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Posts tagged Spa
Bionsen Japanese Spa Minerals Deodorant
7Since my teenage years I have struggled greatly to find a deodorant suited to me, for several reasons. Firstly, I suffer from sensitive skin which is easily irritated, and the majority of high street deodorants make my skin red and itchy. Secondly, I have asthma, so aerosol deodorants are out of the question as they make my breathing bad. And thirdly, the (unproven) links between antiperspirants and breast cancer have always bothered me, but whether they’re true or not, who wants to be smothering their body with unnecessary chemicals anyway? With all this in mind, I am always on the look out for new deodorants which are chemical-free and suited to delicate skin, so when I came across Bionsen I was positively intrigued, and was keen to try their products when they were sent to me to review.
Bionsen’s deodorants contain a blend of skin nourishing Japanese Spa Minerals which are found in the volcanic spas of Japan (known as ‘Onsen’), and the deodorant’s hypoallergenic formula helps to neutralise the body’s bacteria which is responsible for bad odour. They are also aluminium and paraben free, so are gentle on sensitive skin and, if the claims about cancer causing chemicals are correct, they reduce these risks too.
The deodorants I received from Bionsen are the 50ml Roll-On and the 100ml Pump Spray. Over the last few days I have given both deodorants a go, and I have been suitably impressed. Here is what I think of each…
Bionsen Roll-On Deodorant
Bionsen’s roll-on deodorant has a light, fresh scent which isn’t overwhelmingly strong like some deodorants. The roll-on applies quite wet and feels instantly cooling on the skin, which is lovely after a shaving or a hot shower, but it does take a while to dry. I admit I got a little impatient the first time I used the deodorant and got dressed before it was completely dry, but it didn’t leave any white marks on my clothes at all. Overall, the deodorant lasts an incredibly long time. The fresh scent lingers all day (and I’m talking ALL day, from before work until bedtime), and most importantly, the roll-on causes me no irritation whatsoever. It’s a winner in my book!
Bionsen Pump Spray Deodorant
As I mentioned earlier, I can’t use aerosol sprays due to my asthma, so when I first saw Bionsen’s pump spray I was incredibly pleased to have an alternative to my usual roll-on! And indeed, it doesn’t trigger my asthma at all. Like the roll-on, the pump spray is extremely cooling, and has a light, fresh scent which lasts all day. The spray cap is moveable, so it’s easy to angle the bottle in the right direction, and I find that two sprays of deodorant on each armpit is plenty enough for long-lasting protection. The spray dries a lot quicker than the roll-on too, so if you’re looking for a deodorant that’s suited to a busy lifestyle then this one’s for you.
Bionsen’s Japanese Spa Minerals roll-on and pump spray give everything I could want from a deodorant. They smell nice, they’re free from nasty chemicals, they last a long time and they don’t irritate my sensitive skin. They’re really affordable too! The roll-on retails for £2.35, and the pump spray is £2.75, which is the same (if not cheaper) than most high street deodorants. If roll-ons and sprays aren’t your thing though, Bionsen also do a deodorant stick, aerosol spray and Deo Total Body crystals, so there’s something for everybody. The range was launched last month in Morrisons supermarkets, so if you want to try them for yourself they’re very easy to get hold of, and I highly recommend you do!
Naomi x
Introducing… Montagne Jeunesse Dead Sea Mud Spa Fabric Mask
10Behold! The best Montagne Jeunesse face mask that I have ever used (so far) – the new Dead Sea Mud Spa Mask. Earlier this week I received a rather exciting skin care package from the lovely folks at Montagne Jeunesse, containing two of their brand new face masks – the Dead Sea Mud Spa Mask and the Glacial Clay Spa Mask. I was really looking forward to trying these masks as they’re not like any other I’ve ever used before. Rather than the usual peel-off or wash-off products, the Spa Masks are made of bamboo fabric, which is coated and infused with naturally sourced mud and clay.
Yesterday evening I tried the Dead Sea Mud Spa mask, which uses ‘Real Mud, Dead Sea & Sea Kelp’. I haven’t yet used the Glacial Clay Spa Mask so I will review that at a later date. Each sachet contains one single use mask, and it is quicker and easier to use than any other Montagne Jeunesse mask as it comes in one ready to use piece that you just lay on your face. As you can see below, it looks a bit freaky, but also quite funny!
The sachet says that the mask provides a ‘satisfying boost for thirsty skin’ as it contains ‘invigorating & revitalising Dead Sea minerals’. The directions for use are as follows: Cleanse, Apply, Relax for 10-15 minutes, Massage and Rinse – Simple! I found that the best way to apply it is to lay it on and then press the edges down so that it smoothes to the shape of your face and doesn’t fall off. Since these are ‘one size fits all’ I did have to fold the edges inwards slightly to fit the shape of my face, but that’s not a problem really. Better too big than too small! And the moment you’ve all been waiting for – this is what it looks like on…
I know! Don’t laugh! I look absolutely ridiculous, which caused much amusement with my family, but when you’re wearing a mask that feels so amazing you really don’t care haha. Before I opened the sachet I noticed that it felt really cold to the touch, and as you can imagine the mask itself feels quite cold too. When it’s on your face the cold feeling really penetrates your skin making it tingle slightly, which feels really refreshing and, as the sachet says, invigorating! I felt so relaxed wearing the mask that I almost fell asleep – it was almost like having a face massage.
The mask doesn’t dry like other masks, but it isn’t messy. After 15 minutes of absolute bliss I removed the mask with no trouble – it came off in one complete piece, and because it was still wet I let my mum use the other side and it worked just as well on her! Two uses for the price of one – bargain 😀 (I don’t know if sharing the mask is a good idea or not, but she wanted to haha). I was left with a bit of dry clay on my face and hands afterwards, but it washed off easily with warm water. I will say that my face felt a bit tight after which I didn’t really like, but that was soon solved with my favourite moisturiser.
Both Clay Spa masks cost just £1.49 each, which is a bargain in my eyes. You can already buy them over at the Montagne Jeunesse website, and they’ll be available in Boots from mid-August and ASDA from September. Though these masks were gifted to me by Montagne Jeunesse, I also buy their products regularly with my own money. I like to use Montagne Jeunesse masks over any others as they are vegetarian and animal friendly, paraben-free and made from natural ingredients which don’t irritate the skin. And to quote the company itself, ‘Montagne Jeunesse is proud of its uncompromising natural credentials and ethos for ‘Conservation of Energy, Protection of Animals and the Environment’ – something which I 100% advocate!
Will you be trying the Clay Spa Masks too?
Naomi x
