Dirty Deals Showder

While it doesn't happen very often, I do appreciate it when a product suddenly appears online - sporting a cause I've never heard of and a fragrance I've never tried before. There is something rather exciting about the unexpected, and when this box of Dirty Deals Showder first reared its head online, I couldn't wait to bring some home and test it out for myself. 

Sporting a recently new format from Lush, this limited edition product doesn't just have 'magical powers' in the shower. In fact, the main purchase of this showder is to raise both an awareness and funds for a very important cause - one that I wouldn't have known about in as much depth had it not been for Lush. 

For the last few years, negotiations have been underway between the European Union and the USA to form a partnership that will dictate the transatlantic trade and put the interests of international corporations above the rights of those who work for these companies. The TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) is the outcome of these talks, and if it comes into play, could not only give the USA more control over European democracy and our economy, but would change the rules and regulations of both importation and privacy - an issue that could have a dramatic effect on the quality and safety of the food we eat and the products we use. 

While I have only scratched the surface of this debate, it is clear that these are all valuable reasons for opposing the formation of the TTIP, and while all profits from this product are donated to the Bold groups across Europe that are fighting to eradicate this deal, the showder has done wonders at exposing myself and many others to a cause that I would have known very little about had it not come about. 

Emitting a fragrance derived from a combination of rose and bergamot oils, Dirty Deals is a force to be reckoned with - a potent scent that makes an immediate impression on the senses and will knock you for six when you discover how beautiful it is for the first time.

While there has been a lot of talk about the product smelling of Rose Jam, and I can vouch that it does has similarities to this popular scent family, it is definitely not strictly one particular scent - instead a combination of everything great that Lush have ever brought out with the rose smell. 

In a way, the showder reminds me very much of Imogen Rose Liquid Perfume - an intoxicating floral fragrance with a slight burnt, musky element to it that makes it quite a heavy smell. However, while the aforementioned perfume is strictly rose-scented, Dirty Deals has other elements to it that pad out the fragrance and gives it a little more depth. Most notably, this showder has the inclusion of bergamot, which adds a slightly tart, bitter citrus note - like the rind of an orange intertwined with the subtlest hint of incense. 

What sets this showder apart is the fact that it changes colour when in contact with water. Much like the other showders that Lush have released, this one works in the same way - foaming up when in contact with a little water and creating a spongey lather that can then be spread across the body to clean yourself with. 

Unfortunately, much like the shower sheets, I found that this product was a little disappointing in the shower. Firstly, it was very difficult to keep this box dry in-between and during uses, and I had to transfer the showder into an old plastic tub to prevent my box from disintegrating. While the idea of recyclable packaging is always great for the environment, it's not clever to wrap things in card when they're going to be handled around liquid. 

Secondly, while you only needed a little of this to create a generous amount of lather (I cupped about a dessertspoon amount in my hand and found that it was enough to wash half of my body), it doesn't leave your skin as silky-soft as I find with most shower gels and jellies that I use regularly.

Finally, while the product doesn't really stain, it can get a little messy when you throw sponges of bright purple foam around the bathroom, and I would highly recommend watching what you're doing when using this to prevent any problems occurring. Although most people would only be handling the product for a matter seconds, I will warn you that this will stain your skin green if you leave it on for more than a minute or two. 

Having said that, I was very impressed to discover that the fragrance of this lingers on the skin for a couple of hours after use, and when paired with Imogen Rose, Voice Of Reason or Rose Jam, it made a lovely accompaniment to wear throughout the day. 

Overall, I found the showder very pleasant - it's a scent I can imagine being really successful in perfume format, and one that I would be happy to buy if it ever did transpire. However, I'm not one hundred per cent bowled over my the idea of showders just yet, and this one wasn't good enough to convince me   

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Cornflour, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Disodium Laureth Sulfo succinate, Kaolin, Bergamot Oil, Rose Oil, Citral, Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool, Coumarin, Perfume, Colour 73360.

Vegan?: Yes.

2015 Price: £12.50 for 400g.

Year Of Original Release: 2015.