Lovestruck Bubble Bar

When I was in high school, I learnt that my youngest sister was being bullied and tormented quite severely at her school, and that it had been going on for a long while. Growing up, I have always had a very strong protective streak towards my family and friends, and it was this that almost had me marching into the school with my younger brother and taking the matter into our own hands. Thankfully, I considered the repercussions of this before carrying anything out, and the bully was dealt with fairly quickly by the school.

This memory is one of the first to spring to mind when it comes to Lush's latest bubble bar, Lovestruck. Before even purchasing my very own to try and review, I'd received a number of messages from concerned Lush fans, stating how awful the bubble bar was, and there were multiple times when I was warded off from purchasing it altogether.

Despite this reaction, I actually really appreciated and relished in these reviews, because it almost felt like a challenge: could I really love something that supposedly smelt of paint stripper and plastic? In a way, I felt protective over the product, merely because it seemed to be receiving such a beating, and it hadn't even hit the shops yet. 

Upon arrival, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I couldn't detect, neither could I understand the comparisons made about its fragrance. While it wasn't one that blew me away to begin with, it only took a single bath for me to appreciate that I certainly didn't dislike it. In fact, after pondering in the tub for quite a while, I realised that these feelings I had, even suggested that I may have actually fallen in lust with it. Lovestruck, if you will.

Now I'm going to be honest - design-wise, I wouldn't say that Lovestruck is particularly all that attractive to look at. While both modern and definitely relevant in 2017, I do find the obsession with emojis a little cringeworthy, and this bubble bar doesn't exactly reference something that I have any interest in, in that sense. However, I recognise what Lush have attempted to do, and it will definitely appeal to those who want to add a modern twist to their Valentine's Day this year. 

Aside from physically, I will say that this product is a little more expensive than you would expect a bar of its size to be. Clearly sculpted from one half of a bath bomb mould, Lovestruck is a little underwhelming in size. Having said that, I was surprised to find that this bar is incredibly generous with both its fragrance and its bubbles, so you could easily divide it into two or three, and harvest enough from each piece to have a full, wholesome bath.

The most interesting feature about this bar is by far its scent. First impressions count for a lot, but in this case I don't think judgements should be made on that alone. This is an aroma that grows on you, and one that smells strangely familiar despite it only just making its debut in the company.

Containing lemon, geranium and petitgrain oil, this bubble bar smells like a long forgotten childhood memory - an old sweet that I cannot quite place, but one that gives me a longing feeling to be ten again and surrounded by the magic of an old-fashioned sweet shop. Without deterring those who dislike the smell of fennel, Lovestruck has an element to it that reminds me a little of sarsaparilla. This wild plant gives off a sweet, almost spicy aromatic fragrance that shares very loose traits with liquorice. 

It is the petitgrain that gives the product its scent, as it offers a fairly resinous aroma unlike many other ingredients that Lush use in their products. This, alongside the lemon oil, gives the bar a strong, sweet, fruity smell. In addition, the geranium nestles under both of these elements, and offers a musty, powdery floral component. 

Whether or not you enjoy its unique smell, there's no denying that this bubble bar greats a really moisturising bath. It's one of those products that leaves the water looking and feeling like silk, and the bubbles glistening because they're so light and creamy. Despite the undesirable shade of yellow that the water turns, you cannot help but feel as if you're bathing in a tub full of sunshine, which is perfect for the upcoming winter months. 

Overall, this is a bubble bar that I will definitely want to stock up on before the season is out. It may not have captivated my interests to begin with, but it definitely stole my heart in the end. Lovestruck is well and truly a welcome release in my eyes.     

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Perfume, Cornflour, Sicilian Lemon Oil, Geranium Oil, Petitgrain Oil, Titanium Dioxide, *Limonene, *Linalool, *Citral, *Citronellol, *Farnesol, Colour 14700, Colour 45410, Colour 17200, Colour 47005.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £4.25 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Coming Saturday!

 

Sweet For You Gift Set

If I was to ever write a children's picture book, I would definitely have to name it Promiscuous Hands, and make it a story of a little girl who just can't help herself when it comes to the indulgences in life. In as many words, it would be an autobiographical venture, as I'm sure most of you have already figured out by now.

When it comes to the Sweet For You Gift Set, my plan was NOT to buy it at all. My reasons being because: firstly, I already have a tonne of bath products to use up, and adding another handful was not going to help my situation at all; and secondly, there wasn't anything in this gift set that I didn't already have. My only purpose behind purchasing this would have been for the knot wrap, which was a silly reason to invest almost twenty pounds for the privilege...

Yet the zero willpower that I possess meant that the purchase was inevitable, and £19.50 later I received a familiar box in the post with this very collection inside. While it's by no means the most attractive gift set I have received or purchased, it's by far one of the most 'fun' looking, and this helped me to determine that I'd made the right choice.

Originally a Japanese release, the Lush Kitchen were kind enough to bring over two of their limited edition gift sets, and this was one of them - a collection based around the concept of good old-fashioned candy. Containing four products - two regulars and two limited editions, Sweet For You in a set designed for either one epic bath, or two or three smaller but still equally awesome experiences.

While the choice of products doesn't give any indication of the theme they were going for inside, the inclusion of both Unicorn Horn Bubble Bar and Prince Charming Shower Cream was a nice gesture. With Green FUN and Think Pink Bath Bomb making up the full set, this is a good selection for those that enjoy fruity, coloured baths. 

Individually, these four products would probably set you back around £14.50, which means that you're paying roughly £5 for the knot wrap, as well as the privilege of having these items gifted in this way. The wrap itself is a little smaller than the regular ones you can buy in store, although not considerably. It is also made from a canvas material as opposed to the silky recycled plastic that many of Lush's designs are crafted from. 

I'd say that the selection of products featured in this collection is lovely, especially if you were thinking of gifting this for a new Lush fan as they'd get to experience established products as well as a couple of limited editions. However, I can't see this being a great selling point for long-time consumers. Had they brought this out around Christmas time, or a little closer to Valentine's Day then they did, I reckon they'd probably have sold a lot more. 

As it happens, I enjoyed the products inside, and the knot wrap will be added to my collection - probably to be converted into a bag at some point. However, I don't necessarily think that it was a wise purchase for someone like me, and I don't feel as if it was worth the price tag that I paid for it.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £19.50 each.         

Lots Of Love Gift Set (Valentine's Day 2016)

It's quite a sad state of affairs that I have to buy my own Valentine's Day gifts - partly because I'm too impatient to wait for the actual day to come around, and mostly because nobody that knows me is willing to buy me Lush when they recognise that I have so much already. A predicament if there was ever one!

While this isn't my favourite design from the current collection, it's definitely got the best and most superior selection of products inside. And there's no denying that this isn't visually stunning to look at - if I received this from a loved one, I would more than ecstatic.

Reminiscent of the Heart Of Gold collection I was given a few years ago, this is the perfect gift for anyone looking to wow a loved one. Whether or not you love chocolate, I cannot see anybody being disappointed if they were presented with this - unless of course they didn't have access to a bath tub! 

This gift set features:

Tisty Tosty Bath Bomb

Sex Bomb Bath Bomb

Lover Lamp Bath Bomb

Rose Jam Bubbleroon

Unicorn Horn Bubble Bar

French Kiss Bubble Bar

What is great about Lots Of Love is that every product compliments the others, while also being incredibly diverse enough to offer a completely different experience. You have Tisty Tosty for a rose and geranium-dominated bath; Sex Bomb for those jasmine moments; Lover Lamp for when you want something creamy and fruity; Rose Jam for the sweet and lemony rose experience; Unicorn Horn when when nothing but a gentle floral will do; and French Kiss for when you're in need of sleep and you wish to be buried in lavender.

Each of these products offer at least one bath - with the bubble bars stretching to two or three for those who wish to be conservative with their goodies. Of if like me, you enjoy experimenting with scents and combinations, you can mix and match pieces of any of these items, and you'll be sure to create a wonderfully relaxing bathing experience.

If the products aren't enough for you, there is also the beautiful design of the box to enjoy. This thick, sturdy case looks gorgeous on the mantel piece, and can be used afterwards as a jewellery box, make up box, or just about anything you think of. It's one of those that more than makes up for the price tag, and while this will be the only collection I grab from the Valentine's range this year, I am no less than in awe of Lots Of Love.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £27.95 each.

Tisty Tosty Limited Edition Pink Version

Despite there being a couple of brand new products in this year's Valentine's Day, I was hoping for a little more to sink my teeth into. Having said that, I recognise the fact that any one of Lush's seasonal ranges serves multiple purposes - to cater for consumer desire at that time of the year, to introduce the brand to new customers and hopefully obtain brand loyalty - not to mention entice regularly customers back into their local shop with the promise of limited edition goodies. I very much doubt 'to satisfy Jen's lust for new products' is anywhere near the top of the company's agenda, although some would argue that it should be!

When I first discovered that three products were being kept exclusive to Oxford Street, I was at first relieved that I would have easy access to these items, and then slightly disappointed to discover that one of the items was to be a Limited Edition Baby Pink Tisty Tosty Bath Bomb. What's the point? I thought, oblivious to the fact that there were many thousands of Lush fans across the globe that the company was catering for, not just me. And then it clicked.

For someone new to Lush, this rather beautiful-looking creation is the perfect Valentine's Day gift. Not only is it very in-keeping with the season, and ticks near enough every box, it's a great introduction into the world of Lush - one that features a regular item that can be purchased throughout the entire year. I'm sure there's nothing worse than new consumers loving a product, only to discover that it's been discontinued a week later!

Firstly, Tisty Tosty shares the same fragrance as the regular version - a heady combination of rose absolute, geranium, jasmine and lemon oil. This is a really lovely infusion of scents because, while the rose is the strongest element, you can make out each note from the other - giving you a powerful and equally complex layer of smells. The geranium gives this bath bomb a strong, almost powdery dry flower aroma, while the lemon oil adds an uplifting quality that means the bomb is still refreshing and light.

What is great about this limited edition pink version is that you actually get the bonus addition of colour in the bath tub. Although the rose decoration is very pretty by itself, the addition of the pale pink water just adds that little extra magic to the whole experience, and although such a minor improvement, I did really appreciate this aspect a lot. I'm actually surprised they don't offer this version in shops as a regular item - I think it would be an equally big seller.

As I mentioned above, this bath bomb also comes with real rose heads both inside the product as well as scattered across the surface. Not only does it make every single Tisty Tosty unique in the way the roses pattern the surface, but makes for a wonderful, mess-free addition to the bath tub. While some Lush fans scarper at the mere mention of a bath bomb with 'stuff' inside, this is one that doesn't release a load of unwanted goodies into the water - the six rose heads are easy enough to pick out, and they really don't bother you at all once you're submerged under the water.

Based on a medieval love potion, these flowers spill out into the water and make for something a little different than your regular bath bomb. With the inclusion of rose oil, which is supposed to soothe broken hearts and help to repair skin, and lemon oil, added to give an uplifting top note to the fragrance, this bath bomb is great addition to any bath tub.

Not only does this version come in a different colour, but it also has a rather endearing love potion tucked into the side. When the product is dissolving in the water, the spell is released. It may not be much of an improvement, but it is a special touch that'll appeal to Valentine's Day lovers all around the globe. Unfortunately, as it's only an Oxford Street exclusive, London Lushies will have to enjoy it for everyone else until it comes out in the kitchen.

In its favour, Tisty Tosty is strong enough to see you through the entire bath, and while I didn't detect much of a fragrance on my skin afterwards, I could smell it in the bathroom for a few hours. Furthermore, it's not the most moisturising of bath bombs, but it does soften the skin a little and leave you feeling refreshed and uplifted.

Overall, Tisty Tosty is not one I plan to stock up on - it's not interesting enough for me to do so. However, it's definitely a nice little touch from Lush, and I can see this being a big seller for those looking for something to get their loved ones this year. Hopefully, this will entice new fans, inspire some life-long consumers in the process, and offer a pleasant twist for those looking for a new bath experience.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Rosebuds, Rose Absolute, Geranium Oil, Lemon Oil, Jasmine Absolute, Orris Root Powder, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, *Linalool *Limonene, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £3.50 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2016.


Scent Family:
Le Grand Amour Bath Bomb
Tisty Tosty Bath Bomb
Tisty Tosty Limited Edition Pink

The Kiss Lip Scrub

When I first began collecting, using and reviewing Lush products, I always viewed releases like this as a bit of a novelty. While I never speculated that they weren't effective, I always saw them as something you'd buy to try out a few times and then lose somewhere in a cupboard, never to be seen again. However, once I got into the habit of slipping one of these scrubs into my bag, I have never looked back.

When Lush announced the Valentine's range this year, I went to refer to my blog only to find that there was no trace of the The Kiss Lip Scrub around. After initial confusion, I came to realise that last year's release was not vegan - the very reason why I never bought it or reviewed it in the first place. This year however it was, so I couldn't wait to give it a go and see what it would offer me.

My immediate thoughts is that this is perhaps the most beautiful lip scrub that Lush have ever offered - the bright, fluorescent pink competes with the original Bubblegum Lip Scrub, but the edible sequin hearts that decorate the surface make it a clear winner - one that looks good enough to eat.

Sharing its scent with the lip gloss of the same name, I find the fragrance of this much more appealing than the aforementioned product. The reason being is that this is far stronger and fizzier in the container - a release that is sure to attract anyone who enjoys their candy. While the gloss offers a gentle, creamy mandarin aroma, the scrub is more sherbety, and reminds me of the swizzels sweets you can get in various children's selection packs in the UK.

While you would expect all of their lip scrubs to be identical in texture, I found this one to be slightly smoother than any of the previous ones I have used. Although all of Lush's lips scrubs are made from a base of castor sugar, compared to the other variations, this one does seem less 'scratchy' on the lips. Some of the other scrubs almost felt as if they were made of granulated sugar, which is great for those who need a vigorous removal of dried skin, but not for those lips that are dry, cracked and sensitive during the really cold months.

Looking at the ingredients list, I think it is the removal of the jojoba oil and the inclusion of the cocoa butter that really gives it the perfect texture. You can feel the dry skin being stimulated by the scrub element of the product, but can also immediately feel the softening properties of the cocoa butter afterwards. Both ingredients work in unison with each other, and will guarantee to leave you with the softness lips going. 

To use, I simply scooped out a tiny amount with my finger - rubbing the scrub all over my lips in a circular motion. The best part is that you then get to use your tongue to lick off the excess sugar and this leaves your lips looking less parched and weathered, and feeling a whole lot better than they did a few seconds beforehand. To finish my routine, I would opt to use either a lip balm if my lips really needed it, or a gloss/tint/stick if I was heading out for the evening.

Although an occasional heart will find itself being massaged across your lips, they're very easy to remove, and they certainly didn't cause me any serious problems during application. Yes, all of Lush's lip scrubs can be a little messy to begin with, and you do occasionally end up with stray pieces of sugar smeared around your mouth, it really isn't that hard to contain to product to the lips, and by the third attempt I had a good system going for keeping the product contained.

For £5.95, this might seem like a big investment for such a small tub, but it will last you a very long time, even with daily application.The only issue you may face is you lack of willpower to not eat the entire pot in a single sitting - it is rather tasty and can be quite tempting at times.

These have quite a long shelf life on them (a little over a year to be exact), so I would highly suggest you grab yourself one before they're discontinued. This and Bubblegum Lip Scrub are probably my favourite versions of this particular line of products, and I can guarantee that once you introduce one of these to your routine, it'll be very hard to ween yourself off. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Caster Sugar, Safflower Oil, Fine Sea Salt, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Red Edible Hearts and Soft Pink Glimmer Lustre, Sicilian Mandarin Oil, Almond essential oil, Cornflour, Limonene, Flavour, Colour 15850:1.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £5.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2015.

Scent Family:

The Kiss Lip Gloss

The Kiss Lip Scrub

Under The Covers Massage Bar

Love Spell Massage Bar

Sometimes I wonder just how much I would cope if I lived too far away to visit Lush's Oxford Street flagship store on a regular basis. Even the forty minutes it takes to get to the store from my house can sometimes leave me feeling anxious, especially if I know there's an exclusive product waiting for me on the other side. 

When the Valentine's Day range leaked on Instagram, I was obviously most interested in the brand new releases - Lover Lamp, Roses All The Way and Love Spell. On discovering that the latter was only going to be sold in Oxford Street, I was relieved to know that I would easily be able to grab a few for myself. 

To begin with, I was really impressed with the design. Although simple, the shade of baby pink combined with the little raised hearts on the surface, gave it a rather lovely feel about it. It just looks like the sort of product you can buy a loved one, partner or not, and it's definitely in keeping with the theme of the season.

Surprisingly, I don't believe that the ingredients list reflects what this massage bar smells like at all. You can definitely make out a faint but rather beautiful rose aroma, which is both sweet and slightly cloudy - thanks to the inclusion of the carnation absolute which I think gives it an almost 'hazy' aroma. However, it is the neroli and lemon myrtle oil that makes the biggest impression for me. 

An initial sniff reveals a really gentle citrus aroma - one that does throwback a little to Baked Alaska Soap. Don't get me wrong, this bar is not anywhere near as zesty as the seasonal soap, but it does have that crisp lemon aspect that stands out as soon as you get a whiff of the fragrance.

What I think will be a 'make or break' for Lush fans when it comes to Love Spell, is that the scent is quite a dampened one. While something like From Dusk 'Til Dawn will slither up your nose as soon as you come into contact with it, this one is a lot more reserved, and I can see some people being rather disappointed with how gentle the smell is both before and after application.

As with all of Lush's massage bars, you can use it as an actual massage bar and get somebody to give you the indulgence of a lifetime. Or, as I tend to do, you can massage it across your skin and give your body a really deep moisturising session. 

Applying it straight onto the skin will stimulate the various butters and oils, and the heat of your body will help to melt the bar down, making it easy to glide over the skin. You can choose to use the flat side or the uneven surface - the latter allowing you to put a little extra pressure on any areas that may be sore or tender from exercise.  

What is good about this bar is that it's not one that will melt on immediate impact with your skin, so you can hold it in your hands and not worry that you'll lose half of it while using the bar. Furthermore, this stubbornness from Love Spell means that you can reuse this many times - easily getting a good 5-6 full body sessions from one bar. 

Once applied, the oils and butters begin to get absorbed into the skin, and I was surprised to find that this takes quite a long time. In fact, I applied this after a bath and found that I could still feel remnants of it some five hours later. This is a product that you need to allow time for the skin to indulge in, because once it has been given an opportunity to work its magic, your skin is left beautiful - both silky-soft and vibrant. It instantly improved the condition of my skin and gave it a toned but supple texture that was rather wonderful. 

The scent does remain on the skin for as long as it takes the butters to melt, and perhaps the fact that it's a subtle fragrance works to its advantage because of this. You could easily spritz some perfume on yourself after using this, and you won't have to worry about it overpowering any other smells. However, as I said above, this is not a product you should use if you want a quick application before heading out the door.

Overall, this massage bar is a great new addition to the Lush family. It's not my favourite by any means, but its gentle aroma and just how effective it is in giving your skin a new lease of life, is enough to convince me that its one I will use quite regularly until it's discontinued. I am very excited to make this my winter companion for the upcoming winter months - to not only banish that parched skin feeling I get when the weather drops, but to give me a gentle lift after a long, hard day at work. Thank you Lush. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Fair Trade Shea Butter, Perfume, Organic Jojoba Oil, Rose Hip Syrup, Fair Trade Organic Aloe Vera Gel, Carnation Absolute, Neroli Oil, Organic Lemon Myrtle Oil, Fresh Rose Petals, Benzyl Salicylate, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Citral, Farnesol, Limonene, Linalool, Amyl Cinnamon, Benzyl Benzoate, Coumarin, Eugenol, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Fandango Lustre (Potassium Aluminium Silicate, Titanium Dioxide, Colour 15850:1, Colour 45410:1)

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £5.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2016.