Sample Sundays: L'occitane Shea Butter Ultra Rich Body Cream

Woo I am finally slowly getting through my little stash of samples! Can I get a woop woop? ;D I decided I should switch up my body butter choice for a bit (I love my papaya body butter but sometimes you just need a change!) so I looked through my little box of neglected samples and came across this^^

I think I got this when I bought some hand cream from L'occitane and they gave a couple of free samples with it. So generous (^__^)

Let's see what the website says~

'The Ultra Rich Body Cream is a complete body care treatment for dry to very dry skin. Exceptionally concentrated in shea butter (25%), it intensely nourishes and protects the skin and helps to restore the hydrolipidic film. Enriched with moisturising extracts (linseed, marshmallow, sweet almond and honey) and softening apricot oil, it durably hydrates for 24 hours and makes skin soft and supple.'

[source]

I don't know why I'm showing you the back of the packaging. but there it is. :P Also the writing in the middle is Japanese if anyone is wondering.. not Korean xD Yeyuh for being able to tell the difference between Chinese, Japanese, and Korean writing! (^________^)

Anyhoo. The cream is of a really nice, not-too-thick but not-too-soft consistency (technical terms. Ahem.). It absorbs into the skin quite easily unlike some other rich body creams I've tried. The scent is faint and doesn't really linger, so this could be one for those that don't really care for scents in their body products. ;D

I'd say that the website's description of the cream is pretty darn accurate. I used it on the more drier patches on my body, e.g. my elbows, knees and hands (I have incredibly dry hands) and it really did leave my skin soft and supple. My skin stayed moisturised all day, which is saying something because I wash my hands about twenty times a day (I have a bit of a germ phobia..).

I think it was probably because of the perfect combination of moisturising ingredients in this - 25% shea butter (that's A LOT), linseed (aka Flaxseed,  rich in omega 3 essential fatty acids), marshmallow (hydrating, moisturizing AND anti-inflammatory), sweet almond oil (more of an emollient than a moisturiser; it softens the skin rather than hydrates it, so acts more as a humectant and prevents loss of moisture from the skin) and honey (absorbs and retains moisture).

I'm really glad I got and used this sample, because now I know that when I run out of my usual hand cream, I know which range to buy from L'occitane. Woohoo for shea butter!

I'd definitely recommend this body cream if you have incredibly dry skin - if your skin is as dry as my hands' is, then this is DEFINITELY for you! It costs £29 from the L'occitane website, but you can get it for a couple of quid cheaper from ASOS for £27 (^__^)

Disclaimer: Free sample I got with a purchase. But you'd already know that if you read the post hehe. (>.<)

Sample Sundays: Darphin Paris Hydraskin Essential All-Day Skin-Hydrating Emulsion

Sooooooo who remembers my last (and first) Sample Sundays post? *laughs awkwardly* yeah.. my little pile has grown a lot since then. My laziness got in the way but now I AM BACK and I WILL sort through it! *puts on her game face*

I thought I'd start off with something I could use up ASAP, which was this moisturiser with a name longer than the wall of china. I think I'll just call this the Darphins moisturiser from now on. (>.<)

*clicks on the Feel Unique website to read what ingredients it has and such*

HOLY FREAKING-

This is £32 for 50mls! *clutches chest* LORD HAVE MERCY (ON MY WALLET) *faints*

Why is this so expensive? DOES IT HAVE GOLD IN IT? *checks the ingredients* No it doesnt. :/ It has well.. here you read it.

'Introducing HydraStructure™ Technology, this formula contains Salicornia and Butterfly Lavender. HydraStructure™ Technology helps to revitalise the skin’s hydration, maintain water balance and prevent water loss so skin appears nourished, replenished and radiant.'

[source]

Well then.

I sometimes wonder if they don't just whack in a bit of oil and think up of an extremely scientific sounding name that doesn't really mean anything just to see if anyone will notice and add an equally mind boggling price tag just for the lulz..

I mean when I tried it, it felt like a normal moisturiser. It did the job. But too much of it made my skin greasy and too little didn't moisturise it enough, and the latter doesn't ever happen with my Simple moisturiser. The only thing that set it apart from my usual moisturiser was that it smelt nice. It didn't sink in as fast either.

But that isn't enough for me to go out and buy it. If my calculations are correct, I could get about nine bottles of the Simple moisturiser, with 2.5 times the amount in each bottle! I think I'll stick with my normal one lol.. *hides bank card*

I think I'll stop there. No point me banging on about it because I think I've made my thoughts on it quite clear :P Definitely not going to blow all my money on this (>.<) Hope you're having a goooooood day/night where ever you may be (^___^)

P.S. If you haven't figured out this is a free sample yet.. I have no words. O.o :P

Sample Sundays: Botanicals Orange Blossom Body Balm

Raise your hand if you have a poop load of samples in a drawer/box somewhere that you never use. *raises her hand guiltily*

I've decided to put them ALL to use and review them all before going out and buying anything new. That is what samples are for after all, right? Trying something out before buying it? 

I thought I'd start with something that's relatively easy to use up. I got sent this a while ago with a couple of other things from Botanicals, but they weren't for my skin type so I've not really tried them yet.

The Botanicals Orange Blossom Body Balm* is made from organic, natural ingredients, full of active botanicals and vitamins, used to deeply nourish and revitalise the skin. 

It contains glycerine and shea butter, both good to have in a moisturiser, for they have long been used for this purpose. When I apply this to any rough patches, it melts into my skin and leaves it feeling soft and nourished through out the day. Doesn't feel sticky and doesn't leave any residue at all.

' Enhanced with the exotic fragrance of pure organic neroli, patchouli, sweet orange and ylang ylang - pure decadence!'

[source]

Once you've rubbed it in (which you don't need to do much of, frankly) the beautiful smell lingers for a while, but not in an in-your-face kind of way. It's quite a soothing smell in my opinion. I can't explain why it soothes me but it just does haha!

I like it's texture. It reminds me of coconut oil in a way, because it is solid in the tub but when it comes into contact with your skin it becomes slightly runny. This results in it absorbing into the skin really easily, which means less time faffing about trying to rub it in and more time getting on with getting ready!

This costs £16.95 for 50g, which may seem like a lot but you really do get what you paid for, IMHO. What with it being 100% natural and 87% of its ingredients being organic, it's bound to cost a bit more than your usual skincare stuff. But if you have commitment issues (:P) then you can always try their 'Try Me Sets' which include 4 skincare items for £9.50.

Have you tried anything from this brand? And please, someone tell me I'm not the only one who has a bunch of samples left unloved in a drawer somewhere, haha! I can't be the only one, right? xD

*PR Sample sent to me for consideration. All views are my own, I promise. :o)