A CASCADE OF BUBBLES FROM ONE LITTLE SPRITZ! (Cussons Imperial Leather Foamburst Gel)

Member Name: totalserenity

Product:	Cussons Imperial Leather Foamburst Gel
Date:	16/07/09 (124 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A PLETHORA OF SUDS CREATED FROM ONE PUMP OF THIS SHOWER GEL...

Disadvantages: UNNECCESSARY GIMMICK 'IMO', AND AWFUL INITIAL SMELL, ALTHOUGH THE AFTER-SCENT IS NICE.

Last year I stayed in a Premier Inn hotel in Nottingham with my sister where this 'Imperial Leather Foamburst Shower Gel' was left as a freebie sample for their guests in their immaculately clean bathroom...

My sibling, like myself, loves free samples of everything for her frequent weekends way with her hubby; so we split the booty - with me bagging this hand-sized little 75ml recyclable very light purple aluminium can - with the 'Cussons' Imperial Leather famous red logo swirled across the front of my cute and dinky can.

With a flourish, the 'Foamburst Ultimate Shower Experience' wording runs along the bottom of the plastic pop-off lidded canister; in addition to 'Moisture Plus with added skin moisturisers' in smaller lettering underneath.

Always one for trying new things, I scanned the back of the canister for more information after being told this size has '15+ washes' on the front of it.

Stating it is a 'rust proof' can - that's quite a handy thing to note - as I am sure most of us have had experiences of trying to scour off those stubborn brown ring marks, which errant eroding metal can bases have left behind in the bathroom!

Now on pricing up my tiny and perfect for transporting-sized tin up on the internet, the going rate seems to be around the 98p mark - whereas the standard 200ml tall tin is around £2.39 (unless of course you find it on Special Offer somewhere) - and professes to contain within 40+ washes.

The gist of this body care product seems to be that the can contains a gel that quickly transforms for a more solid substance into an immensely soapy solution, according to Cussons.
By squirting a small amount into the palm of one's hand and then spreading over the body, you are promised a sensual result 'proven to leave you with noticeably softer and smoother skin after just one use'; because this Foamburst Moisture Plus contains ingredients such as Glycerin and Glycerol Laurate, to aid hydration and silkiness.

I have scoured this tin but nowhere does it say fragrance free, so on closer inspection I see the mixture also contains Parfum, Citronellol, and Linalool. This bothered me as I have extremely sensitive skin; however I have used such gels before with no ill effects so I decided to give it a go on showering before our planned night out...

First thing to note is it's a pump action spray in an aerosol pressurised container which is extremely flammable and solvent by design, so please keep away from naked flames or high temperatures.

Of course this means it is to be kept out of the reach of children also, as should all dangerous chemicals.
But here's the conundrum for me - because if ever this was a product inadvertently marketed to appeal to children - then this is it!

On pumping a large pea-sized amount into your hand and rubbing it gently the results are amazing, and quite novel!

From a clear quite thick gel does a huge amount of froth erupt forth - and the more you create friction between your mitts the more this Foamburst does exactly what its name suggests - creates a incredibly copious amount of foam!
It does cleanse well and no sticky/greasy residue is left, as can be the cases with some of the cheaper shower gels on the market.
I don't know how it would perform with a bath scrunchie, as one just isn't necessary to create bubbles in this shower gel's case!

Cussons say: 'The transparent gel instantly transforms into the richest and creamiest lather you have ever experienced', and they are not kidding, it's almost miraculous!

Marketing it as: 'The ultimate luxurious experience', Imperial Leather stays true to form with its New Generation toiletries additions.

But if you want my thoughts on it as a toiletries item, I would say despite it feeling lovely on the skin, the smell is quite awful - predominantly chemical but not pleasant until the after-odour has settled in the bathroom.
The sudsy element of the liquid is super without a doubt; but is a gel that transforms into a huge cascade of frothy bubbles strictly necessary?

It felt very gimmicky to me; and that transformation from a small clear globule into a mass of foam, is the part I felt would really appeal to kiddies in particular.

The cloying and quite nasty fragrance nevertheless, would not.

Five minutes after usage (and my word those mutated-super-suds take some rinsing off!) the skin is left feeling quite smooth; although not as enriched as the advertising blurb would have us think - so in my opinion I felt the product to be rather hyped up for what it was.

Like any cleansing agent I'm sure there are those out there who love the stuff, but as a consumer I would not rush out to purchase it - more than anything because of the awful aroma. I found it quite bizarre that the lingering after-perfume from it was really nice, but the instant essence was quite odious for my tastes.

Today's Dooyoo rating from me has to be a middle of the road 3 gimmick-slicked Stars for a mediocre personal hygiene product, alas...


© Written exclusively for Dooyoo.

Summary: I WOULD NOT GO OUT AND BUY THIS - THERE ARE A LOT MORE PLEASANT AROMAS OUT THERE IN SHOWER GELS.