I have to admit that when it comes to the mythical desserts trolley, I'm far more excited by good old-fashioned puds covered in sticky toffee sauce and custard as I am in artfully-made cupcakes. Comfort food is always popular during times of economic slump, and I'm certainly not complaining about that!
But if you don't want to suffer the health effects of eating custard every day, you might want to try putting it on your body instead. 'Good enough to eat' body treats come and go, and I've tried some real shockers in my time (let us never speak again of Ann Summers chocolate body paint) but Just Desserts Body Custard is something else entirely. The scent is indistinguishable from the real thing (chocolate souffllé being our absolute fave) and provides a decadent sensory experience that helps you to relax as it comforts and treats the skin. The perfect ingredient for a girl's night in, each tub is just £2.99 from the Just Desserts kitchen.
All products available from Just Desserts
Neutrogena have been interrogating women on what they want from a moisturiser and the overwhelming response they got was (surprise surprise) - "moisture!" But the question is a valid one, when you consider all the other weird and wonderful things that most of today's miracle creams are supposed to do. It can be incredibly frustrating trying to find something to soothe dry skin, when all you can see is row upon row of firming, slimming and anti-aging potions that can often make skin feel taut and dry.
So going back to basics with moisturisers, Neutrogena have brought out a new range of body moisturisers that are intended to really tackle dry skin, keeping it moisturised for long periods of time without making the skin feel greasy. The 'Deep Moisture' range of lotions and balms do just what they say on the tub and are great for seriously dry or sensitive skins. They smell fresh, sink in quickly and are a good bet if your skin is feeling in need of a quench.
The new moisturisers will be available soon from Boots, Superdrug and supermarkets nationwide in 250ml and 400ml bottles (£4.99- £6.99)
I have a box of unopened products in my room that I dip into sporadically. Some are disappointing and make me wonder why I bothered, whilst other make me wish I'd tried them sooner. The Purity moisturiser is such a product, which looks so innocuous in its pale tub that I'd never tried it till my current cream ran out. And now I've used it I couldn't live without it.
It has a really nice thick texture which feels cool to the touch, but sinks in surprisingly quickly, without giving a feeling of heaviness. It's great for those with sensitive skins as it's made from 75% organic and has EcoCert certification.
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Doesn't that ice cream look delicious? Be careful when you come to take a chomp though, because it's not ice cream at all: it's a scrummy body scrub made to look just like Neopolitan.
The scrub contains fine dendritic Salt to give it its exfoliating effect properties, and essential oils to make it smell delicious. You could make this up in any colour and scent combination, but it's definitely one to hide from the kids!
With a long, possibly lazy weekend stretching out ahead of you, why not give it a try? Go here for the recipe!
Related: DIY Beauty: Make your own caramel body polish
Whether you're a Mum or just have fond memories of childhood, it's nice to ditch the harsher products and got back to the nursery from time to time. I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself this week as I've not been well and am now in 'recovery mode', with lots of long baths and pampering at home. But rather than indulge with my usual spa products, I've found I'm turning to the simpler comforts of my childhood - products we all like to go back to for a bit of TLC. And I'm discovering some new ones, too.
A real favourite of mine is Johnson's Baby Soft Cream from the Baby Soft range - a newer collection of products based on all the old favourites that's particularly great for adult skin. It's got the same evocative and calming scent as the originals, but the main difference is how quickly and easily it sinks into the skin, making it a real treat for tired, dry bodies. You can buy it for just £2.29 at Boots
I've not yet had a chance to try the Maclaren 'Beginnings' range from the famous pushchair people - which is geared more towards new Mums who want to make their skincare regime more natural. It's a big hit in the US, and is new over here. Check it out at Love Lula.
When it comes to a relaxing bath, Johnsons' Baby Softwash is another great product that leaves your skin feeling soft and pampered. You can get it either in the original scent or my absolute favourite 'calming' scent, which smells slightly of lavender and really helps you unwind after a hard day's work. £2.69 at Boots.
Finally, a new bathtime favourite is Method's Squeaky Green bubble bath from the green cleaning giant's Baby range. It smells deliciously of marshmallow and being made from 100% biodegradable, natural ingredients is one of the mildest washes out there. It also comes in a ridiculously cute-looking tub (also biodegradable) that's bound to be a hit if you've got an actual baby to wash. Buy it for £5 at Method.
There's a whole weekend ahead of us, which means plenty of time to pamper and indulge. If you find yourself without plans, an at-home spa session can be a relaxing and fun way to a weekend so why not create your own experience with natural, home-made products?
I can't wait to have a go at making one of these 'passion potions' from Crafty Chica, who's shared the recipe and method for a caramel body scrub here. With a mere handful of ingredients it's a fun and safe way to care for your body, and if you get really good at making it, you might be in for a cheap Christmas too! (I said the c-word, sorry). Stored in pretty jars with handmade labels would turn you endevours into great gifts.
Yesterday I went down to Boots' Christmas Press Day (they are done early for all those monthly magazines that work WAY in advance) and met the fabulous Gok Wan.
I expected him to be there as a guest providing words of wisdom on all things stylish but it turns out he is actually launching his own beauty range for Boots, come Christmas.
The range called Gorgeous by Gok is a selection of bath and body products all designed to pamper, pamper, pamper!
Read on after the Jump for more info on Gok's new range!
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