Showing posts with label jojoba. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jojoba. Show all posts

Yuge Hot Hair Treatment



Although the quality of my hair is improving near on every day, I am still very hesitant to put anything new into my hair. The slightest wrong choice and my mane looks and feels like a birds’ nest. It’s fascinating and equally terrifying that the smallest decision can have such a dramatic impact, which is why it has taken me so long to try this product out for size.

Yuge Hot Oil Hair Treatment is one of a select few solid treatments that are currently available to try out in stores. Originally making an appearance at the Lush Summit event in February, this turquoise-looking block proved to be so popular, that the company decided to release it as a global product. 

What struck a chord with me is the fact that this particular treatment plays homage to Donald Trump, or more particular - his downright political stupidity. Based on his idea of building a ‘huuuuuuuge wall’ to separate Mexico from the world, this product nourishes your sense of humour as well as your hair. What excited me about Yuge was that it proclaimed to not only nourish and rehydrate your hair, but to give it volume as well - the two aspects of my hair that I struggle with every day. 

Firstly, this hot hair treatment contains fine sea salt. Although in large doses this can actually dry out the hair and scalp, this helps to add volume. From experience, I know that this product can have some serious impact on my hair, as Sea Spray has already demonstrated to me in the past. 

Yuge also contains hair gum, which is a thickening agent that not only helps to add more volume, but also works at conditioning the hair as well. This works with the agave syrup, to help lick in moisture and give the hair a wonderful shine. Finally, Yuge contains jojoba oil to support the agave syrup in adding vibrancy to your locks, and it truly works. 

As the ingredients list suggests, the fragrance of this is created from a combination of spearmint and agave nectar. The mint not only helped to stimulate the hair follicles across my scalp, but offered up a gentle sweet minty smell that was pleasant enough for as long as it lasted. 

To use, simply add the stick to an empty mug and pour in some boiling water. In order for you to achieve the consistency of the treatment, you need to fill the mug until it’s about two-thirds of the way full. Stir it around with the wooden stick, until all of the product has melted away from the stick and then leave to cool for about 10 minutes.

I found that a single treatment lasted me for two separate uses, so I then massaged half of the gel across my head, making sure I started from the roots before moving onto the ends of my hair, and then the part in between. You can then carefully wrap some cling film or a plastic bag around your head to allow the moisture to stay warm and stimulate the process a little more, or just relax in a bath until the time comes to rinse it out.

After about 20 minutes you will need to massage your hair under the shower, in order to remove as much of the treatment as possible. Given its consistency, you will find that Yuge is not all that easy to wash out. For this reason, I would then shampoo my hair as per usual, and this usually does the trick at removing any excess product. I wouldn’t recommend that you condition as well as it’ll be too much for your hair, and you may find your ends become rather brittle afterwards. 

Once my hair was dry, I found that Yuge did impact my hair in many ways: some good and others not so good. For starters, it did give my hair a lovely shine to it, which came about more once I had brushed it and it was completely dry. As my hair is usually quite frizzy, I also noticed that my locks appeared far more tame. They seemed to have lost their waviness, which was a great aspect for me, but some may not appreciate this so much. Finally, my hair did appear to be volumised a little, although I wouldn’t say it was apparent enough to get too excited. 

On the other hand, I didn’t think my hair felt all that moisturised once it was dry. In fact, I had to apply some extra Argan oil on afterwards because the hair felt quite coarse. Secondly, I found that traces of the treatment were still present in my hair, once I had towelled myself down. It appears as if all of Lush’s hot oil treatments are a little stubborn to use, so you will need to double check that your hair is fully exempt before jumping out of the shower. 

Finally, I found that the positives of Yuge didn’t last for more than a few days, and within a week my hair felt and looked exactly as it had done before I had used the treatment. While I didn’t expect this treatment to perform miracles, I was expecting it to have a lasting impact, similar to the likes of The Strokes and Jasmine And Henna Fluff-Ease.

Overall, I did feel that my hair benefitted from me using this, although I don’t think it would be too pleased if I used it more regularly than I do. Once every couple of months is more than enough to help revamp my hair a little, and I would be more inclined to used Damaged anyway, as that’s much more suited to my hair type. Although it’s a great thing that Trump’s idea of building a wall lasted little more than the time it took me to apply this to my locks, I would have liked to have seen more longevity in terms of the impact this had on my hair. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Cetearyl Alcohol & Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Organic Agave Syrup, Fine Sea Salt, Organic Jojoba Oil, Guar Gum, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Coarse Sea Salt, Cream of Tartar, Spearmint Oil, Perfume, Citric Acid, Peppermint Powder, *Benzyl Alcohol, *Limonene, Colour 4209.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £6.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.



Polyamorous Bath oil



Polyamorous means the practice of intimacy with more then one partner, in which all involved are aware of, and consent to, the arrangement. With humans being far more open and accepting of different sexualities and practices these days, it is only fitting that Lush have decided to celebrate this freedom and highlight one such different outlook on life.

Polyamorous is a new contender for my favourite Bath Oil, as well as being a new addition to the impressive array of oils and melts already on offer from the company. While I cannot claim that I turn to bath oils all that often, I have definitely found myself craving this one a number of times this last month, and I have enjoyed every single experience.

Shaped like a heart with smaller hearts painted across the surface, this is perhaps the most beautifully designed oils of all the ones currently available. For such a small product - coming in about the 3cm in length and 1.5cm in height - this miniature masterpiece is warming, comforting, and perfect for those who perhaps wish for more company but only have a bath tub to explore. 

Containing a combination of orange, sandalwood and jojoba oils, you would expect Polyamorous to offer a fruity aroma. However, it is the inclusion of the violet leaf absolute that provides the strongest component overall.  

To me, this bath oil has a warm, sweet and slightly musky violet scent - nowhere near as sultry and potent as Tuca Tuca, yet equally not as grassy as Kerbside Violet. In fact, it smells very similar to how I remember Metropolis smelling. The inclusion of the sandalwood grounds the different notes again, and you can detect a very subtle uplifting element that I thinks comes from the orange oil. However, this Bath Oil is predominantly violet with a touch of wordiness to completely to compliment the floral components.

In the water, this bath oil sinks like the majority of Lush oils and melts. This is always disappointing to be because I usually like to indulge in a bath melt or bath bomb whilst I am already in the bath myself. Once submerged, I like to watch the product dissolve across the surface of the water and see the oils become absorbed into the skin. Unfortunately, Polyamorous simply sunk to the bottom of the tub and I ended up melting the product down between my fingers because I didn’t want to find myself sitting on it while I was bathing.

Once fully dissolved, the Bath Oil didn’t really do anything to the water, which was expectation anyway so it wasn’t as if I was disappointed by this. However, I would recommend that you use this along a bath bomb (Ylang Song, Ne Worry Pas) or Bubble Bar (Baa Bar, Bathos) as you’ll end up with a rather disappointing looking bath if you use it by itself.

Another aspect of Polyamorous that I was little disappointed with was the fact that the scent didn’t linger on my skin after I had towelled myself down. Although I expect a lot from my products, and the main purpose of this bath oil is to add extra oils and butter to soften, I would still have liked to have detected a slight musky sweetness on my body. While I can vouch that the scent does make an impression in the water, and I was rather impressed by how much it held itself against other cosmetics I was using at the time, I would have assumed that at least a small note could have made itself known afterwards.

Having said that, my skin did feel lovely and smooth afterwards, and Polyamorous is definitely a bath oil that makes a difference to the softness of the water when it’s fully dissolved. You could probably cut this in half, if you’re rather reserved about using your Lush products. However, I think using the whole product in a single bath will heed the best results, and help you to make the most of this softening little gem.

To conclude I will say that this is a fantastic edition to Lush’s extensive bath melts and oils. It’s wonderful to have a violet-scented Bath Oil available at all times, as I know a lot of consumers love the naturally sweet and floral components of violets. This is definitely one I would buy again - perhaps over most of the other variations currently on offer - and I am equally excited to try the other two new editions to see if they’re equally as impressive.

Quantitative Ingredients: Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Sodium Bicarbonate, Laureth 4, Cream of Tartar, Perfume, Alpha-Isomethyl ionone, Organic Shea Butter, Brazilian Orange Oil, Sandalwood Oil,  Violet Leaf Absolute, Organic Jojoba Oil, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Titanium Dioxide, *Citral, *Limonene, Colour 17200, Colour 45410.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £2.50 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.


Coming soon!


Buck's Fizz Body Conditioner


Although I've never been much of a drinker, I do have fond memories as a teenager, of enjoying a glass of Buck's Fizz during my family's New Year's Eve's celebrations. The excitement of being allowed to digest alcohol while underage was enough to mask the fact that the drink itself tasted rather cheap and nasty. The same can definitely not be said about this brand new seasonal release. 

Buck's Fizz Body Conditioner is easily my favourite Christmas product this year. Not only does it have an exquisite fragrance that tantalises my senses and makes me salivate at the mere thought of using it, it also works like an absolute dream; and I only wish that it was a part of the regular range.
Sharing its scent with Bubbly Shower Gel, this limited edition is one of four body conditioners available in the seasonal range this year. While they all have their merits, this one definitely takes the crown as the best all-rounder, and here's why: 

Containing an abundance of fresh orange juice; a grapefruit decoction; and cognac, orange and lime oils, this limited edition is bursting with fragrance. In fact, I find it far more pleasing than the shower gel as it is sweeter, fruitier and slightly more zesty than its older sibling. From the tub you get a thick, vibrant burst of citrusy goodness, which reminds with very much of the orange Starburst sweets, albeit stronger. The orange is definitely the leading note here, but the lime and grapefruit offer bursts of zestiness that sit alongside this component and give this body conditioner a scent to want to get out of bed for. 

What makes Buck's Fizz even more spectacular is how well works, and how many different functions I have found that it caters for. First and foremost, it works as an excellent moisturiser. For those unfamiliar with how a body conditioner works, it's designed to function much like a body lotion - although for wet skin as opposed to dry. When in the shower, step outside of the running water and massage this conditioner across the areas that you wish to moisturise. Rinse your skin gently to remove any excess cream and then pat your skin down. What you'll be left with is a layer of butters and oils that will slowly get absorbed into your skin over the next 20 minutes and leave you with kissably-soft skin. 

Bucks Fizz made an immediate impression on me - leaving my skin noticeably softer, smoother and more supple. I could feel how replenished my entire body felt after using this, and the results this heeded stayed with me for the entire day. This is an amazing product to use if you suffer from parched skin because of the harsher weather outside: it will keep your skin's elasticity intact, banish dry areas and give your body a beautiful, radiant glow that will be very much appreciated in the colder months. 

As I've stated in other reviews, I like to double my body conditioners up as shaving creams. Applying a small amount across both legs will afford you a really close shave, without irritating the pores with your blade, and will leave you feeling super smooth afterwards. Furthermore, the inclusion of the excess butters and oils means that your skin will be fully lubricated before you shave yourself, which should hopefully prevent you from cutting yourself very easily - a fact that I appreciate during those three minute, early morning 'rushathons'. 

You need very little with each use: I found that an amount equating to that of a heaped dessertspoon will coat most of your body, so a 240g tub will easily last you 3-4 months, even if you're using it twice or three times a week. 

Finally, I have also experimented using this as deep facial moisturiser and find that it works to improve the condition of really weathered skin. I understand that the face is more sensitive than most of your body, and a lotion too viscous or too heavy could clog up the pores or irritate the complexion. However, I found that using the smallest amount across the face, once a week, helped my face to feel and look really plump and radiant. Even on the days when I looked and felt unbelievably tired, I found that Bucks Fizz brought a little life back into my skin and gave me the confidence to face the day ahead.
What is great about this seasonal conditioner is that the scent remains with you for a while after you've towelled yourself down, so the radiance of those fruity ingredients will keep you company during the morning commute. This is definitely a product that I would invest in again, and it makes for a perfect addition to the Bubbly family. Given the scent of this, I believe this will work equally - if not better - in the warmer months as well, which is why I plan on stocking up on a few tubs before the season is out. If you're looking for something to celebrate this season, make it Bucks Fizz Body Conditioner.

Quantitative Ingredients: Glycerine, Vine Leaf Infusion, Almond Oil, Fresh Pink Grapefruit Decoction, Orange Blossom Water, Organic Jojoba Oil, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Stearic Acid, Kalahari Melon Oil, Murumuru Butter, Perfume, Triethanolamine, Brazilian Orange Oil, Cognac Oil, Lime Oil, Fresh Orange Juice, Titanium Dioxide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide, Iron Oxides, *Citral, *Limonene, *Linalool, Citronellol, Colour 15510.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £8.95 for 100g, £16.95 for 250g.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
Bridal Bouquet Ballistic 
Bubbly Shower Gel
Buck's Fizz Body Conditioner
Buck's Fizz Naked Body Conditioner




Once Upon A Time Naked Body Lotion



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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £7.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

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


Once Upon A Time Body Lotion



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vegan?: Yes.

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

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

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





Flying Fox Solid Perfume


Despite the shower gel not being vegan, I have never been particularly interested in trying Flying Fox out all that much. While I am not opposed to jasmine, and certainly don't have an issue with the strength that it holds itself in this scent family, there is just something that I don't find all that desirable about the overall aroma.

Although the differing ingredients lists suggest that Flying Fox Solid Perfume doesn't share the same scent as Lust Solid Perfume, the two are so similar that you'd be hard-pressed to find much of a difference. While I will compare the two products below, for the interest of the consumer, I should probably state that these differences are so minor that many noses will probably not be able to detect these changes.

While Lust contains jasmine, ylang ylang, rose and vanilla, Flying Fox swaps the latter two ingredients for cypress and palmarosa oil - a transformation that surprisingly does very little to the overall smell of the perfume. What I will say is that Flying Fox does have better longevity on the skin - with it lasting almost double the time that Lust offered me, making this a good investment for fans of this scent.

From the tub, this solid fragrance is very much dominated by the jasmine. Heady and rather potent, this sweet and sultry floral component presides over every other ingredient - offering a smell that is intoxicating and sophisticated. As jasmine is an aphrodisiac, this perfume will make you feel rather sexy sporting it on your skin, and as I said in my review of Lust: encourages your primal needs to come to the forefront.

Alongside this are notes of ylang ylang, cypress and palmarosa: the former giving Flying Fox an element of 'green' about it, while still maintaining that sickly-sweet aroma; the cypress oil adding a gentle woody aroma that grounds the fragrance; the palmarosa adding to the sweetness of the jasmine and bringing its own subtle herbaceous element that I think makes this solid perfume rather intoxicating for the wearer.

On the skin, the jasmine settles back a little in the mix, and allows the ylang ylang and the cypress oils to come forward more. The warmth of your body will break apart the different elements here and give you a much lighter, pretty floral aroma. For those who find Lust Liquid Perfume too potent on the senses, but appreciate the use of jasmine, you may find that this solid perfume will work far better for you.  

While it's not one of my favourite fragrances from Lush, I will definitely say that this solid edition is very subtlely superior to Lust. While I don't think there is enough of a difference to warrant buying one, there is minute difference that will draw some Lush fans to invest and see for themselves. Those with a very sensitive nose, who love Flying Fox, might appreciate being able to experience a replica of their favourite shower gel. However, I feel as if the production of this is a little bit of a waste, and I would have been much happier if another fragrance had been chosen to during the voting week.  

Quantitative Ingredients: Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Castor Oil, Candelilla Wax, Perfume (synthetic), *Linalool, Jasmine Absolute, Ylang Ylang Oil, Cypress Oil, Palmarosa Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Benzyl Salicylate, *Citral, *Eugenol, *Farnesol, *Geraniol, *Isoeugenol, *Limonene, Butylphenyl Methylpropional.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £9 for 12g.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
Floating Flower Bath Ballistic
Flying Fox Body Lotion
Flying Fox Shower Gel
Flying Fox Solid Perfume
Godiva Solid Shampoo Bar
Lust Liquid Perfume 
Lustre Dusting Powder
Lust Solid Perfume
Yes Yes Yes Massage Bar

Youki-Hi Bath Ballistic



Sex Bomb Solid Perfume


Not a favourite scent of mine, Sex Bomb is only really used in my house when I find one in a gift set I have purchased, and then I only really use it to change things up a little. While I wouldn't say that I find the fragrance at all bad, it doesn't insight any sort of reaction from me either, which is why I wasn't all that excited about it being one of the winning smells in the recent Kitchen voting week.

Although I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the Sex Bomb Body Lotion I think this was because it was a little different from the bath bomb. What I will say is that this limited edition solid perfume is far closer in scent to the original bath bomb, and I can imagine fans would appreciate this gesture very much.

To begin with, given the nature of this scent family, I was expecting Sex Bomb Solid Perfume to be one of the weaker-smelling variations. With some solid perfumes, the smell of the base waxes seep through into the actual fragrance, and it can often be rather off-putting for those who want to enjoy their favourite aromas.

Surprisingly, I found that although the fragrance was far subtler than the likes of Grass and Brightside Solid Perfumes, there was still enough strength present, that prevented me from being able to detect any of the castor oil or candelilla wax in the process. This was true both in the tub and while I was wearing it on my skin.

I believe it is the sweet, floral nature of the jasmine that enables this fragrance to work effectively in this format. From the initial sniff, you can make out the gentle nature of the jasmine - intertwined with the clary sage oil to bring you a slight earthy note, with a bitter twinge at the end. The ylang ylang adds its playful, slightly grassy floral layer; while the synthetic musk rounds all of the notes together with its sweet, almost chalky scent. 

While all of these ingredients make their presence known in this perfume, the overall fragrance is a very subtle one. In fact, this is probably one of Lush's most subtlest floral aromas to date. There is nothing offensive about this scent at all, and I cannot imagine anyone being opposed to it.

On the skin, the smell settles wonderfully and you lose that bitterness that you first detect in the tub. In addition, the musk comes through a little more through the warmth of your body, so it's a little sweeter than it initially seems in the tin. Unfortunately, due to the lightness of the smell, I found that this perfume didn't last much past an hour on my body, and it wasn't a fragrance that I could detect much, past pressing my nose to my wrists.

Having said that, I did find that the aroma was a little more present on the ends of my hair - where I massaged it into the tips to carry around with me throughout the day. When used in this way, the scent can still be detected a couple of hours after application, and this is probably how I'll continue to use this product from now on.

For those who love the Sex Bomb Bath Bomb, you'll really enjoy the smell in this format, as it is true to the original ballistic in almost every way. Although slightly less musky, this is due to the base waxes and oils only, and the fact that it's not made up of powdery substances that no doubt add to the aroma of the bath bomb.

While it's not a solid perfume that I would rave about, this is only because I am not very fond of the Sex Bomb scent overall. However, if you enjoy this fragrance, or gentle floral aromas in general, you will probably love this solid perfume and I would recommend that you try it out for yourself.

Quantitative Ingredients: Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Castor Oil, Candelilla Wax, Perfume (synthetic), Synthetic Musk, Ylang Ylang Oil, Jasmine Absolute, Clary Sage Oil, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, *Benzyl Alcohol, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Benzyl Salicylate, *Citral, *Eugenol, *Farnesol, *Geraniol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £9 for 12g.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
Bada Bing Bada Boom Shower Jelly
Sex Bomb Bath Bomb
Sex Bomb Body Lotion
Sex Bomb Solid Perfume

Tulip Mum Reusable Bubble Bar




Brightside Solid Perfume


 

For those who have read a lot of my reviews on solid perfumes, you'll know that I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with them. While the premise behind their design is one that I stand by, and I love how long a 12g tub lasts when compared to the liquid counterpart. However, I don't think many of the solid perfumes have ever successfully replicated a liquid version of the same scent, and as I love my Lush fragrances, this is rather disappointing.

However, as far as solid perfumes go, Brightside is up there as being one of the best. Not only does it represent the scent of the original bubble bar well, but it has a fragrance that withstands a lot more than most of the other solid perfumes that I have tried. In fact, this is the first solid perfume in a long while that I've actually found myself wearing day in, day out.

What first impressed me about Brightside Solid Perfume is the well-rounded and very robust fragrance that greets you from the tin. Usually, when I sniff most of Lush's solid perfumes, I find that I can detect somewhat of a waxy layer underneath, that ruins the experience for me. Whereas liquid perfumes don't have this issue because of the format they're in, solid perfumes are always going to have to battle with these base-level smells, which is part of the reason that I don't enjoy them as much as their liquid counterparts.

Despite this, Brightside is perhaps one of the most successful solid perfumes to date. Although I wouldn't say that it smells exactly like the bubble bar, there are enough traits here to make it recognisable. Having said that, out of this and the body lotion format, I actually believe that this has a closer connection to the bubble bar scent, and here's why.

Just like the bubble bar, this solid perfume contains mandarin, tangerine and bergamot oils. Upon opening the lid, you can detect all three of these from the start - each layer intertwined with the others to create a warm, fresh and very fruity aroma. 

It is both the mandarin and the tangerine that gives off the strongest threads here - offering a refreshing, juicy burst of citrusy goodness that smells very natural and sweet. The bergamot oil adds a subtle layer of what I can only describe as smelling of 'green', which is the the component that I think is what gives this perfume its longevity on the skin.

As I mentioned above, this solid perfume doesn't smell identical to the bubble bar: I think the format difference doesn't allow it to be as sherbety or as strong.  In fact, there is a small part of my senses that sees a resemblance between this and The Sun Solid Perfume, in some small way. However, I can definitely detect the magic of The Brightside shining through here, and fans of the bubble bar will no doubt appreciate what I mean by this.

What is impressive about this solid perfume is that normally smells of this calibre don't tend to last that long on the skin. Citrusy, fruity aromas tend to disperse fairly quickly, when exposed to the air. However, this one works with the warmth of your skin for a good couple of hours before it has fully faded and needs a top up.

For those unfamiliar with solid perfumes, there are many ways that you can  utilise them, and Brightside is no exception. The primary use is as a perfume - massaging a little into your pulse points and allowing the warmth of your skin to  stimulate the notes and leave you smelling wonderful. Although not as potent as a liquid perfume, solids are great to 'top up' a smell throughout the day, although they can be used by themselves.

Sometimes I even massage a little into the ends of my hair and use them as hair perfumes. I find that the hair tends to hold the smell longer than it does on the skin, and you'll stimulate a burst of fruity goodness every time your hair is caught by a breeze. My hair has even been known to benefit from this practice as the waxes and oils add a little moisture to my split ends and leaves them shiny.

Ultimately, The Brightside is as wonderful as fans of the fragrance would want it to be. While I know it'll be far more successful in liquid format, this is a good product to have until that dream is made a reality. Fruity, fresh and fun: this solid perfume is just in time to see the summer arrive, and Lush fans will be much better for it.  

Quantitative Ingredients: Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Castor Oil, Candelilla Wax, *Limonene, Perfume (synthetic), Mandarin Oil, Tangerine Oil, Bergamot Oil, *Citral, *Farnesol, *Geraniol, *Linalool.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £9 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
Brightside Body Lotion
Brightside Bubble Bar
Brightside Solid Perfume

Sunrise Soap