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La Sultane de Saba
La Sultane de Saba produces a range of face and body products inspired by the "ancient and precious beauty rituals of Oriental women". La Sultane de Saba's products contain simple ingredients and are designed to be used during traditional treatments, as well as in the home.
They say: "Through its authentic and original products and through its body treatments available in a dazzling array of fragrance and colours, La Sultane de Saba's aim is to encourage you to dream, allow you to travel, discovering far-off horizons, as you head towards the lands of the sun, where body and spirit return to the very essence of relaxation and well-being."
We say: "Basic, natural ingredients with a dash of perfume. The star product is the black soap – a good way to get a traditional spa experience in your own home."
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La Sultane de Saba £25.50, 314ml |
Reviewed by: Sassy Spy Age: 30s Skin type: Combination/dry |
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Application: Smooth over your neck, face and around your eyes, and leave for 10 minutes. Apply it little by little, as by being over-zealous I found the mask would drip down my face to the floor. Have fun with it, but just be gentle. What's in it? Scent-wise, there were definite full notes of honey, top notes of delicate rose, and a faint, heavier hint of ginger. Funnily enough, the only ingredients are water, honey and fragrance, so the clue's in the name, right? Effect: I found my flannel was the best removal aid for this mask. Promising to nourish and soften, this product delivered a smooth, surprisingly fresh texture to my skin. Verdict: This product is perfect for those who aren't worried about getting a little messy for the sake of vanity, and it lasts for a long time. But, I'd be tempted to make a cheaper version, as £16 seems a fairly decadent amount to pay for honey with a bit of added scent. |
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La Sultane de Saba 50ml, £37.50 |
Reviewed by: Sedate Spy Age: 40s Skin type: Dry |
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Application: I used the oil after my evening cleanse. I only needed a few tiny drops massaged into my face and neck. My face did feel a bit greasy after application, so there was no need to apply a night moisturiser. What's in it? Extract of prickly pear and rose fragrance, in sunflower oil. Effect: When I first applied this oil, I wasn't taken by either the smell or the thick oily texture. But, the benefits after consistent use were more noticeable. After using the oil religiously for five days, my dry, tight skin felt much softer. Verdict: This oil will be useful for those of us who suffer with very dry skin. |
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La Sultane de Saba 300ml, £28 |
Reviewed by: Stylish Spy Age: 20s Skin type: Normal |
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Application: This thick floral emulsion melts in your hands before application, and a little most certainly goes a long way. What's in it? The ingredients are pure and minimal: simply shea butter and perfume. Effect: If you are looking for a heavyweight moisturiser, then this rose shea butter will be perfect for you. This shea butter can also be used on your hair for an intense conditioning treatment, and I can imagine using it after a long relaxing holiday in the sun to replenish lost moisture. The fragrance of rose is demonstrable without being overpowering, and lingers on your skin long after application. As you don't need to use a lot, it is good value for money. Verdict: I personally found the heavy butter a little overwhelming, but if you have dry skin, you would certainly benefit from this heavy-duty floral nourishment. |
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La Sultane de Saba 300ml, £23.50 |
Reviewed by: Single Spy Age: 50s Skin type: Mature |
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Application: This black soap comes in a curvy glass jar with an accompanying black "kese" (also known as a "hammam scrub glove" or, for those of us less accustomed to middle-Eastern steam baths, a "mitt"). Putting the unguent's virtues to the test of my time, the amber (rather than actually black) soap did not dissolve very easily. There were no instructions on the jar. In retrospect, I am not sure the method of application matters. Once you get the co-starring twosome of gel and mitt into action, you can see the natural exfoliant get to work. What's in it? Crushed olives, argan oil, eucalyputus. Effect: The soap plus the mitt makes a very effective scrub (with the added evidence, as the mitt is black, of very visible removed skin particles). The soap-and-mitt combo has a definite stimulating and toning effect, too. Plus, the oils that the soap contains mean you are soothed as well as smoothed. Oh, and it lasts a fair amount of time, too! Verdict: Send another jar, please! |
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La Sultane de Saba 200g, £30 |
Reviewed by: Shy Spy Age: 30s Skin type: Combination |
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Application: This shea butter melted very easily, taking only a gentle lick of the flame to turn it into warm oil. What's in it? This fragrant candle is actually scented shea butter with a wick to help melt the butter into massage oil. It is not a waxy candle, so don't be too afraid! Effect:The rich shea butter was perfect for a massage. A little went a long way, so there was no need to repeatedly melt more, and it didn't leave my skin too oily afterwards. The soft perfume did smell exactly like the scent of frangipani flowers on the breeze, so I drifted off to somewhere exotic - in my mind, at least! Verdict: A gorgeously scented, richly moisturising massage butter that doubles as a body moisturiser if you don't have a handy masseur! |
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