Today we’re reviewing a variety of products from Bottega di Lungavita, an Italian beauty and cosmetics brand that offers a wide range of care options in categories such as skin, anti-ageing, mom & baby, men, aromatherapy, bath & shower, and others. With over 30 years under its belt, Bottega di Lungavita prides itself on extracting the best from traditional, natural care and applying modern technology to create self-described “cutting edge” solutions.
Disclaimer: The products below were sent to us by Bottega India. As always, our review remains 100% honest and our own.
So what do we think? Overall, it’s clear the brand is targeted towards those seeking to graduate to natural, chemical-free alternatives in personal care. In some cases, the benefits of this philosophy are immediately clear. In others, it feels like a leap of faith. Perhaps more long-term usage would uncover the benefits of mineral salts and fruit extracts in your beauty regimen, but we can’t speak to that just yet.
Bottega di Lungavita is not cheap, but it’s not super expensive either. We think the brand will find a home among users looking for the feel-good factor of premium, earthy cosmetics combined with the romance of its Italian heritage. But for those seeking something more functional, this may feel like overkill.
So which products made our list and which did we ditch? Read on to find out!
HIS.
Vita-Age Man: Doccia Shampoo (Shampoo Shower Gel) (MRP: Rs. 890)
Vita-Age Man: Doccia Shampoo is a combination shampoo and shower gel that promises “revitalized spirits” through its use of mineral salts, aloe and calendula. Like the rest of the brand’s shower gel range, this one is quite mild and “non-aggressively” foamy. In other words, don’t expect a very lathery wash. It is similarly timid in scent, especially for those more accustomed to the bold scented flavors available on most supermarket shelves. While none of these are necessarily product faults, you’d have to really believe those mineral salts are hard at work to make the financial commitment and add this to your shower caddy. At most, Vita-Age Man: Doccia Shampoo wins points for its 2-in-1 convenience (just one tube to toss into your gym bag or luggage) and for those with very sensitive skin.
Vita-Age Man: Balsamo Dopo Barba (Aftershave Balm) (MRP: Rs. 990)
For a quintessentially male product, Vita-Age Man: Balsamo Dopo Barba (Aftershave Balm) comes in a surprisingly feminine glass bottle that I’m pretty sure I’ve seen before on my wife’s dressing table. The balm itself feels rich and creamy, yet leaves your freshly scraped face wanting something more (I had to reapply a different lotion). The scent is quite mild, bordering on the flowery side. Again, not exactly a manly experience. On a positive note, Balsamo Dopo Barba is alcohol-free and suitable for daily shavers with sensitive skin. But we don’t find much merit to the bottle’s claim of leaving you with a “sensation of freshness” and ultimately I’m not sure this product’s benefits warrant the embarrassment of the carrying around such a dainty bottle.
Armonie D’Italia Armonie Toscane Burro Corpo (Body Butter) (MRP: Rs. 850)
Out of all the men’s range of products from Vita-Age that we tried, this would be our favorite. What is a “relaxation face treatment”? We’re not sure. But otherwise this light face cream provides immediate and refreshing moisture to tired or dry skin, without a shiny appearance or greasy feel. Considering how ridiculously hard it is to find an effective men’s face cream in India that isn’t packed with skin-whitening agents (we need to talk about this), I was happy with this product. Would I shell out Rs. 850 for it? Possibly. I’m not immediately convinced, but I’ll keep using this one until the tube is out and let you know then (in about a month’s time).
HERS.
Armonie D’Italia Armonie Toscane Burro Corpo (Body Butter) (MRP: Rs. 1,650)
Armonie D’Italia Armonie Toscane Burro Corpo (Body Butter) is a rich, deep moisturizing cream that gets the job done, but at a price (and we’re not just talking MRP.) The butter feels intensely rich and oily the moment you dip your fingers in, and despite prolonged massaging continues to feel waxy on skin long after. To be sure, it immediately obliterates any signs of dry skin, and that too with a pleasant, light scent. Chalk this up to its sweet almond oil and shea butter ingredients. Those who prefer lighter moisturization will find this product quite heavy, and perhaps ill suited to our current humid monsoon climate. Our tub also had a faulty top, which was maddeningly difficult to close with our freshly moisturized fingers. Overall, a good moisturizer but definitely a commitment.
Vita Age In Tonico Rigenerante (Regenerating Tonic Lotion) (
While we do love the idea of using a toner everyday, lets face it – not everyone’s daily routine permits them this luxury. What we liked about the Vita Age In Regenerating Tonic Lotion was the instantly refreshing and skin tightening feeling plus the pleasant, clean and light aroma. It just felt like we went through a lot of cotton pads for each cleansing to get all that Mumbai grime off. That coupled with the slightly steep price tag makes us happy that this product comes in a BIG bottle that will last a while!
Linfa Age Bagnodoccia Tonico Energizzante (Energizing Bath & Shower Tonic, Invigorating) (MRP: Rs. 890)
Like St. John’s wort, ginseng is recommended by herbalists as a cure for just about everything. So showering with Linfa Age Energizing Bath & Shower Gel With Ginseng And St. John’S Wort is a no-brainer – unless that is you’re looking for a super foamy bathing experience. We liked the lingering lemony aroma and definitely felt invigorated after use!
Primavera Romana Bagnodoccia (Romana Spring Bath & Shower Gel) (MRP: Rs.
“Romana Spring” Delicate & Feminine Bath And Shower Gel was probably the most girly product of them all. Rose hip extract, sweet almond oil, aqua – THAT’s what pretty girls are made of! Again not a super foamy bath but the pleasant aroma and Wild Rose extract gets our vote. We did feel like we went through the tube fairly quickly using this as a daily shower gel so perhaps save this one for indulgent weekends and a cheep and cheerful option through the week?
Sunscreen Spray SPF 30 Special Baby High Protection (MRP: Rs. 1,650)
The Sunscreen Spray SPF 50 Special Baby High Protection was not our favourite. The spray bottle felt clunky and spat out sticky sunscreen almost unwillingly. The texture felt a bit thick and oily for the Mumbai sun. This sunscreen does provide UVA/UVB protection so at least it checked those boxes! But otherwise, we’d give this one a pass.
Have you tried any of these products, or any others in the range? What did you think?