Not Sleepy Shower Bomb

While I will always give a Lush product a fair chance at impressing me, I have never been one to get excited over the range of 'emotibombs' that they have brought out over the years. While I take multiple showers a day, I cannot fathom how spending money on something that sits by your feet and dissolves away to nothing, is in any way conducive. For this reason, I wasn't initially enamoured by the description of Lush's newly released shower bombs.

However, I can now state that these products are definitely a step in the right direction. Whereas the emotibombs are meant to simply dissolve away and offer a fragrance in the shower, shower bombs offer a more immersive experience: one that is not only more hands on in the shower but one that is potentially more beneficial for the skin as well.

Containing lemon, orange, lime and neroli oils, Not Sleepy is a zesty burst of sunshine in the shower. While the lemon is the strongest note here, all of these ingredients make themselves known under the heat of the running water in some way. This is a shower bomb that packs a punch, even though the fragrance is rather simplistic overall. 

To use a shower bomb, you need to hold it under the running water during your shower, where it will immediately begin to expand and create a fragrant foam in your hand. Firstly, the heat of the water will help to release the different essential oils that have gone into making the bomb, which is supposed to help alter your mood depending on the purpose of the shower bomb. 

In this case, Not Sleepy is for anyone needing something bright and vibrant to coax them from their bed and wake them up as quickly but as gently as possible. I used this after a rather restless night and found that I felt really refreshed and rejuvenated after using one of these. This shower bomb definitely has the power to elevate your mood to a more positive mood. 

Once the shower bomb has began creating its foam, the idea is that you can lather and massage this across the skin much like you would a shower gel. The inclusion of both the potato starch and the sodium alginate allow the bomb to soften and moisture the skin, while the different oils clean out the pores and leave your skin looking and smelling super delicious.

At first, I was worried that the inclusion of the sodium bicarbonate and citric acid would irritate my skin, much like if I was to rub a bath bomb against my skin. I was fully expecting to develop a rash and find that my skin became super dry after using one of these. However, I found that this was not the case at all.

While the consistency of the foam is slightly scratchy, and not at all like the silkiness of a regular Lush shower gel or jelly, my skin did feel really clean and soft after using the shower bomb. Furthermore, I was able to clean my entire body, from head to foot, and still have product left over afterwards. Because of this, it would be completely reasonable to cut one of these shower bombs in half and use them across two showers.   

Given how powerful this is, and for those looking to be a little more reserved about their Lush products, you could easily cut this product in half and use it across two separate showers. Furthermore, you certainly don't need to moisture after using this as my skin felt wonderful for the rest of the evening, and into the next day as well.

This is by far my favourite shower bomb to date. The design is gorgeous; the scent is simply decadent and delicious; and the product does exactly what it's supposed to, and more. While £2.75 may seem expensive for the size of the product you are getting, it is definitely worth the investment, and I shall be purchasing a few more to help me through my first term as a Year 1 teacher.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Citric Acid, Potato Starch, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Calcium Lactate, Sodium Alginate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sicilian Lemon Oil, Lemon Myrtle Oil, Petitgrain Oil, Neroli Oil, Brazilian Orange Oil, Lime Oil, Water (Aqua), Ground White Rice, *Citral, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 19140, Colour 47005.

Vegan?: Yes.

2018 Price: £2.75 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2018.

Spice Curls Soap

A good percentage of those who grew up in the 90's will remember the Spice Girls with at least a small bout of fondness. Whether they joined one of the thousands of tribute groups that formed in playgrounds across the country, or simply bopped to their favourite songs in the comfort of their own bedroom, everyone was caught up with the Brit-pop sensation in some small way.

While the inclusion of ginger seems to be the only reference Spice Curls Soap has to the famous group, there is something very sassy and sultry about the aroma. It is this very factor that makes me believe it is the ingredients and powerful aroma that form a link between the product and one of the biggest girl groups of all time.

So where to start with this complex and very interesting soap? I'll begin by stating that Spice Curls is a wholesome cluster of herbs and spices - a thick crescendo of smells that lace together to form one of the strongest smelling soaps I have ever experienced from Lush. While its use is definitely limited to the colder months of the year, this is a soap that leaves a lasting impression on both your body and your mind; it's not one that you forget easily, for better or worse.  

With cardamom as the key ingredient, this soap is warm and slightly smoky, with very dry but subtle notes of what I can only describe as lemon. This is a byproduct of the cardamom though, not a stand alone ingredient, so don't expect this soap to be fruity. Alongside this, there is also an accumulation of cloves and cinnamon underneath, which add an equal measure of heat and spice. Both of these two components have their own natural sweetness, but I would not describe this soap as being sweet in the same way that you might describe the likes of Hot Toddy or Cinders.

Instead, the layers of ginger, paprika, ground chilli and cayenne pepper make this a strong, grounded spicy aroma, while the inclusion of peppermint adds a crisp but full-flavoured fragrance. This reminds me of both Pumpkin Soap and Jacko Ballistic, albeit much stronger, slightly creamier and more rounded.

What I will say is that Spice Curls is one of the most full-bodied soaps I have ever come across from Lush. It's potency will greet you before you've even opened the box, and it continues to dominate any room you leave it resting in. As you can imagine, the smell transpires well in the shower, and is definitely an effective alternative to minty or bright citrusy smells, if you're looking for something to wake you up.  

This is quite a soft soap, as in it gives way a little when you squeeze it, so I would suggest that you pat it dry in between uses so as not to allow the water to shrink your block quicker than you would like. Having said that, the consistency works in your favour as it is such a generous latherer, and takes very little stimulation to produce a thick, creamy and very fragrant foam to wash yourself with. I'd say that this is a soap you don't need to hold under  the running water too much in the shower: it would probably diminish fairly quickly this way, and you could easily create an amass of lather away from the stream and then massage this across your skin.

Featuring ground rice as one of the key ingredients, you'll notice that this soap also has a slight gritty texture to it. This allows the product to offer a gentle exfoliation while you're cleaning yourself, and I love how soft my skin felt without needing to put too much pressure on my body while I was using the soap. This would be great for those who dislike scratchy scrubs, or for those who have sensitive skin, as you barely notice the exfoliation because it is so gentle. However, the results are just as impressive as some of Lush's sugar-based scrubs.

As to be expected, the smell of this stayed on my skin for a long time afterwards, which is part of the reason why I believe it is more suited for the winter months. I don't quite know how I'd feel being able to smell a strong thread of cloves and cardamom on my skin when the sun was out and making me sweat!

Impressively, once I had towelled myself down and let my skin completely dry, I was surprised to find that my hands and arms felt really soft and shiny - my hands in particular sharing the same feeling I get when I've applied hand cream to them. The only negative aspect about this soap, aside from it being suited to certain seasons, is that I also feel as if I'd have to be in a certain mood to use this. As it is very heavy on the senses, this is not a soap I would want to use all the time; neither is it a soap that I think would sit well as a hand soap - its potency would be quite off-putting for those wanting to wash their hands.

Overall, I found that I liked this soap a lot more than I was expecting to. The combination of its strong smell, soft appearance and lasting smoothness means that this is a soap I reckon that you need to try at least once, if only to Spice Up Your Life. However, if you dislike potent fragrances, this is one you are gonna Wannabe missing.

Quantitative Ingredients: Water (Aqua),  Glycerine, Rapeseed Oil and Coconut Oil, Kaolin,Ground Rice, Sorbitol, Fresh Ginger Root, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Cardamom Oil, Clove Bud Oil, Spearmint Oil, Organic Hungarian Paprika, Fair Trade Organic Cinnamon Powder, Organic Ground Cayenne Pepper, Organic Ground Chilli, Sodium Chloride, EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Stearate, *Cinnamal, *Eugenol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Perfume, Colour 15510.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £4.50 for 100g.

Year Of Original Release: 2008.

Don't Look At Me Fresh Face Mask

I was in such a rush to grab the array of bath bombs and shower gels on Oxford Street's opening day, that I barely had time to register the array of amazing products that Lush had out on offer for consumers to try. One such section that I completely dismissed on my initial visit was the fresh counter of face masks - a decision I was soon to regret after seeing the impressive range of new masks that the company had on offer. 

For years I have been rather dismissive of Lush's selection of face masks, most understandably because only a small percentage of them are vegan. While I happen to love the likes of Catastrophe Cosmetic, Cupcake and Oatfix, I have grown tired of alternating between the three and have been looking for something new to renew and revitalise my skin with. 

Don't Look At Me is one of four brand new masks to make an appearance in the flagship store, three of which are certified vegan and completely different from the regular ones that I have been used to up until this point. Probably the most popular seller so far, this product makes an immediate  impression upon removing the lid - where it sports a vivid pastel blue shade unlike any other face mask that Lush currently sell. 

Containing a generous helping of murumuru butter and kaolin, this exclusive mask is perfect for those who want something light and refreshing, but equally something that is going to nourish your face and restore some of the vibrancy you might have lost following the colder months. The lemon juice and grapefruit oil give this mask a very bright, citrusy aroma - one that smells more like the latter ingredient than the former. In fact, the fragrance of this face mask reminded me a little of a soured mandarin - it's very uplifting and refreshing in that way.

Containing a combination of rice syrup, rice milk and grounded white rice, Don't Look At Me has been carefully crafted to not only moisturise and replenish your complexion, but also to exfoliate it and remove any dead skin or unwanted dirt that may be residing in your pores at the time. These three ingredients act as an exfoliant during application; the slight roughness of the ground rice sloughing away at surface dry skin cells to reveal a brighter, fresher looking skin. 

Whereas you would expect a face mask to be smooth, this one is relatively grainy - very similar in consistency to Rub Rub Rub but thicker, more compacted and harsher on the skin. When you apply this, you can immediately feel the gritty texture getting to work at removing unwanted debris, and for this reason I would suggest that you're rather careful when you lather this across your face. As your complexion is quite sensitive, I can imagine that if you're too aggressive with application, you might irritate your pores somewhat and strip your skin of its natural lubrication. 

Once the mask has been applied, you're supposed to leave it on your face for a good 15 - 20 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water. What you're left with is a clean, clear and rather radiant looking complexion, that is smooth to touch and ready to face the day ahead. I loved how refreshed and uplifted it made my face feel after use and I would definitely use this again. 

While Lush doesn't advertise it as being so, I think that this face mask would suit those with more oily, greasy complexions. I only say this because the grainy element of the mask would be great at removing stubborn build up of grease, while the citrus oils would work at balancing out the complexion and replenishing colour and radiance that may have been lost beforehand. 

Having said that, I have relatively dry skin and this still worked well on me - leaving my face feeling really revitalised and smooth to the touch. This is definitely one that I would purchase again and I hope that it becomes a regular member of the face mask family.     

Quantitative Ingredients: Glycerine, Kaolin, Water (Aqua), Fresh Organic Lemon Juice (Citrus limonum), Organic Silken Tofu, Rice Syrup (Oryza sativa syrup), Grounded White Rice (Oryza sativa starch), Rice Milk (Oryza sativa), Murumuru Butter (Astrocaryum Murumuru), Bentone (Hectorite), Colour 42090, Perfume, Grapefruit Oil (Citrus paradisi), Neroli Oil (Citrus Aurantium amara), Limonene, Geraniol, Linalool, Farnesol.

Vegan?: Yes.

2015 Price: £6.95 for 75g. 

Year Of Original Release: 2015. 

Coconut Scrubby Shower Smoothie Roulade

If there's one thing that the Oxford Street store reminds me, it's that there is nothing quite like a Lush experience. What I mean by that is that you're unlikely to find another shop on the high street where you can have soap freshly sliced to the size you want it; you'd be hard-pressed to discover a shop where the employees are happy to play with bubbles or offer you free samples the size of your fist; you certainly wouldn't find an establishment so proud of their wonky bubble bars and messy looking cleansers. 

In fact, it is the imperfections that make Lush so desirable and so unique. Their products work, and they work well - so why care if their face masks look a little like a concoction a child might make in the garden. It is for this very reason that I was extremely excited about the prospect of trying out Lush's impressive new array of solid 'roulade-shaped' shower smoothies. 

Coconut Scrubby was one of the first ones I was drawn to - partly because I was intrigued by the description and mostly because of the smell that greeted me when I first took a sniff in the shop. This smoothie may not be the most attractive or the most colourful of the ones currently available, but it's certainly one of my favourites. 

While Lush have released shower smoothies before, they haven't released anything that quite looks or feels like this one. Presented as a long 'swiss roll', this product is cut into smaller pieces in store - allowing customers to choose how much or how little they'd like. 

Having the smoothie in this format also means that it's far more natural and no doubt fresher than the potted ones. Unfortunately, as the product has little to no preservatives in the ingredients list, it also means that the shelf life is far less than the other format offers. I would treat all of Lush's new shower smoothies like I would with their fresh cleansers, and say that they'd probably last a good 2-3 months before needing replacing.

Made from an interesting combination of ground rice and almonds, this exfoliating smoothie has a strange consistency. It reminds me a little bit of freshly made pate - a sort of soft, sticky and slightly lumpy texture that keeps it shape but easily pulls apart when you need it to in the shower. Coconut Scrubby is also packed full of coconut milk, coconut oil, olibanum, almond and orange oil as well - all of which add to the unique aroma that it possesses. 

All of these ingredients combine to create a really unique smell. To me, it has all the creaminess of coconut but with a sweet, nutty and slightly exotic aroma as well. Imagine making rice pudding using brown sugar and coconut milk - throw in a little almond milk and a splash of orange juice and you may just begin to understand what this product smells like. 

The smoothie is incased in a rough, black layer that can also be found threaded throughout the whole bar. While I was expecting this to be seaweed, I was surprised to find that it felt and smelled more like ground almonds combined with oil. Unlike the seaweed you get with the cleansers, this alternative is really effective as it dissolves under the water so you can use the entire piece. Furthermore, this outer shell converts into small, gritty, black grains when it's being used and these act as a sort of gentle exfoliator for your skin. 

To use the smoothie, all you need to do is break off the desired amount and lather it across your wet skin when you're in the shower. I would suggest that you do this quite rigorously as while it does create a good amount of lather, it can be a little stubborn when there's not enough force to movies across the skin. Then simply wash it off afterwards and you're left with beautiful, clean and rather fragrant skin.

Despite the impressive array of oils presented in the ingredients list, I didn't find this as nourishing on my body as I was expecting it to. While my skin was lovely and smooth afterwards, if a little taut, I didn't experience the silkiness that I would have expected with most of Lush's shower gels or jellies. If you're planning on applying body lotion afterwards, this factor is probably of little concern but if like me you don't moisturise after every shower, you may wish to only use this smoothie when you do so.

Overall, I love the concept of these smoothies and I am very excited to try out the other variations that Lush are currently offering. This is a product I would buy again - if only to enjoy the rather decadent smell as I exfoliated away the day's accumulation of dirt.   

Quantitative Ingredients: Coconut Milk, Rapeseed oil, Coconut Oil (Brassica naps):cocos nucifera), Glycerine, Almond Oil (Prunus dulcis), Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (Cocos nucifera), Water (Aqua), Ground Rice (Oryza sativa), Perfume, Ground Almonds (Prunus dullness), Titanium Dioxide, Fennel Oil (Foeniculum vulgar), Orange Oil (Citrus sinensis), Olibanum Oil (Boswellia carterii), Sodium Chloride, EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citral, Farnesol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool. 

Vegan?: Yes.

2015 Price: £5 per 100g.

Year Of Original Release: 2015. 

Light Pink Foundation

As you can see from my recent reviews, I am slowly making my way around the array of weird and wonderful make-up offerings from Lush. A year ago, I wouldn't have even dreamt of using any of their products - simply because I didn't view them as a company that could offer me products on par with the likes of Mac and Bourjois. How wrong was I?

After the success I had with both their Charisma Skin Tint and Emotional Brilliance Face Powder, I was rather intrigued and equally excited about trying their Light Pink Foundation. One of two light foundations available from Lush, this particular one is aimed at those of us with pale pink complexions - a product that is supposed to even out the skin and make the complexion appear smoother and without blemishes. 

As per usual, Lush offer consumers something a little extra with their foundations. As someone who dislikes wearing anything too heavy and constricting on my skin, I found this foundation is not only very light and cannot be felt once it has been applied, but there is a whole host of ingredients present to make it actually beneficial for the skin. One of the main ingredients in Light Pink is rose petal infusion, which unfortunately doesn't make this foundation smell particularly floral but it does help to settle the skin and reduce any redness or irritation you may be experiencing. 

I know from previous experiences that wearing foundation all of the time can dry out my complexion and I have even known to come out in rashes and spots because of the irritation it causes my face. This particular product contains bran rice oil, which is fantastic for putting moisture back into the skin, and I found that some four to five weeks after using this daily, I have not experienced any irritation, spots or dry patches so far.  

Lush suggest that you mix this together with a little of your favourite moisturiser and apply to clean skin evenly - a way of giving your face a little colour whilst also nourishing the pores. However, I have found it much more useful to apply this directly to the face by way of a make-up sponge and then using the sponge to distribute it evenly across the face - just like you would with any other foundation.

It was on my initial attempt that I realised how special this foundation was. After using a very small amount (probably no more than an eighth of a teaspoon ) to cover my whole face, I was amazed to find that my complexion looked really smooth, with the dark circles under my eyes noticeably reduced. Although I was really pleased with the results, it wasn't until my friend commented that I looked 'photoshopped' that I realised just how much it had softened and smoothened out my face. 

What makes it even more impressive, is that once it's been applied, this foundation offers you coverage for the entire day. It doesn't fade or move when I contour my face, and it doesn't come off if I accidentally rub or scratch myself. In fact, Light Pink remains in place until I wipe it off with a cleanser when I get home in the evening. 

Priced at £9.50 for a 20g tub, this is probably very slightly more expensive than the Mac bottle I had been using up until this point. However, when I compared the two, I was amazed to find that Lush's foundation triumphed considerably over the other - my complexion looked and felt better and there wasn't any of the heaviness that the Mac one offered. 

This small tub has lasted me almost a month of daily usage now, and I would say I'm about halfway through the pot. My skin still feels and looks radiant and my confidence has improved dramatically since I can rely upon this foundation to support my skin and keep it in great condition. I definitely consider this to be a must-have and I cannot see myself straying and using anything else, anytime soon. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Fresh Rose Petal Infusion, Soya Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Rice Bran Oil, Stearic Acid, Talc, Glycerine, Triethanolamine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Colour 77491, Colour 77499, Colour 77492, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes.

2014 Price: £9.50 for 20g.

So White Shower Gel

While the bath bomb of the same name is not one of my favourites, I was still excited about trying out So White Shower Gel for the first time. Inspired by the story of Snow White and the poisonous apple, this shower gel is a lovely homage to the famous fairy tale, and promises to give you a unique and rather wonderful bathing experience. 

Made from an infusion of fresh apple, rose water and cider vinegar, this shower gel gives off a beautiful fresh, crisp fruity smell unlike anything you've tried before. While Lush have released many fruit-inspired shower gels over the years, there has not been one so natural smelling as this. 

In the bottle, the scent reminds me of freshly blanched Granny Smith apples - that gentle but equally poignant smell that hasn't been dampened by any synthetic sweeteners or added ingredients. While you can detect subtle hints of the rose water and cider vinegar, it only serves to compliment the sweetness of the fruit and nothing else. 

In the shower, the fragrance intensifies somewhat and you can really pick out the rose and bergamot a little more - but not to the extent that it ruins the initial fragrance of So White. I'd say that this is one scent that some people may need to become accustomed to over the first few uses. I only say this because my flatmate made the comment that it 'smelt like air freshener' to begin with, and I can see why people might write it off for this very reason. 

The scent of So White Shower Gel is stripped back as far as a product can go and it may take a little getting used to if you'd normally use more sugary, synthetic-smelling products. Having said that, I can see this also being a product that some people will fall head over heels in love with straight away - it's a product that will divide consumers to begin with.

I happen to love it and couldn't wait to try it out in the shower. While it's fairly unimpressive to look at - a pearly white liquid with remnants of snowflake lustre mixed in, its runny consistency makes it really easy to use in the shower and you need very little to create a surplus amount of foamy lather to wash with.

It's consistency - which is similar to Black Pearl Shower Gel that came out earlier this year in the kitchen, means that you have to be careful not to pour too much out in one go. While the demonstration on Lush's website sees the user pouring a good dessertspoonful into the palm of their hand, I'd say that this is rather wasteful and you only need a pea amount to wash a large percentage of your body. 

While it's not the most moisturising of shower gels, it does leave your skin feeling really soft and clean. The gentle scent lingers on your skin for a while afterwards and really helps to banish those blues brought on by the colder weather. I can see this being a great pick-me-up when the winter chills really kick in and threaten to depress me even more. 

What I first found strange about Lush bringing this out for Christmas, is that I thought that it was much more of a Spring fragrance. However, having used it in the shower for the last few consecutive days, I've found that the uplifting and refreshing fragrance has helped to warm me up while the inclusion of both rose absolute and bergamot oil help to clear my mind leave me invigorated.

This is a great shower gel for those who want something that can be used all year around, and while I prefer Hot Toddy slightly, it's still a shower gel I will stock up on before the seasonal sale is over. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Apple infusion, Rose Water, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Fine Sea Salt, Glyceryl Stearate & PEG-100 Stearate, Cocamide MEA, Glycol Cetearate, Perfume, Cyder vinegar, Propylene Glycol, Lauryl Betaine, Bergamot Oil, Rose Absolute, Orange Flower Absolute, Neroli Oil, Tincture of Benzoin, Rice Bran Oil, Lilial, Limonene, Linalool, Snowflake Lustre, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes.

Year Of Original Release: 2014.

2016 Price: £11.25 for 250g.

Scent Family:
Once Upon A Time Body Lotion
Once Upon A Time Naked Body Lotion
Santa's Belly Jelly
So White Bath Bomb
So White Body Spray
So White New 2016 Edition Bath Bomb
So White Liquid Perfume
So White Shower Gel

Strawberry Boat Fresh Smoothie

If I'm going to be honest, I don't think Lush have yet to perfect the strawberry fragrance. While their use of the fruit in the American Cream, Yummy Yummy Yummy and Strawberry Twin Tub scents have yielded incredibly sexy variations, nothing has yet to come close to the fresh, non-synthetic beauty that is the natural strawberry aroma.

Strawberry Boat Smoothie was supposed to be the product that blew my theory out of the water. While it didn't achieve this, it did offer me another strawberry-scented product that I could enjoy - one extracted from the Lush vaults of the late 1990s. 

This smoothie was originally designed to scrub, exfoliate and smoothen out lines, creases and the wobbly bits on your body - which is why the product doesn't specifically detail where you should apply this. For this reason, I have used this on both my body and my face, and have yielded great results from both experiments. 

Packed full of strawberries, this magical fruit is rich in antioxidants and minerals which add vibrancy to your skin and leaves it feeling clean, clear and refreshed. This is combined with both fresh ginger root and ginger oil which not only add to the overall smell of the product and gives it a slightly spicy fragrance, but also supports circulation around the body and makes you feel warmer and more relaxed.

Strawberry Boat Fresh Smoothie smells a little like strawberry greek yoghurt - it has a slight sourness to it that I pick up even more when it is on my skin. It also has a gentle powdery fruitiness to it much like Yummy Yummy Yummy has, yet it doesn't share the same strawberry scent. To round it off, there's a sprinkling of ginger, which sort of lingers underneath the strawberry and gives the smoothie a very subtle spiciness. 

Ground rice gives this smoothie a very odd consistency unlike anything else I've yet to try from Lush. The product is rather thick and gritty in consistency - a little like smooth peanut butter mixed with semolina powder. I supposed it compares a little to Cupcake Fresh Face Mask but it's not exactly like this. On top of each smoothie is a decoration of sago - a starch derived from the pith of the sago palm that has been turned into small grains that are similar in look and feel as tapioca. These help to give you a good all-rounded exfoliation without being too aggressive on the skin.   

In the shower, this product does really well at lathering over your skin. It doesn't produce any foam - working like a body butter in this way. However, you only need very little as it coats your body with ease. After it has been washed off, it leaves its gentle fragrance on you for a while. In the shower this scent is a little floury - it smells of strawberries and baked oats. Unfortunately, I found that the scent it leaves on your skin after you've left the sower is reminiscent of soured milk so I didn't enjoy this aspect of the product. In fact, the smell I could pick up off my skin reminded me a little of when I used Coco Lotion, with disastrous effects!

Strawberry Boat leaves you skin feeling really clean and soft. It doesn't feel incredible moisturised like I would expect from buttercreams and body butters,  but the effect it has is not unlike the feeling you get when using a good-quality shower gel. 

This is a lovely product that makes a great addition to your shower experiences. It only needs to be used 2-3 times a week so a 75g pot should last you a while. It does need to be kept in the fridge between uses and it only has a four week shelf life which is a shame as you won't be able to store these before they leave the kitchen. I'm really glad that Lush brought this back for fans to try and I hope to see more of these wonderful products making an appearance soon. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Ground Rice, Almond Oil, Fresh Strawberries, Glycerine, Sago, Fine Sea Salt, Rapeseed Oil and Coconut Oil, Fresh Ginger Root, Ginger Oil, Sodium Chloride, EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citronellol, Linalool, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £6.95 each.

Noriko Soap

Despite owning close to 10kg worth of Lush soap, it has only been over the last few months that I've began to use it regularly. Being a big fan of their shower gels has meant that my collection of soap has been overlooked somewhat, especially when I'm deciding what to use in the shower, meaning that it's built up very quickly. 

Noriko Soap was at the top of my 'to try' list for two reasons: firstly, it happened to be one of my newest acquisitions, and I thought it wise to try the freshest blocks first; secondly, because I was rather intrigued with it's description, as well as it's inclusion in the Christmas 2013 range. 

First created back in 1999, this soap is named after its creator, Noriko, who was inspired to create a soap using Japanese-inspired ingredients. It's a weird sort of soap, with a very strange, almost-savoury scent to match. In fact, I find it very difficult to fully describe this scent as it's like nothing I've ever smelt before. 

What I can pick up are elements of ylang ylang, a woody floral sort of scent, which sits very subtly in the mix. Lush claim that rose absolute is also supposed to sit highly in it's fragrance, however, I could not detect this at all. There is a gentle citrus undertone here, which somewhat elevates the ylang ylang scent and is no doubt brought about by the addition of Brazilian orange oil in the ingredients list. It's a very unique scent, and one that would be best suited for those of you who don't like overpowering smells.

The soap is a creamy white in colour and is decorated with a thin slice of coloured jelly on the top. I get the impression that the jelly is to add a bit of colour to the soap as it doesn't serve any other purpose here and unlike a normal shower jelly, is quite rigid and hard in consistency. Interestingly, this soap is the first of Lush's soaps that I notice contains tofu, which supposedly helps to nourish the skin and add an overall creamy texture to the soap. 

On the positive side, this soap is very resilient in the water, which means that a 100g block lasted me a long time. It's very easy to lather up and leaves your skin feeling very smooth. Furthermore, the soap contains little bits of agar agar gel throughout each piece, which helps to exfoliate the skin and gently massage the body. It did leave my skin feeling soft and clean, without drying it out. 

Noriko leaves behind a faint floral scent, on both the skin and in the bathroom, which was very pleasant. This gentle smell is not obtrusive and can be overridden with body lotions and perfumes, without worrying there'll be a clash of smells.

The only small downside for me was that the smell wasn't to my particular tastes. In all fairness, I found it a little boring. Despite it making my skin feel wonderful and smooth, this wouldn't be enough to make me buy it again. It's an odd choice to include alongside the Christmas selection, but I'm glad I got to try it at least once.

Quantitative Ingredients: Propylene Glycol, Rapeseed Oil and Coconut Oil, Rice Decoction, Sake, Tofu, Water, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Agar Agar Gel, Titanium Dioxide, Perfume, Lavender Oil, Rose Absolute, Ylang Ylang Oil, Brazilian Orange Oil, Glycerine, Sodium Chloride, EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Gardenia Extract, *Geraniol, *Farnesol, *Benzyl Salicylate, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Linalool, Colour 42090, Colour 14700.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £4.25 for 100g.

2017 Price: £4.25 for 100g.

Scent Family:
Christmas Hedgehog Bubble Bar
Eyeball Bath Bomb
Noriko Soap
Softy Bath Bomb

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