Nivea recently sent a whopper of a box of products into Beaut.ie for testing. A brand new range too - Pure and Natural is an interesting proposition for this perennial supermarket favourite: all products are 95% of natural origin. Argan oil forms the main component across the line, and while the range isn't organically certified, this ingredient is organic and sourced in Morocco, from a Berber womens co-operative.
I took one look at the products and knew my 30-something complexion would not be satisfied by these first-step anti-ageing skincare products - nor could I give them a fair trial. If you're in your 20s this is one to look at, and I needed me a 20-something tester: meet Kay Kinsella: an intern at my day job who was up for the challenge, and who tested five products over a three week period.
Kay is 21 and budget-conscious. She's got combination skin and her main concerns are oiliness and spots. When it comes to choosing skincare, her biggest issue is value for money. So, what did she make of the Nivea Visage Pure and Natural products?
Pure and Natural Body Lotion for Normal to Dry Skin, €3.99
"My skin immediately felt softer after using this lotion and after just a few days you can really feel the difference in your skin. The best part is that no matter how thick you slather it on, it soaks into your skin in a matter of minutes and leaves it noticeably smoother."
Pure and Natural Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream, €8.99
"At the grand old age of 21, I am fast becoming obsessed with wrinkles, so I loved this night cream. Like the rest of the range, it has 95% natural ingredients and no nasty chemicals, and is packed with anti-ageing agents, like burdock fruit extract. This is a luxurious treat for your face at bed time and your skin is noticeably smoother in the morning."
Advertised
Pure and Natural Anti-Wrinkle Day Cream, €8.99
"This moisturiser has all the same ingredients as the night cream, but is much lighter and makes a great base before foundation. The best thing about all the moisturisers in the range is that none of them leave any residue on your face and they soak completely into your skin."
Pure and Natural Cleansing Lotion, €4.99
"The cleanser is light and refreshing but takes a while to take off make-up, especially on the eyes (or maybe I wear too much of it!). It does tend to be on the slightly ‘gloopy’ side and if it’s not used along with the toner then it can leave your skin feeling a little sticky."
Pure and Natural Cleansing Toner, €4.99
"This toner is great in the morning time as its so refreshing and is great for taking off some of the excess cleanser, giving your skin a super-clean feel. It does leave you skin feeling slightly ‘tight’ after use but I like to think that means it’s doing some good!"
Overall, Kay gives Nivea Visage Pure and Natural a thumbs up: "I would definitely recommend this range," she states. Particular raves are the fresh scent of the products and their chemical-free status. "While it's never really bothered me before about what chemicals are in these things, it was reassuring to know it was made from natural ingredients and I definitely saw an improvement in the condition of my skin after using it all together," she says.
Any last words? Kay's got a shout-out to all of you who want decent products at decent prices. "This range is especially great for those of you, who like me, can’t always afford to splash out on the more expensive skincare ranges and there’s no loss of quality for the savings you make!"
