LUSH Haul, January 2013 - Video

Original text post can be found here

LUSH Haul!

So, today I returned to my LUSH store with some of my Christmas money, and decided to stock up on some of their soap. Since their "For Fresh Sakes" sale is still going on, I was able to get half of my soap for free! :) While I was there, I also stocked up on bubble bars, and a couple LUSH cult favourites.

I will be doing a complete review on each of these products as I try them out.

A complete video haul can be found here

MMM Melting Marshmallow Moment
$7.95

North Pole
$6.95 for 100g

Demon in the Dark
$7.95 for 100g

The Godmother
$6.40 for 100g

Angel's Delight
$5.95 for 100g

Twilight
$6.25
A complete review here

French Kiss
$8.95

Rose Jam
$6.25

Sunny Side
$7.25

American Cream
$9.95 for 100mL

Twilight Bath Bomb Review

Twilight Bath Bomb

Peaceful Lavender Bathing Under the Stars

$6.25

Recreate the magic of a starry night in your bath water with clouds of lavender and tonka absolute to fight the demons of insomnia and soothe your stressed out body and mind. Our most relaxing Bath Bomb yet, Twilight is our gentle, reassuring hug for the bath to transform you from worn out to warm and fuzzy. It changes colour like the sky at dusk, from pinks to purples and darker still. Lay back in the comforting herbal waters to soak your troubles far, far away.

FEATURES

• Herbal tonic: Lavender acts as nature’s melatonin to relax your mind for a more restful sleep.
• Bedtime story: Take the bitter edge off of sleeplessness with sweet tonka absolute, vanilla’s saucier cousin.
• Comforting and relaxing: Ovaltine is added for soothing, creamy bath water; our version of a warm glass of milk before bed.

Main Ingredients

Lavender Oil

Tonka Absolute

Ylang Ylang Oil

Citric Acid

How to Use

Simply drop Twilight into your bath tub (preferably after it's been completely filled) and watch it fizz away.

Best for...

Curing sleeplessness

Relaxing mind and body

Soothing muscles

Overall...

Twilight was not one of my absolute favourite bath bombs, but it was a nice bath bomb to use. 

I found Twilight to be very relaxing to use and something that did leave me feeling well rested. The colour of the water did not change drastically, but there were bubbles. However, the bubbles faded away quickly, and there sparkles were very limited.

I also found that this bath bomb was not a moisturizing as I had expected.

Overall, it was a nice bath bomb, but not my favourite.

Let the Good Times Roll is Here to Stay!

LUSH Cosmetics has just announced that their facial cleanser made for the holidays, Let the Good Times Roll, is now a part of their permanent collection!

Described as a gentle exfoliant, with maize flour, polenta, cinnamon, and popcorn topping, this facial cleanser will leave your skin with an improved texture. 

This cleanser will surely become one your new favourites.

Storing Your LUSH Products

With a large amount of LUSH products, sometimes it can become difficult figuring out how to store them all. You don't want your LUSH bath bombs breaking, or your soaps melting away. 

To prevent this, I will be describing how I store my LUSH products. I do not have a very extensive collection of LUSH, but I do have a fair amount of products.

Listed below I have a list of tips and ideas on storing different bath, and shower products from LUSH.

1. Don't leave soap in its original packaging.
        The oils from the soap will seep away into the brown packaging paper and ruin the quality of your soaps. Instead, wrap your soaps in plastic wrap.
2. Don't leave your soaps anywhere humid, especially the shower. 
        They will melt away and you'll have wasted all of your money for nothing.
3. Remember to cut up all of your soaps.
        Using a massive soap block isn't a good idea - it will waste your soap.
   

   A full tutorial on how to cut your LUSH soap products can be found here

4. Fresh face masks are supposed to be kept fresh.
        Keep them in the fridge. Although, make sure whoever you share the fridge with knows that this shouldn't be thrown away. I keep a sticky note on it saying, "DON'T THROW OUT!''
5. For your bubble bars and bath melts, cut them up too.
        Many bath tubs are too small to handle the amount of bubbles that are created. Your bath tub may even overflow. This saves you tons of money in the long run.
   

   An explanation on cutting your LUSH bath products can be found here

6. When you cut up your bubble bars, there will be crumbs - save them.
        Throw them in your bath. They will still make bubbles no problem.
7. After you've cut up all your bubble bars/melts, put them into plastics bags.
        This keeps them nice and fresh, and will prevent colour fading.
8. Before you cut any of your bath products, warm your knife under hot water.
        It will make cutting into the soap much easier.
9. Keep all of your LUSH products, especially bath bombs/melt/ect., in a dark, cool, dry place.
        Storing them in a dark, cool, dray place will prevent fading, and keep the products from melting.
10. Buy the aluminum tins for solid shampoos, massage bars, and body butters.
         Sure it may seem like a useless waste of money, but it will keep your products lasting, and fresh.
11. Be warned that LUSH products in packaging (shampoos, facial cleansers, ect.) can have the labels wear off in the shower.
         Leaving these types of products in the shower, under water can wear off the black label. This may, or may not bother you depending on your preference. 
12. Don't keep your LUSH products for too long.
         Since they are mainly natural products, they will only last so long. Use them in a timely manner to get the best results.
13. Don't overload yourself with soap. 
          Unlike bath bombs and bubbles bars that can only be used a couple times, LUSH soap lasts a very long time once you've cut it. You will become overwhelmed with soap if you buy too much, and waste your money.

LUSH Accessoires!

Hey Lushies!

I was just scrolling around on Tumblr looking at LUSH porn, when I stubbled upon this website. 

http://artsandcandies.com/

This website is filled with hand crafted accessories, and one of their main sources of inspiration is LUSH! There are phone case, necklaces, bracelets and key chains with tiny LUSH charms. 

I highly recommend you check them out. Their stuff is adorable :)

LUSH themed accessories here :)

Your First Time at LUSH

Your first time at LUSH can be very overwhelming, with all the different products, it's hard to know exactly where to start. 

Here I've compiled a list, from each of the cosmetic categories LUSH provides, that make a great starting point for your first time at LUSH.

After the list of cult favourites, I will also list some general tips about starting your collection.

All of these products work for all skin types, hair types, have top rated scents, and are perfect for everyday use. 

Please note that this list was complied from reviews, and videos about experiencing LUSH for the first time, and I personally have not tried all of the products listed.

I did not list any soaps, or body butters since scent is highly subjective from person to person. I also did not list any face masks seeing as they can only be purchased in store, and it is hard to know if you really enjoy it without trying it out in store first.

The Cult Classics...

1. Big Shampoo
        Big Shampoo is one of the top rated products at LUSH. It is a fresh smelling shampoo that gives volume and shine to your hair. It will make the texture of your hair so much smoother, and softer than it was originally. No matter what your hair type, Big will add volume and body to your hair.
2. American Cream Conditioner
        This vanilla scented conditioner is a thinner conditioner compared to most, so thicker haired girls take note, and may not show the best results if your hair is excessively dry. Despite that, American Cream will leave your hair with moisture and shine, coupled with a scent that lasts all day long. 
3. Ocean Salt Scrub
        Ocean Salt is the most popular scrub LUSH has created. It is useful for your face, and body, to remove excess dirt and dead skin cells from clogged pores. Even though it can be a bit too abrasive for some, this is an excellent exfoliator.
   A complete review here
   
4. Almond and Coconut Shower Smoothie
        This shower smoothie is a great body wash if you want something to moisturize your skin. This shower smoothie is also one of the many products at LUSH that can have multiple uses. If desired, you could use it as a shaving cream due to its moisturizing properties. Your skin will be left completely moisturized and with a subtle, sweet scent.
5. Flying Fox Shower Gel
        Another great shower gel by LUSH is the Flying Fox which will leave your skin feeling very crisp, and clean. It has also been promoted to help sooth, and calm you when stressed.
   A complete review here
6. Sympathy for the Skin Moisturizer
        This moisturizer will leave your skin greatly hydrated no matter what time of day you use it. The subtle scent of bananas won't linger for long, but your dry skin will be thanking you after using.

Starting out your Collection...

1. Don't buy everything in sight.
        Buy things that you like, not what others like. You don't want to go wasting your money on things you'll never use up.
2. Store your products properly. 
        Most people say that they don't like LUSH because it's overpriced and runs out quickly. It doesn't have to as long as you store your products correctly.
   
   A full description on cutting your LUSH products here
   A full description on storing all of your LUSH products here
3. Stock up on bath products over anything else.
        Don't waste your money on a pound of LUSH soap, or on a whole shipment of a moisturizer. LUSH products are designed to be long lasting. Besides bath products which have one, or two uses out of them, everything else will last your quite a while.
4. If you're not sure of where to start, ask someone who works in LUSH.
        All of the LUSH employees are very enthusiastic and knowledgable about the products. They will point you towards some great products, and even demonstrate some of them.
5. Don't underestimate samples.
        Samples are a great way to test out products. If you want to sample anything, simply ask someone who works there to cut you a sample size of a product.

LUSH Top 25 Best-Sellers

LUSH has complied a list of 25 top rated products this year. I thought I'd list them all here for you, and the original list can be found at the link below.

Your Top 25

I have not reviewed many of these products (yet), but I will link the ones I have, and as I complete their reviews.

1. Shimmy Shimmy
         A body tinting block
         $7. 45
2. Dirty Body Spray
         Body spray in the same scent as dirty
         $19. 95
3. The Comforter
         A bubble bar
         $10. 95
4. Tea Tree Toner Tab
         A toner tab
   
         $1. 95
5. Dream Cream
         A moisturizer
         $26. 95
6. Shine So Bright
         A hair treatment
         $9. 95
7. Aromaco
         A body butter
         $6. 95
8. Stepping Stone
         A foot scrub
         $4. 50
9. Dirty Toothy Tabs
         A toothpaste tablet
         $4. 95
10. Ocean Salt
          A face and body scrub
          $21. 95 for 120g
          A complete review here
    
11. Big Shampoo
          A shampoo
          $26. 95
12. Silky Underwear Dusting Powder
          A powdered deodorant
          $6. 95 
13. Wiccy Magic Muscles
           A massage bar
           $10. 95
14. Ultrabalm
           A lip balm
           $13. 95
15. Dreamtime
           A soap/massage bar
           $6. 25
16. No Drought
           A dry shampoo
           $13. 95
17. Full of Grace
           A soap/massage bar
           $14. 95
18. Godiva
           A solid shampoo
           $11. 95
19. Fun - Blue
           A bath roll
           $6. 95
20. Butterball
           A bath bomb
           $4. 95
21. Rub Rub Rub
           A multi-use cleanser
           $21. 95
22. Hello Gorgeous
           A wrapped gift box
           $39. 95
23. Feel Younger Tint/Primer
           A facial primer and tint
           $18. 95
24. Popcorn
           A lip scrub
           $8. 95
25. Karma
           A soap bar
           $7. 95 for 100g

2012 LUSH Discontinued List

Every year, LUSH is forced to discontinue some of its products, and this year is no different.

As per usual, the products are not fully discontinued, but become online exclusives for a short period of time until their stock completely runs out.

* Please note, the following list is from the United States. If you need the list from other countries, they are not difficult to find. *

1. Big Tease Styling Gel
2. Double Chocolate Lip Tint
3. Glorious Mud Body Scrub
4. Moon and Sun Toner Tab
5. Rocketeer Bath Bomb
6. Snake Oil Scalp Treatment Bar (moving back to Retro)
7. Token to the Forest Gods Toner Tab
8. Vanilla Fountain Bath Bomb
9. Very Berry Wrapped Gift 

Snowcake Reivew

Snowcake

Holiday Limited Edition

$7.95 for 100g

Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without a festive cake. So this holiday we brought back our customer favorite, Snowcake! This almond icing and marzipan scented confection is just what you need during the season of sweet indulgences. Its rich, creamy lather and rose absolute infusion make it a gentle treat for dry winter skin. So what are you waiting for? Grab a slice of this holiday treat before it’s gone.

FEATURES

• Piece of cake: We load Snowcake with benzoin, which gives this white soap its sweet, creamy, good enough to eat scent.
• Flower power: We add rose absolute to leave you skin feeling as soft and smooth as a dewy petal.
• Holiday hangover: If you love the tasty scent of Snowcake, try our marzipan-scented Smitten hand cream, available online in our Retro shop.

Main Ingredients

Rose Absolute (Rosa damascena)

Coconut Oil

Rapeseed Oil

Benzoin Resinoid (Styrax benzoin)

Cassie Absolute (Acacia farnesiana)

How to Use

Now, since I've never really gotten into LUSH and their products until recently, I was unaware of a little preparation that has to go into using the soap. I thought I could just leave the giant brick I got in my shower and it would be fine. I was wrong. The soap began to melt until I learned that you had to cut the soap and use a bit at a time. Luckily, I was able to save the soap before it melted away.

I will be doing a detailed post later about cutting and preparing LUSH soaps for your showers, but in the meantime, I'll just say slice your soap with a knife.

Once you've cut it up into decent sized shaped, use the soap as you would normally :)

A full tutorial on cutting LUSH soap here

Best for...

Daily use

In the shower

For dry skin

Overall...

I love this scent, however I know that not everyone will. I had some of my friends smell the soap, and they hated the overpowering sweetness of it. 

If you love the scent as much as I do, you'll love the results even more. This soap delivers when it comes to giving moisture. My skin felt so soft, and smelled so sweet after using this soap.  

Besides the problem with cutting the soap (oops :$), this product will last and last for me. The lathering from this product is just excellent. Thank god it's long lasting since, once again, one of my favourites is seasonal.

As long as you love strong, sweet smells, I would recommend this to anyone with dry skin.

Twilight Shower Gel Review

Twilight Shower Gel

Holiday Limited Edition

$18.95 for 250 ml

Every Christmas LUSH releases several limited edition shower gels; Snow Fairy, Ponche, and Twilight, and they each come in three separate sizes (100 ml to 500 ml). Since this is my first year as a self proclaimed "Lushie", I decided I needed to check at least one of them out. Since I love lavender and purple, I gravitated toward Twilight.

Main Ingredients

Lavender oil

The Main Idea/Effects

Twilight is an iridescent purple shower gel that will leave you with the lingering scent of lavender all day. Once you lather, you'll be surrounded in lavender and herbal balanced bubbles. This is perfect to use after a long day since lavender has been known to calm the senses. Great on those cold winter nights. 

How to Use

It's rather simple to use a shower gel for LUSH. It works as any other shower gel; however, only a small is needed to create a good lather.

Best for...

Daily use

In the shower

Overall...

I fell in love with this product and the results. It is rather disappointing that this is only available for the holidays; however, I have never been to a LUSH that was out of Twilight. 

This is excellent for daily use and leave you smelling amazing. The other main highlight for me was that a large amount was not needed to get the full results of this product. I got a great lather from this product and love the smell I'm left with.

And yes, the scent did live up to the hype. I found myself smelling myself hours after my shower in the morning.

The slight flaw was that if left sitting, the sparkles within the gel would sadly sink to the bottom of the bottle, and I'd have to shake the bottle in order to redistribute them.

I would recommend this to anyone.

Ocean Salt Review

Ocean Salt

Coconut Cream and Sea Salt Scrub

$21.95 for 120g

Complete video review here

Back in 2005, our inventors had come up with a number of fantastic cleansers but there was one category they had yet to conquer: The scrub! A sea salt scrub! With that, they whipped up (our now enormously popular) Ocean Salt. Washing with Ocean Salt is like taking your face on a trip to the seaside for an invigorating splash in the water. We mix in fresh avocado and coconut to hydrate thirsty skin, while the antibacterial effects of lime and vodka is ideal for blocked pores, blackheads or blemishes. The minerals in sea salt soften as it scrubs away dirt and blockages.

FEATURES

• Suitable for all skin types: Ocean Salt is most beneficial for combination to oily skin.
• Our most exfoliating cleanser: Ocean Salt contains a combination of coarse and fine sea salt.
• For an invigorating scrub: Salt and citrus oils can cause irritation for sensitive skin types. If you’re quite sensitive, we suggest using a gentler product.

Main Ingredients

Fresh Lime Extracted in Vodka

Sea Salt

How to Use

I would only use this in the shower (I've tried outside the shower and I found it hard to get a good lather on my face, and I enjoy using this on my arms as well) before I wash my face. Since this is a scrub designed to remove all dead skin cells, it's great for opening your pores.

I'd only use this once a day, and if your skin is a bit on the sensitive side, maybe every few days.

After using, either use a face wash, or some kind of serum since your face has come clear of all the debris.

One final note, only a small amount is needed. This scrub can be very abrasive, so too much might irritate the skin, and you'll just end up wasting a great deal of it.

Best for...

A scrub in the shower

Any non-sensitive skin type

Hydrating the skin

Moisturizing/smoothing the skin

Overall...

By far my favourite facial scrub I've tried from LUSH. It smooths my skin beautiful and clears all of my pores. After using it, my skin feels softer, brighter, fresher, and clean. 

It didn't completely remove make up, or all my blemishes, but it did make clearing my skin with other face washes/serums a lot easier.

I did find this to be a bit messy outside the shower, which is why I recommend the shower for best results.

Overall, my skin is clearer and has become significantly smoother, and more moisturized since I started using this on a general basis. 

I would recommend this to everyone I know with normal to oily skin, and those with skin problems.