Camel Milk Body Lotion, 200 ml

A camel milk body lotion in a pump bottle. The clear, shimmering label carries the word “Cleopatra” in pale letters above “Camel Milk”, a round medallion with a queen in an Egyptian headdress, in profile, and a drawing of two camels under palm trees; it does not name a maker. The front of the label lists no ingredients, so it does not say how much camel milk the lotion contains, or what else is in it. It comes in a 200 ml plastic bottle with a black pump.

What it is for: the front of the label lists no uses, so these are the usual ways a body lotion is used. It is an everyday moisturiser for dry skin on the body; it softens dry hands, elbows and heels; and a little can go on dry skin on the face. It is a cosmetic: it works on how skin looks and feels.

Use a little at a time. After a shower, pump a small amount into your palm, warm it between your hands and smooth it over dry skin on the arms and legs until it sinks in. For dry hands, elbows and heels, rub in a little in the evening. On the face, use only a little on clean skin and keep it away from the eyes.

The difference from an unlabelled bottle in a bazaar is what you can see for yourself: a printed label with the name. It reaches you unopened, at the price on this page, with nothing to haggle over. When it arrives, look on the bottle for the ingredient list and the expiry date.

It is for external use only. Try it on the inner arm first and wait a day before using it on your face. Do not put it on broken or irritated skin. It is sold as a camel milk lotion, so skip it if you have a milk allergy. The front of the label lists no ingredients, so if you have other allergies, ask a doctor before you use it. It is not a sunscreen and has no SPF, so in the Egyptian sun you still need one. Keep it out of the eyes and away from small children.

Keep the bottle out of direct sun and heat, and wipe the pump clean after use. At 200 ml it is over the 100 ml cabin limit, so it cannot fly in hand luggage: pack it in checked baggage, with the pump screwed down tight and the bottle sealed in a zip bag, standing upright.

Who it suits: anyone with dry skin who wants one plain lotion for the body and hands, in a bottle with a pump. Skip it if you have a milk allergy, if your skin reacts easily and you need to read an ingredient list first, or if you travel with hand luggage only.