Review: Nivea Pure & Natural Range

Hey all.

I've been playing with the new Nivea Pure and Natural range for well over a month now so I think it's time for a quick review of all the products I was sent and if I think they're worth your pennies.

First some background on the range:

With 95% of the ingredients of natural origin, new Pure & Natural Face, Body and Hand Care has been developed by scientists to deliver incredible results, with natural ingredients, in affordable products. Free from Parabens, Silicones, Colourants and Mineral Oils.

The lead ingredient in the range is 100% organic Argan Oil which is a natural source of Vitamin E, It is a natural antioxidant that is rich in all those great fatty acids and protects against free radicals. Also, the new Pure & Natural range is helping to support local communities in Morocco, which is where the Argan Oil comes from. The Berber Women in Morocco have known about this beauty secret for a long time and it is only over the last few years that the rest of the world has clocked on and realised it's amazing effects.
The Berber women collect the nuts between the warm Summer months and dry the fruit before cracking it open and extracting oil from the kernels. The cultivation of Argan Oil helps prevent desertification, because the deep roots act like reservoirs, allowing the communities to re-cultivate the land where it was previously too dry.
See, it all counts!


Now, on to the review!

I was sent the Body Lotion, Rich Body Moisturiser, Cleansing Lotion, Cleansing Toner, Hand Cream, Soothing Day Cream and Lipbalm.


Rich Body Moisturiser RRP £3.57

This was definitely thick in texture but didn't sit on the skin and create a sticky layer which I really liked. As soon as you start applying this on to your skin, you can feel it being soaked up and it smells pretty good so you could happily keep slapping it on!

Would I recommend it? Yes - If you suffer from really dry skin and especially more so in the colder months, then this is definitely a product for you as it'll help soothe the skin back to life. If you prefer a lighter moisturiser/body cream then maybe you should avoid this one as this does exactly what it says on the tin.


Body Lotion RRP £3.57

I definitely preferred the body lotion to the rich body moisturiser because I don't have really dry skin so this was better suited to me. Again, there is a lovely fragrance to the lotion without it smelling like it's heavily perfumed, which I enjoy so it's been a good product in my books. As the cream (and all products in the range) are free from parabens, silicones, colourants and mineral oils, you know that your skin will only be getting the good stuff.

Would I recommend it? Yes - I have a feeling that this will be my moisturiser of choice during the warmer months as it isn't too heavy on the skin and doesn't leave any sticky layer either.


Cleansing Lotion RRP £3.36

I think this might be my least favourite product out of the range and the only one that I wouldn't repurchase. When it comes to cleansers, I'm quite fussy and prefer them to be a lot thinner in consistency as opposed to thick and gloopy so when I tried out the Pure & Natural cleanser I knew it wasn't going to be love at first swipe. The only cleanser I use is Lancome Eau Micellaire Douceur and it does the trick for me as it's just an express cleansing water. This product, on the other hand, definitely didn't take all my makeup off in one go and left a somewhat sticky feeling on my face. I don't know if I'm not using it right (Sometimes there's a method to these things!) or if it doesn't suit me but this is just not for me.

Would I recommend it? No - If you have oily/combination skin then I wouldn't recommend this for you because it's quite heavy in consistency and the sticky feeling afterwards probably wouldn't be too good on your skin.


Cleansing Toner RRP £3.36

This product I did like. Actually, I loved. It's a really gentle toner to finish off your evening skincare routine with and didn't feel too dry or too sticky afterwards. I've been using this after I've washed my face and before I apply my night cream and it works a treat.

Would I recommend it? Yes - I really can't get enough of this product and think it would be great on any skin type.


Soothing Day Cream RRP £5.10

From what I've read on other blogs, the face creams have had a mixed response so far with some people saying they hated them and others saying they're great. My opinion falls into the latter category as this has been my go-to face cream since I got it back in December. After my big skin-scare issue at the end of December when I broke out with a horrible rash on my face, I was a bit hesitant to try this product because I was afraid it might irritate me more but it was the complete opposite. It soothed my skin back to life and actually prefer it to other face creams because it has a matte effect which is perfect pre-makeup application.

Would I recommend it? Yes! If you have oily skin and want something that isn't going to shine through under your makeup then this is the product for you.


Hand Cream RRP £3.05

Hand creams can be a bit of a sticky product as it's all down to personal preference. Some people love rich and thick hand creams whilst others prefer the total opposite so I would say that the Pure & Natural hand cream would be for those that prefer a thicking texture. While it smells great and definitely does what it sets out to do, I found that it took a while for it sink in and dry but that's fine with me. I'm not entirely fussy when it comes to hand creams just as long as they're not too perfumed and don't leave my hands feeling like I've just rubbed them with glue (Yes, there are hand creams out there that do that!)

Would I recommend it? Maybe - If you're after a new hand cream to have in your bag/work/car/kitchen/anywhere then you should definitely try it because like the rest of the range, it's free from the nasties.


Lip Balm RRP £1.99

I've turned into a right lip balm junkie and seem to pick them up all the time now so I've begun whittling them down to the ones that I actually like and those that I really shouldn't bother with. I've tried Nivea lip balms before and thought they were pretty good so was quite excited to try the new Milk and Honey one in the Pure & Natural range. The smell was the first thing I noticed because you can definitely pick up on the honey so if you like that kind of thing, then you'll love this lip balm. It's not too heavy once applied and is really moisturising which is great for the chilly mornings and evenings that we're being subjected to at the moment.

Would I recommend it? Yes - At £1.99 a pop, it's not going to break the bank and I'm sure it'll last you a while too.


Overall, I really like the new Pure & Natural range by Nivea Visage and think that if you're looking for products that are free from all the nasty stuff, then it's definitely not going to disappoint.
Not only do all the products contain organic Argan Oil, the the story behind the range is so inspiring and really shows that we can all do our bit to help others less fortunate than us.

The Nivea Visage Pure & Natural range hits shelves from 20th February 2011.

Is there anything from the range that tickles your fancy and you'd really like to try? Answers on a postcard!

Until next time...

Keep swivelling those hips in your