Every year I am lucky enough to be sent some of The Body Shop Christmas gifting range. It is, in essence the highlight of my year, and one of the reasons why I do love writing even though I don't get paid. I often used to give centre stage to The Body Shop when writing for the press, as quite simply they do the best gifts for everyone. Every year when I think they can't beat the fragrance/formulas of previous years, they somehow come out with new combinations, and they surpass themselves. Of course, many of the products are so popular they just re-invent the packaging and pretty much sell out as soon as they hit the shelves.
Another reason is that the gifts can be made personable. Choose from a variety of gift pouches, boxes and bags from £3 and fill to your hearts content. The packaging is recyclable and working with Teddy Exports, The Body Shop's first Community Trade Partner, they've designed and made the 100% natural jute pouches.
I also have slight favouritism as I'm a huge advocate for products that are sustainable, ethically sourced and that give back to the community, something The Body Shop is known for and passionate about. Anyway, here's a look at what's in store this year.
Unwind & Rest Sleep Intro Gift RRP £28
This is the perfect gift for anyone who is in need of sleep, rest and relaxation. Whilst I type this, I feel fluey, aching and have been resisting the painkillers, I don't have time to be unwell as I have school runs, and as a single parent I have 3 dependents (including the dog). This is the perfect gift set for anyone who just needs some nurturing.
It contains the heavenly Lavender & Vetiver Hair & Body Wash 200ml, Lavender & Vetiver Essential Oil 9ml and Lavender & Vetiver Bedtime Balm 30g. Lavender has long been used in aromatherapy to induce a feeling of well-being and a state of relaxation. Its calming fragrance has a sedative effect that has been used traditionally in alternative medicine world-wide to help with insomnia and sleep difficulties. Likewise, Vetiver has a deep, tranquil scent that can send you off into a deep slumber.
The Hair & Body Wash is ideal for anyone, and as a 2 in 1 formula I find them ideal for children (especially after swimming, when most kids don't want a separate shampoo and body wash). It's also ideal for teenage boys who often want to wash and go (the fragrance isn't overtly powerful, so they won't smell like lavender)!
The Essential Oil and the Bedtime Balm is a blend that is ideal to massage into temples before you hit the sack. Both can also be used warmed into the palms of your hands and pressed gently onto pulse points. With the Essential Oil, I have in the past mixed with water into a spray bottle and spritzed into the bedroom to give an ambience of calm.
Fresh & Festive Edelweiss Skincare Duo RRP £38
I've written an 'essay' blog post on the new Edelweiss range (see previous month), such was my love for the newly adapted, what used to be the 'Drops of Youth' range. Edelweiss is the 'super-charged' version of 'Drops of Youth' and was re-branded earlier this year.
This set contains the best-selling Liquid Peel 100ml and Intense Smoothing Cream 50ml. The Liquid Peel is an exfoliator that once massaged onto skin, gathers into tiny beads that gently but thoroughly exfoliates the skin, leaving it incredibly smooth. Followed with the Intense Smoothing Cream, which contains Moringa seed oil from Rwanda and leaves skin feeling hydrated. The vegan set is ideal for anyone who works in the city, in polluted areas and who finds their skin looking dull and tired.
Hugs & Kisses Avocado Hand & Lip Duo RRP £10
The perfect 'Secret Santa' gift this cracker contains Hand Balm 30ml and Lip Care Stick 4.2g in nourishing Avocado. Full of essential fatty acids including palmitoleic acid, this rich, creamy set is ideal for anyone with dry hands and dehydrated, cracked lips. The Avocado range is vegan and made using Hass avocado oil grown in South Africa, and like all The Body Shop ingredients is ethically sourced.
The Pine & Divine Wild Pine Essentials Gift Set RRP £23
I'm still using the Wild Pine Shower Gel having reviewed it only a month or so ago. It simply encapsulates Christmas with its subtle, fir pine scent and is one of my favourite scents for destressing.
Included in this scent is Wild Pine Shower Gel 250ml, Wild Pine Body Lotion-to-Oil 200ml and Wild Pine Hand Balm 30ml. The Body Lotion-To-Oil is one of my favourite products, as it works by melting into the skin as a light body lotion but leaves a beautiful glow of oil without any sticky residue. It's perfect on pins for a night out and gives skin that almost filtered glow, whilst leaving it softly scented of sweet pine. The Hand Balm is a must for anyone with dried, cracked and splitting cuticles as it works to nourish and repair damaged nail beds, and restore dry hands.
Spiced Orange Body Butter 200ml RRP £18
Ahh the famous Body Butters, that paved the way for many copycats yet not one brand has managed to get that perfect formula founded by The Body Shop. They've led the way in the market and whilst many may try and follow, they simply haven't got that perfect recipe.
This year's Body Butter is a mixture of scrumptious orange, vanilla and cinnamon. It is undeniably festive, citrus, nurturing and spicy the perfect combination that encapsulates the winter months. It's light in fragrance, almost aromatic and as such is a Body Butter that would suit everyone. Rich in Shea Butter it works to retain moisture, gives a barrier to protect against harsh elements and trust me, your skin will be looking tip top after using this. Whilst The Body Shop have a foot range, this also is a lovely treat to massage into tired tootsies at the end of a long night.
Slather & Glow Face Mask Gift RRP £23
I think out of all the gift sets this is possibly my favourite, albeit it's tough to choose. I love the way it opens like 2 drawers to reveal not just 4 facemasks but a great headband too. I also love the choice of facemasks as they suit all skin types from oily to dry. There really is something in here for every skin type so this makes it an easy choice for when gifting someone, especially if you don't know their skin type.
Included are 4 15ml facemasks: -
- Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask - ideal for those who work in heavily polluted areas and needs a deep cleansing mask. Ideal for those whose skin suffers from a build-up of dirt, dust and grime.
- British Rose Fresh Plumping Mask - idea for mature skin types, dehydrated and those that need to pep up tired skin.
- Japanese Matcha Tea Pollution Clearing Mask - another mask that is good for those who work in harsh elements and that have also been under the weather.
- Nicaraguan Coffee Intense Awakening Mask - a must have to give you that wide awake look, especially for that morning after a heavy night. This tightening, toning mask will help you look as if you've had a few more hours sleep.
All the masks include sustainably sourced Community Fair Trade tea tree oil from Kenya that helps support small-scale farmers.
Wild Pine Body Butter 200ml RRP £18 / Wild Pine Sugar Body Scrub 250ml RRP £18
Limited edition these products are already getting 5-star reviews on the website, and they've only just come out. Vegan and smelling heavenly they're sure to be sold out before Christmas.
Start with applying the Sugar Scrub on to dry elbows, knees whilst standing in the shower or bath. I prefer to apply directly to my dry skin and then, sink into the bath and let the essential oils transport me to a wooded pine forest. Alternatively apply onto damp skin under the shower (although I usually step away from the running water as I massage in). The Sugar Scrub gives a thorough exfoliation without being harsh so ideal for sensitive skins. It's a must before baring legs in Christmas frocks and will leave your skin feeling smooth and renewed.
The Body Butter is infused with Pine, Mint and Sandalwood and gives a whopping 96-hour hydration to the skin. The consistency, as with all the Body Butters is a rich, creamy texture that glides onto the skin with ease. The uplifting scent is an instant shoulder drop and whilst massaging in, you can feel the tension just leaving your body. Breathing in deeply and exhaling slowly, whilst applying makes this more of a medicinal ritual than just a skincare product. The fragrance itself, like the Orange is aromatic, woody and can be used by both men and women.
Finally, before I finish this review. I am a huge advocate for refugee children, a close friend of mine fosters refugee children and I have heard first hand of the nightmare journeys they've had to undertake to simply get to a safer life.
This year 'The Body Shop launched its activism campaign, Be Seen. Be Heard, to amplify young voices in the halls of power. That's why each purchase of our beautifully crafted giftsets will help The Body Shop donate to Children on the Edge, who create safe spaces where refugee children can learn, play and thrive.
'We hope to reach £100,000 to fund over 195,000 days of education for refugee children across Uganda, Bangladesh and Lebanon so they can build brighter futures for themselves and their families. 5p from every pre-filled giftset purchased in store, online or from The Body Shop At Home ™ between 4th October to 31st December 2022 will be donated to Children on the Edge up to the value of £100,000. Registered charity no. 1101441
I absolutely love the range this year, it's got such a good Christmas seasonal fragrance that I can't wait to share it with you. Please check out the rest of the range here but warning - these will sell out quickly!
No comments:
Post a Comment