1000 Millihelens Jelly Face Mask

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £6.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

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

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101 Salvations Shower Cream

So overwhelming was the Lush Summit event in February, that after talking to many employees about the exclusive products that were on offer at the time, the next day proved how bad my memory was, as I had remembered next to nothing. In fact, it wasn't until nearly a week after the showcase that I discovered my bottle of 'body lotion' turned out to be a shower cream instead.

101 Salvations Shower Cream is as witty in name as the product is beautiful. Carefully crafted from the best ingredients for healthy, well-pampered skin, this is a shower cream that should have made itself known way before it did. Despite the absence of both colour and lustre, this product doesn't exactly jump off the shelf at you - it's definitely not as attractive as any of the shower creams to have come before it. However, you only need to sniff this once to realise that there is something very special about this product.   

Sharing its scent with the Dream Cream family, it's a wonder that Lush didn't bring this out years ago, as the market for products designed for more delicate skin types are always in demand. And despite the fact that this has currently only made itself known for the exclusive event last month, there is no way that this wont be making an appearance in the near future: it would be cruel not to.

Containing a base of oat milk and rose water, this shower cream is perfect for those with sensitive skin. The oat milk has a very calming effect on the pores - cleaning them out without making them react to the acidity that is often found in other products designed for the skin. The rose water is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to reduce prevalent irritation and redness. It's also a great cleanser - removing oil and dirt from the pores and leaving the skin feeling and looking far more radiant.

Alongside this, you have an accumulation of chamomile, lavender and rose absolute. These three components are very reserved in this format: the lavender taking centre stage with it's gentle, relaxing herbal scent, while the rose absolute intertwines itself around this note and offers a light, almost dampened rose smell. To finish it off, the chamomile adds a cool, delicate note of sweetness - giving this shower cream a perfect finish all around.

What makes 101 Salvations Shower Cream so special is the inclusion of the cocoa butter. While it also features in Dream Cream Body Lotion, it acts as more of a base ingredient, so it's there to improve the condition of your skin rather than add to the aroma. In this exclusive beauty, you can clearly detect a creamy, chocolately layer while using it in the shower, which just adds to its appeal and makes it far sexier than any of its predecessors. 

In the bottle, this is one of the thickest shower creams that Lush have ever produced: you could quite literally leave the bottle upside down and there would be no risk of it leaking out. For this reason, it does prove a little tricky getting it out of the bottle, as you have to give it a good squeeze, and even then this only heeds a string-like consistency. 

Adding onto this, you do need to use quite a large quantity to produce any sort of lather to clean yourself with. When using a grape-sized amount, I found that it was difficult to manipulate enough of a foam to spread over more than just my arms. For this reason, I ended up using quite a bit more than I would any of the other shower creams, which meant that my 250g bottle went down a lot quicker than I was expecting. 

While it was softening on my body and left a gentle combination of lavender and cocoa butter on the skin afterwards, I didn't feel as if it was as effective at cleaning as many of Lush's other creams and gels. Having said that, it worked wonders on my legs after they had been shaved, and even helped to reduced the redness on the back of neck after a rather gruelling session at the gym.

There is definitely a place for this within Lush's other far more colourful creams and gels. For those who want a cream that is not going to irritate or encourage their skin complaints, this would be the perfect shower companion. I do hope this makes an appearance very soon, because my single bottle is not going to be around for very long when the warmer months begin to make themselves known.     

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Glycerine, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Oat Milk, Rose Water, Fair Trade Cocoa Butter, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Stearic Acid, Lauryl Betaine, Rose Absolute, Chamomile Blue Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Lavender Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Tincture Of. Benzoin, Linalool, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £5.95 for 100g, 

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:

101 Salvations
Dream Cream Body Lotion
Dream Cream Self-Preserving Body Lotion
Dream On Bath Bomb
Dreamwash Shower Smoothie
Dreamwash Shower Smoothie Roulade
Fresh Farmacy Facial Soap
In The Nude Bath Melt

Oaty Creamy Dreamy Oat Milk Shower Cream

  

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Think Pink Bath Bomb (2017 Updated Edition)

Once you've been a fan for a number of years, you'll begin to notice that Lush will often tweak and change products to keep them updated and relevant with the times. This is no doubt how they ensure that new fans will be enticed into the shops, while established fans will remain excited and interested in products that have been around for a good many years.

Given the fact that I often forget about this bath bomb, Think Pink is one of the items that I'm surprised is still popular enough to be a member of the regular range. As one of only two small bath bombs left, I can understand why consumers might overlook this one in favour of its bigger, more fragrant counterparts.

For this reason, I am not at all surprised that Lush have chosen to revamp this stale bath bomb and turn it into one of the most exciting products of the year. While there has not been a date set for when this officially makes it into all stores, the general consensus is that this ballistic will be replacing its older sibling at some point in the coming months.

Featuring tonka, vanilla absolute and neroli oil, Think Pink is a delicate, candy-inspired delight. Both of the former ingredients offer a creamy, musky layer of vanilla, while the inclusion of the neroli adds a fruity sweetness that makes this one of Lush's most interesting 'pink smells'. When compared to its older sibling, I feel as if the new bomb is both stronger in scent and in sweetness: it is definitely more fruity before and during use. 

Although there is also lavender absolute in this product as well, I find that this has the smallest impact over all. You can smell a very gentle lavender fragrance underneath the other elements, but it's very subtle, and not an ingredient you'd necessarily list as being featured, unless you were told it was present to begin with.

In the water, the bath bomb is a fairly silent fizzer - emitting waves of thick, frothy white foam that ebbs and swirls across the surface. Alongside this, trails of pink begin to taint the water a beautiful pastel pink colour, and clusters of vibrant, colourful bubbles settle in puddles around the tub.

As the bath bomb continues to dissolve, the core reveals itself to be a sparkly silver layer of lustre. While you cannot really detect this lustre while the ballistic is showcasing its magic, you will definitely be able to enjoy it afterwards, as it pulsates under the surface whenever the water is disturbed.

All in all, Think Pink takes a good five to ten minutes to fully dissolve, leaving  you with a wonderfully rich and very sultry smelling bath to enjoy. The fragrance was present throughout the whole experience, making it much more effective than its predecessor, and I found that my skin felt wonderfully soft and clean afterwards. Furthermore, I was able to detect a very slight lasting aroma on my skin once I had towelled myself down. However, it wasn't anywhere near as strong as I would have liked, and I wasn't able to smell it an hour later.    

What is great about this reimagined product is that I feel as if both the scent and the design offer a much more mature experience for the consumer. Think Pink makes a much stronger impression, both visually and sensually, and I would be far more inclined to pick one of these up regularly, if they replaced the smaller ballistic. 

Quantitative Ingredients: ?

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £4.25 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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Yellow Submarine Bath Bomb

'We're all going on a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine...'. Let's be honest: there are probably very few people who found out about this bath bomb and didn't repeat the above ditty in their head at least once, just to prove that they could remember it. Many of you most likely went on to rekindle a memory or two of being in school; of having to either perform this repetitive and rather sickly-sweet song in front of your peers, or to endure another class reciting it, albeit out-of-tune, for your viewing pleasure.

This is what I think makes Yellow Submarine Bath Bomb so special to me. While I accept that the current generation of primary school children will probably never grow up to value it as we do - nor will many of them branch out to appreciate The Beatles for their musical worth. However, children of the eighties and nineties will at least be able to make the association between this product and their time at school.  

Made from a combination of orange, coriander and lemongrass, this limited edition bath bomb first made its appearance at the Lush Summit - an event that took place between the 8th and 9th of February, 2017. Exclusive to this event, this brand new product offers a bright, summery bath - giving you a glimpse into what glorious weather we can only hope for this summer.

What is strange about Yellow Submarine, is that while I can recognise each of three main components in the fragrance, the overall aroma is something very different when you first smell it. Initially, my immediate response was that it shared its scent with my favourite shower jelly, Big Calm. However, upon comparing the two, I found that the bath bomb was actually far richer, less pineapple-led, and dare I say it: more exquisite.

Having said that, I am still very adamant that this bath bomb is a tropical offering rather than simply a 'fruity' one. While there is nothing in the ingredients list to suggest why I can smell this, I can definitely make out a sweet, nutty layer of coconut, which makes this a well-rounded and rather creamy affair. 

Alongside this, the inclusion of both lemongrass and orange create an uplifting, fruity layer. This is the stronger of the two notes, and when combined seem to mimic the usual pineapple and passionfruit notes that you would normally expect to find in tropical aromas, albeit with less of a citrus edge.Having said this, I can recognise the inclusion of the coriander in this bath bomb as well. There is a very subtle, dry, herbal element present (that appears to intensify somewhat in the bath tub), that I associate with the ingredient.

What is great about Yellow Submarine is that the second it hits the water, it froths up and creates a mountainous amount of foam. The ballistic then nestles itself within this froth and floats on the surface for a short while, offering a wonderful display of yellow and pinks in the process. As the thick blanket disperses across the surface, the bath bomb capsizes and continues to ebb out waves of colour until the bath bomb has fully dissolved. 

This is one of those slow, quiet bath bombs that fizzles a little, but does produce too much noise in the tub. Furthermore, it's also one that produces a layer of creamy foam the submerge yourself beneath. For this reason, I would highly recommend that you climb into the tub and enjoy the sweet layers of fragrance as the bath ballistic floats on the surface and gently dissolves in front of you.

By the end, you're left with a warming, golden-honey coloured water, which is far more appealing than the simple yellow shade I was expecting. Furthermore, the water appears slightly thicker and moisturising than usual, although I wouldn't say that this bath bomb is particularly generous when it comes to its softening properties.

While the scent was present throughout the experience  I wouldn't say that it was as strong as it could have been, especially given how potent the bath bomb is to begin with. Furthermore, I wasn't really able to detect much of the fragrance on my skin afterwards, although the smell did stay around for a short while in the bathroom. 

Although I felt relaxed and more uplifted after I had experienced this bath bomb, it is definitely a fragrance that I think would work better in a different format: a shower gel, dusting powder or perfume would be a wonderful addition to the range, and would definitely satisfy my tropical cravings until Lush are kind enough to bring out the Big Calm Perfume I have been waiting for for years.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Perfume, Water, Brazilian Orange Oil, Coriander Seed Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Coumarin, Fandango Lustre, Colour 45410, Colour 47005. 

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £3.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017 (Lush Summit Event Only)

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Karma Wash Card

Back when the flagship store on Oxford Street first opened, the 'Shower Sheet' was a brand new product that excited Lush fans around the world. For those not content with shower gels and shower jellies and shower smoothies and buttercreams, here was a brand new, innovative design that challenged the concept of 'normal showering' once again. 

Yet, after recognising their many merits, there was still a part of me that felt as if I wasn't getting as much value from a £13.95 sheet as I was for a similarly priced bottle. Therefore, once I had tried all of the sheets to review on my blog, I settled back into the routine of using my favourite gels and jellies once more.

However, after the Kiss Me Quick Business Card made an appearance earlier this year as part of the Valentine's Day range, I began to recognise other purposes that this format was able to offer, and I found a newfound appreciation of the product. So when Karma Wash Card was one of many new cards to showcase themselves at the Lush Summit event on February 8th, 2017, I was far more optimistic about picking myself up a handful.  

Firstly, the size of this card means that this will slip easily into a purse or a side pocket of a bag/suitcase - making it a great travelling companion that wont weigh you down. Due to this format not being able to create any unwanted spillages whatsoever, this solid rendition of a shower gel also guarantees to be leakage-free, and suitable to take on board a plane as part of your hand luggage.

Secondly, the lack of any active moisture means that the sheets are preservative free - meaning that they should have a much longer shelf life than their liquid counterparts. In addition, the lack of moisture means that they are far more densely packed with ingredients. For this reason, when used in the shower, the theory is that they'll be able to create much more of a lather from far less of the product because of this. Furthermore, they don't contribute to package waste in the slightest, making it far more environmentally friendly than their other shower counterparts.

Seeing the cards placed next to their perfume partner made me also realise that these are a great way of trying out a fragrance before you invest in a jul-size bottle. While £2 initially seems rather expensive for what roughly equates to about 6-10 showers worth of product, I feel as if this is worth doing rather than spending £30+ on a bottle of perfume that you realise you are not so keen on a few weeks later. 

While Karma Shower Gel and Karma Shower Jelly are both available fairly often in the Lush Kitchen, these are not products that are accessible to every Lush fan at any given moment. Once these cards make a permanent feature in stores, it'll mean that fans of certain fragrances will be able to have full time access to shower products in their favourite scents.

Sharing its scent with the popular Karma range, Karma Wash Card is exactly what you'd expect. Probably being closest in smell to the shower jelly format, this patchouli, pine, lemongrass and orange-scented aroma is beautiful in every way.

Karma is an ambient fragrance reminiscent of the sixties. Spicy orange oil is definitely the heart and soul of this fragrance - with warm, earthy and slightly spicy hints of patchouli to compliment the main scent. An occasional burst of lavender gives it a herbal touch and pine oil seals the deal, making this a multi-layered festivity of smells. The scent is both sweet and citrusy, and reminds me of those old-fashioned cola bottle sweets you used to get when you were little; or summer days where the smell of burning incense can be found wafting out of shop windows.   

What is great about this wash card is that it can also be used as a shampoo, which helps to lighten your load even more when you're travelling. Having only tried this out once, I can honestly say that it left my hair feeling silky-smooth and incredibly clean - not to mention the fact that the scent radiated from my locks for hours afterwards. 

While it lathered up quickly, and was equally as generous as a regular shower gel in terms of the amount of 'foam' it produced, I was a little disappointed to discover that the sheet near-on disintegrated when coming into contact with the running water. This is definitely not a product you should use in one go. Instead, to get the most out of it, I would recommend that you break off a small piece (1cm), add a little water away from the direct flow of the shower, and then massage it across your skin in a circular motion. 

The wash card produces a light, fluffy and very fragrant lather, and you can easily clean your entire body with the recommended size piece. In that sense it is equally as effective, if not more so than the shower gel variation, and works as a great top up for those who love the scent but don't have the privilege of owning the shower gel or jelly.  

As a gift, or as a product to store for future travel plans, this is a lovely limited edition to invest in. Although I won't be replacing my shower gels anytime soon, this business card has definitely sparked my interest in the shower sheets a little more, and I would definitely consider carrying these with me on trips rather than storing the usual bottle of gel. While a part of me considers £2 to be a little expensive for the size of the item, I can also see how its price tag makes it easily accessible for those on a budget, and who perhaps don't wish to invest the amount it costs for a full-sized version.

Quantitative Ingredients: ?

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £2 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

   

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Cheer Up Buttercup Bath Bomb

There are products that impress me and others that blow me away. Yet, there have only been two other occasions when a bath bomb has quite literally knocked me for six. Lord Of Misrule and The Enchanter have been my favourite bath bombs for years, and I never thought that either of them would stand any chance of losing their top spot. However, after using Cheer Me Up Buttercup for the first time, I can safely say that it surpassed all of my expectations, and secured itself quite quickly as my second favourite bath bomb of all time.

This product features everything you could ever want in a bath bomb: a strong, robust fragrance that lasts for hours on the skin; a perfectly balanced set of oils that leave you looking and feeling incredible; and a colourful display that elevates your mood, relaxes the mind and gives you that 'get up and go' feeling.

Released as a limited edition product at the Lush Summit earlier last month, this bath bomb is for anyone who wants a whole lotta sunshine in their tub. While little is known about what has gone into making this, if there's one thing that is guaranteed it's that this ballistic features a very strong dosage of lemon oil: so much so in fact, that I doubt Lush have released any other product that could rival just how potent this bath bomb is.

Cheer Me Up Buttercup is lemon, lemon and more lemon - a bright, uplifting, citrusy fragrance that smells exactly like lemon sherbet, albeit even stronger. If you envisage combining Refresher Shower Jelly, Bon Bomb Bath Bomb and Lemony Flutter Body Conditioner, and then double the amount of zest, you might just begin to understand how powerful this bath bomb is.

As if the scent wasn't enough to bowl me over, I only needed to pop one of these in the bath to realise that it is easily one of the most impressive bath bombs that Lush have released in a long time. As soon as it hit the water, it began to sizzle - sending out wave after wave of golden yellow across the surface of the tub. 

Within a matter of seconds, the bath was engulfed with a rich, intoxicating combination of colour and scent. So strong was it that my flatmate was even able to detect it in his bedroom, which happens to be on the floor above where the bathroom is situated. Another inhabitant of my flat even commented on the 'wonderful smell' some six hours later, when she arrived home from work.

As the bath bomb crackles and fizzes, a gleam of oils and butters appear on the surface of the water. These are definitely more prominent in the water than your average bath bomb, which makes this one of the moisturising products I have ever experienced from Lush. My skin felt like I had used a body conditioner or a lotion on it. That's not to say that it was overly greasy; just that I was able to really notice how nourished my skin felt, and my skin was a picture of health afterwards. 

Cheer Up Buttercup Bath Bomb left my skin with a radiant glow - one that I was still able to detect the next day. Furthermore, my skin felt really supple, and I was still able to detect the wonderful, uplifting lemony fragrance on me for the entire day.

To make this bath bomb even more luxurious, stunning waves of pink suddenly erupted midway through the experience, and this in finish turned the water into a rich, sultry and very beautiful golden colour. At the risk of sounding cliched, the water really did look like I was bathing in liquid sunshine, and everything about this cheered me up.

Overall, I ended up staying in the bath for almost two hours - which is over double the time I would normally stay in the tub. I really didn't want to leave because not only did my skin feel beautiful, but I felt so incredibly relaxed and spoilt to be bathing in such a wonderful 

This is a bath bomb that needs to be made a permanent feature in shops - not only so that every Lush fan is able to experience and enjoy its beauty, but because this world will never be good enough if I'm not able to buy this bath bomb on a weekly basis. If this ever makes a reappearance, I can only hope that you heed my advice and grab yourself a few - you will not regret it. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Cocoa Butter, Lemon Myrtle Oil, Lime Oil, Neroli Oil, Citral, Limonene, Linalool, Perfume, Yoshi Yellow Lustre, Blue Cornflowers.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £4.25 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

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New Hot Hair Oil Treatment

 While the rest of my life has come on in leaps and bounds this year, 2017 has not been a great year for my hair. After removing my extensions and causing some long-term damage in the process, an iron deficiency meant that my locks lost a good amount of their volume at the same time. Although I wanted to try everything in my power to rectify this problem, I also recognised the fact that I didn't want to throw everything at my hair and cause even further issues to arise.

When Lush unveiled their new hot hair oil treatments at their exclusive Summit event last month, I thought this would be the perfect time to really test out their merits, and what better way of doing that than by starting with the very release that boasted scalp stimulation and hair growth.

New Hot Hair Oil Treatment, as its name suggests, shares the same fragrance and characteristics as the best-selling New Solid Shampoo Bar. Designed to target the scalp in particular, the shampoo bar and this latest release features a combination of ingredients that supposedly stimulate the hair follicles and encourage new hair growth.

Cinnamon leaf, bay and clove bud essential oils have been added here, and they are at the forefront of the fragrance. Combined with menthol-rich peppermint and nettle, these ingredients supposedly boost blood flow in the scalp, which in turn stimulates the hair follicles. As a finishing touch, rosemary has been added to calm and protect your scalp and adds a glorious shine to your hair.

With this particular hot oil treatment, Lush have also added in a generous amount of jojoba oil. This not only helps to combine all of the ingredients into the format that it is presented as, but also allows the oils to coat your hair so that it can get to work at strengthening and rehydrating successfully.

To use, fill half an empty 250g Lush pot with boiling water, which probably equates to about 150ml if you wish to measure it out exactly. Immediately begin stirring the New Hot Hair Oil Treatment, keeping it submerged under the water so that the heat will melt down the solid block as quickly as it can. To begin with, you'll find that a few oils will float to the surface and there'll be a separation between the product and the existing water. However, as more of the essential oils dissolve into the water, you'll find that the consistency will thicken, and after about 3-4 minutes the whole block would have fully dissolved and left you with a thick paste. At this stage, you may wish to add a little extra water, if you desire a thinner consistency. However, I would recommend leaving it as thick as it is. This makes it far easier to apply to your scalp and hair, and you won't have any problem with the product dripping off and causing a mess. 

Despite its size, some users may find that they're able to get two uses out of this product. I have medium-length hair and rather consistency, and I found that I was able to cover my whole head with about two-thirds of the pot. Had I melted two of these down together, I reckon I could have probably stretched the treatments out across three uses. However, I should point out that if you do save this for a second application, I would use it up within two weeks and ensure that you store it in the fridge between uses. As there are no preservatives needed in this product in its solid form, adding water will only increase the area that bacteria can grow in, therefore encouraging the treatment to develop mould over time. 

Once you have applied it to your hair, wrap your head in either cling film or a carrier bag. This will generate heat and allow the oils to get to work, penetrating each strand of hair and stimulating the scalp. After 20-30 minutes, you will need to wash the product out of your hair, and you may find that you'll need to wash your hair twice through - the second time with a shampoo to ensure that all of the product has been rinsed out successfully.

What I found was that New Hot Hair Oil Treatment was quite stubborn when it came to rinsing it out, and when I first washed it through with just water, my hair was left with some of the oils still present. Using a solid shampoo bar and washing it a second time removed all of those oils and left me with wonderful, clean locks.

Once my hair had been brushed and left to dry naturally, I found that I could already see some volume that hadn't been there previously. It wasn't enough to cause a revelation, but it definitely made me feel a little better, given how thin my hair currently is. The addition of this did not make my hair fluffy or frizzy either - the treatment just seemed to take what hair I had and bring out the natural wave that often gets flattened down when I brush it a few times.

On the negative side, I don't think this treatment is as deeply moisturising as the likes of Damaged and Tangled. However, my hair did feel wonderfully soft the next day and there was a natural shine to it which I associated with the hot oil. Furthermore, I could also detect remnants of the wonderful cinnamon smell the next day as well, although this wasn't so strong that it couldn't have been banished by using a strong shampoo to wash it off in the first place. 

While I think that Lush still need to reformulate it a little so that it isn't so stubborn when you try to rinse it out, everything else about New Hot Hair Oil Treatment is looking very positive. It would definitely be one that I would buy again, if it was to become a regular product, and I would be interested to see how much of an impact it could make when used over a longer period of time.     

Quantitative Ingredients: Cetearyl Alcohol & Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Organic Jojoba Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Guar Gum, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Fine Sea Salt, Cream of Tartar, Perfume, Citric Acid, Bay Oil, Cinnamon Leaf Oil, Clove Bud Oil, Nettle Absolute, Rosemary Absolute, Nettle leaves, Peppermint leaves, Cinnamon Powder, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Cinnamal, *Eugenol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 73360.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £6.50 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

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Stand Up For Your Rights Soap

If there is one aspect about my favourite company that epitomises the very essence of Lush, it is their charity products, and the items they release to support interesting and important causes across the world. These goodies are not only great because they enthuse the collector in me, who enjoys a good limited edition to sink my teeth into, but because I know I am investing in something that is ethically and morally sound.

Stand Up For Your Rights Soap is a brand new invention for 2017, and was showcased at both the Lush Summit event in early February, and appeared on the website at the same time. Not associated with one particular cause, this was a product inspired by recent political events, and was a bold but very relevant statement to make at a time when human rights is once again being repressed.

Price up at £5, this solid block of golden orange gives off a simple but powerful message. Coupled with a complex and rich aroma - one as diverse as it is familiar, this soap is definitely worth having. Described as being uplifting yet smoky, there was something very familiar about the fragrance that encouraged a little research into other products that may share the same scent. While I didn't find any exact matches, I did discover that SUFYR has the same key components as Hand Of Friendship Soap, and also has similar traits to the likes of Inhale And Breath Of God Perfumes. 

Containing a combination of lemon, rosewood, and cedarwood, this soap is far stronger than you would initially expect. All three of these ingredients work really well together, and while you can detect each of them individually, this is definitely a fragrance that blends well and offers up a unified wall of smell. 

From the start, the rosewood offers up a fantastic warm and woody scent. It's quite a dry smell that also has something slightly floral about it, but this is an afterthought - the dry, woody note is definitely the strongest component. The lemon works well with the rosewood - not only encouraging a subtle sweetness to emerge from the pairing, but you lose most of the fruitiness that the lemon would have brought forward if there had been too much present.

Instead, you can smell a flat lemon scent - one that boosts the woody notes up a little and makes this soap a little more uplifting, without being particularly fruity. Finally, the cedarwood, which blends perfectly well with the rosewood, offers its own sweet, woody layer, which helps to thicken the overall smell and give Stand Up For Your Rights a very robust, wholesome aroma. I would say that it is definitely a dry and very flat smell, but there is something crisp about this combination that reminds me of both sun-kissed tree bark and damp forestry.

While the cedarwood doesn't appear to have as much of an input here as the other ingredients, it is known to help approve the appearance of skin with its softening properties, while also aiding relaxation. So while it may not be centre stage in regards to the fragrance, it's working behind the scenes to make your experience of this soap as pleasant and rewarding as possible.

I found this soap fairly easy to lather up in the shower, and discovered that because of how thick the block is, I was able to utilise more foam by massaging it in a circular motion across the palm of my hands. Adding water while you're doing this builds up a surplus of cream-coloured lather, which can then be used to wash yourself with. Surprisingly, this soap left my skin feeling quite plump and nourished, which doesn't happen often when it comes to soaps. I was also left with a gentle, warming woody smell on my skin for a short time after my shower.

Despite only using this a handful of times, I have barely noticed a change in the size of the block, so I would say that this is a long-lasting soap. Because of this, I would say that it would be great as a hand soap - not only because it would outlast any bottle of hand wash, but because you'd be spreading a great message while your guests wash their hands.

Overall, this is a lovely soap and one that I hope Lush bring back in the future for more people to enjoy. Stand Up For Your Rights is one of those fragrance that would work really well as a perfume. Who knows, perhaps this soap is a hint of things to come in the future...

Quantitative Ingredients: ?

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £5 for 100g.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

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