Big Blue Body Conditioner

Looking at the range of regular bath bombs that Lush currently offer, I'll be honest and say that Big Blue would be one of my last choices. This is by no means a reflection of how wonderful the bath bomb is, and I certainly recognise the merits it possesses as a best-selling product. However, it is rare that I ever get the urge to use one in the bath, and this is mostly down to its smell.

Containing a large dosage of seaweed and lavender, the fragrance of both the bath bomb, and indeed the body conditioner, is very potent. This is not for the faint-hearted and definitely not one for those who dislike rather heady smells. In as many words, Big Blue is like a kick in the teeth, albeit less aggressive and more rewarding for the skin.

When I first found out that Lush were bringing out Big Blue as one of their six exclusive body conditioners, I was a little perplexed as to why it had been chosen from the many other fragrances that I would have envisaged as being  far more popular in the Lush community. Reading reviews from others before mine had arrived also prompted me to believe that this wasn't going to be a revered choice amongst Lush fans either. 

I'll be honest and say that an initial sniff of the product when it arrived did cause a slight negative reaction from myself - a scrunching up of a nose and a grimace for starters. Yet, once I had gotten used to the smell, and when I actually found myself thoroughly enjoying the product the next day in the shower, I realised that it had taken some unwarranted slack from the community that I wanted to rectify.

What I will say is that the body conditioner is almost identical to the bath bomb. There is a strong note of lavender that sits near enough at the top, which offers a brassy, herbal offering that is almost slightly neurotic because of how powerful it comes across in this format. Alongside this, the woody and equally herbaceous seaweed projects another smell that rivals that of the lavender. While it's difficult to describe the aroma of seaweed, there is something about it that gives this product that 'beach vibe'. 

How I think Big Blue Body Conditioner differs from the bath bomb is that the lemon shines through more on the latter. You can distinctly make out the citrus element in the lotion, but I don't think it has as much of an impact as it does in ballistic format. For this reason, the fragrance of the body conditioner is slightly stunted, and I wouldn't say it's as bright or refreshing as you would be expecting. That's not to say that it doesn't replicate the scent of Big Blue well; just that the conditioner is a little more cloudy and condensed when it comes to the scent. 

On the positive side, this product is as hydrating, moisturising and nourishing on your skin as all of the other body conditioners. In addition, it also works wonders at making your skin feel radiant and supple for the most part of the day. This would be perfect for the summer months because Big Blue would not only replenish the skin of any moisture that has been lost in the heat, but it would also create a barrier to could protect your skin for hours afterwards.

Furthermore, this particular body conditioner has probably the most impressive scent longevity than any of the other variations that came out at the same time, in the Lush Kitchen. I used this on my skin one morning before work, and found that I could still smell it on my skin when I showered after my gym session at 8pm that same day. While this could be detrimental for those who dislike strong-smelling cosmetics, I can assure you that I was able to wear a perfume over the top of the smell of this and didn't find that it clashed or outshone the fragrance.


As with most of Lush's products, this one is incredibly versatile, and while the £29.95 price tag may seem a little daunting to those unsure of such a big commitment, it is definitely worth the investment. You can use this as both a body conditioner and a shaving foam, and I've even heard of people using this in replacement of a body lotion. Whichever way you choose to use yours, I can guarantee that you'll not be left disappointed with the results. 

First and foremost, you can use it as Lush intended - as a body conditioner. After using a gel, jelly or soap to clean yourself with, step out of the flow of the water and apply the product across your skin, as you would a body lotion. It wont lather up, and may disappear really quickly, but this is because it is designed to permeate the skin. The heat from the shower will have opened up your pores and made your skin more susceptible to the butters and oils featured in the ingredients list. Once applied, you can either step back under the flow of the water to rinse your body down, or exit the shower immediately and pat yourself down lightly. 


Unlike a body lotion, a conditioner creates a barrier of moisture around your skin, which may feel slightly greasy to some, and might prevent you from being able to apply your clothes until you've given it time to absorb into the skin. I can assure you that this will lessen within the first thirty minutes of application, and you'll feel much better afterwards.

With Big Blue, I found that an amount equal to that of a heaped teaspoon was more than enough to coat an entire leg, so you really don't need to use that much each time to get amazing results. Please also be aware that you wont necessarily be able to see the product when you're massaging it across an area of skin as it does tend to absorb really quickly. However, this does not mean that you should apply any extra and waste the product - the results after you rinse yourself down will speak for themselves.

Secondly, this body conditioner works as an excellent shaving foam. Simply apply a small amount across your legs and shave your legs as usual. You'll be left with super-soft skin, and one of the closest shaves you have ever experienced. Finally, you could also use this as a body lotion, as there doesn't appear to be anything featured that could damage or irritate your skin if left on for long periods of time. The only issue I have with this latter method is that it may leave your body feeling rather greasy, so may only work as an intense moisturiser for those who have incredibly dry skin.

While I was skeptical at first that I would even enjoy this body conditioner, after all of the negative press that it received from other Lush fans, I found that it was exactly as I envisaged it would be. Although I would have appreciated the lemon to be a little more dominant in the overall fragrance, I cannot fault the conditioner for smelling almost identical to that of the bath bomb it was trying to replicate.

Usability-wise, this conditioner does everything that you would want it too, and then outshines the other variations with its bold and uplifting scent. While it wouldn't be at the top of my list of favourite conditioners, I cannot say that it deserves to be anywhere near the bottom either.

Quantitative Ingredients: Water, Organic Jojoba Oil, Glycerine, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Fair Trade Shea Butter, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Lavender Oil, Lemon Oil, Seaweed Absolute, *Limonene, *Linalool, *Eugenol, *Geraniol, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £29.95 for 450.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
Big Blue Ballistic
Big Blue Body Conditioner
Bubbling Under Bubble Bar
Enchanted Island Bath Melt
Mermaid Ballistic

Sea Vegetable Soap 

Read More

Big Blue Body Conditioner

Looking at the range of regular bath bombs that Lush currently offer, I'll be honest and say that Big Blue would be one of my last choices. This is by no means a reflection of how wonderful the bath bomb is, and I certainly recognise the merits it possesses as a best-selling product. However, it is rare that I ever get the urge to use one in the bath, and this is mostly down to its smell.

Containing a large dosage of seaweed and lavender, the fragrance of both the bath bomb, and indeed the body conditioner, is very potent. This is not for the faint-hearted and definitely not one for those who dislike rather heady smells. In as many words, Big Blue is like a kick in the teeth, albeit less aggressive and more rewarding for the skin.

When I first found out that Lush were bringing out Big Blue as one of their six exclusive body conditioners, I was a little perplexed as to why it had been chosen from the many other fragrances that I would have envisaged as being  far more popular in the Lush community. Reading reviews from others before mine had arrived also prompted me to believe that this wasn't going to be a revered choice amongst Lush fans either. 

I'll be honest and say that an initial sniff of the product when it arrived did cause a slight negative reaction from myself - a scrunching up of a nose and a grimace for starters. Yet, once I had gotten used to the smell, and when I actually found myself thoroughly enjoying the product the next day in the shower, I realised that it had taken some unwarranted slack from the community that I wanted to rectify.

What I will say is that the body conditioner is almost identical to the bath bomb. There is a strong note of lavender that sits near enough at the top, which offers a brassy, herbal offering that is almost slightly neurotic because of how powerful it comes across in this format. Alongside this, the woody and equally herbaceous seaweed projects another smell that rivals that of the lavender. While it's difficult to describe the aroma of seaweed, there is something about it that gives this product that 'beach vibe'. 

How I think Big Blue Body Conditioner differs from the bath bomb is that the lemon shines through more on the latter. You can distinctly make out the citrus element in the lotion, but I don't think it has as much of an impact as it does in ballistic format. For this reason, the fragrance of the body conditioner is slightly stunted, and I wouldn't say it's as bright or refreshing as you would be expecting. That's not to say that it doesn't replicate the scent of Big Blue well; just that the conditioner is a little more cloudy and condensed when it comes to the scent. 

On the positive side, this product is as hydrating, moisturising and nourishing on your skin as all of the other body conditioners. In addition, it also works wonders at making your skin feel radiant and supple for the most part of the day. This would be perfect for the summer months because Big Blue would not only replenish the skin of any moisture that has been lost in the heat, but it would also create a barrier to could protect your skin for hours afterwards.

Furthermore, this particular body conditioner has probably the most impressive scent longevity than any of the other variations that came out at the same time, in the Lush Kitchen. I used this on my skin one morning before work, and found that I could still smell it on my skin when I showered after my gym session at 8pm that same day. While this could be detrimental for those who dislike strong-smelling cosmetics, I can assure you that I was able to wear a perfume over the top of the smell of this and didn't find that it clashed or outshone the fragrance.


As with most of Lush's products, this one is incredibly versatile, and while the £29.95 price tag may seem a little daunting to those unsure of such a big commitment, it is definitely worth the investment. You can use this as both a body conditioner and a shaving foam, and I've even heard of people using this in replacement of a body lotion. Whichever way you choose to use yours, I can guarantee that you'll not be left disappointed with the results. 

First and foremost, you can use it as Lush intended - as a body conditioner. After using a gel, jelly or soap to clean yourself with, step out of the flow of the water and apply the product across your skin, as you would a body lotion. It wont lather up, and may disappear really quickly, but this is because it is designed to permeate the skin. The heat from the shower will have opened up your pores and made your skin more susceptible to the butters and oils featured in the ingredients list. Once applied, you can either step back under the flow of the water to rinse your body down, or exit the shower immediately and pat yourself down lightly. 


Unlike a body lotion, a conditioner creates a barrier of moisture around your skin, which may feel slightly greasy to some, and might prevent you from being able to apply your clothes until you've given it time to absorb into the skin. I can assure you that this will lessen within the first thirty minutes of application, and you'll feel much better afterwards.

With Big Blue, I found that an amount equal to that of a heaped teaspoon was more than enough to coat an entire leg, so you really don't need to use that much each time to get amazing results. Please also be aware that you wont necessarily be able to see the product when you're massaging it across an area of skin as it does tend to absorb really quickly. However, this does not mean that you should apply any extra and waste the product - the results after you rinse yourself down will speak for themselves.

Secondly, this body conditioner works as an excellent shaving foam. Simply apply a small amount across your legs and shave your legs as usual. You'll be left with super-soft skin, and one of the closest shaves you have ever experienced. Finally, you could also use this as a body lotion, as there doesn't appear to be anything featured that could damage or irritate your skin if left on for long periods of time. The only issue I have with this latter method is that it may leave your body feeling rather greasy, so may only work as an intense moisturiser for those who have incredibly dry skin.

While I was skeptical at first that I would even enjoy this body conditioner, after all of the negative press that it received from other Lush fans, I found that it was exactly as I envisaged it would be. Although I would have appreciated the lemon to be a little more dominant in the overall fragrance, I cannot fault the conditioner for smelling almost identical to that of the bath bomb it was trying to replicate.

Usability-wise, this conditioner does everything that you would want it too, and then outshines the other variations with its bold and uplifting scent. While it wouldn't be at the top of my list of favourite conditioners, I cannot say that it deserves to be anywhere near the bottom either.

Quantitative Ingredients: Water, Organic Jojoba Oil, Glycerine, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Fair Trade Shea Butter, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Lavender Oil, Lemon Oil, Seaweed Absolute, *Limonene, *Linalool, *Eugenol, *Geraniol, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £29.95 for 450.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
Big Blue Ballistic
Big Blue Body Conditioner
Bubbling Under Bubble Bar
Enchanted Island Bath Melt
Mermaid Ballistic

Sea Vegetable Soap 

Read More

Breath Of Fresh Air Toner Water

Initially, I was a little confused when Lush brought out Breeze On A Sea Air in the kitchen last year as the title is very similar to this one. I thought perhaps the aforementioned was an old recipe or a sister product that didn't do as well when it first came out, and this was the reason that Lush chose to discontinue it. However, I quickly realised that these toner waters are completely different and have very few similarities aside from the very similar names.

Breath Of Fresh Air Toner Water claims to be sea breeze trapped in a bottle - a refreshing spray that tones, cleanses and softens your face in a matter of seconds. Like all of Lush's toner sprays, this one acts as a refreshing aide for when your skin needs that 'pick me up' throughout the day. Simply spray directly onto the face and then wipe away with a cotton pad - leaving your skin dirt-free and feeling super soft. 

This refreshing toner water features an array of essential ingredients to revitalise and rejuvenate skin instantly, as well as helping to improve the condition of your complexion over time. It's a little miracle worker.                                                                                                                                                       Rich in sea water, you would be forgiven for being a little hesitant to spray this directly on your face - especially if like me, you've been down the beach and seen the horrible, murky water that laps up the shore. However, as you would expect, Lush have carefully collected the water on the floodtide so that it's as clean as possible. Sea water is naturally rich in minerals that help to balance the skin's PH levels, while it also has a high salt content which counteracts dry skin and leaves your complexion radiant and full of life.  

This toner spray also has aloe vera gel - perfect for those with sensitive skin. This natural ingredient helps to calm and soothe irritated skin, while the inclusion of rose absolute reduces redness and patchouli oil cools your complexion with it's astringent properties. 

The inclusion of these latter ingredients gives this product a slightly sweet but equally floral scent. It smells like a combination of aloe vera, patchouli and rose - although the fragrance is very light and once it's on the skin, this dissipates very quickly. Whether or not you like the smell, I would suggest you persist with this as the benefits far outweigh the few seconds of smell you get when you spray this on yourself. 

Like all of the toner waters I have used so far, Breath Of Fresh Air is perfectly balanced to clean, tone and rejuvenate the skin without stripping your face of it's natural oils. It's so light on the skin that you don't get the heavy and/or greasy feeling you normally get from other cleaners and facial products. 

Even after the initial application, my complexion was noticeably softer and smoother to touch, and it felt really hydrated, toned and soft. Like the other toner waters I have tried, my skin came to life after a single use of this and I could feel the colour radiating from my cheeks afterwards. 

Priced at £8.50 for a 250g bottle, I would have initially argued that this was rather expensive for what is 'glorified water'. However, this is an amazing product and is well worth it's price tag. While you may wish to purchase the 100g bottle as it's easier and more compact if you want to carry it around in your bag, I would suggest getting the bigger bottle and then investing in a reusable spray bottle from your local chemist. 

This spray lasts for ages - my 100g bottle has been travelling with me for a few months now and I'm not even halfway through. I really cannot imagine how I lived without these miracle toner waters - I know I would definitely not be without at least one nowadays. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Spring Water, Fresh Sea Water, Fair Trade Organic Aloe Vera Gel, Perfume, Carrageenan Extract, Rose Absolute, Patchouli Oil, Rosemary Oil, Seaweed Absolute, Limonene, Linalool, Methylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes.

2014 Price: £3.95 for 100g, £7.50 for 250g.

2015 Price: £4.50 for 100g, £8.50 for 250g.

Read More

Breath Of Fresh Air Toner Water

Initially, I was a little confused when Lush brought out Breeze On A Sea Air in the kitchen last year as the title is very similar to this one. I thought perhaps the aforementioned was an old recipe or a sister product that didn't do as well when it first came out, and this was the reason that Lush chose to discontinue it. However, I quickly realised that these toner waters are completely different and have very few similarities aside from the very similar names.

Breath Of Fresh Air Toner Water claims to be sea breeze trapped in a bottle - a refreshing spray that tones, cleanses and softens your face in a matter of seconds. Like all of Lush's toner sprays, this one acts as a refreshing aide for when your skin needs that 'pick me up' throughout the day. Simply spray directly onto the face and then wipe away with a cotton pad - leaving your skin dirt-free and feeling super soft. 

This refreshing toner water features an array of essential ingredients to revitalise and rejuvenate skin instantly, as well as helping to improve the condition of your complexion over time. It's a little miracle worker.                                                                                                                                                       Rich in sea water, you would be forgiven for being a little hesitant to spray this directly on your face - especially if like me, you've been down the beach and seen the horrible, murky water that laps up the shore. However, as you would expect, Lush have carefully collected the water on the floodtide so that it's as clean as possible. Sea water is naturally rich in minerals that help to balance the skin's PH levels, while it also has a high salt content which counteracts dry skin and leaves your complexion radiant and full of life.  

This toner spray also has aloe vera gel - perfect for those with sensitive skin. This natural ingredient helps to calm and soothe irritated skin, while the inclusion of rose absolute reduces redness and patchouli oil cools your complexion with it's astringent properties. 

The inclusion of these latter ingredients gives this product a slightly sweet but equally floral scent. It smells like a combination of aloe vera, patchouli and rose - although the fragrance is very light and once it's on the skin, this dissipates very quickly. Whether or not you like the smell, I would suggest you persist with this as the benefits far outweigh the few seconds of smell you get when you spray this on yourself. 

Like all of the toner waters I have used so far, Breath Of Fresh Air is perfectly balanced to clean, tone and rejuvenate the skin without stripping your face of it's natural oils. It's so light on the skin that you don't get the heavy and/or greasy feeling you normally get from other cleaners and facial products. 

Even after the initial application, my complexion was noticeably softer and smoother to touch, and it felt really hydrated, toned and soft. Like the other toner waters I have tried, my skin came to life after a single use of this and I could feel the colour radiating from my cheeks afterwards. 

Priced at £8.50 for a 250g bottle, I would have initially argued that this was rather expensive for what is 'glorified water'. However, this is an amazing product and is well worth it's price tag. While you may wish to purchase the 100g bottle as it's easier and more compact if you want to carry it around in your bag, I would suggest getting the bigger bottle and then investing in a reusable spray bottle from your local chemist. 

This spray lasts for ages - my 100g bottle has been travelling with me for a few months now and I'm not even halfway through. I really cannot imagine how I lived without these miracle toner waters - I know I would definitely not be without at least one nowadays. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Spring Water, Fresh Sea Water, Fair Trade Organic Aloe Vera Gel, Perfume, Carrageenan Extract, Rose Absolute, Patchouli Oil, Rosemary Oil, Seaweed Absolute, Limonene, Linalool, Methylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes.

2014 Price: £3.95 for 100g, £7.50 for 250g.

2015 Price: £4.50 for 100g, £8.50 for 250g.

Read More

Big Blue Body Conditioner

Looking at the range of regular bath bombs that Lush currently offer, I'll be honest and say that Big Blue would be one of my last choices. This is by no means a reflection of how wonderful the bath bomb is, and I certainly recognise the merits it possesses as a best-selling product. However, it is rare that I ever get the urge to use one in the bath, and this is mostly down to its smell.

Containing a large dosage of seaweed and lavender, the fragrance of both the bath bomb, and indeed the body conditioner, is very potent. This is not for the faint-hearted and definitely not one for those who dislike rather heady smells. In as many words, Big Blue is like a kick in the teeth, albeit less aggressive and more rewarding for the skin.

When I first found out that Lush were bringing out Big Blue as one of their six exclusive body conditioners, I was a little perplexed as to why it had been chosen from the many other fragrances that I would have envisaged as being  far more popular in the Lush community. Reading reviews from others before mine had arrived also prompted me to believe that this wasn't going to be a revered choice amongst Lush fans either. 

I'll be honest and say that an initial sniff of the product when it arrived did cause a slight negative reaction from myself - a scrunching up of a nose and a grimace for starters. Yet, once I had gotten used to the smell, and when I actually found myself thoroughly enjoying the product the next day in the shower, I realised that it had taken some unwarranted slack from the community that I wanted to rectify.

What I will say is that the body conditioner is almost identical to the bath bomb. There is a strong note of lavender that sits near enough at the top, which offers a brassy, herbal offering that is almost slightly neurotic because of how powerful it comes across in this format. Alongside this, the woody and equally herbaceous seaweed projects another smell that rivals that of the lavender. While it's difficult to describe the aroma of seaweed, there is something about it that gives this product that 'beach vibe'. 

How I think Big Blue Body Conditioner differs from the bath bomb is that the lemon shines through more on the latter. You can distinctly make out the citrus element in the lotion, but I don't think it has as much of an impact as it does in ballistic format. For this reason, the fragrance of the body conditioner is slightly stunted, and I wouldn't say it's as bright or refreshing as you would be expecting. That's not to say that it doesn't replicate the scent of Big Blue well; just that the conditioner is a little more cloudy and condensed when it comes to the scent. 

On the positive side, this product is as hydrating, moisturising and nourishing on your skin as all of the other body conditioners. In addition, it also works wonders at making your skin feel radiant and supple for the most part of the day. This would be perfect for the summer months because Big Blue would not only replenish the skin of any moisture that has been lost in the heat, but it would also create a barrier to could protect your skin for hours afterwards.

Furthermore, this particular body conditioner has probably the most impressive scent longevity than any of the other variations that came out at the same time, in the Lush Kitchen. I used this on my skin one morning before work, and found that I could still smell it on my skin when I showered after my gym session at 8pm that same day. While this could be detrimental for those who dislike strong-smelling cosmetics, I can assure you that I was able to wear a perfume over the top of the smell of this and didn't find that it clashed or outshone the fragrance.


As with most of Lush's products, this one is incredibly versatile, and while the £29.95 price tag may seem a little daunting to those unsure of such a big commitment, it is definitely worth the investment. You can use this as both a body conditioner and a shaving foam, and I've even heard of people using this in replacement of a body lotion. Whichever way you choose to use yours, I can guarantee that you'll not be left disappointed with the results. 

First and foremost, you can use it as Lush intended - as a body conditioner. After using a gel, jelly or soap to clean yourself with, step out of the flow of the water and apply the product across your skin, as you would a body lotion. It wont lather up, and may disappear really quickly, but this is because it is designed to permeate the skin. The heat from the shower will have opened up your pores and made your skin more susceptible to the butters and oils featured in the ingredients list. Once applied, you can either step back under the flow of the water to rinse your body down, or exit the shower immediately and pat yourself down lightly. 


Unlike a body lotion, a conditioner creates a barrier of moisture around your skin, which may feel slightly greasy to some, and might prevent you from being able to apply your clothes until you've given it time to absorb into the skin. I can assure you that this will lessen within the first thirty minutes of application, and you'll feel much better afterwards.

With Big Blue, I found that an amount equal to that of a heaped teaspoon was more than enough to coat an entire leg, so you really don't need to use that much each time to get amazing results. Please also be aware that you wont necessarily be able to see the product when you're massaging it across an area of skin as it does tend to absorb really quickly. However, this does not mean that you should apply any extra and waste the product - the results after you rinse yourself down will speak for themselves.

Secondly, this body conditioner works as an excellent shaving foam. Simply apply a small amount across your legs and shave your legs as usual. You'll be left with super-soft skin, and one of the closest shaves you have ever experienced. Finally, you could also use this as a body lotion, as there doesn't appear to be anything featured that could damage or irritate your skin if left on for long periods of time. The only issue I have with this latter method is that it may leave your body feeling rather greasy, so may only work as an intense moisturiser for those who have incredibly dry skin.

While I was skeptical at first that I would even enjoy this body conditioner, after all of the negative press that it received from other Lush fans, I found that it was exactly as I envisaged it would be. Although I would have appreciated the lemon to be a little more dominant in the overall fragrance, I cannot fault the conditioner for smelling almost identical to that of the bath bomb it was trying to replicate.

Usability-wise, this conditioner does everything that you would want it too, and then outshines the other variations with its bold and uplifting scent. While it wouldn't be at the top of my list of favourite conditioners, I cannot say that it deserves to be anywhere near the bottom either.

Quantitative Ingredients: Water, Organic Jojoba Oil, Glycerine, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Fair Trade Shea Butter, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Lavender Oil, Lemon Oil, Seaweed Absolute, *Limonene, *Linalool, *Eugenol, *Geraniol, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £29.95 for 450.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
Big Blue Ballistic
Big Blue Body Conditioner
Bubbling Under Bubble Bar
Enchanted Island Bath Melt
Mermaid Ballistic

Sea Vegetable Soap 

Read More

Mermaid FUN Bar

The Lush FUN bar collection has grown quite considerably in the last year - so much so that I've almost forgotten the time when I could go into a Lush store and not see the array of colourful bars piled up on display, just waiting to be bought. In fact, these products have amassed such a dedicated following that the company have reserved a store-sized area in their Oxford Street shop, just to showcase their new and existing bars.  

Despite trying this one out first, Mermaid FUN Bar was actually the new addition I was least excited about. While it was beautiful to behold on display, the description and the scent that followed this was less than pleasing on my senses. After using it in the shower for a week following my purchase, my initial impressions didn't alter all that much. 

Fitting in with the sea-inspired theme that Lush seems to have gone with for their latest round of FUN, this blue, pink and yellow striped limited edition has been compared to the popular Big Blue Bath Bomb. While the ingredients would suggest this, I don't see much of a resemblance at all. 

Containing lime oil and seaweed absolute, this FUN bar has a very two-dimensional fragrance. To me, it gives off a scent reminiscent of the sweet but slightly bitter aroma you'd get when peeling back an under-ripe, soured lime. Aside from this, I couldn't really detect much else and this didn't improve when I tried it out in the shower.  

Much like every other of the FUN bars that have come out, Mermaid is really easy to use and can be used in a variety of ways. It can be broken into pieces and crumbled under the running tap - producing a bubble bath much like a bubble bar would do. It can also be lathered into the hair as a replacement for shampoo, although I've never tried this so I cannot vouch whether or not it actually works in this way. 

However, I like to use my FUN as an alternative to shower gel and this is how I chose to use this particular bar. To use, you simply massage a small grape-sized piece between your palms, allowing a little water to get involved, and the FUN bar produces a foam that you can then use to clean yourself with.

Unfortunately, when I tried to break off a small piece and lather it under the water, I found that it was rather dry and fiddly and I didn't get a great deal of foam to clean myself with. Furthermore, once I did manage to amass enough lather to massage over my body, I found that the product was quite drying on the skin and I had to use a shower gel afterwards to rectify this situation.  

Despite my initial interest, I was a little disappointed that the smell was rather weak in comparison to the other FUN bars that I had tried before. Once I had exited the shower and towelled myself down, I could not smell the aroma on me at all, which was disappointing. 

As with all of Lush's FUN bars, this one is ideal for children (or children disguised as adults) who want to instil a little more excitement into their bathing sessions. For those who aren't satisfied with a hot, bubbly bath, FUN allows you to model and craft shapes and figurines out of the product before it is used in the bathroom. This is particularly great for parents who find it difficult to entice their children into the bath - now they can extend their playing whilst getting clean at the same time. 

For this reason, I can see this bar being popular for children who want a colourful FUN bar to play with, and one that has a gentle, fruity scent to boot. Unfortunately, this one didn't do much for me at all and I would not be tempted to use this again. While I would always choose a shower gel over a FUN Bar, there have been some releases in the past such as Yog Nog and Lord Of Misrule, that have convinced me it is possible for these affordable bars to be very effective. This is not the case with Mermaid. 

UPDATE: A few weeks after Lush originally brought this out in the Oxford Street Store, they removed it from the shelves as they claimed it was too drying on the skin - a problem that I had flagged up in my original review above. 

They have since rereleased it in the same size and shape as the other FUN bars, and while it is still not my favourite of the bunch, it's definitely much softer on the skin and easier to lather up in the shower. The scent does seem to be a little stronger as well, and while it is still fairly boring to my senses, it's definitely an improvement on the original release. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Cornflour (Zea Mays), Talc, Glycerine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Gardenia Extract (Gardenia jasminoides), Lime Oil (Citrus aurantifolia), Seaweed Absolute (Fucus vesiculosus), Violet Leaf Absolute (Viola odorata), Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Titanium Dioxide, Tin Oxide, Yellow And Red Lustre, Linalool, Limonene, Perfume, Colour 17200, Colour 42090.

Vegan?: Yes.

2015 Price: £5 for 200g.

Year Of Original Release: 2015. 

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Mermaid FUN Bar

The Lush FUN bar collection has grown quite considerably in the last year - so much so that I've almost forgotten the time when I could go into a Lush store and not see the array of colourful bars piled up on display, just waiting to be bought. In fact, these products have amassed such a dedicated following that the company have reserved a store-sized area in their Oxford Street shop, just to showcase their new and existing bars.  

Despite trying this one out first, Mermaid FUN Bar was actually the new addition I was least excited about. While it was beautiful to behold on display, the description and the scent that followed this was less than pleasing on my senses. After using it in the shower for a week following my purchase, my initial impressions didn't alter all that much. 

Fitting in with the sea-inspired theme that Lush seems to have gone with for their latest round of FUN, this blue, pink and yellow striped limited edition has been compared to the popular Big Blue Bath Bomb. While the ingredients would suggest this, I don't see much of a resemblance at all. 

Containing lime oil and seaweed absolute, this FUN bar has a very two-dimensional fragrance. To me, it gives off a scent reminiscent of the sweet but slightly bitter aroma you'd get when peeling back an under-ripe, soured lime. Aside from this, I couldn't really detect much else and this didn't improve when I tried it out in the shower.  

Much like every other of the FUN bars that have come out, Mermaid is really easy to use and can be used in a variety of ways. It can be broken into pieces and crumbled under the running tap - producing a bubble bath much like a bubble bar would do. It can also be lathered into the hair as a replacement for shampoo, although I've never tried this so I cannot vouch whether or not it actually works in this way. 

However, I like to use my FUN as an alternative to shower gel and this is how I chose to use this particular bar. To use, you simply massage a small grape-sized piece between your palms, allowing a little water to get involved, and the FUN bar produces a foam that you can then use to clean yourself with.

Unfortunately, when I tried to break off a small piece and lather it under the water, I found that it was rather dry and fiddly and I didn't get a great deal of foam to clean myself with. Furthermore, once I did manage to amass enough lather to massage over my body, I found that the product was quite drying on the skin and I had to use a shower gel afterwards to rectify this situation.  

Despite my initial interest, I was a little disappointed that the smell was rather weak in comparison to the other FUN bars that I had tried before. Once I had exited the shower and towelled myself down, I could not smell the aroma on me at all, which was disappointing. 

As with all of Lush's FUN bars, this one is ideal for children (or children disguised as adults) who want to instil a little more excitement into their bathing sessions. For those who aren't satisfied with a hot, bubbly bath, FUN allows you to model and craft shapes and figurines out of the product before it is used in the bathroom. This is particularly great for parents who find it difficult to entice their children into the bath - now they can extend their playing whilst getting clean at the same time. 

For this reason, I can see this bar being popular for children who want a colourful FUN bar to play with, and one that has a gentle, fruity scent to boot. Unfortunately, this one didn't do much for me at all and I would not be tempted to use this again. While I would always choose a shower gel over a FUN Bar, there have been some releases in the past such as Yog Nog and Lord Of Misrule, that have convinced me it is possible for these affordable bars to be very effective. This is not the case with Mermaid. 

UPDATE: A few weeks after Lush originally brought this out in the Oxford Street Store, they removed it from the shelves as they claimed it was too drying on the skin - a problem that I had flagged up in my original review above. 

They have since rereleased it in the same size and shape as the other FUN bars, and while it is still not my favourite of the bunch, it's definitely much softer on the skin and easier to lather up in the shower. The scent does seem to be a little stronger as well, and while it is still fairly boring to my senses, it's definitely an improvement on the original release. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Cornflour (Zea Mays), Talc, Glycerine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Gardenia Extract (Gardenia jasminoides), Lime Oil (Citrus aurantifolia), Seaweed Absolute (Fucus vesiculosus), Violet Leaf Absolute (Viola odorata), Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Titanium Dioxide, Tin Oxide, Yellow And Red Lustre, Linalool, Limonene, Perfume, Colour 17200, Colour 42090.

Vegan?: Yes.

2015 Price: £5 for 200g.

Year Of Original Release: 2015. 

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