Plantational Cake Solid Shampoo Bar

My vast experience with Lush has told me never to judge a product based on its colour or description. Whereas many people might run the other way upon seeing a brown lump that resembles a mud pie, I relish in experimenting with the company's weirdest and most wonderful of creations. Some of my most favourite products have come about through experiences that I've had in which I was expecting things to go horribly wrong at first.

Plantational Cake is equally brand new and retro at the same time. Based on Lush's old-school liquid shampoo of the same name, this limited edition solid looks no different than one of my firm favourite products from the Kitchen - Reincarnate Solid Shampoo. In fact, this product may appear very different ingredients wise, but the two share many good qualities that puts them both in the firm favourites category.

To look at, this solid shampoo bar looks like a cross between a badly-baked brownie and a lump of solid mud. You might be surprised to learn then that this limited edition doesn't smell like either of those two itmes. In fact, the smell of this surprised me quite a lot when it first came into contact with my nose.

Containing Brazilian orange oil combined with a nettle and rosemary leaf infusion, this shampoo bar presents a distinctive sweet smell that reminds me very much of sultanas. The inclusions of both the red henna and the labdanum resinoid add to this subtle fruity element - giving the solid bar a gentle layer of spice and rounds the aroma off with a dry but rather more-ish fragrance. In many ways, Plantational does smell very similar to Reincarnate, so if you've been fortunate enough to have tried the aforementioned shampoo bar, you'll have a good idea about the fragrance of this one.

As with most solid shampoo bars, this one works by wetting it a little under the running water and massaging it straight into your wet hair for a short time. It only takes a few seconds for the product to produce a light but thick lather, so you don't need to use it for more than that to cover your entire scalp. I would then recommend using both hands to ensure the shampoo is equally distributed across your locks. 

Depending on how long you have in the shower, I would suggest that you leave it on for a good few minutes before rinsing it away and applying your conditioner. What I found with this solid shampoo is that the henna taints the lather slightly, so don't worry when you rinse it away and find that the water presents itself as brown.

What I loved about Plantational is that it was effective from the very first wash. Unlike a large percentage of Lush's solid shampoo bars, this one moisturised and detangled my hair while I was in the shower, and I felt at times that I could almost have gotten away with not using conditioner afterwards - it was that effective. 

Upon drying my hair, I noticed that this bar left a slight bit of residue that seemed to coat my hair like a protective blanket. Don't get me wrong, my hair was neither greasy or oily afterwards, but there was something about the feel and touch of my locks that told me that the shampoo bar was still present on my hair. Until you try it out for yourself, it may be difficult to understand what I mean. However, it was almost as if the product had put up a slight barrier around every strand, so it felt as if my hair had more moisture present, without it looking or feeling weighed down. 

My experience with this one was very different to any of Lush's other shampoos, liquid and solid. I really felt as if this one added in that much-needed moisture that my dry hair needed, and within 2-3 uses my hair was looking and feeling much less frizzy and far more manageable. Furthermore, I found that I didn't need to straighten my hair that much, as the shampoo supported and accentuated my waves, without leaving it looking frizzy or untamed.  

Having said that, I will mention that your hair should be completely dry before attempting to straighten it after using Plantational. If your locks are even so much as damp when you use the straightening irons on them, this blanket of moisture that coats your hair will turn greasy, and I found that I had to use dry shampoo afterwards to try and settle the excess moisture. 

Overall, this solid shampoo bar has been an absolute pleasure to use. Not only has it rejuvenated my hair and made it feel far less parched than it did before, but the inclusion of the henna supported my natural hair colour - accentuating the highlights and bringing out the different shades of browns and reds that I don't often get to see.

This is definitely one that I would buy again, and I would go as far as to say that this would be a staple in my house if it was a regular item. Whatever condition your hair might be in, I have heard nothing but glowing reviews about this wonderful Kitchen exclusive, and my experience only serves to support and verify that this shampoo bar is a royal treat.         

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, Stearic Acid, Nettle And Rosemary Leaf Infusion, Red Henna, Glyceryl Stearate & PEG 100 Stearate, Soya Lecthin, Brazilian Orange Oil, Labdanum Resinoid, Irish Moss Powder, Limonene, Citral, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £6.25 for 100g.

Year Of Original Release: 1999

Read More

German Sausage Facial Cleanser

I cannot say that I've ever loved the smell of sausages enough to want to smother my face in them. Having said that, I feel the same way about coffee and yet I use Cup O' Coffee like my life depends on it, which it does on some occasions. 

German Sausage Facial Cleanser is a weird concept to say the least. Yet it is often those weird and wonderful inventions that make the biggest impact, and this particular product is definitely one that leaves a lasting impression. Made from base of rhassoul mud and potatoes, German Sausage is a very 'foody' smell, and one that may take a little getting used to before it can be fully appreciated. 

Although it may seem like an odd ingredient for a cosmetic, potato happens to be naturally rich in vitamin C, which is great for maintaining the skin's natural radiance. Furthermore, it is this component that helps to give the cleanser a slight gritty consistency, which works alongside the oatmeal to act as a gentle exfoliator as well. The rhassoul mud also plays a part at helping to soften and smoothen-out the complexion - acting as both a gentle exfoliator, while also absorbing excess oils that may be present on the skin. 

Alongside the above two ingredients, you also have the inclusion of both cocoa butter and almond oil. Both of these ingredients help to moisture and nourish the skin, and when the product is left on the face for a short while before being washed off, it can improve the condition of your complexion over a number of days.

In terms of the other key notes, the inclusion of sage, parsley, basil and rosemary are what gives this cleanser its distinctive and rather potent aroma. My nose detects the sage and rosemary at the forefront - both offering a heady but rather dry, herbal fragrance. On top of this, you can even smell the dry, starchy components of the potato - almost like a tray of overly roasted potatoes that have been left out overnight to dry. You can smell each of these ingredients quite easily, and I'd say that these are the components that give German Sausage its distinctive smell.  

To use, you simply take a small amount (perhaps the size of a small grape), and massage it across the face. For best results, I tend to leave this on while I continue my shower, and then rinse it off just before I get out. This allows the cocoa butter and rhassoul mud to work their magic and improve the condition of the skin. 

Luckily, this scent doesn't linger too much on your face after you've washed it off, so you don't have to worry about justifying to strangers why you smell a bit like a human hot dog.

Having used this daily for the last couple of weeks, I have found that this can, and perhaps should, be used daily to get the best results. I found that within 2-3 days of using this in the morning, my complexion seemed to look brighter and my skin felt noticeably smoother. 

Having said this, I didn't feel as if this was as effective either Buche De Noel or Angels On Bare Skin. Furthermore, the consistency, although not at all scratchy or rough, was not as easy-going on the face as the products mentioned above. For those with sensitive skin, I can imagine that this cleaner could have the potential to irritate the pores a little.

In terms of complexion types, I think that this cleanser would suit most consumers' needs. However, I think that perhaps it would work a little better for those with normal to oily skin, as the rhassoul mud and potato would definitely help to remove any excess grease.

Overall, this is an odd one to say the least. Not many other companies would be brace enough to bring out a facial product that both looks and smells like something you'd have in a cooked breakfast. Although not a fan of meat in any shape or form, I appreciated the uniqueness of this cleanser and will continue to use it daily until my tub finishes. This has opened even more possibilities for what this company might make, and I for one am excited to see what they do next.  

Quantitative Ingredients: Glycerine, Potatoes, Ground Almonds, Rhassoul Mud, Kaolin, Cocoa Butter, Aloe Vera Extract, Fine Sea Salt, Soya Milk Powder, Fresh Sage, Fresh Parsley, Sage Oil, Basil Oil, Rosemary Oil, Alpha-Isomethyl iphone, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £7.25 for 100g.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Read More

Dear John Shower Gel

Dear John is a fragrance that I forget how much I appreciate, until I whip out the body spray and fall in love with it all over again. With so many different layers and such an interesting range of ingredients, this is a scent as unique as it is complex. 

When the Lush Kitchen announced that they would be making a shower gel version of this smell, I was equally intrigued and perplexed. On the one hand I was really excited to try a brand new shower gel, as those who follow this blog will know how much I love this format. However, there was a part of me that wondered if such a fragrance would actually work well outside of being a perfume.

Upon first inspection, I was rather pleased to notice the deep, forest green that Dear John Shower Gel sported. Given the design of the perfume bottles and body spray, I was expecting a cream-coloured liquid, so the actual product was definitely an upgrade of the colour I originally envisaged.  

Unfortunately, what I also noticed very quickly was that the shower gel was very thin - offering the same consistency as The Olive Branch. This meant that I found myself using far more than I would normally do so, as the product wasn't as compact in my hands as I would expect from most Lush gels. While the product lathered up really quickly and produced a generous amount of foam to wash myself with, I felt as if I used more that I usually would, just because of how runny it was and how freely it flowed from the bottle.

Supposedly a 'unisex' fragrance, this shower gel is quite complex: featuring layers of vetivert, cedar, clove, coriander, lime, coffee and pine. What I noticed about Dear John from the get-go was that it was the former three ingredients that made the biggest impression. From the bottle you can make out the sweet, smoky characteristics of the vetivert, blended with a gentle layer of woody cedar. Together, these two ingredients create an almost resinous smell, which when combined with a subtle hint of warming clove, makes for the most comforting of fragrances.

How this shower gel differed from other Dear John products, is the fact that the lime was not as noticeable as it is in other formats. While you can definitely detect its fruity presence, it was a little subtler than it is in other formats - meaning that I found this shower gel to be a little less refreshing than the body spray is.

What I also found a little disappointing was the fact that the shower gel was not as moisturising as most other variations available. I felt clean afterwards, and the fragrance lingered around for a short while on my body. However, my skin didn't feel as soft or as nourished as I was expecting it to be. For this reason, I can imagine those with very dry skin may benefit from using a body lotion afterwards to replenish the skin of moisture.  

Fans of Dear John will definitely appreciate this new addition to the family, and I have been enjoying having a bottle to indulge myself with on a daily basis. Having said that, those with a keen nose will notice that there are differences between this and the perfume, and some may not appreciate the subtle changes that have been made. The fact that I am half way through a bottle in just under three weeks, also suggests that this is not necessarily as good value for money as some of Lush's other shower gels. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Rosemary Infusion, Nettle Leaf Infusion, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Perfume, Proplyene Glycol, Fine Sea Salt, Vetivert Oil, Coriander Oil, Clove Bud Oil, Cedarwood Oil, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral, Coumarin, Eugenol, Limonene, Linalool, Colour 42090, Methylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £11.25 for 250g.

Year Of Original Release: ?

Scent Family:
Copperhead Solid Shampoo
Dear John Bubble Bar
Dear John Body Spray
Dear John Liquid Perfume
Dear John Shower Gel
Dear John Solid Perfume

Dear John Soap

Read More

New Solid Shampoo

Having just finished up my favourite shampoo, Irresistible Bliss, the shampoo to follow had big shoes to fill. After spending the last three months proclaiming how amazing my hair looked and felt, and realising it has never looked better, I was rather anxious to see how New Solid Shampoo would perform.

Looking almost identical to my favourite bar, albeit a little darker, this shampoo claims to be a 'self-preserving, naked bar with many ingredients that will stimulate the blood flow, helping maintain a healthy scalp.' In all honesty, I brought this merely because it was one of the last shampoo bars I had still to try, and now I wish I had bought it earlier.

For starters, this shampoo bar is like every other solid shampoo that I've tried so far; it's very easy to use. You can either massage it through wet hair, or rub it between your hands and create a lather, which can then be applied to your locks. Either way, you can really tell how much shampoo is compacted into a single bar as it lathers up really easily and it'll take weeks before you notice the bar shrinking in size.

Secondly, and one of the main aspects that I enjoy with all of Lush's solid bars, is that it possesses a very gentle smell. While this is definitely stronger than a lot of the other solid shampoo bars on offer, it's still not something that's going to saturate your hair and stay with you for days on end. This one is made up of different cloves, cinnamon and peppermint, so the smell you can pick up smells exactly like a combination of these three main ingredients. 

As I mentioned above, New Solid Shampoo has been specifically designed to target the scalp and features a combination of ingredients to do just that. 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. 

Within two to three uses, I could really the condition of my hair was almost on par with how it was when I was using Irresistible Bliss. My locks felt really moisturised and healthy, whilst retaining a light, well-conditioned consistency overall. When used daily, New Shampoo didn't dry my hair out or cause my dyed hair to fade, which I appreciated. 

However, after a couple of weeks, I did notice that my hair started to get a little greasy and I had to temporarily stop using it. I found that this shampoo doesn't work well when being used every single day so you might have to alternate between this and another shampoo.

As with all other solid products, these bars are really handy for when you're travelling and need to take the bare minimum. They're compact and light and sit perfectly in one of Lush's clearly designed tins, so can be carted anywhere without fear of spillage or leakages. I would recommend though, that if you wish to store your shampoo in one of these tins, make sure the bar is 100% dry before you do; you may have problems trying to get it out the next time as it's a close fit when the bar is full sized.  

Overall, New Solid Shampoo is another solid hair care product that I'll add to my favourite's list. It's one that I'll use again and one that I recommend that you try, even if like me, you don't have any issues with a dry or flaky scalp. My hair was definitely given a 'new' lease of life after using this bar, and I can see why it is one of Lush's best sellers.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Nettle and Peppermint Infusion, Perfume, Glycerine, Nettle Absolute, Rosemary Absolute, Bay Oil, Clove Bud Oil, Cinnamon Leaf Oil, Cinnamon Leaf Oil, *Cinnamal, *Eugenol, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 73360, Cinnamon Stick.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Prices: £5.95 for 55g.

WebRep

currentVote

noRating

noWeight

Read More

New Solid Shampoo

Having just finished up my favourite shampoo, Irresistible Bliss, the shampoo to follow had big shoes to fill. After spending the last three months proclaiming how amazing my hair looked and felt, and realising it has never looked better, I was rather anxious to see how New Solid Shampoo would perform.

Looking almost identical to my favourite bar, albeit a little darker, this shampoo claims to be a 'self-preserving, naked bar with many ingredients that will stimulate the blood flow, helping maintain a healthy scalp.' In all honesty, I brought this merely because it was one of the last shampoo bars I had still to try, and now I wish I had bought it earlier.

For starters, this shampoo bar is like every other solid shampoo that I've tried so far; it's very easy to use. You can either massage it through wet hair, or rub it between your hands and create a lather, which can then be applied to your locks. Either way, you can really tell how much shampoo is compacted into a single bar as it lathers up really easily and it'll take weeks before you notice the bar shrinking in size.

Secondly, and one of the main aspects that I enjoy with all of Lush's solid bars, is that it possesses a very gentle smell. While this is definitely stronger than a lot of the other solid shampoo bars on offer, it's still not something that's going to saturate your hair and stay with you for days on end. This one is made up of different cloves, cinnamon and peppermint, so the smell you can pick up smells exactly like a combination of these three main ingredients. 

As I mentioned above, New Solid Shampoo has been specifically designed to target the scalp and features a combination of ingredients to do just that. 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. 

Within two to three uses, I could really the condition of my hair was almost on par with how it was when I was using Irresistible Bliss. My locks felt really moisturised and healthy, whilst retaining a light, well-conditioned consistency overall. When used daily, New Shampoo didn't dry my hair out or cause my dyed hair to fade, which I appreciated. 

However, after a couple of weeks, I did notice that my hair started to get a little greasy and I had to temporarily stop using it. I found that this shampoo doesn't work well when being used every single day so you might have to alternate between this and another shampoo.

As with all other solid products, these bars are really handy for when you're travelling and need to take the bare minimum. They're compact and light and sit perfectly in one of Lush's clearly designed tins, so can be carted anywhere without fear of spillage or leakages. I would recommend though, that if you wish to store your shampoo in one of these tins, make sure the bar is 100% dry before you do; you may have problems trying to get it out the next time as it's a close fit when the bar is full sized.  

Overall, New Solid Shampoo is another solid hair care product that I'll add to my favourite's list. It's one that I'll use again and one that I recommend that you try, even if like me, you don't have any issues with a dry or flaky scalp. My hair was definitely given a 'new' lease of life after using this bar, and I can see why it is one of Lush's best sellers.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Nettle and Peppermint Infusion, Perfume, Glycerine, Nettle Absolute, Rosemary Absolute, Bay Oil, Clove Bud Oil, Cinnamon Leaf Oil, Cinnamon Leaf Oil, *Cinnamal, *Eugenol, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 73360, Cinnamon Stick.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Prices: £5.95 for 55g.

WebRep

currentVote

noRating

noWeight

Read More

The Boog Bath Bomb

It has been quite a while since something new from Lush's vaults has made an appearance in their kitchen - something that had me in a bit of a state when they first announced the menu back before Christmas. As per usual, I took a leap of faith and purchased a handful of these beauties, and as is normally the case, it paid off. 

Inspired by a Swiss tradition, The Boog is a symbol of celebration - a bath bomb that draws from the colourful and playful nature of the original custom that dates back to the early twentieth century. During the month of April, the Swiss celebrate the ending of winter by creating an effigy of a snowman - its head stuffed with fireworks whereupon it is hoisted onto a bomb fire and observed until it explodes. The idea is that the longer it takes for his head to explode, the better the following Summer will be.

While I cannot guarantee that this bath bomb will influence the weather in any shape or form, I can assure you that it'll definitely banish away those winter blues, and alleviate the cold a little from your weathered skin.

Upon arrival, the first thing I noticed was that they didn't smell anything like I had imagine them to do, and they were also slightly different to the version released a few years ago. With clary sage, rosemary and myrrh cited as the key ingredients, I was expecting a strong, herbal fragrance. Instead, what I detected was sweeter, much less imposing and far more beautiful than I could have imagined.

An initial sniff reveals a smell not unlike the May Day Bath Bomb - a gentle, powdery vanilla and lemon smell - something very unexpected given the ingredients list. Behind this you can detect notes of both the clary sage and the rosemary, which not only hold their own, but also intertwine with the other ingredients to create a smell that replicates Grass Shower Gel.

While I would describe this bath bomb as a very light, calm-smelling herbal scent, I wouldn't say that this factor is detrimental to the experience at all - if anything, it's the very opposite. It's primarily a sweet and slightly lemony, grassy smell with herbal elements that make themselves more pronounced in the water. In my opinion, I think that the fragrance of this would work really well as both a perfume and a dusting powder, and I look forward to such releases from Lush in the future.

Not only was the scent different to what I have envisaged, the design has been altered to what it was a few years back. Whereas the original had the coloured discs on the outside, visible for all to see, the newer edition keeps the colours as somewhat of a mystery and secures them on the inside. Not only this, but judging from pictures and videos of the original release, it seems as if this newer version is a tad bigger as well, which is great.  

When The Boog hits the water, it immediately begins to fizz and froth, and thick waves of white foam begin to decorate the surface. It is not until a few minutes later that the different colours begin to make their presence known - sending out little trails of blue, purple, pink, green, orange and yellow that dissipate across the water, creating a rather lovely looking display to observe.

As the heat mixes with the fragrance, the grassy, herbal aroma becomes more pronounced, and I was surprised by how much a little hot water can coax out the smell. Despite this, I found that within five minutes of submerging myself below the surface, the scent has all but disappeared, and I was only able to detect the aroma once I was out of the bath and towelling myself down afterwards.

Having said this, I was grateful to see that once the ballistic had fully dissolved, the water was left silky-soft and creamy While it wasn't as moisturising as you would expect a bath melt to be, it did leave a pronounced, buttery layer across the surface that meant my skin felt so soft and smooth afterwards. It was just a shame that the bath bomb didn't alter the colour of the water at all, so I would recommend that add a bubble bar or another ballistic to add a bit of excitement. 

Ultimately, this is definitely not a bath bomb that I would rush out and grab as I would one of my favourites. However, it is a very lovely product with a wonderful smell - one that made a difference from my usual baths, and one that I would definitely like to experience again. I shall enjoy my handful of The Boogs and may be tempted to buy a couple more, if they ever make their presence known in the Kitchen again. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Perfume, Armoire Oil, Myrrh Resinoid, Rosemary Oil, Clary Sage Oil, Cream of Tartar, Lauryl Betaine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Dipropylene, Glycol, Gardenia Extract, Citral, Limonene, Linalool,  Colour 15510,  Colour 45350,  Colour 42090,  Colour 17200,  Colour 45410.

2015 Price: £3.50 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2010

Read More

The Boog Bath Bomb

It has been quite a while since something new from Lush's vaults has made an appearance in their kitchen - something that had me in a bit of a state when they first announced the menu back before Christmas. As per usual, I took a leap of faith and purchased a handful of these beauties, and as is normally the case, it paid off. 

Inspired by a Swiss tradition, The Boog is a symbol of celebration - a bath bomb that draws from the colourful and playful nature of the original custom that dates back to the early twentieth century. During the month of April, the Swiss celebrate the ending of winter by creating an effigy of a snowman - its head stuffed with fireworks whereupon it is hoisted onto a bomb fire and observed until it explodes. The idea is that the longer it takes for his head to explode, the better the following Summer will be.

While I cannot guarantee that this bath bomb will influence the weather in any shape or form, I can assure you that it'll definitely banish away those winter blues, and alleviate the cold a little from your weathered skin.

Upon arrival, the first thing I noticed was that they didn't smell anything like I had imagine them to do, and they were also slightly different to the version released a few years ago. With clary sage, rosemary and myrrh cited as the key ingredients, I was expecting a strong, herbal fragrance. Instead, what I detected was sweeter, much less imposing and far more beautiful than I could have imagined.

An initial sniff reveals a smell not unlike the May Day Bath Bomb - a gentle, powdery vanilla and lemon smell - something very unexpected given the ingredients list. Behind this you can detect notes of both the clary sage and the rosemary, which not only hold their own, but also intertwine with the other ingredients to create a smell that replicates Grass Shower Gel.

While I would describe this bath bomb as a very light, calm-smelling herbal scent, I wouldn't say that this factor is detrimental to the experience at all - if anything, it's the very opposite. It's primarily a sweet and slightly lemony, grassy smell with herbal elements that make themselves more pronounced in the water. In my opinion, I think that the fragrance of this would work really well as both a perfume and a dusting powder, and I look forward to such releases from Lush in the future.

Not only was the scent different to what I have envisaged, the design has been altered to what it was a few years back. Whereas the original had the coloured discs on the outside, visible for all to see, the newer edition keeps the colours as somewhat of a mystery and secures them on the inside. Not only this, but judging from pictures and videos of the original release, it seems as if this newer version is a tad bigger as well, which is great.  

When The Boog hits the water, it immediately begins to fizz and froth, and thick waves of white foam begin to decorate the surface. It is not until a few minutes later that the different colours begin to make their presence known - sending out little trails of blue, purple, pink, green, orange and yellow that dissipate across the water, creating a rather lovely looking display to observe.

As the heat mixes with the fragrance, the grassy, herbal aroma becomes more pronounced, and I was surprised by how much a little hot water can coax out the smell. Despite this, I found that within five minutes of submerging myself below the surface, the scent has all but disappeared, and I was only able to detect the aroma once I was out of the bath and towelling myself down afterwards.

Having said this, I was grateful to see that once the ballistic had fully dissolved, the water was left silky-soft and creamy While it wasn't as moisturising as you would expect a bath melt to be, it did leave a pronounced, buttery layer across the surface that meant my skin felt so soft and smooth afterwards. It was just a shame that the bath bomb didn't alter the colour of the water at all, so I would recommend that add a bubble bar or another ballistic to add a bit of excitement. 

Ultimately, this is definitely not a bath bomb that I would rush out and grab as I would one of my favourites. However, it is a very lovely product with a wonderful smell - one that made a difference from my usual baths, and one that I would definitely like to experience again. I shall enjoy my handful of The Boogs and may be tempted to buy a couple more, if they ever make their presence known in the Kitchen again. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Perfume, Armoire Oil, Myrrh Resinoid, Rosemary Oil, Clary Sage Oil, Cream of Tartar, Lauryl Betaine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Dipropylene, Glycol, Gardenia Extract, Citral, Limonene, Linalool,  Colour 15510,  Colour 45350,  Colour 42090,  Colour 17200,  Colour 45410.

2015 Price: £3.50 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2010

Read More

Breath Of Fresh Air Toner Water

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vegan?: Yes.

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

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

Read More