Igniting the senses

Last week, I had the pleasure of joining the lovely ladies, and gentleman, of Justine to see what this local brand has in store for customers in the coming months. I've long been a fan of this brand, owned by global direct-selling cosmetic giant Avon, and was thrilled to see some of the products they are launching.

The event revolved around the notion of a sensory journey, using all five senses (sight, smell, touch, hearing and taste) to explore the different product categories. For me, the best part was using our sense of taste to try out the brand's bath and body products. 

If you haven't tried the Elements of Nature bath and body range, currently available in a pomegranate and cranberry variation, then you're missing out. With a body wash, body lotion, body polish and fizz balls, the range ensures that both you and your bathroom will smell like a berry medley. We all know that cranberries and pomegranates are superfruits and therefore good to eat, but they also contain loads of vitamins and antioxidants that work to smooth and moisturise the skin. Forget that though, the fizz balls smelt so good I had a hard time not sinking my teeth into them! The company is also looking to add to the range with other fruity variations, including blueberry. 

If you are familiar with Justine, you'll probably know the Honey Herbal range for hands, comprised of a liquid soap cleanser, hand treatment cream, exfoliating sugar scrub and night hand cream. I've given the hand cleanser a try and have to say it's one of the nicest-smelling products I've come across in a long time. The range also includes two body products: a shimmering body cream and a whipped body mousse. I tried both of these last night and was delighted this morning when I woke up to smooth, supple skin. The shimmer from the body cream is also quite subtle so if you're like me and don't want to look like a Christmas tree, it's ideal for you. I love the feel of the body mousse - it has the smooth consistency of a body mousse without the stickiness I usually find associated with these products. I really just wanted a tub of it to smush my hands into and play around like I did when I was a child and first discovered the joys of mud!

The sight part of the multi-sensorial journey took us to the category of products that I love this brand for - colour cosmetics. Most of my basic make-up products are either Justine or Avon and when it comes to lip products, few other brands get me as excited. From bright colours to convenient packaging, the range is so extensive that you can literally find something for everyone.

The first of the latest launches from Justine is the Colour Studio DermaPerfect Youth-Enhancing Foundation range, with an SPF of 25. Like most foundations, it gives excellent coverage but also has the added benefit of working on your skin while you're wearing it. I'm a huge fan of multi-tasking products so this is definitely something I'd be interested in. I'm also not the biggest fan of foundations but this one went on easily and didn't leave me with a greasy or cakey feel. It was still there when I took it off (I applied it earlier in the evening and it lasted well into the wee hours of a Saturday morning) and when I woke up the next day, my skin didn't feel as though it had been through the ringer.

 

Before applying the foundation though, I also took the time to try out the new primer - the Satin Finish Complexion Corrector. This is Justine's first primer and priced at R185, I think it pretty good value for money. I'm convinced this is half the reason my foundation stayed on so long. You may have noticed a lot of cosmetic brands bringing out primers, not just for make-up but hair products too. It's a growing trend and I think we're going to be seeing a lot more of these sorts of products on the market in the years to come. 

Our last stop on the journey of senses delved into the area of fragrance. Justine's latest female fragrance launch is Utopia. Priced at R420 for 50ml, this is the company's first foray into the premium fragrance market. Justine was kind enough to actually send me a bottle a few weeks back and it has since been my go-to fragrance for day time. The base note is cedarwood, which always takes me back to my gran's house with her cedarwood furniture. Heart notes of lily of the valley and rose tap into my love of floral fragrances and a top note of litchi gives it a subtle yet sweet first impression.

I also got to try out another one of the company's best sellers, Wisteria. It has been a long time since I've been this impressed with a fragrance. Top notes of pink pepper (a note that has been identified as a growing trend for fine fragrances) and tamarind blossom give it a sultry sexy vibe that gives way to the heart notes of cranberry, rose, black violet and cocoa flower. These are quite unusual combinations and allow the fragrance to teeter between a floral fragrance and a fruity one. The base notes are vanilla, patchouli and massioa wood, also not your typical combination.

The entire event, from start to finish, was filled with subtle things that evoked our senses, from the elaborate décor of the venue itself - the beautiful Marion on Nichol Hotel in Hurlingham, JHB - to the hand massages at the hotel's spa afterwards. I had a fabulous time and can't wait to see what Justine does next.