Review: Leivy Naturally Double Moisturising Shower Cream and Ivy Naturale Brightening Shower Cream

*Updated 9/10/2015 to include additional prices* Identifying Information Product name: Leivy Naturally Double Moisturising Shower Cream and Ivy Naturale Brightening Shower Cream;  *From what I've seen online, Leivy and Ivy seem to be different lines of shower cream by the same manufacturer. Websites still display both lines so I suppose that they both still exist and one is not a replacement of the other. Ivy has a variant with goat's milk too and Leivy has one with papaya and licorice. Price: Leivy Naturally Double Moisturising Shower Cream 250mL - PhP 99.00 [500mL bottle - PhP 170.00 and 450mL refill - PhP 150.00] Ivy Naturale Brightening Shower Cream 1L - PhP 199.00 (I got it on sale for PhP 169.00) Description:  Leivy Naturally Double Moisturising Shower Cream

• with purified goat's milk and milk protein
• lightens skin tone
• double moisturising for very dry skin
• From the Ivy website:
• Ideal for very dry skin.
• Mild and gentle formulation with double moisturising effect to restore and retain moisture to body.
• Rich with vitamin A, B and E, protein, minerals and fatty acids.
• Also contains sodium caseinate and lactic acid.

Ivy Naturale Brightening Shower Cream

• with papaya extract, licorice extract, Nanowhite and Moist 24
• 24 hour moisturising
• smoothing and brightening
• for fairer and softer skin
• Copied word for word from the description at the back of the bottle:
• "Papaya has always been known to clean the skin and act as a natural and gentle peeling agent, thus making the skin smoother and softer."
• "A gentle shower cream formulated with Papaya Extract and Licorice Extract that leave skin visible refreshed, with a radiant glow. Papain--the enzyme that promote elimination of dead skin cells. Licorice Extract is plant substance with proven skin brightening functions."
• "Nanowhite is a combination of brightening and anti-oxidant ingredients. Nanowhite contains Arbutin from bearberry leaves that brightens skin tone and helps against pigmentation disorder. Nanowhite also contains glutathione, which is a strong anti-oxidant to protect your skin from harsh environment. Its vitamin that anti-oxidant, anti-aging and brightening proterties as well."

Product Origin: Malaysia Where I bought it: Watsons, SM Supercenter Pasig *I went to SM Supercenter/Hypermarket Pasig earlier and I saw the Leivy shower creams on display. They were in a different packaging compared to the one I have and they were more expensive too. If I remember correctly, they were priced at PhP 239.00 (or was it PhP 289.00? Hmm.) for the 1L bottles. The different kinds I saw were the Simply Nourishing Shower Cream with Royal Jelly and Honey; Double Moisturising, Brightening and Firming Shower Cream Enriched with Goat's Milk, Papaya and Licorice; and the Brightening Shower Cream with Papaya Enzyme and Licorice Extract. These products are locally distributed by a company named Genson Distribution, Inc. For more information on the products, visit their website. History: I bought the Leivy goat's milk shower cream back in February 2015 and I purchased the Ivy papaya shower cream last month, June 2015.
Physical Examination:

Salient Features Positives: Leivy Naturally Double Moisturising Shower Cream

• Moisturizing
• My skin feels smooth and soft right after use. I bought it specifically for this and I'm happy to say that it works! I'm sure there may be other shower creams that are more moisturizing than this but for the price, this is good. I don't find the urgent need to apply lotion on my legs immediately after showering using this.
• Scented but does not trigger my allergic rhinitis
• I'm not so good at describing or deciphering scents but I believe it smells like baby powder. The scent is mild and pleasant and it does not irritate my nose unlike other body washes.
• Only a small amount is needed for a good lather
• Affordable
• No signs of any form of skin irritation after use
• Rinses off easily
• The bottle it comes in is sturdy. The snap on top isn't flimsy but at the same time is not hard to open. Have you tried opening tough snap on closures? I hate those because they hurt my fingers!
• Refill packs are available for purchase

Ivy Naturale Brightening Shower Cream

• Smells like papaya
• I got curious as to how it smells and surprisingly it smells nice!
• Also does not irritate my nose
• Affordable
• Does not cause any adverse skin reaction
• Rinses off easily
• The bottle is also sturdy. It comes with a pump that works well.

Negatives: Leivy Naturally Double Moisturising Shower Cream

• It claims to lighten skin tone but I didn't notice any lightening effect while using this. I didn't purchase it to lighten my skin tone though so I really didn't expect it to deliver in that regard.
• The scent doesn't last on the skin. I feel like the scent rinses off with the lather. Hmm, but then again that could be good so it won't cause any allergies. :)
• The moisturizing feeling/effect does not last for a long time especially if you're staying in an air-conditioned room. It's better to still use lotion/moisturizer afterwards but at least I don't feel like it strips my skin of moisture after a shower.

Ivy Naturale Brightening Shower Cream

• Instead of moisturizing my skin, it leaves my skin feeling dry. It goes without saying that this was disappointing for me. :(
• It has a lot of claims about skin brightening however I haven't noticed any brightening or lightening effects on my skin. I do have relatively light skin to begin with so I may not be the best person to judge it in this aspect.
• Scent also does not last on the skin
• I seem to need a lot more of this shower cream than the goat's milk one to produce the amount of lather that I want.

Impression/Rating: 

8/10 for the Leivy Naturally Double Moisturising Shower Cream 

5/10 for the Ivy Naturale Brightening Shower Cream

Discussion: During the cooler months here in the Philippines, the skin on my arms and legs tend to get dry. Using regular bath soaps or body washes at this time seem to make my skin drier. I'm not fond of putting on lotion (although I'd like to make it a habit now!) because it takes up time in that I need to apply it and wait for it to dry before putting on my clothes. This was a hassle for me especially when I was working as an intern in the hospital. I didn't have much time during the mornings so I figured I'd just look for a moisturizing body wash instead. I tried several moisturizing soaps and body washes but they didn't satisfy me. One day while I was looking at the products displayed at Watsons, I saw this Leivy Naturally Double Moisturising Shower Cream. I wasn't familiar with the brand or the product but it was affordable and the packaging looked nice so I decided to try it out. I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it was so when I saw the Papaya variant after a few months, I got curious as to how it compares to the Double Moisturising shower cream.

Prognosis: The Leivy Naturally Double Moisturising Shower Cream is a candidate for repurchase but I'm still on the lookout for an affordable, more moisturizing body wash. I'm certain that I won't repurchase the Ivy Naturale Brightening Shower Cream because it leaves my skin feeling more dry than it was prior to showering. I actually kind of regret getting a big bottle of it.

All that I have written in this review is based on my own experience. The effects of the products mentioned may be different on other people. If you want to try these shower creams, I suggest getting a small bottle first or maybe getting them when they're on sale. :)