As you know, I don't usually review non-food items but I'm truly in love with these wonderful products from Tropic Skincare. I've only been using them a couple of weeks yet my skin is definitely beginning to feel so much softer and far more nourished and hydrated.
I can't really compare them against my current skincare products because I've always been a soap and water type of person and witch hazel is just about the only toner I've ever used. You may think that this is quite strange but back in my late teens I suffered a terrible reaction to a skin care product and since then I've been playing it extremely safe.
When I was initially contacted with an invitation to review some of Tropic Skincare's products, the company sounded very familiar and when I looked into the organisation and its history, I remembered seeing the founder of the company, Susan Ma, on the TV show, The Apprentice, a few years back. However, I wasn't aware that, although she didn't win, Lord Alan Sugar was so impressed by her enthusiasm and work ethic, he took the decision to invest in her business anyway. With his guidance and investment, her business has now grown rapidly achieving awards for the company as well as for the products themselves.
What did I initially find most appealing about these beauty products?
Firstly, it's great to find a company that so obviously cares about animal welfare and secondly, the range of cruelty free, vegan skincare and make-up products are created using only premium, naturally derived ingredients and are free from harmful toxins.
And what did I think of the products I received in my lovely parcel?
The products were packaged and presented beautifully and I was extremely excited to receive so many fantastic items to try. Inside the box, nestled in the shredded packaging and tissue paper I discovered the luscious Superfood Hand Therapy, the much needed Eye Refresh Cooling Gel Roll-On, an oh so very soft and comfy headband made from bamboo fibres and the generously filled and ever so useful Travel Essentials Bag.
Superfood Hand Therapy
I didn't think I could find a hand cream I would like as much as a product I reviewed recently but this award winning hand therapy cream is equally as good, if not better. I much prefer the scent which is predominantly lime and a little goes a long, long way. The cream is very easily absorbed without feeling sticky and it's extremely soothing, I love it.
Eye Refresh Cooling Gel Roll-On
I have to admit that I was a little cautious about trying Eye Refresh having suffered some terrible reactions to eye gels and creams in the past. But I needn't have worried because I didn't experience any problems and this really is what it says in the brochure - super-cooling and hydrating. I've been using it first thing in the morning to help me wake up as well as when I've been working at my computer late at night, it instantly refreshes and revives tired eyes, so much better than a splash of water. The stainless steel rollerball applicator is very gentle on the skin and glides smoothly underneath the eyes. The natural ingredients include : Organic Aloe Vera Juice, Cucumber Juice, extracts of Arnica, Eyebright, Ginseng, Sea Kelp, Green Coffee, White Tea, Chamomile and Honeysuckle.
Travel Essentials
The contents of the bag are the Smoothing Cleanser, Vitamin Toner Spray, Skin Revive Nourishing Cream Concentrate, Tamanu Rescue Healing Balm, the very magical Organic Elixir and a super soft and naturally antibacterial organic facial cloth made from sustainable bamboo fibres.
Smoothing Cleanser Complexion Purifier
This product was awarded Best Free From Product in the 2014 Free From Skincare Awards. The ingredients are : Chamomile Flower Infusion, Sweet Almond Oil, Golden Jojoba Oil, Avocado Oil, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Coconut and Cassava Emulsifier, Vegetable Glycerin, Candelilla Wax, Organic Grapefruit Seed Extract, Vitamin E, Green Tea Extract, Essential Oils of Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Lemongrass and Chamomile, Gentle Preservatives from Corn and Basil, Plant Phytic Acid.
Having used this cleanser with the bamboo face cloth twice a day for a couple of weeks, my skin no longer feels dry and taut when I wake up in the morning, it feels and looks healthy, nourished, hydrated and wonderfully soft. It effortlessly removes make up and I love the fact that you use water to rinse away the cleanser, something which I think I'd miss after using soap for so long.
Vitamin Toner Pore Refining Mist
Described as "bursting with organic rose water, aloe vera and cucumber juices, this instant skin refresher is infused with vitamins and amino acids that help to balance pH and reduce pore size". I haven't noticed a reduction in pore size yet but then I don't think I've not been using it long enough to comment fairly on this fact. I've definitely noticed that my skin feels much more balanced and glowing. But my favourite feature of this gently scented toner is the ease with which you can use it, just close your eyes and spray. The calming mist is incredibly refreshing and dries quite quickly.
Skin Revive Nourishing Cream Concentrate
Because this is a concentrated formula, you only need a small amount of this cream to moisturise your face and it's absorbed beautifully leaving your skin soft and nourished. I've been applying it twice a day along with a couple of drops of the Organic Elixir. The ingredients are : Organic Aloe Vera Juice, Organic Rosehip Oil, Golden Jojoba Oil, Organic Macadamia Oil, Organic Shea Butter, Jojoba Esters, Avocado Oil, Coconut and Cassava Emulsifier, Vegetable Glycerin, Raspberry Seed Oil, Kakadu Plum Extract, Candelilla Wax, Soy Lecithin, Vitamin E, Corn Sugar Gum, Extracts of Sea Kelp, Echinacea, Blueberry, Chamomile, Calendula and Organic Grapefruit Seed, Essential Oils of Rose Geranium, Lavender, Sweet Orange and Frankincense, Hyaluronic Acid, Gentle Preservatives from Corn and Basil, Plant Phytic Acid.
Having used the same moisturiser for years I've decided that I will switch over to this product, I firmly believe it's making a difference.
Organic Elixir
I'm in love with this age-defying organic elixir, it has to be my favourite product of the skincare range. It's not just for the face either. I broke my hip in an accident a year ago and the scar from the op has been healing but I swear it's improved dramatically since I've been rubbing a few drops of the elixir into the scar area. In the past I've always used pure Vitamin E oil on scars but I've been using coconut oil this time. Containing Vitamin E as well as Rosehip Oil which I've also tried before, this organic elixir is easily as good as the pure vitamin E oil.
The full ingredient list is : Organic Kiwi Seed Oil, Organic Plum Kernel Oil, Organic Rosehip Oil, Organic Moringa Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Pomegranate Seed Oil and Vitamin E. As I said above, I've been mixing it with the Skin Revive Nourishing Cream Concentrate morning and night and my skin has never felt softer, I can't tell yet if it's age-defying - maybe if I'd been using it for years I would have more of an idea and I wish I could wind back the clock to see if it as good as is claimed. But what I do know is my scar looks almost invisible so it's definitely working some magic!
Tamanu Rescue Healing Balm
"Our must-have skin saviour combines the super-healing powers of the tamanu plant, the protection of monoi butter, and the soothing effects of organic cranberry and blackcurrant seed oils to create a gorgeous green balm that helps repair scarred and damaged skin".I'd not heard of the Tamanu plant before so I did some investigation on-line and discovered that the oil is also known as Beauty Leaf Oil. However, (luckily) I haven't needed to use this product much over the past couple of weeks opting to use the Organic Elixir on my operation scar instead so I can't really vouch for its performance. I did apply a little to a small scar on my leg and the thick, non-sticky ointment appears to offer an excellent protective barrier. It looks like it will last for ages and after reading some of the reviews on the website, it appears to have worked wonders on insect bites, burns, eczema, psoriasis as well as scars, spots and dermatitis.
The products I've described above are only a small selection of Tropic Skincare's beautiful and extensive range of skincare and make-up products. Thinking of the products I'd like to try next, the Night Repair Cell Renewing Cream, the Organic Nail Nectar and the Lip Love Balm all sound pretty fantastic.
Disclosure: I received these products from Tropic Skincare's representative for review purposes. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.