Neal’s Yard Remedies may be quite new in Malaysia but I am glad to say this is not my first encounter with this brand from UK :D. It must have been a few years ago when I was gifted with Neal’s Yard Remedies skin care. Honestly I can’t remember which and what product as it has been quite some time ago.

Fortunately for me, I was invited for an intimate pampering session at Neal’s Yard Remedies (hereinafter referred as NYR) outlet at The Gardens Mall just a few days ago to try out their wide varieties of product range as well as hand and face pampering experience. Usually I don’t attend pampering or hands-on event and workshop but it’s Neal’s Yard Remedies! I wouldn’t want to miss it for anything 😀

From far I could actually “smell” the store. If you are a regular of NYR you will know that their products are infused with herbs and flowers, which explains the aromatic signature scent of NYR.

Once I stepped into the store, I was offered a cup of uplifting tea. I actually like store that serves tea to walk-in visitors. I know this tea ritual sounds familiar to you but the tea is different. It is not minty and I think the taste is easier to accept…as it’s not minty 😀

The store that I visited is located at 1st Floor of The Gardens Mall. It is right next to the lift and on the further left is Isetan. This is the first standalone store for NYR and it is newly opened just this recent July 2013 (if I’m not mistaken). Do pay them a visit to try out the product yourself. You can even call for a mini facial appointment if you want to 🙂

The distinctive blue bottles and jars of Neal’s Yard Remedies are 100% recyclable. It is a British-made jars that are fired from Scottish sand, Yorkshire limestone and soda ash from Cheshire. NYR is continuously finding more ways to be more greener by reducing their package mileage as they are after all with CarbonNeutral® status. This way NYR can reduce their carbon footprint in the continuous effort to go green.

NYR has also taken the extra steps to be more energy-efficient in the production process by keeping to one size of jar for our facial skincare. That means you won’t find 30g, 50g or 100g of the same product in the store. They are keeping a standard 50g jar of products. What this means for NYR? NYR said that by doing so they are able to continue to develop creams and balms with an ever-greater level of organic ingredients and with minimum amount of preservatives while still keeping the product fresh and vital all the way to the bottom of the jar.

I was there for two pampering session. One is the hand pampering while the other one is a mini facial. There was only three of us. So we took turn with the pampering session. Usually I would prefer hand pampering first so while other blogger is having her mini facial, I had my hand pampering.

I’m a scrub person. I like how the Seaweed Salt Scrub exfoliate all the icky dead skin cells from my hand. Follow up with Citrus Hand Softener and my hand immediately soften down. These two products would most probably be my favorite as the whole look, feel, scent and result is appealing to me. Just take a look at the Before and After.

Here are the list of product used for hand pampering, just in case you are wondering. Don’t be shock 😀

Geranium & Orange Shower Gel (RM100/200ml)

This shower gel is customer’s favorite. It is rich conditioning and revitalizing body cleanser that are infused with aromatic organic geranium essential oil. No you won’t walk out of the shower smelling like an orange. My nose get a hint of citrus but the scent of geranium dominated the shower gel overall.

Seaweed Salt Scrub (RM120 / 200g)

My favorite scrub of all! This scrub will stimulate and tone your skin for a fresher and smoother skin. It also detox and exfoliate with the invigorating blend of black pepper, grapefruit and ginger essential oil. The beads is more bigger due to the black pepper but you won’t feel the spiciness of it :D.

Nourishing Melissa Hand Polish (RM105 / 100g)

This product is actually a hand scrub thus the word “polish”. The texture is more like an everyday shower scrub where the gel is more and the beads are finer. This hand polish actually smoothes and revitalize tired hands. It is infused with citrusy organic lemon balm so this product actually smells amazing.

Wild Rose Body Elixir (RM209 / 150ml)

I was confused between this body elixir with body butter or even hand cream so I had to ask what’s the difference. I was told that this body elixir is actually meant for super dry skin. It is a moisturizing balm that are infused with antioxidant, vitamin-rich rosehip seed oil for that kick of boost in skin radiance. It also contain sublime aromatherapeutic fragrance.

Citrus Hand Softener (RM105 / 50g)

This has got to be my favorite product. How often do you encounter hand softener in the market right? Although this is a richly nourishing and revitalizing cream that are with orange, lemon and grapefruit oil it is not oily at all. My hand immediately feel softer to touch and the skin seems bouncy too. No kidding. It is also enriched with protecting organic shea butter. Now…that explains it 🙂

Melissa Hand Cream (RM95 / 30g)

NYR said that this hand cream is their intensive softening, nourishing and soothing hand cream that are with formula blends of moisturizing organic plant oils and citrusy organic lemon balm. After all the products that was used on my hand, this hand cream doesn’t make my hand any oilier.

I’m not someone who will take off all makeup in public. That is the reason why I turn down all facial or hands-on event and workshop. I wouldn’t mind if I have a good skin lol! But I broke my own rule and went all out for this pampering session. Well, not exactly all out because I requested for my eye makeup to be left alone 😛

All you need is just one time use of Neal’s Yard Remedies products to see immediate result. Many of us thought natural ingredient-infused product will produce slower result. Obviously that’s not the case with NYR! The formulations are a blend of natural ingredients and innovative cutting-edge green science. The brand have been certified by the UK’s leading organic authority – Soil Association for over 10 years now. This certification guarantees that a product contains the highest possible levels of organic ingredients which is also certified organic by USDA.

How do you like my instantly brighten face? :D. Obvious result right? The effect lasted the whole night, even after a sweaty dinner, a walk in the car park and an hour of being stuck in a jam while driving home. The amazing thing I notice is that my oily skin is not even oily after all the product applied on my face.

First prognosis by the beautician is that I have oily skin. After removing makeup, facial and such she said my skin could be dry on the inside which resulted with the oily skin I’m having now. The pros is my skin is younger than a 25 years old. Which means I still have pimples popping out and I don’t have fine lines or wrinkles. The down side is actually just having an oily skin that takes time taking care and let’s not forgetting all the blotting phew!

Here are the product used for my mini facial. I opted for Purifying Palmarosa range instead of anti-aging range, Rejuvenating Frankincense. Plus I was super hyped up on Purifying Palmarosa Mattifier. Been on the high and low search for product like this.

Palmarosa Facial Wash (RM132 / 100ml)

This cleanser is good news #1 for oily or combination skin. It is a gentle decongesting cleanser that also helps to balance excess oil, purifies and clarifies at the same time. I suppose this is a mild prevention for congested skin but of course it is also recommended to use face scrub to further decongest.

Purifying Palmarosa Facial Polish (RM125 / 100g)

I am a firm believer in scrubs. It is a must for me to exfoliate so that my oil level is balance and it also keep my face from congested pore problem. This one is a gentle scrub. It’s runny with fine beads. It is infused with oil balancing palmarosa, wild rosehip seed, mahonia and alpine willowherb.

Purifying Palmarosa Toner (RM132 / 200ml)

NYR said that your cleansing will be more effective if you follow up with this toner that are especially for oily and combination skin. This step is to remove last traces of makeup that are still on the skin after cleansing. I bet you already know that :D. This toner contain alpine willowherb and clarifying mahonia.

Rose Formula Anti-Oxidant Facial Mask (RM178 / 50g)

As for mask I chose one from hydrating range, not from purifying range. This is because I have heard a lot about this Rose Formula mask. It is a clay mask, which means it’s a deep cleansing mask. It also nourishes and give radiance a boost for a fresh and glowing complexion. This is the very main reason why my face brighten up a few tone! Try it to believe it 😀

Purifying Palmarosa Mattifier (RM220 / 30ml)

The one product that I’ve been asking in the store from the beginning till the end is this one. Mattifier. It is a MUST for oily skin. Coincidentally I am in the search for a mattifier for my oily skin. No luck at the drugstore but I like how NYR label this as Mattifier instead of some funky name. That means they are confident with their product. Not all mattifier works. What this does is it reduces the appearance of large pores thus reducing oil secretion. It is infused with astringent palmarosa, oil-absorbing kaolin and soothing alpine willowherb. I am still testing the product. So far I only blot once in a day. Not too bad. Will update on this in another post.

Purifying Palmarosa Daily Moisture (RM167 / 100ml)

Despite having oily skin, moisturizer is a must to end the skin care routine. Moisturizer has a larger molecule that locked smaller molecule deep in the skin. This smaller molecule is from serum. Now you know why moisturizer / cream is important regardless what skin type you have. This moisturizer is especially for oily or combination skin. It is a nourishing but yet oil-balancing lightweight moisturizer that helps to mattify and minimize the appearance of pores.

Frankincense Hydrating Cream (RM178 /50g)

I was also given a trial on the anti-aging hydrating cream. It is anti-oxidant, rejuvenating and nourishing type of cream that is richly blended with the star ingredient – Frankincense as well as myrrh that helps to firm the skin thus reducing fine lines.

Let’s take a walk around Neal’s Yard Remedies, The Gardens Mall.

All along I know NYR as a skin care brand but never knew they are this complete! At NYR you can find skin care range for anti-aging, normal skin, dry skin, oily & combination skin, sensitive skin, men skin care as well as specialist skin care such as radiance boost and brightening range.

That’s not all. You can also find product for baby, bath & shower care, hand & feet care and aromatherapy essential oils.

Frequent user of NYR can also get the jumbo size of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, foaming bath and hand wash for a much more affordable price. The price range is from RM242 to RM265. The usual 200ml will cost you about RM90 to RM100 so jumbo size is definitely much more cheaper 😀

Don’t you just love the blue bottles and jars?

It is quite impossible for me to list down all the awards that the brand had won over the years. Here is the link where you can check out all the awards.

Neal’s Yard Remedies stands by:-
(1) “No Animal Testing” commitment – http://www.nealsyardremedies.com/no-animal-testing
(2) Safe Cosmetic – http://www.nealsyardremedies.com/we-believe-in-safe-cosmetics
(3) Natural and innovative range of organic health and beauty care – http://www.nealsyardremedies.com/whats-in-our-products