Polyamorous means the practice of intimacy with more then one partner, in which all involved are aware of, and consent to, the arrangement. With humans being far more open and accepting of different sexualities and practices these days, it is only fitting that Lush have decided to celebrate this freedom and highlight one such different outlook on life. Polyamorous is a new contender for my favourite Bath Oil, as well as being a new addition to the impressive array of oils and melts already on offer from the company. While I cannot claim that I turn to bath oils all that often, I have definitely found myself craving this one a number of times this last month, and I have enjoyed every single experience. Shaped like a heart with smaller hearts painted across the surface, this is perhaps the most beautifully designed oils of all the ones currently available. For such a small product - coming in about the 3cm in length and 1.5cm in height - this miniature masterpiece is warming, comforting, and perfect for those who perhaps wish for more company but only have a bath tub to explore. Containing a combination of orange, sandalwood and jojoba oils, you would expect Polyamorous to offer a fruity aroma. However, it is the inclusion of the violet leaf absolute that provides the strongest component overall. To me, this bath oil has a warm, sweet and slightly musky violet scent - nowhere near as sultry and potent as Tuca Tuca, yet equally not as grassy as Kerbside Violet. In fact, it smells very similar to how I remember Metropolis smelling. The inclusion of the sandalwood grounds the different notes again, and you can detect a very subtle uplifting element that I thinks comes from the orange oil. However, this Bath Oil is predominantly violet with a touch of wordiness to completely to compliment the floral components. In the water, this bath oil sinks like the majority of Lush oils and melts. This is always disappointing to be because I usually like to indulge in a bath melt or bath bomb whilst I am already in the bath myself. Once submerged, I like to watch the product dissolve across the surface of the water and see the oils become absorbed into the skin. Unfortunately, Polyamorous simply sunk to the bottom of the tub and I ended up melting the product down between my fingers because I didn’t want to find myself sitting on it while I was bathing. Once fully dissolved, the Bath Oil didn’t really do anything to the water, which was expectation anyway so it wasn’t as if I was disappointed by this. However, I would recommend that you use this along a bath bomb (Ylang Song, Ne Worry Pas) or Bubble Bar (Baa Bar, Bathos) as you’ll end up with a rather disappointing looking bath if you use it by itself. Another aspect of Polyamorous that I was little disappointed with was the fact that the scent didn’t linger on my skin after I had towelled myself down. Although I expect a lot from my products, and the main purpose of this bath oil is to add extra oils and butter to soften, I would still have liked to have detected a slight musky sweetness on my body. While I can vouch that the scent does make an impression in the water, and I was rather impressed by how much it held itself against other cosmetics I was using at the time, I would have assumed that at least a small note could have made itself known afterwards. Having said that, my skin did feel lovely and smooth afterwards, and Polyamorous is definitely a bath oil that makes a difference to the softness of the water when it’s fully dissolved. You could probably cut this in half, if you’re rather reserved about using your Lush products. However, I think using the whole product in a single bath will heed the best results, and help you to make the most of this softening little gem. To conclude I will say that this is a fantastic edition to Lush’s extensive bath melts and oils. It’s wonderful to have a violet-scented Bath Oil available at all times, as I know a lot of consumers love the naturally sweet and floral components of violets. This is definitely one I would buy again - perhaps over most of the other variations currently on offer - and I am equally excited to try the other two new editions to see if they’re equally as impressive. Quantitative Ingredients:Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Sodium Bicarbonate, Laureth 4, Cream of Tartar, Perfume, Alpha-Isomethyl ionone, Organic Shea Butter, Brazilian Orange Oil, Sandalwood Oil, Violet Leaf Absolute, Organic Jojoba Oil, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Titanium Dioxide, *Citral, *Limonene, Colour 17200, Colour 45410. Vegan?: Yes. 2017 Price: £2.50 each. Year Of Original Release: 2017.
I felt a little sad when I reached for my next naked Body Conditioner and realised that I was down to my last one. While each and every variation has yet to live up to its liquid sibling, I have enjoyed the process of using something that I know is the beginning of the future, in regards to its self-preservation and lack of packaging. These small, colourful blocks may look like something a child has made out of play-doh, but the ethics and concept behind such a move is a pinnacle moment for the future of sustainability. In all fairness, I normally save the best to last, just because I like to enjoy the most exciting part of a meal at the end. However, with Christingle Naked Body Conditioner, I actually held off from using it out of fear of how freezing I would feel after using this when the weather is so bitterly cold. Sharing its scent with both the potted Conditioner and Eskimo Bubble Bar, Christingle has multiple purposes. Firstly, it’s main job is to moisturise and nourish the skin whilst you’re in the shower, in replacement of using a body lotion afterwards. As the product is exposed to the warm temperature of the water, the Conditioner not only melts quickly - making it easier to massage across the body, but the steam also opens up the pores, which encourages more butters to be absorbed. This gives the user a much more intense moisturising session, that lasts far longer than a body lotion would. When it comes to Christingle, I could definitely recognise these oils and butters at work. My skin felt instantly revitalised; supple and smooth during and after the Shower; and it came with a radiant glow that stayed with me the whole day. In fact, my partner actually commented on how shiny my legs looked after using this, and I noticed a vast improvement in the condition of my skin after a couple of days. What sets Christingle apart from the other body conditioners is that it actually contains menthol crystals as well. This means that one the Body Conditioner has had a few minutes to settle and absorb into the skin, you begin to experience a cooling sensation that continues even after you’ve patted yourself down. While the liquid version was incredibly powerful, and I found myself shivering near on every time I used this in my showers, the naked edition wasn’t as potent. Although I would probably normally see this as a negative trait, I actually preferred the less intense cooling effect that this product offered. Much like above, I found the combination of peppermint and spearmint to be a little less intense on the senses as well. While you could still smell the distinctive ‘Christingle’ aroma from the start, and more so in the shower, l really appreciated that it wasn’t as strong as it’s liquid sibling. For this reason, you can enjoy all of the refreshing benefits that Christingle has on offer, but just at a much more tolerable level.
As with all of the naked and regular body conditioners, I often use these in replacement of a shaving cream. And just like all of the variations I have tried so far, this one was equally as good at offering me a very close shave. The inclusion of the various oils and butters in these conditioners means that the skin is far more supple, meaning that you’re much less likely to cut yourself with your razor. Moreover, you’ll be left with smooth, shiny legs to boot, that won’t need any body lotion applied afterwards (that may irritate the freshly-exposed pores.) I found that Christingle worked far better in the shower, although I was able to use the product in both environments. Your pores are usually open, when exposed to the hot water of the shower, but they’re not saturated with water, like they would be in a bath. Therefore, the Body Conditioner was easier to massage across the skin, when I wasn’t sitting in water, and I found that more of the product melted onto my skin this way. Once I had applied the Conditioner, I stepped out of the shower and patted myself down with a towel. This allowed the various butters to continue working on the skin for the next hour, and it kept me feeling cool and refreshed as well. While the scent of this dispersed within the first twenty minutes of exiting the shower, the effects of the menthol kept my body temperature down for a good while afterwards, which is why this would be perfect for the warmer weather. My only gripe with this, as is with every one of Lush’s naked conditioners, is that it’s far too easy to use the product up within a handful of goes. If like me you enjoy scorching showers, it’d be a good idea to step well away from the water before applying this. Furthermore, I certainly wouldn’t expose it to any water aside from the dampness of your skin. This will help extend its shelf life and make it as good value as its older sibling. Overall, Christingle has many merits that outweigh the original version, and this would suggest that it’s the best Naked version I have yet to try. Not only will it leave you moisturised and feeling super refreshed, but it’ll make you feel good to know that you’ve done your bit for the environment at the same time. I will definitely be buying another one or two of these before the season is out. Quantitative Ingredients: Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter (Theobroma cacao) ,Water (Aqua), Murumuru Butter (Astrocaryum Murumuru), Fair Trade Shea Butter (Butyrospermum parkii), Japan Wax (Rhus succedanea), Carnauba Wax (Copernicia Cerifera), Organic Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia chinensis), Peppermint Oil (Mentha piperita), Spearmint Oil (Mentha spicata), Grapefruit Oil (Citrus paradisi), Cassia Oil (Cinnnamomum Cassia) (Cinnamomum Cassia Oil), Menthol Crystals, Lauryl Betaine, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, *Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, *Limonene, *Linalool, Fragrance Blue 1. Vegan?: Yes. 2017 Price: £5 Year Of Original Release: 2017. Scent Family: Christingle Body Conditioner Christingle Naked Body Conditioner
Last year I fell in love with Snow Fairy Body Conditioner, which I was not expecting to do at all. While I have favourite scents and preferred formats, I am always open to being blown away by any of the new releases that Lush grace our lives with, especially when they're as unexpected as this one was. It is for this very reason that I was rather excited by the prospect of Lush's new naked version this Christmas. As with all of the shower gels and body conditioners this year, Lush have decided to take the self-preserving one step further and release a range of seasonal products that need zero packaging, and therefore create zero waste. While initially skeptical, I have long since realised that this idea is more than just a novelty, and I am excited at the prospect of more variations in the future. Snow Fairy Naked Body Conditioner is a tub-shaped creation that appears slightly bigger then one of Lush's standard 100g pots. While I appreciate the sentiment and the usability behind this product, and all of Lush's Naked range, it did take me a while to appreciate the rather boring-looking design. I suppose you can't expect an aesthetically perfect cosmetic if you also want something as environmentally friendly as these guys try to be. However, what did impress me about this product was how vibrant and strong the fragrance was from the very first moment I removed the block from my delivery box. Fans of Snow Fairy will be pleased to know that the scent is very intact and 'present' in this format. Although I think the normal body Conditioner is perhaps a little sweeter and a tad fruitier on the nose, the naked edition is up there as being one of the strongest versions of this fragrance. While it shares its scent with the whole range, it is the recent body spray and the shower gel that I think this is closest to, which is great in my eyes. Described as a combination of raspberry bubblegum, candy floss and vanilla musk, the smell of this is a very playful one - exactly what you'd expect if you know this scent well. Given the generous inclusion of the various oils and butters, there is something slightly silky and rather rich about the different notes here, and I would describe the scent as being a little more sultry than the usual youthful aroma. In as many words, the smell suits this format really well, and gives it more depth than in other products, such as the dusting powder, liquid perfume and Jelly Bath Bomb.
Just like the other naked body conditioners, the idea is that you massage this across your body, while your skin is still wet, before gently patting yourself down with a towel. The butters and oils will not only offer a thin layer of protection against the cold weather, but they'll get to work at moisturising your skin and leaving it soft, smooth and supple for a good many hours. What I love about all of Lush's body conditioners is that the formulas make it harder for the skin to absorb it as quickly as you would a normal body lotion. For this reason, you are left with a protective barrier over your skin that offers not only a wonderful radiance to your skin, but keeps it feeling and looking more nourished as well. With all of Lush's solid editions, it's a good idea to not hold or use this directly under the running water, as it'll melt far quicker this way. I found that as long as my skin was already wet, the body conditioner would glide over any area with ease, and the block would naturally melt under the warmth of my skin. You may wish to cut off a small piece with each use, if you'd prefer to keep the rest dry while in storage, as this can and will leave pink smudges on any surface. How this differed from the normal body lotion, aside from the slight difference in scent, is that this is perhaps not as generous on the skin. The block was, at times, a little stubborn when in use, and I found that I had to massage the product across my body to allow for even coverage. Futhermore, I found that The layer of oils/butters that were left on my skin wasn't as thick or as long lasting. For those who want a light coverage, you'd probably prefer this version. However, for someone who has very dry skin and needs heavy nourishment, the normal version may be more suited. Normally, I use my body conditioners as an alternative for shaving cream, as I find I can get a very close shave with nearly all of Lush's range. They not only help to prevent irritation and possible rashes from forming, but they heed results that last longer than using normal shower gel. With this Naked version, I found that It worked well as a shaving cream. However, it did clog up my razor blade more than the regular conditioner seemed to, and I had to keep tapping the blade throughout my shower to clear the mess away. As a warning, I should add that you'll need to be careful when using this body conditioner as it can leave pink marks on both your skin or the bath walls, that can be stubborn to remove when dried. Moreover, this needs to be stored somewhere carefully in between uses so that it doesn't decorate the shelf it's resting on. What I will say is that the results of this Naked version are good enough for me to recommend that you give it a go yourself. While I think the regular body conditioner works better overall, has a better scent, and seems to last on the skin slightly longer than this format, I do appreciate that Snow Fairy Naked Body Conditioner has its merits as well, and I do love the fact that it comes with zero packaging. Quantitative Ingredients:Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Cherry Infusion, Fair Trade Shea Butter, Candy Floss Water, Japan Wax, Perfume, Carnauba Wax, Organic Illipe Butter, Organic Jojoba Oil, Avocado Butter, Mango Butter, Almond Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Synthetic Musk, Lauryl Betaine, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate. Tin Oxide, *Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl ionone, Colour 17200, Colour 45410, Colour 45380:3. Vegan?: Yes. 2017 Price: £8.25 each. Year Of Original Release: 2017.
I cannot think of The Snowman without hearing the incredible voice of Aled Jones', singing Walking In The Air, echoing around in my head. However, this isn't a bad thing at all. Memories of that song stretch right across my childhood, my teens and into my adulthood - it holds a place in my heart that this limited edition bubbleroon has since joined. As I'm always attracted to the damaged ones, my Snowman Bubbleroon arrived with a missing eye. However, regular ones are supposed to sport two juniperberry eyes and a miniature orange nose for decoration. This seasonal darling is the perfect festive accompaniment for the bath, as not only does it offer a soft and gentle fragrance to enjoy, but it'll leave your skin beautifully pampered and ready to face the winter weather. While they share similar names and designs, this does not share its scent with the discontinued Melting Snowman Bath Melt. However, it does share one thing in common, which is that although both exclusives look rather colourless, they're both amazing at moisturising the skin. After using one of these, I could feel an immediate difference to my skin, particularly on my hands and feet, which felt so soft and silky smooth. For those not familiar with the concept of a bubbleroon, Lush took the idea of a macaroon delicacy - two biscuits sandwiched together with a creamy filling - and made a cosmetic version. As with all of their previous reincarnations, this one is sandwiched together with a delicious centre of cocoa and shea butter, which normally makes it more softening than a regular bubble bar. The Snowman features both Sicilian lemon and lemon myrtle oil to offer a gentle, lemony aroma in the bath. The bubbleroon is neither citrusy or zesty at all, and I wouldn't describe it as being particularly fruity either. In fact, the inclusion of the soya milk adds a creamy element to the fragrance that reminds me very much of Granny Takes A Dip, just without the heat of the ginger or pepper. What is great about this seasonal bubbleroon is that it melts really slowly in the water, even if (like me) you like your bath scolding-hot. It took a good twenty minutes to fully dissolve in the water, which meant that the scent was consistent throughout the experience and the water continued to soften from beginning to end. The downfall of this little fella is that he's rather heavy, so will sink to the bottom of the tub, unless you hold him. It would have been nice to watch him float across the surface, just because I normally find bath melts relaxing to watch as I'm submerged beneath the water. Having said that, The Snowman is big enough to use across at least two baths, which makes him great value for money; his scent is gentle enough to sooth so and relax you, while still offering enough fragrance to detect while you're in the bath; and he's moisturising enough to leave your skin looking and feeling really soft and clean after you've towelled yourself down. While I told myself that I wasn't going to purchase any more of the seasonal range because of my current financial situation, I will be grabbing a couple of these to see me through the next couple of months. This is definitely one I hope will make a reappearance next year, as my skin can rely on his magic to replenish and nourish the winter blues away. Quantitative Ingredients:Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Lauryl Betaine, Cornflour, Sicilian Lemon Oil, Lemon Myrtle Oil, Styrax Oil, Fair Trade Shea Butter, Soya Milk Powder, Titanium Dioxide, Laureth 4, *Citral, *Limonene, Perfume, Colour 15510, Dried Juniperberries. Vegan?: Yes. 2017 Price: £4.25 each. Year of Original Release: 2017.
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.
It's human nature to make mistakes, and as a vegan I know only too well that you can slip up from time to time - even if you're always making a conscious effort to ensure that everything you use and consume is animal-free. I wasn't too hard on myself then, when I discovered that the moisturiser I had been smearing on my face all weekend contained animal derivatives Taking a positive from a negative situation, I can at least offer another review to help aid those who are tempted to grab a pot themselves. Sweet ASA Facial Moisturiser made its debut in the Lush Kitchen in May of 2017. Yet, this is far from the first time it has ever been made available to the public. Years ago, before I was even a fan myself, Lush's sister company, B Never Too Busy To B Beautiful, released this product as one of their own. Disappearing when the company disbanded, it has not seen the light of day until recently. What I found most interesting about this moisturiser is just how subtle a smell it holds. While both Celestial and Imperialis pertain what I'd call a 'gentle' scent, this one is by far one of the softness smells that Lush have ever offered. Known for their robust and sometimes overpowering fragrances, this is a welcome change for those who dislike anything too potent. Made from a base of oat milk and safflower, it is these two components that make up most of the aroma. Light and creamy, you can just make out a sweet, nutty aroma, with a light drizzle of honey thrown in for good measure. This is not a smell that I can imagine anyone being opposed to, and would perfectly suit those consumers who want something a little more lightly fragranced. Despite being vegan, I can recognise the many benefits that honey offers the body. It not only helps the skin to retain its moisture, but acts as an antiseptic as well. This means that when used to clean or hydrate the skin, it also removes dirty and debris that may cause irritation or blocked pores. In addition, it also happens to be incredibly gentle and soothing, making it a perfect remedy for those with any form of sensitivity. The inclusion of the soothing oat milk makes Sweet ASA an all-rounded great facial moisturiser for those who have to be careful with what they put on their skin. While I am lucky enough that I only have to deal with a few spot breakouts from time to time, I was definitely able to notice how much more 'settled' my complexion felt after only a couple of uses. Normally when I apply most lotions to my face, I notice that certain areas will become blotchy over time, and will often then develop into dry patches when I stop using the product. With this facial moisturiser, I noticed that my face didn't seem to react at all after using this consistently for three days. And while I can't say that my complexion improved vastly, it certainly didn't feel as if it was going to head in the same direction. What I will say about Sweet ASA is that it was a little stubborn to apply, despite its apparent thinness in the tub. At first I was convinced that it was more suited to oilier skin than mine, as I found massaging it across my face heeded a thin layer of 'residue' that I had to ensure was fully absorbed before applying any make up. Once applied however, I only had to wait a couple of minutes before I felt like the moisturiser was no longer present on the surface. What I was left with was a smooth and very plump complexion - one that didn't feel greasy, yet one that had a slight shine to it, which added some much needed radiance to my life. For this reason, I worry that those with oilier complexions may find that this may retain a little too much moisture for their liking. Overall, I will say that I enjoyed using this product for the few days that I did before discovering it wasn't vegan. It was definitely a moisturiser that I would have liked to have continued using, to see what other benefits I might have discovered through doing so. Having said this, it is definitely not up to the standard of Almond Kisses, and the results I heeded would not have convinced me that I needed to invest in another pot. Quantitative Ingredients:Water (Aqua), Oat Milk, Safflower Oil, Fair Trade Shea Butter, Stearic Acid, Glycerine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Clear Honey, Tincture of Benzoin, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Benzyl Cinnamate, Lanolin, Methylparaben, Propylparaben. Vegan?: No. 2017 Price: £8.50 for 45g. Year Of Original Release: ?
When I envisage a bath bomb with a name such as this one, I picture something rather squishy and sickly: a product that looks more like a massage bar and acts more like a bath melt. I also imagine the mess said bath bomb would make in the tub - skin decorated in a gloopy mess and a not so wonderful splatter of brown gunk reminiscent in the tub afterwards. For this reason, I was surprised to discover that Chocolate Melt Bath Bomb was absolutely nothing like I imagined it would be. In fact, this ballistic is not actually all that chocolate-orientated at all, and I had a far better experience with it than I ever imagined that I would. Sharing its scent with After 8:30 Massage Bar, this Butterball-sized bath bomb is predominantly more mint then it is chocolate. Sporting a pastel green outer layer, with flecks of dark chocolate scattered across the surface, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the size of this would somehow hinder how strong this product was in the tub. However, what also surprised me about this bath bomb was that it was just as strong as a regular sized ballistic, and would no doubt be far too overpowering if it was made an bigger. As I mentioned above, it is the spearmint and the galbanum oils that make the biggest impression from the get-go: the former packing a punch immediately and staying prevalent throughout the entire experience. I could smell the spearmint on my skin for quite a while after exiting the tub, and it left me feeling really refreshed. The galbanum oil is equally as potent in the mix - offering an intense 'green' smell that almost gives this bath bomb a fragrance reminiscent of Mask Of Magnaminty or Green Party Bath Bomb, albeit stronger. If anything, I'd say that the chocolate is probably the least prominent feature of this bath bomb, which is strange given that its name suggests the very opposite. In the tub, Chocolate Melt Bath Bomb is a very fast fizzer - disappearing completely in a little under two minutes. While it expels a sea of pastel green across the water, small flecks of dark chocolate also make an appearance - swirling around beneath the surface before settling on the floor of the tub. You would think that these tiny pieces would create a mess on both your skin and the bath. However, I was surprised to find that they dissolved quickly into the water and helped to soften the overall experience. What I loved about Chocolate Melt was that the combination of shea butter and cocoa butter made for a really moisturising bath. Yet there was never a moment when I felt like the water was too greasy or oily at all. By the end of the experience, I was left feeling really soft and smooth, while the cooling mint properties left me feeling equally refreshed. Overall, I would highly recommend that you try this product at least once. It wasn't one that I had any expectations beforehand, and I was actually expecting to dislike this one quite a bit. However, it is the great ballistic to release during springtime, as it's a perfect product to use during the transition between the colder and warmer months. It's comforting, uplifting, and makes for a far healthier alternative to a bowl of mint-chocolate chip ice cream. Quantitative Ingredients: Bicarbonate Of Soda, Citric Acid, Dark Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Perfume, Spearmint Oil, Peppermint Oil, Galbanum Oil, Shea Butter, Gardenia Extract, Colour 61585. Vegan?: Yes. 2017 Price: £3.50 each. Year Of Original Release: 1998. Scent Family: After 8:30 Massage Bar (non vegan) Chocolate Melt Bath Bomb
Unlike Snow Fairy, The Comforter is a scent family that draws you in fairly early on into your Lush career, and seems to be one that keeps you hooked throughout your experience with the company. Even though you will ultimately discover a handful of other amazing and very unique fragrances during your time as a Lush fan, you can always rely on that cassis-dominated aroma to sweeten your life a little. When the Kitchen announced that The Comforter was one of the five new body conditioners coming out in limited batches, I was very excited. Although I barely use the bubble bar (due to surplus stock) and I'm not that much of a fan of the liquid perfume, I am head over heels in love with the body lotion: I just find the format to be perfectly suited to the fragrance, and it makes me salivate every time I use it. It only took a mere five seconds of opening the lid and giving it a sniff, to realise that I had stumbled upon a pot of gold. This is everything you could wish for if you're a Comforter fan, guaranteed. Featuring bergamot and cypress oil, as well as a generous helping of cassis absolute, a robust, fruity aroma greets you from the tub. Interestingly, I found that the scent deviated a little from the usual Comforter smell to begin with - there was something rather 'plastic' about the initial smell which I found a little off-putting. However, once I began using it, I found that this wasn't the case at all, and I only had to use it a single time to realise that it smells very different when on the skin and around the hot water. In fact, much like the body lotion, the blackcurrant is stronger and far richer in this format, and the aroma is equally as sweet as it is succulent. The smell of this product reminds me of a blackcurrant compote on top of a cheesecake: refreshing and very fruity. Furthermore, the aroma stays on the skin for quite a while afterwards, which is the perfect reward after a long, hard day at work. As with most of Lush's products, this one is incredibly versatile, and while the £29.95 price tag may seem a little daunting to those unsure of such a big commitment, it is definitely worth the investment. You can use this as both a body conditioner and a shaving foam, and I've even heard of people using this in replacement of a body lotion. Whichever way you choose to use yours, I can guarantee that you'll not be left disappointed with the results. First and foremost, you can use it as Lush intended - as a body conditioner. After using a gel, jelly or soap to clean yourself with, step out of the flow of the water and apply the product across your skin, as you would a body lotion. It wont lather up, and may disappear really quickly, but this is because it is designed to permeate the skin. The heat from the shower will have opened up your pores and made your skin more susceptible to the butters and oils featured in the ingredients list. Once applied, you can either step back under the flow of the water to rinse your body down, or exit the shower immediately and pat yourself down lightly. Unlike a body lotion, a conditioner creates a barrier of moisture around your skin, which may feel slightly greasy to some, and might prevent you from being able to apply your clothes until you've given it time to absorb into the skin. I can assure you that this will lessen within the first thirty minutes of application, and you'll feel much better afterwards. As with most of the other conditioners, I found that an amount equal to that of a heaped teaspoon was more than enough to coat an entire leg, so you really don't need to use that much each time to get amazing results. Please also be aware that you wont necessarily be able to see the product when you're massaging it across an area of skin as it does tend to absorb really quickly. However, this does not mean that you should apply any extra and waste the product - the results after you rinse yourself down will speak for themselves. Secondly, this body conditioner works as an excellent shaving foam. Simply apply a small amount across your legs and shave your legs as usual. You'll be left with super-soft skin, and one of the closest shaves you have ever experienced. While the product may get stuck in your razor blade, a gentle tap and a rinse will alleviate this problem very easily. Finally, you could also use this as a body lotion, as there doesn't appear to be anything featured that could damage or irritate your skin if left on for long periods of time. The only issue I have with this latter method is that it may leave your body feeling rather greasy, so may only work as an intense moisturiser for those who have incredibly dry skin. I have yet to try this as I have a surplus amount of body lotions I am trying to get through at the moment, but it is something I would like to try out in the future. As with all of the body conditioners this time around, my skin felt incredibly soft, supple and plump after using this. Furthermore, my experience showed me just how quickly the skin can be replenished, as I found the dry patches on my legs and hands completely vanished after my first use. In addition, my body pertained a radiant glow about it that remained with me for the entirety of the day and into the night. For this reason, this will be a product I use in the summer months, when I want to keep my skin smooth and hydrated. Ultimately, it is a shame that this has only made as a limited release to date. Alongside nearly all of the limited edition body conditioners from the Kitchen, this one would make a fantastic (and very popular) addition to Lush's normal range. I do hope that the company bring out other body conditioners in the foreseeable future, and I also wish that they make a few of them, including this one, permanent fixtures. Quantitative Ingredients:Water, Organic Jojoba Oil, Glycerine, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Fair Trade Shea Butter, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Bergamot Oil, Cassis Absolute, Cypress Oil, *Limonene, Perfume. Vegan?: Yes. 2017 Price: £29.95 for 440g. Year Of Original Release: 2017.
Shaped like a heart with smaller hearts painted across the surface, this is perhaps the most beautifully designed oils of all the ones currently available. For such a small product - coming in about the 3cm in length and 1.5cm in height - this miniature masterpiece is warming, comforting, and perfect for those who perhaps wish for more company but only have a bath tub to explore. 
Another aspect of Polyamorous that I was little disappointed with was the fact that the scent didn’t linger on my skin after I had towelled myself down. Although I expect a lot from my products, and the main purpose of this bath oil is to add extra oils and butter to soften, I would still have liked to have detected a slight musky sweetness on my body. While I can vouch that the scent does make an impression in the water, and I was rather impressed by how much it held itself against other cosmetics I was using at the time, I would have assumed that at least a small note could have made itself known afterwards.
