Shiffa Dubai Sweetness body lotion and Tamanu moisturising cream review

Shiffa Dubai isn't a brand I'd heard of until I received these products, and it's relatively new to the UK market, having recently launched at Harrods Urban Retreat and Zuneta. The first product was the Pregnancy body oil, which Shiffa Dubai founder Dr Lamees Hamdan tested on herself during her own pregnancy. The Pregnancy body oil sounds lovely - it has mandarin and tangerine in it to tone and firm, and tangerine oil was one of the few smells I could tolerate during my own pregnancy (I used Aveda Tangerine Oil on my own bump).

The company website states that Shiffa means 'healing' in Arabic, and the products are formulated with nourishing and healing plant extracts and oils. I was sent the Tamanu moisturising cream for normal to dry skin and the Sweetness body lotion to try.

The packaging is simple but attractive; products come packaged in a light cardboard box sealed with a ribbon.

Both of these products are light textured but moisturise dry skin on the face and body effectively. As it's been raining almost non-stop for the last few weeks I've been willing to forgo my usual sunscreen and use the Tamanu moisturising cream as my day and night moisturiser. I've also stopped using all serums and oils in order to test the moisturiser more thoroughly. My skin feels balanced with no dry patches or congestion. I'd particularly recommend this moisturiser to anyone with normal to dry skin that doesn't like a heavy cream, or who finds that thicker creams clog their pores or cause spots. It's also a perfect texture for an after-sun cream as it doesn't sit heavily on the skin.

The Sweetness body lotion is also a light fluid texture that deals with dry body skin without leaving a film on the surface of the skin. It sinks in quickly, and again, would be a great aftersun or body lotion for anyone in a hot climate, where heavier body creams can sometimes feel too much.

I couldn't quite place the smell of the moisturiser (slightly incense-y?) until I read the ingredients and saw frankincense (boswellia carterii) oil appear just after cocoa butter. This cream is packed with botanical ingredients to nourish and soothe the skin, and it's good to see that you are getting good quality ingredients for the (high end) price. If you're wondering where the tamanu is (as I was - I had to google 'latin name for tamanu') it's the calophyllum inophyllum seed oil.

The body lotion is similarly full of good stuff. Gardenia is also quite high in the ingredients list, and gives the lotion its distinctive monoi scent naturally.

The Sweetness body lotion is £30 for 200ml, and the Tamanu moisturising cream is £65 for 50ml.

Disclosure: PR samples.