Tuca Tuca Massage Bar

It wasn't until I accidentally purchased the Tuca Tuca Liquid Perfume one day, that I realised that particular fragrances are interlaced with stories and memories of my childhood. Neither did I realise until I fell in love with the perfume, how much I love and pine for violet-scented products, and how this is probably the most prominent scent of my youth. 

When I found out that Lush would be re-releasing their Tuca-scented massage bar, I could not contain myself and I ended up spending a good ten minutes basking in the aroma of the perfume - imagining what it would be like to smear the violet goodness all over myself. 

When this massage bar arrived, I was a little disappointed to discover that it's a lot smaller than every other massage bar I have tried from Lush so far. It's circumference is probably the same size as a face mask pot, with a depth of about 1.5cm. Needless to say, I was less than impressed, especially given the £7.95 price tag. 

However, my heart was soon won over as I lifted the bar from the Lush box and was greeted by a gorgeous, seductive and seriously sexy aroma. This product smells identical to that of it's perfume counterpart, so if you like Tuca Tuca, you'll need to get your greedy mitts on one (or ten) of these. 

Made from a combination of cassie, vanilla, sandalwood, vetivert, violet leaf and ylang ylang oil, this massage bar is a sensual, sweet and flirty fragrance dominated by the vanilla and violet. It smells exactly like the parma violet sweets I used to eat when I was little, except that this fragrance is far more exquisite and complex than that. Laced throughout the fragrance is the sandalwood to pad out the scent and give it depth, ylang ylang and rose to add subtle elements of floral and vanilla absolute to add a warm, comforting and overall musky aroma.

Much like all of Lush's other massage bars, this one has a ton of wonderful ingredients to give your skin a feast; cocoa butter and shea butter are both present to help moisturise and remove dry, scaly skin; oils such as vetivert and sandalwood alter and improve your mood so you can de-stress whilst using the bar. Lush have then chosen a refined, sexy violet scent that will linger on the body long after your massage has ended, ensuring you feel and smell divine throughout the day. 

What I loved about Tuca Tuca is that it offers a balance between being generous with it's oils but not being wasteful with them either. The bar melts fairly easily, so I found it straightforward to use when massaging across my skin, yet it doesn't produce an abundance of oils at any one time so you don't have to worry that you'll overdo it and waste any of the liquid. 

It disperses into your skin fairly quickly so you won't be left with sticky, greasy skin - yet it leaves your arms feeling really nourished and soft. I couldn't stop marvelling at how smooth and radiant my arms and legs felt after using this massage bar. The icing on the cake was the fact that the gorgeous scent stayed on my skin all day and into the night - I didn't have to top up once.

As the bar was perfectly designed, I found that I used very little each time, so despite it's small size, I can see this lasting me almost as long as a normal size massage bar would. I can see me getting a good 10-12 full body massages out of this product and I think that makes it good value for money.

This is one of my favourite massage bars from Lush (as I thought it would be) and I think the company would benefit from making this a regular product. None of Lush's other bars have a scent close to or like Tuca Tuca and I think their range is crying out to feature a product such as this. I hope I don't have to wait another couple of years for it to show it's face again as this is now one of the staple items in my daily routine. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Perfume, Fresh Rose Petal Extract, Cassie Absolute, Vanilla Absolute, Sandalwood Oil, Vetivert Oil, Violet Leaf Absolute, Ylang Ylang Oil, Benzyl Salicylate, Cinnamal, Coumarin, Eugenol, Geraniol, Benzyl Benzoate, Farnesol, Limonene, Linalool, Methyl Ionone, Titanium Dioxide, Colour 77019, Colour 77007.

Vegan?: Yes.

Read More

Death & Decay Liquid Perfume

When Lush first announced the name of their new perfume line, there were some who complained that the title was too strange and morbid to sell the perfumes well. However, I for one was rather intrigued by the alluring names and descriptions that accompanied the release - this perfume being one of the ones I was most interested in testing out. 

Death & Decay Liquid Perfume has a lot to live up to, given that it's name is the closest to that of the entire Volume 3 range. Surprisingly, for a signature scent, it also comes in at the cheapest - a 30ml bottle will set you back £30, which I think is very good value for money given the longevity of the fragrance. 

Lush claim that it's name will 'invoke something sinister and morbid', yet I was surprised to find that the accompanying scent from this perfume doesn't do anything of the sort. Instead, it's a rather resonant floral aroma that is a little haunting at times, but definitely not something I would describe as 'sinister'. 

Made from a combination of ylang ylang and rose oil with helpings of both jasmine and tonka absolute, this is a very old-fashioned smelling perfume - one that is rather pungent inside the bottle but flourishes when it matures on the skin.  

From my experience, this perfume is one that doesn't really showcase multiple layers when being worn - all of the floral elements seem to intertwine together and give off this really strong, robust scent. Normally this would be to the detriment of the perfume as most wearers want to experience the different notes throughout the day. However, with Death & Decay, the smell it showcases is so wonderful that you don't want it to develop and change.                                                                                                             Despite it not featuring in the ingredients list, this perfume gives off a strong lily fragrance - a smooth, powerful but equally feminine smell that fans of Lily Savon will love. When comparing this product to the aforementioned perfume, this one is equally as potent but it doesn't have a sickly sweet layer that made me dislike the older scent. I can only describe the fragrance as being slightly more grounded than Ghost-scented products - it's far richer and full-bodied - it doesn't have that pungent lily scent that I dislike. 

This is definitely a very floral-led perfume - one that is slightly musky on the skin but equally as fresh and uplifting. It has that cloudy aroma you get from dried flowers but with a little sweetness added in thanks to the tonka absolute. I can see why Lush have used particular words to describe this scent as it is very reminiscent of funerals - that exquisite but equally sad and comforting smell that lilies give off.

This perfume is by far the longest lasting - remaining prominent on my skin for a good 4-5 hours after application. While I would normally shy away from heavy floral aromas, this one makes me feel beautiful and powerful - a timeless fragrance that makes a statement whenever it's being worn. I love it!

Quantitative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Perfume, Ylang Ylang Oil (Cananga odorate), Rose Oil (Rosa damascena), Jasmine Absolute (Jasminum grandiflorum), Tonka Absolute (Dioteryx odorata), Benzyl, Benzoate, Benzyl Cinnamate, Citral, Farnesol, Geraniol, Eugenol, Limonene, Linalool, Methyl Ionone, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Lilal, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Coumarin, Hydroxycitronellal.

Vegan?: Yes. 

Read More

All Good Things Liquid Perfume

I've never been more excited about a perfume than I have been for this one. When Lush first announced it in the Kitchen last week, the description instantly grabbed my attention - 'a sweet, boozy stumble down a basement staircase in a cloud of candyfloss, and black pepper.' I really couldn't imagine how these smells would fair in a perfume, so naturally I had to invest.

All Good Things is probably the most boring perfume to look at. With a simple strip of yellow around the bottle and the name etched in white, this design isn't very interesting and wouldn't immediately attract your attention. However, it's description is enough to inspire the curious to take a sniff, and perhaps it is this reason that Lush have opted to keep it basic. 

Inspired by the 'bittersweet ending of a relationship', this perfume is a strong and rather complex fragrance - one that matures wonderfully on the skin and smells even better once your warmth has released the different notes.

This perfume is made up of cedarwood, rose and cade oil and tonka absolute, and it is the former ingredient that first makes it's presence known in the bottle. To begin with, the scent reminds me a little of the dominant note in Breath of God - it's a strong, rich and rather woody offering. Except, unlike BoG, this perfume has a sweetness to it that stops it being so pungent. 

Alongside the smokiness of the wood, there is a definite layer of both rose and tonka, and these two combined make this a wonderfully thick and musky perfume. The rose adds a rich but gentle floral layer whilst the tonka compliments this with a natural sugary note. Both of these ingredients dampen the woody element of the perfume and give a wonderfully rich and thick fragrance.                                                                                                                                                       What I love about All Good Things is that the scent continues to develop long after you've applied it to the skin. Within twenty minutes or so, I noticed that the woody notes began to disperse a little whilst the sweet and floral layers remained. Over time, this allows the perfume to mature into more of a musky vanillary fragrance with just a sprinkling of rose and a dash of cedarwood. 

While I wouldn't say that this was a unisex perfume, the complexity of the smells - with both the sweet and smokey, prevents this from being solely a feminine fragrance. Fans who like scents such as Snow Fairy and Creamy Candy, but find them a little two-dimensional to wear as a perfume, might really enjoy this new addition to the Lush family. 

All Good Things is very long-lasting on the skin - I found that I could still detect it some 5-6 hours after I had initially sprayed it. Priced at £20 for a 10ml bottle, it is one of the more expensive perfumes in the new collection. However, you need to apply very little with each use and I can see a small vial lasting me a long time. Another interesting and exciting release from Lush! 

Quantitative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Perfume, Cedarwood Oil, Rose Oil, Tonka Absolute, Cade Oil, Anise Alcohol, Citral, Citronellol, Coumarin, Eugenol, Farnesol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Methyl Ionone.

Vegan?: Yes

Read More

Scentenary Soap

It is thanks to Lush that I no longer associate the smell of rose with that over-used and rather pungent aroma; one that seems to accompany a lot of cheap gift sets and cosmetics you find on the high street. The day that I acquired a bottle of Rose Jam for the first time, was a turning point for my tastebuds. 

Scentenary Soap is a rare gem that I managed to pick up last year, and features the same scent as the above shower gel. First released in 2011, this soap was sold in limited amounts as a celebration for Lush opening their 100th UK store. The soap also made a reappearance near the start of 2013, when Lush Canada offered it up as one of their special guests at their Chat Party. 

Despite the fact that the two aforementioned products only make a fleeting visit on Lush's website, if you're a fan of this fragrance, you can pick up the Rose Jam Bubbleroon and Ro Argan's Body Conditioner - both of which possess the same smell. If you're lucky enough, you may even be able to pick up a bottle of their Rose Jam Perfume, which has made many an appearance during their Forum Special releases in November. 

Firstly, Scentenary gives off a strong but equally soft fragrance. Made up mostly of the rose oil and rose absolute that features in the soap, the scent has a naturally sweet element to it that makes it far more accessible and non-overpowering than the more 'powdery' smelling rose cosmetics in their range. Much like the shower gel, this soap also features a note of lemon, which helps to give it it's beautiful, uplifting aroma without taking away from it's floral element.  

Together, these ingredients layer together wonderfully and offer a bright, youthful smell that stays with you long after you leave the shower. As with other Rose Jam scented products, this soap smells a little like freshly made turkish delight, and whether or not you like rose-dominated cosmetics, I would definitely recommend you give this one a try - you may just find you love it!  

Just as Lush claim, this soap products a rich, creamy lather that doesn't need a lot of coaxing to come out. I chose to massage this between my hands and then smother across my body, and I found that I didn't need to use the bar that long before I had a surplus amount of soapy suds to clean myself with. The effectiveness of the soap meant that this bar lasted me a long time - as long as five weeks, and this was with me using a 100g chunk an average of 1-2 times daily.

With the addition of essential oils to moisturise, smoothen and cleanse, I was expecting Scentenary to leave my skin feeling radiant and nourished. Unfortunately, the soap did dry my skin out a little, and where I had massaged it between my palms, I found that my skin felt slightly taut after a single use. It was not as drying as a lot of other soaps I have tried, but neither did it leave my skin as soft as most shower gels do. 

On the positive side, this soap showcases a beautiful aroma and it'll linger on your skin for a long time after application. You can then use the perfume to top up this smell throughout the day. It also made my bathroom smell gorgeous the whole time the soap was in action - making those early mornings just that little bit more bearable. 

Unfortunately, it didn't work well with my skin and I had to rely on the shower gel to hydrate and soften myself. I can imagine, with the right person, this soap would work wonders. However, it's not a product that I would use again. 

WebRep

currentVote

noRating

noWeight

Read More

Romance In The Stone Bath Bomb

Every so often, a product comes along that sparks an interest in me far greater than most other products usually do. Sometimes it's the look; whether it be it's unique shape, it's colour scheme or it's attention to detail on the decoration. Other times it might be the promise of an exciting scent or the way it's supposed to perform in the bath, shower or on your skin. Whether it's that high expectation that you set upon hearing about the product, or whether that product just isn't as good as it could be, there are always those moments when you feel royally let down by an unfulfilled promise. 

Romance In The Stone is probably the first product in a long while that has left me feeling confused, saddened and a little annoyed. Released during one of Lush's 2013 retro releases, it looked and sounded like something I could easily fall in love with. But things were not to be...

This is one of Lush's smaller bath bombs; a light, cream in colour with real dried rosebuds arranged and decorating each end of the product. Out of the bag, it has a wonderful fresh floral scent intertwined with a refreshing burst of citrus; created using a blend of rose and orange fragrance. This addition of the orange sets it apart from most of Lush's rose-scented ballistics, giving it a unique kick that makes it different from the likes of Rose Queen and Tisty Tosty. First impressions were good.

In the water, the rose petals and dried buds broke away from the product while it was fizzing and floated across the surface before sinking to the bottom of the tub. For those of you who dislike your baths containing any unwanted 'debris', it is easy enough to let this ballistic dissolve whilst sat in a strainer, or placed in a thin sock to stop the pieces of flower getting in your way. However, doing this will stop you from being able to collect and enjoy the sonnet that Lush have snuck inside this bath bomb, supposedly to make this bathing experience just that little bit more romantic.

Here's the problem. Firstly, I discovered that all three of my Romance In The Stone ballistics didn't work correctly. Even when I used one a mere 3-4 days after they arrived in the post, the bath bomb still plummeted to the bottom of the tub and left only a murky biege-coloured water for me to 'enjoy'. I even went out of my way to buy another bath bomb a few weeks later, thinking that I may have received one from a dodgy batch, only to discover that it did exactly the same thing. 

Secondly, if you compare the pictures of my bath bombs to the ones in the original Lush picture, mine don't possess the same allure as promised. My ballistics didn't display any of the beautiful mandarin or fuchsia colours in the flowers; instead, my roses looked wilted and old. Again, perhaps if I'd left these in a drawer for a few months this discolouration would be understandable; for a freshly made bath bomb, it's definitely not what I was expecting. 

Finally, and perhaps the worst part of this whole experience, was the horrible scent that Romance In The Stone produced when dropped into the tub. Instead of the delicate rose and orange fragrance that I was expecting, the scent that this ballistic gave off reminded me of aged pot-pourri that has gotten a little damp and begun to turn mouldy. It was an awful stale scent, which only cemented my concerns that perhaps all of my ballistics had been from a faulty batch. 

Unfortunately, I forgot to email Lush about this and never received an explanation as to why these ballistics were such poor quality. Given that most reviews I've read online about Romance In The Stone have been very positive, I've concluded that I was just unlucky with my purchase, and it's not a product fault. I really hope that Lush bring this bath bomb out again soon, as I'd love to sample another one and hopefully have a better experience this time around. However, until that happens, my opinion on this product is very negative. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Perfume, Red Rosebud, Aloe Vera Extract, Orange Blossom, Red Rose Petals, Sweet Wild Orange Oil, Sicilian Mandarin Oil, Tangerine Oil, *Citral, *Limonene, Sonnet Scroll.

Vegan?: Yes.

WebRep

currentVote

noRating

noWeight

Read More

Charity Pot / Formulae Known As Body Lotion

Charity Pot epitomises what I believe Lush to be about - a product that stands for the good causes that Lush represent and educate their consumers on. Having watched the episode of Canada's Undercover Boss a while back, the discussion surrounding this product only furthered my love and understanding of this company.   

As it states on the tub, 100% of the money made from the sale of this lotion goes towards the good causes that are featured on the tubs - causes that change every so often depending on the plights of the thousands that need it. Aside from the small bit of V.A.T that has to go to the government, if Lush only sell 10 pots per store, per day, they've made over £100 for a charity that needs it. This equates to thousands each and every single day, which is incredible if you think about the amount of people who benefit from this little pot of body lotion. But aside from what the product stands for, is it actually any good?

A fact you may not know about this product, is that it was actually revamped a few years ago, and up until then, possessed a completely different fragrance. Back when it was first released, Charity Pot used to possess the Lily Savon scent; a fresh floral and highly lily-scented range of products, which includes both the Ghost Shower Gel and Jelly, and the Lily Savon Soap. However, Lush changed this, probably due to consumer demand and it now possesses a completely different, and dare I say it, better scent.

Charity Pot is described by Lush as an 'all-round body lotion', which is just the sort that I need as I tend to moisturise my entire body once or twice a day. Made with fair trade cocoa butter, almond oil and geranium, this is a product packed with key essential oils to moisturise and tone the skin. Furthermore, Lush have also included ylang ylang, geranium and tagetes, which when mixed with the oils, creates a rich, sweet and floral scent with a chocolately element to die for. 

Normally, I'm not normally keen on chocolate-scented products, but when it comes to Charity Pot, I have to make an exception. To me, this smells of the rose-centred chocolate you used to get as part of the Quality Street range, which also happens to be the same smell that Fry's Turkish Delight is scented with. It's a gorgeous cocoa-orientated aroma with an exquisite rose twist that lingers on your skin all day. I don't think I've gotten more compliments over a body lotion as I have done with this one. It's a rich, generous and highly indulgent fragrance; one that makes you feel like a million dollars after a single use. 

At first, I was worried that, with all of the different oils and butters, this would be a rather heavy body lotion, and one that my skin wouldn't absorb very quickly. However, I found it to be the opposite. After rubbing it across my legs, I was surprised to find that my skin actually absorbed it very quickly and I wasn't left with any oily smears or stickiness.

On opening the pot, you'll notice that it is quite a runny body lotion and not as thick as you would expect from something that contains both cocoa butter and at least 4 different oils. However, the key to Charity Pot's success is in the initial ingredient; water. Lush have carefully crafted an emulsion using both this water and the various oils, to create a thinner lotion so that it's absorbed easier and doesn't leave heavy residue on the surface of your skin. 

Having used it daily for almost a month, I wouldn't say that it's the most hydrating or moisturising of Lush's body lotions. However, it does make your skin feel and smell wonderful, and has that presence that helps you feel really special when you're having a bad day. I tend to use this when I need that added comfort, either from the cold weather or from the stresses of work. The gorgeous chocolate and floral aroma helps me to indulge my senses without indulging in too much vegan chocolate. 

With the recent release of their Self-Preserving Charity Pot, Lush have used this opportunity to update Charity Pot's scent. However, due to the popularity of this particular fragrance, Lush have decided to keep this scented lotion and sell it under it's new name, Formulae Known As. I hope this is a permanent decision, as although it's not my regular body lotion, it is one I would buy regularly. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Water, Almond Oil, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Glycerine, Stearic Acid, Ylang Ylang Oil, Geranium Oil, Tagetes Oil, Triethanolamine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Amyl Cinnamal, Isoeugenol, Methyl Ionone, Geraniol, Citronellol, Hydroxycitronellal, *Limonene, *Linalool, *Farnesol, Perfume, Gardenia Extract, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes.

WebRep

currentVote

noRating

noWeight

Read More

The Guv'ner Powdered Deodorant

As I've mentioned in previous deodorant reviews, it is very rare that I have anything bad to say about Lush. Unfortunately, when I do, it's normally to do with one of their less than effective deodorants that often seem to elevate and encourage the very problems they claim to eradicate. 

The Guv'ner is the second to last deodorant from Lush that I have left to review, and as previous experience goes, this product already starts off on uneven standing. Described by the company as a 'hardworking, absorbent deodorant powder that means business', I was expecting something a little more effective than their previous offerings.

This is one of Lush's powdered products and comes in an 80g bottle, which may make it sound rather expensive when priced at £6.25. However, you only need to use a minuscule amount each time, meaning this bottle would probably last you a good six or more months. I was using it twice a day, for almost a month, and the powder barely moved a centimetre away from the top of the bottle.  

The powder is made up of a combination of different ingredients, each bringing their unique scents and properties to the mix. This list includes charcoal, sodium bicarbonate, lavender powder and calamine powder to name just a few. 

The different powders used in this are supposed to absorb sweat and soothe skin while the essential oils keep you smelling good for the whole day. Firstly, there's charcoal powder, which absorbs moisturise and eradicates smells; the lycopodium powder helps to keep the deodorant gentle on your skin, also acting as a cooling element, alongside the patchouli, to keep you feeling fresh; the sage and patchouli are there for their wonderful aroma and also for their antiseptic and astringent qualities. These latter ingredients have been proven to shrink pores, aiding towards the ultimate goal of decreased sweating!

Much like The Greeench Powdered Deodorant, applying the deodorant proved a little difficult. I tend to pour a little on the tips of my fingers and then rub it immediately under my armpits. However, despite my best efforts, I always end up spilling excess powder on my clothes or floor, so it's a little fiddly to say the least. Furthermore, it left a dark powdery layer on my armpits, which although didn't transfer onto my clothes, did leave me feeling rather conscious; it wouldn't be a product I'd be able to wear with short sleeves.

Unlike a lot of synthetic deodorants available in shops, this one is far more natural, meaning it doesn't block off the sweat glands. Although this is definitely a positive attribute, I was also aware that The Guv' ner wouldn't protect me for as long as other anti-perspirants might have done. This fact became all the more apparent when I found myself sweating profusely at work one day and became paranoid that the sweat would permeate my top and show through. However, the deodorant does act as a great repellent of smells, and despite amassing a fair bit of sweat, I couldn't detect any bad smells coming from my body.

The Guv'ner is probably one of the better smelling deodorants, a subtle blend of vetivert, patchouli, sage and lavender. It is this latter ingredient that comes through the most here, although it's a gentle scent so won't overpower any body lotion or perfume that you wish to apply.

Overall, it's far from being a terrible product; I just don't think it's suited to me. As I said in a previous review, I know I look for Lush for solutions in all of my cosmetic needs, but as of yet, they have yet to convince me that I should move away from my regular bottle of Nivea.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Lycopodium Powder, Magnesium Trisilicate, Powdered Charcoal, Calamine Powder, Sage Powder, Lavender Powder, Perfume, Patchouli Powder, Rose Absolute, Vetivert Oil, *Geraniol, *Limonene, *Linalool.

Vegan?: Yes.

WebRep

currentVote

noRating

noWeight

Read More

Marzibain Bubble Bar

In all honesty, I've cannot justify why it has taken me so long to use one of these gorgeous bubble bars. It's not even as if I wasn't aware of the scent it possessed, which might have given me a slight pardon for my actions. All I can say, is now that I have finally managed to enjoy one of these, punishment comes in knowing that Lush have discontinued them and I have no opportunity to stock up on them.

Marzibain Bubble Bar is a firm favourite amongst Lushies, old and new, and boasts at being the only Christmas product that Lush have featured all year round. Sharing it's scent with the infamous, limited edition Snow Cake Soap, this bubble bar is a feast for the senses. 

   

To look at, it's nothing special; a cream coloured oval block garnished with an almond in the centre. You can choose to use it for one luxurious bath, or like most of Lush's bubble bars, break it in half for two equally gorgeous experiences. Being the greedy bugger that I am, I always opt to use the whole bar, however the choice is yours. 

To use any of Lush's bubble bars, you can either crumble it under running water, or as I do; hold it directly under the flow of the tap, which I find creates more bubbles. As soon as the water hits the bar, lots of bubbles start to form and disperse throughout the tub. Within a few seconds, the gorgeous fragrance begins to waft around the bathroom and seep into your senses. And what a scent it is!

As the name suggests, this bar smells exactly like marzipan - a yummy, almond-dominated scent with a spicy kick brought to you courtesy of the Benzoin Resinoid. The addition of Cassie and rose absolute oils, means that there is an edge of sophistication which gives this product a lovely, multi-layered fragrance. It's good enough to eat, and I'll admit that I was tempted to have a nibble of Marzibain before I used it in the bath.

I love this bubble bar; it turns the water a milky white colour and leaves my skin feeling moisturised and wickedly pampered. The bubbles are silky soft and encase you in their velvety grip, leaving you feeling and smelling like a queen/king. Many people have complained that this bubble bar harvests very little scent, and many were very dissappointed that it wasn't stronger than it was. However, I didn't find this at all. It was perfectly scented and the fragrance remained with me throughout the entire experience, permeating my skin so that the smell stayed with me for many hours after I had exited the bath.

The only difference I noted between this bubble bar and the shower gel and perfume variations, is that the sweetness of the Cassie absolute wasn't as dominating as it was in both of these products. This didn't make it any less gorgeous though, and only helped in cementing this as one of my all time favourite bubble bars.   

Ultimately, Marzibain Bubble Bar is a highly sensual and rather sophisticated product that makes the water and your body gorgeously soft and fragrant. It's an experience I look forward to when Lush next decide to bring this back again and I'm hoping it will make a reappearance very soon. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Perfume, Cocamide DEA, Benzoin Resinoid, Cassie Absolute, Rose Absolute, Whole Almond, Benzyl Benzoate.

Vegan?: Yes.

WebRep

currentVote

noRating

noWeight

Read More

Potion Body Lotion

I first brought this body lotion back when I started collecting Lush goodies in 2012. At the time, I tended to bulk buy a lot of products in one go, and Potion happened to be in one of my first orders. Unfortunately, at the same time as buying Potion, I also bought Karma Kream and Sympathy For The Skin, which meant that this lotion was not at the top of my 'to try' list. Fast forward almost two years, and I finally get around to using one of the bottles; I was immediately bowled over. 

Potion is one of Lush's lighter body lotions, very similar in consistency to the likes of Artemis Cream and Vanilla Dee-Lite. Made using a combination of almond oil and cocoa butter, this product is absorbed into the skin very quickly, leaving it ultra smooth and not greasy in the slightest.

It's wonderful scent is made from a combination of carnations, roses and tangerines; a rich and sensual floral fragrance with just a sprinkling of sweetness from those fruit juices. This is definitely not your typical floral smell, which is probably why I fell in love with it almost instantaneously. It's unique scent is definitely a modern smell, but it does feature sultry elements, making it appealing to both the younger and older markets. 

The main ingredient in Potion is fresh rose petals, and this is definitely at the forefront of it's scent. Rose is a wonderful ingredient for calming sensitive and irritated skin, and also works as a fantastic coolant for those who've spent a little too long in the sun. Almond oil is the another key ingredient here, and you can definitely pick up the nuttiness of it's scent; a perfect complimentary smell to the carnations.

What I love about Potion, is that it's beautiful fragrance stays on your skin for hours and hours after application, meaning that on days when I use this, I don't have to use any perfume. On the downside, people who dislike potent-smelling cosmetics, may find this a little strong. 

The only other negative aspect about this product, is that it's sold in bottles, not in Lush's usual black tubs. Normally I wouldn't care how a product is presented, I'm more interested in how it works. However, I found it a little difficult to get this lotion out of the bottle without leaving it resting upside down, or shaking it rigorously for a matter of seconds. There is no reason why Potion couldn't be transferred into a tub next time around, and I hope that Lush take this into consideration. 

Although this body lotion shares it's scent with Ruby Red Slippers, I think the scent in Potion is much lighter and far more beautiful than it is in the bubble bar. Furthermore, you don't have to worry about covering yourself in red lustre,  which you would have had to do if you'd used the bubble bar.

This is a wonderfully sophisticated, modern-smelling and highly moisturising body lotion, one that you can rely on to refreshen and soften you skin almost immediately. Despite not being bowled over by most floral smells, this body lotion offers a unique and very modern scented lotion that I hope makes a reappearance very soon.

Quantitative Ingredients: Fresh Rose Petal Infusion, Almond Oil, Cocoa Butter, Glycerine, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Fresh Tangerines, Rose Absolute, Carnation Absolute, Tangerine Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, *Benzyl Salicylate, *Eugenol, *Geraniol, *Farnesol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Perfume, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes.

ratingTextUndefined

Read More

Potion Liquid Perfume

Looking back at Lush's Forum Special perfumes over the years, there are some incredible entries that leave me feeling very jealous that I wasn't around to grab myself a bottle or two. Potion was one of the fragrances that taunted me; being released for the first time as part of the 2005 collection, and never being brought out again. 

This ultra rare perfume was sold in a beautiful glass bottle and decorated with a golden ribbon around the neck; a gorgeous package that outshines all of Lush's incredibly boring black-bottle design that they use now. So you can imagine how I felt when I found one of these beautiful perfumes on eBay: I wasn't going to let it go.

Sharing it's scent with the Potion Body Lotion, Potion Liquid Perfume is a wonderful scent comprised from a combination of carnations, roses and tangerines; a rich and sensual floral fragrance with just a sprinkling of sweetness from those fruity oils. This is definitely not your typical floral smell, which is probably why I fell in love with it almost instantaneously. It's unique scent is definitely a modern smell, but it does feature sultry elements, making it appealing to both the younger and older markets. 

This scent is definitely very feminine and mature, but that's not to say that this fragrance would not appeal to consumers of all ages. Whereas a lot of floral and rose-scented cosmetics tend to appeal to a certain niche of perfume lovers, I think Potion's smell is a universal one, meaning that it would suit anyone from about 18 - 80.

The reason why it works so well for such a range of different people, is because it's a fresh and very modern smelling fragrance. The tangerine oil gives the perfume a zesty, uplifting twist that would appeal to the younger audience. However, it also has references to the classic smells of rose and carnation, which would suit an older market.

What I loved about Potion, was that it was one of my longest lasting perfumes I've tried from Lush. The scent stayed with me throughout the entire day, leaving my skin with a rather subtle but sexy light scent that mellowed as the evening progressed. 

Furthermore, I found that this product was ideal to use during both the day and night. Unlike a perfume such as Imogen Rose, the different floral elements are not cloying or overpowering, meaning that you can wear this down the beach without feeling like the scent is too heavy to match the environment. At the same time, the sophistication of both the carnation and rose petal infusions, make Potion a rich and rather indulgent perfume that holds it own on a night out. 

Overall, Potion is a subtle perfume and doesn't come across as either strong or overpowering. It settles down well on your skin and has decent staying power; the wearer being able to smell it 6-8 hours after application. It still smells floral when it settles and that's when I can detect the natural rose oil that it's made with. The Rose Oil smells divine and it's gentle on the skin. 

It's a perfume with an edge of sophistication, yet a light refreshing twist as well. I thoroughly enjoyed using this and was rather gutted when my bottle finished. Having been 9 years since it was last released, I think Lush should consider putting it in for another appearance. I for one, will be stocking up if it happens.

Quantitative ingredients: Rose Petal Infusion (Rosa centifolia), Almond Oil (Prunus dulcis), Fresh Tangerines (Citrus reticulata), Rose Absolute (Rosa centifolia), Carnation Absolute (Dianthus carophyllus), Tangerine Oil (Citrus reticulata).

Vegan?: Yes.

WebRep

currentVote

noRating

noWeight

Read More