Avon Sweet Finish Sugar Scrub

...a few reviews online regarding Avon products, I thought I'd give them a try myself. I remember my mum buying all sorts of lotions and potions when I was a child, but personally, I've always considered Avon to be a little behind the times. In 2003, I started selling products for a firm called Oriflame. Business was extremely difficult to drum up as people tended to prefer Avon because it was a well-known brand. I decided to drop by their website only ...
...a good look around the Avon website and decided to buy the Sweet Finish Sugar Scrub from the Avon Solutions range (amongst other things). This tube of facial scrub can be found by selecting Skincare, followed by Solutions from the right- hand menu at http://avonshop.co.uk/. Currently (Monday 16th May 2005) there is an offer running in conjunction with the Sweet Finish Sugar Scrub in the form of a 2-for-1 offer on skincare where you see the "2-for-1" ... more

Sweet Finish Sugar Scrub - by Avon
********************************************
After reading a few reviews online regarding Avon products, I thought I'd give them a try myself. I remember my mum buying all sorts of lotions and potions when I was a child, but personally, I've always considered Avon to be a little behind the times. In 2003, I started selling products for a firm called Oriflame. Business was extremely difficult to drum up as people tended to prefer Avon because it was a well-known brand. I decided to drop by their website only to discover that they had moved with the times and become quite a contender. They were far ahead of Oriflame, a business run along exactly the same lines as Avon, and had enlisted the help of none other than Tazmin Outhwaite of EastEnders fame.

Where to Find
******************
3 weeks ago I took a good look around the Avon website and decided to buy the Sweet Finish Sugar Scrub from the Avon Solutions range (amongst other things). This tube of facial scrub can be found by selecting Skincare, followed by Solutions from the right- hand menu at http://avonshop.co.uk/. Currently (Monday 16th May 2005) there is an offer running in conjunction with the Sweet Finish Sugar Scrub in the form of a 2-for-1 offer on skincare where you see the "2-for-1" sign.

Since I last looked 2 years ago, Avon has steadily improved by adding new ranges, bettering their packaging, offering more colours and designs, and of course, they still have Tazmin Outhwaite onboard! The site itself is fairly easy to navigate, especially if you go straight to the link given above. The categories are clearly defined, and further broken down in their various ranges such as Solutions, Anew, Essentials, and Teen Care.

But, Where's My Order?
*****************************
This, I found, was the singular drawback to shopping online with Avon. Orders can take between 5-10 days to arrive, but after 10 days I had to call their customer service helpline, as my order had not arrived. Unfortunately, the night that I had placed my order, Avon's website had been under attack from web gremlins and had not processed any orders. Avon was unaware of the problem until customers had begun to report their orders not arriving - like myself. I was promised that my order would arrive within the next 5 days, and it did.

Packaging and Product Overview
****************************************

My entire order arrived in a cardboard box with Avon emblazoned all over it; there was no denying where I had shopped! My goods were covered by a piece of tissue paper, again covered with Avon's logo, but all the products were in mint condition and had not suffered in the post.

I'm a real "scratch and sniff" type gal, and eagerly grabbed the Sweet Finish Sugar Scrub first. The packaging is fairly simple with a predominantly white tube printed with the Avon logo, name, and of course instructions to the rear. The cap is a pinky-brown colour, slightly see-through, and snaps tightly shut. I doubt you'd have a problem with this product leaking in your luggage!

Sweet Finish Sugar Scrub is described on the website as feeling "deliciously smooth on the skin" and is designed to help your skin to look "radiantly fresh and glowing". I've seen sugar used as a natural scrub before in nail salons, which I loved and was one of the main reasons I purchased this particular item. Sugar, or sucrose, is listed last in the ingredients with "Aqua" being the first. Alcohol is also listed fairly near the beginning of the ingredients, which may deter some sensitive-skin types, but as I have suffered sensitive outbreaks in the past, I wouldn't place too much importance on the alcohol content as Avon class this product suitable for all skin types.

A 75ml tube will set you back £4.00, but as I've mentioned, there are usually some offers available that make the price a little more attractive. I certainly don't believe that £4.00 is expensive, nor cheap for that matter, but I think I can convince you that Sweet Finish Sugar Scrub is well worth the 400 pennies!

Application & Effectiveness
********************************
Avon advises using the scrub around twice a week. I'd have preferred a scrub that I could use daily and have already used this one twice in two days! I haven't suffered any ill effects from this though, so maybe I'll continue.

The cream itself is very thick and you'll need to give the tube a firm squeeze to obtain any, due to the sugar content. It is extremely soft when rubbed between the fingers and has a cake-mix fragrance that I find homely and most appealing. This morning I also discovered that should you get any in your mouth, it actually doesn't taste too bad, though I wouldn't recommend trying this on purpose! You're advised to massage into damp skin for 30-60 seconds (to exfoliate), avoiding your eyes, then rinse. The cream doesn't foam or change very much at all, but coupled with the aroma, the whole experience is rich, fulfilling, and worthwhile. My skin was indeed left feeling far smoother than before, and I radiated a gentle rosy glow for some time afterwards.

In two-days use I have noticed an improvement in moisture and my pores are visibly clean and clear. I look forward to using Sweet Finish Sugar Scrub simply for the unique fragrance, but the after effects are worth every penny spent. The sugar is not as rough as you'd imagine and there is just enough for you to be confident that it will do the job intended. My dry areas are gone and I haven't seen any flaky skin either!

I've rated this product 4/5 as my delivery experience has put my off using Avon a little and I'd be loathed to order just one item. It's a shame that this product cannot be bought on the high street, and I don't much fancy having a chin wag with an Avon rep every time I needed to replenish my supply - no offence intended, as I have been a rep myself. You can use their mail order option, but this takes far too long for an impulsive shopper like myself!

Avon & Breast Cancer
**************************
Although slightly off-topic, I feel it is worth mentioning Avon's involvement with breast cancer. Avon Breast Cancer Crusade helps to raise money for "The Breakthrough Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre", based in London; "Breast Cancer Care" (http://matrixstats.avoncrusade.co.uk/click?286044-7870); and "MacMillan Cancer Relief". Started in 1992, £10million has already been raise in the UK alone and you may contribute buy purchasing either a silver coloured broach for £1.25, all profits (around £1.00) will be donated, or a silver-plated necklace with rose coloured stones for £8.00, £2 will go to charity. Shortly there will also be a handcream available for £1.00 where 10p will be donated.

The Avon Company
************************
Avon is registered with the DSA (Direct Selling Association) so you can be sure that they are a reputable company that sells directly to the public.

Avon can be contacted via their website form or by writing to Avon Cosmetics Ltd. Earlstrees Road, Corby.

Copyright of "blingblings" 2005
 

...less