Grass Shower Gel

I have a seriously sweet tooth when it comes to both what I consume as well as the sorts of cosmetics I usually reach for when I want to try something new. However, I am also a huge advocate for fresh, non-synthetic products and scents, which is why I chose to grab myself a bottle of Grass during a recent splurge.

Grass Shower Gel doesn't beat about the bush: it does and smells exactly as you would expect. If you like the scent of freshly-mown lawns; that fragrant summer smell that reminds you of gentle rain on warm days, this is the product for you. 

This shower gel is packed full of wheatgrass, a plant that is known to be filled with enzymes, vitamins and minerals that condition and maintain healthy skin. It really is incredibly soft and gentle on your body and leaves it feeling clean and crisp: neither drying nor making your skin oily.   

Grass possesses an uplifting smell that really makes you feel revitalised and reenergised: it makes your skin feel smooth whilst leaving a slight lingering scent that stays with you throughout the day.

Grass is great all year round, despite it's scent being reminiscent of those warmer, more favourable months. In the winter, it works as a form of escapism from those unsavoury chills and frosty weather conditions; in the summer, it works with the heat to cool and cleanse your body and removes that clammy feeling you sometimes feel after a hot day.

   

This shower gel, as with most other Lush gels, can be used as a shampoo as well as or instead of a gel. However, I have yet to use any of their shower gels in this way so I am unable to comment on it's performance in this area.   

Some may find this shower gel expensive compared to other Lush alternatives. However, with it's unique and invigorating smell, it's definitely worth the £16.95 price tag for a 500g bottle, or a reduced £4.95 tag for a smaller, trial-sized bottle.  

I love to use it in the mornings as it's really lightly scented so it's not too overpowering, yet it perks me up and helps to make those 5am mornings slightly more tolerable. It's consistency is neither thin nor overly thick, which means that it lasts a lot longer than other Lush shower gels. I'll definitely be buying this one again, and I would recommend every Lush fan tries this at least once, to experience it's unique and magical properties. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Fresh Wheatgrass Juice,Lauryl Betaine, Chlorophyllin Water, Perfume,Propylene Glycol, Sandalwood Oil, Bergamot Oil,Neroli Oil, Fine Sea Salt, Benzyl Alcohol,*Coumarin, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Methyl Ionone, Methylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes

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The Olive Branch Shower Gel

I can't say I was initially excited at the prospect of trying The Olive Branch shower gel for the first time. On first sniff, it reminded me of the many manufactured cosmetics that you're likely to find in a local supermarket - a unisex fragrance with slight citrus and floral elements. Nothing special. However, after using this for the first time in the shower, my opinion changed dramatically, and I now consider it to be one of my favourite shower gels from Lush.   

Made with Fairtrade olive oil, fresh mandarins, bergamot oil and vine leaves, this shower gel is a Mediterranean feast for the body and soul. Firstly, the addition of olive oil helps to give your skin a wonderful deep moisturise, which makes it stand apart from most other shower gels around. This oil also helps to give the product a beautiful woody scent, which intensifies under the heat of the shower and leaves you and your bathroom smelling divine. Secondly, the warm, savoury fragrance of the vine leaves alongside the citrus infusions from the lemon and mandarin oils, gives this shower gel a unique fragrance that is unlike anything else I have smelt. 

After a quick shake of the bottle, I squirted a small amount onto my shower puff and was surprised to see that the gel was quite watery. I would definitely recommend that you're careful when using this as I can imagine someone, with little or no experience of The Olive Branch, would lose a lot of shower gel down the plug hole as the bottle does disperse a great deal, very quickly.

Despite this initial issue, I was very surprised by the amount of bubbles it created, as I thought the consistency, alongside the surplus amount of olive oil in it, would make this more of heavy, oily product. The shower gel foamed up nicely and upon rinsing it off, my skin felt instantly cleaned and moisturised. 

What I love about The Olive Branch, is that the fragrance it gives off, is rather subtle. Sometimes Lush products can have a very overpowering smell, which deters a lot of people from buying from them. The Olive Branch is a shower gel that proves that cosmetics can still be both unique and captivating, whilst possessing only a mild scent. 

To conclude: The Olive Branch has a very earthy, woody smell to it, but with a touch of fruitiness which I love. It gives off a unique scent that I've never smelt before, but one that lingers on the skin for hours after use. It moisturises your skin and leaves it feeling repaired, which is especially good during those summer months when the sun threatens to dry your skin out and the heat strips your body of it's much needed moisture. 

Lush suggest that the gel can also be used as a shampoo. Although I cannot comment on its use as a shampoo as I have only used it as a body wash, I am definitely planning on testing it out on my hair over Christmas and detailing the results for those that are interested.   

The Olive Branch is not a product that I would have immediately rushed to, but one that has cemented itself as one of my favourites. This is best used throughout the warmer part of the year, but will still be a great companion to your skin in the coming winter months. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Vine Leaf Infusion, Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Fresh Mandarin Juice, Fair Trade Olive Oil, Perfume, Propylene Glycol, Bergamot Oil, Lemon Oil, Orange Flower Absolute, Mandarin Oil, Fine Sea Salt, *Limonene, *Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Colour 14700, Methylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes

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Hot Toddy Bubble Bar

Lush describe Hot Toddy as 'a winter-warmer with clove, paprika and cinnamon, but also containing generous helpings of fruity orange, lime and lemon peel.' To me this sounds like the perfect selection of scents to accompany oneself during those harsh winter nights, when you just want to curl up and sleep away the rain and snow. 

When I first received a selection of these bars with my Lush order, I didn't even have to lift the lid before I could smell the delicious cloves. This is bar that you could leave in the bathroom and know that, within a few hours, the scent will have de-fragranced the entire room. 

The cloves, paprika and cinnamon, along with orange, lemon and lime peel, give the bar a delicious orangey and cake-like scent that reminded me somewhat of Christmas cake batter. The muscovado sugar added to the sweetness of the product and dampened the bitterness you might expect from the addition of all those citrus ingredients.  

As you can see from my video, I chose to use the whole bar, which I simply dropped in under the running tap and left it to work it's magic. However, this bar could easily be halved and used on two separate occasions, both producing a surplus of bubbles fit for royalty. 

The bubble bar turns the water a lovely shade of orange and creates a delicious warming orange scent that lingers for the entire bathing experience. Much like the traditional Scottish Hot Toddy beverage, which is made up of whiskey, lemon juice, honey and hot water, and drunk to warm you up in cold, Hot Toddy Bubble Bar does wonders at revitalising your skin and bringing life back into those cold limbs.   

After my bath, my skin felt lovely and soft and I found that the scent lingered on my skin for a number of hours after use. However, it wasn't anywhere near as moisturising as most other bubble bars I have tried, which meant I had to use body lotion afterwards. I loved using this bubble bar, which I think would work wonders when used alongside Cinders or Lil Lush Pud. It's one I'd definitely pick up again; ideal for use during those cold winter evenings!

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate , Cream of Tartar (Tartaric acid) , Sodium Laureth Sulfate , Lauryl Betaine , Clove Leaf Oil (Eugenia caryophyllus) , Patchouli Oil (Pogostemon cablin) , Lime Oil (Citrus aurantifolia) , Cinnamon Leaf Oil (Cinnamomum cassia) , Sweet Orange Oil (Citrus sinensis) , Lemon Peel (Citrus limonum) , *Cinnamal , *Eugenol , *Benzyl Benzoate , *Limonene , *Linalool , Fragrance.

Vegan?: Yes

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EggSnog Lip Balm

I've never tasted egg nog in my life, and to be honest, just the thought of it makes me feel a little nauseous. For those unfamiliar with the traditional beverage, eggnog typically consists of milk, sugar, raw eggs, and spices, usually nutmeg. Sometimes it also includes cream to make a richer and thicker concoction and some modern eggnogs even add gelatine to replicate the consistency. 

The drink pretty much epitomises my idea of hell, so when I initially heard that Lush were bringing Eggsnog back for a limited release, I can't say I was particularly excited by it. However, given that the lip balm is advertised as vegan, and given that I have a compulsion to try everything that Lush bring out, I found myself buying a couple of these on release day. 

To say I was pleasantly surprised by the lip balm, is an understatement - I was bowled over. For starters, it smells nothing like the egg nog I've seen being dished out at various family houses. As opposed to the sickly, milky scent that I was expecting, I instead found that Eggsnog smells much more festive and sugary than the drink it's trying to replicate. Imagine the enticing smell of freshly baked mince pies ladened with a sprinkle of nutmeg and a dash of (vegan) cream: that's what this product smells like! Vanilla, cinnamon, and a hint of lemon oil all go together to make a flavour that’s truly scrumptious. It epitomises the very essence of Christmas whilst still being highly practical and useful.

The spicy, buttery lip balm also does wonders to your lips. Eggsnog contains a luxurious mixture of butters and nut oils to make a lip balm that’s soft, yet protective for winter lips.One small dab smooths over your lips effectively, leaving them feeling instantly moisturised and protected. Unlike other lip balms (Maple Taffy, None Of Your Bees Wax), Eggsnog isn't heavy or oily so it wont leave any sticky residue on your lips. I found my lips felt softer and more hydrated within a few hours of first applying it.

Ultimately, this is by far my favourite lip balm from Lush and I have since bought a few more tubs to store away for the coming months. I don't quite know whether I could still use this during the warmer months, as it is very seasonal-scented. However, while the nights are still dark and cold, I keep this balm close by for comfort.

Quantitative Ingredients: Fair Trade Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Murumuru Butter, Hazelnut Oil, Walnut Oil, Brazil Nut Oil, Flavour, Lemon Oil, Myrrh Resinoid, Cinnamon Leaf Oil, Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute, *Cinnamyl Alcohol, *Cinnamal, *Citral, *Eugenol, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Limonene, *Linalool.

Vegan?: Yes

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Ghost Shower Gel

Having carried out quite a bit of research before writing this latest entry, I know I am probably in the minority when I write this rather dampening review of Ghost. There seems to be quite an underground fan-base for this product/smell and unfortunately, it just didn't sit well with my senses.

Ghost brings with it the haunting aroma of lilies, jasmine, ylang ylang and neroli – the same fragrance that's found in Lush's discontinued Lily Savon soap. It’s made with rose water and dove orchid infusion, a beautiful combination that’s mild and gentle on the skin. Ghost’s thick creamy texture is made even more luxurious with the addition of jojoba oil, to gently moisturise and soften. 

This unique shower gel also contains an ingredient labelled as 'snowflake lustre', which helps to give the gel a really lovely opalescent appearance. It's viscous consistency means that it's a gel that doesn't lather up easily, but does smooth very easily onto the skin and leaves it feeling soft and moisturised instantly. I found this product to be very similar in texture to the likes of Snowshowers. 

The bottle says it has the 'haunting scent of lilies' which it certainly does, although there does not appear to be any lilies listed in the ingredients, which is rather odd. I found that Ghost has a very strong floral smell, which you'll either have a love or hate relationship with. Much like Happy Happy Joy Joy Conditioner, it possesses a very potent smell that grabs you immediately upon opening the bottle. The result is a subtle and quite feminine nutty scent that lingers on the skin but is not at all over powering. 

Unfortunately, unlike the conditioner, this particular floral scent was not something I found to my liking. However, it is quite a light and feminine fragrance and would probably suit someone who appreciates the natural smell of lilies more than I do. 

Lush state that Ghost is thick and creamy in texture, but I found it to be very runny. I am putting this down to the fact that this bottle of shower gel is probably close to three years old. However, I have read of other people who have has a similar complaints with fresh batches as well, so I'm not sure what to make of that. 

In it's favour, the shower gel does soften the skin quite a bit and lathers up nicely, meaning you only need a slight squirt when using it in the shower. 

The gel cleanses very well and the lovely scent is easily detectable in the shower. Luckily for me, the scent is not one to linger on your skin for too long (again, this could be due to the age of the product), so I was able to use it up in the shower, whilst not having the fragrance follow me around all day. 

Overall, I recognise why this scent combination is rather popular amongst fellow Lushies, and aside from the smell, Ghost is a great shower companion. It lathers up wonderfully and moisturises the skin nicely. However, it is not one I would buy again as the fragrance is not to my liking and I feel there are far far better alternatives available.

Quantitative Ingredients: Dove Orchid Infusion, Rose Water, Sodium Alkyl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Fine Sea Salt, Glyceryl Stearate & PEG-100 Stearate, Cocamide MEA, Glycol Cetearate, Perfume, White Wine Vinegar, Propylene Glycol, Lauryl Betaine, Organic Jojoba Oil, Jasmine Absolute, Ylang Ylang Oil, Neroli Oil, *Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Snowflake Lustre, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes

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Sonic Death Monkey Shower Gel

If there's one product that'd win awards for it's name alone, it would be Lush's Sonic Death Monkey Shower Gel. What exactly is a Sonic Death Monkey, you ask? Well, I haven't got the foggiest of ideas but it sounds cool as hell...

On paper, SDM doesn't sound like a shower gel I would be particularly fond of. As I found out with the 13 Rabbits Shower Gel, chocolate isn't a scent I enjoy all that much, aside from the whiff I might get when shoving slabs of vegan chocolate in my mouth. Neither would I proclaim myself a fan of coffee, so there's only really the lime element I would be interested in.

However, there's something about the way that Lush have managed to combine these smells, that mean these scents are able to coincide with each other beautifully. Aside from the chocolate whiff you get, SDM also contains hemp oil which gives it quite an earthy/ heady scent. Then there's the layer of sweet orange, tangerine and lime that brightens up the fragrance and that sets it apart from other chocolate-scented cosmetics. These sweeter tones also manage to tame the bitter after-scent of coffee which would otherwise be quite nasty for non-coffee lovers. 

As well as their fragrant properties, the clever people at Lush have also taken into consideration what these ingredients can do aside from smell good: The use of hemp oils, that are rich in omega-3, help to soften and moisturise your skin, although you do need to give this shower gel a shake before use as the oils somewhat separate the ingredients and can make SDM rather watery. 

Then there's cocoa and coffee that are well known stimulants which help to wake you and your skin up in the morning, alongside the citrus elements which have astringent and restorative properties to heal and smoothen out your complexion.

Due to the addition of different oils in this shower gel, it is a rather heavy shower gel, meaning it does not lather up as nicely as other Lush products do. Coupled with the fact that Sonic Death Monkey is part of the retro range, and priced at a hefty £20 per 500ml bottle, I tend to use this shower gel scrupulously, only when I feel my skin needs that little boost from it's healing properties. 

Overall, this is a unique and wonderful scented shower gel that I only wish they would bring out in other formats. It's probably one of the only chocolate-scented products on the market I enjoy, and I think this is due to the addition of the citrus scent. I would definitely recommend that you grab a bottle before it gets discontinued as there really is nothing like available anywhere else.

Quantitative Ingredients: Ground Coffee, Cocoa and Hibiscus Infusion, Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Lauryl Betaine, Perfume, Fresh Organic Lime Juice, Propylene Glycol, Organic Hemp Oil, Tangerine Oil, Sweet Orange Oil, Vanilla Absolute, *Limonene, Methylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes

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Blousey Shampoo

As I've said in previous reviews, I've been dyeing my hair since I was sixteen years old. Before that, I took very little interest in it's maintenance and condition; I was much more interested in listening to the heaviest music around and talking about the millions of tattoos I was going to get once I turned eighteen. Who cared if I didn't brush my hair for days at a time? Or if I did, what did it matter if I back-combed it or straightened it to an inch of it's life? These problems only worsened with the introduction of hair dye. 

Which is why, when I hit my twenties, I realised with horror, that my hair was in an absolute state. It was brittle, it was limp, it was lifeless. To counteract this problem, I'd blow dry it and straighten it in the hope of hiding the frizz ball that would come from leaving it to dry naturally. Something had to change.

When I asked for a pot of Blousey for Christmas last year, I had no previous preconceptions, and only hoped that it would work wonders, given it's £18 price tag. Described as being rich and moisturising, I soon discovered that, on paper, this shampoo sounded like my perfect product - created to rescue hair that has been bleached, dyed, damaged or hair that is naturally dry and fragile, Blousey sounded too good to be true.

The main ingredients in the shampoo are bananas, an ingredient known for it's hydrating qualities. The hair is further hydrated with the addition of Cocoa Butter and Capacu Butter, both of which penetrate the strands deeply and allows your hair to hold onto the moisture. Blousey also contains Cloves, Pimento berries and Star Anaise which help to promote a hair scalp and hair regrowth as well as giving the hair a healthy shine. An all-rounded perfect concoction.

What I love about this shampoo, is that it's look and scent are incredibly natural. You can really smell the fresh bananas when you lift the lid, and it almost looks like the batter for a banana loaf. It has a sticky, gloopy consistency, which takes a little bit of getting used to. I also found that it doesn't lather up like you would expect from a shampoo; it's more like a conditioner in that sense.   

Blousey promises to hydrate the hair, leaving it stronger and in a better condition, and that it does. When you rinse the lotion out, your hair automatically feels super soft and tangle free. This experience is somewhat heightened when dry, as that's when you notice the reduced frizziness and natural shimmer that it brings to your locks.

I coupled this with Lush's Veganese conditioner, which I found worked in harmony to soften and moisturise my hair. My only qualm with this product, aside from the price tag, is that I cannot use it as a regular shampoo. I found that my hair became greasy if I used this too much in succession, although this could be due to my using it with Veganese, a product was also designed to moisturise the hair. Perhaps the partnership between the two products is too heavy for my hair.

I tend to use this more as a hair treatment as opposed to a shampoo, coupling it with Jasmine and Henna Fluff Ease for an intense moisturising session once or twice a month. Although it didn't work as a shampoo for me, I'd still recommend that you try this product as it's beautifully scented and does do exactly what it says on the tin. The price is a little on the high side but if, like me, you only use it a couple of times a month, the results you get from it will definitely justify the expenditure. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Fresh Banana, Pimento Berry Oil, Fair Trade Organic Cloves and Star Anise decooction, Ammonium Laureth Sulphate, Glycerine, Propylene Glycol, Cocoa Butter, Soya Lecithin, Lauryl Betaine, Cocamide MEA, Cupuacu Butter, Perfume, Rose Oil, Blackcurrant Absolute, Rosemary Oil, Juniperberry Oil, *Geraniol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Citronellol.

Vegan?: Yes

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