Aromatherapy Associates Enrich Body Scrub

I found this a decent scrub if not exactly life-changing. It made my skin feel soft and smooth, but the effects don’t seem to last as long as my other favourites (Ren Salt Scrub and Clarins Smoothing Body Scrub) and I didn't find it particularly luxurious to use - it look and smells quite earthy, though I was pleased it didn't leave any residue on the skin, a pet hate of mine!

I'm glad I tried it, but I won’t repurchase - still a huge fan of the Aromatherapy Associates range in general though. I recently purchased the Sisley Energising Foaming Exfoliant which seems to get excellent reviews, so looking forward to trying that next.

I can't see this particular scrub on the Aromatherapy Associates website at present, but it is available from Liberty and costs £35 for 200ml.

Aromatherapy Associates Perfect Partners Bath and Shower Oils (and more festive goodies)

Following my review of the Aromatherapy Associates Revive Evening Bath and Shower Oil, which I loved, I recently had the opportunity to try two more of the Bath and Shower Oils, found in the Perfect Partners set.

The set contains 7.5ml each of the Revive Morning Bath and Shower Oil, and the Deep Relax Bath and Shower Oil. It costs £14 to buy, but on the Aromatherapy Associates website it is currently being offered as a (quite generous I think) gift with purchase when you spend £50 or more - the perfect excuse to stock up on Christmas presents!

Of the two, my favourite is Deep Relax. It contains extracts of vetivert, camomile and sandalwood,  apparently calming ingredients. I'm not very good at describing scents so I'll just have to describe their effects  and say that I actually felt a kind of calmness descend and tension leaving my body. I even managed to stay in the bath for a whole 20 minutes, something of a record for a prior bathphobe such as myself. The name couldn't be more appropriate.

Containing a blend of rosemary, juniper berry and pink grapefruit (which AA describes as detoxifying and energising ingredients), the Revive Morning oil is a bit more.. zingy. Personally I prefer the Revive Evening oil, as I find the Morning version just a tiny bit strong for my fragile composition first thing - rather than use this in the bath therefore I think I'll reserve the remainder of this one for a quick splash in the shower, or perhaps adding to a basin of hot water for bit of steam inhalation therapy. However on those days when you're feeling a bit groggy, sniffly or generally would much rather be in bed, I think this would be just the thing you need to clear the senses and kick-start your day.


Although the Aromatherapy Associates line is expensive, I really feel like I'm doing myself some good using these products - I certainly haven't tried any other aromatherapy products that promote such a sense of wellbeing. I am definitely going to buy the Deep Relax oil as a Christmas present for my brother's girlfriend, a very hardworking nurse who I think is the perfect candidate for a bit of pampering of this nature. And if your budget doesn't stretch to full size, there is also another set of miniatures, the Heavenly Oils, which come in lovely Christmassy purple packaging and again would make lovely stocking fillers.

One major plus though of the miniature bottles is that once you've used up the contents, you can refill them with one of your full size AA bath oils which is hopefully residing in your bathroom cabinet! They're the perfect size to take away for a weekend or overnight stay - with the added bonus that they'll make even the stalest hotel bathroom smell beautiful. That said you should get a few baths out of each one - if you use two capfuls per bath as directed and not four like me! 

Finally I just wanted to make a quick mention of the Comfort Candle (£24), another Christmas offering. Frankly I'm sold on the name alone, though the promise of damask rose and ginger helps too. Lovely and festive and just the thing for this weather!

Anything from AA on your Christmas wishlist?

Images courtesy of Aromatherapy Associates

Disclaimer: The Perfect Partners set was a PR sample

Blissful bathtime - Aromatherapy Associates Revive Evening Bath and Shower Oil

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I received a full size bottle of this bath and shower oil when I took out a subscription to Vogue recently. I'd been interested in trying the Aromatherapy Associates line for a while, and was not disappointed.

According to the Aromatherapy Associates website, the oil is "just the thing to help restore a flagging mind and body", and I wholeheartedly concur. Containing extracts of patchouli, geranium and ylang ylang, the oil has a delicate herbal scent which I find deeply relaxing - indulgent and therapeutic. It is recommended that you use one capful of oil per bath - I do use a little more than this, but used as directed, one 55ml bottle should provide enough for 20 baths. As the name suggests, you can also apply the oil to the skin before showering, though I tend to use mine in the bath only as it goes further that way.

Bathing with this product leaves my skin feeling soft and soothed (though do be careful not to slip when getting in or out of the bath!). As an added bonus, my bathroom and towels smells gorgeously spa-like for a few days after I've used this, and I also love how pretty the glass bottle looks beside the bath.

As a 'shower person', I'm not normally one to get excited over bathing and bath products, but this oil is doing a good job at converting me - especially now the nights are dark and cold and the lure of a hot, scented tub is so much more appealing. I will definitely repurchase this when my current bottle runs out - which won't be too long at this rate - I'm also keen to investigate more of this line so would love to hear what your favourite AA products are. I notice there are some gorgeous gift sets out, along with some scented candles which I'm quite tempted by, and there's also a free gift when you spend over £50 on their website - I should think anyone who likes baths would love to receive one of these gorgeous glass bottles in their Christmas stocking.
 
Revive Evening Bath and Shower Oil costs £34.75 for 55ml


First image courtesy of Aromatherapy Associates.


An edited version of this post was published in October on www.lovestyle.com

Vogue subscription offer (and magazine musings)

I buy a hell of a lot of magazines. Very few are off limits for me; I have even in my time been known to purchase Easy Living (actually quite a good read), though I think I need a few more years under my belt before I graduate to Woman's Own and Good Housekeeping.

Those I buy with regularity include Elle Decor (the covers always win me over - though I'm not so keen on Elle magazine), Red (a good mix of fashion, food and life stuff), Harpers Bazaar (I like the writing in this and the photography), Look (a good trashy read but actually the fashion and beauty pages are quite good) and, of course, Vogue. I also have a subscription to Living Etc which my boyfriend bought me when we were doing up our house, which although I read I find the way its written quite irritating, and the contents not hugely inspiring.

I don't normally pay much attention to subscriber offers, as I prefer to pick up random mags, when out and about. Most of my mag 'hauls' take place in WHS Smiths in Euston or Victoria whilst waiting for a train up north. Magazines are not great all the time, most of them have dud issues with not much in them (In Style is particularly bad for this I find!) and so I like to pick and choose when I buy them.

However all that changed when, flicking through this months Vogue, (cover price £4), I noticed their current subscriber offer. £19.99 for ten issues (so half price - less than £2 an issue!), then £19.50 for six issues after = £3.25 an issue. Still a lot cheaper than full price. But that's not all - the thing that caught my eye is that there is currently a free gift with subscription - a bottle of Aromatherapy Associates Revive Bath and Shower Oil - RRP £34.75.

pic: Google images

This has been added to my shopping basket on Beauty Expert on several occasions (I'm a sucker for anything oily and anything turquoise!), but the price has put me off. I was naturally thrilled, then, when I saw this offer, and ten minutes ago I had an email from Vogue confirming my subscription. I'm already dreaming about my first bath with tealights, a glass of wine perhaps and this oil... and I also now plan to start a little Vogue collection, a la Carrie Bradshaw, in my living room. They do look so chic stacked on top of one another - just the thing for our new bookshelves.

If this offer has tempted you as well, you can subscribe to Vogue here. Looking through my magazines, I realised that I have every issue of Elle Decor from this year, so I've also placed a subscription for that. No free gift sadly but only £22.80 for 12 issues (£1.90 instead of £3.80 per copy) then 25% off cover price. Seems like a no-brainer really.

Do you subscribe to any magazines?