Santa's Grotto Bath Bomb

Despite the sun still shining gloriously outside of my window, there was something about the idea of a comforting bath that led me into having one for the first time in months. While self care is incredibly important, I've had neither the mental capacity or the practical means to actually have a bath, even if I wanted to - making this particular experience extremely special. I can honestly say that there is something incredibly magical about this release and I couldn't have asked for a better introduction back into the world of Lush.

Santa’s Grotto is a brand new bath bomb featured in Lush's 2019 Christmas range, and was made available earlier for the select few hundred consumers who were able to buy the company's limited edition advent calendar before it sold out. 

Offering a fragrance that I wouldn't describe as being strictly festive, this limited edition is one of those wonderful bombs designed to compliment the winter weather as opposed to being 'too Christmassy.' However, I should probably point out that the scent of this bomb is definitely more of an acquired taste, and definitely not suitable for anyone who dislikes heady smells. This one will stick to your nose and your bathroom like an overly loyal dog.

Sporting a pastel green design, Santa's Grotto offers beautiful, chunky pieces of sea salt on top, some of which have been coloured a sparkly golden colour to add a beautiful glimmer. Alongside this, little rocks of red popping candy have been embedded in the surface to add an extra feature to marvel.

Featuring a combination of everlasting flower absolute, ylang ylang and tagetes, the scent of this bath bomb is quite difficult to describe, and certainly doesn't do it justice at all when I do so. What I will say is that despite other descriptions, I do detect quite a distinctive floral aroma. It's very powdery and heady and features both a herbal twist that deepens and intensifies the fragrance of the everlasting flower, and a slightly grassy edge that gives it more of a 'green' feel as well.

Despite there being nothing in the ingredients list to suggest where it comes from, there is also something naturally sweet and almost citrus-like about this smell as well. It's almost as if the ylang ylang has been turned up a notch in this bath bomb which clashes slightly with the other components. However, there is something about these different components that just work. 

While my description might seem rather negative, I actually happen to love the scent of Santa's Grotto. It's definitely not the smell you would expect from the name of the product, and I actually think it's shame that the name will prevent it from becoming a permanent feature in shops. Fans of outdoorsy types of smells will probably really appreciate this release.  

As if the design and smell weren't gorgeous enough, this wonderful bath bomb begins to fizz and crackle as soon as it hits the water. Very quickly Santa's Grotto fills the tub with a stunning shade of turquoise colour, with streams of mauve exploding from its centre to offer a wonderful visual display.

Once the bath bomb has fully dissolved, you're left with a gorgeous shade of water that features a light dash of silver lustre sparkling under the surface. Not only this but the inclusion of the salt makes the water extremely moisturising, and it only took a matter of minutes for me to notice a huge difference with the condition of my skin. In addition, the scent lingered throughout the whole experience and stayed on my skin for a good while afterwards. 

This is one of those bath bombs that offers you everything you could want: a strong, robust smell; a beautiful display of colour in the water; and nourishing qualities that will leave you feeling like a new person. While I think this bath bomb will divide the Lush community like Marmite does, I happen to think there is something rather special about this release, and I would love to experience this again before the end of the year.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Coarse Sea Salt, Extra Large Sea Salt, Popping Candy, Everlasting Flower Absolute, Ylang Ylang Oil, Tagetes Oil, Cream of Tartar, Cornstarch, Titanium Dioxide, Water (Aqua), Sodium Coco Sulfate, Dipropylene Glycol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Cocamidopropyl, Betaine, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Tin Oxide, Silica Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, *Limonene, *Linalool, Perfume, Colour 42090:2, Colour 19140:1, Colour 77491, Colour 15850:1, Colour 45410:1, Colour 42090.

Vegan?: Yes.

2019 Price: £?.

Year Of Original Release: 2019.

coming soon!

Raspberry Milkshake Soap (2019 Edition)

As I've said before in the past, sometimes the aesthetics of a product can influence how you feel about it just as much as it's fragrance and productivity. When it comes to this updated soap, I definitely gained much more of a rapport with the product this time around, and I'm glad that Lush chose to bring it back for a second season.

Lush have said in the past that raspberry-scented products are actually rather difficult to make, as the the current components available to create such a smell are not very vegan friendly on the most part. Therefore, consumers haven't seen too many products with the raspberry fragrance brought out over the years.

This makes Raspberry Milkshake Soap an amazing feat in itself then, as the scent of this limited edition is simply divine. However, much like I stated in my review of the original soap, this product doesn’t exactly smell like a raspberry milkshake: more like a wonderful fruity cocktail or a rich and rather expensive smelling juice made from nothing but raspberries and lemon juice. This is not at all creamy or ‘milky’ - instead offering a bright and very juicy aroma that will have you fighting yourself not to take a big bite of the soap.

This is not like anything that Lush have released before. With very little to compare it to, I can safely say that it is nothing like the Mumkin scent at all, although there is a berry-esque element to the soap that comes out in the shower and reminds me of the same note that Mumkin offers: Raspberry Milkshake is far richer and much more sultry on the senses.

What makes this soap so effective is the impressive list of ingredients that have gone into making it. As well as adding to the overall scent, the lemon oil brings clarity to the skin, cleans the pores and helps to add a little radiance; the inclusion of the almond milk calms the skin and reduces the appearance of rashes or irritated skin. The davana oil is a natural relaxant, to calm any tensions in the shower, whilst also acting like a antiseptic to clean the skin thoroughly.

What is also great about this soap is that the design naturally works well when using it in the shower. Too often I find that blocks of soap slide around in my hands, and I'm constantly playing a game of 'how many seconds can I clean my skin before I drop it again' - which isn't fun at all. However, this limited edition fit perfectly in the palm of my hand and was super easy to lather up. Even when the soap began to shrink a little, I didn't find it at all fiddly to use, which is definitely a step up from last year's pink slab.

Aesthetically pleasing, this soap also worked well at leaving my skin really clean and crisp, without it feeling parched or dry. While I still had to apply a body lotion afterwards, this is more a reflection of my skin's needs as opposed to the product itself. 

Finally, I was impressed to find that I could still smell a gentle raspberry aroma on my body afterwards - an experience I wish I could extend in the form of a lotion or perfume. This is definitely a lovely addition to the wonderful Mother's Day range this year, and I'm sure it's only a matter of time before other products with this fragrance make an appearance, which gets my backing completely.

Quantitative Ingredients: Almond Milk, Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, Glycerine, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Organic Castor Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Perfume, Fresh Raspberry Juice, Davana Oil, Tagetes Oil, Benzoin Resinoid, Titanium Dioxide, Eugenol, *Geraniol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 45410, Colour 17200, Colour 19140, Colour 42090.

Vegan?: Yes.

2019 Price: £7.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2019.

Smugglers Soul Solid Shampoo Bar

While I usually opt to use the limited edition perfumes that I own, there are a few regular-line ones that I always revert back to on occasions. Smuggler's Soul Liquid Perfume in my number one choice from Lush's extensive fragrance collection, and there has never been a time when I've used the perfume and not felt better afterwards. 

Initially, it was rather disappointing when Lush brought out their exclusive Father's Day range for the first time last year, and I discovered that the solid shampoo bar was labelled as vegetarian only. However, with a slight change of ingredients and an improved formula, 2017 has seen the seasonal product turn vegan, and we are all the better for it.

Described as being both poignant and smoky, Smugglers Soul Solid Shampoo Bar is a royal treat for the hair: a product that not only showcases one of the best smells in this format, but also works far better than a number of the regular bars in store.

Containing a combination of sandalwood, vetivert and tagetes, this limited edition is both sweet and sultry. The lemongrass not only offers the hair a shine that helps to bring out any natural highlights that your locks may possess, but it is also one of the key notes in the overall smell. In fact, it is the lemongrass that compliments the smoky elements of the sandalwood, and what also intertwines with the vetivert to give off a delicately sweet smell.

While I was a little confused at first by the inclusion of the watercress infusion, I have since learned that this ingredient is great for stimulating hair growth, and also helps to give this solid shampoo bar a very moisturising lather that softens, strengthens and repairs hair at the same time. 

You only need to stimulate this for a couple seconds for it to create an abundance of silky-soft lather to massage into your hair. In fact, I found that I only had to wet the product briefly for it to produce enough 'foam' to coat my whole head with. Once applied, I would leave it on for around five minutes before rinsing it out and using conditioner. 

Although I tend to use Avocado Cowash to add in moisture and keep my hair in tip-top condition, there were a few times when I opted to use Smugglers Soul Solid Shampoo by itself, and I found that my hair was just as smooth and manageable as it would have been after using conditioner. Despite there being nothing in the ingredients list that hinted at why this seasonal special was so effective in that manner, it was not something I was going to question.

What I loved about this shampoo was that I was firstly able to enjoy the wonderful smell of Smugglers Soul in the shower, albeit briefly. Although this scent unfortunately didn't seem to last once a conditioner had been applied, nor when used by itself, it was a fleeting luxury that made me wish that Lush would bring out a shower gel or jelly with the same fragrance.

My only qualm with this solid shampoo bar was the fact I felt as if it seemed to shrink a little quicker than other bars of its kind. If left to dry naturally, I noticed that the bar would be smaller the next time I went to wash my hair. For this reason, I would highly recommend that you pat it dry after use, to ensure you get the most out of it. 

Unfortunately, this bar does not stick around to become a regular member of my hair care routine. However, I have bought a few bars to see me through a good many months. For fans of Smugglers Soul, and indeed those who appreciate a good-quality shampoo, I would highly recommend that you give this one a go. I hope, for my hair's sake, that this makes a reappearance next Father's Day.     

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Perfume, Watercress Infusion, Rosewood Oil, Sandalwood Oil,  Vetivert Oil, Tagetes Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Polyquaternium-88, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Citral, *Coumarin, *Limonene, *Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Colour 15510, Colour 17200, Colour 42090.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £7.50 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
Smuggler's Soul Body Lotion
Smuggler's Soul Body Spray
Smuggler's Soul Facial Scrub
Smuggler's Soul Liquid Perfume
Smuggler's Soul Solid Perfume
Smugglers Soul Solid Shampoo Bar

Veerappen Moustache Wax

Lemon Flutter Body Lotion

When I moved into my first flat in London, one of the people I resided with for a number of years was obsessed with lemon sherbets. Near on every day I would find him munching on the sweets at any given moment, and I would often discover handfuls of them down the back of the sofa, and in some of the oddest places around the house. While my sweet tooth led me to try a few myself, I would always regret that decision when the roof of my mouth became sore and my tongue began to bleed.

Fast forward a good number of years and a tub of Lemony Flutter Body Lotion is posted through my door. After the recent release of the body conditioner, which turned out to be stunning, I was excited to see if this variation was as refreshing and as delicious as its counterpart. As it turned out, it was equally as amazing...

When it comes to dessert, lemon has always been my number one choice: lemon fridge cake, lemon drizzle, lemon meringue pie. To me, this body lotion is the epitome of a rich, creamy lemon mousse or yoghurt - a bright, zesty creation that mimics the scent of the lemon and lime Starburst sweets that you can buy in shops, albeit richer. 

There is something slightly 'foody' about this lotion that may be initially off-putting to those who dislike smelling like something they might want to eat. Furthermore, the fruity, citrusy element is then elevated once the lotion has begun dissolving into the skin - giving off a smell not unlike a slice of lemon torte or a spoonful of buttercream frosting. 

What I loved about this lotion, aside from the fragrance, was that it is rather thin in consistency. Normally, I would be rather hesitant to use a lotion so light, as I tend to find that these types don't normally offer a very wholesome experience for the skin. However, I was really surprised to discover that Lemony Flutter Body Lotion was the complete inverse.

Containing only cocoa butter and almond oil as a base, I wasn't expecting this to be as highly nourishing or as effective as it turned out to be. Given how thin it was, I assumed that I would need to use quite a generous amount to achieve the desired effect. However, I discovered that it was very easy to manipulate and massage across the skin, and I had only to skim the surface of the lotion to collect enough for a good part of my body.

Once on the body, it doesn't take very long for the product to begin absorbing into the skin - leaving it feeling more plump and looking almost instantly radiant. Impressively, after a single use, I found that the dry patches I had on my hands and arms near on vanished, which was a welcome bonus. While the lotion doesn't leave you feeling sticky or greasy, it does take a good fifteen to twenty minutes to fully absorb, so you may wish to give yourself enough to time to let that happen before trying to put any clothes back on.

What was equally impressive was the fact that the beautiful smell stayed with me for a good couple of hours after application, and due to some residue getting on my clothes as well, I was able to detect notes of lemon when I put my cardigan back on at the end of the day. 

The only negative point that I would say about this body lotion is that the results do not tend to last that far past a day. Although I noticed that the dry areas across my arms were fading, they were not disappearing as quickly as they would normally do with some of Lush's other body lotions.

Having said that, this is definitely a body lotion that I will be using for the foreseeable future.The bright, uplifting lemony tones will make this the perfect company in this warmer summer months, and there is nothing sexier than knowing that you smell like a lemon cupcake.  

Quantitative Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Almond Oil, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Glycerine, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Sicilian Lemon Oil, Lavender Oil, Tagetes Oil, Chamomile Blue Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, *Linalool, *Geraniol, *Limonene, *Citral, Perfume, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £16.95 for 225g.

Year Of Original Release: 2011.

Scent Family:
Lemony Flutter Body Conditioner
Lemony Flutter Body Lotion
Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter (non vegan)

    

Lemony Flutter Body Conditioner

Years ago, when I was the queen of buying anything and everything Lush on ebay, I managed to pick myself up a rare tub of Lemony Flutter Body Lotion - a product that had only been released for a select number of people through the old Lush forum years beforehand. Unfortunately, as to be expected, it arrived with little fragrance and a less than appealing consistency, and I have been pining after a fresh tub ever since.

When the Lush Kitchen announced that they would be bringing out a body conditioner in the same fragrance, I was ecstatic. While it wasn't the lotion I had been hoping for, it would at least mean that I would no longer have to live precariously through the occasion sniff of the non-vegan cuticle butter in store. As it turns out, the body conditioner was everything I was hoping the lotion would be, and more.

While sporting the name Lemony Flutter and containing a large dosage of Sicilian lemon oil, it is no wonder that the initial scent to greet me from the tub is one of pure radiance. When Lush describe is as being sherbet-lemon scented, I can only nog vigorously in agreeance - it really does.

To me, this body conditioner smells like the glycerine layer of a fresh citrus cheesecake; a tub of lemon curd and clotted-cream flavoured yoghurt; a generous helping of lemon coulee across a slice of lemon drizzle cake. There is something very foody about it that makes it hard not to run your tongue across the surface of the product, in the hope that it tastes as good as it smells. 

Despite the inclusion of lavender, tagetes and chamomile, these ingredients are all very reserved in the body conditioner, and it takes a while to really recognise the subtle hints that are there, but are very low in the overall mix. Put it this way - if you weren't privy to the ingredients list, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who would be able to detect or mention these elements at all.

What the chamomile oil and the lavender oils do is make Lemony Flutter incredibly calming on the skin. Sometimes products that are predominantly citrus can irritate sensitive pores, and lemon in particular, with its natural acids, can be far too harsh for some skin types to handle using regularly. Both of the herbal oils therefore, help to ground the fruity smell a little and give it a little more depth, while also balancing out the skin and preventing any unwanted reactions.

The base is made up of three essential butters/oils; cocoa, shea and jojoba - the latter of which is a fantastic component to use to hydrate the skin with. Jojoba works perfectly with our body's own natural sebum, so it can be absorbed quickly into the skin without leaving any excess grease. Cocoa butter and shea butter are known for their moisturising properties - for adding a rich, sultry creaminess to the texture and fragrance, and for helping to smooth and soften skin for a sustained amount of time.

Together, you get a delicious body conditioner that not only works wonders at hydrating, moisturising and nourishing your skin, but one that helps to make your skin radiant, supple and well-protected as well. This would be perfect for the summer months because Lemony Flutter would not only replenish the skin of any moisture that has been lost in the heat, but it would also create a barrier to could protect your skin for hours afterwards.

As with most of Lush's products, this one is incredibly versatile, and while the £29.95 price tag may seem a little daunting to those unsure of such a big commitment, it is definitely worth the investment. You can use this as both a body conditioner and a shaving foam, and I've even heard of people using this in replacement of a body lotion. Whichever way you choose to use yours, I can guarantee that you'll not be left disappointed with the results. 

First and foremost, you can use it as Lush intended - as a body conditioner. After using a gel, jelly or soap to clean yourself with, step out of the flow of the water and apply the product across your skin, as you would a body lotion. It wont lather up, and may disappear really quickly, but this is because it is designed to permeate the skin. The heat from the shower will have opened up your pores and made your skin more susceptible to the butters and oils featured in the ingredients list. Once applied, you can either step back under the flow of the water to rinse your body down, or exit the shower immediately and pat yourself down lightly. 

Unlike a body lotion, a conditioner creates a barrier of moisture around your skin, which may feel slightly greasy to some, and might prevent you from being able to apply your clothes until you've given it time to absorb into the skin. I can assure you that this will lessen within the first thirty minutes of application, and you'll feel much better afterwards.

With Lemony Flutter, I found that an amount equal to that of a heaped teaspoon was more than enough to coat an entire leg, so you really don't need to use that much each time to get amazing results. Please also be aware that you wont necessarily be able to see the product when you're massaging it across an area of skin as it does tend to absorb really quickly. However, this does not mean that you should apply any extra and waste the product - the results after you rinse yourself down will speak for themselves.     

Secondly, this body conditioner works as an excellent shaving foam. Simply apply a small amount across your legs and shave your legs as usual. You'll be left with super-soft skin, and one of the closest shaves you have ever experienced. Finally, you could also use this as a body lotion, as there doesn't appear to be anything featured that could damage or irritate your skin if left on for long periods of time. The only issue I have with this latter method is that it may leave your body feeling rather greasy, so may only work as an intense moisturiser for those who have incredibly dry skin.

Unlike the Lord Of Misrule Body Conditioner that cam out recently, the disappointing aspect about this version is that the fragrance is not as strong as it could and should be on the skin. In the tub it's delicate and fruity, but not the extent that a body lotion is normally. Therefore, when this is used in the bath/shower alongside other products, the scent tends to disperse quite a bit. After towelling myself down, the effects of the product were still very much there, but the smell was a very weak one. 

Having said that, the results spoke for themselves. My skin felt and looked radiant - there was a natural sheen across my legs and arms that gave my skin a boost of vitality that I was looking for in these winter months. Furthermore, the effects of this body conditioner lasted me throughout the entirety of the day - not to mention that it gave me the closest shave of my life, which meant my legs felt silky-smooth and soft.

Overall, this is definitely a product I would buy again. I am not deterred because of the price tag because I can see this tub lasting me a good 6-9 months, which is good value for money. I only hope that Lush choose to release the body lotion at some point in the near future - a complimentary lotion or massage bar would be a wonderful addition to the Lush catalogue.

Quantitative Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Organic Jojoba Oil, Glycerine, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Fair Trade Shea Butter, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Sicilian Lemon Oil, Lavender Oil, Tagetes Oil, Chamomile Blue Oil, *Citral, *Limonene, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £29.95 for 450g.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
Lemony Flutter Body Conditioner
Lemony Flutter Body Lotion
Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter (non vegan)

Skin Sin Hand And Body Lotion

Although my skin has a tendency to react quite viciously to any change in the weather, I find that I don't perhaps moisturise as much as I should do. Whereas the average person will probably use a lotion or a massage bar once a week to replenish the skin, I'm lucky if I remember to use such items once a month. It's a habit I need to rectify - especially knowing how parched my skin can look and feel in the warmer months.

Despite resting on a handful of lotions and creams that just never get used in my house, I found myself purchasing a couple of bottles of Skin Sin when it made an appearance in the Kitchen last week. A mixture of impulse and curiosity encouraged me to grab the two bottles that are currently resting on my shelf, and I am forever grateful that I did. To put it simply - this body lotion is wickedly delectable and incredibly beautiful in every way.

First released many moons ago, this hand and body lotion is packed full of so many wonderful components that make it one of the most effective lotions to come from Lush's vaults. Described as having both a floral fragrance and a cherry one, there are quite a number of mixed reviews online that may confuse potential buyers - an uncertainty that even left me a little unsure of what to expect when they first arrived on my doorstep. 

All I can say is that this is a very light-smelling cream - a scent that matches both the consistency of the lotion as well as how it feels on the skin after application. Upon opening the lid, it was the lavender and chamomile that jumped out at me first. Together, these two components intertwined to create a very calming, cooling and slightly medicinal floral aroma that has a naturally sweet kick to it thanks to the former ingredient. 

Alongside this is a strong thread of almond - one that doesn't produce a nutty smell, but more of a creamy, milky element; and a subtle drop of tangerine oil, that compliments the sweet element of the lavender and gives the body lotion a very gentle fruity element to finish. If I was to describe the scent of this in its entirety, I would say that it is almost like a watered-down, milkier Twilight Shower Gel. Both the tagetes and the tangerine replace the tonka that would normally feature in the aforementioned gel, so you don't get such a sugary-sweet vanilla aroma, but are offered a sweet, lavender-dominated one instead.

Original descriptions state that Skin Sin has a rich, fruity cherry element - a statement that I think may be misleading for first time buyers. The fact that you can detect the tangerine slightly, and the strong almond aroma present, I can see why some buyers may describe this body lotion as having a very subtle cherry scent. However, I would say that the chamomile and the lavender are much more prominent throughout, and this would be a better-fitting description of the product.

As I mentioned above, this body lotion is far thinner than most of Lush's regular and limited edition creams. It sits somewhere in-between Love And Light Hand Cream and Karma Kream Body Lotion, but don't be fooled into thinking that its any less moisturising than all of the other products on offer. 

What I loved about this lotion was the fact that it was easy to massage across the body, and I was amazed that within a matter of seconds, the cream had been absorbed by the skin - leaving my body feeling really soft and nourished, and my skin looking far more radiant than it had done a few seconds beforehand. There was no stickiness at all, and I was able to put my pyjamas on a mere five minutes after I had slathered the lotion all over my body. 

Furthermore, I was left with a beautiful but equally gentle aroma on my skin - one that showcased the almond oil and the lavender oil mostly, but still offered up elements of the other components as well. After using this a couple of times during the week, I noticed that my skin stayed plump and supple during the days in-between use, and it worked really well alongside Dreamwash to cool and soothe my skin after a hot bath. 

This is now my favourite body lotion to use and I would definitely be interested in buying a few more bottles when I finish the two I currently own. If you like gentle smells and need a lotion that isn't going to take hours to be fully absorbed - while injecting your skin with moisture and conditioning all at the same time, Skin Sin is the product you should be looking to purchase. It really is wickedly decadent.  

Quantitative Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Almond Oil, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Glycerine, Stearic Acid, Tagetes Oil, Tangerine Oil, Chamomile Blue Oil, Lavender Oil, Triethanolamine, Cetearyl Alcohol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Perfume, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £10.25 for 250g.
2017 Price: £10.95 for 250g.

Year Of Original Release:? 

Too Drunk To **** Emotibomb

Emotibombs have always been a strange concept to me. As someone who would opt for a bath over a shower any day, I have never understood why you'd want to fork out money for a product that appears to have very little worth in the great scheme of things. As my flatmate stated yesterday, it appears as if you're quite literally washing your money down the drain, and until I gave this particular item a whirl earlier this week, I was under the same consensus.

Too Drunk is the censored version of an emotibomb named after a Dead  Kennedy's song - a strange-looking disc of sodium bicarbonate that depicts what appears to be a tribal face with a vegan chocolate eye. Measuring roughly 6cm in length and a little less in width, this disc of fragrance is definitely not one that shies away in both scent and productivity.

Designed to be the 'pick me up' we all need after a brutal night out, this limited edition is for when your head feels heavy and your stomach is dancing the waltz, and nothing less than a serious bout of fragrance under a hot shower, will suffice. While I drink very seldomly as it is, there are always mornings when the mere thought of having to even open my eyes is painful enough, and the idea of a soft blanket of smell to wake me up gently sounds like the perfectly remedy.


From the description, I wasn't expecting to like Too Drunk very much; I have never been a huge advocate of mint-scented products, and up until this point, I had never really had a lot of success with Lush's emotibombs. However, despite my initial reservations, I was very surprised to find that I really enjoyed using this one, and I would go as far as to say that this product may have even convinced me to give emotibombs another chance in the near future.

Containing peppermint, fennel, tagetes and orange oil, this item is designed to wake you up, engulf your senses and leave you feeling refreshed and ready to face the day. From the get-go, it is the peppermint that leaves the strongest impression, and with the other ingredients intertwined, the smell of the mint reminded me quite a lot of the bitter, mint aroma you get in After Eight Mint chocolates. It's definitely a very icy-cold mint smell, and it's strong enough that I didn't even have to open the Lush box to realise what was inside.

Alongside this is a strong dose of the tagetes oil, which for those unfamiliar with the name, comes from a flower called a marigold, and one that is associated with the sunflower family. The herbaceous, floral oil has a sweet, almost citrus-like smell - but one that is wrapped in a blanket of floral undertones as you would expect. This, coupled with the orange oil, gives the emotibomb a slight fruity tinge, but nothing strong enough to compete with the mint.

To finish off, a generous dose of spicy fennel oil adds a revitalising kick of heat to the mix - engulfing your senses in the shower and helping to warm even the iciest of moods. Together, these ingredients create the strongest and most alluring-smelling emotibomb to date, and one I was happy to have bought six of from the kitchen.

How to use Too Drunk is simple. Get your shower running, let the hot water cascade down your body and pop one of these bad boys by your feet. Much like a bath bomb, the emotibomb will dissolve in the water, while the steam and heat will stimulate the scented oils and douse you senses with a continuous helping of fragrance. 

Although I was a little disappointed to find that the smell only stayed with me for a few minutes, that time was definitely more than enough to invigorate me back to life enough to see me through the day. I really appreciated how fresh and crisp the aroma was in the shower, and this would make an excellent accompaniment for those much-needed summer cool-downs.  

With Too Drunk, I could really smell the peppermint oil straight away, and it was strong enough to engulf my airways so that I felt almost as if I was breathing in a vapour rub or taking a hit from an extra strong mint. My nose cleared almost instantly, and if I had been suffering from a cold at the time, I can imagine it would have cleared out my passage ways and helped me to breathe a little easier.

On the negative side, the price is not that far off the price of a bath bomb, and although a ballistic can do all of the above, as well as offer a colourful and hopefully softening experience, an emotibomb doesn't have any where near as many attributes to its name. For this reason, while I did enjoy using Too Drunk, and I will continue to enjoy the handful I have left, it is not what I call an 'essential' item, and isn't one I'd purchase regularly if given the chance. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Perfume, Peppermint Oil, Tagetes Oil, Sweet Wild Orange Oil, Fennel Oil, *Limonene, Linalool.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £3.25 each.
2017 Price: £3.50 each.

Year Of Original Release:?

Foot Soak And Fancy Free Foot Soak

As a teacher, I am on my feet for the most part of the day. This means that they are the part of my body that takes the most flack. Whether it's during my walk to and from work every morning, while I am in the classroom teaching or throughout my heavy workouts that I complete when I get home, my feet are normally exhausted by the time Friday evening comes around. 

This is why I was really excited to try out Lush's new Foot Soak And Fancy Free - a solid foot soak designed to freshen up, soften up and perk up those overworked parts of your body. With only a handful of seemingly natural ingredients, I was intrigued to see just how well it worked on me. With my feet being very hard parts of my body to please, I was expecting a lot. 

Aside from the ingredients added to make the product fizz in the water, Irish Moss is the main ingredient used to improve the condition of your feet. Harvested from the coastlines of Europe, this form of seaweed is known for its amazing softening properties and works especially well for those with sensitive skin. My feet were only submerged in the soak for a few minutes before I could already feel the improvement it had made to my skin, and I put this heavily down to the inclusion of this miracle ingredient. 

As well as moss, FSAFF also contains a generous helping of fine sea salt - a component famous for how beneficial it is on the skin. Acting as a natural cleanser, this mineral also works on softening and moisturising the feet - hydrating and replenishing whilst removing unwanted dead skin without drying them out. 

This product also boasts a combination of chamomile, lavender and tagetes oil - the former two working on nourishing the feet without causing any irritation, while the former uses its natural antimicrobial abilities to remove unwanted bacteria and fungal issues - leaving the feet clean and clear of possible infections. While this soak won't heal ingrained issues, it will prevent the build up of bacteria that could lead to more serious issues. 

How it works is as follows: simply split the tablet in half and add it to a bowl of water. Take up your favourite chair, grab yourself a book and submerge your feet beneath the water. A good 30 minutes is a perfect amount of time to let your feet relax, and after this time I found that my feet felt incredible and very much improved. While my video shows the accumulation of debris on the surface, I can assure you that this sinks pretty quickly and you won't end up having to pick out the seaweed at the end. 

Not only did my feet feel soft and supple between my fingers, but the dryness around a couple of my toes had all but vanished once they had been towelled down. While the soak doesn't have a particularly strong smell - a very gentle jasmine and tagetes aroma if anything, I found that Foot Soak And Fancy Free had all but eradicated the slight odour that had been present before due to my heavy workout.  

This gave me the perfect opportunity to apply Go Faster Feet Foot Lotion and enjoy feet that felt and looked better than they have done so in years. While this is definitely not replacing my much-loved Volcano Foot Mask, this soak will be a product that I will buy regularly and use most weeks. 

For £3.95, this might seem like a rather expensive indulgence - especially given that it's the same price as one of Lush's regular bath bombs. However, you can halve it and get two uses out of it, and I'd even go as far as to say that you could probably third it and still get three top-quality soaks out of it, which is great value for money. This has now become one of my favourite products from the new flagship store and I only hope that they bring out more items like this in the near future.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Magnesium Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Irish Moss Powder (Chondrus crispus), Fine Sea Salt, Carrageenan Extract (Chondrus crispus), Chamomile Blue Oil (Matricaria chamomilla), Jasmine Absolute (Jasminum grandiflorum), French Lavender Oil (Lavandula angustifolia), Tagetes oil (Tagetes minuta), Amyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool, Perfume. 

Vegan?: Yes. 

2015 Price: £3.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2015.