Spotlight On: Conran Bath and Body

If Conran isn't a brand that's entered onto your radar yet, don't worry, you're not alone, I too was in the dark until just recently. Conran is a British company, developed by Sir Terence Conran {a designer}, who formed his simple yet elegant Bath & Body range with just two core {unisex} scents, combining some of his favourite ingredients. CONRAN 1 is warm and spicy, with notes of spicy nutmeg, fresh pepper and sweet cardamon, whilst CONRAN 2 is fresh and zingy with notes of lemon, mandarin and freshly cut green stems. The word on the street {their blog} is that CONRAN 3 and 4 are currently being developed.

The products that I've been trying out are the Bath Wash and Hand Cream in CONRAN 1, and the Body Scrub in CONRAN 2. On paper, CONRAN 1 would be my preferred scent, for, as I've lamented time and time again, I tend to opt for warmer, spicier fragrances. 

  

The Bath Wash {£16 for 300ml}, whether used as a body wash or in the bath water, bubbles up nicely without needing too much product, and doesn't leave my skin feeling tight or itchy, although I do feel the need to moisturise afterwards. The scent doesn't linger too long on the skin, which personally I prefer because I don't like my perfume to clash. However, I must be truthful and admit I expected it to be a slightly more intense scent, not overpowering as such, just more noticeable than I feel it is. It's quite unassuming and inoffensive, which whilst might not be a bad thing necessarily, wasn't quite was I anticipated. I really like the packaging, it's clean and simple, and adds to the luxurious vibe that this brand gives off.

CONRAN 2 is definitely more of a summer fragrance in my opinion, and would be perfect for a refreshing wake up shower. Although it doesn't linger on the skin too much, as soon as you open the packaging the citrus scent hits you. I can obviously only speak for the Body Scrub {£25 for 250ml}, but it has an immediate cooling effect on the skin, and leaves you feeling very clean. As for the actual formulation of the scrub, I'd say that is definitely its USP {unique selling point}. It's a very lightweight scrub contained in tiny gel-like crystals, that feel almost like textured jelly on the skin - that sounds pretty bizarre, but it's honestly the best way I can describe it. For an exfoliating addict like myself, I have to admit I found the consistency a little too slippery and meant a lot of waste going straight down the plug hole. I also found I had to dig out a fair amount to get a decent scrubbing effect, although it did leave my skin feeling smoother and very fresh. The Conran packaging took some of it's inspiration from Kilner jars, which is obvious in the design for this product, and I really like the sturdy feel of this tub.

The Hand Cream {£12 for 100g} is the ultimate winner out of these three products for me. The formulation is a thick yet lightweight, non-greasy cream, that absorbs quickly into the skin leaving no residue, and is very nourishing with long lasting effects. I really like the packaging, the tube is simple yet stylish and practical, allowing you to dispense only what you need. The CONRAN 2 scent is a lot more intense in this product than the Bath Wash, I definitely sensed more of the spicier undertones, but it's not too obtrusive. It can't quite live up to my beloved Soap & Glory Hand Food, but it IS a close runner up.

Overall, I'm really quite impressed with Conran, despite not being totally blown away by all of the products I've tried. The brand itself is very well thought out, innovative and exciting, and the people behind it are some of the nicest and politest I've ever had the pleasure of dealing with. The packaging, as you can see, is simple yet elegant, subtly embodying the Conran philosophy, whilst also remaining stylish and practical. The products feel and look good quality, and have been formulated exceptionally well. I'm looking forward to exploring this brand a little more.

If you're interested in trying out Conran for yourself, the products are available to purchase from various instore and online sources {please click here for the full list of stockist information}, with prices starting from £12.00.

Have you tried any Conran Bath and Body products? What are your thoughts?

Disclaimer: Products provided for review consideration purposes. I am not affiliated with Conran {although I have noticed they've linked to my humble little blog on their website, how very nice of them}, and all words and opinions are 100% my own. I spent a long time writing this review, I wanted to ensure I was as thorough as possible, in order to introduce this brand to you. Some links may be affiliated.