Blistex DCT is my ride or lip balm so I was happy to try the brand’s new Conditioning Lip Serum (R120). It promises to deeply condition lips using a mix of mostly water, mineral oil and beeswax but does include a dash of olive oil, avocado oil and vitamin E.

As it comes in a palm-sized pump bottle, it’s not exactly pocket-friendly but it could happily live its best life in your handbag. It’s supposed to be ‘dose-controlled’, meaning just one pump serves up all you need, but they’re being mal ‘cos the amount dispensed by a single pump is huuuuge. Fortunately, you can squeeze out as much or as little as you like, depending on how much pressure you use to push.

As far as the actual serum goes, it’s a slightly pearlescent white lotion with a silky texture; sweet scent, and fruity taste.  It absorbs fairly quickly and leaves a slight, balmy film on your lips that makes them feel protected, smooth and soothed. I like! The only downer is that it leaves a slightly white cast (the way certain sunscreens do) if you don’t rub it in properly and this mutes the pinkness of my lips, something I try to amplify. But like I said, it does its job and feels fab so it’s become one of the lip products I like to use just before bed.

Moving on, let’s chat about Ben & Anna Natural Soda deodorant in Pink Grapefruit (R189, Faithful-to-Nature). A 100-percent natural, cruelty-free and vegan product, it’s mostly a mix of bicarbonate of soda, Shea butter, arrowroot powder and corn starch.

First impressions? I really liked the fresh, pretty scent as I’m a sucker for anything citrus. I also think the packaging is gorgeous too. I wasn’t too impressed with it the first time I applied it – it broke off in flakes and balls – but have since learned a trick – allowing it to first heat up on the back of your hand for a smoother application.

Having worn it for a week I can say that it does work provided you’re not sweating too much. On the days I sat in office aircon and didn’t exercise, it was just the ticket. On days when I went for a run or was missioning around town in 28-degree weather, I felt like, by the end of it, I didn’t smell bad at all, but wasn’t as ‘fresh’ as I’d be if I were using my superstrength Sanex roll-on.

I’ve heard all the stories about aluminium being a potential carcinogenic and, having done my own research, I’m not yet convinced it’s an ingredient I should be scared of. But I do like the idea of planet-friendly products so Ben & Anna’s sweet smelling little stick is going to be my underarm BFF in the evening, when it’s cold or on days when I’m lapping up office aircon.

Last, but not least, you might have noticed that The Body Shop’s having a bit of a love affair with Shea Butter right now. I recently reviewed their 100% Raw Shea butter and love it so much I’ve since bought two of them. You can read about its awesomeness here. Now, I’ve found two more Shea butter goodies to love and that’s the Richly Replenishing shampoo and conditioner (R160 each).

Initially, I really didn’t they’d work out for me as they’re formulated for dry hair that’s prone to breaking and mine is super fine and pretty healthy. I thus told my dry-haired mom that she could review them for me and keep them, but then I tried them myself, decided I adored them and ungraciously rescinded my offer like a horrid little snake. Still, despite being the family reptile, at least I have lovely locks ‘cos TBS’s new duo was the perfect ‘weight’ for my hair. They left me feeling clean but swooshy and I really liked the fragrance. The Body Shop describes it as ‘nutty’ but, to me, it smelled ever so slightly musky and reminded me of Woolies’ Cashmere bath & body range. The next time The Body Shop has a sale I’d happily toss these into my shopping basket.

As far as the Richly Replenishing mask (R180) goes, this worked out for me too. It contains Shea and cocoa seed butter as well as coconut and olive oil and yep, everything’s sustainably sourced.

I like to apply it to my lengths (not my roots) and only need a little of it to go a long way. You can leave it on for as long as you wish but I only need two or three minutes to turn my hair into silk. I like that, while it definitely hydrates – a lot more so than the conditioner – it still doesn’t leave my hair feeling flat. I reckon it’s a nice pick for anyone craving moisture, but if your hair is truly damaged (as opposed to just ‘prone’) you’re going to need something that contains a lot of protein like keratin.

Love, love

Leigh

*To pre-empt the question I know I’ll get in the comments – if you’re dealing with very damaged hair, it’s always best to see to a hairdresser for a proper treatment. Still, if you want a DIY repair, Kerastase Nutritive Masquintense for dry, thick hair is a total lifesaver and well worth the super steep price tag. Be sure to pick the one for thick hair, even if you have fine hair, ‘cos then you can get away with using just a tiny amount that somehow spreads across your entire head. When I tried the pot for fine hair, I had to empty half the tub to feel like I was getting enough of it.