Sleepy Hand Cream

As I said in my previous review, the Lush Showcase has become an essential part of the community over the last eighteen months, and it's difficult to imagine what life was like before the sneaky teasers and such. Unfortunately, there are some products that make an appearance at the event, only to disappear into obscurity without any rhyme or reason. Sleepy Handcream is perhaps the most perplexing.

Not only does it share its scent with Twilight - perhaps the most sought after fragrance in Lush's catalogue - but it is also the first of its kind. Never before have the company offered a pocket- sized tube of this design, and I for one have revelled in the creative nature of the artist-inspired bottle, and how practical it is for carrying it around in a day bag. 

In all fairness, I was rather shocked when this didn't make an immediate appearance in the shops, if only because of how quickly it sold out at the showcase event. Not only did I witness an entire bucket having to be replaced in the few minutes I was standing by one of the stalls, but I was told that the product was sold out very early on into the event, which couldn't be said for any other exclusive.

While I have no doubt enticed you with the promise of a Twilight-scented handcream, I feel I need to state that this is not a direct replica. In fact, some fans may even be slightly disappointed with how this differs from the likes of the shower gel, body lotion and perfume. It is definitely of my favourite interpretation of the fragrance, but I appreciate that there is a clear difference between most of the scent family and this elusive product.

Although the handcream contains the familiar collaboration of Lavender and tonka absolute, there is something far more dry and almost grounded about the smell. It's almost as if the tonka has forgone some of its natural sweetness and the lavender has added in an extra herbal boost, which doesn't make this exclusive as rich or as sultry as the shower gel. I think the inclusion of the different nut butters gives this hand cream a subtle nutty aroma, which overrides the sweetness somewhat and makes it very slightly savoury.

Much like Handy Gurugu, this hand cream is very thick and comes out of the tube much like a typical acrylic paint would. This means that it's very easy to dispense the desired amount and won't leak if left unsealed. Because of its viscosity, you need very little to moisturise both hands, and I found that a blueberry-sized piece was more than enough for both hands.

Containing rose water as the key ingredient, this product is great for those with sensitive skin as the rose helps to soothe any irritation and prevent any possible reactions from occurring. The inclusion of evening primrose oil, which is a fairly new move for the company, contains lots of essential fatty acids that help to rebuild and repair skin. Not only this, but it is known for helping to alleviate firmness or rough areas that may come as a result of strenuous grafting with your hands. As someone who lifts weights, this handcream has helped to replenish the moisture I lose after my workout and soften the rough areas that come about through heavy lifting. 

What is good about Sleepy Handcream is that it does seem to replenish the skin within a matter of minutes after applying it. I was able to notice the suppleness of my hands right away and this stayed with me for a good couple of hours after application. For someone who develops dry areas of skin in-between my fingers during the colder months, this hand cream was amazing at banishing this immediately. 

Once on, the smell stays with you for a couple of hours as well, so you may need to be warned: sniffing your hands constantly in public may need some strange, and sometimes pitying, stares. Believe me.

Unfortunately, I found that this hand cream takes quite a while to absorb into the skin, and it's rather rigid when massaging it into the hands as well. Let's just say that it doesn't feel as pleasurable as a normal body lotion does to apply, and your hands will be left feeling rather 'clammy' and 'sticky' for a good 30+ minutes until the skin has fully absorbed the oils and butters. 

Another issue I found was that the hand cream didn't seem to make much of an impact on my hands over a period of many days. I was hoping that the daily application of the cream would ultimately resolve the dry and rough patches permanently, and I would notice an improvement in the condition of my skin. Instead, Sleepy is definitely more of a quick fix, and not something that is going to transform your life the way that the body lotion will. Perhaps this is why Lush opted to release the aforementioned lotion as opposed to the hand cream. 

Ultimately, Sleepy Hand Cream has served me well the last couple of months. As a short- term fix, this will get your hands looking and feeling far more nourished, and you'll carry a wonderful scent with you without having to spray a perfume. However, if it's something more permanent you're after, you may wish to try the well-established Handy Gurugu, which heeds far better results. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Rose water, Fair Trade Shea Butter, Glycerine, Stearic Acid, Organic Almond Oil, Fresh Lemon Juice, Lavender Oil, Benzoin Resinoid, Tonka Absolute, Ylang Ylang Oil, Organic Evening Primrose Oil, Tincture Of Benzoin, Organic Peanut Butter, Organic Pumpkin Butter, Organic Cashew Butter,   Organic Almond Butter.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £4.95 for 35ml, £7.95 for 60ml.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.


Scent Family:
FUN With A Twist
Luxury Pud Bath Bomb
Mum In A Spin Bubble Spinner
Sleepy Body Lotion
Sleepy Hand Cream
Sleepy Naked Shower Gel
Sleepy Shower Bomb
Sleepy Shower Gel
Twilight Bath Bomb
Twilight Liquid Perfume
Twilight Shower Gel
Twilight Shower Jelly
Twilight Solid Perfume

Twilight Sparkle Jar

13 Rabbits Bath Melt

Way back when I would spend an embarrassing amount of money on rare Lush goodies on eBay, I happened upon a bottle of something called 13 Rabbits Shower Gel. At the time, I didn't know anything about it other than the fact that it was like gold dust to find. So I snapped it up and waited to see what it would be like upon arrival. 

While the shower gel was rather runny and a little past it's best, it got me intrigued about the interesting concoction of chocolate and ginger - not a combination that I would usually be interested in, but something that I grew to appreciate after using the shower gel.

When Lush released 13 Rabbits Bath Melt in the kitchen, I knew the moment had come for me to re-live the strange but intriguing aroma. I couldn't wait to snap up a handful of these rare beauties and bathe in a tub of spicy, chocolately liquid gold. 

Made from a combination of four essential oils; walnut, peanut, ginger and clove bud, this bath melt is packed with enough moisturise to reenergise your skin and leave it feeling beautifully silky soft. Peanuts are known for being packed full of protein, and the inclusion of the oil in this product helps to heal and protect the skin; the ginger oil, aside from giving the melt a spicy kick, is an astringent and antiseptic ingredient that helps to relax, detox and cleanse your body and mind - using it's warming properties to aid circulation and heat up those frost-bitten body parts. 

13 Rabbits is also made from a base of cocoa butter, which is a powerhouse of an ingredient - known for improving the look and feel of your skin without stripping your body of it's natural oils. It reacts to the temperature of the water, melting and depositing a layer of oil that softens, moisturises and conditions the skin, leaving it feeling supple and smooth to the touch.

While the latter ingredient is most prominent in this product, it is the cocoa powder along with the ginger oil and cinnamon stick and clove infusion, that gives this bath melt it's unique and rather decadent fragrance. A first sniff reveals a slightly bitter chocolately scent - one that is immediately followed by a strong note of ginger. Although I would normally shy away from anything that has such a dominant ginger smell, this bath melt has a good balance of ingredients to stop the herb being too overwhelming. The cinnamon and clove infusion sit slightly behind the above two scents and compliment them nicely, while the peanut and walnut oils round the aroma off with a deliciously nutty fragrance. 

In the bath, the bath melt dissolves slowly - releasing waves of thick brown oils that float across the surface of the tub. It takes about two minutes for 13 Rabbits to melt completely, and what you are left with is a blanket of oils and butters to indulge yourself in. 

Unfortunately, before I had even tested one of these out, I knew that it wouldn't be scoring high for presentation in the bath. The product isn't the most exciting of colours to bathe in, and the puddles of brown that decorate the water and the edges of the tub, isn't all that attractive or appealing. However, once you are in and under the water, you'll appreciate how quickly the bath melt gets to work - softening and moisturising your skin and leaving you feeling really relaxed and pampered. 

While the bath melt did leave smears of oil up the side of the tub, these were very easy to wipe away and didn't stain the sides at all. Furthermore, the oils didn't taint my skin or leave me feeling at all dirty - something I was expecting it to do. Unfortunately, while it worked wonders on my skin, the scent didn't linger for long and within 20-30 minutes I could no longer detect it at all. 

Although I used an entire bar, I would say that this could easily be divided into two and used alongside a bubble bar or bath bomb to get more use out of it. Using something like Ma Bar or Butterball as well as 13 Rabbits would mean that you'd get all of the bath melt's healing properties, while getting something a little stronger in scent as well. 

Although I have given this a 4 out of 6, this is one of those products that was close to scraping a five. The only aspect of this that put me off awarding it higher, was the unappealing bath it created. Having said this, I am thankful for how amazing my skin felt after sharing a bath with the product and I urge you to try it out for yourself, if you get the chance. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Laureth 4, Walnut Oil, Peanut Oil, Cinnamon Stick and Clove Infusion, Perfume, Cocoa Powder, Ginger Oil, Clove Bud Oil, Eugenol.

Vegan?: Yes.

2014 Price: £3.95 each.
2015 Price: £3.95 each

Scent Family:
13 Rabbits Bath Melt
13 Rabbits Shower Gel

Handy Gurugu Hand Cream

As with most people's hands, these over-working parts of your body often take most of the brunt of your daily life. Mine have to sift through hours of marking every day, they're rubbed raw in the winter months and neglected in the summer. Recently, I began to notice that I was developing dry patches in-between my fingers, most likely due to a combination of extreme weather conditions and the number of baths they've been made to sit through recently. I realised that I needed to offer them something in return for their hard work, so I bought myself a tub of Lush's Handy Gurugu hand cream. 

Described as a 'powerful super-moisturiser for extra-dry hands', this hand cream sounded like it would do the trick. Packed full of multiple butters, this product is a powerhouse for skin that needs a serious overhaul of moisture. Containing shea butter, peanut butter, cashew butter, pumpkinseed butter and almond butter, Handy Gurugu sounds almost good enough to eat. These butters are amazing at creating a naturally creamy emollient base which helps to moisturise, heal and protect the skin. Furthermore, they're highly nourishing and work well together to help the skin to retain it's moisture, supporting the natural rhythm of your body.

This hand cream also contains almond oil and primrose oil, both of which help to strengthen and nourish the skin. Furthermore, you'll find a combination of rose oil and lemon juice, both of which tone the skin, brightens it and leaves it looking and feeling revitalised.

I found that during the day, my skin became very dry and taut, very similar to how it feels when you're using a particularly drying soap. As I didn't have anything to counteract this, my skin began to get irritated and very quickly I noticed that, aside from the dry patches, I would often find red lumps and bumps in and around the crevices of my fingers.  

Having used Handy Gurugu for only a couple days, I began to notice that the skin on my hands had vastly improved. By the second day, my dried skin patches had all but disappeared and the sore areas had been reduced considerably. You'll need to be careful that you don't apply too much at once; firstly, as it's a very rich moisturiser, a tiny amount will work wonders for skin, so applying too much is simply wasteful. Secondly, because it's such a thick lotion, it takes a while for the skin to absorb it, so if too much is applied, you end up with greasy hands, which doesn't help to serve anyone. 

Handy Gurugu possesses a rather strong scent. Aside from the different butters, the main ingredients here are rose and vanilla, so I was expecting a fragrance that echoes these scents. However, this is not the case at all. To me, it had a very strong herby, floral scent - a little like fresh lavender intertwined with the powdery smell of dried rose petals. It's definitely not an unpleasant smell, but neither is it a scent I fell in love with. To echo the sentiments of other Lush fans, it's a pleasant smell but not one I would want to smear all over my body.

Overall, for those with dry or damaged hands, Handy Gurugu has all the ingredients needed to reverse this. It does moisturise well and leave your hands feeling very soft. However, it is a very greasy hand cream, and one that takes a few minutes to absorb into the skin, even if you heed my advice and use the most minuscule of amounts. Unfortunately, for someone who uses my hands a lot at work, I cannot afford to sit around for five minutes before I can use my hands again after applying this.

Ultimately, this is a good hand cream which leaves the skin feeling really soft and hydrated. The consistency and ingredients list show it to be a rich, highly indulgent cream, and one that effectively relieves feelings of tightness and dryness in weathered hands. Although the smell is not one of my favourites by far, it can be overlooked for the good that it does. My only issue is that it's a little too heavy for my skin which is why I wouldn't buy it again. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Rose Water, Shea Butter, Glycerine, Stearic Acid, Organic Almond Oil, Triethanolamine, Fresh Organic Lemon Juice, Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute, Rose Absolute, Chamomile Blue Oil, Organic Evening Primrose Oil, Organic Peanut Butter, Organic Pumpkinseed Butter, Organic Cashew Butter, Organic Almond Butter, Tincture of Benzoin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Methyl Ionone, Benzyl Salicylate, Coumarin, Geraniol, Benzyl Benzoate, Farnesol, Limonene, Linalool, Perfume, Chlorophyllin, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes.

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Coco Lotion Body Lotion

It was only a few months after I began collecting Lush products, that this product was discontinued from their regular range. At first, I didn't realise that it had removed. It was only when I went to order myself a tub to try out, that I realised it was no longer available, and I was rather disappointed as my flatmate had been raving about it's 'awesomeness' for quite some time. 

What I find a little confusing about Coco Lotion is that it was marketed as an un-fragranced body lotion, which means it would be very popular for the many people who don't like heavy or overpowering fragrances on their skin. However, when I researched into this lotion a little more, I found that most people who had used it, claimed that it possessed a tropical scent, which almost defeated the point of the lotion altogether.

Lush even stated in their description that the lotion was made up of 'ingredients from the Caribbean', claiming that 'the soft scent comes from the oils and herbs in it: toning fresh mandarins, rejuvenating rosemary and fresh pineapple for its naturally skin-brightening enzymes.'

What I found when I first used this lotion,was that I couldn't detect any of the 'Caribbean' influences that I was expecting; it was completely unfragranced with just a hint of 'something' which stopped it from giving off that plastic scent that Lush lotions sometimes do when they're past their shelf life. To me, it smelled like a combination of coconut oil and cocoa butter, but with the sweetness from both of the ingredients removed to give the lotion a very flat but pleasant smell. 

It's consistency was very much like Karma Kream; a fairly thick but light lotion that my skin absorbed almost immediately so I wasn't left greasy or sticky. Coco Lotion made my skin feel really refreshed and hydrated, whilst being light on my skin, which was lovely. 

Looking at what's been added to this product, I can see why this lotion works in this way; there are so many key ingredients here to help your skin. Firstly, Lush have included both extra virgin coconut oil and peanut oil which feed your thirsty skin and hydrate your pores. Organic pumpkin seed oil and organic sesame oil are both extra oil additions which make this lotion a rich, hydrating moisturiser. I'm unsure why so many oils have been added here, but given how nice it makes my skin feel, I'm not going to argue. Furthermore, Mandarin and Rosemary infusions as well as fresh pineapple juice are all added as they are rich in antioxidants and help to perk up the complexion and add a natural glow.

On paper, Coco Lotion sounds like it should be a haven a smells, which is partly why I was a little disappointed that I couldn't pick up any of these amazing ingredients in the mix. However, the main reason why this lotion didn't score top marks for me was due to the rather unpleasant smell that permeated my skin after application. 

While it wasn't a fragrance that made me gag, it wasn't enjoyable either and it definitely wouldn't be one that I'd want lingering around me afterwards. To me, the smell was definitely a combination of coconut and pineapple, but not the sweet, nutty goodness that you'd expect with Big Calm Shower Jelly. Instead, it reminded me of the sickly sweet and rather pungent fragrance you get when drinking the milk of a fresh coconut. 

Having tested a fresh batch as well as a slightly older variation, I found that the potency of the aroma on my skin tended to get stronger, the longer the lotion had been sitting in my room. Furthermore, having researched this product quite a bit when I initially acquired a tub, I found that a large number of Lush consumers had complained of similar smells coming from newly purchased pots of Coco Lotion - some even occurring days after buying a fresh pot in the shops.

Unfortunately, this product just isn't for me. While the consistency is everything I look for in a body lotion and it really does work wonders at leaving your skin feeling nourished, I just cannot deal with the smell left behind. And while it's not strong enough to overpower any perfume, I get an occasional whiff of it when I'm out and about and its enough to put me off using it again.

Quantitative Ingredients: Spring Water, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (Cocos nucifera), Mandarin and Rosemary Infusion (Citrus nobilis and Rosmarinus officinalis), Pimento Berry; Nutmeg & Satr Anise decoction (Pimenta officinalis; Myristica fragrans and Illicium verum), Steric Acid, Peanut Oil (Arachis hypogaea), Triethanolimaine, Fresh Pineapple Juice (Ananas sativus), Oorganic Pumpkinseed Oil (Cucurbita), Sesame Oil (Sesamum indicum), Ceteartyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes.

2015 Price: £12.50 for 240g.

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Noubar Soap

Despite possessing enough soap to last me a couple of years, I cannot help but bid on products I don't have. So when a rather large slab of Noubar appeared on eBay, I was sure as hell I was not going to let it slip through my fingers. Unfortunately, I discovered that piece was rather old and it didn't lather anywhere near as well as it should have done. So when Lush brought out a fresh batch in the Kitchen, I was all over it like a dog with a bone.

Lush claim that Noubar contains smoky vetivert oil and Turkish rose absolute to keep you sweet every time you wash. However, the scent that greeted me on first sniff was not of rose or vetivert. Instead, I detected a smooth, nutty scent, which is not surprising as this soap contains an impressive four different types of nut; peanuts, walnuts, almonds and pistachios.

Unlike a lot of other Lush soaps, this one has a lot of ingredients in it, which is why I was rather surprised to find that it was incredibly soft to touch and flattened when I applied a little pressure on the surface. I have read online that many people find this soap rather difficult to lather up and although it is quite a stubborn soap, there's a reason for this. I'd definitely say that this is more of a creamy, moisturising soap, so although it doesn't produce as much foam as others, the gel it does create is very exfoliating and gentle on the skin. Too much of this and I think it would dry out my skin.

The great thing about the different types of nuts featured in Noubar, is that they give the soap a rough, coarse texture that helps to remove unwanted dead cells and smooth out lumps and bumps. Coupled with the oils and minerals, this soap is great at both scrubbing and softening the skin, while at the same time moisturising it so it is not irritated or damaged by the treatment. The only issue I found with the inclusion of the nuts, is that this soap tended to fall apart in the shower and you end up with not only the lather on your skin, but pieces of nut etc... as well. 

It's a very subtle smelling soap, with elements of gardenia and rose mixed in with the woody scent of pistachios and almonds. It reminded me very much of the pistachio nougat bars that you can buy in sweet shops, and I was almost tempted to take a bite at one stag. It definitely has the look and feel of nougat to it, hence the name, and would be most suited towards someone who doesn't like overpowering smells. I was rather impressed by how hydrated and smooth my skin felt after use, and it definitely didn't have that tight, dried out feeling that some soaps can sometimes give you.

This soap performed really well, and I was impressed by how fresh and yummy looking it was when it arrived. While this soap is really soft on the skin and leaves it looking and feeling nourished, I would be careful when using this in the shower. This is the sort of soap that shrinks very quickly and a 100g bar will not get you far if you're using it too vigorously. I'm glad that I managed to get myself a few blocks of this and it'll be a great shower companion in the foreseeable colder months. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Glycerine, Grapeseed Oil, Organic Coconut Oil, Chopped Peanuts, Chopped Walnuts, Perfume, Titanium Dioxide, Pistachio Nuts, Gardenia Extract, Vetivert Oil, Rose Absolute, Cedarwood Oil, Sodium Chloride, EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Colour 42090.

Vegan?: Yes

2014 Price: £4.25 for 100g.

2016 Price: £4.50 for 100g.

2017 Price: £4.25 for 100g.