Renowned for its peri-peri chicken made as hot as customers can handle, Nando’s, which arrived in the UK as a single takeaway in 1992, has grown into one of the country’s most popular chains with more than 470 restaurants.
But, while there’s no doubt that the South Africa-born eatery is on to a winning formula, that hasn’t stopped it from branching out into an entirely new sector, namely, skincare.
Last month, Nando’s launched its first ever face cream – ‘a hydrating lotion’ – to coincide with the return of its Creamy Salad Dressing.
And, in addition to being inspired by the special sauce, the Extra Creamy Face Cream, available for a limited time only, also borrowed ingredients from it, specifically garlic and black pepper.
Yet while these store cupboard staples are reported to have skin-boosting properties – garlic is high in sulphur, aiding collagen production, while black pepper has anti-inflammatory properties – could a face cream modelled on salad dressing really catch on?
Eager to find out, FEMAIL tried out Nando’s Extra Creamy Face Cream and share their verdicts.
The Extra Creamy Face Cream by Nando’s (left) was inspired by the return of its Creamy Salad Dressing (right)
‘Does this have chicken in it?’
UK Senior Video Editor Amie-Beth, a self-confessed Nando’s devotee, went into the skincare test with a positive mindset.
Examining the packaging, she noted the warning: ‘External use only, do not eat.’
Yet, when she made to smell the Extra Creamy Face Cream, Amie instinctively turned her head the other way – she must have caught a whiff of that collagen-boosting garlic.
Still, she persevered, taking some of the cream from the pot and applying it to her neck.
Unimpressed, Amie said: ‘I’m not going to lie… I’m a little bit upset that it’s on both my hands. It’s really quite sticky on my skin.’
But the stickiness wasn’t the worst of it. As a vegan sampling a face cream made by a company best known for its poultry, Amie quickly grew concerned that it might contain chicken.
‘Wait, does this have chicken in it?’ she asked. ‘I’m a vegan. It better not.’
UK Senior Video Editor Amie-Beth (pictured) found the face cream sticky on her skin
Nando’s Extra Creamy Face Cream does not contain chicken but, unfortunately, that didn’t do much to redeem the new skincare product in Amie’s eyes.
Amie’s verdict: ‘I love Nando’s – Nando’s is very close to my heart – but, unfortunately on this occasion, I’m going to have to give it a two.’
‘Just because you can doesn’t mean you should’
Monty, Creative Video Production Manager, also threw himself into the skincare test.
Curious about the Nando’s Extra Creamy Face Cream, he hurriedly opened the box and removed the pot containing the product.
But, as he revealed the message on the packaging, which read ‘Ready to smell like a salad?’, Monty had second thoughts.
‘I don’t think I am ready to smell like a salad,’ he admitted.
His doubt only increased when he brought the product to his nose to take in the notes of garlic and black pepper.
‘Ooof, that is not a nice smell,’ he added.
While Monty made clear that he wasn’t keen to put the cream on his face, he dutifully saw the test through – and with surprising results.
Creative Video Production Manager Monty (pictured) was surprised to find the cream fairly moisturising
‘It’s actually… it’s just the smell,’ he said. ‘It feels fine. It looks quite moisturising.’
Yet, still not sold on the Extra Creamy Face Cream, Monty’s verdict wasn’t especially enthusiastic.
He concluded: ‘Just because you can, it doesn’t mean you should. I’ll give it a five actually, because I think it’s nice – but it’s just wrong.’
‘The garlic, that’s what I couldn’t pin point’
UK Video Journalist Stella appeared hopeful about the Extra Creamy Face Cream when she first held it in her hands.
‘Cute little bottle – so far, so good,’ she enthused.
Excited to open the pot, it was only when she went to smell it that she began to realise what she was in for.
But while the smell, which elicited an ‘Oh my god’ from Stella, was bad enough, the texture of the cream proved even more problematic.
‘It’s quite oily on my fingers,’ she explained.
Yet, things seemed to improve when she came to apply the product to her skin, with Stella admitting that it felt ‘like a normal cream’.
It was only a little later, when the smell grew stronger, that Stella clocked the culprit.
‘It’s the garlic, that’s what I couldn’t pinpoint,’ she exclaimed. ‘It’s vinegar, it’s black pepper, and it’s garlic.’
UK Video Journalist Stella (pictured) couldn’t get over the strong garlic smell of the Nando’s Extra Creamy Face Cream
Despite the role of garlic, which is high in sulphur, in collagen production, the odour proved too much for Stella.
‘Great, because everyone wants to smell like garlic… And you want your face to smell like garlic… and your hands to smell like garlic,’ she said.
Indeed, the strong garlic smell and unappealing oily texture left Stella distinctly unimpressed.
She added: ‘If you’re into really oily creams that smell like garlic, go for it. I think I’m going to give it a one.’
