Cocktail Liquid Perfume

When it comes to perfumes, I think it is incredible that a mere three years ago, I did not own one single perfume. I saw no reason to lather myself with wonderfully exotic smells, as I always felt clean enough just having a shower and rolling on some deodorant. However, it was on the fateful day I made the decision to invest in a bottle of Karma perfume, that I became hooked into buying as many as I could. Luckily, I've never had the ambition to collect perfumes outside of Lush, as I'd probably be living on the streets right about now; sleeping on a bed of empty bottles...

Lush describe Cocktail as a 'perfumed portrait of a Hollywood star's dressing table' - a strangely non-telling but equally descriptive review. Initially, I imagined this fragrance to be quite a crisp and almost clinical smell; in some ways similar to one of my favourite perfumes, Ponche. However, the more I thought about the above comment, the more I began imagining the Hollywood scene in the 20's and 30's, and I began to conjure up a scent that wasn't too far off of what this product actually smells like.

Described as a homage to Fresh perfumery, this fragrance gets it's smell from a combination of ylang ylang, cananga, jasmine, rose, orange blossom, oakmoss and sandalwood. Whenever Lush release a product featuring rose, I always expect it to dominate it's overall scent. However in Cocktail, it is the ylang ylang that overrides the other elements, which is surprising as it's fifth or sixth in the ingredients list. Ylang Ylang is very similar in smell to that of Jasmine, but I find it has a slightly more woody fragrance, which makes it that little bit more sophisticated. 

When I first smelled this perfume, it reminded me a little of 1000 Kisses Perfume, with both it's fresh floral and sweet aroma. Except, unlike the above perfume, this one matures on your skin throughout the day and moulds into a delicate, feminine scent. It is the Ylang Ylang and Orange Blossom that dominate this smell, both inside the bottle and on your skin. 

On first sniff, I could smell the aroma of ylang ylang with just a hint of lavender and the after scent of orange blossom. However, throughout the course of the day, I began to recognise the sweetness of the jasmine and the powdery rose fragrance coming through on my skin. A few hours into my day, the smell had almost faded aside from the gentle lingering smell of the sandalwood, which was a little disappointing.

Cocktail definitely doesn't have the staying power of other Lush perfumes, and it's definitely not the strongest one to begin with. For this reason, it might be suited for those people who dislike heavy, dominating smells. This smell could also be described as a unisex scent, as there's nothing in it that I would state as being overly feminine.

Overall, it's not my favourite perfume by a long shot, but it's definitely better than a lot of perfumes I've had the displeasure of trying over the last couple of years. What is great about Cocktail, as with most of Lush's other perfumes, is that it smells similar to a lot of commercially available perfumes, yet it doesn't possess that acidic and rather domineering alcoholic tone that weighs down these sorts of perfumes. 

I definitely won't be rushing out to buy another bottle of this, but I'm not opposed to picking up a small sampler to wear every so often when I'm looking for a change.

Quantative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Perfume, Lavender Oil, Bergamot Oil, Jasmine Absolute, Rose Absolute, Sandalwood Oil, Ylang Ylang Absolute, *Benzyl Alcohol, *Benzyl Salicylate, Cinnamyl Alcohol, *Cinnamal, *Citral, Coumarin, *Eugenol, *Geraniol, *Isoeugenol, *Benzyl Benzoate, Farnesol, *Limonene, Linalool.

Vegan?: Yes.

WebRep

currentVote

noRating

noWeight

Read More

Christmas Rocker Soap

This soap brings me back to the M&S advert a few years ago, when the company tried to convince everyone that their products were exceptionally better than everyone elses. The ingredients list reads like a dessert, and I cannot help but think: If Lush made dessert, it would be the best dessert that the world has ever seen.

What I find really strange is that this soap has caused quite a lot of controversy regarding what customers are proclaiming it smells like. At the risk of sounding crass, Christmas Rocker supposedly smells like a certain male bodily function - although I’m going to be honest and say that I don’t really experience that at all myself.

Amusingly, a lot of Lush fans are also convinced that the odd fragrance was no mistake at all, and that it’s all an elaborate joke from the powers that be. This stems from the tag line that sits alongside the product on their website, which reads: m ‘Come one...come all’. Whether or not you suspect it’s a deliberate attempt at something far more satire than usual, there is no denying that the evidence points to this conclusion. 

As its name suggests, Christmas Rocker is carved out in the shape of an old-fashioned rocking horse, which fits in nicely with the Victorian theme that the seasonal range is leaning towards this year. Although small and seemingly more expensive than other, chunkier pieces of soap, you’ll be pleased to hear that the product is rather rigid in the shower, and will last you just as long as a piece of a bigger size.

Christmas Rocker Soap is not only the cutest one this year, but it also happens to be the best newcomer (in my humble opinion.) Containing dried apricots, mandarin, tangerine and bergamot oils, this limited edition sounds like a bowl of the most exquisite fruit sorbet, and I for one would be all over that idea. 

While the ingredients list reads like The Brightside, I was happy to discover that it did not share the same scent. Although I love that fragrance more than most, customers have already been treated to a soap in that scent with last year’s Sunrise Soap, so I’m glad we had something different to indulge in.

Firstly, my nose picked up quite a strong, tangy orange aroma - a little like a bitter orange that’s been peeled with the pith still intact. The bergamot is clearly at work here - throwing in a little green note to give it more of a fresh, natural aroma. Alongside this, there is a bitter element, which I think comes from the apricots and the bergamot combined. However, there is also a note of what I can only describe as musk. While I wouldn’t assume the cocoa butter would be potent enough to impact the smell, it does smell like an element of this has bled through into the fragrance.

What I found with Christmas Rocker is that it’s far more pleasant once it has come into contact with warm water. I couldn’t really detect much of the scent while it was sitting on the edge of my bath. However, the second I began massaging it across my skin, I could pick up a far better fruity smell to enjoy. While I wouldn’t say this was a scent that I appreciated that much, it’s definitely not as terrible as people have been saying it is. It’s just a little bit average and forgettable, if anything.

Despite its odd smell, Christmas Rocker worked up a treat - creating a creamy, fragrance lather to massage across my body. It produced a bright orange foam, which you need to be careful about not splashing anywhere while you’re washing yourself, and left my skin feeling rather soft and radiant.

While the scent didn’t stay on my skin afterwards, I was surprised to discover that the inclusion of the butter and oils did make this soap a little gentler on my body, and I wasn’t left with really parched skin - which I often experience after using a lot of soaps. Much like most of Lush’s new gourmet soaps, this one also dissolved rather quickly when I kept it under the running water during use. For this reason, I would suggest you get it damp and then clean yourself out of the way of the running tap. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this soap and don’t really understand why so many people have expressed their dislike of the fragrance. Although I can understand why consumers might reach the conclusion about what the soap might smell like, I think there are far too many other components that make it a nice soap. Having said that, a ‘nice’ soap is not one that will be remembered in a few months time, and I can’t imagine why this would make an appearance again.

Quantitative Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Dried Apricots, Sodium Hydroxide, Perfume, Mandarin Oil, Tangerine Oil, Bergamot Oil, Gardenia Extract, Glycerine, Titanium Dioxide, Citric Acid, Sodium Bicarbonate, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 15510.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £4.50 for 100g.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Read More

Running Man Reusable Bubble Spinner

As my review of Lush's original bubble spinner stated a few months ago, I was not particularly enamoured with the concept or the scent that it offered. As a teacher, the fidget spinner (and all of the problems that came with it) was the bane of my existence for a few months at the start of the year. However, I recognise that Lush like to stay in-keeping with the latest trends, so I understand the demand for it. 

Designed around one of the Cosmetics To Go catalogue covers, Running Man is the second fidget spinner bubble bar to come from the company. For those unfamiliar with Cosmetics To Go, this was the name of Lush before they changed their name. Back when the internet was a fairly new concept for online shopping, Lush would sell their products in both their shops as well as send out mail order catalogues for people to purchase products. One such cover featured a design similar to this bubble bar.

Running Man features a combination of lemon, mandarin and bergamot oils, and orange flower absolute, which offers a scent that Lush state supposedly shares its scent with The Olive Branch fragrance. While I can see the similarly in the scents, I wouldn't say that this is a direct replica of the scent at all, I found the orange flower absolute was more prominent in this format that any other.

For those not familiar with this smell, The Olive Branch is a gentle floral scent with light citrusy notes that create a sort of perfumed aroma. The bergamot oil adds a very gentle green aroma as well, which normally merges with the inclusion of vine leaves to give the aroma a slight Mediterranean smell.

Much like the other bubble spinner, this reusable bubble bar should be held under the running tap, where the water supposedly stimulates the movement of a bubble spinner and turns the product. Unfortunately, while the inclusion of the wooden centre is a great, environmentally friendly idea from Lush, I didn't find that I could get my spinner to work at all. While not really much of a problem, I would have appreciated at least a little movement before my experience.

On the positive side, as soon as Running Man comes into contact with the running water it creates lots of light, fluffy bubbles. However, the combination of blue and yellow turned the water a murky shade of green, which wasn't the most attractive of experiences. Having said this, the bubble is generous in the fact that this product could easily be used across at least two different baths, making it cheaper than a bath bomb for each use. 

As with all of Lush's reusable bars, I didn't find this one anywhere near as moisturising as a regular bubble bar. The water, when using these types of products, always feel slightly less nourishing than that of a bath bomb, and this was no exception. After using this, I either needed to add a bath oil into the water, to soften it a little more, or apply a body lotion afterwards to retain that moisture.

Overall, this is a fun, novelty product for those who have children - especially those that are hesitant to take a bath. However, the original bubble spinner is still the more endearing and most effective of the two, and I can imagine many people opting for that one over this one. Had The Olive Branch scent being more predominant in this product, I might have enjoyed this a little more, but I'll stick to my regular bubble bars from now on.

Quantitative Ingredients: Lemon Oil, Mandarin Oil, Bergamot Oil, Orange Flower Absolute.

Vegan?: Yes. 

2017 Price: £4.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Read More

So White Body Spray

So White is a scent that can steal my heart one moment, yet inspire next to no reaction from myself the next. In some formats it's like a dream to use, and I'll happily buy a handful to stash away for future months; yet there are other products in the scent family that I cannot wait to get rid of within moments of using them for the first time. Luckily, this body spray sits more with the former than the latter.

Lets be honest and say that this fragrance has been a long time coming. Having been lucky enough to score a bottle of the liquid perfume a few years back, I knew that this fragrance had to make a reappearance at some point. And with the Christmas range offering two brand new So White scented goodies this year, now is a good a time as any to introduce a portal spray to supplement and support the other products in the seasonal collection. 

Containing bergamot, Brazilian orange and neroli oils, not to mention orange flower and rose absolutes, this body spray does not read at all like the fragrance it produces from the bottle. As most fans will already know, So White is known for its sweet, crisp and very natural apple aroma, and this liquid spray continues to offer the same, compelling aroma.

Imagine biting into a Granny Smith apple: how light, fruity and fresh the smell is, and you may begin to understand how natural the scent of this is. It's a very natural and very refreshing smell, yet there is also a subtle element of floral underneath that gives the scent of this a little more weight behind it. The inclusion of the neroli offers a subtle note of green, which is what aids the natural, apple aroma; while the orange flower absolute brings about a gentle cloudy note to ground the fragrance and give it a little more depth than simply smelling like an apple.

What I didn't like about So White Body Spray is that the smell from the bottle, and the initial spray, has a rather potent note that almost appears to echo that of the inclusion of the alcohol. When I first used this on my skin, I was put off by this element, and although I was able to smell the So White scent alongside this, the aroma was a little acidic for my liking. However, once you've given it a few minutes to settle on the skin, and begin to work with the heat of your body, you'll find that this element disperses really quickly, and leaves you with a beautiful, refreshingly-fruity fragrance to enjoy. 

Surprisingly, So White lasted for a good 2-3 hours on the skin, which is impressive for a scent that is so uplifting and light. Furthermore, I found that the aroma lasted even longer when sprayed on clothes, although it did lose a little of its radiance as it clearly works better with the heat of your skin. 

When compared to the seasonal body lotion and naked lotion, this spray is probably a little fruiter on the senses and a little less sweeter overall. I found that it complimented the lotions perfectly, but I could clearly smell a difference between the two. Having said that, I think So White Body Spray is closer to the aforementioned products than the Bath bomb, and the ballistic is far more musky and if so fruity. 

Ultimately, I really enjoyed using this limited edition body spray. For those fans (new or old) who have fallen in love with the lotions or Santa's Belly Shower Jelly this year, or those old-schoolers who are trying to find a replacement for this year's absence of the bath bomb, So White Body Spray is a great way to fill that void. This is a great fragrance to use all year round: I can imagine a lot of people will be stocking up for the summer months, and rightly so. While it's not my favourite Lush fragrance, I can appreciate how and why this limited release will be popular, and I suggest you grab a bottle if you can.

Quantitative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Water, Perfume, Glycerine, Bergamot Oil, Brazilian Orange Oil, Rose Absolute, Neroli Oil, Orange Flower Absolute, Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol. 

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £15 for 200ml.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
Once Upon A Time Body Lotion
Once Upon A Time Naked Body Lotion
Santa's Belly Jelly
So White Bath Bomb
So White Body Spray
So White New 2016 Edition Bath Bomb
So White Liquid Perfume

So White Shower Gel

Read More

Pink Pumpkin Bubble Bar

Let's be honest: it's not exactly the most attractive of bubble bars. While there are people that love the allure of 'all things pink', I for one am certainly not somebody to gravitate towards anything of that nature. For this reason, the following product already lost a brownie point when compared to its older sibling.

A new release for 2017, Pink Pumpkin Bubble Bar is not the same scent as Sparkly Pumpkin, which is just as well as the two were released at the same time, and it would have been a pointless move from Lush. However, I cannot say that I was over-excited by this rendition as the aforementioned Halloween 'classic'.

Containing a combination of bergamot, geranium and jasmine absolute, this limited edition offers a gentle floral aroma. While not one of the three components reminds me of Autumnal/winter weather, it does make a nice change from the usual spicy fragrances that normally appear at this time of the year.

While the scent was in no way terrible, I was rather underwhelmed by just how forgettable it was. Comparing the smell to another cosmetic, I would say that it reminded me slightly of baby wet wipes - that gentle, pretty but rather generic-smelling aroma. Those who have rather sensitive noses and may wish to opt for the lighter scents, you may find this rather pleasant. However, those of us who love and appreciate Lush's more complex smells may find this a little disappointing.

What was lovely was how soft this bubble was, and how easy it was to crumble under the running water. The heat of the water did elevate the smell a little during the experience, but I still wouldn't say that it made that much of an impression of my senses, and the aroma soon got drowned out by the other products I was using at the time.

As to be expected, the water turned a pretty shade of pink and you could see the slight glimmer of the lustre under the surface of the water. Pink Pumpkin produced a good amount of bubbles, and most of them stayed with me throughout the entire bath. However, the colour dissipated a little when the tub was full. 

Much like most of Lush's bubble bars, this one left my skin feeling soft and moisturised, although not to the same level as some of the better seasonal bars. on offer this year. I found that I had to use a body lotion afterwards, just to top up that nourished feeling, and keep my skin in good condition throughout the day. 

Overall, this bubble bar does it's job: it's pretty to look at; offers a lovely floral fragrance; and moisturises your skin while you're bathing in its waters. However, there is nothing particularly memorable about Pink Pumpkin that would drive me back into the shops to purchase more of them. For this reason, this will not be one I'll be buying again.  

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Cornflour, Perfume, Bergamot Oil, Geranium Oil, Jasmine Absolute, Titanium Dioxide, Calcium, Sodium Borosilicate, Tin Oxide, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Limonene, *Linalool, Amyl Cinnamal Benzyl, Alcohol, Citronellol, Coumarin, Colour 45380:3, Colour 45410, Colour 17200, Cinnamon Stick.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £4.25 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Read More

Icon Liquid Perfume

After years of pining, I finally managed to snag myself a bottle of Icon Liquid Perfume - an occasion that should have been marked with happiness and elation. Instead, I found myself rather disappointed when I removed the lid and found that I didn't appreciate the smell that greeted me at all. It was nothing like I remember the soap being, and this was devastating. Even spraying it onto my skin heeded little comfort to me, and I began to question whether I had truly loved the soap as much as I had remembered I had. That was until I left the fragrance to settle and develop on my skin, and discovered that a little patience is all it takes to bring this aroma we very much to life.

Sharing its scent with the soap of the same name, Icon Liquid Perfume is a product that has a lot to live up to, given the nature of its title. Anything less than near-on perfection would be inadequate for a fragrance of its calibre, and luckily it doesn't disappoint.

Much like the soap, what I love about this smell from Lush is that it's so incredibly complex and robust on the skin; it's not a perfume that's merely worn, but instead one used to make a statement. A bold one at that. If you're looking for a signature scent, this fragrance ticks every box and leaves a lasting impression - one that will turn heads and no doubt inspire many a compliment.

Strangely, the ingredients list appears fairly simplistic, and almost boring when compared to the aroma Icon offers. Featuring bergamot, tangerine and mandarin oils as the key ingredients, you'd be mistaken for thinking this is similar to the likes of What Would Love Do? or 1000 Kisses Deep. In fact, the perfume probably wouldn't be too far off either if it wasn't for the inclusion of the myrrh resinoid - a component that I truly believe makes this perfume as special as it is. 

Lush describe the smell of Icon as having 'lots of deep, heavy layers which build up to make the whole sound, with high light notes dancing up above it'. While this description may be rather cryptic about the actual smell of the fragrance, it's a good description of how the perfume works on the skin. For me at least. 

Firstly, much like the soap, I was able to pick out a spicy, mandarin fragrance that gave this perfume a warming, sensual layer to it. This note reminded me a little of crystallised fruit peel (also known as candied peel) and so Icon to me is a very wintery scent because of this reason. There is definitely a delicate spicy element present that teases and tantalises your senses, whilst it is working with the heat of your skin, and offers a very sophisticated twist to the usually quite bitter fruit. 

With the inclusion of both sandalwood and myrrh resinoid in the ingredients, this perfume also has an element of smokiness about it - something you'll either love or hate. Although very subtle in the overall smell of the soap, this pungent, woody, smoky smell definitely dominates the scent as a whole - sitting comfortably as the base note and encouraging that rich, sultry Iconic aroma to captivate the user. In hindsight, it is only through the inclusion of the orange blossom and mandarin oil that stops Icon from being too heavy a scent. These citrus notes give the soap subtle uplifting qualities that help to elevate all of the other ingredients and give them all a chance to shine through.   

From the bottle, the myrrh is far too dominating and over zealous on the skin, and I can imagine many people will be deterred from using it for this reason. However, within five minutes of it being sprayed, that's cloudiness to lifted and you are left with a wholesome, very comforting aroma that is both delicately sweet and wonderfully rich and complex.

As I mentioned above, Icon is one of Lush's most interesting and charismatic fragrances, and one that definitely needs to be tried and tested by anybody who calls themselves a Lush fan. It's truly unforgettable and remains one of my favourite scent families from Lush - if only the company would offer us a shower gel or jelly to divulge in.

Quantitative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Perfume, Bergamot Oil, Water, Glycerine, Tangerine Oil, Sicilian Mandarin Oil, Myrrh Resinoid, Orange Flower Absolute, *Citral, *Geraniol, *Farnesol, *Limonene, *Linalool.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £39.50 for 30ml.

Year Of Original Release: ?

Scent Family:
Icon Bubble Bar
Icon Dusting Powder
Icon Liquid Perfume

Icon Soap

Read More

Bewitched Bubble Bar

There is nothing more bewitching than a bubble bar in the shape of an animal  - especially one molded to look like the nation's favourite furry companion. While not everyone is lucky enough to be able to share their lives with a real-life good luck charm, an endearing bubble bar such as this one is a good replacement. Kind of. 

Bewitched Bubble Bar hits every mark before it's even started. While cats are not my favourite creature on the planet, they are definitely one of, and this brand new Halloween creation reminds me very much of my own two furries. The piercing eyes replicate perfectly how my two boys look at me when they realise it's time to be fed and mama just isn't moving fast enough for their liking.

As I have been fairly absent in the community for a while, I had no idea what any of the new products smelt like, and I was both surprised and excited on discovering that this alluring bubble bar has the same aroma as the now-discontinued Blackberry Bath Bomb, and the very popular Sultana Of Soap. 

While not a fragrance I rave about, I fall in love with the scent a little more, each and every time I come into contact with it. There is something so rich and so succulent about the combination of bergamot and olibanum, and the smell is not only a perfect replica of the bath bomb, but it also compliments the colour and design of this seasonal special perfectly as well. 

Bewitched Bubble Bar is both rich and sweet. The olibanum oil creates a thick, resinous blanket of smell, which gives this product a very sultry feel about it. While I wouldn't say this smells at all like it's 'burnt', there is something that reminds me of sugar that has caught slightly in a hot pan. The inclusion of the bergamot helps to add a warming layer of fruitiness that elevates the base notes and gives this fragrance an all-rounded comforting smell. 

Easy to crumble, this seasonal release can be used across multiple baths, despite the fact that it is a little on the smaller side than I had originally envisaged. It's potency means that the fragrance will remain prominent in your bath until the end, and just Blackberry, this bubble bar will leave a lasting impression on your skin. 

What is gorgeous about Bewitched is that once you have allowed the water to stimulate the bubbles, the water turns a deep shade of black, and silver lustre ebbs underneath the surface. Furthemore, this is one of the most moisturising bubble bars I have come across in a while. You skin will reap the benefits of using one of these in your bath.

This is perhaps the product I will buy the most of this year, as not only does my skin feel incredibly replenished after bathing with one, but the fragrance is the perfect blanket to cocoon you in during the colder months of the year. I may not be able to afford or look after a million cats, but having a handful of these will work out far cheaper in the long run.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Cornflour, Perfume, Bergamot Oil, Olibanum Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, *Limonene, *Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl, Methylpropional, Tin Oxide, Colour 77266, Colour 77491, Colour 47005.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £4.25 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
Bewitched Bubble Bar

Blackberry Bath Bomb

Sultana Of Skin Body Conditioner

Sultana Of Soap Soap

Read More

Berry Berry Christmas Shower Gel

Despite my aversion to the colder weather,  there has always been something about Christmas that has excited me and drawn me in. The festive season, including all of the wonder smells that I associate with the month of December, are part of that magic, and probably play a bigger role in my celebrations than I even realise myself.

However, when I first gave Berry Berry Christmas Shower Gel a sniff, my immediate thought was that this was not a festive fragrance at all. In fact, this was a scent that I'd expect Lush to bring out during the hottest months of the year - not one I fancied cozying up with on a bitterly-cold winter morning, when I'm struggling to get myself ready for work.

It's safe to say that multiple showers later this limited edition has grown on me significantly, and I now recognise the shower gel for what it is: a scent that is designed to compliment the colder weather as opposed to banishing it altogether.

Packed full of fruity goodness, this seasonal delight boats a cranberry infusion as its base ingredient - a component that not only creates a dry and rather tart aroma, but also offers many wonderful antioxidants to cleanse your skin with - leaving it feeling wonderfully fresh for the rest of the day. A combination of both orange and bergamot oil brings out the citrus element of all three ingredients, while the latter oil also offers a note of green that wraps itself around the fruity fragrance.

While it appears to offer a unique smell, that is only replicated by the naked version of the shower gel, Berry Berry Christmas is very similar in scent to that of Ocean Salt. There is something very crisp about it that awakens and intensifies your senses in the shower. Yet there is also something quite simplistic about the aroma as well. It's one of those smells that leaves you feeling really clean because it's very light, but equally as invigorated.

Much like the naked edition, this bottle of seasonal goodness offers a wonderfully rich emerald-esque coat: one that shimmers in the bottle and produces a gorgeously rich and fluffy lather in the shower. This is perhaps one of Lush's thickest shower gels: it's one that when you squeeze it out, it appears almost like a rubber band, and it'll shoot straight back into the bottle if you don't transfer it onto a hand or a loofer. 

As I said above, you really don't need very much at all to create a thick, fluffy and very fragrant foam to wash yourself with, so this shower gel should see you far longer than some of the runnier ones on offer. In comparison to the naked version, I would expect a 250g bottle of this to be used up a little quicker than the solid edition. However, there are a few other differences between the two that should be noted, when making a choice on which one to go for.   

From experience, I felt as if this version had a stronger, more vibrant fruity aroma. While the naked edition does offer the same smell, I felt as if it was a little more reserved than the liquid edition. For this reason, I found that Berry Berry Christmas Shower Gel left less of an impression on skin - probably because the fragrance wasn't as compact as the naked edition, therefore it 'escaped' far quicker.

Secondly, I felt as if this version was not as moisturising as its naked sibling. While my skin felt soft, smooth and clean after my shower, it didn't appear to be as well-nourished as the solid version left me. Having said this, I did prefer using this liquid gel more because I felt as if I got a better experience of the aroma whilst I was in the shower. 

Overall, I think this is a lovely edition to the Christmas range, and definitely something very different to the usual scents that Lush offer at this time of the year. This is one that I would buy again in the future, and it would be good to see a bath bomb or bubble bar in this scent, in the near future.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cranberry Infusion, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Glycerine, Water (Aqua), Lauryl Betaine, Sweet Wild Orange Oil, Fresh Blueberry Juice, Bergamot Oil, Olive Leaf Absolute, Cornstarch, Lactic Acid, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Perfume, *Limonene, *Linalool, *Citral, Colour 42090.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £11.95 for 250g, £19.95 for 500g.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
Berry Berry Christmas Naked Shower Gel

Berry Berry Christmas Shower Gel

Read More

Berry Berry Christmas Naked Shower Gel

While Lush have created some questionable products over the years, the idea of a naked shower gel is perhaps one of the coolest and most innovative of the lot. Although they will always receive backlash from many consumers who dislike or even worry about their creativity, this is one of their designs that I just knew would be exceptional. And I wasn't wrong. 

Berry Berry Christmas Naked Shower Gel is a brand new product for 2017 - one of four being made available throughout the Christmas season as limited editions. Coming in at roughly 12cm in height, this solid variation looks rather minuscule next to its liquid sibling. However, from only a few uses, I can already determine that this will probably outlast a 250g bottle easily, as long as it is stored in the correct manner. 

Despite most consumers recognising the need to reduce wastage, many continue to purchase products packaged in plastic or other such materials. Lush have decided to up their game and show the world that you can create impeccable products, whilst making them ethically sound at the same time. 

Although on paper, these naked gels might sound like glorified soap, I can assure you that they do not work as such. For someone who's body is rather opposed to most soaps, this limited edition did not dry my skin out at all. In fact, I found Berry Berry Christmas to be really moisturising on my skin, and I was able to enjoy the benefits of silk-soft skin for hours after I had used it.

Despite its deep, lustre-speckled emerald coat, this shower gel smells very different to the forest-like fragrance that I was expecting. With a cranberry infusion as the base ingredient, this seasonal special combines sweet orange oil, fresh blueberry juice and bergamot oil in a light but super fruity collaboration.

My nose detects both the orange oil and the bergamot oils as the key ingredients. These two intertwine and produce a bright but rather tart citrus aroma - one with elements of green that help to give the gel an almost bitter edge to it. While the cranberry infusion has been included because of its incredible antioxidant properties, and not to add to the fragrance as such, you're still able to detect a subtle hint of dryness in the mix, which I associate with the smell of fresh cranberries.

To use Lush's naked shower gels, they simply need to come into contact with water. Holding them under water for a brief second, or massaging them between two wet hands, will immediately begin to produce a thick, fragrant lather to use all over your body. You can then choose to run the bottle itself across your skin in a circular motion, or produce the lather in your hands and then use these to distribute the foam.

Either way, I was really impressed to find that I didn't need to hold the product for long to produce the amount of lather that I needed to wash my whole body. I was worried at first that the bottle would shrink a lot quicker because of this constant exposure to water. However, I found that I only needed to use Berry Berry Christmas Naked Shower Gel for a few seconds before I was able to rest it out of the way of the running water, and allow it to dry. 

When it comes to storage, it is important that all of Lush's naked shower gels are allowed to dry in between uses. Although I wouldn't advocate leaving them somewhere too warm, they are different from soaps in the fact that they dry very quickly. You don't have to worry about colours running down your bath like a lot of soaps tend to do if they're left.

Having used both this and the liquid version side-to-side, I discovered that the naked format is slightly more rounded in scent, and I didn't detect as much of the orange in the overall smell. In as many words, it's a little more reserved and not as tart as the liquid gel. Having said that, I was able to detect its fragrance for up to two hours after I rinsed it away from my body - which is a little longer than the liquid version was able to do.

Overall, I really enjoyed using this naked product and I'm now even more excited than before to try the other variations. Despite being a massive advocate of Lush's shower gels, I thought that I might oppose to the solid editions as I assumed they would be far messier and less likely to 'keep' for as long as the bottled versions. However, I have faith that I could leave this on the shelf for a good year and it wouldn't lose its scent, or create a mess either.

Although not strictly a Christmas scent, Berry Berry Christmas Naked Shower Gel is a refreshing and equally upbeat fragrance: one that will compliment the colder weather while also banishing those winter blues. This simple, elegant shower gel will not only leave your skin feeling plump and well-moisturised, but its lack of packaging will help you to sleep easier alongside this.

Quantitative Ingredients: Cranberry Infusion, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Sodium Stearate, Lauryl Betaine, Sweet Wild Orange Oil, Fresh Blueberry Juice, Bergamot Oil, Olive Leaf Absolute, Cornstarch, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Perfume, *Limonene, *Linalool, *Citral, Colour 42090, Black Wax (Specerit Black Z).

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £11.75 for 240g.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
Berry Berry Christmas Naked Shower Gel

Berry Berry Christmas Shower Gel

Read More