Goldfinger Brush Strokes Face Mask

Snooping around the Showcase store, I spotted something glistening and glittering in the distance. As I approached with caution, I realised that there was a stall tucked slightly away in the darkness, ladened with an abundance of naked facial cleansers and face masks, and it was here that I first spotted the product reviewed for you below.

Goldfinger Brushstrokes Face Mask looks like the Ferrari of face masks (says the person who knows zilch about those funny shaped metal boxes with wheels.) To look at, you'd assume that a unicorn had left us a little present in a tub; or that a fictional sun had melted a little and somebody had collected its drippings. As the name suggests, this brand new invention is pure gold, although from the tub it looks a little bit more like golden sand than pure gold itself.

For those as clueless as me about this new creation, Lush have described their Brush Strokes Masks as being similar to that of their regular masks, but one that you apply with a brush to allow for even coverage instead. Alongside this fairly unhelpful description, I still wonder at what point fans who have already invested in these masks will see the release of a brush to go with the product.

Now obviously, there are a few other differences as well, aside from just how you apply the product itself. Firstly, the consistency is actually very different from anything that Lush have done before. As you're likely to apply a lot less when using a brush, these face masks are incredibly thick and almost like clay. Therefore, it would actually be rather challenging to scoop out a large amount and apply it to your skin with your fingers. Secondly, the tub of Goldfinger that I received was partially empty, which perhaps explains the intensity of the product itself, and how little is applied every time you use it.


What I have learnt is that these are masks that need to be kept in the fridge and so far I have found that they have a longer life-span than the regular masks. Goldfinger saw me through almost two months before it started to dry and appear different in consistency. As there was no expiry date on my tub, I took this as a sign that it was ready to be finished.

This particular mask contains a whole array of ingredients meant to improve your complexion and replenish your skin for days to come. Rose water soothes the skin, helps to eradicate irritation and acts like a tonic to clear out the pores; kaolin clay does a similar job as well as helping to soften the skin. Carrot seed oil adds a little vibrancy to your complexion, whilst coconut nectar replenishes the skin with natural oils that may be missing.

Scent-wise, Goldfinger smells like a strong, musky rose aroma intertwined with a large dose of both cedarwood and olibanum to add a resinous and slightly woody undertone. There is something rather rich and beautiful about the smell of this, and is very far-removed from the Rose Jam aroma that some consumers may attempt to compare it to. As a few other people have stated, the closest smell to this would be Rosy Cheeks Face Mask. However, this is far more potent and has an extra dosage of sultriness to its fragrance.

What I found was that this face mask took a little getting used to when applying it across my skin. Perhaps I didn't choose the right brush to do the job, but I found it hard to get the product from the tub and onto my face. It was easier if I left the mask out of the fridge for half an hour before application, as the mask softened a little from the warmth. 

Despite this mild inconvenience, the face mask felt much lighter on my face and I enjoyed not having to worry about pieces falling off as I walked through my house. Rinsing it off was also really easy and my skin both looked and felt really radiant afterwards. I don't know whether it was the inclusion of the golden shimmer that convinced me that my face seemed a little more golden and radiant. However, I could see a difference that gave me confidence that this new invention had worked.

Overall, I really enjoyed using this, although it wasn't moisturising enough to offer the same level of intensive repair as Oatfix usually does for my skin. Having said that, the scent of this was wonderful and my face did appear more radiant and less lifeless each and every time I used thus on my complexion, so it would be one I purchased again If it ever came out in stores. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Talc, Glycerine, Rose Water, Coconut Nectar, Kaolin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Cedarwood Oil, Rose Absolute, Bergamot Oil, Olibanum Oil, Carrot Seed Oil, Palmarosa Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Tin Oxide, Citronellol,*Geraniol, *Limonene, *Linalool.

Vegan?: Yes. 

2018 Price: unsure.

Year Of Original Release: 2018.

Oat Naked Body Mask

Doing the pandemonium that was the Lush showcase 2018, I found myself filling my basket with goodies that I barely even acknowledged what they were. There was just so many on offer, and my goal was to get all of them, that it wasn't until I got home that I started to wonder what some of the strange shaped and coloured objects were. This product was one of them.

One of two limited edition body masks, Mud Is one of Lush's new innovative ideas, based on and sharing its scent with the Oatfix Face Mask. For the special event, Lush attempted to recreate two of their most popular facemasks and turn them into naked body masks. The difference being that these products were more focused on the entire body and could then be used alongside the face mask for a full pampering session.

What I will say is that Oat Naked Body Mask smells just as scrumptious and as beautiful as the face mask it is based on. To me, this fragrance is like a rich, sweet, comforting bowl of hot porridge, drizzled with golden syrup. When I realised what the strange half-spherical block was, I remember thinking: if this mask was able to do what its older sibling does to my face, this would be the star of the showcase for sure. Obviously, given my rating, this wasn't the case. However, that's not to say that this body mask doesn't have its own merits.

Containing vanilla and tonka absolute, not to mention sandalwood oil as well, this body mask is a calming, relaxing, almost nutty-smelling naked product. If you like your cosmetics to taste like food, you may find it really difficult not to want to take a bite out of this, to see if it tastes as good as it smells. However, I hope that most lush fans know that the outcome of doing this does not heed positive results. Ever.

To use this, simply break off a small piece - probably about the size of a small grape - add the tiniest amount of water, and then massage it into the area that you wish to moisturise. My suggestion is that this needs to be done in the shower and not the bath, as you'll end up with sticky lumps of this body mask across the base of your tub and floating around in the water. Yuck!

For a full body pampering session, I found that I needed to use roughly a quarter of this bar, it works out good value for money, especially when compared to the regular facemasks. Having said that, you also need to be very careful about how much or how little water you use. As this is much drier than Mud - the other naked body mask that replicates the Cupcake Face Mask - I found that if I didn't put enough water with the product it crumbled away into the tub, and I often lost quite a lot trying to turn it into a paste. On the other hand, too much water and you end up with a slushy mess that doesn't want to stick to your skin.

Either way, when using it in the shower, you are going to make a little bit of a mess: guaranteed, which clearly doesn't sound enjoyable for anybody. After using this, I always had to make sure that I rinsed my bath tub out to clear the mess, and occasionally needed to remove some of the mask using my feet or hands. For those who dislike mess, I would avoid using this, as you're not going to have a fun time doing so.

After you have massaged it across your skin, the idea is that you rinse it away with the shower hose and then pat yourself dry outside of the tub. The inclusion of the kaolin is supposed to soften the skin and help to remove any excess debris and dirt that may be hidden in your pores. Using this once a week should heed better results for your skin, and I did notice a very subtle difference, especially on and around my fingers, which appeared less chipped and dry.

Yet, what I found was that this body mask was not as affective as Mud Body Mask. Mud had a much better consistency, although incredibly crumbly as well, and stuck to my skin a lot better, leaving a better impression fragrance-wise and making my skin feel a lot softer and smoother than Oat did. While I did feel clean after using this, the fact that there was a lot of mess by my feet and around my tub meant that the appeal of this was lost somewhat, once I had spring cleaned the tub.

Having said that, I really appreciated that the aroma of this body mask stayed with me for a good thirty minutes after I had towelled myself down. This definitely left an impression on my skin as well, as I noticed a difference between when I used this and when I didn't. However, there was not enough of an impression for me to want to use this regularly, unlike the facemask which has always heeded incredible results whenever I’ve used it.

Looking at this new concept, I really love the idea overall, and I just think that Lush need to tweak this product before it becomes available to the general public. This is perhaps the reason why we haven't seen the release of either of these two naked body masks as of yet. The idea of any naked product is a great idea, I just think that Lush need to figure out how to make this appealing - most importantly how consumers will store this in between uses. 

Leaving it out, exposed to the air, just simply dries this mask out quicker, and after a few weeks I found that out became much too crumbly to make use of it that much. However, even if it is stored somewhere cooler and less exposed to the air, the problem still persists that it is just too crumbly to use without making a mess of the shower.

I do hope that these, alongside other naked variations of the facemask, make an appearance in the Lush Labs at some point, or as part of the seasonal range in the near future. Lush body masks have always been amazing when they work well: Glorious Mud is one such example. However, this one certainly needs more butters and oils to make it more moisturising on the skin, as well as to make it more stable when in use, as well as when not in use. While I feel super lucky to have had the opportunity to test out the prototype, I keep my fingers crossed in the hope that this will come out in a better format in the near future.

Quantitative Ingredients: Oat Flour (Avena sativa), Sodium Bicarbonate, Glycerine, Kaolin, Fair Trade Olive Oil (Olea europaea), Cream of Tartar (Potassium bitartrate), Gold Clay (Kaolin), Vanilla Absolute (Vanilla planifolia), Sandalwood Oil (Santalum austro-caledonicum vieill), Benzoin Resinoid (Styrax tonkinensis pierre), *Anise Alcohol, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Benzyl Cinnamate, *Cinnamal, *Coumarin, *Farnesol, *Linalool, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes. 

2018 Price: unsure.

Year Of Original Release: 2018.

Scent Family:
Oat Body Naked Body Mask


Oatfix Fresh Face Mask

1000 Millihelens Jelly Face Mask

One of the biggest problems I have with Lush is their constant need to invent new products. This may sound rather strange, given that you'd normally expect to find me revelling in new releases. However, I have more of an issue with the fact that many of these new inventions never see the light of day, or if they do, they're likely to be made in very small batches and only available to those lucky enough to be there at the time. For someone who has a compulsion and a need to experience everything that comes out of the company, this is a practice that I feel uncomfortable with. 

When I attended the Lush Summit event earlier this year, I was apprehensive about the fact that the company had five brand new face mask inventions available to sniff, hold and experience right there and then. However, not one of them was available for sale at that particular moment, meaning that I had to walk away knowing that there was a product in existence that I wasn't able to try. Luckily for me, I was finally able to obtain four out of the five of them later that day, which helped to relieve the uneasiness that I had been feeling up until that moment.

1000 Millihelens is one of a handful of exclusive new jelly masks that have just recently made themselves available in stores. The first of its kind, this brand new invention is an exciting leap for Lush, who have only been known to release fresh face masks up until this point. 

While there current range of masks are far superior to any other mask I have experienced outside of Lush, my only issue is the fact that they offer the shortest shelf life out of every other Lush product available to buy. What first struck me about each and every one of the five new jelly masks, is that they appear to have an extended use by date of up to a year - which is a 1100% increase when compared to the regular masks. 

After using the face mask near on every day for a matter of weeks, I have also concluded that the longevity of this product far outweighs that of its predecessors. Whereas a normal pot would give me on average about 6-8 uses, I found that the jelly variation had barely shrunk after my tenth use, and I could easily envisage getting upwards of another twenty uses out of it, if not more.

The basic premise of the jelly face mask is that you could can utilise it in one of two ways. Firstly, you have the option of using it in the same way as you would a regular shower jelly, albeit on the face. You can either add a little dash of water between your palms, massage it to create a gentle lather and then apply this to your face; or you can ensure that the jelly is wet and then massage it directly across your face. This way will heed a very light layer of product on the skin, although it's still enough to get impressive results from the mask.

Secondly (and the way that it was meant to be used) is to break off a small grape-sized piece, use a small amount of water to massage the jelly into a paste-like consistency, and then apply it directly to the face. This will give you a much thicker layer of production on your skin, and perhaps works slightly more intensely overall. 

Either way, what you will notice is that this mask is not as heavy or as noticeable as the regular face masks are. You wont be left with a really thick layer of product on your skin, like you would normally expect to. Instead, your face will harvest a thin layer of product, that you then leave on for the usual twenty minutes, before washing off.  

Having chosen 1000 Millihelens to try out first, I was really impressed by the fragrance that greeted me from the tub. Sharing its scent with the Johnny Appleseed Bath Oil, this bright, fruity apple-dominated mask is delicious from the word go. Featuring witch hazel to soothe and relieve irritated skin, green tea to detox and purify the pores, and kaolin clay to remove unwanted grease and dirt, this powerhouse of ingredients is lighter and far sweeter than any of Lush's other masks. For those who have not experienced this bath oil before, 1000 Millihelens smells like a combination of expensive apple juice with a gentle layer of herbal green tea alongside this.  

Based on Helen Ambrosen, this face mask also features lemon oil to add radiance to your complexion, making it super effective but equally gentle on the skin. What I really appreciated about this face mask was that it was far easier to use than a regular face mask, and I was able to apply it after jumping in the shower, rather than set time aside to so before I could wash myself. 

After washing this off, I was initially disappointed to find that my skin didn't feel as plump or as well-nourished as the likes of Oatifix or Don't Look At Me. However, I discovered that this product was more of a 'grower' - in that it worked more subtlety over time, so that my skin felt far softer and smoother half an hour after I had rinsed it off.

I feel as if this mask would be suited for most skin types. My complexion is what I'd describe as normal to dry, and my skin was left feeling very radiant and smooth afterwards. The inclusion of the green tea infusion really help to clean out my pores of any dirt or debris; the apple gave my complexion a natural shine that stayed with me for the most part of the day. For those with slightly greasier skin, you may find that the different clays will help to absorb excess oils  as well.  

Overall, I am really excited about the idea of these being made for shop release. The jelly face mask is a unique concept that won't (and shouldn't) replace replace the regular face masks, but definitely makes a very different and more cost effective alternative. I look forward to seeing what other variations may transpire in the near future.

Quantitative Ingredients: Green Tea Infusion, Glycerine, Propylene, Glycol, Kaolin, Zeolite Clay, Fresh Apple Juice, Talc, Carrageenan Extract, Sicilian Lemon Oil, Neroli Oil, Brazilian Orange Oil, Witch Hazel Extract, Water, Geraniol, Perfume, Chlorophyllin.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £6.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
1000 Millihelens Jelly Face Mask
Johnny Appleseed Bath Oil

Lush Men Wooden Box Gift Set

If like me, you're heavily into Lush and keep up to date with their releases, you'll know that it's normally only a matter of weeks before something new makes an appearance - whether it be in the Kitchen, in a seasonal collection or as a surprise one-off, limited edition must-have. Just when you think that your bank account is safe for a while, something pops up and destroys any hope of a respite, and its usually at the most inopportune times as well.

Obviously, there's a sensible part of me that is able to rationalise that I don't necessarily need to buy everything that Lush churn out, and I also recognise that it would be rather silly of me to bankrupt myself because of a handful of products that I've never tried before. However, when it came to the Lush Men Wooden Box Gift Set, there was just no way that I could let it pass me by.

Ever since I was given a wooden Lush box earlier in the year, I have been pining for Lush to bring out other sets with similar designs. I am near on obsessed with collecting boxes and using them as storage, and a sturdy, wooden version is taking this idea to the next level. 

Priced at £44.95, this limited edition release for fathers' day is by far the most expensive collection you could buy for the man in your life. I would go as far as to say that it isn't the most versatile collection of products on offer either. What I mean by this latter statement is that the handful of goodies inside wouldn't necessarily be the ones that a lot of people would choose to give their father, brother or partner.

Having said this, the products featured inside are definitely very versatile, diverse, and cover a good part of what a regular routine could look like for somebody using this set. With a mask, scrub, smoothie, deodorant and solid shampoo, not to mention a lonesome bath bomb, there is definitely enough here to keep anyone going for a good amount of weeks.

Featuring both the original Ocean Salt Scrub and Mask Of Magnanimity Face Mask, this gift set is not 100% vegan - an issue that I thought was going to prevent me from being able to invest in this collection in the first place. Luckily, my friend buys both of these items regularly, and was willing to chip in and take them off my hands. This meant that I got the wonderful box set and a handful of goodies I wouldn't normally own, without breaking 'vegan-edge' or sulking in the corner because I ain't able to get such a unique box set.

Alongside the two non-vegan products, this collection also boasts Five 'O Clock Whistle Shaving Smoothie, New Solid Shampoo Bar, Lord Of Misrule Shower Cream, The Greeenich Deodorant Powder and Guardians Of The Forest Bath Bomb. Together, they make up some of Lush's biggest sellers, while also offering new Lush customers an interesting and varied range of items to try out for themselves.

What is great about most of Lush's boxes, especially the wooden variation, is that they are reusable, and I'm sure most customers - male or female, would be able to find something to fill the box with afterwards, even if its more Lush stuff like I will be doing myself. The box itself is sturdy and well crafted - decorated with a latch to seal it in between uses, or to mask the hidden gems you choose to store in there afterwards.      

With the price of the items inside coming to roughly just over £30, you're paying a little over £10 for the privilege of the box. While I would dispute this with a normal collection, this extra investment is definitely worth the added cost with this one. My only piece of advice would be to purchase this in store if possible, and check the products inside when you do so. My bath bomb was completely smashed when I opened my box, and while I wasn't overly concerned, I did think that a recipient of such a gift might be slightly disappointed if they were to find green dust covering everything inside the box as I did.

Vegan?: No.

2016 Price: £44.95 each.

Cranberry Festive Face Mask

Over the years, my taste in Lush has changed dramatically - whether it be the maturity of the fragrances I like, or the types of products I veer towards when they're made available online or in stores. While originally I would have thrown myself at the new bath bombs like a starving dog to a bone, nowadays I'm much more intrigued by the unique and sometimes very odd selection of hair and skin care. 

When Lush announced that they'd be bringing out Cranberry Festive Face Mask, I was genuinely more excited to try it out than I was with some of the new bubble bars. Although a part of me was rather disappointed that Rudolph hadn't resurfaced from a previous Christmas, I certainly wasn't going to pass up the chance to give my face some much-needed pampering - especially as the new ones that were brought out with the opening of the flagship store earlier in the year, surpassed my expectations on nearly every count.  

This brand new mask is the perfect product for those wind-chapped faces - a mask created to not only clean and rejuvenate the complexion, but help to clear out the pores and improve the overall condition of the skin. While many of Lush's masks work wonders on the skin, this one is like the miracle child - a seasonal beauty that heeds results in a matter of minutes. 

Packed full of cranberries, fresh fennel and argan oil, this face mask is a pleasure to use. The former ingredients are known for their antioxidant properties which means that this face mask is fantastic at cleaning out the pores and adding some much needed vibrancy back into the skin. I was amazed to find that upon rinsing Cranberry away, my skin felt vibrant and beautiful, and it was clear that my face pertained more colour than it did beforehand. 

Aside from the cranberries, the argan oil is there to not only add a beautiful thread of rose to the overall aroma, but it's healing properties means that it supports the skin in rebuilding those dry and damaged pores - leaving your complexion smooth, well-nourished and radiant. 

In the tub, Cranberry Festive Face Mask gives off a refreshing and very elegant scent. You can smell the fruity but rather sour element of the berries; the potent but equally zesty note of lemongrass; the grassy and slightly liquorice thread of fennel; and the warm, floral notes of the rose that sit underneath all of the other elements and round the fragrance of the product together.

Although this isn't a scent that you'd want to wear as a perfume or bathe in in the tub, it is such a wonderful, crisp and highly fruity smell - one that is perfect to use when you're looking for something to soothe and regenerate your skin after a long week at work/school. 

With a consistency in between Love Lettuce Face Mask and D'Fluff Shaving Soap, this face mask is very easy to apply. You can risk putting on too much with this product so I would recommend that you really massage it into your skin as you'll find that you need a lot less as it can be spread fairly thinly.

Once on the face, it dries very quickly but will not crumble or remove any of the moisture in your skin. Simply rinse away after 20-30 minutes and you'll find that your skin will feel plump, radiant and full of life - a miracle mask if there ever was one.     

A surprising favourite of mine, it's such a shame that Cranberry Festive Face Mask will only be around for a few months of the year. This does exactly what it says on the tin and produces instant and very noticeable results - the very reason why I am going to relish in its beauty over the coming weeks before it is gone from my life for a very long time.   

Quantitative Ingredients: Kaolin, Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon), Glycerine, Organic Silken Tofu, Fennel Seed Infusion (Foeniculum vulgare), Argan Oil (Argania spinosa), Talc, Fresh Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), Fresh Chicory (Cichorium intybus), Rose Clay (Kaolinite), Bentone (Hectorite), Patchouli Oil (Pogostermon cablin), Lemongrass Oil (Cymbopogon citratus), Sandalwood Oil (Santalum austro-caledonicum vieill), Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral, Citronellol, Coumarin, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes.

2015 Price: £6.75 for 75g.

Year Of Original Release: 2015.   

Rose And Lemon Fresh Face Mask

It's not often that I get overly excited about a product coming out that matches the description of this face mask. While I am always keen to try out brand new items and equally keen to sample rarities from the Lush vault, it's normally the fruity cosmetics that have me the most invested in spending my money. Yet there was something about the rarity of this release that had me eager to purchase a couple of tubs and smother them all over my face. 

Rose And Lemon Fresh Face Mask is as rare as they come - a product that although is used daily in various stores, is only offered as part of Lush's new The Planets Spa Experience. This means that the release of the mask in the Lush Kitchen last week might very well have been the only opportunity regular fans of the company will get to try it out without forking out on the full treatment.

While its name may inspire fans of Rose Jam and Amandopondo to hyperventilate a little, I was initially slightly annoyed to find that this product does not share its fragrance with either of the two popular scent families. In fact, the smell of this face mask was far from the sugary-sweet floral aroma that I was expecting - a welcome surprise once the initial disappointment had dispelled. 

Containing a blend of rose hip oil, cinnamon leaf oil and creamy soya yoghurt, this beautiful fresh mask is packed with essential ingredients to nourish the skin, radiate your complexion and leave you feeling like a new person. The addition of lemon oil helps to bring a little colour to your cheeks as well as remove any stubborn dirt from the pores, while the cinnamon adds a subtle note of fragrance to the mix and helps to absorb excess grease that may be causing your skin to feel heavy and constricted. 

How this differs from the recent Rosy Cheeks Face Mask is that this one smells far more natural and fresh. This is not a powdered, dry-smelling rose scent - it's more of a light, grassy offering instead. To me, this face mask smells like a freshly picked rose that has been blended down into a syrup and then mixed with a few bonus ingredients to expand the scent. 

There is a little lemon present in the overall aroma here, but it gives only a light and rather gentle background note that compliments the floral element without stealing the limelight. Alongside this is a slightly syrupy layer that reminds me somewhat of date syrup and dried figs. 

Rose And Lemon is quite an easy face mask to apply - spreading evenly over the face to form a thin, shiny layer that sets very quickly. Once it was on my skin, it felt a little like when glue sets on your fingers and you have to peel off the thin layer coating your hand. 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 is a good all-rounder - meaning it would suit every complexion going. I only say this because the kaolin makes this great for absorbing excess grease, while the cocoa butter helps to moisturise and maintain drier skin. 

Together with the kaolin, Rose And Lemon will leave your face rejuvenated, your pores feeling clean and clear and your complexion noticeably radiant. I was amazed how fresh-faced I felt after using this, and I only wish that it was a regular product available for purchase. One of my favourite Lush face masks to date. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Glycerine, Cornflour, Kaolin, Marshmallow Root Decoction, Soya yoghurt, Fresh Lemon Juice, Organic Rose Hip Oil, Rose Clay, Fresh Rose Petals, Organic Rose Hip, Cinnamon Leaf Oil, Everlasting Flower Absolute, Geranium Oil, Sodium Alginate Sulfate, Citronellol, Eugenol, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes.

2015 Price: £6.50 each.

2017 Price: £6.50 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2015.

Rosy Cheeks Face Mask

I might as well say this now; if you dislike rose in anyway, shape or form, you will absolutely detest this face mask. Buying this product would be like trying to order from a steak house when you're a vegetarian; it would be like trying to ingest ice-cream when you're allergic to dairy; it would be the same as attempting to swim across a river ladened with hungry crocodiles without getting attacked. 

It doesn't take a genius to work out that Rosy Cheeks is all about the 'rose'. With the ingredients list being packed full of components that originate from the popular flower - rose clay, rose petals and rose oil, these elements all help to create a face mask that both looks and smells like a floral-lover's dream. 

Designed as more of a soothing face mask, the main ingredient featured here is calamine oil which is known for its calming properties. Traditionally used in medicinal ointments as an antiseptic, this natural powder is known for being gentle on the skin - balancing out the skin's natural PH levels, calming stressed or overworked complexions, alleviating spot breakouts and reducing overall redness.

Coupled with the rose clay - an ingredient commonly used to clean, purify and detoxify the skin by drawing impurities from the pores, this face mask is the perfect remedy for those who want to give their complexion a much needed break. This product will not only leave your skin silky-smooth to the tough, but will alleviate redness and calm any unwanted 'rosiness' - hence the name. 

If you hadn't already guessed, Rosy Cheeks has a very strong and rather powdery rose aroma. Sitting somewhere between a bunch of fresh flowers and a pot of dried petals, this face mask packs a real punch and is definitely not suitable for anyone who dislikes strong floral aromas. 

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 is interesting about Rosy Cheeks is that this is a face mask that dries quite quickly and has an almost clay-like consistency once it is on the face. While most other face masks that I have used from Lush have dried and then flaked off afterwards, this one holds set for the entire 20 minutes and becomes quite oily when it's being washed off. 

While I don't suffer from sensitive skin, I found that this face mask left my complexion feeling really clean, clear and rather radiant, and while my face wasn't suffering from a breakout or being particularly overworked at the time, I did get a sense of calmness from using it. 

Although it's not my favourite face mask from Lush, I really enjoyed using this one and would definitely buy it again. If you want something a little decadent for your skin - something that smells lovely and will leave your face feeling really clean and smooth, this is the face mask for you. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Calamine Powder, Glycerine, Kaolin, Water (Aqua), Rose Clay (Kaolinite), Rose Petals (Rosa centifolia), Perfume, Rose Oil (Rosa damascena), Benzyl Alcohol, Lilia, Citronellol, Geraniol. 

Vegan?: Yes.

2015 Price: £6.50 each. 

Year Of Original Release: 2015. 

Prince Of Darkness Fresh Face Mask

There's something rather horrifying about a tub full of black gloop - reminds me of a terrible near-drowning experience that I went through when I was younger. While I no longer choose to throw myself into blackened, muddy rivers like I did back then, a mere glance at this product brought back those unpleasant memories - ones that I would rather leave forgotten. 

Despite my association of this with a childhood trauma, I was surprised to find that I really enjoyed using Prince Of Darkness Fresh Face Mask. Not only did it immediately improve the condition of my skin after a single use, but it made for a very different experience from any of Lush's other masks that are currently on offer in their stores. 

Named as a homage to the notorious rocker, Ozzy Osbourne, this brand new face mask works as both a scrub and a cleanser. Containing an array of ingredients to help brighten the complexion, clean away unwanted debris and soften the skin, this exclusive product is a haven of key elements that work in harmony with all skin types, especially those with greasier skin. 

What is intriguing about this mask is that two of the main ingredients have come directly from the earth so they are as natural as can be. Fullers earth is a type of clay material that is known for its fantastic absorption of excess oils and dirt on the skin. Removing these unwanted particles from the face allows the clay to work on giving the complexion a thorough cleanse so it feels super-soft and looks much clearer afterwards.

Kaolin has a slightly rougher texture, which is what partially gives Prince Of Darkness its consistency, but this too is known for its cleansing properties. This ingredient exfoliates dead skin cells while absorbing excess oils on the skin - helping to leave a well-balanced and far healthier looking complexion. 

The powdered charcoal is what gives this face mask its colour - not to mention most of its consistency which makes it such an effective exfoliator. As well as allowing the mask to gently scrub away surface dirt, the charcoal works on balancing out the face's natural oil secretions so the skin isn't so shiny or greasy.

While it doesn't smell identical to Dark Angels Facial Cleanser, there is definitely some similarities here. Both use charcoal to help balance the face's natural sebum release and both have a slight scratchy consistency which allows you to remove unwanted dry skin and dirt during application. Not only this, but both products have a sort of sweet but slightly burnt aroma - one that isn't particularly pleasant on the senses, but one that isn't exactly awful either. 

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 is interesting about Prince Of Darkness, is that this is a face mask that doesn't seem to dry once it's been applied. While every other face mask I have used from Lush has dried and set on my face, this one remained wet right up until I rinsed it off in the shower. I quite enjoyed this aspect of the product as it meant that I wasn't dropping flakes of dried mask all over the floor while I was waiting to wash it off. 

Once you have patted your face dry, you're left with a clean, clear and rather radiant looking complexion - one that feels smooth to the touch. 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 lavender oils would soothe sensitive skin and prevent the former ingredients from being too harsh on the complexion. 

Although I don't have greasy skin - in fact, I suffer from the very opposite most of the time, this mask worked well with my complexion. While my face didn't feel as moisturised as it does after I have used Catastrophe Cosmetic, it did feel very light and free of dirt and would work as a fantastic night time mask to clean the skin before going to bed. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Glycerine, Kaolin, Fullers Earth, Water (Aqua), Powdered Charcoal, Labdanum Resinoid (Cistus labdaniferus), Patchouli Oil (Pogostemon cablin), Tincture Of Benzoin (Styrax benzoin), Lavender Oil (Lavandula angustifolia), Fine Sea Salt, Limonene, Geraniol, Linalool, Citral, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes. 

2015 Price: £6.95.

Year Of Original Release: 2015.