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.

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Bling Crosby Bubble Bar

Let’s be honest: I can think of very few reason not to love Karma. It’s a classic - a smell I go back to time and time again, and fall in love with each and every time. There is something for everybody in this fragrance, and this Bubble Bar is an extension of the family that needs to be experienced by all.

To look at, Bling Crosby Bubble Bar is not exactly the most exciting of bath products, although I know that the allure of the glitter will win some hearts over straight away. Sharing its scent with all things Karma, this limited edition boasts pine, patchouli, lemongrass, orange, lavender and clove. Yet despite this impressive list of potentially clashing components, the fragrance is one of many layers. You can smell a combination of orange and patchouli to begin with - which offers a sweet, spicy note reminiscent of the swinging sixties. There is something almost intoxicating and strange exotic about the combination of these two ingredients, which makes for a strong base on which the other notes flourish. Next up the lemongrass, which intertwines itself around the orange and hides a little of juiciness that citrus fruits sometimes display. This gives the scent a dry fruity smell rather than a zesty one, and adds a gentle layer of green to the mix. Then there is the pine oil, which works with the latter ingredient to offer something a little green and almost coniferous about the smell. 

All of these elements work well together - offering a burst of smells that is richly sweet, with a spicy warmth that earns his scent family its massive following. What I love about Karma is that, while the notes work in unison with each other, you are also able to pick out each component individually as well. 

Bling Crosby offers that unique Karma smell right away, although I would say that it’s slightly more subtle than the regular Karma Bubble Bar that you can buy in stores. What I love though is that it turns your bath water a wonderful shade of orange, which is reminiscent of the original Karma Bubble Bar - a colour that I think suits this fragrance a lot more than purple does. 

The product is easy enough to crumble under the running tap, and it produces a wonderful layer of light, fluffy bubbles to submerge yourself beneath. Furthermore, the inclusion of the gold lustre means that you also experience swirls of pulsating sparkly glitter, under the surface of the water, as you’re bathing. However, I should point out that the lustre does not decorate your skin at all whilst you’re bathing, and it washes away easily afterwards. 

As with most of Lush’s Bubble bars, my skin benefitted from the softness of the water and I could feel how smooth and moisturised my skin was after exiting the bath. Moreover, I was impressed when I was able to smell a note reminiscent of Karma on my skin after I had towelled myself down, and a spray of the liquid perfume, and a generous lather of Karma Kream, and I was able to enjoy the scent for the rest of the day. 

Despite its physical lack of appeal to me, I can honestly say that I enjoyed the experience overall. While I used the whole bar in my bath, you could easily use a half or a third, and you’d still heed a fragrant bath to enjoy over the winter period. Although I much prefer the new and improved pyramid-shaped Karma Bubble Bar, this is a great (and slightly cheaper!) alternative for those who need a big dose of Karma to see them through the day/night.  

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Perfume, Lavendin Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Brazilian Orange Oil, Patchouli Oil, Pine Oil, Gardenia Extract, Titanium Dioxide, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Silica, *Citral, *Citronellol, *Geraniol, *Hydroxycitronellal, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 77492, Colour 14700, Whole Clove

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £3.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2006.

Scent Family:
Bling Crosby Bubble Bar
Double Fast Luck Emotibomb
Karma Ballistic
Karma Bath Melt
Karma Bubble Bar
Karma Dusting Powder
Karma Komba Solid Shampoo Bar
Karma Kream
Karma Liquid Perfume
Karma Revamped Bubble Bar
Karma Shower Gel
Karma Shower Jelly
Karma Soap
Karma Solid Perfume
Karma Sutra Bath Bomb

Lush Bath Bomb

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Sleepy Hand Cream

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vegan?: Yes.

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

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

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My Two Front Teeth Bubble Bar

Lush have gone all out on their bubble bars this season, probably because we've been inundated with so many new jelly bombs across the year that those little bars of sodium bicarbonate have perhaps been feeling a little left out. While I seem to feign more excitement for the spherical kind online, I tend to opt for bubble bars a lot more than I actually give them credit for. 

My Two Front Teeth is not only a superbly designed specimen, but its a bubble bar with a difference. This is not a product covered in glitter, or marketed with puns about Santa and gifts and snowmen: this is a seasonal special focused around a little known character that often gets overlooked throughout the year: the tooth fairy. 

Given that I was a 'sweets fiend' when I was younger, I was visited far more frequently by the tooth fairy than I care to admit. Luckily, I have since realised the important of eating a healthy balanced diet, and my teeth are not at the risk of backing their bags and running away with the sunset. However, that does not mean that my sweet tooth doesn't flare up every now and again, and this bubble bar is a great way of satisfying these urges without ingesting too much sugar.

Sharing its scent with the new Think Pink Bath Bomb, and the now-discontinued Pink Custard Shower Jelly, My Two Front Teeth is a bubble bar for those who like sweet and playful floral aromas. While a lot of people disliked the fact that Lush changed the scent of the aforementioned bath bomb, I happen to really like the new and improved scent, and this bubble bar is the perfect accompaniment - offering the same fragrance, albeit a little less powdery and slightly more subtle overall.

The inclusion of the tonka and vanilla absolute gives this bubble bar a rich, creamy layer that reminds me of musk combined with decadent vanilla ice-cream made from vanilla pods. It's delicious and warming, yet not as heavy or as sickly as you might expect. This is because of the inclusion of the neroli, which uplifts the fragrance slightly in the mix and adds a very delicate sweet, green note. Finally, the lavender intertwines itself around these notes and gives the bubble bar a naturally sweet, herbal scent. You don't get the heavy, brash sort of lavender that you find in A French Kiss, and to some extent Big Blue Bath Bomb.          

When crumbling under the running tap, this bubble bar worked like a treat: almost melting in between my fingers as it made contact with the water. Immediately, an amass of bubble began to form across the surface, and it didn't take long for the whole tub to be filled with light, fluffy, fragrant bubbles. Futhermore, the water turned a wonderful shade of magenta and the water appeared visibly smoother.

Although I was disappointed to find that the scent is rather delicate in the water, so any products you use will thwart the fragrance very quickly, the water was still super soft and moisturising. My skin felt noticeably better within minutes and this continued long after I had exited the bath. Moreover, the inclusion of the lavender helped to decluttered some of the stressful thoughts I had at the time, and I genuinely felt so much more relaxed afterwards. 

As to be expected, I didn't find that the scent lingered on my skin much after towelling myself down. For this reason, I started thinking about how wonderful it would be to have a Think Pink perfume to go alongside these other products, and I am now convinced that this is one of my better ideas. I for one would advocate this release for certain. 

Overall, this is yet another impeccable bubble bar from Lush, and I will be buying a few more to see me through the coming months. My only grouch about My Two Front Teeth is that scent wasn't as strong in the water as I would like it to be, and I would probably use a Think Pink Bath Bomb alongside it to boost up that wonderful fragrance.       

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Perfume, Lavender Oil, Tonka Absolute, Vanilla Absolute, Neroli Oil, Titanium Dioxide, *Limonene, *Linalool, *Coumarin, Colour 17200, Colour 45410, Colour 16035.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £3.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017. 

Scent Family: 
My Two Front Teeth Bubble Bar
Pink Custard Shower Jelly

Think Pink Bath Bomb

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Hidden Mountain Soap

At the risk of repeating myself, most of my readers know that I am not a huge fans of soap at all. Despite Lush creating some incredible scents in this format, they just don't get on with my skin. As someone with quite a dry complexion, I have found that most of the company's soaps leave my body feeling parched, and then I need to moisturise heavily afterwards, which brings about problems of its own.

For this reason, I was not particularly enamoured to see so many new variations in this year's seasonal range. As someone who feels the need to try and review every vegan product Lush offer to consumers, I knew that I would need to work my way through every single one of them - which wasn't going to be the best news for my already winter-touched skin.

Hidden Mountain was the first one I reached for - not because I was overly excited with the scent, but because the premise and design grabbed my attention immediately. If there is one (only) thing I love about the cold weather, it's the brisk through the local woodlands, while wrapped in a million layers to keep myself from freezing to death. I am definitely a country person at heart, and the cold weather brings about a romanticism when I think about exploring woods and forests.

This soap immediately offered a rapport that reminded me of both Needles And Pine Shower Jelly and Tramp Shower Gel. In fact, I have heard rumours that the soap is supposed to be a combination of the latter and Grass, and I can definitely relate to that description as well. Either way, this product is definitely one for those who like grassy, earthy smells.

Containing ho wood oil and labdanum resinoid, Hidden Mountain offers a green floral smell with woody undertones that support and pad out of the overall fragrance. Labdanum has a very rich, resinous smell about it and I see this as the dominant note overall. Despite it being low in the mix, the lavender can be detected, and offers a subtle dry, floral component as well. 

To me, this soap really is like walking through a forest after it has snowed - the ferns and woodland plants wet and bleeding that earthy, green phosphorus smell into the air; the shrubbery and fallen branches adding a cloudy and quite saturated woody smell. It's definitely not a scent for the faint-hearted, and when you use this you will find the aroma follows you around for hours later.

What I enjoyed about Hidden Mountain was that the inclusion of cocoa butter meant that this soap was a little gentler on my skin. While I would never claim that it was moisturising for me, I did use it for successive weeks as a hand soap, and I never once suffered from dry or damaged skin. In fact, the soap brought about a slight clarity to my hands - meaning that there was almost a radiance to my skin after using it. Furthermore, the scent clung to my skin like an icicle on a tree branch, and I was once complimented on my 'perfume' some three hours later, which was impressive. 

For those who appreciate soaps more than I do, and love the fragrance of this one, I should warn you that this shrunk at an alarming rate. After using it around 3-4 times in the shower, the 100g piece I had bought had almost halved in size. For this reason, you need to make sure that it does not come into contact with the running water very often, and that you pat the piece down once you have finished bathing. 

Ultimately, this was never going to be a product I would rave about; neither was it ever going to be one that I bought multiple pieces of. However, I did really appreciate the smell of Hidden Mountain and I can see how someone with skin that's a little less drier than mine might benefit from using this.  

Quantittaive Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Organic Castor Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Perfume, Kaolin, Ho Wood Oil, Labdanum Resinoid, Lavender Oil, Coarse Sea Salt, Citric Acid, Glycerine, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Bicarbonate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide, Iron Oxides, Alpha-Isomethyl ionone, *Coumarin, *Eugenol, Oakmoss Extract, Colour 42090.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £5.40 for 100g.

Year Of Original Release: 2017. 

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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

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Ice Hotel Bubble Bar

While I love the concept of the Lush Kitchen, and I obviously invest a lot of money into their wonderful products, there are times when the magic is lost a little when recreating some of Lush's older products. Although the smell and initial appearance may bowl you over when it comes to first impressions, the stories behind some of the company's retro creations are sometimes lost in translation. Such is the case with this bubble bar.

As the name suggest, Ice Hotel was originally more than just a product to crumble under some running water. Inspired by the famous sculpted hotel in Sweden, this limited edition is one of Lush's few bubble bars that had to be carved off like you would expect them with a piece of soap. These gorgeous creations were available for a short amount of time in stores, where you could buy as little or as much as you wanted. 

Containing a strange collaboration of lavender and mint, I wasn't expecting to appreciate the fragrance as much as I ended up doing. There is something rather refreshing and almost uplifting about the scent of this bubble bar, while it also retains a certain number of comforting qualities as well.

To describe the scent in a way that most Lush fans would be able to recognise, I will start by stating that this bubble bar smells like a combination of Dream On Bath Bomb and Freeze Shower Gel. While the mint is perhaps a little more dominant in the overall scent, there is definitely a pronounced lavender note present as well.

This thread of lavender is a very herbal one, so don't expect it to mimic the rich, sweet undertones of Twilight, or even the more powdery, floral properties of French Kiss. Instead, the natural lavender smell adds a light but very calming floral component, while the mint is cooling as well as refreshing. Together, both ingredients work together in an odd but successful pairing, and are the perfect bathing companions in the warmer months of the year.

To look at from afar, Ice Hotel isn't exactly the most eye-catching of bubble bars. Even up close, I cannot say that I was bowled over by the gentle, iridescent shade of artic silver that it comes in. While the indented window was definitely a sweet touch to give it some character, I can see why consumers would opt for other, more colourful variations over this one.

Even in the tub, the lack of any colour in the water would probably deter a lot of people from wanting to invest in more than one of these gems. However, what it lacks in character, it more than makes up for in productivity. For starters, this bubble bar produced a lot of bubbles, and these bubbles stayed present for the most part of my experience. 

Secondly, the water was super-softening, even when I opted to use only half of the product in a single go. I was amazed by how quickly my skin began to feel silky-soft while I was bathing, and the effects of this lasted a good many hours after I had exited the tub. Finally, the fragrance was very much present throughout the whole experience, and I was able to detect gentle hints of both lavender and peppermint on my skin for a short while afterwards. 

Whether it was the physical or phycological effects of the peppermint oil, my skin still felt really refreshed after bathing in the waters of Ice Hotel. Much like Christingle does to the body, this bubble bar felt really cooling on the skin, and it would be the perfect choice to use after being exposed to the heat all day. While the lack of presentation was an initial barrier for me, I would happily use this again - after a hot day on the beach, or after a particularly sweaty session at the gym.   

Quantitative Ingredients: Cream of Tartar (Tartaric acid), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Sodium Bicarbonate, Peppermint Oil (Mentha piperita), Benzoin Resinoid (Styrax benzoin), Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Perfume, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Titanium Dioxide, Tin Oxide.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £3.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2004.

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Big Sleep Jelly Bath Bomb

As someone who has chronic insomnia, I am always on the lookout for products that are going to help me drift off, or at the very least stop me from staring at the ceiling all night. While most cosmetics don't make much of an impact on my (not) sleeping patterns, this brand new invention from Lush sure helped me to feel a little more relaxed after using it in the tub.

Big Sleep Jelly Bath Bomb is one of three brand new, innovative inventions from Lush. Containing an ingredient known as sodium alginate, this new invention offers more than just a colourful display in the tub. As soon as this ballistic hits the water, it begins to create a jelly-like substance across the surface, which not only thickens the water overall, but helps to make this bath bomb far more moisturising than the regular editions. 

Containing a blanket of lavender, neroli, tonka and chamomile, this bath bomb has its own unique fragrance. However, there are similarities between this and both the Ickle Baby Devils and Ickle Baby Angels that made an appearance in the Kitchen last year. 

While I was expecting this bath bomb to be far more tonka-led, as I find that the ingredient can often dictate a fragrance with its potency, I was surprised to discover that it was governed more by the inclusion of the chamomile and lavender. 

To me, the aroma is a gentle, powdery concoction of chamomile with a thread of fresh and very natural-smelling lavender. The inclusion of the neroli gives Big Sleep a very subtle sweet but grassy element, while the tonka rounds the whole fragrance off with a gentle sprinkling of sweetness. I should point out that when I say that the neroli brings about a grassy aroma, I don't mean that this is in any way potent, just that it complements the lavender a little and brings out the fresh element a little more.

As to be expected, this bath bomb immediately begins to fizz on contact with the water. However, instead of twisting and turning while it projects out a display of colour, this one tends to bob on the surface and build up a puddle of foam, before dispersing it across the water. As with Green Coconut, I found that this one not only produced less jelly than Dark Arts, but it also didn't fully dissolve. A few pieces of the bath bomb were left floating on the surface and needed to be crumbled to disperse properly into the water.

I was really impressed by the wonderful turquoise colour that the water turned afterwards, and I found that I could detect the subtle notes of chamomile, lavender and tonka while I was submerged under the water. Much like Green Coconut, I also found that the jelly dissolved a lot easier in the water, and I didn't have to scrub myself or the bath afterwards to remove any excess slime.

What impressed me about Big Sleep was that it was incredibly moisturising, and it only took a matter of minutes for me to feel the impact the jelly was having on my skin. Although the smell had almost diminished on my skin when I had towelled myself down, I found that the impact of such a nourishing bath stayed with me for the most part of the day.

As a warning, I should state as I have done with both of the other jelly bombs, that getting into the bath will prove itself to be quite slippery ay first. Having said that, once you are settled into the water, Big Sleep offers a warm coven to lose yourself in, and hopefully allow you to have a restful night afterwards.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Sodium Alginate, Lavender Oil, Neroli Oil, Tonka Absolute, Chamomile Powder, Cream of Tartar, Dipropylene, Glycol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Coumarin, *Limonene, *Linalool, Perfume, Colour 42053, Colour 42090, Colour 59040, Colour 47005.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £4.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

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