Ytsara

Application: You could use gel this after a vigorous scrub, after exercise, if you feel a bit hot and bothered in the summer heat -- and of course if you've overdone it in the sun.

What's in it? Herbal extracts of chamomile, aloe vera, willow bark, cucumber, lotus -- all either wild-crafted or farmed on Ytsara's organic farm in Thailand. All have anti-inflammatory, cooling and healing effects, and are supported by a cocktail of essential oils.

Effect: It absorbs well and your skin feels cooler and softer, instantly.

Verdict: Minty-fresh relief for red and upset skin.

Application: The milky gel is packaged in an easily squeezable tube, slides on easily and washes off to leave your skin nicely scented.

What's in it?: Wild rice, lots of fruit and leaf extracts, and various essential oils.

Effect: Although the product promises "zesty notes" from lemongrass essential oil, the main scent I was aware of was lavender, which has more of a soothing than a zesty effect on me. So I tended to use this wash in the evening rather than as a morning pick-me-up.

Verdict: Fans of naturals will like this easily squeezable wash. More soothing than zesty, though.

Application: This is a white cream rather than a clear serum, but none the worse for that. The cream glides on easily, is absorbed very quickly and thoroughly, and has a deeply unusual, exotic scent.

What's in it? Lotus flower extract, rosewood and lavender.

Effect: This serum had something of a tightening effect on my skin, so I did like to use a moisturiser afterward. But I loved the scent. In fact, I became rather addicted... Is there a hydra-rescue-serum support group?

Verdict: All the joys of the sacred lotus, in a travel-sized tube.

Application: The body oil sank easily into my skin, and I enjoyed massaging vigorously into my arms and legs until it was fully absorbed -- after all, I want to be as detoxed as possible... Once the oil had warmed up a bit, the strength of the scent seemed to calm down.

What's in it?: Mandarin, lemongrass, rosemary and sweet orange essential oils.

Effect: The body oil left my skin nice and smooth with no oily residue. I liked the way that the light fragrance lingered for a good few hours - sometimes a product's aroma disappears all too quickly.

Verdict: Powerfully scented oil, with a scent that lingers long after you smooth it on. A refreshing wake-up call.

Application: I found that this oil blend sank easily into my skin.

What's in it? This oil has a forceful top-note of peppermint and rosemary. After a few minutes the scent softens to sweet orange with a hint of peppermint that lasts for hours. The oil also contains blue ginger essential oil, soya bean, sweet almond, rice bran and wheat germ oils.

Effect: This is a cooling, soothing oil that left my skin soft and smooth. I'd enjoy using this on a hot summery day. The scent is quite masculine -- I can see this being handy as a post-sports spritz, with the blue ginger oil soothing aching muscles.

Verdict: Cooling and zingy.

Application: This clay mask felt really smooth and silky, not at all gloopy and cold, as some clay masks have a tendency to be.

What's in it? Japanese Tanakura sea clay, white orchid extract, papaya, palmarosa oil.

Effect: The white orchid scent was simply divine -- evocative of a really good spa treatment. The sea clay drew out the impurities in my skin, but having dry skin, I should have tried a moisturising, rather than balancing mask.

Verdict: Gorgeous smell, but better suited to oilier skin.