Despite it being a regular thing: my lips being chapped, I hardly ever use any of Lush's sugar scrubs to rectify the problem. There's a small part of me that almost forgets that the company even do such a thing, so if i own any they're usually buried away underneath the mountains of other products waiting to be used. When I first caught a glimpse of the three new naked lip scrubs for this year's Christmas and Halloween ranges, I was immediately bowled over by how pretty the designs were. Aside from the lack of packaging (hence the 'naked' part), the shape and etched surfaces made these limited editions so much more appealing than the boring tubed varieties. Yet, my very next thought was: how exactly am I supposed to use this and not completely soil the bag/purse I'm carrying it around in? Ultimately, while I have been using the cardboard boxes that they were delivered in, I've still yet to find a more effective way of carrying these lip scrubs around: they certainly don't travel very well naked. Having said this, all three variations of this year's naked scrubs are exceptional in what they do, and offer a much better experience than the old-style scrubs. Firstly, the product is much easier to use and less of a hassle to clean up afterwards. Whereas the original lip scrubs would need to be applied with the use of a finger, and you'd often cover yourself in sugar while doing so, these naked versions can be applied in seconds, without the unnecessary mess. Simply massage the block across your lips, applying as much pressure as you want, before either licking away the sugar or rinsing it away with warm water. Secondly, you can apply more pressure when using these blocks, so you'll find that these naked scrubs are far better at scrubbing away excess skin. Furthermore, you can focus on particular areas of the lips, so if you have a particular stubborn spot, this scrub will do wonders at removing the dried skin. Thirdly, there is less sugar to contend with, when it comes to the naked blocks. The condensed form means that there won't be as much sugar as there once was, but it also means that you can feel how nourished your lips feel after application, and this leaves your lips soft, smooth and plump. With the original lip scrubs, I sometimes found that you'd be massaging your lips for ages, unable to see exactly which areas needed a little extra buffering. Furthermore, there is an extra generous helping of butters and oils in the ingredients list, to make this a far more moisturising experience overall. Obviously, the fact that these lip scrubs are naked means that there's zero wastage, which makes them much better for the environment. What I really liked about Black Rose Naked Lip Scrub was that it was rather robust, and so I found it far easier to buffer away without the fear of it crumbling away. As someone with quite naturally dry skin, I enjoy a coarse scrub to remove excess dried skin and clean out my pores before I moisturise. The strength of this block means that I can apply quite a bit of pressure when I'm scrubbing my lips, without worrying about using too much product, or breaking the lip scrub in the process. Having used this daily, for almost two weeks, I have barely dented the corner of the scrub, and I see this lasting a good 4-5 months before it'll need to be replaced. Scentwise, this beauty has a scent that reminds me a little of Yummy Mummy Shower Cream. While not identical at all, the combination of mandarin oils, along with the sultry and quite treacle-esque nature of the charcoal give off a fruity smell that is both as rich and as fruity as the aforementioned aroma. One thing I will say about the Naked Lip Scrub is that the taste you get when licking your lips clean is definitely not the best flavour that Lush have offered, and I cannot imagine anyone wanting to nibble on this when they get a little peckish (which a lot of Lush fans do.) However, it functions incredibly well as a Lip Scrub and will easily last me another twelve months, before it makes a reappearance and I can buy another one. Quantitative Ingredients:Castor Sugar (Sucrose), Murumuru Butter (Astrocaryum Murumuru), Illipe Butter (Shorea stenoptera), Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (Cocos nucifera), Organic Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia chinensis), Sicilian Mandarin Oil (Citrus nobilis), Spearmint Oil (Mentha Spicata), Ylang Ylang Oil (Cananga odorata), Charcoal (Charcoal Powder), Titanium Dioxide, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Benzyl Benzoate, Flavour (Fragrance), Tin Oxide (Tin oxide) Iron Oxides. Vegan?: Yes. 2017 Price: £5.75 each. Year Of Original Release: 2017.
Let's be honest: it's not exactly the most attractive of bubble bars. While there are people that love the allure of 'all things pink', I for one am certainly not somebody to gravitate towards anything of that nature. For this reason, the following product already lost a brownie point when compared to its older sibling. A new release for 2017, Pink Pumpkin Bubble Bar is not the same scent as Sparkly Pumpkin, which is just as well as the two were released at the same time, and it would have been a pointless move from Lush. However, I cannot say that I was over-excited by this rendition as the aforementioned Halloween 'classic'. Containing a combination of bergamot, geranium and jasmine absolute, this limited edition offers a gentle floral aroma. While not one of the three components reminds me of Autumnal/winter weather, it does make a nice change from the usual spicy fragrances that normally appear at this time of the year. While the scent was in no way terrible, I was rather underwhelmed by just how forgettable it was. Comparing the smell to another cosmetic, I would say that it reminded me slightly of baby wet wipes - that gentle, pretty but rather generic-smelling aroma. Those who have rather sensitive noses and may wish to opt for the lighter scents, you may find this rather pleasant. However, those of us who love and appreciate Lush's more complex smells may find this a little disappointing. What was lovely was how soft this bubble was, and how easy it was to crumble under the running water. The heat of the water did elevate the smell a little during the experience, but I still wouldn't say that it made that much of an impression of my senses, and the aroma soon got drowned out by the other products I was using at the time. As to be expected, the water turned a pretty shade of pink and you could see the slight glimmer of the lustre under the surface of the water. Pink Pumpkin produced a good amount of bubbles, and most of them stayed with me throughout the entire bath. However, the colour dissipated a little when the tub was full. Much like most of Lush's bubble bars, this one left my skin feeling soft and moisturised, although not to the same level as some of the better seasonal bars. on offer this year. I found that I had to use a body lotion afterwards, just to top up that nourished feeling, and keep my skin in good condition throughout the day. Overall, this bubble bar does it's job: it's pretty to look at; offers a lovely floral fragrance; and moisturises your skin while you're bathing in its waters. However, there is nothing particularly memorable about Pink Pumpkin that would drive me back into the shops to purchase more of them. For this reason, this will not be one I'll be buying again. Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Cornflour, Perfume, Bergamot Oil, Geranium Oil, Jasmine Absolute, Titanium Dioxide, Calcium, Sodium Borosilicate, Tin Oxide, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Limonene, *Linalool, Amyl Cinnamal Benzyl, Alcohol, Citronellol, Coumarin, Colour 45380:3, Colour 45410, Colour 17200, Cinnamon Stick. Vegan?: Yes. 2017 Price: £4.25 each. Year Of Original Release: 2017.
There is nothing more bewitching than a bubble bar in the shape of an animal - especially one molded to look like the nation's favourite furry companion. While not everyone is lucky enough to be able to share their lives with a real-life good luck charm, an endearing bubble bar such as this one is a good replacement. Kind of. Bewitched Bubble Bar hits every mark before it's even started. While cats are not my favourite creature on the planet, they are definitely one of, and this brand new Halloween creation reminds me very much of my own two furries. The piercing eyes replicate perfectly how my two boys look at me when they realise it's time to be fed and mama just isn't moving fast enough for their liking. As I have been fairly absent in the community for a while, I had no idea what any of the new products smelt like, and I was both surprised and excited on discovering that this alluring bubble bar has the same aroma as the now-discontinued Blackberry Bath Bomb, and the very popular Sultana Of Soap. While not a fragrance I rave about, I fall in love with the scent a little more, each and every time I come into contact with it. There is something so rich and so succulent about the combination of bergamot and olibanum, and the smell is not only a perfect replica of the bath bomb, but it also compliments the colour and design of this seasonal special perfectly as well. Bewitched Bubble Bar is both rich and sweet. The olibanum oil creates a thick, resinous blanket of smell, which gives this product a very sultry feel about it. While I wouldn't say this smells at all like it's 'burnt', there is something that reminds me of sugar that has caught slightly in a hot pan. The inclusion of the bergamot helps to add a warming layer of fruitiness that elevates the base notes and gives this fragrance an all-rounded comforting smell. Easy to crumble, this seasonal release can be used across multiple baths, despite the fact that it is a little on the smaller side than I had originally envisaged. It's potency means that the fragrance will remain prominent in your bath until the end, and just Blackberry, this bubble bar will leave a lasting impression on your skin. What is gorgeous about Bewitched is that once you have allowed the water to stimulate the bubbles, the water turns a deep shade of black, and silver lustre ebbs underneath the surface. Furthemore, this is one of the most moisturising bubble bars I have come across in a while. You skin will reap the benefits of using one of these in your bath. This is perhaps the product I will buy the most of this year, as not only does my skin feel incredibly replenished after bathing with one, but the fragrance is the perfect blanket to cocoon you in during the colder months of the year. I may not be able to afford or look after a million cats, but having a handful of these will work out far cheaper in the long run. Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Cornflour, Perfume, Bergamot Oil, Olibanum Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, *Limonene, *Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl, Methylpropional, Tin Oxide, Colour 77266, Colour 77491, Colour 47005. Vegan?: Yes. 2017 Price: £4.25 each. Year Of Original Release: 2017. Scent Family: Bewitched Bubble Bar
When this mysterious purple and cream jelly bath bomb appeared at the Lush Showcase earlier this year, nobody realised it was the face of something big that Lush had been working on behind the scenes. The fact that it was probably one of the company's most flimsiest bath bombs was irrelevant at the time: everyone was fascinated by the fact that it was innovative and different...and also incredible messy. Fast forward a few months and the company have re-released a much sturdier, less crumblier Ectoplasm, while still retaining its beautiful scent and product design that initially held my interest in the first place. I'll go as far as to say that out of every single jelly bomb I have tried to date, this is by far my favourite one. First and foremost, the name itself is a spooky insight into the inspiration behind the very first, original jelly bath bomb. In the supernatural world, an ectoplasm is a 'viscous substance that supposedly exudes from the body of a medium during a spiritualistic trance and forms the material for the manifestation of spirits.' In Lush terms, this transcends into a limited edition bath bomb that likes to expel a goo-like substance across your water and manifests itself into a ten minute scrub after the tub has been drained. Yes, you heard that correctly. This is yet another of Lush's jelly creations that likes to leave a mess: on you body: across the walls of your tub; and just about anywhere you let it rest while wet. As with most of these jelly bombs, this one does leave smears across your skin that you'll need to ensure are rinsed off, and this one will accumulate a large amount of unmelted jelly at the bottom of your tub, so you will need to clean away the mess afterwards. Having said that, there is something rather special about the smell of this bath bomb, and it is perhaps my favourite fragrance out of all of the jelly bombs. With tangerine and grapefruit oils as the key ingredients, Ectoplasm is a strong, bright and very zesty aroma. While nothing complex or particularly interesting, if you enjoy your citrusy experiences, this will be one you'll want to try out for yourself. It's slightly powdery at times, and this almost gives it a richness that other citrus aromas don't necessarily always offer. What is great about it as well, is that the fragrance lingers for a very long time, and I was still able to smell it a good number of hours after I had emptied the tub. As with most of Lush's jelly bombs, the second you pop this one in the water, it begins to expel an almost florescent shade of green foam across the surface of the tub. As the bath bomb begins to diminish a little, vibrant layers of purple begin to erupt from its core, and you end up with a psychedelic coloured bath water. The inclusion of the sodium alginate is what gives this bath bomb its jelly-like consistency, and you'll find that when you run your hands through the water you'll feel a big difference between a regular bath bomb and one such as this. There is no denying that Ectoplasm will leave you skin feeling radiant and silky-smooth, and the effect will last for days. Despite this, I should warn you that, just like each of the other jelly bombs, this one will leave your bath very slippery, so you should be careful when getting in and out of the bath. In addition, this ballistic will also leave puddles of 'goo' that you'll have to ensure is washed away by the end. I found that this jelly bomb didn't leave anywhere near as many smears of gunk across my body, and the majority of the had been rinsed off once I was near finishing. However, there were still a couple of patches that I had to wipe off before towelling myself down, and I still didn't feel comforter washing my hair in the water - for fear of how it would affect my hair. Overall, this is my favourite out of all of the jelly bombs. The scent is strong and lingers on your skin for a good hour afterwards; the presentation and colour of the water is unique and one that I recommend that you experience; the results speak for themselves and you will notice a difference when it comes to the condition of your skin. I cannot say that I plan on rushing out and buying a handful of these to use, as I am still not convinced that they are as reliable and as clean as the regular bath bombs. Having said this, I would not be opposed to using one of these when I want something a little different from the regular range, or if my body needed a magical boost of moisture to replenish the skin. Quantitative Ingredients:Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Sodium Alginate, Tangerine Oil, Grapefruit Oil, Litsea Cubeba Oil, Water (Aqua), Dipropylene, Glycol, *Citral, *Limonene, Perfume, Colour 59040, Colour 45410, Colour 42090. Vegan?: Yes. 2017 Price: £4.95 each. Year Of Original Release: 2017. Scent Family: Ectoplasm Jelly Bath Bomb Ectoplasm Liquid Perfume Ectoplasm Naked Shower Scream Ectoplasm Shower Scream Ectoplasm Solid Perfume
Yet, my very next thought was: how exactly am I supposed to use this and not completely soil the bag/purse I'm carrying it around in? Ultimately, while I have been using the cardboard boxes that they were delivered in, I've still yet to find a more effective way of carrying these lip scrubs around: they certainly don't travel very well naked.
What I really liked about Black Rose Naked Lip Scrub was that it was rather robust, and so I found it far easier to buffer away without the fear of it crumbling away. As someone with quite naturally dry skin, I enjoy a coarse scrub to remove excess dried skin and clean out my pores before I moisturise. The strength of this block means that I can apply quite a bit of pressure when I'm scrubbing my lips, without worrying about using too much product, or breaking the lip scrub in the process. Having used this daily, for almost two weeks, I have barely dented the corner of the scrub, and I see this lasting a good 4-5 months before it'll need to be replaced. 
