The Body Shop Breathe Purifying Hair & Body Wash 200ml RRP £13 / Breathe Calm Balm 15g RRP £11

 

The new year is supposed to conjure up images of of a new start, healthy regimes and focussed minds etc. However, for many of us it is also the time where our bodies and mind say 'enough', from the burn out of a busy Christmas to the coughs and colds that come with the cold winter months. It's a shock to the system when the early mornings start again after a few days break, and even more so when it's cold, icy and of little daylight. In fact I'm all for hibernation, though sadly this isn't a choice!

The Body Shop Breathe range is formulated to give your senses and well-being a nudge of motivation, as well as being 'medicinal' in clearing a foggy head and blocked up sinuses! I was sent the Breathe Purifying Hair & Body Wash and Breathe Calm Balm to review, apt for this time of year.

The Breathe Purifying Hair & Body Wash gives your body that new lease of life. I tested it in my local swimming pool showers and the gentle, but undeniable smell of Eucalyptus drew in many comments from fellow bathers (as do many of their products). Formulated with 100% natural essential oils and ingredients that aid in skin health such as:-

• Rosemary - naturally deodorizing, refining, tightening, exfoliates, helps reduce the appearance of cellulite, is anti-inflammatory and helps fight acne bacteria.
• Eucalyptus - helps reduce puffy skin and redness, can ease eczema due to it's anti-inflammatory properties, acts as a disinfectant and can even help ease joint pain. 
• Organic Olive Oil - skin hydrating, smoothing, nourishing and will keep skin feeling soft and supple.

Under a warm shower, the steam combined with the essential oils help clear sinuses and reduce mucus, making this ideal for anyone who has that dreaded lurgy.

The Breathe Calm Balm contains similar ingredients but formulated as a balm, in a small tin that you can carry with you everywhere, be it in your pocket, school bag, work bag, car etc and is ideal for when you feel the start of a tension headache and need an instant focus. I like to keep it in the car, especially if I feel tired and need a wake-up call, or by my computer. Just a smidgeon massaged with my fingertips onto my temples, pulse points and breathed in deeply through my nose, is enough to clear the head without being too overpowering. 

Both products are vegan, using recyclable packaging and made with 99% ingredients of natural origin. You can check out the rest of the range here at The Body Shop

Erborian® Red Pepper Super Serum 30ml RRP £46 / Red Pepper Paste Mask 50ml RRP £38

I was sent this to sample just in time for the New Year, when my skin was looking dull, dehydrated and in need of some much TLC from the sugar and alcohol indulgence at Christmas. Alongside the fact that it's freezing weather today, and my only comfort from heat is a blast of the heater on the school run, it's safe to say my skin is taking the brunt of it. 

I have tested Erborian® skincare before and always impressed, so was excited to receive some of the Red Pepper range to sample. Red Pepper is not only a superfood to eat, but in skincare brings along an abundance of benefits owing to the amount of vitamin C and A. These vitamins are known to give radiance to dull skin and act as natural exfoliants so the skin appears smooth and gives a light reflective appearance.  

The Red Pepper Paste Mask is a thick red paste, that smooths onto the skin evenly. Whilst the colour may look a little scary, it goes on evenly and doesn't dry up or drop, rather stays slightly creamy so you can be assured it will stay on your face and not end up on your clothes! 

I applied half to one face, left on for about 15 minutes then simply rinsed off with a warm flannel (which did need a wash after)! Whilst I detest taking photos of before and after as quite often it doesn't show the difference, what I can say is that my skin felt a lot smooth and more refined. My skin felt more receptive to the next step which was to apply the Super Serum. 

The Mask contains skin enhancing ingredients such as:-

• Squalane - protects the skin against environmental damage, sun damage and helps boost collagen production. 
• Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract - aka red sweet peppers, as mentioned above are loaded with vitamin C and A, and act as powerful antioxidants that aid in strengthening the skin. 
• Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil - anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial, otherwise known as Sea Buckthorn, a plant that helps stimulate cell renewal. 
• Sodium Hyaluronate - helps the skin retain moisture, so skin is left feeling plumper and more hydrated. 

You can see that one side of my face definitely has a more refined appearance, dehydration lines under the eyes appear diminished and the mask has definitely reduced puffiness!

The Red Pepper Super Serum is a must for giving skin that on-going glow. It's super-charged with potent ingredients to help maintain the skins natural moisture balance, and contains ingredients that help protect the skin from the extreme weather conditions. You only need a couple of drops pressed into the face for an immediate glow. I tested below on my dehydrated hands and the difference is astounding. 

Taken in the same light, this time the photos are evident enough to see a remarkable difference. As such, this makes the serum a must-have for anyone that is feeling tired, jaded and is wanting that 'just had a facial' after glow. 

Ingredients are similar to the mask but in a much higher potency of Red Pepper Extract, which is the first ingredient of the serum. Also included is:-

• Propanediol - a hydrating ingredient that gives skin a dewy glow. It is a natural emollient that gives skin a barrier against environmental damage. 
• 1.2 Hexanediol - is a humectant so pulls water from the air and stops skin from drying out. 

I haven't tested the other products in the range, but am impressed by the instant results and quality of ingredients. Whilst not the cheapest product on the market, in this case you definitely get your money's worth of active ingredients. One of my bug bears is when a product is marketed with fancy packaging, advertising etc rather than spending on the actual ingredients themselves. With this range money is spent on the quantity and quality of active ingredients. You can check out the rest of the range here at Erborian