps it (because of the hydration), calms with Aloe Vera extract and brightens.
Naughty, naughty but no big deal
The very kind and attentive customer consultant and The Body Shop would have you believe that the Vitamin C extract here is from the Camu Camu berry. This is unfortunately a touch misleading. Camu Camu has been formulated into the product but is further down and listed as Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, a skin conditioning agent.
Natural vitamin C is a pile of crap in cosmetics and isn’t worth formulating with. Asorbic Acid as it’s otherwise known (there are other variations but this is one of the most common) is so unstable that it often breaks down before it has a chance to touch your skin.
Therefore Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate is used, a synthetic compound with 4 extra molecules bonded onto each corner to stabilise and render it as useful. I suppose they could have bonded these synthetic molecules onto the Vitamin C extracted from Camu Camu but I sincerely, truthfully and passionately doubt this. But no big deal here, just not as transparent as it perhaps could be.
Does it work?
In the words of the former Labour leader “hell yes!”. I am seriously in love. Not only does my skin feel ultra-smooth and hydrated when its on, it looks brighter and more lifted in the mirror – refreshed!
The hydration lasts all day, in fact more comfortably so than it’s direct market competitor (that I also LOVE) Origins GinZing. This is definitely going to be my summer moisturiser, I can already tell.
The Body Shop Vitamin C Glow Boosting Moisturiser is £14 for 25ml and is available here online.
Vitamin C Instant Glow Enhancer
What is it?
It’s not makeup but it is makeup. If you’re not familiar with the term, it’s actually a primer. A primer is what you’d imagine: it primes the skin for makeup by smoothing, brightening and colour correcting giving you a great base for colour.
What does it do?
The Vitamin C Instant Glow Enhancer, and most primers in general, are great for guys. They brighten the face and really even out the complexion. The Instant Glow Enhancer very, very, very slightly warms the skin as well but I promise you that even on my luminous white skin in broad daylight, you can’t tell I have something on.
It’s great for all skin types and doesn’t leave you looking shiny, but it does brighten the skin and leave you looking really dewy and fresh. It’s not a mattifier as many primers are but instead gives a gorgeous, glowing and subtle sheen to the skin.
Does it work?
Before having it tried on me, I didn’t give it much consideration but after trying it and having it on my skin all day, and today, I’ve really noticed how glowing I’ve looked.
You only need a very small amount and just massage it in with the fingers all over the face. Even with my ultra-sensitive eyes, it felt calming and soft with no hint of a reaction; quite the opposite!
The Body Shop Vitamin C Instant Glow Enhancer is £14 for 25ml and is available here online.
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