Carrot Cake Lip Scrub

When I was little, carrot cake was my favourite dessert on the entire planet. Every birthday I would request that my parents buy me a pre-made cake to indulge in, and as nobody else in my family liked it, I would eat every single indulgent mouthful for myself - falling into a sugar coma and knowing that if I was to die at that very moment in time, I could live with the gluttony that brought me there.

As I haven't ever found myself in receipt of a vegan carrot cake yet, I haven't had the pleasure of enjoying my favourite cake in almost fourteen years. Therefore, the idea of Lush's Carrot Cake Lip Scrub sounded truly exquisite, and I couldn't wait to slather the product all over my parched lips.

As with all of Lush's lips scrubs, this one is made from a base of caster sugar, which is what gives this limited edition its exfoliating properties, and jojoba oil, which helps to moisturise the skin. As you can see from the ingredients list, there rest of the components reads very much like a cake, and the smell and taste of this seasonal special replicates this sentiment as well.


Containing orange oil, carob resinoid and cinnamon powder, the smell of this lip scrub is a rich, almost maple syrup-like aroma with a gentle note of the orange intertwined with a dry, spicy helping of cinnamon. The carob resinoid brings a delicate hint of chocolate, but it's more like the dry, bitter version as opposed to the creamy chocolate you may be imagining.

On the tongue, Carrot Cake tastes mostly of the orange oil with a delicate lace of cinnamon and carob. Having said that, the carob, or possible the fenugreek, leaves a bitter aftertaste which I didn't particularly appreciate. In fact, this bitterness spoiled my experience with this lip scrub, and I found myself not wanting to lick my lips after using it across my mouth.

Having said that, the product did do a good job at making my lips feel beautifully soft and moisturised, and it also removed the dead and dried skin that has accumulated at the corners of my mouth. My lips felt instantly better after a single use, and after using this for a couple of days in a row, the consistency of my lips improved dramatically.

To make the most of Carrot Cake Lip Scrub, I would recommend that you apply your favourite lip balm afterwards as this will continue to work that moisture into the skin and give you kissably-soft lips. In all honesty, I was rather surprised at how quickly the condition of my lips improved from a product so simple and natural, and I've vowed to continue using this for the foreseeable future.

While this small pot has the hefty price tag of £6.50, I believe that it is fantastic value for money because it can easily last for 6+ months, depending on how often your apply it. I recommend that you try it out for yourself, even if the aftertaste is not particularly desirable. It does it's job well and at least has a wonderful smell to enjoy when you're feeling peckish.

Quantitative Ingredients: Caster Sugar, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Ground Almonds, Organic Shea Butter, Walnut Oil, Brazilian Orange Oil, Ginger Oleoresin, Carob Resinoid, Fenugreek Absolute, Fine Sea Salt, Cold Pressed Carrot Seed Oil, Orange Peel Wax, Toasted Hazelnut Oil, Fair Trade Organic Cinnamon Powder, Paprika Oleoresin, *Benzyl Alcohol, *Benzyl Benzoate, Cinnamal, *Citral, *Limonene, *Linalool, Flavour.

Vegan?: Yes.

2019 Price: £6.50 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2019.

Scrumptious Shower Smoothie

It's not very often that I don't recognise a product that appears on the Lush Kitchen menu. In fact, since the introduction of the Kitchen some three years ago, there have only ever been two items that have stumped me into having to carry out a little research. The first was Aqua Mirabilis Underwater Body Butter, of which I didn't even realise there were two variations of the same product, and the second was this recent release.

Scrumptious Shower Smoothie reads exactly as it means to go on. While the company are known for using witty puns to name their products, and using tongue-in-cheek taglines to entice their customers, this one is as literal as you can get. At first glance, it could even be accused of being a little presumptuous, and has a lot to live up to given the bold statement that is its name. Thankfully, Lush are fully aware of how to make something both smell and behave scrumptiously, and I cannot stress how amazing this product is.

First released over seventeen years ago, this shower smoothie has been described as being both like a 'blueberry parfait' and a fruit salad. Boasting a myriad of different fruity ingredients, it is no wonder that the outcome is a product that completely blew my mind upon first sniff, and one that I continue to use on an almost daily basis.

With a base made from a blueberry infusion, and a combination of fresh orange juice, mashed bananas, and lemon and lime oil making up the other key components, this shower smoothie smells like the world's greatest desert. From the tub I could immediately smell both the bananas and the blueberries - a pairing that produces a rich, creamy fruity smell, and reminds me a little of homemade ice cream. It's by no means an overly powerful smell, but it's strong enough that you'll be hard-pressed not to want to stick a spoon in the tub and shove a mountain of the smoothie into your mouth. Disclaimer: I should probably add that curiosity got the better of me and I did attempt to eat some, which only heeded disappointing results.

Both the lime and the lemon oils are also present in the aroma of this smoothie. However, there isn't any citrus notes to observe here; it's strictly a fruity smell, and one that is interestingly sweet without being what I would describe as uplifting or zesty in any way. Strangely, you almost get a note of raspberry bubblegum when you smell this in the pot - a factor that just made me fall in love with this product even more.

For those unsure what a shower smoothie is, Scrumptious is like a soap that has been pulverised into a liquid, and had extra oils and butters added to make it more moisturising for the skin. You use it in the same way you would a shower gel - lathering it across your body and then washing it away under running water. 

Impressively, I found that this particular smoothie foamed up a lot better than most of the other ones I have tried from Lush. Usually, I find that they coat the skin but don't work in the same way that both a soap or a shower gel would be expected to do. However, Scrumptious Shower Smoothie lathers up a treat and you need very little to clean your whole body with. For this reason, I would say that this is one of the better valued variations, and lasts a lot longer than most of its siblings. Judging by how much I have used so far, I would say that you could easily get a good 20+ full body washes out, and even more you're only using it on specific areas.     

As if the fragrance wasn't enough to make me fall in love with this product to begin with, I was amazed to find that I could smell it on my skin for a good couple of hours after I had towelled myself down. Moreover, I found that if I used this before I went to bed, the smell of fresh blueberries and banana would still be on my pillow the next morning, which was a welcoming reward first thing in the morning.

I should point out that I would refrain from using this on areas that have recently been shaved, or use this as an alternative to shaving foam, as I found that it irritated my pores and caused them to either sting a little, or come out in a rash for a short white after bathing. However, this rule applies to most of Lush's soap-based products, so I wouldn't expect anything different with this one.

Overall, this is by far my favourite shower smoothie for Lush, and its name really does describe how this product smells and works in the shower. While my skin didn't feel as moisturised as a shower gel would make it, it was definitely a step up from a normal piece of soap, and I feel a smoothness once I had towelled myself down.

Ultimately, I really hope that the Lush Kitchen choose to bring this back in the near future because I'm getting dangerously close to finishing my first tub, and the idea of not having this as a permanent fixture in my bathroom, is a little disheartening.

Quantitative Ingredients: Blueberry Infusion, Walnut Oil, Glycerine, Vegetable Soap, Fresh Orange Juice, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, Fresh Banana, Lime Oil, Lemon Oil, Methyl Paraben, Propyl Paraben.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £10.50 for 250g.

Year Of Original Release: 1998.

    

T For Toes Foot Powder

My feet are probably the only part of my body that is not as pampered and smelling great as every other part of me, no matter how hard I try to maintain them. I use Volcano once a fortnight and a vegan pumice stone daily to smoothen out my heels and banish dried skin. Yet, they still look like two little sad monkeys at the end of the day. Given that they're one of the most overworked parts of the human anatomy, I can recognise why they demand a lot of up-keep, but it would be nice to know I could get my 'plates of meat' out in public and not have people throw themselves off of buildings in disgust.

T For Toes has become a godsend for me because I have not found another product in existence that does what this simple dusting powder has done for me and my feet. Who knew that a handful of ingredients could have such a dramatic but positive effect on someone's disposition?

This product is described as a deodorising powder that absorbs sweat or moisture and banishes away the microbes that causes nasty smells. Tea tree is an antibacterial, antifungual and antiseptic essential oil that gives this powder it's distinctive smell - a warm, spicy, fresh grassy aroma. It helps to heal cuts and small wounds and stops the spread of bacteria; those of you who have warts, bunions or corns are safe in the knowledge that using this will not spread the bacteria across your feet.

T Is For Toes also features kaolin - a type of mud that helps to absorb excess moisture and keep your feet as dry and refreshed as they can be; lime oil gives the powder a pleasant, uplifting fragrance that helps to mask the stronger, more stubborn odours. Lush have also included astringent herbs such as horsetail and broom to control sweating when the powder is being worn. Together they give off a clean, citrusy, almost sterilised sort of smell. It's not something you'd want to use as a perfume but it does it's job remarkably well, and for me, that's all that matters. 

To use, you can either apply this directly to your feet after a shower, when your feet are completely dry. Or you can sprinkle this into your shoes to help soak up any moisturise after wear or just to help deodorise well-worn trainers that have a bit of a pong to them. 

As my job requires me to move around a lot and be on my feet for the most part of the day, I like to sprinkle this powder in my shoes when I get home. I then reapply it to both my feet and my shoes the next day, just to keep on top of those nasty smells that can sometimes appear. At first I was a little worried that I'd damage my shoes as the powder does tend to leave it's mark inside. However, this fades and then disappears very quickly and leaves no trace that it was even there in the first place. 

Since I began using this about six months ago, I have not once noticed any pesky smells or dampness in the shoes that I am wearing and the condition of my feet has improved immensely. They're now soft to the touch, without any dry skin or blemishes, and I feel confident that I could wear open-toed shoes in the summer without any worries. 

This product comes in very handy and is easy to carry with you in a bag or purse. It's super easy to apply at any time, whether you're out or about or in the office. Priced at £4.45 for a 60g bottle, I think this is a very reasonable amount for such a life-changing product. This small bottle lasts me upwards of 4-5 months, although I should point out that I use this quite excessively so you may find it lasts you a lot longer.

T For Toes Dusting Powder is a staple product in my household and will continue to be so for a very long time. Pick it up for yourself and enjoy the freedom of having beautiful feet all year round. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Kaolin, Sodium Bicarbonate, Powdered Horsetail Herb, Powdered Walnut Leaf, Powdered Broom Tops, Tea Tree Oil, Lime Oil, Citral, Geraniol, Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £4.75 for 60g.

13 Rabbits Bath Melt

Way back when I would spend an embarrassing amount of money on rare Lush goodies on eBay, I happened upon a bottle of something called 13 Rabbits Shower Gel. At the time, I didn't know anything about it other than the fact that it was like gold dust to find. So I snapped it up and waited to see what it would be like upon arrival. 

While the shower gel was rather runny and a little past it's best, it got me intrigued about the interesting concoction of chocolate and ginger - not a combination that I would usually be interested in, but something that I grew to appreciate after using the shower gel.

When Lush released 13 Rabbits Bath Melt in the kitchen, I knew the moment had come for me to re-live the strange but intriguing aroma. I couldn't wait to snap up a handful of these rare beauties and bathe in a tub of spicy, chocolately liquid gold. 

Made from a combination of four essential oils; walnut, peanut, ginger and clove bud, this bath melt is packed with enough moisturise to reenergise your skin and leave it feeling beautifully silky soft. Peanuts are known for being packed full of protein, and the inclusion of the oil in this product helps to heal and protect the skin; the ginger oil, aside from giving the melt a spicy kick, is an astringent and antiseptic ingredient that helps to relax, detox and cleanse your body and mind - using it's warming properties to aid circulation and heat up those frost-bitten body parts. 

13 Rabbits is also made from a base of cocoa butter, which is a powerhouse of an ingredient - known for improving the look and feel of your skin without stripping your body of it's natural oils. It reacts to the temperature of the water, melting and depositing a layer of oil that softens, moisturises and conditions the skin, leaving it feeling supple and smooth to the touch.

While the latter ingredient is most prominent in this product, it is the cocoa powder along with the ginger oil and cinnamon stick and clove infusion, that gives this bath melt it's unique and rather decadent fragrance. A first sniff reveals a slightly bitter chocolately scent - one that is immediately followed by a strong note of ginger. Although I would normally shy away from anything that has such a dominant ginger smell, this bath melt has a good balance of ingredients to stop the herb being too overwhelming. The cinnamon and clove infusion sit slightly behind the above two scents and compliment them nicely, while the peanut and walnut oils round the aroma off with a deliciously nutty fragrance. 

In the bath, the bath melt dissolves slowly - releasing waves of thick brown oils that float across the surface of the tub. It takes about two minutes for 13 Rabbits to melt completely, and what you are left with is a blanket of oils and butters to indulge yourself in. 

Unfortunately, before I had even tested one of these out, I knew that it wouldn't be scoring high for presentation in the bath. The product isn't the most exciting of colours to bathe in, and the puddles of brown that decorate the water and the edges of the tub, isn't all that attractive or appealing. However, once you are in and under the water, you'll appreciate how quickly the bath melt gets to work - softening and moisturising your skin and leaving you feeling really relaxed and pampered. 

While the bath melt did leave smears of oil up the side of the tub, these were very easy to wipe away and didn't stain the sides at all. Furthermore, the oils didn't taint my skin or leave me feeling at all dirty - something I was expecting it to do. Unfortunately, while it worked wonders on my skin, the scent didn't linger for long and within 20-30 minutes I could no longer detect it at all. 

Although I used an entire bar, I would say that this could easily be divided into two and used alongside a bubble bar or bath bomb to get more use out of it. Using something like Ma Bar or Butterball as well as 13 Rabbits would mean that you'd get all of the bath melt's healing properties, while getting something a little stronger in scent as well. 

Although I have given this a 4 out of 6, this is one of those products that was close to scraping a five. The only aspect of this that put me off awarding it higher, was the unappealing bath it created. Having said this, I am thankful for how amazing my skin felt after sharing a bath with the product and I urge you to try it out for yourself, if you get the chance. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Laureth 4, Walnut Oil, Peanut Oil, Cinnamon Stick and Clove Infusion, Perfume, Cocoa Powder, Ginger Oil, Clove Bud Oil, Eugenol.

Vegan?: Yes.

2014 Price: £3.95 each.
2015 Price: £3.95 each

Scent Family:
13 Rabbits Bath Melt
13 Rabbits Shower Gel

More Than Mortal Body Scrub

With every new seasonal release as with every new retro range, you can guarantee that Lush will shower you with limited edition soaps, bath bombs, jellies and gels. However, it is very rare that they'll offer you anything aside from the typical shower products. So when I saw that Lush were bringing out a body scrub, I was very excited to get my hands on some and test it out. 

Although marketed as a new product, More Than Mortal is actually an old favourite, first released way back in 2006, designed to 'smooth' and 'polish' every skin type with it's grain-like consistency and exfoliating properties. With an updated and improved recipe, this body scrub is a perfect product to use in the upcoming summer months. 

In the tub, this product smells very much like orange squash - it's a sweet, fresh citrus smell that has elements of the lime, grapefruit, pineapple and apricot in it. However, once this body scrub comes into contact with hot water, it's fragrance expands out a bit and you begin to pick out different elements that weren't at the forefront before. 

It was during use that I was able to appreciate both the lavender and anise elements of the product. Although very subtle, I was able to detect both whilst I was applying this scrub to my body, which just gave More Than Mortal that extra aromatic layer. 

More importantly, the ground walnut and almonds really help to give this body scrub a gritty consistency, which alongside the kaolin, makes it an excellent exfoliator without it being at all oily or heavy on the skin. When I say gritty, I don't mean it's similar to Sandstone Soap, which uses actual sand to give it that rough texture. Nor does this scrub compare to Rub Rub Rub, which uses salt to harness that gritty consistency. I'd say More Than Mortal is not that far off Ocean Salt, albeit slightly drier and better smelling. 

Unlike the soap and the salt scrub, More Than Mortal is really easy to apply. Simply scoop small amounts from the tub and lather across the areas of skin you wish to, massaging in a circular motion to help exfoliate and moisturise the skin. The paste-like scrub is wonderfully light on the skin and despite it's non-greasy consistency, creates a slightly oily barrier on the skin. 

When you rinse it away, you skin is left beautifully soft, almost glowing with vibrancy. There is also a very subtle hint of almond and pineapple left on the surface, which is lovely. My skin remained really smooth and moisturised all day and into the next, which means it has a longevity far greater than some of Lush's other scrubs. 

For just under £9, this is a rather expensive buy. Having used it across my entire body, I would estimate that you'd get 3-4 uses out of a single tub this way, so it's not something you could use daily. Furthermore, More Than Mortal has a short shelf life, similar to that of Lush's fresh face masks, so it's not something you'd want to stock up with either. 

I was really impressed with this - it's feels, smells and looks really fresh and works perfectly with my skin type. Additionally, it possesses a lovely natural fruity fragrance that is strong enough to leave it's mark, but not too potent to overpower the user. My skin felt really beautiful after initial use; silky soft without feeling or looking greasy. 

Ultimately, I hope that this remains a regular product in Lush's range as I'd definitely invest in another pot in the near future. The only reason that I didn't award this scrub a full six marks, is due to it's price; for a short-life product, and one that only has a few uses, it is a little overpriced.     

Quantitative Ingredients: Kaolin, Star Anise and Lime Tree Flower Infusion (lllicium verum, Tilea europea), Fresh Pineapple (Ananas comosus), Ground Walnut Shell (Juglans Regia), Apricot Kernel Oil (Prunus armeniaca), Glycerine, Ground Almonds (Prunus dulcis), Grapefruit Oil (Citrus paradisi), Lavender Oil (Lavandula angustifolia), Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £6.95 for 40g.

2017 Price: £6.95 for 40g.

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EggSnog Lip Balm

I've never tasted egg nog in my life, and to be honest, just the thought of it makes me feel a little nauseous. For those unfamiliar with the traditional beverage, eggnog typically consists of milk, sugar, raw eggs, and spices, usually nutmeg. Sometimes it also includes cream to make a richer and thicker concoction and some modern eggnogs even add gelatine to replicate the consistency. 

The drink pretty much epitomises my idea of hell, so when I initially heard that Lush were bringing Eggsnog back for a limited release, I can't say I was particularly excited by it. However, given that the lip balm is advertised as vegan, and given that I have a compulsion to try everything that Lush bring out, I found myself buying a couple of these on release day. 

To say I was pleasantly surprised by the lip balm, is an understatement - I was bowled over. For starters, it smells nothing like the egg nog I've seen being dished out at various family houses. As opposed to the sickly, milky scent that I was expecting, I instead found that Eggsnog smells much more festive and sugary than the drink it's trying to replicate. Imagine the enticing smell of freshly baked mince pies ladened with a sprinkle of nutmeg and a dash of (vegan) cream: that's what this product smells like! Vanilla, cinnamon, and a hint of lemon oil all go together to make a flavour that’s truly scrumptious. It epitomises the very essence of Christmas whilst still being highly practical and useful.

The spicy, buttery lip balm also does wonders to your lips. Eggsnog contains a luxurious mixture of butters and nut oils to make a lip balm that’s soft, yet protective for winter lips.One small dab smooths over your lips effectively, leaving them feeling instantly moisturised and protected. Unlike other lip balms (Maple Taffy, None Of Your Bees Wax), Eggsnog isn't heavy or oily so it wont leave any sticky residue on your lips. I found my lips felt softer and more hydrated within a few hours of first applying it.

Ultimately, this is by far my favourite lip balm from Lush and I have since bought a few more tubs to store away for the coming months. I don't quite know whether I could still use this during the warmer months, as it is very seasonal-scented. However, while the nights are still dark and cold, I keep this balm close by for comfort.

Quantitative Ingredients: Fair Trade Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Murumuru Butter, Hazelnut Oil, Walnut Oil, Brazil Nut Oil, Flavour, Lemon Oil, Myrrh Resinoid, Cinnamon Leaf Oil, Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Cinnamal, Citral, Eugenol, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene, Linalool.

Vegan?: Yes.

2014 Price: £6.50 for 10g.

2016 Price: £6.50 for 10g.

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