1000 Millihelens Jelly Face Mask

One of the biggest problems I have with Lush is their constant need to invent new products. This may sound rather strange, given that you'd normally expect to find me revelling in new releases. However, I have more of an issue with the fact that many of these new inventions never see the light of day, or if they do, they're likely to be made in very small batches and only available to those lucky enough to be there at the time. For someone who has a compulsion and a need to experience everything that comes out of the company, this is a practice that I feel uncomfortable with. 

When I attended the Lush Summit event earlier this year, I was apprehensive about the fact that the company had five brand new face mask inventions available to sniff, hold and experience right there and then. However, not one of them was available for sale at that particular moment, meaning that I had to walk away knowing that there was a product in existence that I wasn't able to try. Luckily for me, I was finally able to obtain four out of the five of them later that day, which helped to relieve the uneasiness that I had been feeling up until that moment.

1000 Millihelens is one of a handful of exclusive new jelly masks that have just recently made themselves available in stores. The first of its kind, this brand new invention is an exciting leap for Lush, who have only been known to release fresh face masks up until this point. 

While there current range of masks are far superior to any other mask I have experienced outside of Lush, my only issue is the fact that they offer the shortest shelf life out of every other Lush product available to buy. What first struck me about each and every one of the five new jelly masks, is that they appear to have an extended use by date of up to a year - which is a 1100% increase when compared to the regular masks. 

After using the face mask near on every day for a matter of weeks, I have also concluded that the longevity of this product far outweighs that of its predecessors. Whereas a normal pot would give me on average about 6-8 uses, I found that the jelly variation had barely shrunk after my tenth use, and I could easily envisage getting upwards of another twenty uses out of it, if not more.

The basic premise of the jelly face mask is that you could can utilise it in one of two ways. Firstly, you have the option of using it in the same way as you would a regular shower jelly, albeit on the face. You can either add a little dash of water between your palms, massage it to create a gentle lather and then apply this to your face; or you can ensure that the jelly is wet and then massage it directly across your face. This way will heed a very light layer of product on the skin, although it's still enough to get impressive results from the mask.

Secondly (and the way that it was meant to be used) is to break off a small grape-sized piece, use a small amount of water to massage the jelly into a paste-like consistency, and then apply it directly to the face. This will give you a much thicker layer of production on your skin, and perhaps works slightly more intensely overall. 

Either way, what you will notice is that this mask is not as heavy or as noticeable as the regular face masks are. You wont be left with a really thick layer of product on your skin, like you would normally expect to. Instead, your face will harvest a thin layer of product, that you then leave on for the usual twenty minutes, before washing off.  

Having chosen 1000 Millihelens to try out first, I was really impressed by the fragrance that greeted me from the tub. Sharing its scent with the Johnny Appleseed Bath Oil, this bright, fruity apple-dominated mask is delicious from the word go. Featuring witch hazel to soothe and relieve irritated skin, green tea to detox and purify the pores, and kaolin clay to remove unwanted grease and dirt, this powerhouse of ingredients is lighter and far sweeter than any of Lush's other masks. For those who have not experienced this bath oil before, 1000 Millihelens smells like a combination of expensive apple juice with a gentle layer of herbal green tea alongside this.  

Based on Helen Ambrosen, this face mask also features lemon oil to add radiance to your complexion, making it super effective but equally gentle on the skin. What I really appreciated about this face mask was that it was far easier to use than a regular face mask, and I was able to apply it after jumping in the shower, rather than set time aside to so before I could wash myself. 

After washing this off, I was initially disappointed to find that my skin didn't feel as plump or as well-nourished as the likes of Oatifix or Don't Look At Me. However, I discovered that this product was more of a 'grower' - in that it worked more subtlety over time, so that my skin felt far softer and smoother half an hour after I had rinsed it off.

I feel as if this mask would be suited for most skin types. My complexion is what I'd describe as normal to dry, and my skin was left feeling very radiant and smooth afterwards. The inclusion of the green tea infusion really help to clean out my pores of any dirt or debris; the apple gave my complexion a natural shine that stayed with me for the most part of the day. For those with slightly greasier skin, you may find that the different clays will help to absorb excess oils  as well.  

Overall, I am really excited about the idea of these being made for shop release. The jelly face mask is a unique concept that won't (and shouldn't) replace replace the regular face masks, but definitely makes a very different and more cost effective alternative. I look forward to seeing what other variations may transpire in the near future.

Quantitative Ingredients: Green Tea Infusion, Glycerine, Propylene, Glycol, Kaolin, Zeolite Clay, Fresh Apple Juice, Talc, Carrageenan Extract, Sicilian Lemon Oil, Neroli Oil, Brazilian Orange Oil, Witch Hazel Extract, Water, Geraniol, Perfume, Chlorophyllin.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £6.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
1000 Millihelens Jelly Face Mask
Johnny Appleseed Bath Oil

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Prince Of Darkness Fresh Face Mask

There's something rather horrifying about a tub full of black gloop - reminds me of a terrible near-drowning experience that I went through when I was younger. While I no longer choose to throw myself into blackened, muddy rivers like I did back then, a mere glance at this product brought back those unpleasant memories - ones that I would rather leave forgotten. 

Despite my association of this with a childhood trauma, I was surprised to find that I really enjoyed using Prince Of Darkness Fresh Face Mask. Not only did it immediately improve the condition of my skin after a single use, but it made for a very different experience from any of Lush's other masks that are currently on offer in their stores. 

Named as a homage to the notorious rocker, Ozzy Osbourne, this brand new face mask works as both a scrub and a cleanser. Containing an array of ingredients to help brighten the complexion, clean away unwanted debris and soften the skin, this exclusive product is a haven of key elements that work in harmony with all skin types, especially those with greasier skin. 

What is intriguing about this mask is that two of the main ingredients have come directly from the earth so they are as natural as can be. Fullers earth is a type of clay material that is known for its fantastic absorption of excess oils and dirt on the skin. Removing these unwanted particles from the face allows the clay to work on giving the complexion a thorough cleanse so it feels super-soft and looks much clearer afterwards.

Kaolin has a slightly rougher texture, which is what partially gives Prince Of Darkness its consistency, but this too is known for its cleansing properties. This ingredient exfoliates dead skin cells while absorbing excess oils on the skin - helping to leave a well-balanced and far healthier looking complexion. 

The powdered charcoal is what gives this face mask its colour - not to mention most of its consistency which makes it such an effective exfoliator. As well as allowing the mask to gently scrub away surface dirt, the charcoal works on balancing out the face's natural oil secretions so the skin isn't so shiny or greasy.

While it doesn't smell identical to Dark Angels Facial Cleanser, there is definitely some similarities here. Both use charcoal to help balance the face's natural sebum release and both have a slight scratchy consistency which allows you to remove unwanted dry skin and dirt during application. Not only this, but both products have a sort of sweet but slightly burnt aroma - one that isn't particularly pleasant on the senses, but one that isn't exactly awful either. 

Once the mask has been applied, you're supposed to leave it on your face for a good 15 - 20 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water. What is interesting about Prince Of Darkness, is that this is a face mask that doesn't seem to dry once it's been applied. While every other face mask I have used from Lush has dried and set on my face, this one remained wet right up until I rinsed it off in the shower. I quite enjoyed this aspect of the product as it meant that I wasn't dropping flakes of dried mask all over the floor while I was waiting to wash it off. 

Once you have patted your face dry, you're left with a clean, clear and rather radiant looking complexion - one that feels smooth to the touch. I loved how refreshed and uplifted it made my face feel after use and I would definitely use this again. 

While Lush doesn't advertise it as being so, I think that this face mask would suit those with more oily, greasy complexions. I only say this because the grainy element of the mask would be great at removing stubborn build up of grease, while the lavender oils would soothe sensitive skin and prevent the former ingredients from being too harsh on the complexion. 

Although I don't have greasy skin - in fact, I suffer from the very opposite most of the time, this mask worked well with my complexion. While my face didn't feel as moisturised as it does after I have used Catastrophe Cosmetic, it did feel very light and free of dirt and would work as a fantastic night time mask to clean the skin before going to bed. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Glycerine, Kaolin, Fullers Earth, Water (Aqua), Powdered Charcoal, Labdanum Resinoid (Cistus labdaniferus), Patchouli Oil (Pogostemon cablin), Tincture Of Benzoin (Styrax benzoin), Lavender Oil (Lavandula angustifolia), Fine Sea Salt, Limonene, Geraniol, Linalool, Citral, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes. 

2015 Price: £6.95.

Year Of Original Release: 2015. 

 

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Prince Of Darkness Fresh Face Mask

There's something rather horrifying about a tub full of black gloop - reminds me of a terrible near-drowning experience that I went through when I was younger. While I no longer choose to throw myself into blackened, muddy rivers like I did back then, a mere glance at this product brought back those unpleasant memories - ones that I would rather leave forgotten. 

Despite my association of this with a childhood trauma, I was surprised to find that I really enjoyed using Prince Of Darkness Fresh Face Mask. Not only did it immediately improve the condition of my skin after a single use, but it made for a very different experience from any of Lush's other masks that are currently on offer in their stores. 

Named as a homage to the notorious rocker, Ozzy Osbourne, this brand new face mask works as both a scrub and a cleanser. Containing an array of ingredients to help brighten the complexion, clean away unwanted debris and soften the skin, this exclusive product is a haven of key elements that work in harmony with all skin types, especially those with greasier skin. 

What is intriguing about this mask is that two of the main ingredients have come directly from the earth so they are as natural as can be. Fullers earth is a type of clay material that is known for its fantastic absorption of excess oils and dirt on the skin. Removing these unwanted particles from the face allows the clay to work on giving the complexion a thorough cleanse so it feels super-soft and looks much clearer afterwards.

Kaolin has a slightly rougher texture, which is what partially gives Prince Of Darkness its consistency, but this too is known for its cleansing properties. This ingredient exfoliates dead skin cells while absorbing excess oils on the skin - helping to leave a well-balanced and far healthier looking complexion. 

The powdered charcoal is what gives this face mask its colour - not to mention most of its consistency which makes it such an effective exfoliator. As well as allowing the mask to gently scrub away surface dirt, the charcoal works on balancing out the face's natural oil secretions so the skin isn't so shiny or greasy.

While it doesn't smell identical to Dark Angels Facial Cleanser, there is definitely some similarities here. Both use charcoal to help balance the face's natural sebum release and both have a slight scratchy consistency which allows you to remove unwanted dry skin and dirt during application. Not only this, but both products have a sort of sweet but slightly burnt aroma - one that isn't particularly pleasant on the senses, but one that isn't exactly awful either. 

Once the mask has been applied, you're supposed to leave it on your face for a good 15 - 20 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water. What is interesting about Prince Of Darkness, is that this is a face mask that doesn't seem to dry once it's been applied. While every other face mask I have used from Lush has dried and set on my face, this one remained wet right up until I rinsed it off in the shower. I quite enjoyed this aspect of the product as it meant that I wasn't dropping flakes of dried mask all over the floor while I was waiting to wash it off. 

Once you have patted your face dry, you're left with a clean, clear and rather radiant looking complexion - one that feels smooth to the touch. I loved how refreshed and uplifted it made my face feel after use and I would definitely use this again. 

While Lush doesn't advertise it as being so, I think that this face mask would suit those with more oily, greasy complexions. I only say this because the grainy element of the mask would be great at removing stubborn build up of grease, while the lavender oils would soothe sensitive skin and prevent the former ingredients from being too harsh on the complexion. 

Although I don't have greasy skin - in fact, I suffer from the very opposite most of the time, this mask worked well with my complexion. While my face didn't feel as moisturised as it does after I have used Catastrophe Cosmetic, it did feel very light and free of dirt and would work as a fantastic night time mask to clean the skin before going to bed. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Glycerine, Kaolin, Fullers Earth, Water (Aqua), Powdered Charcoal, Labdanum Resinoid (Cistus labdaniferus), Patchouli Oil (Pogostemon cablin), Tincture Of Benzoin (Styrax benzoin), Lavender Oil (Lavandula angustifolia), Fine Sea Salt, Limonene, Geraniol, Linalool, Citral, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes. 

2015 Price: £6.95.

Year Of Original Release: 2015. 

 

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Cup O' Coffee Exfoliating Mask

Sometimes the role of a teacher can be very overwhelming and usually warrants far more of your time than your average nine to five job. Weekends and evenings are never 'marking or planning free', and your sleep can also be interrupted with either ideas for lessons or strategies on how to cope with the impossible-to-complete admin tasks that have been thrown at you.

When the stress of the job becomes too much, I will often revert to drinking bucketloads of coffee to counteract the tiredness and lack of enthusiasm I feel towards the profession. While it's not the greatest remedy I could opt for, it's the simplest and quickest one available.

When Lush first announced that Cup O' Coffee Exfoliating Mask was coming out, I was immediately intrigued by the concept of using coffee in other ways to stimulate and alert me in the mornings. While it was initially targeted towards a male market, Lush's products are always universal, so I wasn't put off from purchasing a large 250g tub during the opening day of the Oxford Street store. 

This exfoliating mask is designed to be used on both the body and the face - stimulating and hydrating the skin and leaving you feeling ready to face the day ahead. Featuring a blend of coffee infusion and roasted cocoa extract, this product presents a very strong, rich and heavily smoky aroma in the tub. 

While the ground coffee is the dominant fragrance, you can detect a subtle chocolately layer underneath, which just softens the bitter coffee aroma and gives it a pleasant, rounded smell overall. The Fair Trade vanilla absolute and organic agave nectar induces a little sweetness into the mix as well, so while you'll need to like coffee to appreciate the smell, it's not as dry or as potent as Percup Massage Bar. 

A point that I feel I should make in regards to the smell of this product, is that while I drink coffee regularly, I would not consider myself to be a big fan of the smell. Most coffee-scented products wouldn't get a second look-in for me and it would be one of the last scents that I turn to for product fragrances. However, whether it's because of how it benefits my skin, or whether it's because of how it makes me feel after I have used it, but I really don't mind the aroma of this product at all. If you are someone who dislikes coffee, I would still recommend that you try this out - you may end up loving it as much as I do. 

Aside from its aroma, Cup 'O Coffee features an array of ingredients to help moisturise, hydrate and exfoliate tired and weathered skin. Kaolin helps to cleanse and exfoliate dead skin cells and debris from the surface; coriander seed oil stimulates both your skin and mind with it's spicy, slightly aromatic fragrance; and vetivert oil restores the moisture that you may have lost over time and gives your body a smooth, healthy finish. 

In the pot, this exfoliating mask doesn't look particularly appealing - a thick, murky brown paste with specks of black laced throughout the entire tub. However, it is these tiny pieces of ground coffee and caffeine powder that give this mask it's grainy consistency and help to make it a really effective skincare product. 

As you apply liberally to the areas of the body that you feel needs it, massaging it all over in circular motions, the grains of coffee will not only remove any dry skin or debris that may have been present on the skin, but give you a gentle scrub to leave you feeling clean and refreshed afterwards. While it does offer a slightly rougher consistency than most of Lush's regular face masks, it is not as gritty as the likes of Don't Look At Me Face Mask, so you won't have to worry about it being too harsh on your skin. 

After leaving it on for a good 10-15 minutes, you'll need to rinse it off in the shower and apply a body lotion or massage bar to inject and maintain that hydrated feeling for the rest of day. I found that my skin felt instantly rejuvenated after using this in the mornings, and whether or not it was psychological or physical, but I also felt far more alert and awake after using this mask.

Although I wouldn't use Cup 'O Coffee every day, this is a great product for those who need an emergency blanket to turn to when they're having 'one of those morning'. This not only left my skin feeling clean and clear and looking radiant, but helped to improve my mood to boot so I wasn't such a grumpy person at work that day. 

While it's not going to solve my overabundance of marking, this mask is definitely something that I know I can rely upon to give me an instant boost. For this reason, I will definitely be buying this on a regular basis and recommending it to all of my colleagues who are in the same boat as me. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Coffee Infusion (Coffea Arabica), Water (Aqua), Tacl, Kaolin, Organic Agave Syrup (Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract), Glycerine, Perfume, Vetivert oil (Vitiveria zizanoides), Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute (Vanilla planifolia), Roasted Cocoa Extract (Theobroma cacao), Coriander Seed oil (Coriandrum sativum), Ventone (Hectorite), Caffeine Powder (Caffeine), Coumarin, Limonene, Linalool.

Vegan?: Yes.

2015 Price: £6.50 for 100g, £12 for 250g.

Year Of Original Release: 2015. 

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Cup O' Coffee Exfoliating Mask

Sometimes the role of a teacher can be very overwhelming and usually warrants far more of your time than your average nine to five job. Weekends and evenings are never 'marking or planning free', and your sleep can also be interrupted with either ideas for lessons or strategies on how to cope with the impossible-to-complete admin tasks that have been thrown at you.

When the stress of the job becomes too much, I will often revert to drinking bucketloads of coffee to counteract the tiredness and lack of enthusiasm I feel towards the profession. While it's not the greatest remedy I could opt for, it's the simplest and quickest one available.

When Lush first announced that Cup O' Coffee Exfoliating Mask was coming out, I was immediately intrigued by the concept of using coffee in other ways to stimulate and alert me in the mornings. While it was initially targeted towards a male market, Lush's products are always universal, so I wasn't put off from purchasing a large 250g tub during the opening day of the Oxford Street store. 

This exfoliating mask is designed to be used on both the body and the face - stimulating and hydrating the skin and leaving you feeling ready to face the day ahead. Featuring a blend of coffee infusion and roasted cocoa extract, this product presents a very strong, rich and heavily smoky aroma in the tub. 

While the ground coffee is the dominant fragrance, you can detect a subtle chocolately layer underneath, which just softens the bitter coffee aroma and gives it a pleasant, rounded smell overall. The Fair Trade vanilla absolute and organic agave nectar induces a little sweetness into the mix as well, so while you'll need to like coffee to appreciate the smell, it's not as dry or as potent as Percup Massage Bar. 

A point that I feel I should make in regards to the smell of this product, is that while I drink coffee regularly, I would not consider myself to be a big fan of the smell. Most coffee-scented products wouldn't get a second look-in for me and it would be one of the last scents that I turn to for product fragrances. However, whether it's because of how it benefits my skin, or whether it's because of how it makes me feel after I have used it, but I really don't mind the aroma of this product at all. If you are someone who dislikes coffee, I would still recommend that you try this out - you may end up loving it as much as I do. 

Aside from its aroma, Cup 'O Coffee features an array of ingredients to help moisturise, hydrate and exfoliate tired and weathered skin. Kaolin helps to cleanse and exfoliate dead skin cells and debris from the surface; coriander seed oil stimulates both your skin and mind with it's spicy, slightly aromatic fragrance; and vetivert oil restores the moisture that you may have lost over time and gives your body a smooth, healthy finish. 

In the pot, this exfoliating mask doesn't look particularly appealing - a thick, murky brown paste with specks of black laced throughout the entire tub. However, it is these tiny pieces of ground coffee and caffeine powder that give this mask it's grainy consistency and help to make it a really effective skincare product. 

As you apply liberally to the areas of the body that you feel needs it, massaging it all over in circular motions, the grains of coffee will not only remove any dry skin or debris that may have been present on the skin, but give you a gentle scrub to leave you feeling clean and refreshed afterwards. While it does offer a slightly rougher consistency than most of Lush's regular face masks, it is not as gritty as the likes of Don't Look At Me Face Mask, so you won't have to worry about it being too harsh on your skin. 

After leaving it on for a good 10-15 minutes, you'll need to rinse it off in the shower and apply a body lotion or massage bar to inject and maintain that hydrated feeling for the rest of day. I found that my skin felt instantly rejuvenated after using this in the mornings, and whether or not it was psychological or physical, but I also felt far more alert and awake after using this mask.

Although I wouldn't use Cup 'O Coffee every day, this is a great product for those who need an emergency blanket to turn to when they're having 'one of those morning'. This not only left my skin feeling clean and clear and looking radiant, but helped to improve my mood to boot so I wasn't such a grumpy person at work that day. 

While it's not going to solve my overabundance of marking, this mask is definitely something that I know I can rely upon to give me an instant boost. For this reason, I will definitely be buying this on a regular basis and recommending it to all of my colleagues who are in the same boat as me. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Coffee Infusion (Coffea Arabica), Water (Aqua), Tacl, Kaolin, Organic Agave Syrup (Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract), Glycerine, Perfume, Vetivert oil (Vitiveria zizanoides), Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute (Vanilla planifolia), Roasted Cocoa Extract (Theobroma cacao), Coriander Seed oil (Coriandrum sativum), Ventone (Hectorite), Caffeine Powder (Caffeine), Coumarin, Limonene, Linalool.

Vegan?: Yes.

2015 Price: £6.50 for 100g, £12 for 250g.

Year Of Original Release: 2015. 

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Golden Handshake Hot Hand Mask

While I pamper my face, moisturise my body, scrub my legs and buffer my toes, I rarely do anything to improve the condition of my hands. This is surprising as I would say, like most people, my hands probably get a pretty rough deal when it comes to how much I work them. This lack of love and attention has left me with weak nails and very scaly skin - something I have been desperately trying to rectify over the last few months.  

Golden Handshake Hot Hand Mask was one of the first products that grabbed my attention when I entered the Oxford Street superstore a few weekends ago. While I was intrigued by both the write-up and choice of ingredients used to construct it, I was more interested in the alluring and rather unique design - something I'm sure will make it a very popular seller. 

Shaped to look like a marshmallow about to be roasted, this solid mask is packed full of essential butters and oils to nourish, hydrate, moisturise and rejuvenate over-worked and tired looking hands. Cupuacu butter is one of the main ingredients - known for its emollient consistency that makes it a highly effective moisturiser for the skin. The butter boasts a range of fatty acids that replenish the oils lost in dry skin - helping to condition the hands and leave them feeling velvety-soft and smooth to the touch. 

Murumuru butter is another ingredient that I have noticed features in many of Lush's newer products - working with the cupuacu butter to condition the body while also secreting a thin layer of oil to protect the skin and leave it with a glossy finish. Lush have also included avocado oil which is known to reduce the appearance of scars and help to heal small cuts and abrasions. 

Aside from its moisturising properties, the presence of almond, argan, castor, rosewood and sandalwood oil also gives Golden Handshake a rather strange but pleasant aroma. To me, this solid hand mask gives off a rather soapy fragrance - one that reminds me of expensive but rather generic-smellling soap. It is the latter two oils that make the biggest impression here - offering a slightly floral aroma that has elements of Ghost Shower Gel and Lily Savon Soap to it. While this product does not smell identical to either of these two products, it does have its similarities.  

Lush claim that you should stir this into roughly 200ml of warm water until it has completely dissolved and converted into a thick, white paste. The company then suggest that you should submerge your hands underneath the liquid and allow them to bask in the butters and oils for 10-15 minutes, before rinsing off and patting dry. 

Firstly, I would highly suggest that you use boiling water. When I attempted to dissolve Golden Handshake in warm liquid, it didn't work at all and I ended up with a bowl of murky water decorated with clumps of butters that refused to melt until I microwaved them. 

Secondly, while it is described as being a one-use hand mask, this product easily produces enough paste to see you through two or three separate sessions. As you can see from my picture, I used an awful lot of product on my hands, so you'll still get the full, intense treatment even if you decide to use only part of the bar. 

For this reason, I would suggest that you cut off a small chunk each time and use a normal spoon to stir it in as opposed to using the whole stick in one go. Exposing it to the water will give Golden Handshake less of a shelf-life and I can almost see this deteriorating in between uses, so you want to try and preserve it by keeping it as dry as you can when it is not being used. 

After keeping my hands submerged in the thick, creamy mask for a good 20 minutes, I was really pleased to discover that my hands felt hydrated and looked visibly softer. The areas around my cuticles looked far healthier and less bitten, and the crevices between my fingers were silky-smooth and free of the dry patches that I had been plagued with up until then. 

My only qualm with this product is that I did feel as if I still needed to moisturise my hands afterwards - they felt much smoother and softer, but they didn't feel as conditioned as I was expecting them to do. Having said this, for £2.95, Golden Handshake is incredible value for money and one that I will be using regularly to keep my hands in tip-top condition.     

Quantitative Ingredients: Cetearyl Alcohol & Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Guar Gum (Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, Cupuacu Butter (Theobroma grandiflorum), Murumuru Butter (Astrocaryum Murumuru), Sodium Bicarbonate, Almond Oil (Prunus dulcis), Organic Avocado Oil (Perdea gratissima), Citric Acid, Argan Oil (Argania Spinosa), Organic Castor Oil (Ricinus communis), Rosewood Oil (Aniba rosaeodora), Labdanum Resinoid (Cistus Ladaniferus), Sandalwood Oil (Fusanus spicatus), Citral, Coumarin, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes.

2015 Price: £2.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2015. 

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Golden Handshake Hot Hand Mask

While I pamper my face, moisturise my body, scrub my legs and buffer my toes, I rarely do anything to improve the condition of my hands. This is surprising as I would say, like most people, my hands probably get a pretty rough deal when it comes to how much I work them. This lack of love and attention has left me with weak nails and very scaly skin - something I have been desperately trying to rectify over the last few months.  

Golden Handshake Hot Hand Mask was one of the first products that grabbed my attention when I entered the Oxford Street superstore a few weekends ago. While I was intrigued by both the write-up and choice of ingredients used to construct it, I was more interested in the alluring and rather unique design - something I'm sure will make it a very popular seller. 

Shaped to look like a marshmallow about to be roasted, this solid mask is packed full of essential butters and oils to nourish, hydrate, moisturise and rejuvenate over-worked and tired looking hands. Cupuacu butter is one of the main ingredients - known for its emollient consistency that makes it a highly effective moisturiser for the skin. The butter boasts a range of fatty acids that replenish the oils lost in dry skin - helping to condition the hands and leave them feeling velvety-soft and smooth to the touch. 

Murumuru butter is another ingredient that I have noticed features in many of Lush's newer products - working with the cupuacu butter to condition the body while also secreting a thin layer of oil to protect the skin and leave it with a glossy finish. Lush have also included avocado oil which is known to reduce the appearance of scars and help to heal small cuts and abrasions. 

Aside from its moisturising properties, the presence of almond, argan, castor, rosewood and sandalwood oil also gives Golden Handshake a rather strange but pleasant aroma. To me, this solid hand mask gives off a rather soapy fragrance - one that reminds me of expensive but rather generic-smellling soap. It is the latter two oils that make the biggest impression here - offering a slightly floral aroma that has elements of Ghost Shower Gel and Lily Savon Soap to it. While this product does not smell identical to either of these two products, it does have its similarities.  

Lush claim that you should stir this into roughly 200ml of warm water until it has completely dissolved and converted into a thick, white paste. The company then suggest that you should submerge your hands underneath the liquid and allow them to bask in the butters and oils for 10-15 minutes, before rinsing off and patting dry. 

Firstly, I would highly suggest that you use boiling water. When I attempted to dissolve Golden Handshake in warm liquid, it didn't work at all and I ended up with a bowl of murky water decorated with clumps of butters that refused to melt until I microwaved them. 

Secondly, while it is described as being a one-use hand mask, this product easily produces enough paste to see you through two or three separate sessions. As you can see from my picture, I used an awful lot of product on my hands, so you'll still get the full, intense treatment even if you decide to use only part of the bar. 

For this reason, I would suggest that you cut off a small chunk each time and use a normal spoon to stir it in as opposed to using the whole stick in one go. Exposing it to the water will give Golden Handshake less of a shelf-life and I can almost see this deteriorating in between uses, so you want to try and preserve it by keeping it as dry as you can when it is not being used. 

After keeping my hands submerged in the thick, creamy mask for a good 20 minutes, I was really pleased to discover that my hands felt hydrated and looked visibly softer. The areas around my cuticles looked far healthier and less bitten, and the crevices between my fingers were silky-smooth and free of the dry patches that I had been plagued with up until then. 

My only qualm with this product is that I did feel as if I still needed to moisturise my hands afterwards - they felt much smoother and softer, but they didn't feel as conditioned as I was expecting them to do. Having said this, for £2.95, Golden Handshake is incredible value for money and one that I will be using regularly to keep my hands in tip-top condition.     

Quantitative Ingredients: Cetearyl Alcohol & Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Guar Gum (Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, Cupuacu Butter (Theobroma grandiflorum), Murumuru Butter (Astrocaryum Murumuru), Sodium Bicarbonate, Almond Oil (Prunus dulcis), Organic Avocado Oil (Perdea gratissima), Citric Acid, Argan Oil (Argania Spinosa), Organic Castor Oil (Ricinus communis), Rosewood Oil (Aniba rosaeodora), Labdanum Resinoid (Cistus Ladaniferus), Sandalwood Oil (Fusanus spicatus), Citral, Coumarin, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes.

2015 Price: £2.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2015. 

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Catastrophe Cosmetic Fresh Face Mask

Catastrophe Cosmetic was the very first Lush product I ever bought. Enticed into the shop by the array of gorgeous smells and colourful decor, I was immediately drawn to the multicoloured pots of 'goo' sitting on ice. One in particular, that possessed a gorgeous shade of lavender, was Catastrophe Cosmetic.

Packed full of blueberries, this fresh face mask combines Irish moss gel to soften the skin, almond oil to moisturise and a mixture of rose absolute and chamomile essential oils to soothe away any irritation. This amazing product gives your skin a deep cleanse and rids your pores of any impurities or grease-prone areas. 

I keep this face mask in the fridge as this prolongs its shelf life, and tend to use it once or twice a week to rejuvenate my skin. To use, I smear it all over my weary face and leave it on for about 15 minutes to do its magic. Then I either wash it off with warm water or clamber into the bath and let it fall off under the surface.

This vitamin and mineral-packed face mask tones, soothes and moisturises my skin like no other face mask. It leaves my skin feeling silky smooth and refreshed, and as it's stored in the fridge, provides cool relief on a hot, summer's day.

The mask itself has a pleasant aroma: quite sweet and fruity, and the texture is thick and contains pieces of real blueberries. Unfortunately, this latter point might not work to the product's advantage as the pieces of blueberries seem to get stuck in the plug hole. 

However, once the product is on, it dries within around five minutes, and leaves your skin feeling calm and immediately rehydrated once removed. And unlike most face masks I have tried before, it doesn't dry your skin out or produce an unpleasant tightening whilst it's on.

Given that Lush only have three vegan face masks, I'm not exactly spoilt for choice. However, this is definitely my favourite one yet. It gives my face a natural glow without stripping my complexion of it's natural oils and I will continue to use to improve the condition of my skin. 

What is your favourite Lush face mask?

Quantitative Ingredients: Calamine Powder, Talc, Irish Moss Infusion (Chondrus crispus), Fresh Blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus), Glycerine, Almond Oil (Prunus dulcis), Rose Absolute (Rosa centifolia), Chamomile Oil (Anthemis nobilis), Sweet Orange Oil (Citrus dulcis),Limonene, Perfume, Colour 18050.

Vegan?: Yes.

Price: £6.50

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