little white truths

Let it be said from the outset that I don't see a lot of value in a product like this. I would if it were hydrating and you could buy it in the chemist for a tenner, but fifty bucks for a body lotion that doesn't even do my skin the courtesy of being hydrating? No thanks.

I received it from Lust Have It, but I'd tried the product before in sachet-form from Violet Box and I was no more impressed with it the second time around than I was the first. It's worth noting this because sometimes your preferences change over time, but they haven't with this and it's not a product I would buy - particularly because I can make my own shimmery/bronzey body cream by adding a bronze eyeshadow or dedicated bronzer to my body cream, which is exactly what I've been doing via Project Pan to use up a bronzer I don't like.

RCK claims/product details:

• A luxurious, water-resistant body lotion that instantly gives your skin a radiant, sexy glow
• Suitable for the body and face
• Quick-drying, non-streaking, long-wearing and easy to apply
• Won’t transfer onto clothing or furniture
• Enhances the appearance of the legs, arms, and decollete
• More than just a cosmetic, RCK is an anti-ageing treatment that gives you beautiful skin from head to toe
• Our exclusive formula immediately camouflages imperfections while super-powered actives like vitamin k and c even skintone, reducing pigmentation and broken capillaries with regular use
• A favourite among A-list celebrities and makeup artists – and a secret weapon on the red carpet
• With RCK, you’ll always be ready for your profile pic, a hot date, or anytime you want to look and feel flawless
• Medium is excellent for light to dark skin
• Non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and paraben-free
• RRP $49.95 for 160ml

Verdict

This is one of those products that leaves me scratching my head a bit, for a number of reasons that I'll touch on below.

First off, it's a thin, runny product with no discernible scent, and a little goes a long way so you don't need to use much each time.

This is one of those items that's taken me AGES to review because I couldn't settle on how I felt about it, and I've swung back and forth on whether I think it's half-decent. I've known from the outset that it's overpriced and I'd never drop $50 on a something like this, but is it good at least?

The first time I used it, I loved how it made my legs look. It was nearing the end of summer and I applied it to one leg only and then showed my pins to my husband to get a second opinion. We both felt that the leg I'd used the product on looked a little more glowy and more tanned - but not in an obnoxious way and you couldn't really tell that I'd put anything on. 

It also made that particular leg seem a touch thinner and look more even in tone - although that's probably just due to the slight tint it gives because most of us look a little sleeker and more even when we're tanned - but in any event, I thought I had a winning product on my hands.

So I thought, ok, I'll take this away with me when we go to Bali because it's more of a summer product and I wasn't going to waste it when I spend most of my life wearing trackies and chasing my toddler around the park and at home, since it ain't cheap and you want to get some benefit from using it (eg wearing it to special events etc and looking a little more glowy and just more healthy overall when people are actually going to see you).

But in Bali, something happened. First, it was then that I realised the product does absolutely nothing for hydration, because I was dumb enough to think I could just use this on my arms and legs as my body cream, so I only took a small body cream that would last out the week on the rest of me. Not a good idea. My skin wound up dry because this doesn't deliver any hydration or nourishment, so I wouldn't recommend using this on its own because you need to prep your skin with something else first.

The other thing that happened while we were away is that I just couldn't get an even coat with the product: it was so unbelievably streaky and it just wouldn't absorb or rub in, so it got to the point where I couldn't use it for anything - unless I wanted to look like I'd had a fight with a bottle of fake tan.

Perhaps the problem was that it made my skin so dry that my skin gripped onto it (hence the streakiness), so do be aware of that if your skin tends towards dryness because you'll need to make sure that you're well-exfoliated and hydrated before using the product.

Also, it says you can use this on your face but I personally wouldn't try that again because I used it twice that way and it stung my skin in the areas where it tends to get dry and irritated (generally around my mouth and nose), so be careful with the product if you have dry or sensitive skin.

I've been trialling it again over the past week and it sometimes streaks a bit, but not as badly as it did in Bali. The fact that it makes my hands look like the tin man after use also annoys me because the sheen hangs around even after washing - so I guess that confirms that the product is water-resistant, which can be a good or bad thing!

On the claims I haven't touched on yet: yes it adds radiance and it's quick to dry; I agree that it doesn't transfer onto clothing and it's long-wearing; and yes it helps camouflage imperfections and enhances the appearance of your skin.

As for the anti-ageing claims and whether it evens skintone, reduces pigmentation and broken capillaries with regular use, I can't speak to those because it's not the kind of product that I personally would use often enough to get those kinds of benefits - and I suspect that many people would say the same, particularly given the pricetag!

In sum, I don't think the product is worth the money and it's also inconsistent, so I can't be certain that it will look the way I want it to with each and every use. I also think it should be more hydrating than it is (for $50 it should at least deliver some moisture as well as a glow), plus I just can't be bothered making sure my skin is exfoliated and super nourished before every use to help with the streaking issues.

While the effect is nice when it works, I personally would save your pennies and buy something cheap from the chemist that does the same thing and hydrates your body at the same time. This one's for special occasions when you have enough time beforehand to prep your body well and make sure the product looks good.

Have you used this? I'd love to hear your thoughts if so : )