Colocynth Massage Cream, 500 ml

A massage cream sold under the Last Queen name. Its label names it in three languages: in Arabic and English it is a colocynth massage cream, while the Russian line calls it a massage cream with coconut oil and does not mention colocynth. Colocynth is a bitter desert gourd. The label lists no ingredients, so it does not say how much colocynth or coconut oil the cream contains, or what else is in it; it gives the size, 500 ml, and printed manufacturing and expiry dates. It comes in a 500 ml white plastic bottle with a white pump; the pink label shows the brand's emblem, a queen in an Egyptian headdress, above the Last Queen name and its Russian translation, and a drawing of round brown fruits.

What it is for: the sides of the label list uses of their own; those are the maker's words, not a promise. This shop sells it as a cosmetic and makes no claim about joints, pain or any illness. It is a body and massage cream for dry skin, and it softens dry hands, elbows and heels. It is a cosmetic: it works on how skin looks and feels.

Use a little at a time. After a shower or for a massage, 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. Keep it off the face, and wash your hands after use.

The difference from an unlabelled bottle in a bazaar is what you can see for yourself: a brand name and a printed label with the name and size on the front. It reaches you unopened, at the price on this page, with nothing to haggle over.

It is for external use only. Colocynth fruit is poisonous if eaten, so never swallow this cream, keep it away from the mouth and keep the bottle where children cannot reach it. Try a little on the inner arm first and wait a day before using it more widely, because colocynth can irritate sensitive skin; if your skin stings or turns red, wash it off with soap and water. Do not put it on broken or irritated skin. If you are allergic to coconut, do not use it. The label lists no ingredients, so if you have allergies, ask a doctor before you use it. Do not use it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is not a sunscreen and has no SPF. Keep it out of the eyes.

Keep the bottle out of direct sun and heat, and wipe the pump clean after use. A massage cream can mark fabric and towels and makes floors slippery, so wipe your hands before you touch clothes. At 500 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 and wrapped in clothes.

Who it suits: adults with dry skin, dry hands and heels who want a simple massage cream, in a large bottle that lasts. Skip it if your skin is sensitive, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, if you are allergic to coconut, if small children at home could reach the bottle, or if you travel with hand luggage only.