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

Hollywood Bubble Bar

There are times when products epitomise the very essence of their name - when you can look at the bath bomb or bubble bar and understand how or why Lush have chosen to call it what they have. And then there are odd moments when you wonder what the company were thinking when they decided to gift such a title to something unworthy or just downright odd. 

Hollywood Bubble Bar is one such product that stumped me when they first arrived in the post. When I picture Hollywood, I imagine the glamour; the colours; the lights; the excitement - nothing that this plain white bubble bar seemed to epitomise physically. While I understand that the fragrance itself is very reminiscent of the 1950s, and definitely in-keeping with the glamorous theme, I’ve yet to figure out why Lush didn’t throw in some much-needed colour and lustre to give this bubble bar a little more vigour.

Sharing its scent with the Fever range, Hollywood contains a heady combination of rose, jasmine and sandalwood. Potion Body Lotion, Almond Kisses Facial Moisturiser and Ruby Red Slippers are just three of the many products that possess the same smell, although you’ll have to be patient as not one of these are available regularly to buy in stores nowadays.

This is definitely a floral scent with a heavy kick to it, and there is something very old-fashioned about the fragrance that will either entice or deter consumers from loving the combination. The rose absolute offers a strong, musky sweet layer that encompasses the rich, floral fragrance that you can smell immediately upon taking one of these bars out of the packet. The jasmine interlaces itself around the rose and adds to the sweet hit natural cloudy floral aroma; the inclusion of the sandalwood grounds all three note and offers a wholesome but very musty floral aroma. 

While the design didn’t exactly immediately bowl me over to look at, I was really impressed by just how soft the bubble bar is to use. I only had to press down gently and the bar crumbled between my fingers. This was a sure sign of what I could expect in the bath because Hollywood created an impressive mound of thick, fluffy bubbles and the water was incredibly soft.

Although the product wouldn’t win any awards for its lack of colour in the water, this is a great bubble bar to use in the winter months - as your skin will feel silky-smooth and velvety after bathing with one of these. Furthermore, the sweet, floral fragrance will linger on your skin for a while afterwards - offering you a winter hug that you’ll want to experience again and again. 

As there is an absence of colour with this bubble bar, you may wish to use a Bath Bomb alongside it. Not only will you get a much richer and far more fragrant experience, but the scent of Hollywood is strong enough that it won’t get lost behind another product. To conserve your products, you may also wish to break this Bubble Bar in half and use it across two baths. The aroma is just as strong if you decide to do this, and you don’t lose any of its moisturising properties in the process.

While the bubble bar may not look like it's come from Hollywood, you sure feel like royalty after using one of these. If you love this scent family, you’ll want to get your hands on some of these when the opportunity next arises, and although I wouldn’t rush out to buy any more, any time soon, I will definitely be enjoying the many I have stashed away for the future.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream Of Tartar, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Titanium Dioxide, Cocamide DEA, Perfume, Rose absolute, Jasmine absolute, Sandalwood oil, Candy Star. 

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £3.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2004.

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

Happy Happy Joy Joy Naked Hair Conditioner

As most of my reviews showcase, I am a big advocate of solid hair care. In fact, it's probably the area of Lush that I am most passionate about, because of how much the company have helped to improve my unmanageable hair after years of abuse. Whenever anyone approaches me about recommendations, I automatically begin reeling off the solid products that would be best suited - not even fathoming that there are also some truly wonderful liquid variations that also deserve a mention.

When the Lush Kitchen announced that they'd be bringing out both Veganese and Happy Happy Joy Joy in solid form, I was ecstatic. Not only are they the only vegan liquid conditioners that Lush currently offer, but they also happen to be the only two conditioners that I use regularly - along with Avocado Co-wash.

HHJJ was the first in the spotlight, with its bobbly consistency and wonky-shaped head. While it wasn't the most attractive product to look at, I was hoping that this naked version would offer something different from the bottled version.

I'll be honest and say that I find HHJJ to be extremely expensive for what it is. While I recognise that Lush have sourced quite a number of highly-regarded ingredients to create the product, a 100g bottle will set you back £9.99, which is extortionate for something that lasts me between 4-5 washes. Not only that but I wouldn't say that it is anywhere near as moisturising as Lush's other solid and liquid conditioners, and maybe even be less nourishing than most of the shop-bought ones that I have also purchased over the years. 

For this reason, I was intrigued to see that this solid edition was £19.95 - which, if it lasted as long as the naked shower gels did, would work out much cheaper to use than the original liquid version. And I just hoped that the inclusion of the extra oils and butters would make this edition a little more moisturing.

Unfortunately, myself and this naked edition didn’t see eye-to-eye from the start. Firstly, I didn’t find that the fragrance was anywhere near the strength that the original liquid version possesses. Given that it’s a ‘conditioning perfume’, you would expect a scent strong enough to boast that title. Needless to say, HHJJ was very weak comparison to its older sibling. 

What took a bit of getting used to with the liquid conditioner was how quickly the product was absorbed into the hair. With its thin consistency I found that if I applied too much in one area, it would disappear too quickly for me to massage across a different area. For this reason, it was very easy to use twice as much product as you originally planned to, which is why I was always super careful when applying it onto the hair. 

When it came to the naked edition, I found that it was rather stubborn to produce much of a lather when massaged directly into the scalp. While it wasn’t particular generous when stimulated between my hands either, at least I wasn’t at risk of using too much of the Conditioner in any one go. I found that the solid bottle produced a thick, almost paste-like lather, although it did take a lot of effort to create enough product to coat all of my hair.  

Upon application, I immediately noticed a difference in how my hair reacted to the product. Normally, HHJJ makes my hair feel rather thin but it feels silky soft and nourished - it quite literally transforms my locks and removes any tangles without me having to use a comb. With the naked edition, my hair felt rather matted and dry, and this made it very wire-like and thin after I had rinsed it out. Even after multiple uses - some applied with an immediate rinse, and other times left in for over 10 minutes, my hair felt brittle and very UN-moisturised. 

Each and every time I tried to brush my hair, I found that it was both limp and frizzy, and lots of hair would come out in the brush. For someone who’s desperately trying to restore my hair to some form of normality, this is the last thing I wanted to happen. Even when I cut off small chunks and worked it into a paste before applying it, I found that it didn’t make much of a difference. 

Ultimately, Happy Happy Joy Joy is not a naked product that worked for me in any way. In fact, I’m rather interested to know why two products with similar ingredients can cause my hair to have two very different reactions. I hope that perhaps there is a product default with this batch, which is why it hasn’t made a reappearance since its Kitchen release, and that it will come back again at some point and win my hair over.

Quantitative Ingredients: ?

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £19.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:

Frozen Bath Bomb

Frozen Liquid Perfume
Frozen Solid Perfume

Happy Happy Joy Joy Conditioner
Happy Happy Joy Joy Naked Conditioner

Sea Spray Hair Mist

Shine So Bright Hair Balm

Snowie Bubble Bar

Your Mother Should Know Bubble Bar

Read More

Amelie Mae Fun Bar

Reflecting on the various scented FUN bars that Lush have released over the years, I really wish that they had the incentive to do the same with their shower gels. While I am very much in love with the jellies, gels and creams that the company have brought out over the last five years, there has been some superior choices made in the FUN range - this one being no exception.

To coincide with the global Gorilla Perfume tour, Amelie Mae FUN was released and sold in small batches at the various shows - available alongside most of the Volume 4 perfumes that were featured in the showcase. Sharing its scent with the liquid perfume of the same name, this gorgeous looking bar is exquisite in every way, and may even trump the fragrance itself.   

Created by Simon Constantine for his youngest daughter Amelie Mae, this FUN bar is not only a homage to one of the perfumer's biggest achievements, but it's also rather fitting, given that FUN is primarily designed with children in mind. Sporting bright shades of both green and pink, this limited edition also happens to be one of the most attractive FUN bars to date, and I couldn't wait to rip the wrapper off and use it for myself.

Featuring notes of lavender, ylang ylang and rose, you would expect Amelie Mae to offer a highly floral fragrance. While there is definitely a floral theme running throughout, there is something rather sweet and playful about this scent as well. As I said in my review of the liquid perfume version, if you think you are able to imagine what this smells like from the ingredients list alone, you are most likely going to be proved wrong.

From the wrapper, I get what I can only describe as a juicy rose smell - one that does have traits of the popular Rose Jam family, albeit sweeter and perhaps a little more jam-like. There is also a thread of fruitiness running through, which reminds me a little of raspberry bubblegum, but again I would be underselling it if I said this was all I could detect.

Much like the perfume version, the gentle note of lavender is very subtle in the mix, and almost adds a base that all of the other components rest on. You can definitely smell that the lavender is there, but the other components make much more of an impression on me.

There is something fruity about this FUN bar that makes me salivate when I smell it, and I love that it offers something quite playful and youthful. However, there is also something a little mature about the notes of lavender and violet that make it as delectable as it is sophisticated.

As with all of Lush's FUN bars, you can use this one in replacement of a shower gel, bubble bar or shampoo. To create bubbles in your bath, simply break off the amount that you wish to use and hold it under the running water. If you're using it in the shower, take a small grape-sized piece, add a little water and lather between your hands. 

Although it is not as moisturising as any of the products that you may replace it with, for the price tag it is great value for money. I found that when used across my skin, the scent was really strong and stayed with me for a good hour after I had towelled myself down. In fact, I am now convinced that Lush need to bring out a body lotion version because it would be delicious.

My only warning about this and every one of Lush's FUN bars, is that you have to ensure that the rest of the product is kept both cool and dry in between uses. In addition, you need to ensure that the bar is stored in a container if you wish to keep it in the bathroom. If left exposed, FUN Bars will sweat and melt, and leave a horrible mess all over the counter it's perched on. 

Overall, this may in fact be my favourite FUN Bar to date. It smells exactly like the perfume, although I would even go as far as to say that it may even be slightly stronger than the fragrance itself. I really hope this is made available in the near future - for everyone who loves this scent, or for those who has not had the opportunity to try this out for themselves, as it is truly delicious. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Cornflour, Talc, Glycerine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lavendar, Ylang Ylang Oil, Violet Leaf Absolute,

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £6.95 for 200g.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
Amelie Mae FUN Bar

Amelie Mae Liquid Perfume

Read More

Road From Damascus Liquid Perfume

I say this time and time again: I have never understood how or why Lush work in the way that they do. On the one hand, I understand and agree on their stance for allowing the consumer to promote their products as opposed to them doing it themselves. This incites a level of honesty that most companies try to diminish, which means that promotion from companies other than Lush don't  very often offer a true reflection on the products on sale. However, Lush's 'exclusivity' is both confusing and frustrating, and from an outside perspective I just cannot make sense of it all.

Road From Damascus Liquid Perfume is yet another fragrance from Lush's recent Volume 4 collection that hasn't made it to commercial release. After attending the Gorilla Perfume exhibition in Edinburgh, this is one that I was convinced would be a popular seller, and it left a lasting impression on me: not least because it was the opening act as you walked through the door and into the gallery. 

Inspired by perfumer Simon Constantine's travels into and across Lebanon, this fragrance is a full-bodied and very powerful combination of bitter orange and Damascus rose. During his time in the country, Simon learned the struggles and the dangerous journey that thousands of refugees had to make on a daily basis to flee the neighbouring, war-torn Syria. Witnessing the ordeal of having to cross checkpoints that were guarded at gunpoint, and collecting hundreds of stories from the people around him - fleeing their livelihoods to survive, the harsh reality was enough to inspire him to create a perfume in homage of his ordeal.

For starters, Road From Damascus is a strong, powdery combination of rose, orange and violet. Sharing its scent with both the bath oil that was released last year in the Lush Kitchen, and Magic Bubble Bar that came out at the Lush Summit, this limited edition fragrance is perhaps one of the strongest perfumes from the Volume 4 range. One for floral lovers, for sure.

While I shouldn't really compare this to Rose Jam Liquid Perfume, I will say that the initial burst of smell holds a very small remnant of similarity. There is something very cloudy about the rose smell that gives that impression, although this is quickly diminished when the underlying note of violet leaf steers it away from being 'strictly rose'.

Both of these ingredients create a sweet but equally very powerful floral aroma - one that showcases all three of the key components by themselves, while also working in harmony so that they combine perfectly. The orange absolute not only supports the naturally sweet element of the other two ingredients, but offers a thread of bitterness that comes through the longer it is on the skin.

This latter note sets Road From Damascus apart from other Lush floral perfumes, and it is this gentle tartness that gives this fragrance its poignancy. It's a perfect reminder that while life is and should be sweet, there is always that element of bitterness that makes itself known.

This is one of my favourite perfumes from Volume 4, despite not really being a huge advocate of floral smells. The perfume is strong enough that it lasts for hours on the skin. In fact, I can spray this in the morning before work and still smell remnants of the scent as I'm leaving to go home. Lush would be silly not to celebrate this fragrance in other formats, and I look forward to seeing these releases in the near future.

Quantitative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Perfume, Rose Absolute, Orange Flower Absolute, Violet Leaf Absolute, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol, Farnesol, Eugenol, Citral.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £50 for 30ml.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
Magic Bubble Bar
Road From Damascus Bath Oil
Road From Damascus Liquid Perfume

Read More

Sweet Grandma Liquid Perfume

When I was invited to attend the pop-up Gorilla gallery in Edinburgh, I had no idea what to expect. Aside from knowing that the showcase was created to display and celebrate the finer details of Volume 4, my expectations of what I was going to learn and discover were non existent. What I took away from the experience completely blew my mind. Not only did it rekindle that flame of passion that had be dwindling slightly for the company, but it made me fall deeply in love with every single one of the new fragrances on offer at the event.

Inspired by the life and work of Hal Samples, Sweet Grandma is definitely the most personal perfume in the collection. A homage to the woman he called his 'mother' and 'best friend', this exquisite fragrance is inspired by his Grandma, Mary Ellen, who he says made him feel safe at times in his childhood when he was anything but. 

His memories of his grandma are filled with funny stories and anecdotes that helped to shape him into the person he is today. It was also the support of Mary Ellen and her encouragement to film and document the good times that they shared, that helped Hal to establish and grow as a photographer and an artist. Sweet Grandma is a loving tribute to her life and the memories he holds most dear, and this just makes the fragrance appear even more beautiful to me.

In the bottle you get a wonderful floral sweetness that reminds me a little of Death and Decay, albeit brighter and more pronounced. To me, the rosewood is one of the strongest elements - offering up a delicate and very dainty fragrance that comes alive on the skin, and stays present for a good few hours after you've sprayed yourself. While subtle, the rosewood adds gentle woody notes that intertwine themselves around the rose and jasmine oils, so the three components work in harmony as opposed to standing alone. 

Although not fruity in the usual sense, this fragrance has what I can only describe as a gentle fruity floral undertone. In addition, the jasmine adds a light but noticeable sultry note, and I think it is this layer that gives the perfume its richness, and helps to make it as sensual as it comes across.

I would describe Sweet Grandma as a perfume that sits in between being both youthful and mature. As a homage to Mary Ellen's entire existence, this fragrance offers both the youthful optimism of her early years, as well as the sophistication of her later life. It is both light and refreshing for those who prefer the less cloudy or potent scents; yet it also has an ageless appeal to it that would attract fans of the more classic smells. In as many words, Sweet Grandma is both a modern and yet old-fashioned smell at the time. While it doesn't smell anything like this, fans of Lily Savon will no doubt be able to appreciate this scent for its light feel and delicate touch. 

On the skin, each of the three components interlock with each other and intensify from the heat of your body. I found that although the fragrance wasn't at all what I would call potent, the three ingredients do last for a good while on the skin, and I was able to enjoy bursts of this perfume for a good 4-5 hours before I needed to reapply. 

Overall, while I wouldn't say that this is a favourite scent of mine, there is something rather lovely about it that is comforting to me. As I said to begin with, the stories behind its creation make Sweet Grandma one of Lush's most personal fragrances to date, and I feel incredibly privileged to be able to share that experience while I am wearing the scent.

Quantitative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Perfume, Water, Glycerine, Rosewood Oil, Rose Absolute, Jasmine Absolute, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronellol, Eugenol, Benzyl Alcohol, Citral, Farnesol, Butylphenyl Methylproplonal, Coumarin, Hydroxycitronellal. 

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £?

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Read More

Fomo Jelly Face Mask

When Lush first showcased the new concept of jelly face masks at the last Summit event, I cannot say that I was overly excited by the idea. While it was innovative and definitely interesting, I couldn't see myself being overly enamoured with the finished products. How wrong could I be?

Fomo is one of five brand new jellies that will change-up your facial routine for the better. Not only are they considerably less messy than their original counterparts, but their shelf life far outlasts that of the fresh alternatives. While there is definitely still something magical and natural about the fresh face masks, and I by no means want them to disappear, the benefits of all five of the new masks make them equally as important. 

Designed for all skin types, Fomo is one for the fans of floral-scented cosmetics. Featuring both calamine powder and rose absolute, this gentle gem gives off a smell that is very similar to Rosy Cheeks. Initially, you can detect a light and slightly powdery rose aroma, while the calamine sits behind this and adds its own delicate burst of coolness. With a mild touch of neroli to bring a little sweetness to the mix, this facial jelly smells just as calming to sniff as it is to apply to the skin.

What I love about all of Lush's new facial jellies is how they can be used in different ways. If you're someone who is a little conservative with your products, you can use Fomo in a similar way to that of any of Lush's other shower jellies. Simply wet your face and the jelly, and then massage it across the skin, where it will leave a gentle layer of product. Simply leave it on for 5-10 minutes and then rinse away. While you wont get a deep cleanse this way, you will notice a difference to your complexion, and this will ensure that a single tub would last you for months on end - even with daily use. 

However, the way in which Lush suggest that you use it is by pinching a small, grape-sized piece from the tub; work into a paste in the palm of your hands, with a little water to do so; and then apply it directly to the face. I found that leaving it on for 15-20 minutes worked best, and my skin felt noticeably different when I rinsed the product away afterwards.

With calamine powder helping to calm the skin, this is a great choice for those who have sensitive skin, or suffer from acne. This ingredient helps to prevent any irritation from occurring, and can even reduce any redness that you may be suffering from at the time. For this reason, Fomo Jelly Face Mask would also be a great choice for the hotter months of the year, as I feel that sunburnt complexions would really benefit from this after a long, hard day in the heat.

The kaolin clay featured here also helps to absorb any excess oil that may be present on oiler skin-types. However, those with drier complexions like myself, should not be put off from giving this facial jelly a chance. I found that my skin felt very clean and smooth afterwards, and the inclusion of the clay didn't leave my face feeling or looking parched. 

Overall, I am really impressed with this new invention - much more so than I expecting to be. You can easily get 6-8 uses out of a single pot, and for the same price as a fresh face mask, this is definitely worth the money. Given that these are not at risk of leaking, don't need to be kept in the fridge, and have a shelf life of a year, Lush's new jelly face masks are a fantastic invention - with Fomo being my favourite one yet.      

Quantitative Ingredients: Water, Calamine Powder, Glycerine, Propylene, Glycol, Kaolin, Carrageenan Extract, Neroli Oil, Rose Absolute, *Linalool.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £6.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Read More

Love Apple Bubble Bar

In case you haven't picked up the subtle hints that I have been throwing out for a number of years now, I am very much in love with Lush. While I have been a collector of many things across the years, no other interest has held my attention for this length of time, and no other hobby has maintained the level of devotion that I have for this company. It is products such as this that reaffirm why I support and brandish Lush across social media on a daily basis, and why I am not even tempted to invest in other cosmetics outside of the brand.

Love Apple Bubble Bar is a product that hasn't seen the light of day in well over ten years - a bubble bar that I assumed would remain lost in the Lush vaults for eternity. An original B Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful product, this limited edition gem has everything you could ask for: a strong, long-lasting fragrance; a wonderful, eye-catching design; and an ingredients list boasting enough oils to make this a perfectly moisturising experience.     

Sharing its scent with the Love family, including the popular Fizzbanger Bath Bomb, this Kitchen exclusive is a joy to behold from the word go. With lemongrass, jasmine, bergamot, rose and ylang ylang as  key notes, this is both a fruity and a floral experience - one that is as rich as it is refreshing, and definitely something that will satisfy those of you with a taste for something sweet.

At the forefront, my nose detects a robust, powerful burst of bergamot oil and lemongrass. These fresh and fruity ingredients offer a strong, almost 'tangy' thread of scent, while at the same time offering a burst of grassiness that makes this fragrance so special. It is not strictly a citrus smell at all - there is so much compacted into this aroma, that I can imagine some people might be a little overwhelmed with how much you get with each sniff.

Underneath this slightly tart aroma, both the jasmine and the rose absolute offer small, sweet bursts of floral - both of which round the scent of this together wonderfully, and create multiple layers to help build up the Love fragrance. There is definitely something quite heavy about this aroma, and it reminds me a little of the smell you get when peeling back the skin and rind of a citrus fruit, combined with subtle musky notes of floral to round the scent together. Finally, the inclusion of the cinnamon stick on top offers a very light sprinkle of warmth.

As if the smell isn't exquisite enough, Love Apple Bubble Bar works like a treat in the bath. You only have to squeeze it gently for it to crumble away, although this isn't to say that the product is going to fall apart in your hands if you don't want it to. While I chose to use the whole piece in a single bath, this could easily be divided across two or three baths, and it would still offer a scent strong enough to be detected for miles around.

Once crumbled under the running water, it doesn't take very long for the tub to fill up with light, fluffy, fragrant bubbles, and these bubbles tend to stick around for the most part of your bath. The water also turns a radiant pink colour, which elevates your mood somewhat and makes for an incredible experience. 

What I loved about this bubble bar was that the scent was strong enough to remain present for the full 50 minutes I was in the bath tub, as well as leave a gentle impression on the skin afterwards. It was strong enough that I could still detect it after using a variety of shower gels and scrubs. However, it wasn't so strong that it was smothering, like I find Fizzbanger can be at times.

Although the water wasn't as moisturising as the likes of The Brightside and Sunflower Bubble Bar, it was still really impressive. My skin felt soft and radiant after getting out of the bath, and I definitely noticed an improvement to what my skin was like before I got in. 

While I tend to take less baths in the summer months, merely because I rely on cold showers, this is definitely a product that I would use if I was going to have one. It's light and juicy in scent, and offers a radiant experience that mirrors the warmer weather outside. Another amazing release from the Lush Kitchen for sure. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, *Glycerine, Perfume, Lemongrass Oil, Jasmine Absolute, Bergamot Oil, Rose Absolute, Ylang Ylang Oil, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Benzyl Salicylate, *Cinnamal, *Citral, *Farnesol, *Geraniol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Oak Moss Extract, Coumarin, Chlorophyllin, Colour 45410, Colour 14700, Colour 17200, Cinnamon Stick, Kaffir Lime Leaf.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £3.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: ?

Scent Family:
Fizzbanger Bath Bomb
Lonely Hearts Bubble Bar
Love Apple Bubble Bar
Love Perfume
Love Potion Massage Bar

Read More