I have a confession to make: I’ve been keeping a secret from you. I blame the scent of lemons, which always makes me go a bit mad. Those of you who know me, know the effect an intoxicating scent or flavor can have on me. I might end up floating in nirvana for days, feet quite firmly off the ground, neither seeing nor hearing anything outside my own little world.
Citrus scents are one of the most maddening scents. Sometimes they remind me of limoncello and have me fantasizing about lying under a lemon tree in some small south Italian village, glass in one hand, book and straw hat in the other. And sometimes they just make me purr with contentment or leave me placidly staring at a blank wall. The best kind of aromatherapy, surely?
Secret number one: Therapi’s Lemon Myrtle toner. I found this gem purely by accident while looking for products to use in a photo shoot. I received the package of “borrowed” props while having lunch at a Thai restaurant, and just had to give myself a little spritz of the toner – just to see what it smelled like. Err. Let’s just say my opinion was probably crystal clear to everyone in the restaurant. My lunch date was also forced to listen to me go on about the scent for the rest of our meal. I say “borrowed” (in quotation marks) because I obviously couldn’t return the product, but kept it instead.
It’s a spray toner (didn’t I just say how much I love those?) and it is perfect for my skin type. It minimizes pores and brightens the complexion, but isn’t drying. The ingredients are as follows:
Hamamelis Virginiana (Witchhazel) Water*, Rosa Damascena Flower Water*, Alcohol*, Decyl Glucoside, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil*, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil*, Backhousia Citriodora (Lemon Myrtle) Peel Oil*, Parfum*, Limonene+. *Organic +Naturally occurs in essential oils.
Witch hazel regulates sebum production, rose water provides hydration, while grape fruit peel oil, peppermint oil, and lemon myrtle oil all have anti-bacterial properties that help to prevent impurities. I’ve found it to be a good weapon for fighting the polar night blues, and it was also an instant addition to my Beauty Guide.
Secret number two: Juice Beauty’s body moisturizer. I was excited to test this out, because the fruit acids in the apple, grape, and lemon juices would help with folliculitis and would thus smoothen my legs. I wasn’t expecting much fragrance-wise, since most of the Juice Beauty products I have tested have had a very mild scent. However, I’m fairly sure even my neighbors were alerted to my enthusiasm once I had cracked open the package. Swoon – the most perfect citrus scent filled my entire bathroom! Not only is the fragrance rich and silky, but this quickly absorbed moisturizer seems to be the only lotion potent enough to polish my seasonally dry legs.
In addition to brightening fruit juices, the moisturizer contains hydrating and nourishing aloe vera, and a mixture of softening and renewing oils like shea butter, jojoba oil, borage seed oil and evening primrose oil.
Organic juices of aloe barbadensis (organic aloe juice)*, pyrus malus (organic apple juice)*, vitis vinifera (organic white grape juice)*, citrus medica limonum (organic lemon juice)*, vegetable glycerin, helianthus annuus (organic sunflower seed oil)*, octyl palmitate, capric/ caprylic triglycerides, glyceryl stearate, stearic acid, palmitoyl pentapeptide-4, acetyl hexapeptide-3, cetearyl alcohol, organic plant oilsof butyrospermum parkii (organic shea butter)*, simmondsia chinensis (organic jojoba seed oil)*, oenothera biennis (organic evening primrose oil)*, linum usitatissimum (organic linseed oil)*, borago officinalis (organic borage seed oil)*, xanthan gum, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (Vitamin C), panthenol (Vitamin B5), allantoin, tocopherol (Vitamin E), ethylhexylglycerin, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, citrus reticulata (mandarin), litsea cubeba (may chang) and cinnamomum camphora (ho wood)pure essential oils. * = Certified organic ingredient
Is there a scent that you’re mad about? I have one more, but I’ll leave that for the next time.
Have a fragrant weekend!
Therapi and Juice Beauty products are available at Naturelle. By using the code KATJA15 at checkout you will get 15% off normally priced products until the end of November.
Products provided for testing by Naturelle.
Photos Katja Kokko
Translation Katja Nikula
