The Body Shop have opened a new concept store in Cavendish Square. The newly revamped store is cleaner and brighter-looking with cute little baskets full of product scattered around. Little cards featuring info on key ingredients pop up on the shelves and there’s also a PC station where you can sign up to become a member of the store’s Love Your Body rewards programme.

To celebrate the launch, the store held a little partytjie where guests were treated to sushi, champers and hand massages. The best bit, however, was that we all got 50% off everything in store so I went crazy and stocked up on my favourite TBS staples.

Whenever I pick at something on my face and am left with redness or swelling, Blemish Fade immediately calms it down. I don’t know what kind of super-soothing hecticness they put into it but it’s the dog’s bollocks when it comes to redness blitzing.The Moringa oil is a personal thing; I just love the way it smells – like a tanning session next to frangi pani flowers – and I like to slap it on my arms and legs in the summer.

I’m also a fan of Baked To Last Blush in Petal. It creates a pretty pink flush and is pearlescent enough to fool people into thinking you’re healthy and radiant when, really, you’re a total stress kitten who’s been living off The Mr Delivery menu and launch booze.

I also really meant to pick up their Vitamin C Microdermabrasion face scrubs – it’s the closest thing you’ll come to microdermabrasion in a tube at a price that won’t damage your wallet. Try it, I know you’ll love it. Because I’d had one too many glasses of champagne, I accidentally picked out their Vitamin C facial cleansing polish instead, which is nice, but not a patch on the microdermasion.

Other The Body Shop news? The Brazil Nut line is back for good and the limited edition Peach collection has also returned to the shelves for a short amount of time. Also, two new products have been added to the store’s line, namely Tea Tree Cool & Creamy wash (R65) and Vitamin E Cool BB Cream (R135).

The wash is infused with antibacterial tea tree oil, cooling menthol and nourishing marula and soya oil. This way, it’ll cleanse your face without over drying it. While it did a fair enough job of removing daily grime, I’d recommend you team it with a make-up remover or use their regular tea tree-infused skin clearing face wash if you wear make-up.

As for the new BB Cream, it offers light coverage and hydration that’s enriched with wheatgerm oil, a rich source of antioxidant collagen-encouraging vitamin E.

I gave it a bash the other day and liked that it was very easy to apply and blend even without a regular moisturiser or hydrating serum underneath it. Oiler skin types will be able to get away with wearing just the BB alone while those who are a bit drier could team it with the aforementioned hydrators.

Coverage-wise, it’s very, very light; you’re not going to be able to hide anything.

The formula does, however, have a very slight pearlescence to it that helps create a slight ‘glow’. The only real negative here is that its only available in one very light shade that only just matches my pale winter skin. If you’re a pale face like me though, you might want to check it out. Otherwise, take a look at their All-In-One BB Cream which is available in three shades.

Love, love

Leigh