In times like these, I always wonder what the demand is for bath bombs such as this one. Whether you're shopping for a loved one or buying for yourself, I am right in saying that most people would rather opt for something that both looks and smells good, as opposed to going on scent alone.
However, Lush release a revamped version of Butterball each and every year, and it always seems to be incredibly popular, which makes me think that there are consumers out there that might not fit so tidily into the imaginary brackets that I construct for them to live within. Star Dust Bath Ballistic is easily the least attractive product from this years Christmas range - a bath bomb that is not only half the size of a regular one, but also doesn't boast any fancy colours or inventive properties whatsoever. While my immediate reaction was to assume that it was more of a bath melt, and that it was supposed to collaborate with another, more 'fancy' product to offer something a little more exciting in the tub, I was quick to discover that this was not the case.
Similar in size to Starlight Star Bright Bath Melt, this seasonal ballistic contains a generous helping of vanilla absolute and a little bergamot for an extra dose of sweetness. While it is similar to Butterball is some ways, this bath bomb is definitely more vanilla-orientated than cocoa butter induced - emitting a scent that isn't that far off Vanilla Puff.
To me, the fragrance of this is not as creamy as the Vanillary range - instead showcasing a smell that reminds me of icing sugar (powdered sugar) or a very subtle musk perfume. While it is quite a simplistic smell, it is definitely a very rich aroma and far more full-bodied and decadent than the cheap vanilla smells that you get outside of Lush. Impressively, despite its size and lack of potency, I found that this bath bomb managed to fill the entire bathroom with its scent, where it stayed prominent throughout the whole experience and lingered on the skin for a short while after I had towelled myself down.
In the water, Star Dust fizzes away fairly quickly - spewing out trails of thick, creamy white foam that settles on the surface of the water. As the oils bleed out into the tub, they leave a fine trail across the surface that helps to induce the bath with enough moisture to replenish and soften the skin wonderfully. After using this bath bomb, I found that my skin felt silky-smooth to the touch, and this effect lasted for the most part of the day.
To add a touch of colour to the whole experience, while the bath bomb is working its magic, small colourful stars ebb out and decorate the surface of the water before sinking to the floor and painting the bottom of the bath tub with tiny sparkly rainbow pieces.
As Lush state in their description of Star Dust, this seasonal release would be a wonderful way of pampering yourself after a late night out in the freezing weather. When your fingers and toes are numb and you skin feels tired and weathered from the wind, rain, snow and sleet that may be coming your way, this simple bath bomb is just enough to relax your mind and replenish the body - leaving you smelling lovely and feeling like royalty to boot. While this is probably not one that I would buy again, I would be happy to receive a couple more of these in any of the gift sets that may be coming my way over Christmas. It has a place and a purpose within the seasonal selection this year, but I can see it being thwarted by all of the other amazing colourful releases that Lush are currently offering.
Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acide, Fine Sea Salt, Cornflour (Zea mays), Snowflake Lustre (Potassium Aluminium Silicate, Titanium Dioxide), Edible Stars (Sugar, Rice Four, Palm Fat, Astragalus Gummifer Gum, Lactoflavin, Beetroot Red, Anthocyanins), Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute (Vanilla planifolia), Rosewood Oil (Aniba rosaeodora), Bergamot Oil (Citrus Aurantium bergamia), Water (Aqua), Limonene, Linalool, Perfume, Colour 42090.
Vegan?: Yes.
2015 Price: £2.95 each.
Year Of Original Release: 2015.
