Sexxx Bomb Bath Bomb

Lush are known for their novel ideas - from the wash cards, shower jellies and solid mouthwash tabs, to the weirdly-shaped bubble bars and bath bombs that adorn their shelves in any given store. In almost all of the above cases, the purpose of the product far outweighs any alluring factor that an item may possess, and even when it's not a favourite you can still appreciate its worth. 

However, if there is one product that seems to serve no extra purpose aside from being a novelty factor, it is their ever-growing collection of enlarged bath bombs. Magnified in size as well as price, these limited editions often appeal to both collectors and avid lovers of a particular ballistic - holding no extra merits aside from a physical difference, and the fact that it warrants you having an incredible expensive session in the tub.  

The Sexxx Bomb Bomb is one of two extra large bath bombs to have come out in the Lush Kitchen recently, and the first to make its debut this year. As the name and design suggest, this enormous bath bomb is modelled on one of Lush's biggest selling products, the Sex Bomb. Coming in at nearly four times the size and weight of the regular ballistic, this is good value for money in that sense. However, using it as a one-off will definitely make it one of the biggest investments you might make this year, on a bath bomb alone. 

Containing a collaboration of jasmine and ylang ylang, this limited edition is as sweet as it is floral. This is definitely one for the jasmine fans as the flower's naturally uplifting and rather euphoric aroma makes itself known immediately - creating an intoxicating blend of fresh but fruity floral notes. The ylang ylang extends the floral smell further by adding in a little muskiness to dampen and ground the resinous properties of the jasmine. 

Finally, the clary sage oil deepens the smell with its musty, earthy undertones. It is this element that makes it such a sensual-smelling bath bomb, and the  ingredient that I think prevents the jasmine from being as narcotic and as heady as it normally is by itself. Sexxx Bomb is definitely as sexy and as sensual as it's older sister.  

Surprisingly, before this bath bomb was added to water, it didn't appear to be any stronger in scent than the smaller version. In order to prevent any users from developing a reaction to the surplus ingredients in the tub, Lush have to dilute the ingredients in all of their bigger bath bombs. This is to ensure that they're not too heavy in the way of smell, and also to prevent any irritation on the skin that could be caused from the prolonged contact with an excess amount of oils.   

On the positive side, once this bath bomb had dissolved in the tub, I found that the aroma was the perfect level; not too strong that it stifled your senses in any way, yet not as weak as the original Sex Bomb, which underwhelmed me quite a bit when I tried it out for myself.

While the colour of the water remained a pastel pink colour, I did notice that the effect was far more prominent: the colour was more opaque and appeared to be thicker in consistency, and this helped me to appreciate the experience a little more. Furthermore, while I wouldn't say the effect of the bath bomb was anywhere near as nourishing as a bubble bar, it was definitely more softening and more moisturising than a regular bath bomb. My legs and arms developed a glean within minutes of submerging myself in the water, and I could feel the effects of this long after I had exited the tub.

Despite the fact that all of the magnified bath bombs that I have tried so far have been fast-fizzers, I really appreciated the effect that Sexxx Bomb created while it was dissolving. As it projected waves of gorgeous pink across the surface, the bath bomb also generated thousands of little air pockets, which floated across the water and created a stunning array of miniature patterned bubbles. I've never seen this happen with any of Lush's other bath bombs before, and this was a welcome sight to observe.

After exiting the bath nearly two hours later, I appreciated the fact that I could still smell the bath bomb on my skin, and I found that was able to detect it on my hair the following day as well. Furthermore, the fragrance lingered around for a good couple of hours in the bathroom, which was a welcome bonus for my flatmates and I.

Although I enjoyed using this bath bomb, and I am happy that I made the decision to purchase a couple of these when they were available, this wouldn't be one that I would be interested in buying again. As a novelty gift for a loved one, a special treat for an avid fan of the regular-sized Sex Bomb, or a one-off purchase for collectors who need to try everything once, this bath bomb works well, and offers users something a little different from the norm. However, its price tag does not justify this being used very often, and for that reason, I'll reserve my one remaining bomb for when a very special occasion arises.   

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Sesquicarbonate, Jasmine Absolute, Clary Sage Oil, Ylang Ylang Oil, Soya Milk, Titanium Dioxide, Synthetic Musk, Propylene Glycol, *Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Alpha-Isomethyl ionone, Perfume, Colour 17200, Colour 42090, Colour 14700, Colour 45410, Rice Paper Flower.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £10.50 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:

Bada Bing Bada Boom Shower Jelly
Joy Of Jelly Shower Jelly
Love Soap
The North Polar Left The Tap On Soap
Sex Bomb Bath Bomb
Sex Bomb Body Lotion
Sex Bomb Solid Perfume
Tulip Mum Reusable Bubble Bar

Karma Wash Card

Back when the flagship store on Oxford Street first opened, the 'Shower Sheet' was a brand new product that excited Lush fans around the world. For those not content with shower gels and shower jellies and shower smoothies and buttercreams, here was a brand new, innovative design that challenged the concept of 'normal showering' once again. 

Yet, after recognising their many merits, there was still a part of me that felt as if I wasn't getting as much value from a £13.95 sheet as I was for a similarly priced bottle. Therefore, once I had tried all of the sheets to review on my blog, I settled back into the routine of using my favourite gels and jellies once more.

However, after the Kiss Me Quick Business Card made an appearance earlier this year as part of the Valentine's Day range, I began to recognise other purposes that this format was able to offer, and I found a newfound appreciation of the product. So when Karma Wash Card was one of many new cards to showcase themselves at the Lush Summit event on February 8th, 2017, I was far more optimistic about picking myself up a handful.  

Firstly, the size of this card means that this will slip easily into a purse or a side pocket of a bag/suitcase - making it a great travelling companion that wont weigh you down. Due to this format not being able to create any unwanted spillages whatsoever, this solid rendition of a shower gel also guarantees to be leakage-free, and suitable to take on board a plane as part of your hand luggage.

Secondly, the lack of any active moisture means that the sheets are preservative free - meaning that they should have a much longer shelf life than their liquid counterparts. In addition, the lack of moisture means that they are far more densely packed with ingredients. For this reason, when used in the shower, the theory is that they'll be able to create much more of a lather from far less of the product because of this. Furthermore, they don't contribute to package waste in the slightest, making it far more environmentally friendly than their other shower counterparts.

Seeing the cards placed next to their perfume partner made me also realise that these are a great way of trying out a fragrance before you invest in a jul-size bottle. While £2 initially seems rather expensive for what roughly equates to about 6-10 showers worth of product, I feel as if this is worth doing rather than spending £30+ on a bottle of perfume that you realise you are not so keen on a few weeks later. 

While Karma Shower Gel and Karma Shower Jelly are both available fairly often in the Lush Kitchen, these are not products that are accessible to every Lush fan at any given moment. Once these cards make a permanent feature in stores, it'll mean that fans of certain fragrances will be able to have full time access to shower products in their favourite scents.

Sharing its scent with the popular Karma range, Karma Wash Card is exactly what you'd expect. Probably being closest in smell to the shower jelly format, this patchouli, pine, lemongrass and orange-scented aroma is beautiful in every way.

Karma is an ambient fragrance reminiscent of the sixties. Spicy orange oil is definitely the heart and soul of this fragrance - with warm, earthy and slightly spicy hints of patchouli to compliment the main scent. An occasional burst of lavender gives it a herbal touch and pine oil seals the deal, making this a multi-layered festivity of smells. The scent is both sweet and citrusy, and reminds me of those old-fashioned cola bottle sweets you used to get when you were little; or summer days where the smell of burning incense can be found wafting out of shop windows.   

What is great about this wash card is that it can also be used as a shampoo, which helps to lighten your load even more when you're travelling. Having only tried this out once, I can honestly say that it left my hair feeling silky-smooth and incredibly clean - not to mention the fact that the scent radiated from my locks for hours afterwards. 

While it lathered up quickly, and was equally as generous as a regular shower gel in terms of the amount of 'foam' it produced, I was a little disappointed to discover that the sheet near-on disintegrated when coming into contact with the running water. This is definitely not a product you should use in one go. Instead, to get the most out of it, I would recommend that you break off a small piece (1cm), add a little water away from the direct flow of the shower, and then massage it across your skin in a circular motion. 

The wash card produces a light, fluffy and very fragrant lather, and you can easily clean your entire body with the recommended size piece. In that sense it is equally as effective, if not more so than the shower gel variation, and works as a great top up for those who love the scent but don't have the privilege of owning the shower gel or jelly.  

As a gift, or as a product to store for future travel plans, this is a lovely limited edition to invest in. Although I won't be replacing my shower gels anytime soon, this business card has definitely sparked my interest in the shower sheets a little more, and I would definitely consider carrying these with me on trips rather than storing the usual bottle of gel. While a part of me considers £2 to be a little expensive for the size of the item, I can also see how its price tag makes it easily accessible for those on a budget, and who perhaps don't wish to invest the amount it costs for a full-sized version.

Quantitative Ingredients: ?

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £2 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

   

Hokkaido Bath Bomb

With so many products left to review, I have found myself reaching for the most interesting ones as opposed to the ones that have been in my possession for the longest amount of time. Therefore, a miniature bath bomb with very little colour, doesn't have any hope of being noticed when its competing with far more interesting counterparts.

Hokkaido Bath Bomb was first released in the Lush Kitchen back in January 2017 - appearing to generate little excitement as it remained available for the whole week and into the successive week as well. Although it wasn't a product that I had tried before, I found myself placing an order without feigning too much excitement. Upon arrival, it joined the stack of bath bombs that were waiting to be tried and tested, and it wasn't until I used one for the first time yesterday, that I realised how much I had underestimated this little gem.

One of Lush's smaller bombs, this limited edition ballistic appears a little on the expensive side to begin with. However, while I would say that the £4.25 price tag is definitely on the high side and doesn't necessarily reflect the overall quality of experience that you get, there is good reason as to why it is more than you would expect it to be.

Containing a bigger range of oils than perhaps any other bath bomb I have seen from Lush, Hokkaido is surprisingly subtle in smell: a factor that would normally dampen my experience with a product, but in this case made me appreciate this ballistic far more than I initially thought that I would.  

A combination of ginger, clove bud and cedarwood oils gives this product a gentle, spicy and rather warming aroma. Firstly, I should start by saying that I was surprised by how subtle the overall fragrance was. This is perhaps one of Lush's most delicate scents that features clove bud oil, and it's one so gentle that you would almost expect to lose the smell completely in the bath tub.

The cloves and ginger offer a light, herbal aroma, while the inclusion of the lemongrass gives this bath bomb an element of grassiness to it. What is rather peculiar about this arrangement is the fact that the lemongrass doesn't offer any of the citrus elements that you would normally expect. If you were to compare Avoshower to this bath bomb, it's unbelievable to think that the two products could share the same component: they are so far apart in fragrance.

Alongside these different smells, this bath bomb also contains cocoa butter, rice bran oil and soya milk powder. Together, these three components make this one of the most moisturising bath bombs that Lush have ever released. For something so small, you would not believe how thick and nourishing the water was after one of these had fully dissolved.

While the bath water ends up a slightly murky shade of green, there is an impressive blanket of foam that rests on the surface, and you can see the droplets of oil in the water as your bathe. For this reason, this is definitely not suited for bathers who dislike the greasier bombs, as you can definitely feel the impact of the cocoa butter in the water. Furthermore, I would not recommend that you try to wash your hair in the water as it's likely to impact the overall condition of your locks. Moreover, I would ensure that you give the sides of your tub a wipe down afterwards as some of these oils tend to smear themselves across the surface. 

Overall, the only aspect of this bath bomb that lets itself down is its colour performance in the water. Yet, the purpose of Hokkaido is to provide a sensual experience with additional skin-softening properties, and so I cannot actually imagine the bath bomb working as well if these additional colours were included. This is definitely one that I would buy again in the future - it's just a shame that many people would have missed out on this one because it isn't the most interesting to look at, nor the most exciting on paper.   

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Laureth 4, Soya Milk Powder, Perfume, Rice Bran Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Cedarwood Oil, Clove Bud Oil, Ginger Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Sandalwood Oil, Gardenia Extract, *Citral, *Eugenol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 42090.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £3.75 each.

Year Of Original Release: ?

Lotta Iota Bath Bomb

The Lush Kitchen have been on fire recently with the number of brand new items coming out for the first time through their menu, and this bath bomb is yet another example of a product that appears to have slipped through my radar, when I initially made a list of retro items that I wanted them to re-release.

Whether it was the simplistic design, or an error on my part, Lotta Iota Bath Bomb was not a product that inspired much of a reaction from me when I heard that it was being released. Yet, it took less than a second of sniffing it straight from the box, to know that I had highly underestimated the impact that it would make on my senses.

Containing lemon and lemongrass oil, this bath bomb sounds as if it's going to be a simple, citrusy affair. And it is. However, there is something so delicious and exquisite about this ballistic, that I would place it far higher on my favourites list than the likes of Still Life, Bon Bomb, and nearly all of Lush's other lemon-dominated bath bombs. I would also compare the smell of this to a good-quality lemon sherbet, with the fizzy entrails bubbling and fizzing away to bring you that uplifting, zesty experience.  

Imagine the bright, fruitiness of Dragon's Egg Bath Bomb, but intensified. Lotta Iota Bath Bomb is like a fresh slice of lemon cheesecake, with a garnish of lemongrass and a crumbly biscuit base. The inclusion of whole oats in this bath bomb don't offer that much in the way of smell, but they do make the whole experience feel that little bit more creamy and wholesome.

In the water, the bath bomb is a fast fizzer - sending out waves of creamy white foam across the surface as your bathroom fills up with an intense burst of lemony goodness. At the same time, the jumbo oats are released into the water like a swarm of bees, and you can watch as some settle on the surface of the water and others sink to the floor of the tub.

In under three minutes, the bath bomb has completely dissolved, and you are left with a clear bath full of little pieces of oats. Having not carried out any research before using this product, I was hoping for a colourful surprise to appear from within the bath bomb. Unfortunately, this didn't happen, and this is the only reason why this product didn't score a full rating.

What was great about Lotta Iota was that the inclusion of the seaweed did have a positive impact on the consistency of the water. While it wasn't as moisturising as a bubble bar, I did notice that my skin felt really soft and radiant after the experience, and I put this down to the carrageenan extract featured in the ingredients list.

Furthermore, the oats were included to help soothe the skin - taking away a little of the acidity of the lemon and lemongrass, so that those with dry, irritated or sensitive skin could bathe comfortably in the waters. While I cannot guarantee that it was the impact of this bath bomb, or indeed the oats that caused this, but I found that the areas of my body that were sore and irritated from the gym, did appear less red afterwards.

What I will say about the oats is that they are a little bit of an annoyance when you're bathing in the tub. There is quite a large mass of the little pieces, and I can imagine this might prove quite tricky for those looking to wash their hair in the bath. For those who dislike debris or feel that this may be an issue, I would highly suggest that you use a very fine sieve when this bath bomb is dissolving so that you can catch all of those oats before they saturate the water.

Overall, this bath bomb is one of Lush's most delicious smelling ballistics. It's fruity and mouth-watering from the get-go, and this smell stays with you until the end of your bath. My skin felt refreshed, soft and well-moisturised after towelling myself down, I just wish that the fragrance was a little stronger on the skin afterwards.

This is definitely one that I would recommend that you try, and one that I would buy again. Having said that, I would recommend that you perhaps cocktail this with part of a bubble bar to add a little colour into the tub, and I dare you not to want to bite of chunk out of this when you smell it for the first time.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Carrageenan Extract, Jumbo Whole Oats, Perfume, Sicilian Lemon Oil, Lemongrass Oil, *Citral, *Geraniol, *Limonene.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £4.25 each.

Year Of Original Release: ?

Chick 'N' Mix Bath Bomb

As the only new bath bomb in this year's Easter range, Chick 'N' Mix has a lot of pressure on its shoulders. The fact that it's also on the more expensive side means that this newly-hatched invention has a cumbersome amount of work to do, in order to prove its worth as well as its price tag. 

What is interesting about this bath bomb is that it comes already divided: both halves of the 'egg' are separate bath bombs that can be pulled apart with ease. While this makes it really effective for those who wish to spread this across multiple baths, it does prove a little fiddly when trying to escort the bath bomb home. I was very surprised to find that both of mine survived the journey from Oxford Street, yet I know of many people who couldn't claim the same about theirs. 

On the negative side, the fact that this bath bomb is separate means that if you wish to use it in one go, it doesn't last for more than a second together before both pieces disperse themselves across the water. I should probably mention at this time that there is a third ballistic in the middle, although I wouldn't say that it is big enough to be used by itself.

What struck me as interesting about Chick 'N' Mix was that the smell was so far removed from anything I was expecting. Featuring bergamot, labdanum and tonka, this seasonal special offers a rich, intoxicating smell - one that would work incredibly well as a perfume, if I do say so myself.

From the get-go, I was able to make out two key components: the labdanum was at the forefront with a musky, resinous aroma, while the tonka absolute wrapped itself around this note and added its own sweet, warming components. The latter was definitely more forthcoming once the bath bomb was in use, but it was still present before this time.

There is something slightly woody and slightly smoky about this fragrance that reminds me a little of incense sticks. However, there is also this thread of green running through the whole aroma that adds a subtle fruitiness to it as well. It's quite a dark and exotic smell - definitely not something you'd associate with the playful nature of the bath bomb itself.

Upon impact, the bath bomb breaks off into the three sections, and although each part has the same aroma, they each perform very differently in the tub. The top half rolls itself over and sends out streams of yellow across the surface; the bottom produces a pastel blue colour. Along with the mini orange bath bomb in the middle, each of the colours swirl and eddy around the tub until they form a rich, succulent shade of green.

While it doesn't appear at all oily in the tub, I found that the water was far more moisturising than I was expecting. Furthermore, the scent was dampened a little, but remained with me during the whole experience. What I really liked about this bath bomb is that the soothing nature of the fragrance felt really mentally calming, and I found that the smell actually helped to alleviate a headache I was suffering from at the time.

My only issue with this bath bomb is that I found orange smears around the bath tub, after the water had drained. These were easy to remove with a sponge and a little squirt of shower gel. However, it would obviously have been nicer if hadn't needed to have done this after a relaxing bath.

Chick 'N' Mix is one that I will be buying a couple more of before the season is out - just to try out separate baths with each half and see what they heed by themselves. However, despite hoping that other products will be released in this scent, I don't think this bath bomb is one that I'd miss all that much if it wasn't to come back again. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Bergamot Oil, Labdanum Resinoid, Tonka Absolute, *Limonene, Coumarin, Perfume, Tangerine Lustre, Colour 45350, Colour 42090, Vegan Dark Chocolate.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £6.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Kisskin Bubble Bar

Aside from the physical design, there is no difference between this product and the original Mumkin Bubble Bar. Yet, you would have assumed that Lush were releasing my most wanted item, given how much fuss I made after the announcement that it would be coming into the Kitchen. Despite pertaining an identical scent and working in exactly the same way in the bath, this cutie is more favoured by myself, and sits comfortably at number two on my 'favourite bubble bar' list.

First released in Japan as part of their White Day celebrations, Kisskin Bubble Bar is known as the 'Mumkin in love', and it certainly works its magic at making the user fall head over heels at the same time. Sporting a range of stunning pastel colours, this limited edition features a pink body, purple headwear and chocolate chip eyes - with an array of candy leaf daisies to garnish its head and make it the most beautiful bubble bar that Lush have ever produced.

Containing a combination of bergamot, lemon and violet, this bubble bar offers a glorious floral arrangement, with a sweet, fruity element to make it both unique and highly sensual. This is easily the greatest floral fragrance that Lush have ever released, if not one of the most incredible aromas that they've produced since the company first began.

While it is a scent that I find quite challenging to describe, Kisskin has always reminded me of freshly pureed raspberries with a sort of 'nettle-like' infusion. It's almost as if the green leaves of the plant have been added into the mix, along with the fruit, so you experience a sort of grassiness to the floral aspect of the product.

Upon first sniff, you can definitely smell the presence of the lemon. Yet it is a lovely sweet, fruity lemon - not in any way zesty or citrusy. It reminds me a little of lemon mousse in the fact that there is something rather rounded and creamy about it. Alongside this, the bergamot not only adds a gentle green element that gives the bubble bar its crisp, refreshing properties, but also induces its own layer of fruitiness which helps to create that 'berry-esque' appeal. Finally, the violet leaf offers a sprinkling of muskiness in the background, and rounds Kisskin off for a perfect finish. 

You only need to use half of this bubble bar to create a haven of smells and a mound of bubbles that'll engulf you with their softness. While the water isn't as impressive as a Mumkin - in that it turns a soft shade of purple, there is something very soothing about the shade that adds to the overall experience. 

Not only is this bubble bar really generous with its bubbles, but it's one of those products that makes the water silky smooth to the touch. You only need to submerge yourself for a few minutes to notice how smooth your body becomes, and once you towel yourself down afterwards, your skin feels super refreshed, hydrated and silky-soft. 

What is just as impressive is the fact that the scent is wonderfully robust while also being crisp and light as well. It offers a perfect level of freshness that makes Kisskin the ultimate Springtime bathing companion. Furthermore, it's one you'll want to use whenever the weather seems far too hot for a bath, as it's light enough not to be too stifling in the tub, while equally being comforting enough to offer a well-rounded experience.

Overall, this bubble bar is superb in every way. It possesses a wonderful and very unique fragrance, it's stunning to look at, hydrates and moisturises the skin, and will give you two or more amazing baths that you'll want to relive again and again. Put it this way: I don't ever want to be in a position where I am Kisskin-less.       

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Fair Trade Shea Butter, Perfume, Cornflour, Titanium Dioxide, Bergamot Oil, Sicilian Lemon Oil, Violet Leaf Absolute, *Limonene, *Linalool, Geraniol, Colour 17200, Colour 42090, Vegan Dark Chocolate, Candy Leaf Candy Flowers.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £4.25 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017 In The UK.