Clayspray Chocotherapy Pure Cocoa Mask

While this one's made for the face, I have little doubt that most of it is going to go in my mouth if I ever lay hands on it. I'm pretty sure the laying my hands on it bit will never happen because this damn thing costs INR 6070! So, basically this is a resentment post. But oh ye, the rich amongst us, you ought to try it.

Why? Because the Clayspray Chocotherapy, a mask for the face and body, is pure chocolate Emulsion with natural mineral water. Imagine smearing pure cocoa on yourself and getting all those amino acids, proteins and minerals. The product serves as a moisturizing and soothing treatment, which is also revitalizing and energizing.

And if you don't buy into all that froufrou, think of it as an expensive way of improving your mood, reducing stress and fatigue. And hey, if can be used on the hair too.

Buy it at: JCKRC Spa Destination Pvt. Ltd., Tel: +91-22-27757532

Price: Rs. 6070/-

Axe Dark Temptation Deodorant

Like anyone concerned with basic grooming, I don't step out of the house without wearing deodorant. Over the years I've become a fairly old hand at trying out the sprays and deo sticks of all brands. I've taken recommendations, tried out newer names, scents, and generally been pretty open to subjecting myself to anything that can make me 'smell great all day'.

One such round of experimentation brought me to the Axe Dark Temptation - a chocolate-scented deo. Did anyone just say chocolate scented? Now that sounded shizz! The Axe commercial showed a guy made of chocolate walking down a street and women flocking to him to eat pieces of him. As silly as the commercial was, I was just curious to know how it feels like to smell chocolaty all day long.

As you lift a can of Dark Temptation and bring it close to your nose, it gives out a very mild, distantly chocolaty aroma - not at all like the smell of Dairy Milk. for example. One might be forgiven for expecting a hint of chocolate, which is not too strong but pretty much dry and airy.

However, wearing the deo all day was not a pleasant experience at all. The chocolate scent seemed to become another beast altogether - an overpowering, obnoxiously semi-chocolaty aroma. So much so that at one point it almost made me want to puke out of dizziness.This overwhelming scent lasted well over nine hours. The good part was that it didn't bother the skin with any allergic reactions Personally, I would not recommend this, although a discerning consumer might want to give it a try.

As a parting note, I might add that chocolate scented deo is targeted majorly at the young, carefree consumer. It may earn this age group brownie points at a night-out, but a chocolate-scented deo may just smell out of place at workstations or business meetings.

Guest review by: Nikhil Deshmukh
Price: approx Rs. 140 for a 150 ml can.
RATING: 2/5

The Nature's Co. Yummy Chocolate Soap

It's the first day of February and all brands will go into the Valentine marketing overdrive now. I've had my share of these and find all heart-shaped things corny now, but I wouldn't mind heart-shaped things if they happen to be chocolate soaps by my favourite brand, The Nature's Co. The Nature's Co. has some fantastic natural cosmetic products, which are eco-friendly, vegan and cruelty-free. Their products are classified as Atmosphere, Starrize, Foressence, Earthborne and Aquaspark according to their nature inspirations.

Now, to add to the season of love, The Nature's Co. is offering an attractive pre-packaged heart-shaped basket hamper, comprising of three aromatic soaps at a special price of Rs.695. It could be the perfect gift for your special someone! You can pick from three specially-crafted limited edition heart-shaped soaps.  Apart from Yummy Chocolate, there are two other variants - Juicy Strawberry and Creamy Vanilla. These products are priced at Rs.245 each.

Well, shelling out INR 245 for one soap might feel like a little too much pyaar, but trust me, this thing is good enough to eat. And you WOULD want your lover to smell like chocolate, now wouldn't you?

Available for a limited period at all The Nature's Co. stores from 4th to 15th February 2013
For additional information visit: www.thenaturesco.com

RATING: 4/5

The Body Shop Chocomania range

It's that time of the year when all brands think making heart-shaped and chocolate things is going to boost their business. I can't imagine why, because what has chocolate got to do with love? CHOCOLATE IS LOVE!

However, this is The Body Shop's Deluxe edition, especially for the Valentine month *rolls eyes*. Second only to chocolate are chocolate cosmetics, because if you can't feed your face all the time, you can at least stick your nose inside a jar of cream till you are dizzy. Cosmetic ranges such as The Body Shop's Chocomania, comprising a shower cream, a scrub, a soap, a body lotion, a body butter and a lip butter, are made just so caloriephobics (losers!) can infuse the goodness of chocolate through senses other than their tongues.

No, I haven't tried these yet, but their last non-deluxe Chocomania edition was fair. The best of the line is the scrub, that smells super and has gentle scrub particles, and the worst was the body butter that pretty much feels like a thick layer of flaky, gooey gunk. The shower cream and soap are okay to use too, and the body lotion is pretty pleasing. A word of caution against the lip butter - it tastes quite terrible, so don't let anyone kiss you when you are wearing some. That would make one nasty Valentine surprise!

Overall, the product range is good, as all The Body Shop things go, and put together in a cute box, will also make your girlfriend happy. These are also 'guilt-free' products if you've got yourself a nature/social activist kind of a babe

RATING: 3/5

Price list (INR)
Body Lotion: 595
Body Scrub: 995
Lip Butter: 350
Body Butter: 995
Shower Cream: 395
Soap: 175