For years, as long as I can remember, I have been a fan of The Body Shop. These days I don’t buy so many of my skincare or makeup products from there, but I do pop in from time to time for old favourites and my daughter shows all the signs of becoming their number one fan also. The sweet scents of strawberry, dewberry and pink grapefruit are still fresh in my mind from a couple of decades ago and it’s lovely to see Dot getting excited about the same things I did, though then it was bath bubbles (we didn’t have a shower) whereas for her it’s shower gels. I also greatly admire The Body Shop’s stand on animal testing, natural ingredients and fair trade, which despite now being owned by L’Oreal is still something that is very much at the forefront of its philosophy.
The latest launch takes those trademark fragrances and works them into a perfume spritz for summer, eight of them in fact, including strawberry, pink grapefruit, satsuma and mango. There’s also coconut, vanilla, shea and moringa (a floral fragrance). Spray them all over for a refreshing lift on a hot day. They contain alcohol and true to The Body Shop’s principles, this is fair trade from Ecuador and is produced from sugar cane. The Body Mists are £7 each and are in store from next month. I haven’t tried them yet but will go with Dot to town and sample them as soon as they are out.
Biodroga is a brand I’ve discovered relatively recently. It’s expensive but I was lucky enough to be sent a sample of the night cream and loved it – though it will have to remain on my lottery-winning wish list as I cannot justify spending so much on a skincare product at this time, unfortunately. However, a new shower gel launched last week, which at £23.40 is more in my price range. Express Refreshing Shower Gel is moisturising and has a fresh fragrance. Launched alongside it are Ready To Go Body Lotion (23.90), with macadamia nut oil and something called bisabolol, which comes from chamomile and is anti-inflammatory, and Rich & Tender Body Milk, with avocado and wheat germ oils, vitamins and unsaturated fatty acids. The milk is richer than the lotion and is a bit more expensive at £30. Check them out at www.bcidirect.com
