The Body Shop Absinthe Purifying Hand Care Range

New from The Body Shop Singapore is the Absinthe Purifying Hand Care Range.

Containing absinthe extract, also known as wormwood or Artemisia absinthium, the products carry a leafy scent laced with a sweetness that plays nicely with the green notes.

I wouldn’t have associated absinthe with a hand care range – this substance in alcoholic form, aka the green fairy, was once banned for its hallucinatory properties – but I guess we’re supposed to focus on its antiseptic nature! ;)

In the range are:

• Absinthe Purifying Hand Gel (S$6.90) – A water-free cleansing gel ideal for travel.

• Absinthe Purifying Hand Wash (S$14.90) – A liquid hand soap containing Community Fair Trade aloe vera.

• Absinthe Purifying Hand Butter (S$24.90) – A moisturising hand treatment containing Community Fair Trade shea butter from Ghana.

• Absinthe Purifying Hand Cream (S$21.90) – A zesty hand cream that also contains Community Fair Trade shea butter from Ghana.

According to the brand, the collaboration with Ghana has helped to fund 3 medical centres and 10 nursery schools in the African country. :)

I like the general lightweight texture of the products, which makes them perfect for everyday use.

While I loved the fragrance initially, it descends into a surprising, somewhat-cloying and muggy scent; it’s less refreshing than I’d expected it to be…a disappointment, really. Only the hand cream is described as containing bergamot, petitgrain and neroli but I believe this blend is in the entire range, though the hand gel has a distinctly astringent whiff; the sharpness most likely attributed to its denatured alcohol content.

If you have concerns about triclosan, an ingredient that’s still under review for hormone disruption and bacterial resistance, you’ll be glad to know the range is triclosan-free.