Formula 239 Toothy Tabs

After the amount of attention I've given my teeth this month - reviewing nearly thirty brand new oral care products in the process - it's probably for the best that I saved the tabs designed for sensitive teeth until near the end. I have honestly lost count of the number of times I have brushed my teeth each and every single day over the last thirty days: sometimes up to four times which seems completely excessive.

Therefore, Formula 239 Toothy Tabs came at a pinnacle moment: when my teeth just wanted something simple so that they could take a break for a few days. No strange tastes; no foul aftertastes; and definitely not something that was going to heighten their sensitivity in any way.

In fact, what is interesting about these Liverpool exclusive toothy tabs is that feature the ingredient, neem, which is actually known for its natural teeth-protecting and oral caring properties. Scientists believe that it may help to maintain the alkaline level of your saliva, which prevents acidity from wearing away the enamel of your teeth. In addition, it is also effective against plaque formation and gum infections, which is an amazing way to keep your mouth healthy.

From the bottle, my nose first picked up the aniseed element to it, which was very fresh and slightly clinical-smelling. You could tell that this would also be the key component in the taste of these tabs as well, so if you're not a fan of aniseed or liquorice flavoured/scented products, I wouldn't venture into trying these at all. 

Alongside the aniseed, there is also the faint note of both tea tree and thyme. The former ingredient gives Formula 239 a very fresh, cooling smell about them,  whereas the latter ingredient adds a little herbal twist at the end. Both the lemon and the juniperberry oils add their own fruity notes, but they're both very light and almost slightly sour as opposed to citrusy. Ultimately, I would describe these tabs as being very light and crisp in scent and their fragrance definitely gives a good indication of how these are going to taste.

What I will say about the taste is that it is very refreshing and cooling, without there being any sign of a mint taste at all. All of the components come out and offer a very clean and clinical flavour, with the aniseed definitely being the strongest dynamic. However, the aniseed is not at all as 'spicy' as I was expecting it to be, and offers something a little more like fennel than liquorice.

To use them you simply pop a tab into your mouth, crunch down using your front teeth, wet your toothbrush and begin to brush your teeth as normal. The powdery mixture reacts with the water and the cream of tartar creates a foam that freshens your mouth and cleans away any stubborn pieces of food that may be lingering around. Unlike some of Lush's other tabs I have tried, this one melts almost immediately upon contact with moisture and you won't need to crunch these at all.

Once you've brushed your teeth with one of these tabs, your mouth feels super clean and really refreshed, and your teeth will feel amazingly smooth and shiny. In fact, out of all of the toothy tabs I have tried so far, these by far made one of the greatest impressions in my mouth afterwards. Furthermore, these beauties eradicated any bad smells or tastes that I had in my mouth after eating and my breath remained fresh and clean for hours afterwards.  

As with all of Lush's new toothy tabs, these particular tabs feature a number of ingredients that I was unsure about and had to research before trying them out for myself - not only to understand how and why Frostbite work but also to educate others about the benefits they possess. Firstly, these tabs feature  dicalcium phosphate anhydrous - the main component used to help supplement the body's calcium intake, not to mention preventing the build up of tartar in the mouth. Sorbitol is also used - a natural alternative to sugar which allows Lush to add flavour to this product without adding anything that'll rot your teeth; Lauroyl Sarcosine not only helps the product to foam up in the mouth, but is also used to remove unwanted bacteria that may cause problems in the future.

Despite these tabs appearing rather boring-looking when compared to the array of colourful, sparkly alternatives, Formula 239 were actually one of the better variations for me. They offered a pleasant taste that didn't burn my tongue or leave a horrible taste afterwards. Yet, equally they did clean my teeth and mouth very well and I did enjoy how refreshed my mouth was afterwards. 

These would definitely be ones that I would want to buy again and I can imagine that they'll probably become a favourite amongst the Lush community. Although I don't have sensitive teeth, so I cannot really comment on how these tabs help to support sensitive teeth when in use, both the ingredients list and the way they performed for me suggests that they'll work wonders in this area as well.

Quantitative Ingredients: Dicalcium Phosphate Anhydrous, Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream Of Tartar (Potassium bitartrate), Sorbitol, Lauroyl Sarcosine, Xylitol, Sicilian Lemon Oil, Aniseed Oil, Chamomile Blue Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Davana Oil, Juniperberry Oil, Thyme Oil, Stevia, Neem Powder, Limonene.

Vegan?: Yes. 

2019 Price: £6.50 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2019.

Figaro Figaro Bath Bomb

I have carried out very little research into most of the new bath bombs that Lush have brought out recently. This has allowed me the freedom to experience each and every one of them without any preconceptions about what's going to happen, and it has also opened up my world to one or two surprises as well. Such is the case with this little bath bomb.

Figaro Figaro is a little on the small size, hence the lower price tag than the regular sized bath bombs. But that doesn't mean, for one second, that the performance of this little gem is anything less than incredible. And if you're one for surprises, you may want to invest in one for yourself...as well as choosing not to read any further as those surprises will be quickly ruined.

Containing a blend of so many different oils, it was hard to imagine just what this bath bomb might smell like. However, Lush have described the key notes as being peppermint, sage, thyme and eucalyptus, and I can see why they have placed these four as the top components.

Before I start describing the scent, I feel that I should point out that the fragrance of this is very weak. In fact, it wasn't until I placed the bath bomb in the water that I really experienced the four key elements that I listed above. Much like Geode Bath Bomb, this one scores more points because of how it performs in the tub, not because of the scent at all.
  
To my nose, the herbal elements are the strongest notes, followed shortly after by a floral layer underneath. The sage, thyme and eucalyptus create a very delicate musky herbal scent, with the latter ingredient also adding an almost clinical scent that gives Figaro Figaro a 'clean' feel about it. 

Alongside this, the peppermint oil adds a touch of mint to the aroma, although it's very much an afterthought, and I wouldn't describe the aroma of this to be a minty scent at all. As I mentioned above, it took me placing this into the water to really pick out any of these notes for myself, and I would suggest that if you like robust fragrances you stay well away from this one. Ultimately, this bath bomb does hold its presence in the water, but it's not a very powerful one.

Aside from creating the fragrance, these key components are also amazing for your skin. Peppermint soothes and relieves muscle tightness, as well as relieving both physical and mental tension. The inclusion of thyme and sage is both antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, so will soothe any redness or itchiness, and restore the skin back to its relaxed self. Finally, eucalyptus is a great decongestant: helping you to breathe better, or indeed help to clear your airways when you have a cold.

What is impressive about Figaro Figaro is the way it performs in the tub. As soon as you place the bath bomb into the water, a vivid shade of both red and yellow burst from the little ballistic and quickly colours the water a deep shade of red. Don't judge this bath bomb by its outer shell, because the colour you get is so far removed from the gentle pastel shades you see to begin with.

Once the bath bomb had fully dissolved, a hidden note burst from the remnants and presented me with a few lines from the opera The Barber of Sevilla, which is the main inspiration behind this whole bomb. While these little touches aren't needed, I always appreciate the sentiments behind Lush's little creations, and I appreciated this surprise very much.

At the risk of saying the same thing as I did in my Geode Bath Bomb review, Figaro Figaro is all about the performance, and ultimately less about the fragrance it comes with. While it left my skin super moisturised and feeling wonderfully smooth, the scent wasn't present for very much of my whole experience, and I do like a bath bomb with a strong smell. This is one that I would definitely buy again, but also one that I would couple with another product to give me a stronger aroma in the water.    

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Aniseed Oil, Chamomile Blue Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, Fennel Oil, Lavender Oil, Brazilian Orange Oil, Peppermint Oil, Sage Oil, Thyme Oil, Water (Aqua), Gardenia Extract, Cream of Tartar, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Coco Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, *Limonene, Colour 47005, Colour 17200, Colour 59040, Colour 42090.

Vegan?: Yes.

2019 Price: £3.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2019.

coming soon!

Dirty Body Scrub

One of the reasons why I never write off a fragrance family - no matter how much I may dislike it in the beginning - is because there often comes a time when a particular product showcases the scent in a new light, and then I come to appreciate the smell a little more. One of those moments happened when I tried Lemon & Ginger Beer Bath Bomb out for the first time, and a second example is with this body scrub. 

While I have never disliked the Dirty smell, I have always found it to be a little bit too masculine for my tastebuds. Not only that but I find mint scents to be rather uninspiring, especially compared with the many wonderful fragrances that Lush have on offer at any given moment. Yet, there was something about the design and versatility of this recent release that grabbed my attention far more than any other product with this scent, and I have been well and truly won over by how wonderful it has worked on my skin.

Designed to look like an actual sponge scrub, this Lush Labs release is one of the many products that are currently being sold as exclusives in the Lush Liverpool store. Almost the same size as a playing card, with a thickness of just over 1cm, Dirty Body Scrub is a hefty block of shower goodness. In fact, you would probably hurt somebody quite considerably if this was accidentally dropped from a large height, onto their toes.

As you would imagine when reading the ingredients, the main thread of scent here is one of spearmint. While refreshing and cooling, I wouldn't describe the fragrance of this as being as potent as spearmint usually tends to be: instead offering something quite crisp and gentle, with a rich woody note of sandalwood underneath. Finally, there's also a note of thyme present as well, which gives Dirty a deep herbal element to it as well. In fact, it is this latter component that lingers on your skin for the longest time afterwards.

What is great about this scrub is that there are two sides to choose from, and either side offer something a little different, depending on what your intention is. The green half is packed full of sugar and cupuacu butter so that you can really give your skin an intense scrub, depending on how rough you like it (ooh er!) 

After using this a couple of times, I have found it easiest to step away from the running water and massage this in circular motions around the areas of the body that you wish to buffer. The sugar is rather scratchy and gets to work immediately at removing dirt and debris. However, I wouldn't describe this as being particularly coarse, and you're able to apply as much or as little pressure as you wish. 

On the other side, the yellow part contains ground rice for a much gentle scrub, and you can also use this side to moisturise your skin after you've exfoliated your whole body. I found that it was this side that tended to leave the Dirty fragrance on my skin, and it lingered for a short while afterwards as well. My skin felt super soft and smooth after using this, and I was able to carry this condition with me all throughout the day.

Despite its size and rigidity, Dirty Body Scrub will still dissolve very quickly if exposed to too much liquid. For this reason, I used it away from the running water and noticed that my bar has only the slightest of shrinking. Given its performance, I can imagine getting a good 8-10 uses out of this, and possibly even more if I decide to slice the bar into smaller, single-use pieces.

While you can never guarantee that England will ever really have a summer time, this brand new scrub does promise to offer you something cooling, relaxing and super exfoliating if the sun does decide to ever show its face. Although I'd still maintain that this is one of Lush's most masculine fragrances, there is something about this scrub that would appeal to most consumers, males or females.

Quantitative Ingredients: Granulated Sugar, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Cupuaçu Butter, Ground Rice, Sodium Bicarbonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Organic Shea Butter, Cream of Tartar, Potato Starch, Sunflower Wax, Sodium Coco Sulfate, Sunflower Oil, Perfume, Spearmint Oil, Menthol Crystals, Thyme Oil, Water (Aqua), Titanium Dioxide, Propylene Glycol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hydroxycitronellal, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 47005:1, Colour 42090:2, Colour 19140, Colour 42090.

Vegan?: Yes.

2019 Price: £6.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2019.

Silica Vegan Protein Shampoo

Gone are the days when I used to dye my hair on an almost bi-weekly basis. Although I would still love to try out different colours and styles, the truth is that my locks are extremely malnourished and brittle - all due to the lack of regard that I had for looking after them when I was much younger. While my hair is in a much better place these days, I still have to fight to keep it looking and feeling conditioned, so dyeing, styling or adding too many products, is a luxury I no longer have to play with.

Silica is one of four limited edition vegan protein shampoos that Lush released a couple of months ago in their Lush Labs. Containing a large helping of aquafaba, which is the protein-rich liquid that chickpeas reside in, this shampoo not only promises to strengthen and rebuild your hair, but also to work with those who dye their hair to keep in the colour and help it to last far longer than it usually would.

What is unique about these new shampoo bars is that they are incredibly light yet equally compact and easy to use. I found that Silica was incredibly easy to lather up, so I only needed to massage the bar across my head for a matter of seconds, before storing it somewhere safe to dry. This meant that after nearly two months of using this regularly, the bar has barely shrunk at all. I can really see one of these lasting a good 4-5 months, even with daily use, which makes it even longer-lasting than Lush's other regular solid shampoo bars.

Containing many key ingredients, it was definitely the spearmint that had the strongest impact in regards to the fragrance of this bar. To my nose, there was an element of Dirty Springwash going on with the smell of this - with the minty component combining with the gentle herbal touch of the thyme and lavender, and a note of lemon underneath, which adds a refreshing twist. 

The fragrance of this alone really helped to leave my hair (and senses) feeling clean and refreshed after using it, and while I haven't dyed my hair in years, I was definitely able to notice how the natural redness of my hair did appear to have been boosted a little more after using this. 

What was even more impressive about Silica was that when I rinsed the lather away a couple of minutes, I found that the foam was incredibly softening - almost slightly conditioner like - which meant that I didn't always need to use a conditioner afterwards to keep my hair looking and feeling nourished.

Featuring a large dosage of raspberry seed oil, Silica left my hair with a wonderful natural shine, and there was something about the way it looked that appeared far healthier than it has done in the past. The inclusion of both the horsetail herb and linseed oil supposedly helps to strengthen your hair as well, and I was definitely able to see this in the way that my hair felt when I was brushing it out afterwards.

While I cannot comment from experience on whether or not this protein shampoo holds the dye in people's hair for longer, comments and discussions that I have been a part of suggests that there are many happy customers using this now because of how it prolongs the time in between them dyeing their hair.

Ultimately, this is yet another great example of Lush hair care. While I don't think I would use this regularly - mostly due to the fact that it's not designed with my hair type in mind - it has shown me lots of merits that I think would appeal to many consumers across the globe. Those who dye their hair would benefit immensely from using this regularly, and the price and number of uses you can get out of it, makes it good value for money. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Coco Sulfate, Glyceryl Stearate, Aquafaba, Horsetail Herb Extract, Linseed Extract, Silken Tofu, Propylene Glycol, Perfume, Water (Aqua), Linseed oil, Ethyl Macadamiate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Arginine HCL Leucine, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Soya Lecithin, Guar Gum, Spearmint Oil, Tarragon Oil, Sandalwood Oil, Lavender Absolute, Neroli Oil, Thyme Absolute, Fresh Organic Lemon Juice, Cold Pressed Raspberry Seed Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Cetrimonium Chloride, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide, Alpha-Isomethyl, Ionone Hydroxycitronellal, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 17200, Colour 45380:3, Colour 77491, Colour 45430:1.

Vegan?: Yes.

2019 Price: £ each.

Year Of Original Release: 2019.

Tea Totaller Naked Facial Cleanser

At the risk of repeating myself, the few weeks I spent in Africa were tough on my skin. While I didn't go over there thinking about how the climate change would affect my face, it only took me a couple of days to realise that I had made the right choice bringing over an army of facial products to review. The dry heat, intense sun and dusty atmosphere meant that my pores were battling by the minute to retain their moisture, and I won't begin to describe just how much grime I removed from my face on an almost hourly basis.

Tea Totaller Naked Facial Cleanser was an absolute godsend during my time over there, not only because it was super compact and could be taken anywhere during the daytimes, but because the ingredients used to make it were just what my face needed, and continues to need even to this very day.

Firstly, this naked facial cleanser contains castor oil, which is the perfect ingredient if you're looking to add some much needed moisture to your face. Working with the skin's natural oil production, castor oil ensures that there's enough present to keep your skin supple, radiant and smooth, whilst removing an excess oils if the skin is too greasy or oily to begin with. This is not an ingredient that will try to mask the oils already there, so you don't have to worry about using this if you normally have a fairly oily complexion.

The inclusion of the tea tree, clary sage and rosemary oils not only gives this limited edition a clean and slightly herbal aroma, but also offers antibacterial properties that will help to cleanse your pores thoroughly and leave your complexion clear and smooth. There is something rather clinical yet natural about the scent of this naked cleanser, so when you wipe it away with warm water, it leaves your skin feeling much the same as a toner tab would.

What I will say about Tea Totaller is that this is perhaps one of the heavier naked facial cleansers from Lush. While it won't leave your skin feeling particularly sticky or clogged up afterwards, it does remain on the skin for a long while. If, like me, you wish to use this as an intense moisturiser instead, you'll find that there is still a thin film of oils on your skin two-three hours later. Having said that, if you have a very dry complexion like myself, you'll appreciate just how vibrant and pert your face will feel if you choose to keep this on longer than recommended.

The idea behind each of the naked facial cleansers is that you massage the disc across your skin; leave it on for a few minutes; and then wipe away the product with a slightly damp cloth or cotton wool pad. The oils and butters work at not only nourishing your complexion a little, but they’ve been specifically designed to give your face a gentle cleanse whenever you feel the need to refresh your face.

Tea Totaller definitely left my skin feeling moisturised, and my face felt really smooth to the touch. Usually in the winter months I find that my face develops a few dry patches that I need to moisturise daily. However, this cleanser has stopped this from happening so far. In regards to Africa, this facial cleanser helped me to remove so much grime from my pores after a long day out in the dust and heat. I could really feel how much better my complexion felt after using this each evening, and I really feel as if this product stopped me from having an outbreak of spots. 

Overall, I would definitely use this as a regular product - perhaps alongside Sleepy Face as they are both very calming for the skin, without being too heavy or over-bearing on scent. This particular disc has lasted me almost three weeks in Africa, and then another three in England, and I would probably estimate that it's about half the size it was to start with. This makes it good value for money in my eyes, and one that I hope will remain a regular item in the near future.

Quantitative Ingredients: Organic Illipe Butter, Safflower Oil, Witch Hazel Extract, Sunflower Wax, Japan Wax, Lemongrass Oil, Rosemary Oil, Sage Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Thyme Oil, Benzoin Resinoid, Hand Harvested Sea Salt, *Citral, *Limonene. 

Vegan?: Yes.

2018 Price: £4.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2018.   

Melt between the fingers before massaging over the skin or simply glide the bar over the face, then wipe away with a damp face cloth. As a bonus, adding water activates a toning phase composed of witch hazel, spring water, and hand-harvested sea salt to clarify and lightly hydrate.

Dirty Springwash Naked Shower Gel

Unlike a large percentage of Lush fans, I managed to grab one of these when they made a fleeting appearance in the Lush Kitchen last year. As part of a two week 'naked offering' Lush showcased many of their regular line shower gels in naked form - a sign of things to come by the looks of things.

As I have no doubt said before in many of my Dirty-scented product reviews, this is not a fragrance I get excited about at all. While I have no issues with mint scented cosmetics, there are very few that make much of an impression on me, which is why it's taken me close to a year to finally publish a review of a product that I finished many months ago. 

Although my pictures depict a pale blue bottle with bobbles and a wonky design, I can safely say that Lush have improved the design quite a bit with their Father's Day release. The newer version is much darker in colour; far smoother to look at and touch; and appears to have a slightly stronger scent as well, which will be a positive for Dirty fans.

Sharing its scent with the Dirty Springwash range, this is definitely a fragrance for those who prefer the slightly more masculine aromas, which makes it very fitting for Father's Day. For those unfamiliar with the scent, this mint-dominated soap is both refreshing and surprisingly light. The strong thread of spearmint reminds me of freshly brushed teeth, while the menthol crystals adds an extra layer to the aroma that is rather cooling, especially during the hotter months of the year. Unlike Christingle, I didn't feel the effects of the menthol crystals on my skin at all - it was just within the aroma that I felt it had an impact.

Alongside the mint, there is also a gentle herbal note from the thyme oil. This adds a slightly astringent note to the soap, which although doesn't offer the same level of fragrance as the spearmint, does make the smell of this different from the typical mint-smelling cosmetics you find in other stores. You can tell that the thyme is present, but it's not overbearing.

When compared to both Moustachio Soap and Dirty Springwash Shower Gel, I found that this shower gel was a little creamier in fragrance: I felt as if the mint element was a little softer on the senses, and this could work as an advantage for those who are not so keen on harsh, very clinical smelling mints.

As with all of Lush's naked shower gels, the company describe them as having double the concentration of liquid shower gels, so they can supposedly last twice as long when compared to the liquid counterparts. Now whether this original bottle was not formulated as well as the more recent update, or whether I didn't store it as successfully as I should have done, but I found that this naked shower gel lasted maybe a week or two longer than a 250g bottle of Lush shower gel. In fact, I found that the initial few weeks or using this saw it shrunk an awful lot, before it seemed to slow down a little after this. When compared to some of Lush's other naked shower gels, I felt as if this format was not as successful, although this might not be a reflection on the recently re-released version for Father's Day.

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What was impressive about Dirty Springwash was that the lather was thick and creamy, and I enjoy slathering it all over my body. In addition, I found that the note of thyme became a little more prominent on my skin as well, which gave this naked version a special twist when in use. Afterwards, my skin felt as soft as I would expect from any of Lush's shower gels (solid and liquid) and a light mint scent lingered around for a short while - which was great directly before going to bed as it made me feel really clean.

Ultimately, this was never going to be a product I would rave about: I don't even enjoy the liquid version all that much, and long time followers will know how much passion I have for my shower gels. If you appreciate the Dirty range, I would suggest that you get one to compare the experience yourself; you might enjoy the slight variation in scent compared to the other Dirty range. However, if you're not overly fussed with this fragrance, I would give it a miss.   

Quantitative Ingredients: Propylene, Glycol, Water (Aqua), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Sodium Stearate, Lauryl Betaine, Perfume, Guar Gum, Spearmint Oil, Menthol Crystals, Thyme Oil, Sodium Bicarbonate, Alpha-Isomethyl ionone, Hydroxycitronella,l *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 42090.

Vegan?: Yes.

2018 Price: £9.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:

Dirty Body Spray

Dirty Hair Cream

Dirty Liquid Perfume

Dirty Massage Bar
Dirty Soap
Dirty Solid Perfume
Dirty Springwash Naked Shower Gel
Dirty Springwash Shower Gel
Dirty Toothy Tabs

Moustachio Soap

Moustachio Soap

It seems as if Lush have soaps coming out of every one of their crevices right now, which isn't exactly an exciting prospect for me. As a self-proclaimed lover of shower gels, soaps just simply do nothing for me - even if they do offer some of the greatest scents that Lush have ever created.

When Moustachio first made itself known, I groaned a little at the prospect of having to choose between three colours: it's hard work having to select which products to buy when you have very little money but your heart wants to picture all three of the designs for your reviews. However, given its name I didn't really feel like I had much of choice between the three. 

Sharing its scent with the Dirty Springwash range, this is definitely a fragrance for those who prefer the slightly more masculine aromas, which makes it very fitting for Father's Day. My only grouch about the release of this is that it wasn't so long ago that Dirty Soap was a regular feature in stores, so it didn't excite me all that much to see it there again. Furthermore, the fact that you can buy the shower gel at any time of the year meant that this limited edition wasn't a product that inspired me to rush out and buy it straight away.

While it is a fun, quirky design for people to buy their loved ones, regular Lush fans would probably have refrained from purchasing any because it doesn't really offer anything new aside from a a charcoal moustache - especially as a naked shower gel was also released to coincide with the Father's Day range as well.

For those unfamiliar with the scent, this mint-dominated soap is both refreshing and surprisingly light. The strong thread of spearmint reminds me of freshly brushed teeth, while the menthol crystals adds an extra layer to the aroma that is rather cooling, especially during the hotter months of the year. Unlike Christingle, I didn't feel the effects of the menthol crystals on my skin at all - it was just within the aroma that I felt it had an impact.

Alongside the mint, there is also a gentle herbal note from the thyme oil. This adds a slightly astringent note to the soap, which although doesn't offer the same level of fragrance as the spearmint, does make the smell of this different from the typical mint-smelling cosmetics you find in other stores. You can tell that the thyme is present, but it's not overbearing.

What does set Moustachio apart from the original soap, and indeed the shower gels, is that the black design on top is made out of charcoal. As you begin to use the soap, small grains of charcoal will appear and add a gentle exfoliation while you're massaging the bar across your skin. As the black design features throughout the entire piece of soap, this scrub-like effect will work up until the soap is too small to even hold in your hand. It's also worth noting that although charcoal can cause a mess because of how dark it is, I didn't find that soap stained myself or my bathroom at all, and it dries quick enough so that you wont have any stains left behind afterwards.

Unfortunately, I did find that this limited edition soap did shrink far quicker than I would have liked, and with daily use I can see this lasting under six weeks. While I don't expect many of my soaps to surpass the two month mark, this one definitely gave me less uses than other regular variations. The new palm oil free base has definitely got something to do with this.

Having said that, Moustachio did leave a gentle scent on my skin for a good hour after my showers, and if I was inclined to have a hand soap in my house, I would say this is a great choice to have as your skin does feel really really clean after use.

While my skin wasn't as parched as some soaps can leave it, I did need to moisturise after using this soap, and I didn't find that my skin felt or looked as radiant as I find some soaps can offer me. For this reason, I ended up using this in the bath as opposed to the shower so that I could retain the moisture in my skin whilst using this. 

Overall, this is not as long-lasting as its original sibling, and the scent isn't exciting enough for me to want to buy it again. As a novelty for those who enjoy the scent, I'm sure this went down really well. But as a regular product, this is not something I'm particularly interested in purchasing again.

Quantitative Ingredients: Fresh Mint Infusion, Propylene Glycol, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Water (Aqua), Organic Castor Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Perfume, Spearmint Oil, Menthol Crystals, Thyme Oil, Powdered Charcoal, Glycerine, Titanium Dioxide, Citric Acid, Sodium Bicarbonate, Alpha-Isomethyl ionone, Hydroxycitronellal, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 42090, Colour 14700, Colour 45410, Colour 17200, Colour 45350.

Vegan?: Yes.

2018 Price: £5.95 for 120g.

Year Of Original Release: 2018.

Scent Family:

Dirty Body Spray

Dirty Hair Cream

Dirty Liquid Perfume

Dirty Massage Bar
Dirty Soap
Dirty Solid Perfume
Dirty Springwash Naked Shower Gel
Dirty Springwash Shower Gel
Dirty Toothy Tabs
Moustachio Soap

Oregano Naked Solid Liquid Soap

I’ll be honest when I say that I was slightly confused when Lush decided to release one of two naked hand soaps as part of their ‘naked experience’ in the Lush Kitchen a couple of months ago. My initial thought was: aren’t soaps naturally naked anyway? And aside from the cute bottle-shaped designs that they both came as, there was nothing that suggested either was any different from the regular soaps that Lush have been producing for years.

At the same time, I know that the company don’t tend to release things without putting a lot of thought and effort into each and every product - which is why I knew I’d have to delve in deeper and discover what sets this apart from the many blocks of normal soap that laden their shelves.

Weighing in at just over 100g, Oregano Naked Solid Liquid Soap will set you back £6.95, which initially sounds rather expensive for a bar of soap. Now a pound more expensive than the first time this showed up in the Lush Kitchen, this limited edition has been tried and tested over the last few months, and should supposedly work a lot better than the first block I received mid-way through last year.

Unfortunately, after carrying out lot of research and getting confused by what set this apart from regular soaps, I discovered that the name 'naked liquid solid' was actually more of a joke on Lush's part. There is actually nothing that sets this apart from a regular soap aside from the name and the shape, so I feel as if Lush could have considered a better marketing technique than the one they eventually went for. 

Having said this, both of the naked solid liquid soaps that I have tried have heeded some impressive results, and I have found that they do actually work really well - sometimes better than the average Lush soap bar. Had Lush simply sold these as environmentally friendly alternatives to liquid soap, with their cute designs and unique smells, I feel as if they would have been a lot better received.

As it shares its scent with the retro 13 Unlucky For Dirt Soap, which wasn't ever made vegan, I was rather excited to try this one out for myself. The promise of such a unique and very herbal fragrance also added to the allure of this soap. However, it was the promise of a product with a high level of anti-microbial properties that excited me the most. 

As someone who works with children, I am always on the lookout for a gentle soap that prevents the spread of germs within my classroom. As I refuse to use bottled variations, I have often had to rely on regular soaps to keep things clean - although I've never felt that these have been particularly effective at eradicating germs as much as I would like. Oregano has since changed all of that, and I hope that this soap makes an appearance again so I can make it a permanent feature in my place of work.    

Containing oregano, rose and geranium oils, as well as fresh oregano, thyme and rosemary, this soap is as herbal as you can imagine. While the fragrance is a gentle one, it is ultimately the latter components that dominate the smell - offering a light and slightly floral herbal smell. The oregano is the key scent here, smelling very much like the dried variation you would use to season your meals with - while both the rosemary and the thyme thicken the herbal aroma and lace their own savoury notes around the oregano to strengthen the fragrance.

Alongside this, the rose and geranium oils add a delicate floral layer to the soap which gives Oregano a mild sweetness to the mix. This prevents the soap from being too harsh on the senses, and leaves a lovely mixture of sweet and herbal on the skin after use. 

As a couple of people have mentioned in their descriptions, this combination of dry herbal and floral means that Oregano Naked Solid Liquid Soap reminds me a little of Oh La La Soap, which just happens to be one of my favourite soaps from Lush. Although they don't share the same scent, the combination of floral and herbal means that they both share similarities reminiscent of each other. 

Not only do the main ingredients help to create a very interesting and wonderful smell, but all of the herbs featured in this soap have also been chosen because of their ability to prevent (or reduce) the growth of bacteria on the surfaces of the skin. This means that Oregano Soap is specifically designed to work on reducing the spread of bacteria after working with foods and/or going to the bathroom.

The inclusion of the rose and geranium help to clean and soften the skin alongside this, while the former ingredient also soothes any irritation and reduces redness that some people can suffer from through overuse and overworking of the hands. The inclusion of the cider vinegar then works on toning and brightening the skin - making this an all-round effective soap.

What I appreciated about this soap was the fact that Oregano produced a thick, oily lather from the very first use. Normally some soaps can be a little stubborn to begin with, or they create a foam that doesn't appear to much in the way of moisturising your hands whilst cleaning. However, this limited edition coated my skin immediately and I could feel it making a difference to my skin right away. 

After a few uses, I also found that the consistency of the soap changed a little, and the small grains of herbs inside began to produce something of a coarse texture to exfoliate with. While I wouldn't rely on this as a regular scrub, the gentle scratching from the herbs meant that my hands felt even cleaner, and smooth to the touch as well.    

I have only two qualms with this product. Firstly, the fact that this comes as a solid piece means that you have to touch it during use. After being educated on the benefits of using a movement-activtated machine in public toilets, I wonder how Lush are able to get around that and justify how the spread of germs would be prevented with something that needs to be touched by anyone that wishes to wash their hands.

Secondly, the newly-formulated base means that Oregano shrunk a lot quicker than I would have liked, and while some hand soaps would have lasted me over six months in my dish, this one barely made it past four months. However, I definitely think you can prolong the life of this by ensuring that you pat it dry after every use. Having said that, this would prove incredibly annoying to any guests or family members who use this regularly after using the toilet: it's just not very practical.

Overall, Oregano is a good concept for a hand soap, although I would probably use it as more of a regular soap in the shower as I don't tend to use hand soaps at home. As it contains antimicrobial properties, as well as ingredients that soothe irritated skin, this would work well for those of you who have sensitive skin and want something a little more gentle to use on your body. Having said that, I would think twice about using this daily as I can imagine it might be a little intense.

This is definitely a soap I would buy again - if only for its unique smell and cute design that would inspire intrigue and conversation from those unfamiliar with the concept of naked products. Having said that, I think it is a little overpriced for what it is and how long it lasts when compared to other liquid variations, and so I would use it as more of a luxury item than a regular purchase.

Quantitative Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Organic Castor Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Perfume, Cider vinegar, Oregano, Oregano Oil, Rose Absolute, Geranium Oil, Rosemary, Thyme, Sage, Citric Acid, Cornstarch, Sodium Bicarbonate, Citronellol, Geraniol, *Limonene, Colour 42090, Colour 42090:2.

Vegan?: Yes.

2018 Price: £6.95 for 135g.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
13 (Unlucky For Dirt) Soap (non vegan)

Oregano Naked Solid Liquid Soap