I’m surprised to find that I haven’t ever done a full and proper review on Ameliorate’s cult body treatment, the lactic acid-loaded Transforming Body Lotion. I thought I had, but if I have then I can’t see it! Which wouldn’t be surprising, to be honest, because I can’t see a thing without my glasses on, these days, and my glasses are currently at the opticians having bi-focal lenses put in. BI-FOCAL LENSES, people. It’s the beginning of the end.
Anyway; there are very few dedicated, hard-working skincare products for the body that do more than just moisturise – you’ve got your brilliant soothers, like Cicaplast and Dermexa and CeraVe, and you’ve got your luxury oils and balms and whatnot, but when it comes to proper smoothing and brightening, the options are limited.
And in this relatively niche market of “performance” body treatments, Ameliorate make one of the most effective, non-hyped, nicely-formulated products I’ve ever tried. It exfoliates without being abrasive, it moisturises without leaving grease behind and it is bump-smoothing and surface-brightening without the need for any excess manual labour.
Because of course we have all done the crazy “body scrub dance” in the shower, haven’t we? Assumed the semi-squat position so that we can more easily buff some overpriced sea salt into our buttocks. Lost all feeling in the palms of our hands (which is actually quite nice – tingly) because we’ve spent too long massaging our shins in a circular motion. Almost broken our necks slipping on the oily stuff that’s left in the shower tray.
The problem is that many-to-most body scrubs are dire (the odd bit of apricot shell in an otherwise unremarkable, overly-runny shower gel) and the few that are serviceable (the gritty ones, like Clinique’s Sparkle Skin) leave the bathroom looking as though you’ve had a fight in the kids’ aisle of a craft shop. Glittery, sandy, gluey streaks and blobs all over the place. And don’t even get me started on this craze for the ground coffee scrubs: no, no, no.
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So for those who wish to eschew manual scrubbing and a glitter-spattered bathroom, I have just the thing: Ameliorate Transforming Body Lotion. I’ll say it one more time for those at the back, just in case they too want to find something effective and fast-working for their dry, rough skin or ingrown hairs or for their keratosis pilaris; you need Ameliorate. I actually get asked about keratosis pilaris a lot – it’s often (very appetisingly) called “chicken skin”, and comes in the form of tiny red bumps over the thighs, arms and/or back. I used to get it on my thighs when I was small – they looked quite like goosebumps, except that they were irritated, reddened goosebumps. I used to try to pick them off! The horror.
The best, most-proven remedy for KP seems to be gentle, non-abrasive exfoliation and the lactic acid in Ameliorate’s body lotion provides just that. (I also know people who have had amazing results with Paula’s Choice BHA Liquid, wiped on directly and left.) If you’ve ever used Good Genes from Sunday Riley, which is absolutely jam-packed with lactic (so much so that you can’t actually buy that version now in the EU) then you’ll know how immediate the exfoliating effects are.
And it’s important to stress the difference between an acid exfoliant, like lactic acid or salicylic or glycolic, and a manual exfoliant like a scrub. If you do have bumps and itchiness, then quite often using a body scrub is counterproductive – maniacally scrubbing off the surface of your body in the shower is not only going to be quite irritating to your skin, but the problem (especially with keratosis pilaris) is deeper down anyway, so it’s doubly pointless.
I’m always wary of raving about any kind of “miracle cure” for skin conditions, but the many online reviews of this body lotion speak for themselves. I’ve also farmed out a few tubes of this wonder treatment to friends with bumpy bits and the feedback has been – quite literally – glowing. It’s not the most luxurious of body lotions – runny rather than creamy, slightly yoghurty in smell rather than anything particularly spa-like – but bloody hell, who cares? It’s a worker, not a pamperer. If this cream was a holiday (random concept) then it would be one of those fitness boot camp retreats, not a ten day trip to the Maldives.
You can find Ameliorate at SpaceNK here* – £14.50 for 100ml – or at Amazon (authorised stockist) here*, £22.50 for 200ml.
Look; I won’t judge you if you still want to scrub – I’m partial to a bit of a sandblasting session now and then, especially if it’s in someone else’s bathroom – but if you want to save yourself some energy and get fast, deep-down results rather than a superficial sort of skin smoothness, give this a try. There’s also a brilliant bath milk I’m testing from Ameliorate, so I’ll be back with a verdict on that shortly.
Thanks, Ruth for the recommendation, I shall try this once but before leaving I would like to suggest a Cocoa & Shea – Hand & Body Lotion from Bryan and Candy a New York-based brand. Hand & Body Lotion is enriched with Hyaluronic Acid which helps hydrate our skin for long hours and is known to prevent effects of ageing. And it is free of other harmful ingredients as well (suitable for all skin types). I will strongly recommend you to try their bath and body care products, to shop visit their official website bryanandcandy.com and get 25% fall off on all products, offers ends after Christmas & New Year.
Hope you will enjoy these products especially in this season, Merry Christmas Ruth!
Sounds like a good product!
I just opened a fresh tube of this and the box now says you can use it on your face… Thoughts?
Really?! Oooh. Not sure. Will try!
Thanks Ruth for the recommendation! I’ve gone ahead and ordered this as I have those pesky ingrown hairs on my legs and some scarring from digging them out. Do you think this would be good for stretch marks?
I am most certainly going to have to get my hands on this and give it a whirl!
Danielle xx
https://www.fashionbeautyblog.co.uk/
Can’t find Ameliorate in Canada.
I love, love, love an acid on my body!! I’ve been using the one by NeoStrata and Reversa (Canadian brand) which are both 10% glycolic and they have never left my skin irritated. Really hydrating and soak in relatively quick. Just remember to use SPF if you’re using it in the summer :)
Oh wow, will look this up! x
They do a non scentet version too! And actually they have a thicker cream in a pot that is really good. A little goes a long way with that one, where I think that I use a tube in a very short time…
I wonder if this is available in the US? If not, I can heartily recommend Paula’s Choice Body Lotion with 2% Salicylic Acid. I use it as my regular body lotion. It never stings anywhere on the body and keeps KP and ingrowns at bay. Also, I use it on my 10 yr old son who has KP on upper arms and cheeks and it really helps. I use the 2% liquid for his cheeks though… not sure about using the Body Lotion on the face. I too can’t stand the mess of the scrubs in the shower or bath and don’t find them very effective either. I have even turned against shaving cream for the mess as well. Those globs! I’ve been using hair conditioner instead and seems to work just as well. xx
Great, I shall try this too! x
If this cream was a holiday (random concept) then it would be one of those fitness boot camp retreats, not a ten day trip to the Maldives.
Hi Ruth, what you said above is why you are so successful at what you do.
Keep it up.
Oh thanks! x
Ameliorate body lotion is brilliant! Best body lotion ever. I’ve tried the hand cream too which is also good. The foot cream I didn’t think was anything special so now I just use the lotion on my feet instead
I liked the foot cream at first but actually the body cream is better! As you say! x
I’m going to try it. I’m so dehydrated and the scrubs make me sore. Thanks for the recommendation
: )
I don´t even bother with physical scrubs for the body anymore, at least not with the in shower ones. I stick to dry brushing once or twice a week and that is enough for the lower half of my body. My arms though… I think I need Ameliorate.
Anne – Linda, Libra, Loca
Hallo Ruth, Thank you for your review on Ameliorate.
I was wondering if you have ever used REN AHA Body Serum? I started with Ameliorate but have since switched over to Ren. Both do their job beautifully, but I prefer the latter ones smell.
I would love to have your thoughts.
Maria
Yes, the REN smells nicer. I did half-half body for a week with both (was going to be in a separate post!) and the results were similar, but I think Ameliorate was SLIGHTLY smoother on the bumpy bits! Close call though! x
What is your opinion: would this product or the milk be wrong (or even ridiculous) to use on a child’s skin (age 7)? My daughter suffers from keratosis pilaris and severely itchy skin. One of the first thing’s she clearly articulated as a toddler was her itchy skin, especially after baths. Darn London water. Using coconut oil and aloe vera moisturiser helps some.
I will ask them! xx
Fine for age 3 upwards x
I’ve tried all sorts of cream to get rid of KP on my 2 year olds arms. Would this be suitable / appropriate to try out instead?
Good question – I’ll ask! x
They say 3+, officially so maybe check with doctor! x