Review: A Gentle Approach with Nature Box Almond Range
There’s a new beauty range in South Africa and it’s getting loads of attention. Introducing Nature Box; a range of hair and body products promoting a more holistic approach to beauty. Made in Germany, this exciting new brand from Schwarzkopf and Henkel is sure to appeal to ladies looking for a pharmacy shelf brand with a more natural approach. Made with cold-pressed oils extracted from fruit seeds and nuts, the products in the Nature Box range are designed to address a host of beauty needs, from the tips of the hair down to the pores. I put the Nature Box Almond Oil range, designed for sensitive skin, to the test to see if it’s worth the hype.
Featuring four distinct ranges, each addressing a different concern, there’s a Nature Box range for everyone. Nature Box’s four product lines all contain cold-pressed oils extracted from fruit seeds and nuts: Avocado, Coconut, Apricot and Almond. They are also vegan, free from silicones, artificial colours, sulphates and parabens. According to Nature Box, its products are neither refined nor processed, and the cold-pressed method used to extract the natural oils from its ingredients ensures the valuable vitamins in the oils, such as A, B, C, D and E, as well as antioxidants and healthy fatty acids, are not lost.
The product range, of a total of eighteen items, includes ten hair care and eight body care products. The full product portfolio includes shampoos, conditioners and hair serums, as well as shower gels, body scrubs and, body lotions in the body care range. The full product line-up includes the Avocado, Coconut, Apricot, and Almond range.
For those with sensitive skin, the Almond range of hair and body products are designed to create volume for the hair while also respecting and caring for sensitive skin and scalp. The range harnesses the antioxidant properties in almond oil to help protect the skin and provide a gorgeous glow. This range includes 5 products namely a shampoo, conditioner, root life spray, shower gel, and body lotion. I got the chance to review the full Nature Box Almond range over the last few weeks and I’ve been really impressed.
Gentle care for your hair
If you’ve followed my previous reviews you’ll know that I have scalp psoriasis. Struggling with a dry, itchy scalp, I have to be very selective of the types of products I use on a regular basis. I’m always on the lookout for inexpensive products that are kind to my scalp while also helping to soothe the symptoms of my psoriasis, so I was looking forward to trying the Nature Box Almond Shampoo (R119.99), Nature Box Almond Conditioner (R119.99), and Nature Box Almond Insta Lift-Up Spray (R99) on my hair.
I often reach for sulphate-free shampoos as they’re less likely to irritate my scalp and this one from Nature Box is a great option as an everyday shampoo for sensitive scalps. It’s free from sulphates, silicones, and artificial colourants and is made using cold-pressed Almond oil. Nature Box claims that 84% of the ingredients used to make the shampoo are from natural origin, giving you peace of mind that you’re supporting a brand that is transparent about their product’s origin, production and trade.
Designed to give you “weightless volume and touchable fullness”, the Nature Box Almond shampoo leaves your hair and scalp feeling clean and fresh without that ‘stripped’ feeling. It’s super gentle on my sensitive scalp and helped to temporarily relieve itchiness.
Following the shampoo with the Nature Box Almond Conditioner helps to seal the deal and put back any moisture lost in the cleansing process. I have fine, dense hair so if I’m not careful oil-based products can often weigh down my hair and leave it looking limp at the roots. Designed to give you that “airy feeling without any build-up”, this conditioner does a great job of leaving your feeling soft and full without weighing it down. After using this combo together my hair had great volume and felt ultra-soft. It’s made from 96% ingredients from natural origin and is free from silicones.
If it’s serious volume you’re after, you’ll most definitely want to try the Nature Box Insta Lift-Up Spray. I reached for this spray when styling my hair and found it gave my roots an impressive lift without any greasiness. It’s a great product to help boost the volumising effects of the shampoo and conditioner combination. Which is impressive, seeing that it’s an oil-based product. Free from silicones, this lightweight root lift spray is made from 94% ingredients from natural origin.
I have really enjoyed using this trio of products on my hair over the last few weeks. This inexpensive range is ideal for anyone with a sensitive, itchy scalp that doesn’t necessarily have the budget to invest in professional-grade salon products but still wants great results. It is worth mentioning that all three products do contain fragrances, so if you have had a reaction to fragrances in products in the past, this might not be the range for you. The added fragrances in the products are most likely also the reason Nature Box cannot claim the ingredients as 100% from natural origin. I don’t have an issue with fragrances in products so for me, the range is a real winner.
Support for dry skin
The body care products in the range are also brilliant for anyone with dry skin. The Nature Box Almond Shower Gel is a great choice for anyone who hates that stripped skin feeling you often get from shower gels and soaps. Designed to protect skin from drying out, the shower gel is made from 91% ingredients of natural origin. My skin has a tendency to be very dry and I don’t get that ‘tight’ skin feeling after cleansing with this shower gel.
Plus, when you follow it up with the Nature Box Almond Body Lotion your skin is left feeling soft, soothed, and hydrated. This lightweight lotion is a great all-over moisturiser for dry skin. It absorbs into the skin super quickly without leaving that dreaded greasy feeling on the skin. The scent isn’t too overpowering either, which is a big win for me. The lotion is made from 94% ingredients of natural origin and is free from silicones, parabens, and artificial colourants. Both of these products also contain fragrances, so it’s best to proceed with caution if you’ve had issues with fragrances in products in the past.
Kind to the planet & its people
Conscious consumers who are looking to support a brand that is committed to following more sustainable practices will love the Nature Box ethos. Nature Box says its “commitment to sustainability is reflected in our collaboration with international development organisations and producers to ensure we only use sustainably cultivated raw materials, and we support small farmers.”
For example, the farming of palm oil has been identified as a cause of deforestation which is why Nature Box has committed to using sustainably produced palm oil from Nigeria. Guar, a raw ingredient in Nature Box products, and derived from the guar bean, is also sustainably cultivated in India. Furthermore, 25 percent of Nature Box packaging is made from recycled plastic so it has less of a negative impact on the environment.
Nature Box is now available from Clicks, Checkers, Dis-Chem and Takealot with hair care products starting from R69 and body care products from R119.99.
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