June 2013 Lush Inventory - Soaps

Right, onto the soaps. For some reason, I have managed to collect a LOT of soaps, which probably isn't surprising to most when you see my collection as a whole. However, it is a little odd as I very rarely use soaps; I would much rather use a shower gel or jelly. 

My soap collection has mounted up considerably this year, so I will be doing a competition very soon for one lucky person to win a large set of different soaps. Keep your eyes (sexy) peel(ed)!

Once I began photographing my soaps, I realised that a couple of the soap at the bottom of my box had begun to sweat a little. So I decided to invest in some grease-proof paper and repackage my entire collection, as well as slice off a handful of pieces to accompany me in the shower...

Current Stash:

Soaps

13 Cherry Tree Lane

13 (unlucky for dirt)

Angels Delight

Canadian Maple Soap

Candy Cane

Divine Whale

Egg Hunt Soap

Figs and Leaves

Karma

Lady Catrina

Mandarin's Tea Party

Miranda 

Mr Punch Soap

Mud Flats

Northern Lights 

North Pole

Nou Bar

Ooh La La

Putty For Your Hands

Porridge

Red Rooster

Rock Star

Sandstone

Scentenary

Sea Vegetable

Sexy Peel

Snow Cake

Snow Globe

Spice Mountain

Sultana of Soap

Summer Pudding

Willow

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June 2013 Inventory - Hair Products

This is post number three of my Lush inventory, detailing what Lush products I currently own. As you'll see from this post, my haircare range is probably the smallest section of my collection. I have a real dedication towards my Cynthia Silvia Stout and Big shampoos, and my Veganese conditioner, so it is not very often that I'm willing to try a new product. For this reason, I keep my haircare range to a minimum, and tend to only use new products when I run out of my regular items. 

Here is my haircare range:

Current Stash:

Big Shampoo

Cynthia Stout Shampoo

Daddy-O Shampoo

Dirty Hair Styling Cream

Dr Peppermint Solid Shampoo

Gentle Lentil

Glam Rock Hair Glitter

Jasmine and Haze Shampoo 

Jungle Conditioner

Karma Komba

Happy Happy Joy Joy Hair Perfume

Marilyn

New Solid Shampoo

Rehab Shampoo

R & B Hair Moisturiser 

Seanik Solid Shampoo

Snake Oil Scalp Treatment

Veganese Conditioner

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Big Solid Conditioner

On paper, this conditioner sounds like a Godsend; Sea salt, seaweed infusion, coconut oil, jojoba, and lemon and lime juice to condition and shine; Jasmine, tonka, orris, vetivert and vanilla to smell beautiful all day. However, in reality this conditioner was a let down.

As I've said in previous posts, I've always been a bit hesitant to use Lush's solid shampoos and conditioners, as I've never been fully convinced that a rock-solid block of 'stuff' can be that good for my locks. However, on opening this for the first time, I was surprised to find a slightly softer bar than I was expecting; it is definitely softer and creamier to touch than Lush's other hair care bars - much like a block of butter that's been frozen and then left to defrost for a few hours.

It also smells divine; it has a very fresh and clean scent, with little florally undertones that stay on your hair for hours after use. 

The Big Solid Conditioner is a fairly new product designed to work alongside their Big Shampoo and it’s meant to condition your hair and to make it look extra shiny. As I didn't have any Big at the time, I opted to use it alongside my favourite, Cynthia Sylvia Stout Shampoo. 

The first time I used it I took the whole piece of Big Solid Conditioner in my hands and I started to massage it into my hair, much like they recommend you do on the website. What I found straight away was that the bar was rather harsh on my hair, and I ended up with hair all over my piece of Big and a head that didn't feel very conditioned at all.  

The second time I used Big, I massaged the bar between my warm hands and spread the creamy foam throughout my hair. What I found however, was that it was difficult to get the bar to produce much lather at all. 

Whatever I did, I wasn't able to apply the conditioner throughout my hair. I always felt like I had patches of conditioner in places and some areas where there was none at all. And because the conditioner doesn't lather up, it's almost impossible to ensure you've covered your whole head. 

Another thing that I didn’t really like is that it didn’t feel as if I had conditioner on my hair. When I use Veganese, I can feel the conditioner doing it's job and when I wash it out, my hair feels silky soft and nourished. With Big, it doesn't feel as if I've conditioned my hair at all; my hair feels dry and damaged, and both times I used it, I found bits of the conditioner had remained in my hair after it had dried. When dry, my hair felt brittle and frizzy.

Maybe this conditioner just isn't designed for my hair type, or maybe me and solid conditioners just don't get on. Either way, I was left really disappointed with this product, and it's something I will not be buying again. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Fine Sea Salt, Glyceryl Stearate & PEG-100 Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Glycerine, Lemon Juice, Cetearyl Alcohol, Toothed Wrack Seaweed Infusion, Fresh Lime, Organic Jojoba Oil, Perfume, Cetrimonium Bromide, Vetivert Oil, Jasmine Absolute, Bergamot Oil, Candelilla Wax, *Titanium Dioxide, Methyl Lonone, Geraniol, *Linalool, *Coumarin, *Limonene.

Vegan?: Yes

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Dream Cream Lotion

I was surprised to learn that Dream Cream is Lush's biggest selling product, but it's not difficult to understand once you find out why. For years, Lush have received endless letters detailing the agonies and worries of consumers who had eczema and other skin irritations, and found shopping for lotions and skin care products almost impossible. Lush came up with a definitive cream that was to solve all of that cement itself as their biggest selling item to date. 

Oats have been used for centuries to cool hot, damaged skin and to treat eczema, which is why Lush decided to use them as a basis for their number one selling body lotion. Rose water, olive oil, cocoa butter and vegetable glycerine are then added as natural and gentle moisturisers. A blend of rose absolute, chamomile blue, tea tree and lavender finish round this product off with an impressive finish.

Sometimes, all skin wants is to be gently cared for and nurtured – and that is exactly what Dream Cream does. But let's not just assume that this product is for those unfortunate enough to suffer sensitive or damaged skin. 

Initially I received two small pots of this last Christmas, one in my Lush legends gift box and another as part of a Christmas package. I wasn't overly bowled over by the smell; a mixture of tea tree and lavendar. But I was more interested in it's healing properties, and I eventually came round to the smell. 

Dream Cream is a medium thickness hand and body cream. And although it is aimed more at whole body application, I decided to use this as my daily facial cream. What I loved about this product, is that it's not greasy or sticky, and it instantly hydrates my face. Although tea tree can be harsh when used continuously on certain skin types, I find that it compliments my complexion, and so far I have not had any problems using it once or twice a day. 

Dream cream is also light enough to use as a cleanser, although I tend to use this alongside 9 to 5, which is much better at removing stubborn make-up stains and unblocking pores. Although not the most beautiful smelling Lush product, it does a great job at calming and soothing skin, and helps to invigorate my tired face before those 6am commutes.

New Dream Cream Self-Preserving Body Lotion Review

Quantitative Ingredients: Oat Milk, Rose Water, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Cocoa Butter, Glycerine, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Tincture of Benzoin, Rose Absolute, Chamomile Blue Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Lavender Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, *Geraniol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Perfume, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes

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Competition Winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered my latest competition, on Tumblr or on my blog. 

As per usual, to make it fair, I used a random number generator to pick the winner. 

Well done to Laura Duffy (neverfadetogrey) for winning all of these amazing goodies! An email is coming your way right now.

For those that didn't win this time, please don't be disheartened. I want to share the joy that Lush gives me, so they'll be a new competition coming up in the next couple of weeks, featuring some rare goodies.

Keep your eyes peeled!

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Big Shampoo

I initially got a tub of this from my dad and his wife last Christmas. I gave him a list of Lush items I wanted to try but couldn't afford, and this is one of the items he chose to purchase. As I had recently discovered Cynthia Sylvia Stout, I was hesitant to try anything else and popped it on my shelf of things to 'try at a later date'. 

After multiple disastrous experiences with solid shampoos and conditioners, I remembered that I had a tub of Big waiting to be used and thought it was time I gave it a shot. After losing my Big virginity, the only thoughts I could muster were; 'Oh my goodness, where have you been all of my life?'. To say I was bowled over, is an understatement. 

Lush have created a rich shampoo base, then crammed in as much sea salt as they could. But they have carefully partnered it with seaweed and coconut to give softness to the hair and fresh lemons and limes to give shine. Lush have also added a lovely bright and uplifting fragrance of neroli, mandarin, orange flower absolute and vanilla. It smells out of this world.

Big Shampoo is like no other shampoo I have ever tried. Initially I was concerned by it's salt content, as I remember how damaged my hair gets after being exposed to the sea. However, in this instance, the salt works as more of an exfoliator. Although I don't suffer from dandruff, my flatmate, who sometimes gets a small build up of dry skin on the crown of her head, said this shampoo works wonders at removing dead skin without being too harsh on her scalp.

Not only this, but you only need to use a minimal amount to create an amazing, thick, creamy lather that coats your head like a silk jacket. It leaves your hair feeling squeaky clean and smelling gorgeous. 

The shampoo is named Big as it's supposed to give volume to naturally thin, lifeless hair. I cannot comment on whether or not it does this job, as I tend to use Veganese afterwards, which by it's nature, flattens my hair. However, what I can say is that this shampoo works complete miracles on my locks.  My hair is silky-soft and beautifully nourished, with a shine that brings out the natural colours in my hair. I have not had hair this good since before I started dying it nearly 12 years ago.

This has cemented itself as one of my all time favourite Lush products, and I cannot recommend it more highly enough. Get yourself a tub of this wonder shampoo and have hair as good as the women in TV adverts, without all of the synthetic nasties and preservatives.

Quantitative Ingredients: Coarse Sea Salt, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Fresh Organic Lemon Infusion, Fresh Sea Water, Toothed Wrack Seaweed Infusion, Cocamide DEA, Lauryl Betaine, Fresh Organic Lime Juice, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Neroli Oil, Mandarin Oil, Vanilla Absolute, Orange Flower Absolute, Limonene, Methyl Lonone, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes

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June 2013 Inventory - Lotions

This is the second part of my inventory, detailing all of the Lush products that I currently own. 

If you are interested in receiving a free sample of any of the products I showcase, please get in touch. I cannot promise I can cater for everyone, as there are a couple of products I would not be willing to share, but most items I would be happy to send out a trial. It doesn't cost to ask!

Hand, feet, face and full body Lotions;

Current Stash:

9 to 5

Almond Kisses

American Cream

Celestial

The Comforter

Creamed Almond and Coconut Smoothie

Creamy Candy Lotion

Dream Cream

Ginger Lotion

Glitter Bug

Karma Kream

Pied De Pepper

Potion

Ro-Argan Body Conditioner

Shave The Planet

Skin Drink

Skinny Dip

Starcraft

Sympathy For the Skin

Tiny Hands Solid Hand Cream

Turkish Delight

Vanilla Dee-Lite

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