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SenSpa Organic Therapy
Who and what are SenSpa?
SenSpa at Careys Manor are one of The Good Spa Guide's favourite 5 bubble spas. Situated in the heart of the New Forest, this Thai-inspired spa offers a variety of excellent treatments and therapists and a great hydrotherapy and thermal treatment area.
They launched their SenSpa Organic Therapy range of products in 2008. These products are designed and packaged to reflect SenSpa's philosophy of "respect for the ecology of the body and the environment".
All the ingredients used in the range are organic, and the products themselves have Soil Association Certification.
They Say:
"The New SenSpa products are a luxurious range of organic products using the unique SenSpa signature scent, for indulgent body pampering and to create the unique SenSpa experience at home.
All of the products have been developed using certified organic ingredients of the utmost purity and are all made in the New Forest, Hampshire, England. In addition to this, in keeping with our environmental policy, all of our packaging is recyclable."
We Say:
These products are effective, luxurious and have a real "ooh" factor. The sophisticated SenSpa signature blend of essential oils used throughout the range is uplifting, delicious, and very spa. We loved the beautiful recyclable glass containers, and there's no wasteful external packaging.
There's no chemical nasties, and all ingredients are active - they're included for a specific purpose. No fillers here. Add to this Soil Association Certification, minimal natural preservatives and absolutely no synthetic ingredients and you have a new range of products to be reckoned with.
There is so much to like about this gorgeous range - it's the epitome of eco-chic.
SenSpa Products - What have we tried?
Senspa Skin Therapy Invigorating Body Polish
Salubrious Spy:
I was pleased to be given the body polish to test as I'm a big fan of a good scrub.
Senspa's invigorating body polish comes in a sturdy deep red glass jar with the range's delicate floral design. As soon as I opened the jar I was engulfed by the scrub's fabulously fresh citrus/floral aroma.
The body polish is essentially salt (Himalayan rock crystal salt to be precise) and oils, including organic Lime, Mandarin, Bergamot, Lemon, Basil and Geranium essential oils. The scrub is quite granular in texture - not swamped in oil like some - and has a slight peach tinge.
I used the scrub in the shower, as the directions suggested, rubbing the salt polish onto my wet skin, and putting an extra scoop onto my elbows and knees. It felt reassuringly coarse, and left my skin looking slightly pinkish where I'd rubbed it quite firmly. This was good in my book as I don't see the point of delicate body exfoliators.
As soon as the polish made contact with my wet skin it became softer, and left a residual oil. Once I'd showered off the remaining scrub, some of the oil stayed on my skin, leaving it soft and sweet-smelling. The product directions suggest following with Senspa's body lotion or oil but my feel skin felt fabulously soft already so I didn't bother.
My only tip would be to make sure that you have a shelf or somewhere else dry in your shower to put the pot on to avoid getting water into the pot as there's enough scrub for several applications. A great, effective salt scrub with a lovely smell, in a pretty jar.
RRP £22.95 - 200ml
SenSpa Organic Therapy Refreshing Face Mist
Sensitive Spy:
I tested this Refreshing Face Mist in deepest, coldest February - not a time of year when your face is in desperate need of a cool spritz of refreshment. So, rather than use it as a face mist, I treated this product as a toner, using it after cleansing my face at night and before applying moisturiser. It performed brilliantly on my sensitive combination skin, balancing my slightly oily t-zone without stripping it of moisture. It even persuaded a looming spot on my forehead to retreat and disappear within 24 hours - fantastic!
It's a cooling, soothing, 100% organic blend of astringent witch hazel, balancing calendula and a zesty, complex blend of essential oils including mandarin, bergamot, lime and basil. The packaging is a delight - a heavy dark red glass pump dispenser. It looks good on the shelf, feels heavy in the hand and it works.
As a toner, I loved this. I'm looking forward even more to the warm summer months when I can spritz this face mist with abandon...
RRP £15.95 - 100ml
Senspa Organic Skin Therapy Nutrient Rich Relaxing Body Oil
Salubrious Spy:
The deep red bottle with its pretty floral design would be at home in any spa-lover's boudoir. According to the directions, this organic oil can be used as either a moisturiser or, in more generous quantities, as a massage oil. In the absence of an in-house masseur, I tested it as a moisturising oil.
The oil itself is pale straw coloured and has a good, strong, but not overpowering smell with a pleasant aroma of lavender and geranium. As suggested, I applied the oil straight after a bath. The oil's quite light, and was easily absorbed into my skin, leaving it feeling supple and soft. I ignored the advice to towel dry afterwards as it didn't seem necessary.
As well as making my skin smell spa-lovely, it also filled my bathroom with the scent of spa, which was an added bonus. I also liked the fact that it's made from organic carrier and essential oils and not stuffed full of chemicals like some oils are, and it's accredited by the Soil Association. A luxurious product in stylish packaging at a reasonable price.
RRP £18.95 - 100ml
SenSpa Nutrient Rich Uplifting Body Oil
Shy Spy:
With an abundance of so-called natural and organic product ranges currently available, it's quite refreshing to find one that actually is nothing but natural, cold-pressed organic essential oils and nothing else! Packed with (I'll take a deep breath here) oils of mandarin, lemon, bergamot, geranium, basil, palmarosa, lime and may chang, the oil really does smell gorgeous, and as its name promises, is really uplifting.
The white and burgundy glass bottle looks chic enough to display on your bathroom shelf, but is not too over-designed, which fits well with this type of product. The oil is easy-to-apply and leaves skin feeling silky-soft, so the only niggle I have with this product would be that it dispenses a very small amount of oil at a time, and I did have to repeatedly shake the bottle (with a few drips landing on my carpet) to get enough out for all my limbs. Other than that, this body oil is a good combination of natural goodness and pampering luxury!
RRP £18.95 - 100ml
Where can I try SenSpa products?
Where can I buy SenSpa products?
- From SenSpa's online shop
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