Happy Valentine's Day Gift Set (Valentines's Day 2017)

It's times like this when I'm reminded of a quote from the classic film Seven. In the closing scene, the line 'what's in the box? What's in the box?' is uttered by our main protagonist - a pinnacle moment in the film that will leave viewers on the edge of their seat. While I hope I never discover what he found, in a Lush gift set, his reaction is very much on par with how I react whenever Lush bring out another gift set in a reusable format. 

When I first set my eyes on the Happy Valentine's Day Gift Set, I knew I had to have it no matter what, simply because the box was one of the most beautifully designed sets I have seen in a while. Decorated with golden hearts and finished with a golden bow, this is a box set that epitomises the very essence of the company, and is the perfect gift for any bath lover wanting to sample the selection of seasonal products available this year.   

Priced up at £19.95, this easily steals the show when compared to the other three gift sets available as part of the Valentine's Day collection. Firstly, the price is very reasonable. While you're paying an extra £3-£4 for the packaging on top of the price of the products, the box is reusable and beautiful enough to be stored anywhere throughout the house, at any time of the year.

Secondly, the collection offers a well thought out selection of seasonal and regular products. For new Lush fans, they'll be able to experience some of the best Valentine's Day products available, as well as enjoy one of Lush's biggest-selling regular bath bombs, Sex Bomb. 

This set also boasts an accumulation of very different fragrances, so there is bound to be something here for every mood. If you're unsure what scents a person enjoys, this set has something to suit near enough every person, so you can be safe in the knowledge that your gift will be put to good use.

For those who enjoy finer, delicate scents, Unicorn Horn Bubble Bar offers a sweet, gentle lavender fragrance, with a surplus of light, fluffy bubbles and a beautiful pastel-pink water to bathe in. Sex Bomb combines jasmine, clary sage, ylang ylang and soya milk to offer up a sweet and creamy floral aroma. Rose Bombshell is a robust, dried rose-scented ballistic with subtle elements of lemon to give it uplifting properties, while Lover Lamp is like a powdery, chocolately orange aroma - complete with extra cocoa butter hearts to make it one of the most moisturising bath bombs in the collection. 

Together, you have something here for every mood, and a set that showcases some of the most popular bath products to come out of Lush in the last couple of years. If you're going to buy one gift set this season, make it this one - I guarantee that you'll be very happy with your decision. 

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £19.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.     

With Love Gift Set (Valentine's Day 2017)

Despite being in a relationship throughout the entirety of my twenties, I don't think I ever received a Lush gift set as a present from my other half. This wasn't because he was against the commercial aspect of the day, or because he refused to buy me any Lush, as a large percentage of my family still do to this day. It was simply because it wasn't in his nature to purchase gifts for people, unless he'd been instructed to do so. 

It is for this very reason that I tend to indulge myself heavily when a new collection of gift sets make an appearance from Lush, and Valentine's Day is usually one of my favourite releases of the year. Despite being rather pragmatic in my affection towards people, there is something rather beautiful and endearing about the warming colours of the seasonal wrapping; the romantic gestures laced between flowery patterns; the red and pink ribbons sealing each and every box with a beautiful smile.

With Love is a minature gift set with a big heart and a loud message. It's for those who have a lot to express, but want something simplistic and to the point. Featuring just two products inside, this is for consumers looking for something magical whilst within a budget - a present that will give the recipient a little taster of what the company offer, without spoiling them too much.

Containing a large slab of Love You, Love You Lots Soap and a small 45g tub of the self-preserving Ro's Argan Body Conditioner, this is a great gift for someone who is a big fan of rose-dominated cosmetics. While the two products are very different in fragrance, they both share this common characteristic between them. Furthermore, as one of the items is a regular product and the other one a limited edition, With Love offers an opportunity for users to discover something that they can buy again if they wish to, and something that may entice them into trying out other members of the Valentine's Day range.

What is special about this gift set is that large piece of soap featured here is not the regular design that you can buy in any store. In fact, the only way you can own a piece that looks like the one below, is through buying one of the two gift sets that have this soap crafted in this way.

Another benefit of With Love is that both products featured are shower-related items, so this is a great opportunity to indulge someone you know who may not have access to a bath. The mere idea of not being able to enjoy a bath at all is a horrifying thought, and one that should warrant an immediate purchase of this gift set, just as a way of offering your condolences to that friend/family member. 

While £11.95 does seem a little expensive for the size of the gift, and the fact that there are only two products on offer inside, both the soap and the body conditioner will last a generous number of weeks in the shower, and the amount of pampering the recipient's skin will be exposed to because of your generosity more than makes up for it. 

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £11.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Kiss Me Quick Business Wash Card

When Lush first opened their first flagship store on Oxford Street, the number of new and innovative products that graced the shelves was a little overwhelming. Yet none of these exclusives were as interesting or as unique as their array of, what the company term 'wash cards'. Seemingly the first of its kind, these strange looking sheets are a solid alternative to the usual selection of gels and jellies that they offer. While I am not completely convinced of their true merit just yet, I recognise the fact that they work well as a novelty gift, and definitely spruce up the typical shower if you find yourself bored of your normal, average, every- day washing routine. 

Kiss Me Quick Business Wash Card is yet another step in a new direction - this time taking the idea of the solid shower sheet and doctoring a slightly new concept from it. Matching the size of a debit card, or indeed a business card as the name suggests, this limited edition Valentine's Day item has many uses. 

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 their format not allowing for any sort of 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, which means that they should have a much longer shelf life, and are also able to be utilised much further when it finally does come into contact with water. Furthermore, they don't contribute to package waste in the slightest, making it far more environmentally friendly than their other shower counterparts. 

So in a sense, I do actually recognise their true worth as a product, and can honestly see the merit of using them in replacement of other liquid alternatives. However, I'm still not convinced that these could or will ever be able to rival the jelly and gel variations that Lush already do so well.

What is different about this wash card, when compared to previous renditions, is the fact that the base ingredient featured here is fresh apple pulp as opposed to melon. Known to contain antioxidants and vitamins that both nourish and refresh the skin, apples are naturally full of malic acid, which gently removes any dead skin build that may be causing your skin to appear dull and uneven, and adds radiance almost immediately

Sharing its scent with the 29 High Street range, Kiss Me Quick features a combination of ylang ylang, lemon and lime oils to give the wash card its key notes, as well as tonka, geranium and jasmine to build upon these layers and help to create a well-rounded yet refreshing complex aroma.

The ylang ylang is definitely at the forefront here, offering a sweet and very heady floral aroma - one that is encased within the citrus oils, which bring about a very fruity, almost honeyed aroma. The lemon and lime oils not only give this shower sheet a bright, uplifting fragrance, but are known for their cleansing properties, and the ability to leave your skin looking and feeling radiant afterwards. 

Underneath this there is gentle reminder from the tonka absolute, which serves as the base smell - giving the product a gentle muskiness: a creaminess, while supporting the other main components and creating a shower sheet that is as rich as it is sultry.  

As far as my senses are concerned, Kiss Me Quick is an almost perfect replica of the liquid perfume, once it has had a short while to warm on the skin; as well as the shower gel, when its notes have been stimulated under the warmth of a hot shower. Not only will the fragrance perk you up and stimulate your senses, but act as a blanket of warmth when the world outside is too bitter to face.

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.  

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 will be grabbing a few of these before they're discontinued. 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: Fresh Apple Pulp, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Perfume, Cellulose Sodium polyacrylate, Ylang Ylang Oil, Lemon Oil, Lime Oil, Sandalwood Oil, Tonka Absolute, Jasmine Absolute, Gardenia Extract, DRF Alcohol, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Citral, *Eugenol, *Limonene, *Linalool Alpha-Isomethyl ionone, Benzyl Alcohol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Coumarin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde, Yellow Lustre, Colour 14700, Colour 45410, Colour 45380:3.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £2 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
29 and a Half Soap
29 High Street Liquid Perfume
29 High Street Solid Perfume
29 High Street Shower Gel
Aubergine Bath Bomb
HQ Perfume
Kiss Me Quick Business Wash Card

Secret Santa Ballistic

Two Hearts Beating As One Bath Melt

Stemming all the way back to Lush's old sister company, Be Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful, Two Hearts Beating As One is one of the brand's first signature fragrances, and one of the scents that most old-school fans probably remember the most about that era. Released as a shower gel, perfume, soap, as well as many other formats, this 'classic' smell epitomises the very essence of Lush as a whole, and is perhaps far more reminiscent of what I imagine a Lush shop to smell like than the likes of 29 High Street.

While this Valentine's Day Bath Melt doesn't possess its own original fragrance, it is a brand new format for the scent family, and one that is incredibly suited to the fragrance in question. As most Lush fans won't have experienced this smell at all, now is a great time for its release - most notably because of its incredibly romantic aroma: one that I would describe as being a timeless beauty.  

Containing apricot kennel oil as a key ingredient, this bath melt is packed with so many wonderful oils: argan, geranium, bergamot, jasmine and ylang ylang, not to mention a generous dosage of rose absolute as well. With so many components, you'd expect the overall fragrance to be confusing and perhaps even overpowering, but it is far from it.

To me, this bath melt has a warm, sweet floral aroma with wonderful jammy notes from both the argan and apricot oils. The jasmine, which is a known aphrodisiac, is definitely at the forefront - offering a fruity, narcotic note of exotic floral. Both the geranium and the rose add elements that I can only describe as being slightly powdery and cloudy - they form the base that every other component nestles within, and wrap a heavy blanket around the other ingredients to make this a very robust aroma.

Normally I wouldn't be overly enamoured with a floral smell such as this, but there's just something very captivating about the delicacy of the fragrance. It's cleverly crafted and wonderfully sensual, and will offer you an experience that you definitely do not want to miss.

Given the design of Two Hearts Beating As One, this is a bath melt that can easily be divided into multiple chunks, and used across more than one bath to make it good value for money. The fluorescent pink and orange pieces slot together like two pieces of a puzzle, and can easily be pulled apart to create two separate bath melts. Each piece can then also be segmented again, if you're looking to conserve your products even further.

That being said, there is definitely something rather mesmerising about watching the colours dance and intertwine across the surface of the water, and it is this reason that I recommend that a whole one should also be used at times, to really allow you to appreciate how beautiful this product is.

While predominantly designed to offer extra moisturising properties in the bath, this product also goes as far as to turn the water a soft, pastel pink colour. Quite a slow melter, Two Hearts Beating can take up to fifteen minutes to fully dissolve into the water, so I highly recommend that you enter the bath while it's working its magic, and enjoy the show up close.

What I loved about this seasonal melt is that, despite using an entire one during my first bath, I didn't find that it made the water at all greasy. Although there was an amass of oils on the surface, these dissolved into the water fairly quickly. In fact, I even attempted to wash my hair in the tub and found that it didn't end up an oily mess, like it has been known to do with other oils and melts.

Once out of the bath, I noticed an instant improvement in the condition of my skin. My hands, that had previously been rather dry and weathered, were smooth and supple; my arms and legs felt clean, soft and nourished; my complexion was silky-smooth and radiant. For a bomb-less experience, the bath melt holds up reasonably well by itself in the water.

While the scent did linger on my skin for a short time after I had towelled myself down, I wouldn't go as far as to say that it lasted long enough for my liking. For this reason, a body lotion or a perfume wouldn't go amiss to continue the experience throughout the day.

For a product that I wasn't particularly excited by, it is definitely one that has stolen my heart. Although the idea behind it is obviously linked to those with partners, I am more than happy to indulge in this by myself, and I don't necessarily think I would be willing to share the experience, even if the option was there.     

Quantitative Ingredients: Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Laureth 4, Almond Oil, Perfume, Apricot Kernel Oil, Argan Oil, Bergamot Oil, Geranium Oil, Jasmine Absolute, Rose Absolute, Ylang Ylang Oil, Titanium Dioxide, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Citronellol, *Geraniol, *Limonene,*Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Colour 14700, Colour 45410, Colour 45410:1, Colour 19140, Colour 15510.

Vegan?: Yes. 

2017 Price: £3.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
Heart Of Enlightened Expectation Bubble Bar Melt
Two Hearts Beating As One Bath Melt
Two Hearts Beating As One Shower Gel

Love You, Love You Lots Soap

It was before I'd even had an opportunity to smell this soap for myself, that I knew there was something familiar about this seasonal release. The impressive and rather staggering number of components derived from rose were all the clues that I needed to determine that this was definitely a case of product deja vu. And I was right. 

Sporting a completely different design, Love You, Love You Lots Soap may appear to be making its debut in 2017. However, while there are some changes to the ingredients list that will to be noted in this review, and I wouldn't say that it's not an exact replica, note-for-note, this limited edition soap shares its scent with last year's Roses All The Way.

Containing a rose petal infusion as the base ingredient, this product sports a combination of rose petals, rose oil and rose syrup, all of which have been added to give the soap a very distinctive and robust floral aroma. Yet it might be surprising to know that this product is not overly potent, neither is it exclusively floral. 

Instead, it is a delicate and very natural rose scent - one that is rich and sweet, yet light and almost what I would call refreshing. Very much on par with Rosy Cheeks Face Mask, this seasonal release smells like you've fallen into a bed of roses after it's been raining - the fragrance is delicately musky but has a 'wet', crisp element about it.

One of the key differences between this soap and Roses All The Way is that there is a distinct lack of kaolin in this year's release. While this component is known to be packed with natural minerals to soften the skin and absorb excess moisture, Lush have chosen to remove this in replacement of rose syrup.

First of all, this change means that the soap is far less drying on the skin. The extra oils give it the ability to smoothen and soften without removing any of the body's natural oils. Therefore, for someone such as myself, who often finds most soaps too drying to use very often, I can make this a part of my regular routine, and know that I won't be left with parched skin.

Secondly, the rich, sap-like nature of the rose syrup allows this soap to smell far more exquisite, and I believe that it is this very component that gives Love You, Love You Lots its delicate and very subtle fruity layer. This extra component reminds me a little of Cupid's Love Soap from last years range, as it gives the soap an almost soured, fruity note, which I believe comes from the inclusion of passionfruit and soya yoghurt.

At this stage, I should point out that this soap does not smell anything like Rose Jam in the slightest - it's far less musky and doesn't have any of the warming, sultry undertones that the popular fragrance fan boasts. Instead, this soap focuses on rose's more brighter, sweeter characteristics.

Finally - Love You, Love You Lots produces a different sort of lather than last year's rendition. Instead of the thick, almost-milky lather that Roses All The Way offers, you get a soap that is perhaps a little easier to manipulate, and one that produces more of a lighter but far oiler foam. I found that I only had to dampen my hands and massage the bar, and I was able to generate quite a good amount of product to clean myself with.

This is one of those soaps that can either be massaged between the palms of your hands to create a lather, or can be applied directly to the skin and it will produce a noticeable amount of foam straight away. Despite the lack of kaolin, my block did dry relatively quickly after I had finished using it as well. However, I would recommend that you pat it down after your shower, as the soap will not be able to absorb any excess moisture, and you'll find the bar shrinks a lot quicker this way.

Overall, as someone who claims not to be that much of a floral fan, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed using this soap. While it's not the most warming of smells to surround yourself with in the winter months, it is one that will leave your skin feeling really clean and radiant, and smelling like a fresh rose in a thunderstorm. And as far as fragrances go, I cannot ask for much than that, to be honest.

Quantitative Ingredients: Rose Petal Infusion, Glycerine, Rapeseed Oil and Coconut Oil, Sorbitol, Water, Rose Syrup, Perfume, Sodium Hydroxide, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Rose Petals, Rose Oil, Sodium Bicarbonate, EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Benzyl Alcohol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Geraniol, Citronellol, Colour 14700, Colour 17200.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £4.35 for 100g, £10.63 for 250g, £21.25 for 500g.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
Love You, Love You Lots Soap

Roses All The Way Soap

Cupid Bath Bomb

There are certain products that just make sense.This may seem like a strange statement to make, but let me explain. Occasionally, Lush will release an item that leaves me wondering why it hasn't been brought out before - a product that just 'fits' so well with the season it's a part of; one perfectly suited to the format it's been molded into. Cupid Bath Bomb is one such item.

While I won't claim that it's anywhere near being one of my favourite bath bombs, the design lends itself to being the perfect Valentine's gift for a loved one. Furthermore, the fragrance epitomises the very essence of romance - something that combines the sweet with the floral; the fruity with the musky.

Making its debut for the 2017 Valentine's Day range, this bath bomb is on the small side - weighing in at roughly 150g. Yet despite this, the product is still strong enough to contend with some of the bigger variations, and pretty enough to be excused for its size. The £2.95 price tag more than justifies the smaller design, although I should point out that this is definitely a 'one-bath' item. 

Sharing its scent with Razzle Dazzle Bath Melt, Cupid boasts a combination of lime, bergamot and violet absolute as the key ingredients. However, it is the inclusion of the fresh raspberry juice that really makes the biggest impression. Upon first sniff, I could immediately make out a musky, berry-led raspberry smell; it's almost as if someone has extracted the starchy components of the fruit and ladled them straight into this bath bomb.

Alongside this, the violet leaf adds its own note of floral, which elevates the fruity element of the bath bomb and adds a subtle smell that reminds me a little of Kerbside Violet Liquid Perfume. While I wouldn't say the rose is particularly strong in this fragrance, it does serve its purpose - adding sweet notes to the raspberry and more musky undertones to the violet.

Fans of Razzle Dazzle will be pleased to know that this ballistic mimics the smell perfectly, and I could see little difference between the two. While I believe that the bath bomb does leave a more powdery impression on the senses, this is no doubt due to the format it is in rather than the addition of the violet leaf, which is not present in the original bath melt.

Upon contact with the water, this bath bomb begins to fizz rather quickly - floating on the surface while the ends of the arrows ebb their vivid pink colour into the water. Within a matter of seconds however, the bath bomb seems to slow down, and the remaining part floats silently in the tub - bubbling and frothing for a good three to four minutes while streams of white etch themselves throughout the tub.

Once the bath bomb has dissipated, you're left with a translucent pink bath, and the odd remnants of the foam decorating the surface in swirls and patterns. While I wouldn't say that the colour of the water blew me away, or that the bath bomb's performance was anything to write home about, I was definitely impressed that the smell remained present throughout the whole experience. Even when using much stronger products alongside Cupid, I could still detect it's aroma on my skin and within the room. It certainly wasn't the strongest bath bomb I have ever used, but it packs up punch for the size that it is.

What is good about this seasonal special is that the inclusion of the various fruity oils means that your skin is left feeling really clean and clear, and my face in particular felt much smoother and far more radiant after towelling myself down. Despite this, I wouldn't say that this is the most moisturising of bath bombs, and it may benefit you to add a bath melt in as well, or use a massage bar or body lotion afterwards. 

Lush state that this is a great bath bomb to use to 'ease your nerves before a hot date'. However, you might find it difficult to resist the allure of Cupid, and may end up spending date night in the bath while you bathe in its pretty pink waters. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Persian Lime Oil (Citrus aurantifolia), Bergamot Oil (Citrus Aurantium bergamia), Violet Leaf Absolute (Viola odorata), Cream of Tartar (Potassium bitartrate), Rose Petal Powder (Rosa damascena), Fresh Raspberry Juice (Rubus Idaeus), Water (Aqua), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, *Limonene, *Linalool, *Eugenol, Fragrance, Red 4, Red 33, Red 27. 

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £2.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:

Cupid Bath Bomb

Razzle Dazzle Bath Melt

Video coming tonight!