This suds no dud! (The Body Shop Vitamin E Facial Cleansing Bar.)

Member Name: nursie_nursie

Product:	The Body Shop Vitamin E Facial Cleansing Bar.
Date:	09/05/08 (106 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lasts well, minimal packaging, cheap, for all skin types, cleanses well, contains no animal by-produ

Disadvantages: Not practical for holidays, the scent isn't to everyone's taste.

I am terrible, even though I know which products really work for my skin I still keep trying new ones all the time. I don't know what it is that drives me but I just get bored using the same products all the time. I bought this product ages ago and stuck it in the drawer that I keep all my 'back up' products in, I have all sorts in there, make up, shampoo, creams, lotions and potions as well as shower gel coming out of my ears. The thing is I see sale items or offers and just buy it. It is handy because we never run out of anything and if there is a birthday I haven't shopped for I just go to my drawer.

This has been left there and not thought about and each time I went to the drawer and noticed it I thought to myself that I should get round to using it. Finally I have.

This looks like a bar of 'normal' soap, it is soap but it is specially formulated for the face, that said it can actually be used all over your body if you wanted to (I have only used it for my face).

I usually use face washes, my favourite being The Body Shops seaweed version. I have combination skin that can be slightly sensitive but a reaction is rare.

This soap is wrapped in plastic and a large label detailing about it but as I have thrown that away I can't really tell you much about it. This is great from the point of view that it is much less packaging than with a face wash.

This weighs in at 100g so basically the same size as any soap.

This bar contains no animal by-products as they use palm and coconut oils in a vegetable soap base as well as glycerine for it's moisturising properties. You may be wondering why Vitamin E is any good for your skin, well it is supposed to help protect it from sun, pollution and cigarette smoke as well as being good at neutralising free radicals that will damage the skin. It is all rather technical if you ask me! But basically if you protect your skin it will look better long term.

It had VITAMIN E moulded into one side and the other was the Body Shop logo. It is soft pale pink. As with all the Vitamin E products that The Body Shop sells it has a delicate rose fragrance. I am not keen on the rose scent and some of this range can be a little too strongly scented for me but I don't mind this, as it is very subtle.

Using it, as you would expect with any soap, wet it lather up some foam on your hands and apply to the face in soft circular motions.

Rinsing is just as easy and it doesn't take much to get rid of every trace of it from the skin.

Some cleansers can make your skin feel tight after using it and this doesn't, certainly not like normal soap would.

I always use this first thing in the morning and use cream cleanser or wipes at night so I don't know what this is like when it comes to removing makeup but ant panda eyes I may have from the night before soon disappear with this.

My skin is left feeling very clean and not dry or in need of toning unlike with some cleansers. I still tone afterwards but never find a trace of dirt or oil on the cotton wool.

This does need to be kept dry when not in use or it will of course turn to mush like any soap will when it isn't allowed to dry. I am lucky I have a soap dish with drainage attached to the shower stand.

This bar is lasting very well, I would expect it to last around three months. At £2.50 that is an absolute bargain and I may well switch to using this all the time rather than the face washes I would turn to before.

The down side with this is going away, a bar of soap isn't practical for travelling. I will just have to use my other half's face wash when we are away or keep a seaweed one just for such occasions.

This isn't going to be one that they guys are likely to like due to its scent but that doesn't linger on your skin that I have noticed.

I have on a couple of occasions gone into the bathroom and noticed a slight waft of roses, which is an added plus.

Do I recommend, yes, it is cheap, works, lasts and my skin feels pretty good!

I am going to give it four stars, as I can't really justify five because of it not being practical for trips away.



The Vitamin E range is for all skin types, I don't think I would recommend it for anyone with very sensitive or oily skin though.
Other Vitamin E products are;
Vitamin E Facial Cleansing Bar £2.50 (as reviewed)
Vitamin E Gentle Face Wash £6.00
Vitamin E Cream Cleanser £6.00
Vitamin E Gentle Cleansing Wipes £5.50
Vitamin E Exfoliator £7.00
Vitamin E Hydrating Toner £6.00
Vitamin E Moisture Serum £10.00
Vitamin E Moisture Cream £8.00
Vitamin E Protective SPF 15 Moisture Lotion £9.00
Vitamin E Face Mist £6.50
Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream £9.00
Vitamin E Illuminating Moisture Cream £8.50
Vitamin E Tinted Moisturiser £8.00
Vitamin E Sink In Moisture Mask £9.50
Vitamin E Creamy Neck Gel £6.50
Vitamin E Eye Cream £7.50
Vitamin E Body Butter £12.00
Vitamin E Body Lotion £7.50
Vitamin E Hand & Nail Treatment £7.50
Vitamin E Lip Care SPF 15 £4.00

The Body Shop don't test on animals and are involved with several charities and foundations (see their website for more details) they even run their own version of fair trade called community trade, which makes sure people are paid a fair price for their goods.

To find your local store, buy online (delivery is reasonably priced and usually very quick), find out more on this product and others see their website www.thebodyshop.co.uk

Summary: Certainly worth trying!