Review: The Body Shop Spiced Vanilla Body Scrub and Body Butter

Hey y'all! Today I'm going to review two products that I have been using almost everyday since I got them (credit goes to my bro)... The Body Shop Spiced Vanilla Body Scrub and Body Butter!  I have been lusting over the limited edition holiday collections by The Body Shop ever since they were released here in Malta and being a sucker for anything vanilla, I just couldn't let these pass me by could I? So when my brother asked me what I wanted, I told him these would be perfect and he got me the large ones!! :D

Here's what they look like packaging-wise:

So they are the same as other scrubs and body butters from The Body Shop but I actually like the motifs on the caps and neutral colours of the tubs.

Body Scrub

You get 200ml (198g) of 'exfoliating scrub scented with a hint of spice and extract of vanilla & also with Community Trade cocoa butter'.  From this sentence, you know that what is inside smells a.m.a.z.i.n.g!!! Plus the fact that it contains Community Trade cocoa butter, means you can spoil yourself and be guilt-free as some of the proceeds go to help people who are in need :)

The texture of this scrub is somewhere like yoghurt: not too thick, not to runny and the granules do not feel harsh at all against the skin, yet they polish it to perfection to reveal silky smooth skin that smells delicious!

The smell of this lingers for quite a long time on its own and to prolong it, I always team it with the matching body butter that I am going to write about later on this post.  However, to me it seems that the scrub has a stronger scent than the body butter.

So far this is my favourite body scrub from The Body Shop only because it smells of vanilla as it performs in the same way as the other ones I have tried from them.  This scrub retails for €12 but considering that you get an awesome amount and that some of the proceeds go towards Community Trade, I think it is well worth the money.

Body Butter

On to the 'sweetly scented' body butter 'with a hint of spice and extract of vanilla'... The one I have is also in the 200ml format but with regards to weight, it weighs 192g (the scrub weighs more because of the granules). I really like the thick textures of body butters from The Body Shop all year round practically! During this time of year, I like it because it feels really moisturizing whilst in the summer, I do enjoy a cool and hydrating treat after a day at the beach.  Despite it's thick texture, it is still rapidly absorbed by the skin and doesn't feel sticky at all.

Although it has the same smell as the scrub, I find it doesn't last that much when I use it on its own and I can even say that it doesn't smell as strong as the scrub does; but I still love it! I'm actually gutted that this was just limited edition (together with Cranberry Joy and Jolly Orange) :( The body butter retails for €13 but again, it will last so I say go for it while you can!

P.S. If you are in the UK, check out The Body Shop Website and get your fix of Vanilla Spice for £6 each!!

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Full Skin Cleansing Routine

Hello my beauties :)

Today, I'm gonna blog about my skin care routine and the products I use throughout.

1. I always make sure my hands are squeaky clean and after I wash them thoroughly with soap and warm water, I apply a sanitizing gel. This will eliminate commensal skin bacteria and therefore, prevents transfer of these bacteria onto the face.

2. Dilate 2 or 3 cotton discs in warm water and apply eye-make up remover to each one of them.

3. Pull the brow of one eye upwards (gently), apply the disc to the eyelid and leave for 5 seconds. Sweep in an outward motion and repeat until all the makeup is removed.

4. Run under the lower lashes with disc edge to remove any mascara and eye pencil smudges. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the other eye with another cotton disc. If mascara is still coming out, apply some more make up remover to a cotton bud and run it over the lashes.

5. To remove lipstick, apply some makeup remover to another cotton disc, hold lips taut from one side and sweep outwards in the opposite direction (if your holding your lips from the left side sweep to the right and vice versa).

6. For cleansing the face, apply a 20 Euro-cent coin-sized dollop of cleanser to one of your palms. Wet the other palm and work the cleanser into a lather. Start by applying it over the neck in upward, circular movements and move on to the centre of the face and continue with outwards circular movements. Pay special attention to the nostril area. Rinse off with warm water and repeat when removing full make up.

7. Apply toner all over the face, omitting the eye area.

8. Apply 20 Euro-cent coin-sized dollop of FACIAL scrub (body scrubs have coarser granules which will be too harsh for the skin on the face) onto your palms and massage on your face using circular motions outwards and upwards from the jaw-line. Leave on for 3 minutes and rinse off with warm water.

9. Apply a thin layer of face mask (for peel-offs apply a thicker layer) all over the face omitting the eye and lip areas. Leave on for 15 - 30 minutes or as long as it is stated on the package. Rinse off with warm water. Steps 8 and 9 should ideally be done twice a week.

10. Apply another application of toner paying special attention to the hair-lines so as to make sure all traces of the mask are removed.

11. Leave the skin to dry.

12. Apply some eye gel or eye cream by gently dabbing with the ring finger around the orbitals.

13. Apply a slick of lip balm.

14. Apply a layer of moisturizer and work in the skin until fully absorbed. In the morning apply sunscreen prior to applying the moisturizer. When I am not going to apply foundation, I use a tinted moisturizer as a make-up base.

- Skin Truth Face Eye Contour Gel

- Nivea Visage Extra Gentle Eye Make-up Remover

- Nivea Visage Refreshing Facial Wash Gel

- Nivea Visage Refreshing Toner

- Nivea Visage Young smooth it! mild exfoliating facial scrub

- Nivea Visage Young control shine! mattifying gel cream

- Nivea Visage Young be beautiful! tinted moisturizer

- Nivea Lip Care Caregloss & Shine

- A range of Montagne Jeunesse face masks and tonics. I always try out different ones suited for my skin.

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