Absinthe in beauty products – how badass does that sound? Our friend national online travel editor Nicole Feenstra gave Body Shop’s new gel a try to see if it’s as cool as it sounds. Here’s what went down:
Review by: Nicole Feenstra, QMI Agency
Product/name: Body Shop Absinthe Purifying Hand Gel ($10, 250 ml)
Method/application: A dime-sized amount of gel is all that’s needed to freshen up hands when lightly dirtied. Note: This product isn’t a hand sanitizer – there’s no indication that it kills germs anywhere on the packaging or website.
Body Shop Absinthe Purifying Hand Gel ($2, 60 ml). (Nicole Feenstra, QMI Agency)
Colour: The hand gel is a light green colour, inspired by its namesake ingredient absinthe, a spirit long said to double as a psychoactive drug. Absinthe was banned in many parts of the world in 1915, though it regained popularity in the 1990s. The Body Shop has a number of absinthe hand products, describing them as being “infused with refreshing absinthe extract and moisturizing Community Fair Trade Shea butter…our Absinthe collection hydrates hands and leaves them smelling as good as they feel.”
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Scent: The product conceals odours by masking them with its own strong botanical smell. It’s a heady scent, but reminded me of a spa vacation. Bergamot, petit grain and neroli are among the ingredients.
Sensation: The gel had a refreshing tingle when applied, though it didn’t absorb very fast. There was a residue left on my hands that could be felt for about a half hour after use. After that wore off, my hands were left really soft and moisturized. Don’t use this hand gel if there is any broken skin on your hands. It will sting!
Long story short: I’ll definitely be finishing the 60 ml bottle, but would probably opt for a hand sanitizer in the future. It’s possible find some great hand sanitizers with aloe vera to moisturize hands.