Valentine's Day 2014 Range

December and January are probably the most expensive months of the year for any Lush addict. Not only do we have to contend with having a wild expanse of amazing products in their Christmas range, we also have to get through a succession of two retro releases and a range of limited-edition perfumes, all in the space of thirty days. To top it off, come the second week of January, Lush stretch our pounds even further by bringing out the Valentine's Day selection. 

This year, Lush have brought out a number of deliciously exciting and original products to tempt fans to open their wallets once again,  and invest in some love-inspired cosmetics. 

Firstly, and by far the most exciting of the lot, is their new shower gel, Prince Charming. Lush say: "With marshmallow root, Fair Trade vanilla and fresh pomegranate juice, Prince Charming will sweep you off your feet and carry you off into the sunset, leaving your skin silky soft and smelling lovely – the fragrance is made using a beautiful blend of grapefruit, sandalwood and geranium oils."

I did a little research into what Marshmallow root was, and discovered that it's plant known for it's healing properties and slight sweet scent, so I imagine that this shower gel will be really soft and  heavenly to use on your skin.

Next up we have Neon Love, yet another original soap that looks good enough to eat. Lush describe this product as having 'an uplifting, fruity fragrance. Bergamot and rosewood work together to create a rich scent, whilst fresh figs, passion fruit juice and soya yoghurt nourish and soften the skin.' 

In all honesty, this sounds like the greatest smelling soap ever! The addition of passion fruit juice and fresh figs, coupled with the soya yoghurt, sounds like this is going to be a really creamy, fruity soap. I'm probably most excited about this smell than any of the other products. 

Thirdly we have the Close To You massage bar, one of two bars available in the Valentine's Range. This one reads; 'This smooshable massage bar is beautifully fragranced with Fair Trade vanilla absolute. Inspired by the humble Jammie Dodger biscuit – as you peek through the heart shaped hole on top of bar you can see into the sumptuous white fondant centre.' Sounds good enough to eat. 

I'm really loving the vanilla theme throughout the range this year because Lush know how to produce a beautiful, naturally-scented vanilla. So far, theses products seem to compliment each other perfectly, in colour and in fragrance. 

Next we have the Love Locket Bath Bomb, which was 'was inspired by the kind of heart-shaped locket you wear as a necklace, perhaps with a secret photograph of a loved one inside. In the same way, you have to unlock (crack open) this Love Locket bath bomb to reveal the secrets hidden within…' 

The bath bomb is rather on the expensive side, at a staggering £6.95, but I've been assured it is a rather large bath bomb that could easily cover 3 separate baths. Then there's a further ballistic inside, which makes the price slightly easier to swallow. 

Love Locket is made with a blend of uplifting and sensual oils to create a luxurious, indulgent Valentine’s Day treat. Again, it features the Fair Trade vanilla fragrance very prominently here, continuing the theme... 

Next we have a product that was featured in last year's Valentine's range, The Kiss Lip Balm. Lush describe this as 'A delightful, whipped up gloss made from luxurious and protective butters including Fair Trade shea and cupuaçu. This preservative free tinted lip gloss gives a touch of colour to the lips. It’s so easy to apply you won’t even need a mirror!'

Although I've yet to write about this product yet, I have used this quite regularly since I bought it last February. It has a lovely, lightly-scented candy smell that differs from both Snow Fairy and Creamy Candy, and leaves a slight shimmer on your lips after use. This is the only product I won't be buying this year, only because I have another pot to get through, and I have enough Eggsnogg's to last me another five years.  

Lastly, Lush have re-released their Tender is the Night massage bar that was also part of last year's range, albeit with a revised look. Lush claim it's; 'Probably our most romantic product ever...with exquisite floral essential oils and a beautiful floral fragrance to leave your skin smelling absolutely divine. Re-launching for Valentine’s Day, this product will be staying on permanently.'

This sensual and sexy massage bar has been reformulated, and Lush have swapped its soft fondant centre for a solid blend of softening shea butter and murumuru butter.

Inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel Tender is the Night. Tenderly melt this bar on to the skin, and be seduced by its intoxicating blend of jasmine, ylang ylang and vanilla.

As well as these six beautiful limited edition products, Lush are also offering three new and exciting gift sets to woo even the stubbornness of hearts.  

Personally, I love the look of the Lots of Love gift box, and I hope I am able to convince my boyfriend that he loves me enough to get it for me this year!

Forget chocolate, flowers or wine - Lush have it covered this year. What more could you want for Valentine’s?

Lots of Love

Neon Love

Toucan Love

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Aromaco Solid Deodorant

In an ideal would, I would be able to rely on Lush for my every cosmetic need; from my face and body to my haircare. That way I could guarantee that, firstly, every product in my collection was 100% vegan and 100% cruelty free. Secondly, I would know that I was supporting a company that are doing at least something to help the reduction of waste and the sustainability of the environment. Finally,  I would be proud that I was supporting a company who advocate and promote important welfare messages to an audience that may not otherwise have access to such information.

It is a shame then that there are still aspects of my toiletry and cosmetics collection, that I am unable to revert. One such product is the 'deodorant'. Annoyingly, 'deodorant' is amongst one of the few words in the English language that I always misspell, making it a rather unpopular word to begin with. It doesn't help that my little experience with Lush deodorants so far, have been somewhat negative, so when I began using Aromaco, I was already very skeptical.

Aromaco comes in small cream-coloured blocks and is priced at £4.70 for a 100g slice. This is obviously a lot more expensive than a usual bottle of anti-perspirant. However, if it works in a similar manner to Lush's solid shampoos, a block could last upwards of 6+ months, making it incredible value for money.  

The deodorant contains witch hazel and chamomile vinegar to help tighten pores rather than block them, which is supposed to help you to keep cool and fresh. Lush have also included bicarbonate of soda to absorb odour and cooling patchouli oil to give your armpits a lasting earthy fragrance. Aromaco claims to absorb body odour and leave you smelling as fresh as a daisy. So does it work?

Firstly, I found it was rather difficult to use. You're supposed to rub the block under your armpits, following a shower to keep you feeling fresh and dry throughout the day. However, I found that whether I used it on dry or slightly damp skin, very little smell or product rubbed off onto my armpits. This meant that I felt very naked throughout the day, something that I'm very conscious about at work; nobody wants a smelly co-worker!

It's not as fiddly and messy as T'eo, but it's certainly more hassle than using a normal roll-on deodorant.   

Secondly, the scent it gives off is a little less than desirable. I recognise that witch hazel and patchouli have been used specially to target bad odours and smother them, and I can't deny that it doesn't do this to some extent. However, the smell is very poignant and not something I want to be using regularly.  

Finally, the deodorant did absolutely nothing to help keep me dry or prevent as much sweating occurring as normal. In fact, I found that the deodorant made things worse. Whereas before I was sweating fairly odourlessly, I now had to contend with a mixture of sweat and patchouli - something I wasn't very happy with at all.

To conclude: I recognise that Lush are trying to come up with new concepts and products to help reduce their carbon footprint, use fresher and sustainable natural ingredients as well as cater for a large range of consumers. However, this is one product that seems to have very little use at all. 

I recognise that there are others out there who seem to really appreciate Aromaco, and have perhaps started using it regularly with pleasing results. However, I suspect that a large percentage of these people seldomly sweat, which is why they've yet to see it's flaws. For someone like myself, who works out 6 days a week and has a full time job which involves moving around a lot, I don't think this deodorant is conducive at all.

Quantitative Ingredients: Witch Hazel Infusion, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Stearate, Chamomile Vinegar, Sodium Bicarbonate, Patchouli Oil, Citral, *Limonene, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes

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Enzymion Facial Moisturiser

When did I get to the stage when I need a facial moisturiser in my life? Geez! I remember it wasn't too long ago that I didn't use make-up, let alone products specially designed to rejuvenate facial pores. Still, now that I've introduced them into my life, I'd find it very difficult to do without my morning routine; shower, cleanser, moisturiser, make-up. 

As usual, I was skeptical at first about Enzymion, simply because it claims to be a moisturiser for those with oiler skin, which is something I've never suffered from. In fact, as I've mentioned in previous reviews, I actually have very dry skin, so my initial thought was that this moisturiser would actually make my skin even drier. However, as with every Lush product, I refused to make a judgement until I had tried it for myself. 

On opening the tub, I was immediately overwhelmed with how beautiful it smells; Enzymion contains papaya juice, lemon juice, aloe, and lime and grapefruit essential oils which give it a wonderful tropic fragrance unlike anything else in the Lush range. 

Aside from it's beautiful scent, the fresh ingredients have also been chosen to help make this a multi-purpose moisturiser; the papaya and lemon are packed full of acids and enzymes which help to reduce oiliness and brighten the skin; the multiple oils and cocoa butter have been included to help tone and moisturise the face whilst taking away the 'shine' that oily skin can sometimes present. 

As I mentioned at the beginning of my review, I don't have oily skin, so I was worried this product would be too greasy and heavy for me. On the contrary, I was amazed at how light and refreshing my skin felt, even after the initial use, and how my skin continued to glow throughout the entire three months that it took for me to finish the whole tub. 

Often products for oily skin focus on cleaning and stripping away oil, whereas Lush have created a product that helps to treat the skin with gentle care and work to find the skin’s own natural balance. I think this latter point is why the lotion worked so well for my skin even though I didn't fit the profile for the product; it's versatile and works with the skin rather than trying to eradicate your body's natural workings.  

This beautiful product, inspired by Keats' poem, Endymion, is perhaps the perfect facial moisturiser I have ever used. It tones, hydrates and rejuvenates tired, dry and oily skin whilst leaving an uplifting fruity scent. This will be a product I return to again and again, and one that will become a staple in my house. 

If you're planning on trying out one of Lush's moisturisers, make it this one; you won't be disappointed. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Fresh Organic Lemon Infusion, Fair Trade Organic Aloe Vera Gel, Cocoa Butter, Stearic Acid, Freshly Juiced Papaya, Avocado Oil, Glycerine, Triethanolamine, Freshly Juiced Organic Lemon, Organic Cold Pressed Evening Primrose Oil, Organic Cold Pressed Wheatgerm Oil, Tangerine Oil, Lime Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Lilial, *Limonene, Perfume, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes

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Chou Chou I Love You Toothy Tabs

I'm starting to get into the swing of using toothy tabs now. At first, I was very skeptical that a tab of bicarbonate of soda and 'flavourings' could do anything for my oral health, or taste buds for that matter! However, after the initial disaster with Sparkle, I have quite enjoyed trying this unique and interesting alternative to toothpaste.  

Chou Chou I Love You Toothy Tabs are scented and flavoured with rose, so they taste like Turkish Delight and make your breath sweet and fragrant. A 12g box, which holds 40 tabs, will set you back £2.95. As I've said in previous reviews, they are an expensive alternative. However, they are much more environmentally friendly than most of that horrible tubed stuff you get in local supermarkets.  

However, one disadvantage to these tabs being environmentally conscious is that they're stored in a thin cardboard box. This makes it rather difficult to store the tabs in the bathroom, the one place in your house that guarantees to stay damp for the most part. I know common sense tells me I could keep these tabs in a drier area of my flat. However, I like to brush my teeth whilst in the shower, so this a little annoying.

To use a toothy tab, you should choose one, pop it in your mouth and crunch it between your teeth. This causes the tab to foam up, where you can then wet your toothbrush and begin brushing as normal. You'll find that brushing your teeth will create more foam, making the experience not that different to how it'll be if using normal toothpaste. 

These particular toothy tabs have a delicious delicate rose flavour, which is intertwined with the tartness of the lemon oil and lemon peel powder. This addition of zest means that the tabs are more on the sweeter side than the floral side, which is probably why I like then far more than I thought I would.

The addition of Dicalcium phosphate anhydrous, which is a gentle abrasive, helped to remove plaque from my teeth and left them really shiny and smooth after each use; the sodium bicarbonate and cream of tartar helped to scrub and clean my teeth, making them noticeably whiter after the first few usages. Finally, the sodium lauroyl sarcosine helped to create the foam which made it easier for the tab to circulate my mouth and remove any unwanted food between my teeth.

Overall, I was really happy with the noticeable difference these tabs made to my teeth, and I actually really enjoyed the taste. Alongside Breath of God, these are definitely my favourite toothy tabs so far and I'm keen to continue using them as opposed to reverting back to tooth paste.

Quantitative Ingredients: Dicalcium Phosphate Anhydrous, Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sorbitol, Kaolin, Flavour, Rose Oil, Lemon Oil, Rose Petal Powder, Benzoin Gum Powder, Lemon Peel Powder, Sodium Saccharin, Geraniol, *Eugenol, *Citral, *Citronellol, *Limonene, *Linalool.

Vegan?: Yes

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Whitewash Shower Smoothie

Despite it's notoriety, Whitewash Shower Smoothie has almost managed to eradicate itself from the online community. When I'm trying a product for the first time, especially one that has either been discontinued, or is just really old, I like to explore what other people have to say about it. This gives me not only an idea of what to expect, but also the sorts of expectations that other people have for it. However, when I tried to find out more about this product, I found very little, which is surprising as Lush claim it's among their most requested item.   

I was lucky enough to win a tub of this on eBay a few months back, having no prior knowledge of the smoothie, or even being aware of it's existence until it popped up on my dashboard and demanded to be bought. I have to say, the allure was party due to it's rather swanky white outer shell, a characteristic that always seems to make a product just that little bit more exciting. 

When the 250g tub arrived, I was initially skeptical that a product that both looked and felt like polyfiller, could actually have any positive effect on my skin: it's not exactly the most interesting product to look at. However, I left my full judgement until after I had tried it for the first time. 

The smoothie is velvety-soft to touch and very easy to use; I found the most effective way was to simply scoop it out of the tub with my fingers and immediately rub it all over the area I wanted to lather. Unfortunately, despite it feeling soft and silky on my skin, it didn't lather up at all, meaning I had to keep returning to the pot for seconds and thirds and fourths etc.. In fact, during my first shower, I managed to use up almost one quarter of a pot, making it a very expensive product to use regularly. 

The main ingredient in Whitewash is aloe vera gel, which means that those with dry, irritated or sunburned skin should find it gentle and calming on their sensitive skin. I found that it did leave me feeling soft and clean, although I still had to moisturise afterwards, meaning it isn't as effective as other shower products at hydrating my pores. 

It also possesses a lovely smell; a subtle woody scent of sandalwood intertwined with the gentle undertones of lemon. The fragrance is light and citrusy, with sweet orange and mandarin essential oils that make Whitewash lovely to use first thing in the morning for a gentle wake-up. Despite it's subtlety, the scent does linger on your skin after use, which was surprising. 

Although the principal behind the shower smoothie; a great alternative to soap or shower gel, is a fun and decadent idea, Whitewash doesn't quite live up to my expectations and it's not a product I'd be investing in again.

Quantitative Ingredients: Water, Aloe Vera Gel, Kaolin, Rapeseed Oil, Coconut Oil, Glycerine, Titanium Dioxide, Mandarin Oil, Sweet Orange Oil, Benzoin Resinoid, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, *Limonene, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes.

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Christmas Sale 2013 Haul

Unfortunately (or perhaps, fortunately!), I tend to spend my Christmas' with my family, who happen to live on an island. This means that I'd have to catch a boat, a train, and maybe even a bus, in order to get myself to a Lush shop for their boxing day sale. Therefore, I have to rely on the online sales in order to top up my already out-of-control stash. 

I was super excited when my three boxes arrived today, carted all the way up 30+ stairs by a less than impressed postman. I couldn't wait to rip them open and inspect all of my goodies, but I did manage to contain myself and take a few pictures before opening the gift sets further.

There are a few non-vegan products here as a couple of the gift sets featured an item or two that have honey in the ingredients list. However, I bought the sets merely because I loved the packaging and these items will be given away to my flatmates, who are more than willing to use them.

Check out my video if you wish to hear me babbling on about this haul. I hope everyone got what they wanted in Lush's sale and I would love to find out more about your spenditures, so if you've blogged or made a video about your hauls, send me a link so I can take a peek!

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Gentil Lentil Solid Shampoo

It was coming up to Christmas time (2012) and I was beginning to get asked a lot, by family and friends, for ideas that they could get me as presents. At the time, I was fairly new to Lush and thought it would be a great idea to ask them to visit their local Lush stores, and pick out a few products that they'd think I'd like. One such product was Gentle Lentil Solid Shampoo.

First impressions weren't exactly great; a cream-coloured block of (what looked like) soap, decorated with brown lentils and wrapped so tightly that you couldn't even appreciate it's scent. Now don't get me wrong - I was far from ungrateful for receiving it; I just recognised that it was not exactly the most immediately attractive product. 

When I enquired into why this particular item was chosen, I was told that it was because 'it incorporated my values about natural ingredients, it's use was suited to my particular hair type and it contained lentils, which they knew us vegan hippies love'. It was a rather touching sentiment, despite the sarcasm. The shampoo remained on my shelf for a good 4-5 months before I decided to try it, and I immediately regretted leaving it so long after my first use...

Gentle Lentil is described as a very soft, gentle shampoo and is recommend for use on dry hair, or those with long, tangled or flyaway hair. It contains lentils, an ingredient packed with protein to help nourish your locks and add shine, and possesses a delicious vanilla ice-cream fragrance, the same as that used in Lush's ever-popular Butterball bath bomb.

Inspired by Indian women who soak lentils overnight and wash their hair with them, this shampoo is super easy to use. Simply wet your hair in the shower and then either rub the wet shampoo bar between your hands and apply the resulting lather to your hair, or rub the shampoo bar straight onto your wet hair. 

This is probably one of the easiest solid shampoos to apply, as it immediately begins to foam when in contact with moisture. I found that I only needed to rub it between my hands for a matter of seconds before I had enough to cover my entire head and then some! A quick rinse under the running water and this solid bar is ready to be stored somewhere dry for it's next use.

Whilst in use, this solid bar really feels as if it's moisturising your hair, and it gave my hair a little extra volume, without making it feel frizzy or damaged. I also found that Gentle Lentil didn't strip the colour from my hair, unlike several other Lush shampoos that have done so in the past. 

Used alongside Veganese, my hair felt noticeably softer after the very first use, and it continued to work it's magic for an entire four months. That's right, this bar is an absolute bargain as it lasts for an incredible amount of time. I wash my hair on average between 3-5 times a week and this 100g bar lasted me for almost 19 weeks! 

Despite it's gentle properties, the shampoo's scent still managed to stay on my hair for hours after use, leading to many compliments from friends and work colleagues. 

I'm really gutted that this product has now been discontinued, and I can only hope that it makes a reappearance in the coming months for Lush's big new venture. If not, I will have to savour my one bar that I managed to grab before it disappeared, and hope eBay offers up unwanted bars. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Stearic Acid, Lentil Decoction, Glyceryl Stearate & PEG-100 Stearate, Cocamide DEA, Lecithin, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes

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