Whoosh!... there disappears my draft, thanks blogger.com - not. Boy, am I peeved.
Don't despair though, I know you're just desperate to read this review, so I'll simply have to trouble my busy self to rewrite it. Ho hum, you chaps are demanding..... I jest, it's no trouble, this botanical cream is happily worth a highbrow critique (well, I do try chaps), so merrily I'll comply.
You know how it is with free samples for some unfamiliar brand. You may try it (if you're a reasonably curious type), or you mayn't bother and dump it (if you're happy with your regime). So you give it fair trial, you know how it happens, the results are okayish - quite forgettable, nothing to scream about.
But should it happen the sample proves miraculous - abracadabra! - you'll no doubt make countless thanks to the Green gods, or if not so pious, spend the rest of the day touching your skin with a mouth fixed in the shape of a "wow".
The beauty of all this? You were never looking. Like those lightening-strikes love moments in the movies (oh what tosh), it just - happens. Cool, isn't it? Just when you thought life was unfair enough with that recent speeding ticket, fortune remembers your name. Anyway, at this point you'll probably grab the phone and tell all your girlfriends, or jump online and Google the entire range (if you're fanatical like me), or run out on an errand simply to tell the next poor bugger that crosses your path the great news. Because as it is with discoveries, the best are those that simply fall into your lap - ta da! - renewing your buried faith in small, independent brands that don't demand you compromise the workday lunch at Pret-a-Manger or savvy ISA account.
So, such was the case with me and Barefoot Botanicals' SOS Face & Body Cream. On one fine day in May popping into my local natural health shop for nothing in particular, this was the lush little find that was awaiting me (I'm sure it was in my horoscope....). Catching my eye with its wholesome look, Who's this? I thought. Expecting nothing, I was dead impressed with the tester, but just. What? I double-blinked, seeing the price (£9.74 for 50ml) But it's teeny-tiny, I wailed inside. Humphh, you could say this green meanie wasn't floored with the price, so I did what any smart beauty does - procured some samples (being super-sweet helps). After all would you impose strangers onto your beauty shelf without a formal introduction? How offensive! Well, that's how contained the dangerous buy-on-the-spot-impulse....so very close, I was on the edge momentarily.
Honestly, like I need another body cream, and like you need another? Still, I fought that battle at home having dried up of samples. A dilemma, it topped my agenda. But alas, despite my iron will, like a horse to water, my skin took to it. And whatever my skin loves, I follow suit. Wherever could it, and the sweet grass-roots brand have been lurking all this time? (Are my green-watching beady-eyes failing me?...). No importance, we've found each other now, I mollified. So, moving onto my second tube but bigger (100ml, £17.57), with repurchase the true test of a winner, what's the big deal, you wonder?
Well, it sounds boring. Unisex, it's designed for ultra, supra-sensitive skin and even eczema - sounds exciting, huh? Oh wait, but it is. You'd be right to expect some no-frills, unscented, acqueous cream-like formula in bland, white pharmaceutical packaging, but nope, it's too cool for that. Medium-rich (that's the shea, borage and evening primrose oils), it's sweetly herbal with soothing botanical extracts of mahonia, burdock, comfrey and chickweed. And wait, there's more. For aromatherapy buffs, it's all cooked up with lavender, neroli and chamomile. Oh Barefoot Botanicals, you're so clever! How can us 'nose-y' beauties ever find fault?
With such ingredients, it'll do nothing more than soften, moisturise, calm, and strengthen your skin, although there's no added sun protection factor. Neatly re-packaged, it's not particularly feminine like their pink Rosa Fina range (oh my, that deserves an entirely new post) so metropolitan big boys to hunter-gatherer types wouldn't complain. Indeed, the SOS range is most congenial for men.
The best bit? We croc-skinned beauties can benefit from its goodness. Flakiness be gone! It doesn't promise much more than that - but hey, that's grand! We hate empty promises, right? (How unethical, ick). So 'womanly' concerns of ageing, or sun protection is better sought elsewhere. This adores all with 'seriously parched' and 'shy' skins (as they so neatly put in), so sensuously soft, touchable skin is on offer, dare you seek it. Young 'n' old, men 'n' women, white 'n' black, paupers 'n' princesses, the green and not-so-green beauty, erm, you get the idea, can benefit.
Multi-purpose, what beauty doesn't desire to save space, time and money with all-in-one's though her bulging cabinet belies the truth? Even the multi-purposing beauty snob who, though she likes the idea of all-in-one's a la the Nars' Multiple, trendy jumpsuits, etc. but invariably owns the separates, oughtn't not find this too demeaning. (I sense your outrage, but hush, this need not divorce your fave face 'n' body separates. It's all about choice, right?)
Like all women who've made it their business to moisturise after washing (I know, chaps, it gets boring), we know how crucial it is to keep lethargy at bay by alternating products. Versatile, non-messy, non-laborious, non-synthetic, it fulfills a space in your daily routine if there's a vacancy. Like marriage that, ahem, needs excitement, this could give back the much-needed thrills to something stale. Uh huh, I agree you don't need an armoury of creams, lotions and gels, but that doesn't stop us needlessly wanting, does it? (One can pray, I guess...) Don't begrudge SOS Cream price-wise, it doesn't last an age (a la the usual sell), but it's quality ingredients you're paying for. (Unless you're particularly green-fingered and confident, a green beauty is better off honing her skills on basic recipes.) No glitzy packaging, no blurb, no marketing, no advertising. How rare is that? Topping that, see their no quibble month guarantee on all used products. That's enough for me! Their faith nourishes mine.
They also sell a Safety Gloves Barrier Hand Cream (£12.95), but I'd hazard this would do the job as nicely. A traveller's, globe-trippin' backpacker's, and seasonal skier's essential, this is a top mindful gift of care. My loyalty is hard won, and they've it in buckets right now.
Who knows what else will tickle me as much in the future, but 'tis sure exciting to find out when fortune decides to reknock.....
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