Having recently used up my two old Magic Ballistics, I really couldn't understand the fuss surrounding this particular family of smells. Having found myself familiar with the most popular places for Lushies to congregate, I was surprised to find out that both regular fans and serious collectors, along with those in between, were all raving about the product that is Magic Jelly. This is something that intrigued me, and having searched the web for months on end, I finally managed to get hold of two pots of the stuff.
Immediately upon opening the tub, I was hit with a wave of smell - this is not a product for those who dislike strong smelling cosmetics; this is as potent as you can get! Made from a combination of rose, marjoram, peppermint and basil, this is fresh, floral but equally minty offering unlike any other shower jelly I've had from Lush.
To me, it's the mint that engulfs your senses first - a strong, uplifting peppermint fragrance that dominates most of the smell. However, don't assume that this is going to be like your generic, mint smelling cosmetic. Alongside this peppermint, you get bursts of rose, a fresh but equally poignant floral smell that gives this shower jelly some depth. When used, the heat from the shower helps to bring out the herbal side to this product, and I found that I was then able to pick up elements of the basil and marjoram in this way. There are several ways that you can use any of Lush's shower jellies, and I find that everyone has their own preference, which is completely understandable. Firstly, you can break a small piece of (or select a piece that's been segmented prior to your shower) and rub the block directly onto your skin. The amount of lather this creates differentiates vastly depending on the type of jelly, how old the product is and the size of the piece you're using. While some users find this way works for them, I find that this is fairly ineffective as it does not create much of a lather and the jelly becomes too wet, making it slippery and difficult to hold on to.
Secondly, you can use a shower sponge, puff or exfoliating glove to create a lather before rubbing it all over your body. For me, I found this method far more successful as it helped to break down the jelly properly and create a nice foamy effect to wash your body with. Finally, you can break off slabs of the jelly and use them as you would a bubble bar, placing them underneath a running tap to stimulate bubbles. I tend to use mine for this reason, as I can get 4-5 baths out of one 100g tub, which I consider to be great value for money.With Magic, I used my shower puff to lather myself up, and I found that this jelly was great at creating a soft, fragrant foam to wash myself with. The product left my skin really clean and it's fragrance permeated my skin more than any other shower product I have tried from Lush. I could smell this on myself the very next day, and the clothes I changed into after I'd had my shower, held onto the scent for a few days after initial use. To repeat what I said above; this is not a product for those who cannot stand strong smelling products - this is as potent as they come!
Overall, I really enjoyed Magic and hope that Lush bring it back at some point soon. To me, this jelly reminded of a more sophisticated Whoosh, with the bonus factor that it's vegan. It's a refreshing and highly invigorating shower product that will awaken your senses and leave your skin tingling slightly, due to the addition of peppermint oil. I thoroughly enjoyed using this, and would definitely like to see more products released with this fragrance. I would definitely buy this again if I could.
Quantitative Ingredients: Glycerine, Red rose petal and marjoram infusion, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Proplyene Gycol, Peppermint and Basil infusion, Perfume, Basil Oil, Peppermint Oil, Colour 42090, Colour 17200, Methylparaben, Propylparaden, Cinnalol, Eugenol, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene, Linalool, Fresh Parsley.
Vegan?: Yes.
2016 Price: £8.25 for 250g.
2017 Price: £8.50 for 250g.
Scent Family:
Magic BallisticMagic Shower Jelly
