American Cream Lotion

I was lucky enough to grab myself a brand new 225g tub of the now discontinued American Cream Body Lotion a few months ago. One thing that always struck me as weird with the AC range, is that the conditioner of the same name has added ingredients that makes it not very vegan friendly. This is a shame as I adore the scent and would love to try other products with the scent.

Unfortunately, the condition of my lotion was rather runny, and I didn't feel it was quite up to par with what a fresh batch would look and smell like. So I was really happy when Lush chose to re-release it in their Lush Kitchen.  

Although the main ingredients in this lotion are almond oil and cocoa butter, it is definitely the vanilla scent that shines through here. And much like Vanilla Dee-Lite, the smell is a natural vanilla scent that doesn't smell fabricated or distilled.

The lotion is a creamy peach colour and has quite a distinctive smell. It's a medium thickness in texture, which means this is neither too thick or too watery. To look at, it reminds me of vanilla pudding - it has that slight gleam about it which I haven't noticed with other Lush body lotions. 

I cannot compare this lotion to the conditioner with the same name, merely because the latter is not vegan. However, having smelt the conditioner, they do indeed share the exact same scent, albeit the conditioner has perhaps a slightly stronger fragrance. 

Reading reviews of the conditioner, the general consensus is that the scent is a mixture of vanilla and strawberries - a shortcake made into a lotion. However, this is not the scent I get when I smell the body lotion. On the original tub it said 'A fragrance that's always a firm forum favourite, you'll be sure to love smothering this dreamy vanilla ice cream scented lotion all over. For delectable, sophisticated strawberry scented skin, open the lid and dive in'. The newer addition only mentions the vanilla element, and it is this that I associate with more.

First impressions of the scent are that of a vanilla mixed with sweet, floral undertones and a hint of lavender. There is a slight reference to strawberries here, however it's a far more mature fruity smell and could be mistaken for the nuttiness of the almonds. The overall smell reminds me a little of rice pudding with a dollop of strawberry jam in the middle - you can smell the vanilla at the forefront with just the slightest hint of the sweetness from the jam underneath. 

This lotion worked really well with my skin; instantly dissolving and leaving my body feeling soft and hydrated. However, It didn't moisturise as well as many of the other Lush lotions I have already tried - my skin felt soft afterwards but not particularly hydrated. This could be due to how quickly it does settle into the skin - not leaving enough time to condition the body before it does so. It works especially well as a hand cream, although I think this is somewhat of a waste as I feel it's a lotion that should be smothered all over and really appreciated in it's fullness. 

It also has a very pungent smell, which some may find off putting, as you tend to get waves of this fragrance all day long when wearing it. It can mask other scents, so if you're planning on wearing perfume, make sure it's something that won't clash with this.

The only downside I have found so far is that it is very easy to put too much on and this can leave your skin slightly greasy. However, an easy solution is just to monitor your usage and prevent that unwanted sheen. Start by using a minimal amount and then build it up slowly. 

Overall, I think this is a beautiful lotion that should be bought back into circulation permanently. Admittedly, I don't necessarily think I would love this lotion anywhere near as much, was it not for it's beautiful fragrance. However, it's an uplifting product that leaves you feeling warm, comforted and beautiful. Even if it works better at hydrating your mental state than your physical, it's a product I love dearly. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Almond Oil (Prunusdulcis), Cocoa Butter (Theobroma cacao), Glycerine,Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Vanilla Absolute (Vanilla planifolia),Clary Sage Oil (Salvia sclarea), Lavender Oil (Lavandula angustifolia), Benzoin Resinoid (Styraxtonkinensispierre), Cetearyl Alcohol,*Linalool, *Limonene,Couramin, Perfume, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes