If the British weather could make up it's mind soon about when summer will start, we might be able to enjoy some nice weather before the frosty claws of winter make a re-appearance. Even if it doesn't, I will be jetting off to hotter places in seven weeks time, and have already been deciding what cosmetics I wish to accompany me.
When I found out that Lush were releasing a range of sun care products, I was initially intrigued. I am one of those pale creatures that burns very easily so need to make sure I use the strongest protection to stop me looking like a lobster for two months of the year. However, when the first lotion made its appearance in the Kitchen last Monday, I was rather underwhelmed.
Sesame Suntan Lotion Sunscreen Lotion is the cheapest sun protection offering that Lush have brought out this week, but a 250g bottle will still set you back £15, making it slightly more expensive than shop-brought variations.
Described as a 'toasted sesame oil-scented lotion', this cream is definitely an acquired taste. In the bottle, it's smell reminds me of tahini - the nutty, savoury main ingredient in hummus. There is a secondary aroma present which comes from the other main ingredient; walnut leaf infusion. This rounds the smell off and gives the lotion a very subtle creamy edge to it.
Lush claim that the two above ingredients help to increase the skin's melanin production. Also called pigment, melanin is a substance that gives the skin and hair its natural colour and provides a natural protection against the harmful effects of these rays. These two ingredients, combined with the lotion's sun protector factor of 10, should stimulate your melanin levels and take the edge off of the sun's UV rays. As I have only had this lotion in my vicinity for three or four days, I am yet to comment on whether or not this works as a suncream. I will continue to use this for the next few weeks and report back my findings. However, I can still comment on the consistency, scent and value of the lotion.
As suncream lotions go, this is rather on the thick side and you don't need to use a lot when applying it onto your skin. For this reason, it does work out as good value for money. You're most likely to pick up 300-500ml spray bottles in your local shops for an average price of £12-£15, but you'll find you have to spray quite a bit to cover your whole body. One small blob of this coated both of my arms and my face, so this bottle will easily last you the whole summer.
Unfortunately, it is the scent that puts me off. When applied to the skin, the sesame scent fades quite quickly. However, what is left is a smell that has a sort of plastic after-scent, which I didn't particularly enjoy. As a vegan, hummus is a staple part of my diet - I'm just not sure it's something I really want to be smearing on my body.
It's quite a pungent, constrictive aroma - one that doesn't fit well with those who want something light and fragrant to accompany them on the beach. Luckily, I found that the smell vanishes within 20-30 minutes of application - the only question that remains, is whether or not the product is still working after this time.
My initial opinion of Sesame Suntan is that it's not one I would feel comfortable using as my main form of sun protection. The low SPF means that I'm still likely to burn with this on, and the smell does put me off. However, as I mentioned above - I will be continuing to use this across the next few weeks and see whether it has any impact on my skin.
Quantitative Ingredients: Walnut leaf infusion, Organic Sesame Oil, Water (Aqua), Octylmethoxycinnamate (Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate), Propylene Glycol, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Aloe Vera Extract, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Methylparaben.
Vegan?: Yes.
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