[ comfort zone ]

Application: This is a moisturising cream for daily use, to guard against "continuous stress and environmental aggressions". It has a subtle, fresh scent, and on application feels silky-soft.

What's in it? SMARTVECTOR™UV, Helioguard 365™ (whatever they are), hyaluronic acid, omega 3 and 6. I suffer from dark skin pigmentation in places, so I was intrigued about the UV protection, but found the product information unintelligible. Does this cream protect your skin on its own, or should I use my SPF cream too? Who knows?

Effect: This cream left my skin feeling smooth and hydrated, and worked well under make-up. The cream is too heavy for my t-zone during the summer months, but it's good for moisturising winter-worn skin. I'm not sure it eradicated any congestion or could act in place of my trusty SPF50 though.

Verdict: A silky cream that will keep dry and mature skins perfectly hydrated. Just don't expect to understand how.

Application: I am very wary of anything that goes near my eyes, but this product met the tear-test: with application after application, it caused no adverse reaction around my sensitive eye-zone.

What's in it? Collaxyl™, green tea and hyaluronic acid.

Effect: I can't say it made a huge amount of visible difference in a couple of weeks. My skin definitely felt softer, and I was so pleased with this, I started dabbing and tapping on my upper lip as well.

Verdict: I'm not sure anything can truly fight against many years of life except the knife or an accepting and equable disposition. But for those who can't run to either, this cream will keep your eye contour plumped as well as any cream can. And it doesn't make you cry.

Application: This mask has a good texture and smoothed onto my skin easily. You are supposed to leave it on the skin for 10-15 minutes. The first couple of times I used it I found it sank in after a couple of minutes. I used rather more the next time and found that it sat on my skin for longer. It's gentle, so you can use it more than once a week.

What's in it? Trehalose, mineral salts, betaglucan, honey, hibiscus extract.

Effect: I like the fact that this mask does not dry hard and flake. Instead, it soaks into the skin and you then wash it off with a warm flannel. My skin felt soft after using it, and the skin on my neck was noticeably brighter.

Verdict: I don't think it is a miracle cure for wrinkles or dryness, but it is hydrating and pleasant to use.

Application: This floral hand cream smells prettily of tiaré flowers (Tahitian gardenia). The heady scent lingers as this easily absorbed cream sinks into the skin.

What's in it? Shea butter, tiaré flower extract, allantoin.

Effect: I have very dry skin on my hands and this balm worked a treat, leaving my skin soft, moisturised and happy.

Verdict: A nicely nourishing and fragrant hand cream.

Application: Use after shaving, or just as a daily moisturiser.

What's in it? Betaphroline™, olive oil extract, allantoin, glacier water in liposomes.

Effect: This cream has a delicate fragrance with a very subtle citrus tone. It did have an immediate freshening effect and my skin did feel slightly softer. I got comments that I had a "radiant glow" which I think is a good thing, providing you don't work in the nuclear power industry. As for the zen-like properties that were suggested, I sadly didn't experience "my mind at rest and my skin in action".

Verdict: An effective, suitably masculine moisturiser.

Application: This "shower performer" (aka hair and body shampoo) promises to be a "total body revitalizing shower gel".

What's in it? Betaphroline™, olive oil extract, glacier water in liposomes.

Effect: At first I was slightly underwhelmed by this product, but as my shower went on I started to appreciate the subtly masculine fragrance. I also liked not having to faff around with a separate shampoo. Several showers later, I'm quite converted.

Verdict: Much less overpowering than many of the cheaper products aimed at the male market, this shower gel is refreshing and effective.

Application: The scent is light and pleasant and the lotion feels good on the skin - like a cross between a cleansing milk and a moisturiser. But best of all, I applied it all over my face and eye area and it didn't sting at all.

What's in it? Sweet almond oil, betaglucan, OXY™.

Effect: The lotion left my skin feeling smooth and supple. I decided to leave it on rather than rinse it off, which was the other option they gave in the product directions.

Verdict: A pleasant and effective product in a smart box that raised the tone of my bathroom shelf!

Application: Enclosed in the box with four large sachets of mud, I found what looked like a large polythene bin liner. Finally the penny dropped: these were "spa pants" to go over the mud like a wrap ("pants" in the US sense of the word - plastic trousers with two wide legs that went on and on.) I prepared my bathroom by removing everything white, warmed the mud in hot water then applied the mud to my skin. Smooth it over your stomach, buttocks, hips and thighs then slip, literally, into the "comfortsauna" trousers. I left the mud on for 15 minutes, and spent most of the time willing the doorbell not to ring.

What's in it? Sodium bromide, chloride and iodide thermal water from Monticelli Terme, Ivy, Horsechestnut, Fucus and Elderberry extracts.

Effect: The mud smelt musty, but not unpleasant. The paste felt quite nice on the skin, though the plastic wrap was less so and I was quite glad when it was time to shower off. I managed to do this without too much mess (though I did have to give the grouting a good scrub afterwards).

Verdict: My skin was certainly left feeling soft but I couldn't see any evidence of cellulite reduction or "remodelling".

Application: Apply to dry skin, then rinse off (the instructions do say that you can also just rub off with a towel, but I'm not sure that I'd want to leave any residue on...)

What's in it? Glycolic, malic, citric and lactic acids, fruit extracts, jojoba microspheres.

Effect: Despite being named as a "scrub" the gel isn't abrasive. The exfoliating action comes from the acids (AHAs ) that get to work on your skin. After use, my skin felt very smooth and soft, and the effects lasted a good few days, without any dryness or irritation whatsoever.

Verdict: This "fruity peel" worked as well as my favourite scrub, and without the abrasive grains. I suppose I can forgive the ectoplasm look for the sake of the great results!