Champneys Spa Indulgence Oriental Opulence Travel Collection > Reviews (1)

As I absolutely adore using beautiful toiletries I am always delighted to learn of new products. I am ashamed to say that there are several large carrier bags stored at the rear of my wardrobe; all of which are brimming with a variety of beauty products. Whilst I made a vow quite some time ago not to purchase anything new until my existing supply has been used I often become a little weak and purchase new items. If I were to say the words “Champneys” and “opulence” to you, what images and thoughts would appear in your mind? For me it would be luxury, splendour, relaxation and high quality and a gift that was presented to me several months ago offered me just that. The last few months have been somewhat difficult for me due to various issues and as a consequence, I have been feeling quite low at times. My husband felt I needed cheering up so handed me a beautiful box of Champneys products and this review discusses my experience with using their Spa Indulgence Oriental Opulence Travel Collection.

A LITTLE ABOUT CHAMPNEYS

Whilst I had previously heard the name Champneys I never really new anything about them and although I’d often seen their products in Boots I would simply walk straight past them due to their rather high price tag. To educate myself a little on the company itself I carried out a little research on the internet and it was there that I learned that the company are committed to providing their customers with relaxation and pampering experiences, as they own four luxury spas, which are situated in various locations throughout the United Kingdom. Their website is a joy to read, as it is clearly laid out and I found myself drooling at the services that the company are able to offer. My initial thoughts were that Champneys are the next level up from Sanctuary, which is a company that offers similar products and services. Whilst I have no experience with Champneys spa experience, I have considerable knowledge of a number of their products; all of which can be found on their easy to navigate website. I do not intend copying information from their website, as I deem this as inappropriate, but would advise that if you are interested that you check them out and I’m sure that like me, you will find yourself in a dream pamper world.

APPEARANCE OF THE PRODUCT

I was advised to close both of my eyes and hold out my hands whilst my husband placed a box into them. My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I witnessed my special gift, as the packaging itself was very luxurious. The collection is contained within a glossy coloured red shaped sturdy cardboard drum and to add to the splendour and sophistication there are swirls of roses etched onto the lid; the sides of which cover almost half of the drum itself. There is a beautiful golden border running around the rim of the lid where we will find the familiar logo of Champneys. It took some time for me to take in the beautiful packaging before I made any attempt to open the lid, particularly as I have never received such an expensive looking toiletries set before.

On the upper section of the lid is a small length of golden ribbon and it is here that we see the words “Professional Spa Formula”, so even before I lifted the lid I was of the opinion that there was sheer luxury waiting for me inside. The lid was easily removed where I discovered four beautifully packaged products with each of them baring a resemblance to the outer packaging and I will discuss each of them in my review. The fragrance of each of the products is one that I actually adore, as it is ylang ylang, which is a fairly aromatic essential oil. Unfortunately, this scent does not appeal to everyone, so if you only favour a delicate aroma this travel set would not be for you, as it is fairly powerful, yet extremely adorable.

ORIENTAL OPULENCE SHOWER CREAM

We are provided with a neat travel size gorgeous red tube containing 50 ml of shower cream, which sits on a very luxurious looking golden coloured screw top lid. On removing the lid and easily dispensing a small amount of the good consistency pearly white cream onto my shower puff I am met with the most stunning fragrance. The cream creates a plentiful lather and this is one of my reasons for always using shower puffs, as it enables my toiletries to last much longer. The cream is wonderfully soft and cooling when contact is made with my skin and it easily enables any dirt and impurities to be lifted away. This was the first product I used within this Travel Collection and it provided me with a very satisfying shower experience. There is a host of ingredients contained within the cream and whilst I do not intend discussing them all I would advise that we are provided with panax ginseng root extract and both oils of the cananga odorata flower and sandalwood. However, I cannot state that either of these fragrances are evident, as the most obvious to me is the ylang, ylang, which remains lingering on my skin for several hours following my shower. My skin is always left feeling soft and silky smooth and I have never suffered any adverse effects when using this product. For the purpose of this review I omitted applying any cream or butter to my skin to enable me to ascertain whether the product was drying and I am pleased to report that this was not the case. However, I cannot state that it offered me any moisturising properties, but this is not a negative as far as I am concerned, as I always favour using specific hydrating products following my bath or shower. The cream should be used within 24 months of opening and contact should not be made with the eyes. If I were to rate this product alone it would receive 5 stars from me.

ORIENTAL OPULENCE BUBBLE HEAVEN

The packaging is again very luxurious and gives the impression of high quality and just as the title suggests, I expected to be transported to bubble heaven. We are provided with 50 ml of product, which is contained within a red bottle with a gold screw top lid. The claim on the reverse of the bottle is that we should “indulge in the most sumptuous of bathing experiences with this opulent elixir, full of Eastern luxury” and the Champney’s therapists recommend pouring into warm running water and to gently swirl with your hand.

This is where the problems started for me, as my bath taps were slowly filling my bath and I unscrewed the lid and tipped the bottle upside down and waited for a small amount of the contents to dispense. I waited and waited and waited and not even a drop made contact with the water. I peered inside the bottle and could see the contents, which looked as if they hadn’t budged. As I have previously used the full size version of a different fragrance in this range, which is provided in an easy to dispense glass container, I was aware of how thick bubble heaven actually is. Consequently, I banged the underside of the bottle and shook it vigorously and still nothing. After about 2 minutes of feeling quite harassed and frustrated the contents began to dispense into the water. I was in definite need of my bath now, as I was totally stressed and rather annoyed due to the fact that my pampering experience had been somewhat marred.

Further disappointment was to come my way, as whilst the contents of Bubble Heaven is simply delightful when I placed the bottle under my nose, I could smell absolutely nothing now that the thick bubble bath was in the water. The bubbles could only be described as average and were certainly not heaven, as Champney’s claim. In fact, the results achieved from this product were what I would expect from a supermarket’s basics range of bubble baths and I was not very happy. Unfortunately, I was unable to witness one little whiff of ylang ylang, which is normally a very powerful aroma, neither could I smell the sandalwood. In fact, I was able to smell absolutely nothing. I had expected the water to be soft and very luxurious and I feel that this product was a total let down and not one I can recommend. If I were to rate this product on its’ own, it would receive only 1 star from me. The product should be used within 24 months of opening (provided you can get it out of the container!) and should not make contact with the eyes.

ORIENTAL OPULENCE BODY GLOW

I was initially a little unsure of the purpose of this product, as I suspected it to be a tinted body cream. However, body glow is obviously a posh word that Champneys have used to describe a scrub and it is presented to us in a 50 ml red plastic tub with a golden coloured screw top lid. On removing the lid I was able to witness a pale yellow/white coloured scrub, which looked identical to dampened sugar. I was rather apprehensive about using the product, as I have previously used scrubs with a similar appearance and always found them to be rather greasy due to their excessive oil content. However, I dipped my hands into the contents and scooped out a small amount on the tips of my fingers. I have to say that I squirmed, as its’ texture was exactly what I was expecting and was very oily. I initially began applying the scrub to my knees and it felt as if I was rubbing in sugar. However, the scrub was very effective and whilst it felt extremely grainy it was not coarse or uncomfortable on my delicate skin and I was pleased that it left the areas in question feeling silky soft and smooth.

Unfortunately, rinsing the residue from my hands was a little difficult, as it didn’t seem to budge no matter how many times I washed my hands with soap and water, as they continued to feel very oily. Thankfully, I was eventually able to remove the residue, but it took quite a lot of patience. Fortunately, the scrub was easily rinsed away from my body skin, but identical to that of my hands, it felt very oily, but I wasn’t particularly bothered, as I knew that the product was delivering a much needed moisturise boost to my skin, which was layered with a delicate and gorgeous ylang ylang aroma that lingered for several hours. For the purpose of this review I did not apply any moisturising cream to my skin and I cannot state that I experienced any tightness, dryness or adverse effects. I was very pleased with the results that Body Glow delivered to my skin and would advise that the contents of the tub should be used within 36 months of opening. Whilst I do not intend discussing the list of ingredients I would advise that the ingredients that stand out to me are mango seed butter, sesame seed oil and sandalwood oil. The only negative I found with this product is that it leaves a very greasy and considerably slippery surface on the base of the bath, which required a good clean after I had finished. The scrub should not be applied to broken skin and if I were to rate this product alone it would receive 4 stars from me, as I’m not particularly keen on the excessive oil content, but it’s a product that I would definitely purchase again.

ORIENTAL OPULENCE BODY CREAM

Whilst it is rather difficult to choose a favourite product within the travel collection I would probably say that this is the one that I adore the most with the cream being presented to us in a 50 ml red plastic tub with a golden coloured screw top lid identical to that of the body glow. In keeping with the other products I have reviewed, the gorgeous fragrance of ylang ylang is immediately evident and there is something about its’ aroma that I find so positively calming. The appearance of the white cream is similar to that of the body butters that I have used, as it is swirls into a slight peak in the centre. As I was a little unsure of exactly how much I needed when I tried it for the first time I placed my fingers into the thick cream and allowed only a small amount to be removed. I gently rubbed it into my skin and enjoyed the cooling and luxurious effect that it offered. Whilst the texture is fairly thick, it is easily applied and fast absorbing and delivered a beautifully stunning fragrance to my skin, which lasted for several hours. I have mentioned in previous reviews that I have used moisturising products since my teens, which sadly was quite some years ago and as a result, my skin is silky soft and smooth. I tend to suffer with dry skin on my knees, elbows and heels and Champneys cream was able to deliver high quality results and provide first class moisturization, particularly due to the high cocoa butter content.

There was no greasiness or sticky residue and I never feel the need to wash my hands following application to my body. I adore using matching toiletries, particularly if they are highly fragranced, as it allows the aroma to layer and therefore become both more evident and longer lasting. The cream should be used within 24 months of opening. As for rating this product on its’ own, it receives a definitely thumbs up from me, together with 5 stars.

OVERALL RATING

I have to say that I really enjoyed using this travel collection with the exception of the Bubble Heaven and have since made further purchases of the full sized products. In my experience of using all of these toiletries I have awarded them an overall rating of 15 out of 20 stars, which equates to around 3½ stars, which I obviously cannot give. Consequently, the entire collection receives 4 stars from me.

INGREDIENTS AND OTHER INFORMATION

The ingredients for each of the afore-mentioned products can be found on the underside of the outer packaging and as there are probably 300+ for obvious reasons I do not intend copying them into this review. Whilst I have no intention of discarding the outer packaging, particularly as it is so beautiful and I intend using it for storage, it can be recycled once empty, which is also the case for each of the products. Champneys does not test any of their products on animals and each one has been dermatologically tested.

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

Champney’s products are available directly from the Champney’s website and this Travel Collection will cost you £12. Larger branches of Boots also sell this range of products and at the time of writing (1 May 2011) if you spend over £8 on any Champney’s product you will receive a gorgeous golden coloured travel set containing a 40 ml tube of Skin Comfort Shower Cream, a 40 ml tube of Citrus Blush Body Lotion, a 40 ml tube of Hand and Nail Cream and a 50 ml bottle of Relaxing Dream Bath. This is superb value for money and I purchased a few new Champney’s products yesterday where the Boots Advantage Card Kiosk provided me with a voucher where I earned an additional 200 points on each product.

I hope you found my review useful and would thank you for reading.

This review will appear on both Ciao and Dooyoo under the same user name.