Shiseido - The Skincare - Hydro-Nourishing Softener

This clear lotion is surprisingly hydrating.
It keeps skin soft and luminous.

I was really unsure of this product when I first started using it, but don't let it's appearance fool you.

It is like a bottle of good quality sheet mask serum.
It absorbs well and doesn't leave a sticky residue.

Price: 3/5 ($48 for 150ml)
Scent: 4/5 (a faint soapy/floral scent)
Effectiveness: 4.5/5


***** This product could be reviewed thanks to the raunchy, informative and gorgeous Miss Smut Buttons! *****

L'Oréal - Hydra Genius - Aloe Water - Normale haut bis mischhaut

This is from Glossybox!

It has a very green scent, with a marine component.

It is lightweight, hydrating, and my oily skin likes it a lot.
I didn't think I would like it as much as I did!

I could see this being popular during summer.

Price: 4/5 ($14.78 for 70mL)
Scent: 4/5
Effectiveness: 4/5

Secret Key - Super Plumping Jelly - Face Cream

This is super hydrating and it does have a visible effect after use.
You can feel your skin get a little firmer/stiffer.

It is a transparent pink jelly, with no strong scent, and a tenancy to fall of your fingers when you try to apply it.

This would be really nice to put on an hour before an event or going out, in order to plump up tired skin.

Price: 2/5 ($47.65 for 50mL)
Scent: 2.5/5 (no strong scent)
Effectiveness: 4/5

Om SHE Aromatherapy - Mint & Rosemary - Foot Balm

This smells so lovely! A strong, herby scent of rosemary and true mint.
It is hydrating and also sulphate and paraben free.

However, it is a thick lotion at best (if you are feeling generous), it is not thick enough.
Heals need a butter or cream.

It doesn't do much to soften the feet (when applied overnight and in socks).

Price: **No longer sold**
Scent: 5/5
Effectiveness: 2/5

Soap & Glory - Hand Food - Hydrating Hand Cream

The bottle asks if this is 'the most astonishing hand cream ever?",it is not.
It is decidedly lame.

It smells like flour and aloe vera, leaves a lot of residue on the hands, and isn't hydrating at all.

Pfft, don't bother.

Price: 4.5/5 ($8 for 125mL)
Scent: 1/5
Effectivness: 0/5

ASPAR - Aurora Spa Rituals - Ultra Hydrating Face Moisturiser

This is surprisingly thick!

It leaves a heavy residue on the skin (almost like a barrier cream).

Unfortunately it smells like flour and play-do, I don't want that on my face, near my nose.

Price: 4/5 (~$60 for 500mL)
Scent: 0.5/5
Effectiveness: 2/5

Eau Thermale Avène - Skin Recovery Cream - Calming Formula

This smells like moist towelettes.

It is a bit thin for a cream and is hydrating (but I wouldn't call it moisturising).

This would be a good day cream or in flight cream.

Except the price, it costs far too much for how little it does.

If you want something less pricey, smells better and works better, try Olay Classic Moisturising Lotion.

Price: 1/5 ($46.34 for 50mL)

Scent: 2/5

Effectiveness: 4/5

Soak - Superfood Skincare - Skin Booster - Body Lotion

This brand suggests that the supposed benefits of 'superfoods' can be absorbed through the skin.
This is mostly nonsense.
Food works best when you eat it.

This lotion claims to give you benefits from 2% chia seed... sure...

This smells like aloe vera body lotion, is hydrating, but won't do much else.

Price: 3.5/5 ($10.95 for 100mL)
Scent: 2.5/5
Effectiveness: 3/5

Aromatherapy Associates - Lotion - with Lavender & Ylang ylang

This is a thin, hydrating lotion that smells so lovely (lavender).

I'd be very happy if I had more than a hotel sample!

Price: 2/5 ($33.98 for 300mL)

Scent: 5/5

Effectiveness: 5/5

Four Points Activ Body Care Body Lotion

This is a hotel body lotion (Four Points by Sheraton).

It is a thin lotion with a shower fresh smell.

It absorbs quickly, is non-irritating,  and leaves skin hydrated.

Price: 5/5 ($0.27 for 28mL)
Scent: 3/5
Effectiveness: 3/5

Malin+Goetz - Vitamin E Moisturiser

I got this from an in-flight gift pack, and I can see why it would be good for flights.

It is a thin, very hydrating cream with a faint cinnamon smell.

It is very lightweight, absorbs quickly, and would be a good day cream.

Price: 1/5 ($70.00 for 118mL, about 17 applications)
Scent: 3/5
Effectiveness: 4/5

The Face Shop - Chia Seed - No Shine Intense Hydrating Cream

I got this cream from (the nice, not Melbourne Central) Face Shop as a sample.

It is quite a thin cream, with no strong scent (vauge chia).

As far as 'no shine', no simple cream could do that for me, my skin is 90% oil.

But it hydrates well and would be a nice, light day cream.

Price: 2/5 ($40 for 50mL)
Scent: 2.5/5
Effectiveness: 3/5

The Body Shop - Vitamin C - Glow Boosting Moisturiser

This is an orange gel, with a orange scent.

Initially I was worried it was like those awful 'body sorbets', but this doesn't pill (thankfully).

It is a very hydrating gel and is light enough to wear on a hot summer's night.

Why not? How many guys actually bring you flowers? XP

This is a really nice, light moisturiser.

And I love the packaging! It's so clean! <3

I don't know if I would buy it again (my skin needs more oil), but it was nice.

Price: 2/5 ($34.95 for 49g)
Scent: 5/5
Effectiveness: 3/5

Masquerade! - Sukin - Hydrating Facial Masque

I put this on 10-15 minutes before I showered.
10-15 min is a long time when you are standing naked, waiting to shower, but that was my fault.
The smell was not the greatest (like warm/slightly spoiled butter), but it did leave my skin smooth.

The Body Shop -Spa Fit - Toning Concentrate

This yellow gel has a minty-citrus scent.
It isn't as cooling as the massage gel, but more so than the oil, of the same line.

Do I feel it had any effect on my 'tone'? 
Nope, and if I must use something of this line, I much prefer the massage gel.

But as a moisturiser, it's pretty good.
It absorbs quickly and leaves skin hydrated.

Price: 2/5 ($14.95 on sale for 100mL)
Scent: 4/5
Effectiveness: 2/5

Masquerade! - Sephora - Pearl Mask

This fibre mask claims to be perfecting (Pfft, I'm already perfect!) and brightening. 
It smells kind of oceanic and acidic, and there was a good amount of serum.
I quite like this one :)

Neutrogena - Hydro Boost - Water Gel - Moisturiser 

I got this as a sample in a Bellabox.

It is a translucent, hydrating cream which is very lightweight.
While it is hydrating, it is no more so than the average sheet mask.

The smell is faint, clean, and fresh.
I was glad to feel that this wasn't too gelatinous (which would open it up to easy pilling).

I don't feel it gives 24 hr slow release moisture like it claims to do. 

Price: 4/5 ($24.99 for 50g)
Scent: 4/5
Effectiveness: 3/5

Masquerade! - Lacura Spa - Cloth Face Mask - Hydrating

This mask contains hyaluronic acid in the serum, so best used at night.

The smell is very clinical, but tolerable.

Masquerade! - nügg Face Mask - hydrating

With camellia seed oil and spirulina extract, this mask was lovely after a big weekend.

Masquerade! - My Scheming - Gold Bird's Nest Hydrating Black Mask

This mask was on a black sheet! How cool! 
It smelled like medicinal cherry and contained collagen, gold foil, carrageenan (red seaweed), aloe and cucumber extract.