For those of you that know me you will be aware that I absolutely adore pampering myself and after the stresses of a busy week in work I like nothing better than to spend an hour or so every Sunday where I enjoy a DIY facial, manicure or anything else for that matter that will allow me to feel beautiful. Whilst hair and face masks are luxuries that I keep for the weekends I regularly use several facial products on a daily basis, as I am somewhat fanatical about ensuring that my skin is meticulously clean. Of course the products I use have a huge impact on the end results and a range that I discovered only a few months ago is Champneys, which are luxurious toiletries that are marketed on the theory of a home spa. At this present moment in time, I own a large number of their beautiful products; one of which is their Gentle Facial Polish and this review discusses my experience with using it.

APPEARANCE OF THE PRODUCT

I do not wish to spend time discussing Champneys, particularly as I have spoken of them in a couple of my previous reviews. However, I will advise that the company offer a huge range of products and the appearance of each and every one of them are both beautiful and very luxurious. When I first learned of Champneys I have to admit that their stunning appearance gave me the impression that they would be very expensive. Whilst I love using luxurious products I have previously wasted my hard earned cash on many occasions, as I wrongly believed I would be receiving a high quality item. However, I would categorise Champneys as mid-range when it comes to price, but top range when it comes to quality.

Gentle Facial Polish is presented to us in a beautiful pale lilac coloured tube, which sits on a transparent plastic screw off lid. We are provided with 100 ml of luxury and if you are familiar with Champneys you will be aware of their superior looking logo, which in the case of the facial polish, nestles on a shiny golden border. We are advised that the product is a "professional spa formula" and it is suited for normal to combination skin.

USING THE GENTLE FACIAL POLISH

Whilst I love using facial scrubs, I am not a fan of those that are harsh and subsequently scratch the surface of the skin. I suffer with T-zone skin and if I use products that are too drying, my skin produces excess oils and exacerbates the problem. These days I am extra careful when choosing new facial products and carefully scrutinise the list of ingredients before purchase and as a result, I am able to keep my T-zone skin as normal as possible and have been fortunate enough not to have suffered with any spots for a fairly good while.

I cannot state that I exfoliate the skin on my face or body on a daily basis, as I really do not have the time and I think it an unnecessary process. However, I will use scrubs or polishing products on my face at least three times a week where I tend to alternate with a few of my favourites. For the purpose of this review and to enable me to accurately assess both the effects and efficiency of this product, I solely used Gentle Facial Polish on my face for a period of 3 weeks. There is considerable information on the reverse of the tube where we are provided with the directions for use. As with all products of this nature we should massage a small amount into dampened skin. The polish is coloured white and is of a fairly good consistency and as I gently massage it into my skin I can feel the tiny jojoba beads, which resemble grains of salt. Champneys market this product as gentle and I cannot argue with this claim, as it is very delicate on the skin and not harsh unlike a few other brands that I have previously used. The scent is not one I recognise and it was only when I read the information on the reverse of the tube that I learned it contains a blend of natural sugars, bilberry and citrus. However, the aroma is extremely light and whilst very pleasant, it is barely evident.

The product is gentle enough to be used on a daily basis, but as previously stated, I tend to use a few times a week to enable any dead skin cells to be instantly lifted away leaving me with radiant and thoroughly cleansed skin. However, for my trial period with testing this product I used the polish on a daily basis. The polish is easily rinsed away with a little warm water and in order to close the pores I splash with a little cold and towel dry. My skin is always left feeling soft and smooth with no signs of any sticky residue or redness, which is a common occurrence with some brands I have previously used. In my experience it is extremely effective at removing impurities, particularly around the areas of the nose, where blackheads can often accumulate. I cannot recommend this product highly enough, as it is gentle even for the most sensitive of skin. This polish has become a firm favourite of mine and I have since made a further purchase where I tend to alternate with a few other brands. Consequently, Champneys Gentle Facial Polish receives 5 stars from me.

OTHER INFORMATION

The list of ingredients contained on the reverse of the packaging is extremely lengthy and for obvious reasons I do not intend copying it into this review. However, I can confirm that I have never suffered any adverse reactions when using although I would advise that the polish should not be applied to irritated or broken skin. The polish should be used within 24 months of opening and the tube can be recycled once empty.

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

This gorgeous polish can be purchased in branches of Boots for £7.00 and at the time of writing (22 May 2011) you can currently obtain any 3 products from the range for the price of 2. You can make a further saving by picking up the latest copy of Boots' magazine named Health and Beauty, as on the last page is a voucher offering 25% off any Champneys' purchase.

I hope you found my review useful and would thank you for reading.