Lush Cocktail: Sugar, Spice And All Things Lush

Gigi's 'Sugar, Spice And All Things Lush' Cocktail

Contains:

1 Shoot For The Stars Bath Bomb

1/2 Yuzu And Cocoa Bubbleroon

Lashings Of Hot Toddy Shower Gel

Wash With Yog Nog Soap

Video:

Verdict:

I love this cocktail for multiple reasons. Firstly, the winter has definitely well and truly arrived, and a cocktail such as this is the perfect remedy after a long, hard day at work. Secondly, the pairing of these components work so well, and this really rubs off on you when you're in the tub. Finally, the ego in me imagines that the 'all things Lush' reference in the title, might just very well be a homage to myself - a far stretch if there ever was one.

The truth be told - while I am definitely a citrus lover at heart, there is nothing like a hearty, warming, spicy bath to indulge in after a stressful day. Sugar, Spice And All Things Lush ticked all of the boxes last night, when I decided to concoct this recipe for the first time.

Aside from Hot Toddy Shower Gel, all of these products are normally available as part of the Christmas range, and if you added in a generous piece of Holly Golightly, you'd be able to replicate this cocktail easily. While each of these items are definitely very different in scent, the outcome is a warm, creamy, decadent bath with a hint of spice and a hint of sweetness to round it all off. 

First I crumbled the Yuzu & Cocoa under the running tap. This firm favourite of mine is packed full of cocoa butter, so you immediately notice the softness of the water and the silky-soft glaze that coats the surface as the product gets to work on infusing the water. 

This gorgeous, tropical-scented beauty created a mountain of fluffy bubbles and gave the water a light tinge of orange, which wasn't exactly spellbinding, but was warming enough to get me excited about the outcome of this cocktail.

Up next - add in lashings of the shower gel. If you're looking for a bath with quite a strong spicy element, you may need to add 3-4 generous squirts into the water; as I was only hoping for a little warmth underneath the other ingredients, I opted for only two helpings. 

This patchouli, orange and cinnamon beauty is so thick and creamy, so not only does it soften the water and nourish your skin, but it also creates a mound of bubbles that are equally as moisturising. I found that I was able to wash myself with the bubbles and I could feel as soft and smooth my skin felt afterwards.

Finally, I added in an entire Shoot For The Stars. I would recommend that you add in only half of this bath bomb if you want to detect the other ingredients a little more, as I found that this bomb was quite potent in the water, and I found it a little difficult to smell the other products without really concentrating on what I was looking for.

This gorgeous ballistic turned the water a lovely shade of blue and patterned the water with trails of silver glitter that made the bath just that little more special.The product also softened the water even further, so this was definitely a very moisturising experience - perfect for those cold, winter evenings.

What I loved about this cocktail was that rather than opting for the shower gel to wash myself with, this recipe asked for Yog Nog to be used instead. This was a lovely touch as the creamy, buttery caramel aroma really worked with the other ingredients and left my skin smelling good enough to eat.

This is one of those cocktails that'll have a lasting impression on you - it left me feeling amazing and smelling great, and is so cheap and easy to make. I would definitely recommend that you try this out for yourself, and banish those cold, winter blues while you do so! 

Rating: 9.0 out of 10.

Vegan?: Yes.

Christmas Bathtime Favourites Gift Set

While this may seem like an odd, and slightly late time to be reviewing this gift set, I know from experience that Lush fans old and new still like to read about past products. There is something rather intriguing about glimpsing into the company's past and studying the growth of Lush's product design. It's also the perfect opportunity to pine over something you wish you'd been around to purchase as well as salivating over the prospect of things to come.

Christmas Bathtime Favourites Gift Set was not one that caught my eye when I was deciding which of the many collections to invest my money in last year. In fact, I even hesitated during the Christmas sale after adding a couple of these to my basket, and I almost removed them before checking out. Luckily I didn't, because I now consider this to be one of the most beautiful gift sets to have come out last year.

Featuring an array of seasonal and regular bath bombs, this is the perfect gift for anyone looking to impress a friend or family member who isn't yet hooked on the wonderful world of Lush. This set allows for a minimal of ten baths, with the potential to be upwards of twenty, if each of the products was halved beforehand.

This set features:

Cinders Bath Bomb

Father Christmas Bath Bomb

Butterbear Bath Bomb

Avobath Bath Bomb

Luxury Lush Pud Bath Bomb

Frozen Bath Bomb

Golden Wonder Bath Bomb

Yog Nog Bath Bomb

The Experimenter Bath Bomb

Think Pink Bath Bomb

As the above list suggests, this is a set to suit any and every taste; from the sweet to the citrusy, floral to the smokey, this is a set that aims to cater for any and every mood, while also presenting an array of products that would work equally well as part of a cocktail.

If the bath bombs themselves weren't enough to tempt you, the box itself is a delight. Made of thick cardboard, this isn't one of the flimsy designs, and can be reused after to house anything you so wish: tools, stationary, jewels, more Lush products...

Originally priced up at £39.95, which I think it a bargain. With the bombs adding up to nearly £35 by themselves, five pounds is a small price to pay to have them all neatly stored inside such a beautiful box, and if this hadn't been in the sale, I would have probably invested in a full price one had I known how beautiful it was.

Overall, the is definitely a set you want to invest in, and seeing as how Lush bring out a Bathtime Favourites set every year, I would suggest you think about buying the revamped version that is no doubt coming out this year. One of my favourite sets from last year's Christmas range for sure.

Vegan?: Yes.

2015 Price: £39.95 each.

It's Christmas Deer Tin

Some of my readers may be wondering why I'm bothering to review this, given that it's way past Christmas and this gift set has been out of stock for at least three months now. Firstly, for anyone who wishes to buy the tin, this article may just help them to determine what they're willing to pay for one, and whether the contents are appealing enough to do so. 

Secondly, for collectors and those merely interested in the company in general, it's always enjoyable to browse pictures and read reviews of products, whether or not they're still available to buy. Goodness, my blog is the epitome of that last point!

While I am obsessed with investing in tins and reusable boxes from Lush, I'll be honest and say that this was not one that immediately won me over. Although I find it very endearing to look at now, it was not one I was going to invest in - until I saw that it had been marked down to half price, and then I wasn't able to resist. 

Coming in at £26.50 originally, It's Christmas Deer seemed slightly on the expensive side, given how little seemed to be in the set. From experience I know that Lush never normally charge more than a couple of pounds above the cost of the products, and maybe a little more for exceptional packing, but I just felt that there seemed to be less to 'play' with in this set, and that is no doubt down to the fact that the items that are featured are of the more expensive variety.

What is great about this selection of seasonal products is the smell that omits from the tin the second you remove the lid. With so many different fragrances present here, I cannot even explain how glorious it was to get a whiff of them all working at once. In a way, the combined scent didn't really 'work', but at the same time, it was wonderful.

A great selling point for this tin is the fact that the products inside are all so different in both fragrance and usage. Featuring:

Karma Kream Body Lotion 

Snow Cake Soap

Beautiful Shower Gel

Golden Wonder Bath Bomb

and Magic Of Christmas Reusable Bubble Bar 

this set is great for those who want a combination of regular and seasonal favourites. This would have been (and still can be, if you find one available for sale), a great gift for someone you're trying to introduce to Lush. They can not only enjoy some wonderful limited editions, but they should then hopefully fall in love with regular products and want to invest more.

Once all of the items have been used up, the tin is a great size to store bubble bars and bath bombs in, or something completely non-Lush related if you want to go down that route. The tub can then be reused the following year - filled with Lush goodies to give to a friend in a slightly more interesting way than just wrapping paper, or can perhaps even hold your homemade Christmas cake!

Although I wouldn't have been happy paying full price for this, as I don't feel it offers a selection of products that I love enough to do so, this would have been a great present for somebody, and doubles up as a great storage provider for afterwards.

Vegan?: Yes.

2015 Price: £26.50 each. 

Lush Cocktail: Glitzy FUN With Santa

Rachel's 'Glitzy FUN With Santa' Cocktail

Contains:

1 Dashing Santa Bath Ballistic

1 Starlight Star Bright Bath Melt

1 Ball Of Gold FUN

Lashing Of Snow Fairy Shower Gel

Video:

Verdict:

No matter what time of the year it is, I always crave the fruity, citrusy scents. It can be the middle of a hot summers day, or indeed the end of a dark, bitterly cold winter's day, and I'll still find sanctuary in the bright, zesty fragrances that Lush have to offer.

After playing ignorant to the incoming cold weather, I finally relented to the fact that it was getting rather miserable inside my flat, and I turned my heating on for the first time. Of course, to dampen the sting and comfort my soul, I had to follow this up with a bath to soften the blow. 

As it's December, it seemed a good time if any to try out Glitzy FUN With Santa - a cocktail that has been on my periphery for a while now. Featuring a stunning array of products, this fruity collaboration was exactly what I needed to chase away those aching muscles and hide under a blanket of warmth. 

To begin with, I held and crumbled the Gold FUN under the running tap. While I wouldn't choose to use this product by itself in the bath, when coupled with other softening products, it can be a great way of inducing an extra layer of fragrance into your bath. 

In this case, the water immediately began to swell and form a sea of bubbles and the beautiful, sweet fragrance engulfed my senses. For those unfamiliar with this product, Gold FUN shares its scent with the Honey I Washed The Kids fragrance range, and offers users a sweet, fruity, honeyed fragrance that'll melt even the coldest of hearts.

While it didn't leave the water a very desirable colour, it did sow the seeds for what was to come, and I could still detect hints of this fragrance after I had exited the bath. 

Up next was the lashings of Snow Fairy Shower Gel. This product rarely comes out in my house, despite my appreciation of the smell, so it was a real treat for me in this cocktail. When coupled with the FUN, the raspberry element came out in full force and the smell that was emitted from the bath was beautiful.

Starlight Star Bright Bath Melt was next on the list. Although I chose to use a whole one because the recipe called for it, I would suggest that you halve this - firstly because its a rare product that you can't afford to waste, and secondly because its strong enough that it can hold itself when split into smaller pieces.

This product immediately softened the water and you could see streaks of butters and oils on the surface. The silver glitter that coats the melt pulsated under the water - giving the water a magical glimmer without leaving an impression on the skin. The strong, lemony aroma intertwined with the ingredients and really elevated the fruitiness of the whole tub. 

Finally, I added in a Dashing Santa Bath Ballistic. This bomb is quite small compared with regular-sized ones, but it packs a punch - offering a orange and tangerine aroma that needs to be used in other Lush products - it's delicious! The product turns the water into a shade of peach and works so well with the other ingredients, especially the Gold FUN. 

In all honesty, when I was submerged under the water, I couldn't get over how gorgeous this cocktail was. If you like fruity scents, such as myself, this will be an incredible experience that you just have to try. All four products merge together to form a strong, spritzy and very full-bodied scented cocktail - one that'll cheer you up, no matter what you're thinking at the time. 

Although the colour of the water was a little bit dull, given how uplifting and refreshing the aroma of this cocktail was, I was left feeling like I had a spring in my step. Glitzy FUN With Santa ticks all of the boxes when it comes to cocktails, and I will be stocking up on all four products to experience this again and again. 

Rating: 9.2 out of 10.

Vegan?: Yes.