A Commotion With the Lotion (Molton Brown Re-Charge Black Pepper Body Lotion)

Member Name: Nar2

Product:	Molton Brown Re-Charge Black Pepper Body Lotion
Date:	26/02/09 (342 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Scent packed body lotion with Molton Brown's famous Black Pepper additive, goes on easy and warming

Disadvantages: Pricey as with most MB products, doesn't moisturise skin.

In spite of many shops and outlets which seem to be closing down at a speed of nauts, I was recently in Glasgow picking up a few gifts for people as well as replacing most of my toiletries with new products and ranges I had read on Dooyoo. However I couldn't quite resist going past Molton Brown's shop without having a look. Now as far as I'm concerned Molton Brown are a premium priced product and they will always be premium priced based on most of their ranges being quite original in nature and marketed towards the distinguished man or woman. Against Arran Aromatics which is a more of a personal gift type shop and range, Lush with its endless ranges of organically produced soaps, washes and bath products trapped in 1980's Body Shop like packaging, Molton Brown sets the tone, especially if you have friends that like the more clinical bottle in their bathroom that delivers on promise without shouting about it.


The problem is that whilst Molton Brown has many ranges for the woman, the home, the air freshener type ranges on offer in terms of the scents available, the man's range is limiting and it always has been for a very good reason. Despite the great marketing push of free discounts or perhaps a free bottle wash of the latest scent Molton Brown always try to push into my direction, I always return to the old faithful; their excellent and well known Black Pepper wash products; because largely there isn't another scent or range I admire and appreciate. I have been given their Ginseng shower gels as gifts in years gone past and I have tried other scents in their ranges; but it's the Black Pepper range that always gets me going because simply put, its one of the most masculine of scents and one that I feel comfortable using that doesn't take over any other aftershave or body wash I've used in the day.


When I first tried Molton Brown Black Pepper shower wash, I was very impressed and taken with the product even though I was late to realise that a lot goes a long way with the use of a shower puff or sponge. I recall that this product, their "Re-Charge Black Pepper body lotion," used to be available in glossy tubes as opposed to their latest clinical same look clear bottles with a push down hat and tap. At 200 ml for the new bottles they cost £15-95 and again it takes no rocket science to work out that for this price what you get is the same scent as the normal Black Pepper range on offer trapped in silky creamy off white lotion that you leave on your skin as opposed to washing off.


Back home, I couldn't wait to try this body lotion since I recall the glossy tubes that I used to buy when I first tried Molton Brown. The bottle has the same dimpled waist band located just above the brand name and looking quite austere, never ostentatious, the bottle is at best easy to locate in the bathroom and works well even though the tap is a pale cheap and can take a few seconds to fathom how to get it started. One of the very reasons I bought this wasn't just to take me back on my memories, but simply because their body wash soap Bar (another product I love) doesn't leave skin overly soft after showering and to increase the scent of Black Pepper I felt it was time to consider other avenues of moisturisation. As the cream is dispersed from the tap, it feels thin yet silky and smooth with no grains. I find it's a very easy cream to soak into skin quickly, almost having an instant cooling effect but doesn't leave skin very greasy thanks to the small amount that disperses each time you gently pump the tap, and overall on skin it barely feels like it is there once it vanishes in.


On my back which was the greatest test at the time, I found that once the cream is absorbed in, it relieves aches not on contact but allows the scent and strength of the black pepper oil to get to work on areas of my back that are susceptible to pain. Over time some minor aches are relieved of pressure although I'm always surrounded by the huge scent of gorgeous Black Pepper and to a smaller extent base notes of lemon of which is another ingredient that has been added to this cream as well as Glycerine and alcohol most probably due to the nature of the Black Pepper oil to save it from drying out in the packaging. It leaves skin feeling smooth and soft but this is not guaranteed to last once it works into your skin.


In terms of an actual massage lotion, forget the idea straight away - all this product is, is a cream packed with warm tones of Black Pepper oil that really get to work on areas that may feel painful due to muscle strains; the lotion doesn't relieve pain like Ibuprofen gels or "Deep Heat," but in a most treasured, comfortable sort of way it's the kind of lotion I can wholeheartedly trust to anoint my skin in the hope of feeling cosy, warm and refreshed. "Deep Heat," is an excellent medicinal cream that relies aches on contact, but as one of my pupils remarked recently when I had put some on earlier in the day, it was more noticeable in terms of the aroma in my classroom!


Molton Brown's body lotion certainly doesn't re-charge me like a rabbit caught in the headlights, but it keeps me alert and surrounded by its lovely scent that goes on for a few hours. For most buyers Molton Brown's Re-Charge body lotion is a good all round body lotion designed to enthral the senses with its spicy backdrop and those who adore the body wash should similarly find something to smile about with this product. What a pity it doesn't moisturise skin - but then again it's not a product that claims to. Thanks for reading. ©Nar2 2009

www.moltonbrown.co.uk
www.moltonbrown.com

Summary: A good product in lieu of their body wash. Fab!