Sleepy Hand Cream

As I said in my previous review, the Lush Showcase has become an essential part of the community over the last eighteen months, and it's difficult to imagine what life was like before the sneaky teasers and such. Unfortunately, there are some products that make an appearance at the event, only to disappear into obscurity without any rhyme or reason. Sleepy Handcream is perhaps the most perplexing.

Not only does it share its scent with Twilight - perhaps the most sought after fragrance in Lush's catalogue - but it is also the first of its kind. Never before have the company offered a pocket- sized tube of this design, and I for one have revelled in the creative nature of the artist-inspired bottle, and how practical it is for carrying it around in a day bag. 

In all fairness, I was rather shocked when this didn't make an immediate appearance in the shops, if only because of how quickly it sold out at the showcase event. Not only did I witness an entire bucket having to be replaced in the few minutes I was standing by one of the stalls, but I was told that the product was sold out very early on into the event, which couldn't be said for any other exclusive.

While I have no doubt enticed you with the promise of a Twilight-scented handcream, I feel I need to state that this is not a direct replica. In fact, some fans may even be slightly disappointed with how this differs from the likes of the shower gel, body lotion and perfume. It is definitely of my favourite interpretation of the fragrance, but I appreciate that there is a clear difference between most of the scent family and this elusive product.

Although the handcream contains the familiar collaboration of Lavender and tonka absolute, there is something far more dry and almost grounded about the smell. It's almost as if the tonka has forgone some of its natural sweetness and the lavender has added in an extra herbal boost, which doesn't make this exclusive as rich or as sultry as the shower gel. I think the inclusion of the different nut butters gives this hand cream a subtle nutty aroma, which overrides the sweetness somewhat and makes it very slightly savoury.

Much like Handy Gurugu, this hand cream is very thick and comes out of the tube much like a typical acrylic paint would. This means that it's very easy to dispense the desired amount and won't leak if left unsealed. Because of its viscosity, you need very little to moisturise both hands, and I found that a blueberry-sized piece was more than enough for both hands.

Containing rose water as the key ingredient, this product is great for those with sensitive skin as the rose helps to soothe any irritation and prevent any possible reactions from occurring. The inclusion of evening primrose oil, which is a fairly new move for the company, contains lots of essential fatty acids that help to rebuild and repair skin. Not only this, but it is known for helping to alleviate firmness or rough areas that may come as a result of strenuous grafting with your hands. As someone who lifts weights, this handcream has helped to replenish the moisture I lose after my workout and soften the rough areas that come about through heavy lifting. 

What is good about Sleepy Handcream is that it does seem to replenish the skin within a matter of minutes after applying it. I was able to notice the suppleness of my hands right away and this stayed with me for a good couple of hours after application. For someone who develops dry areas of skin in-between my fingers during the colder months, this hand cream was amazing at banishing this immediately. 

Once on, the smell stays with you for a couple of hours as well, so you may need to be warned: sniffing your hands constantly in public may need some strange, and sometimes pitying, stares. Believe me.

Unfortunately, I found that this hand cream takes quite a while to absorb into the skin, and it's rather rigid when massaging it into the hands as well. Let's just say that it doesn't feel as pleasurable as a normal body lotion does to apply, and your hands will be left feeling rather 'clammy' and 'sticky' for a good 30+ minutes until the skin has fully absorbed the oils and butters. 

Another issue I found was that the hand cream didn't seem to make much of an impact on my hands over a period of many days. I was hoping that the daily application of the cream would ultimately resolve the dry and rough patches permanently, and I would notice an improvement in the condition of my skin. Instead, Sleepy is definitely more of a quick fix, and not something that is going to transform your life the way that the body lotion will. Perhaps this is why Lush opted to release the aforementioned lotion as opposed to the hand cream. 

Ultimately, Sleepy Hand Cream has served me well the last couple of months. As a short- term fix, this will get your hands looking and feeling far more nourished, and you'll carry a wonderful scent with you without having to spray a perfume. However, if it's something more permanent you're after, you may wish to try the well-established Handy Gurugu, which heeds far better results. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Rose water, Fair Trade Shea Butter, Glycerine, Stearic Acid, Organic Almond Oil, Fresh Lemon Juice, Lavender Oil, Benzoin Resinoid, Tonka Absolute, Ylang Ylang Oil, Organic Evening Primrose Oil, Tincture Of Benzoin, Organic Peanut Butter, Organic Pumpkin Butter, Organic Cashew Butter,   Organic Almond Butter.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £4.95 for 35ml, £7.95 for 60ml.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

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Once Upon A Time Naked Body Lotion

Whether or not Lush's naked wave will continue to expand over the coming months, Christmas 2017 will definitely be remembered as the season when the company solidified everything. This is first year that the company have offered naked versions of their seasonal range, and while the initial release was met with resistance, most consumers have since recognised that there is something to the concept.

Once Upon A Time was the first solid Body Lotion that I ever tried - only because I mistook it for a body conditioner and realised soon after my shower that I'd made a huge mistake. While it wasn't the worst experience in the world, I wouldn't say that most humans need to be that heavily moisturised in a single session.

While the naked version is same size as the normal version, this naked body conditioner is far lighter than the 100g tub. Yet it lasts just as long as the small pot, and boasts many properties that makes it equally pleasant as its sibling. 

Firstly, I found the smell of this far more pleasing on the senses from the get-go. Although not as strong as the liquid version, Once Upon A Time Naked Body Lotion has a wonderful, crisp apple aroma that tantalises your tastebuds immediately. Just like all of the other products that share the same fragrance family, this one offers a naturally sweet fruity smell unlike any other apple-scented products on the market right now. 

What you'd think would be a light, summery smell, actually works incredibly well in the colder months, and leaves your skin with a little added radiance that we all need during the harsher weather. The inclusion of the apple infusion not only creates the delicious fragrance, but helps to add shine to your skin, while removing excess grease and dirt at the same time.

To apply, you can either massage this directly across your skin, or between the palms of your hands and then transfer it onto your body that way. I found it easier to do the former, although I should warn you that don't want to completely cover your skin with it. Sliding it over most parts will create enough 'lotion' to then distribute across the rest of your body. The naked tub then needs to be stored somewhere cool and dry, preferably with a piece of grease proof paper underneath so that it doesn't leave any sticky marks. Just like a massage bar, this product will dry almost instantly when it's not exposed to your body heat, so you don't have to worry about it melting when left unattended.

What I found with the naked version is that the consistency of the lotion is far thinner than that of the regular variation. In fact, I thought that this limited edition was almost like a massage bar - as it produces more of an oil-based lather as opposed to a cream. However, it is certainly not as sticky as a massage bar can be, and would definitely suit those who opposed lotions that take ages to absorb into the skin.

When compared to the regular lotion, this one only takes a matter of minutes to full permeate the body, and what you're left with is a slight glint that coats the skin for a short time afterwards. This product is not as all sticky, and I certainly wouldn't call it greasy either. However, I would allow five minutes for the lotion to absorb into the skin before reapplying any clothing.

Secondly, I found that the naked version wasn't as moisturising as the regular edition. The effects of this product only really felt as if it lasted an hour or so, and I needed to reapply to get the deep moisturising feeling that I wanted. While the fragrance was a little sweeter and to my nose a little nicer than the liquid lotion, as it was slightly less potent to begin with, it faded far quicker when on the skin. 

Having said that, I found that this version was easier to glide across the skin, and far far more enjoyable to do so. Furthermore, I found that I needed less of this product to moisturise my whole body with, so although it feels and looks smaller than the 100g tub, both would probably last similar lengths of time. 

Despite this, the affects of both editions were fairly short term, and I found that I needed to reapply the lotion a few times a day to help keep my skin looking radiant and feeling as nourished as I was hoping it would. As I said in my other review,  I noticed my hands in particular felt rather dry only after an hour or two of using Once Upon A Time, so I don't know how well this would work for my skin type when the weather gets very harsh.

Overall, I do really appreciate Once Upon A Time Naked Body Lotion and will continue to use it daily to give my skin the natural radiance it is currently lacking. I think I may even double this up with the liquid version - using this as an afterthought to add give my skin a little extra glean in the winter months. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Apple infusion, Fair Trade Shea Butter, Murumuru Butter, Japan Wax, Spring Water, Perfume, *Limonene, Carnauba Wax, Organic Illipe Butter, Grapefruit Oil, Sicilian Lemon Oil, Lime Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Almond Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Butylphenyl, Methylpropional, *Citronellol, *Eugenol, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, *Linalool, *Citral, Coumarin, Colour 42090:2, Colour 19140:1.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £7.95 each.

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

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Once Upon A Time Body Lotion

Once Upon A Time there was a Lush fan who didn't like the So White Bath Bomb at all. She had no idea why the boring ball of bicarbonate of soda continued to make an appearance every Christmas; why Santa's Belly Shower Jelly was such a big seller during the seasonal period; and why So White Shower Gel caused such excitement when it was released in the Kitchen. But in 2016, the company revamped the bath bomb slightly: a small change that ignited a new-found love of the ballistic for her, and opened up an interest in the scent family a little more than she had previously felt.

For 2017, Lush have released two brand new limited editions that are guaranteed to leave your skin feeling truly magical: Once Upon A Time Body Lotion and Once Upon A Time Naked Body Lotion. Both sharing the same fragrance, these seasonal releases are a big step away from the usual warm, spicy scents that dictate the Christmas range. And while they're similar in many ways, there are also differences that will divide So White fans when it comes to which they prefer.

Once Upon A Time Body Lotion is made using an infusion of apple, grapefruit, lemon and lime oils. While on paper it sounds like a zesty and rather citrusy affair, the aroma you get from this product is very different than some people would expect. It is the apple infusion, along with its ability to brighten and detoxify the skin, that dominates the overall smell, and Lush have done well to capture the very essence of the fruit, in its natural form. 

Much like the shower gel and jelly variations, this body lotion offers a crisp, fruity apple aroma. As I said in my other reviews, the smell reminds me of freshly-picked and washed Granny Smith apples - a bright, crisp and very naturally sweet aroma that offers an almost cooling effect on the skin because of how light and fresh it smells.

As with all of the products in this family, this is one of Lush's most natural fruit scents, although there does appear to be a very subtle 'perfumed' element to the body lotion that gives the overall smell a little more depth and a touch of what I would describe as a floral component. However, it is the apple fragrance that dominates overall and offers something far superior to any apple-scented products that I have ever experienced in my life. 

Pastel-green in colour, Once Upon A Time is a Lotion of medium thickness, meaning that while it doesn't absorb into the skin immediately, it doesn't take more than about 5-10 minutes to permeate the surface and leave you feeling dry enough to apply clothing over the top. What is great about this Lotion is that you don't need a lot to cover your whole body, so my 100g tub is still almost completely full, despite using it multiple times this month. 

As with all body lotions, you only need a small amount on your fingers before massaging it in a circular motion across your skin. From the tub and on the body, Once Upon A Time offers a very strong aroma - much like Santa's Belly, if I'm going to compare it to anything. It's almost slightly sharp in scent when you initially apply it, and I find it almost smells acidic and rather plastic- like in the tub, although this settles down very quickly once it begins to get to work. 

In fact, for who strong it was to begin with, I was rather disappointed to find that the scent didn't stay on the skin for more than about 30 minutes in my case. Whether the subtlety of the lotion meant that my nose wasn't able to detect it, whereas other people around me could, I'm unsure. However, it would have been much more enjoyable if the sweet apple fragrance had worked better with the heat of my skin and lingered around for longer. 

What I did find with this lotion was that it left my skin feeling a little more moisturised than the solid edition, although not overly so. While I wouldn't use the word 'sticky' to describe the feeling, I felt as if my skin was a little more plump and slightly damper after using the liquid edition. Furthermore, the fragrance stayed around for longer, albeit briefly, than that of the naked edition.

On the other hand, I found that this version wasn't as easy to glide across the skin as the solid version demonstrated, and I needed to use more of this to ensure that I had moisturised myself as efficiently as I had done with its naked sibling. Having said this, the affects of both editions were fairly short term, and I found that I needed to reapply the lotion a few times a day to help keep my skin looking radiant and feeling nourished. I noticed my hands in particular felt rather dry only a couple of hours after using Once Upon A Time, so I don't know how well this would work for my skin type in the colder months. 

Overall, this is a lovely edition to the So White range, and definitely one that will win over the hearts of those who are missing the bath bomb this year. While I love the smell in this format - in fact, I think the fragrance suits this product more that any other in the range, I just wish that the fragrance of this lasted a lot longer than it does. While I won't be stocking up on this before the Christmas season ends, I will continue to enjoy my tub of Once Upon A Time while it lasts me.

Quantitative Ingredients: Apple infusion, Almond Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Glycerine, Murumuru Butter, Stearic Acid, Perfume, *Limonene, Organic Illipe Butter, Triethanolamine, Grapefruit Oil, Sicilian Lemon Oil, Lime Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, *Citronellol, *Eugenol, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, *Linalool, *Citral, Coumarin, Colour 42090:2, Colour 19140:1.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £7.95 for 100g, £13.95 for 225g.

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

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Maypole Body Lotion

Although I would never claim to be a huge fan of mint, there is something delicious and rather satisfying about a mint fragrance that has a buttery element to it. While I'm not a fan of soaps as a whole, and I find it very difficult to get that excited about any new ones that Lush bring out, I have to say that Maypole was definitely one that piped my interests a little to begin with.

 

Sharing its scent with the aforementioned soap, Maypole Body Lotion is exactly like its older sibling - a creamy, mouth-watering combination of peppermint and Canadian maple syrup. There is something about this combination that removes that unwanted harsh smell that you'd normally associate with mint-dominated fragrances, and instead offers a velvety blanket of peppermint that is slightly cushioned by the sweetness of the syrup.

 

Imagine a buttery mint or mint-flavoured toffee, and you might begin to understand the scent that this body lotion offers. While those that oppose mint smells will still dislike this release, consumers that are looking for something both refreshing and comforting, will probably quite enjoy what this product has to offer. 

Released as a one-off special in the Lush Kitchen, this limited edition is the perfect accompaniment for this time of year. In the autumn weather, the sweetness of the syrup comes alive with the heat of your body, and you'll feel like you're wrapped in a sugary blanket of warmth and comfort. During the winter months, the mint will not only stimulate your muscles and relieve a little tension, but will work on leaving you feeling refreshed while you're cocooned under layers of clothing. 

 

Sporting a medium thickness, this limited edition is fairly straight forward to apply across the body, and you won't find that it takes very long to be absorbed into the skin. I would recommend that once you're massaged it across the areas you wish to moisturise, you leave a good 10-15 minutes to allow the product to disperse into the skin before reapplying any clothing.

 

Once on the skin, the peppermint tends to dissipate within about 10 minutes, and you're left with more of a creamy, sugary smell with just a hint of mint in the background. Within about 40 -50 minutes, I wasn't able to detect much of a smell at all, and I had to reapply the body lotion If I wanted more of the fragrance.

While the aroma was fairly short-lived, I did find that the lotion did have an impact on my skin for a good few hours after application. My hands in particular, which seem to receive the brunt of the colder weather, were still smooth and soft some three hours later, and I found that I only needed to reapply it once more throughout the day to keep them in good condition. 

 

Having said that, I did notice that my skin needed to be moisturised again the following day, as the body lotion doesn't seem to heed long-term results. Unlike Sympathy For The Skin, I didn't noticed the condition of my skin change and improve over time, so I don't believe this lotion is overly nourishing for those who have fairly dry complexions.

 

Overall, those who want a body lotion that will keep them moisturised for the day ahead, Maypole may be one you want to try - if it ever makes an appearance again. However, there are lotions that are far more effective, and much more appealing to me that will probably prevent me from purchasing this again any time soon.Quantitative Ingredients: ?Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £13.95 for 225g.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

 

Scent Family:

Maypole Body Lotion

Maypole Soap

 

 

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Furze Body Lotion

The Furze fragrance has always been one I've been up and down about, since it was first introduced a few years ago as a liquid perfume. There are times when I really relish in the soft, hazy aroma of the bath melt, and end up basking myself in the body spray and sniffing my skin for hours. However, there are also times when the fragrance doesn't interest me at all, so I had no idea how I would react to the lotion until I had tested it out over a number of days. 

While not a product I would ever have expected Lush to release, Furze Body Lotion definitely impressed me upon arrival. Smelling exactly as expected, this limited edition is easily my favourite format in this scent. This is not only because of the way it settles on the skin and leaves you smelling beautiful, but because of how effective it is as making you feel super soft.

As with its older siblings, this body lotion contains a generous helping of mimosa absolute, which offers up what I can only describe as a hazy and very milky floral fragrance. Alongside this, there is also a very strong thread of both coconut and vanilla, which gives Furze a sickly sweet element to it as well. The coconut is definitely very prevalent in this body lotion, and I really appreciated the almost nutty component that you can smell on your skin after application. 

Together, all three of these ingredients create a very unique and equally very beautiful aroma - one that reminds you of being outdoors, in the fields, during the summer months. There is something rather romantic about this scent, and as Lush state themselves, is 'reminiscent of sunny walks through the British countryside' - a pastime I enjoy doing every summer.

From the tub, Furze is slightly pink in colour, and presents itself as a fairly medium consistency - similar to Sympathy For the Skin but perhaps a little thinner. This turned out to be the perfect consistency as it absorbed into the skin so quickly and didn't leave any stickiness behind on the surface. I was able to apply my clothes after only a matter of minutes, and I wasn't worried about it leaving any marks.

Once on the skin, this Kitchen exclusive settled wonderfully and I could smell warming bursts of coconut and mimosa reacting to the hear of my body. Unfortunately, this experience was short-lived as I found that the smell had all but vanished within the first 30-40 minutes. This was such a shame as I think it definitely a scent that lends itself to be used on the skin, and I only wish I could have appreciated it for longer.

Having said that, I found that my skin looked and felt really replenished after using this. It was instantly moisturising, which is great for someone like me who often gets quite dry and parched skin. However, I did find that I had to reapply the lotion a few times during the day,  in order to maintain that feeling. 

I will definitely continue to use my tub throughout the summer months, as I feel that it's a fragrance well-suited to the hotter weather. And coupled with the body spray means that I can enjoy the smell for a lot longer as well. I may not always be able to enjoy the English countryside in central London, but I can give the impression I can by using this little gem.

Quantitative Ingredients: Water, Almond Oil, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, *Glycerine, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Mimosa Absolute, Neroli Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Amyl Cinnamal Hydroxycitronellal, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £13.95 for 225g.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:

Furze Bath Oil
Furze Body Lotion
Furze Body Spray

Furze Liquid Perfume

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Happy Blooming Body Lotion

Although I would never claim to be a huge fan of cherries, or indeed cherry-scented products, there was something special about the Happy Blooming Bath Melt that won me over fairly quickly. While it is definitely not the most easy-going bath melt, when compared to newer releases, I still find it super indulgent, even today. You can imagine then how bowled over I was to try the shower jelly out for the first time, and indeed how I felt then with the recent release of the body lotion.

Having spent years being disappointed by the synthetic, poor-excuse-for-a-cherry-fragrance products that brandish the shelves of other high street stores, it is both refreshing and exciting to experience an aroma so true to the original fruit, and so naturally beautiful in every way.

Happy Blooming Body Lotion is an exquisite, richly-scented product that offers fans of the shower jelly and bath melt everything that they could ever wish for. Despite the ingredients list leaving you wondering just how exactly the company have crafted this sweet and fruity offering, this limited edition is exactly what you'd expect it to be, and more.

From the tub, this lotion displays a strong, juicy cherry aroma. It is almost like taking a freshly-picked handful of succulent black cherries and grinding them down to form a thick pulp. In a way, the smell of this lotion reminds me a little of the boiled cherry drops that you'll find in most old-fashioned sweet stores. However, to say that the smell is identical would be underselling this limited edition quite a bit.

It is the inclusion of the benzoin resinoid in this lotion that creates such a powerful and long-lasting fragrance. This is a product you use when you want something withstanding, and something comforting to see you through a good many hours. I can happily vouch that after applying this to my skin, I found that I could still smell the warming, sweetness some four hours later. In that way, I consider it to be one of Lush's most potent body lotions to date. 

As with many of the recently released body lotions, Happy Blooming is what I'd describe as being of medium consistency. While it's not a tub you could hold upside down without an spillage, it is also not as thick as it  initially appears in the pot. 

Once you've divulged a small amount onto your skin, you'll see that it's the perfect consistency for massaging it across the body. What I love about this lotion is that it is one of those that the skin absorbs really quickly, so you are not left feeling sticky or particularly wet afterwards. Furthermore, there is something rather cooling about this lotion that I appreciated very much, and it was the perfect companion for me after a long day at the beach.

Containing a generous amount of cocoa butter to moisturise and nourish your skin; and a large helping of almond oil to soften and replenish, Happy Blooming does the job of rejuvenating weathered and tired looking skin - banishing any dry areas and giving your skin a natural glean that makes it look even healthier throughout the day. 

My only issue with this body lotion is the fact that I didn't find the benefits lasted much longer than a day. To continue improving the condition of my skin, I would need to apply this daily, which is perfectly fine to do so, but isn't necessarily the case with some of Lush's other lotions.

Overall, this is exactly what fans of Happy Blooming were no doubt waiting for: a product that is not only delectable and super fruity, but one that is very much true to the original scent family. Robust and juicy - this is a body lotion that I will continue to enjoy across the next few months, and I would highly recommend that you experience yourself.

Quantitative Ingredients: Water, Almond Oil, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Glycerine, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Benzoin Resinoid, Ylang Ylang Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Benzyl Cinnamate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £13.95 for 225g.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
Cherry Blossom Reusable Bubble Bar
Happy Blooming Bath Melt
Happy Blooming Body Lotion
Happy Blooming Shower Jelly

Happy Blooming Solid Perfume

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Big Calm Body Lotion

For most of my life, I have dreamt of travelling; of visiting new places and exploring new terrain; of creating lasting memories and discovering my full potential as a human being. Unfortunately, my career-driven head has meant that I have spent the majority of my time working, and have barely visited anywhere of note as of yet.

Big Calm Body Lotion is like the plane ride I have never been able to take: a feast of smells that engulf your senses and leave a lasting mark on the skin. If you're as much of a fan of the shower jelly as I am, you will be pleased to hear that this limited edition is the perfect partnership, and replicates the fragrance perfectly.

From the moment I removed the lid, the smell engulfed me like a tidal wave - a thick, sweet, nutty collaboration that'll have you salivating from the get-go. With the key ingredients being sweet orange and vetivert oil, this body lotion has both a fruity and a sultry side to it, and the two work in perfect unison to make this one of Lush's greatest body lotions to date.

On the one hand, the latter ingredient gives the lotion a thick, creamy coconut base: one that is both warming and comforting, while still managing to be cooling and crisp on the skin. There is a very subtle element of sweetness, which is what gives Big Calm its creamy fragrance. 

Alongside this coconut element is a note of orange, which offers tropical bursts reminiscent of juicy pineapple. Together both components create a fragrance not unlike that of a Pina Colada - one that is slightly musky and sultry, while also being rather uplifting, cooling and refreshing on the body.

What I loved about this body lotion was the strength of the overall smell, and just how long it lasted on the skin. After applying a generous amount all over my body, I was surprised to find that although the lotion was quite thick, it was absorbed into the skin fairly quickly. Within five minutes of massaging it across my body, I was able to reapply my clothes without any excess product transferring itself onto my attire. Furthermore, I was left with instantly smooth skin that not only lasted for the most part of the day, but had a wonderful glow about it.  

Despite my opposition at using body lotion in the warmer months, I was  impressed by just how light the lotion felt, and how long the aroma lasted, once it had been applied. I would be more than happy to use this in the summer because not only does the smell compliment the warmer weather, but the lotion doesn't leave you feeling at all sticky.

After settling on the skin for a matter of minutes, the coconutty element comes to the forefront and the fruitiness diminishes a little, and you are left with a sweet, musky fragrance that lasts a good couple of hours.

Unlike some of the body lotions that I have experienced recently, I found that Big Calm improved the condition of my skin from the very first use, and then maintained and continued to replenish even further with every application. Having used this lotion near on solidly for a week, I have noticed that my legs, which have sported small areas of dry skin due to the humid weather, now appear radiant and soft at all times.

Overall, this is perhaps my favourite body lotion that Lush have ever produced, which is a big statement to make given knowing that they've made a number of exceptional creations over the years. Not only am I glad that they have chosen this as a fragrance to explore in other formats, but that I have two tubs of this beautiful body lotion to see me through the summer months. This has definitely become a staple in my household, and I just hope this is not the last time it makes an appearance in the Lush Kitchen.   
  
Quantitative Ingredients: Water, Almond Oil,Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, *Glycerine, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Sweet Orange Oil, Vetivert Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, *Citral, Coumarin, *Limonene, *Linalool, Perfume, Methylparaben Propylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £13.95 for 240g.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
Big Calm Body Lotion
Big Calm Shower Jelly

Big Calm Solid Perfume

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Flying Fox Body Lotion

I'll be honest when I say that I was rather disappointed when Flying Fox Shower Gel secured a top five position in the Kitchen vote for new products. While I am a big advocate of Floating Flower Bath Bomb, and I enjoy the occasion spray of my dwindling Lust Liquid Perfume, I cannot say that I am a huge fan of the scent family all that much. In fact, I find myself rather indifferent to it most of the time.

As the shower gel contains honey, I have never had the opportunity to try it out for myself. However, my experience with the Lust family is extensive enough that I had a good idea what this body lotion would be like before I'd even received it in the post. As far as estimations go, I was rather accurate.

Flying Fox Body Lotion is for those who don't just like their jasmine, but instead want to drown themselves in a tsunami of the popular floral component. While Lush claim that the product contains ylang ylang, cypress and palmarosa oils as well, it is the jasmine that is at the forefront of the fragrance. And it is this note that makes the biggest impression on the skin as well. 

From the tub, you can immediately detect the strong, sultry floral elements that make up the popular Lust scent. The jasmine offers a very heady and slightly sickly-sweet note - one that is supported by the subtle grassy undertones of the ylang ylang. There is something rather saturated about this aroma that makes it so unique, and I think the addition of the cypress oil also helps to bring forth an almost resinous, floral aroma.

If you are somebody who is opposed to strong scents, I would avoid any products in this scent family: this is definitely more suited to somebody looking for a full-bodied, jasmine experience. And while I think it's a little less in your face' than the likes of Godiva and Lust Liquid Perfume, it is still strong enough to knock you for six.

Interestingly, I found this lotion to be a little thinner than the likes of Calacas and Grass. Given that I assumed they had all been made from the same base ingredients, I was surprised to find that the lotion was not only thinner in consistency, but that it was a little easier to absorb into the skin. Furthermore, I found that this lotion didn't leave any white residue on the surface of the body, and seemed easier to massage across an area than the aforementioned products. 

Once on the skin, I will admit that I didn't like the smell that it left at all. In fact, for the first five minutes, I found that the aroma radiating from my body was far too sweet for my liking. However, once the body lotion had settled down, I was able to appreciate that the floral components were not as potent as they began, and I enjoyed the rounded floral fragrance on my skin. 

What I liked about Flying Fox Body Lotion was that my skin felt really smooth after application, and I didn't get that heavy feeling that I found with the body lotions mentioned above. In addition, I found that the lotion absorbed into the skin within the first ten minutes, so I didn't have to wait too long before I could get dressed and go about my day.

For this reason, this would be a great lotion to use as a 'top up' throughout the day, where you could reapply it if you felt your skin needed replenishing during a summer day. This lotion is also suited to those hotter moments, as the heat stimulates the different notes and brings out the fragrance for you to try over and over again. I was impressed that the scent stayed with me far longer than a lot of other lotions would, and I was still able to detect a faint note of jasmine a couple of hours after the initial application. 

Overall, this body lotion was by no means terrible, but it's definitely not a scent that I would want to wear all of the time. Fans of Lust will no doubt appreciate lathering themselves up with this lotion, and those who fancy a jasmine binge will no doubt do the same. However, this is one I shall only continue using in small doses. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Almond Oil, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Glycerine, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Jasmine Absolute, Ylang Ylang Oil, Cypress Oil, Palmarosa Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Benzyl Salicylate, *Farnesol, *Geraniol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Perfume (synthetic), Methylparaben Propylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £13.85 for 225g.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:

Floating Flower Bath Ballistic
Flying Fox Body Lotion
Flying Fox Shower Gel
Flying Fox Solid Perfume
Godiva Solid Shampoo Bar
Lust Liquid Perfume 
Lustre Dusting Powder
Lust Solid Perfume
Yes Yes Yes Massage Bar
Youki-Hi Bath Ballistic

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