Being a bit of a beauty product addict, I always like to try out new things and vary the brands that I use. One of my most exciting discoveries in recent months has been finding online companies that provide beauty boxes. The idea is that you will be sent a box every month, and this will usually contain a selection of various make-up, skin care, fragrance products etc for you to try out, so I have been trying a few from different suppliers. I received a travel size bottle of Como Shambhala's Invigorate Shower Gel in a previous delivery from "Glossy Box". You can find further information at www.glossybox.co.uk. The full size product contains 300mls and the RRP is £20.00.

Product description: "With an Aromatherapeutic mix of eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender and geranium, the COMO Shambhala Invigorate Shower Gel wakes you up, clears your airways and cleans your skin without drying it. It is popular the world over with the lucky people who have had the chance to visit COMO Shambhala spa resort in Bali; and for those who haven't, a little whiff of this will transport you there for the duration of your shower. There is no better way to wake up in the morning."

The shower gel comes in a clear plastic bottle which allows the product to show through. This is good because it allows you to see exactly how much you have left. The bottle has a plastic screw top lid and you have to tilt the bottle up and pour the gel out to dispense it. This isn't quite as convenient as the shower gel bottles that you can squeeze to dispense, as you have to juggle removing the lid and pouring out the gel, then screwing the lid back on quickly to avoid any water getting into the bottle and ruining the product. It's not too bad if you have a shelf or somewhere out of reach to place the lid and bottle while doing this. I also had to balance the bottle upside down to get the last few remaining bits out when I was running close to the end which was a bit tricky.

Recommended directions for use: Use all over your body in the shower with plenty of water and rinse thoroughly.

This shower gel itself has a pale golden colour to it and a thick gel consistency which pours out quite slowly, avoiding any potential overspill. I like to use this with a shower puff as it foams up really well and I get a large amount of nice frothy bubbles to wash with. It spreads easily over my skin leaving it refreshed and cleansed. After washing with this shower gel my skin is smooth to the touch but it does not seem to have any moisturising effects and I have to follow up with applying body lotion. The gel is packed full of natural ingredients that have aromatherapuetic properties, and combined together they pack a powerful punch that really helps to get me going and make me feel more awake as soon as I start to inhale the scent. The "Invigorate" name is perfectly appropriate as it does help to make me feel invigorated, and is also good for revitalising my senses after I've indulged in some heavy exercise. The eucalyptus and peppermint come across most strongly as they are very noticeable scents, and there is a light floral touch which is just about noticeable and gives the overall fragrance an ever so slightly softer edge. Although I find the combination of scents to be effective, I don't find it particularly appealing and it's not the sort of scent that I would want to linger on my skin as it's a bit too sharp and not as feminine as my usual tastes.

The big down side to this product is the price. At £20.00 for 300mls I find this hugely expensive and is far more extravagant than the couple of quid that I would usually hand over for an ordinary shower gel. I really don't think that the high price tag is justified and I do not like the product enough to be tempted to splash out and make a purchase. Overall, I think it's a nice enough shower gel that has effective aromatherapy properties and gives a nice cleansing refreshing feel when used. However, there is nothing particularly special about it and I wouldn't bother buying it for myself as it's just too expensive for what it does.