Back when I would spend my entire monthly salary on eBay 'bargains', I never filtered what I would and would not invest in. Therefore, I found myself quite quickly building up a collection of, what I can only describe as relics: products that were clearly passed their best, but still excited me enough that I wanted them in my life.
One of those less than perfect items was the interesting-looking Want To Believe Bath Melt - which isn't the most attractive product to begin with, so you can only imagine what they would look like 3-4 years past their best before. To say that they were a royal flop in the bath is an understatement. Having said that, I actually quite enjoyed the unique idea behind the bath melt, and was a little disappointed when I couldn't give it any more than an embarrassing one-bottle rating.
When Lush released them in the Kitchen in late 2016, I was really excited to finally discover how a fresh one would function in the bath, and how the fragrance would fare on the skin. Having already had a lot of positive experiences with products that feature charcoal, I was expecting quite a lot from this item, and I can honestly say that I was impressed with the outcome.
Taken from the idea of naughty children getting coal in their Christmas stockings, this bath melt is for those who haven't quite made Santa's 'nice' list this year. Packed with an array of ingredients to soften and replenish the skin, this seasonal treat is a gift that keeps on giving.
Firstly, the inclusion of charcoal makes this far more effective than most of the other Lush bath melts that I have tried before. Not only is charcoal known for drawing out toxins and bacteria from the skin, it is also great at balancing out oily skin and leaving it looking radiant without any excess grease. Although I have dry skin, I did notice that my complexion looked and felt far more radiant within a short while of being in the bath. In fact, my face felt noticeably smoother and more radiant for a good 24 hours after I had used one of these.
Alongside the charcoal is fennel oil, which is not only one of the key components in the overall smell, but also uses its antiseptic properties in the water to calm and clean the skin while you're bathing. Furthermore, the soya milk softens the water and offers a creamy respite in the tub, while the cocoa butter and starflower oil, which evidently is known for its anti-aging properties, only adds to the experience, and ultimately makes this a feast for the skin.
Described as having a liquorice scent, Want To Believe offers quite a dry, aniseed-like smell. Yes there is the fennel element present, and you get a slight sweetness from the starflower oil. However, the charcoal does play a part at grounding the scent - which is rather gentle to begin with, need I say, and giving it an almost powdery fragrance. In addition, the inclusion of the granulated sugar adds a gentle syrup-like note to the bath melt, which is lovely. Despite the black attire, this bath melt is a real softy at heart, and I was thrilled to see how much of an impression it made in the water. Within a matter of seconds, the bath melt was dissolving across the tub - sending out both swirls of creamy white foam and glistening flecks of black and silver lustre. It certainly wasn't the most interesting of experiences to watch, but it was something very different, and I appreciated that. While I used the whole melt in a single bath, this would easily last across two or three, if you wanted to stretch your money a little further. Given how silky-smooth the water was after using an entire one, I can safely say that you'll definitely get the full-body moisturising session you're craving, using only half of this. In fact, if you don't enjoy baths that are too nourishing and silky, you may wish to segment this bad boy to prevent disappointment. Although no one wants a piece of coal in their Christmas stocking, I would happy to have a handful of these in mine. Despite being very different from the usual fruity bath oils/melts that Lush pride themselves on, I really appreciated how well this worked in the water. It may not have a fragrance that will bowl you over, but it does have enough butters to leave your winter-kissed skin soft and ready to face the day ahead.
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.
It's thanks to Lush that I now incorporate a daily dosage of coffee into my life. Before I became heavily involved in the company, I had no interest in drinking the famous brew; nor did I appreciate anything that tasted or smelt like the popular beverage. However, after discovering the wonders of Cup O' Coffee Body Mask, I found a new-found appreciation for the unique aroma, and I'm now far more susceptible to the fragrance than I originally was. While it is still not a smell that I would immediately list as a personal favourite, my lips couldn't help but salivate when I received a couple of Cafe Latte Bath Bombs in the post the other morning. If you think you've tried anything like this product before, think again. This wonderful ballistic is unlike anything to come before it, and indeed anything that has made an appearance since. Containing a combination of actual ground coffee and dried soya milk, you'd expect this bath bomb to smell very much like your average cup of coffee. Wrong. Just as the name suggests, there is so much more to this beautiful bath bomb than you would expect, and whether or not you're a fan of coffee-scented items, there will be many who appreciate this for what it is. Imagine a freshly-made latte with a sprinkle of cocoa powder on top and a drizzle of burnt caramel sauce, and you may begin to envisage how this bath bomb smells. While the fragrance offered is distinctly coffee-orientated, it's not anywhere near as strong as the body mask mentioned above. There's a creamy, sweetness to it that stops the coffee element being so overpowering, and instead what you get is a creamy, sugary coffee smell to die for. On the negative side, the smell of this bath bomb also reminded me a little of the mould smell you get when leaving food in a damp container for a number of days. Now, this may sound very off-putting for those considering buying some, and I don't mean to deter you away from investing in any of these Cafe Lattes. However, the combination of ingredients does give two very different aromas overall, and once you have a fresh one to sniff, I'm sure most people will be able to understand what I mean by this. What is great about this bath bomb is that not only does it have a very beautiful, foody smell, but it also lives up to its name by the way that it performs in the tub. Upon contact with the water, the bath bomb begins to foam up very quickly and produce waves of thick, creamy froth - almost like the milk on top of the very drink this product is trying to mimic. The bath bomb is a very slow fizzer, and also a very quiet one - not to mention the fact that it takes a good 20 - 30 minutes to fully dissolve in the water. For this reason, I suggest that you climb in the tub and enjoy the show as the bath bomb brews in the heat of the water. During the experience, Cafe Latte also throws out hundreds of little specks of coffee, that either float on the water or sink to the bottom. These don't really make the bath that much more interesting, but it's definitely something unique and does help to retain some of the scent. Some people have complained in the past that these specks of coffee cause a little chaffing, as you do tend to find yourself sitting on them. However, I didn't feel them at all and my only issue was that I forgot to rinse the tub out afterwards so these little pieces stuck to the tub and needed to be wiped down. Once the product has fully dissolved, you're left with a very uninteresting bath (the water doesn't change colour). However, I found that there is enough of a smell to make this a very relaxing experience. The caramel-esque aroma did dampen a little, once the bath bomb had dissolved, and the coffee note came to the forefront just slightly. Having said this, there was still enough of a smell to make for a relaxing bath. As with most of Lush's bath bombs, this left my skin feeling very nourished and soft, although I wouldn't say that it was particularly moisturising to the point that I think it is more than others. However, it is definitely a very calming bath bomb and one that I recommend, if only because it is very different to any other bath bomb that has made an appearance over the last eight years. Would I buy this again? Definitely. Unless you despite coffee, I would like to suggest that you give this one a go at least once. It's not strong or as smoky as you might expect, and you may be surprised by how much you enjoy this one. Like a much-needed hug, this is a bath bomb that leaves a good impression, and I only hope this a sign of other coffee-scented products to come. Yum! Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Perfume, Cocamide DEA, Ground Coffee, Dried Soya Milk. Vegan?: Yes. 2017 Price: £4.25 each. Year Of Original Release: 1999.
For someone who considers them self to be fairly intelligent, I don't know why I didn't think about the ingenious concept of bathing alongside a tea bag or two. Known for being incredibly detoxifying and softening on the skin, it's the perfect bathing companion, and one that will be making a reappearance alongside many of the cocktails that I concoct in the future. Tea And Sympathy Bath Bomb is easily one of the most boring ballistics that Lush have ever produced. However, it doesn't need to be particularly attractive when the name is enough to warrant a good many sales. Add in the unique feature of including a tea bag at its core, and you've already appealed to the British mentality - enough to sell a batch or two without too much of a problem. What immediately struck my about this bath bomb, when it arrived, was that it smelt very different to what I had envisaged. Described as being 'like white and green tea', I was expecting something very two-dimensional and perhaps a little bitter. However, what I found was that this bath bomb was far sweeter and prettier than I had initially given it credit for. Containing calamine powder and chamomile oil as the two key components, I expected the bath bomb to be very overpowering and medicinal smelling. Instead I found Tea And Sympathy had all of the refreshing, herbal properties of both ingredients, but with a wonderful musky layer alongside this. The olibanum oil really does work its magic at sweetening the chamomile and offering an almost resinous quality to the bath bomb. While the clary sage is one of the last ingredients, I could really appreciate the prevalent herbal thread that is featured because of this. Despite the fact that every component works in harmony with each other, you can definitely make out each ingredient individually as well, which makes this one of the prettiest smells that I have experienced from Lush in a while. Having said this, the bath bomb still wouldn't win any awards in the tub. Upon contact with the water, Tea And Sympathy begins to froth and fizz, and it doesn't take more than a couple of minutes for the product to dissolve completely. While puddles of white froth and bubbles pattern the surface, these disappear very quickly, and you are left with a very boring-looking bath. This bath bomb does not colour the water at all, and if it wasn't for the lovely smell radiating off of the water, and the single tea bag floating across the water, you wouldn't really be able to tell that you've used a product in there at all. In it's defence, the bath bomb is rather moisturising and softening, without being at all greasy. The inclusion of the tea bag definitely helps to purify and detoxify your skin during bathing, and you'll find that your pores will feel much clearer afterwards. Having said that, I found that the fragrance faded during my experience, and after using a couple of stronger products, I was no longer able to detect the smell at all. Furthermore, the aroma didn't permeate my skin enough to leave any sort of impression afterwards either. Overall, this bath bomb is definitely one you have to try, but perhaps not one you need to rush out and buy. Although its not one that I need to have at all times in my life, I would definitely say that adding a couple of colours to Tea And Sympathy would make it far more appealing, and one that I would be far more inclined to buy. Quantitative Ingredients:Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Soya Milk Powder, Calamine Powder, Perfume, Chamomile Blue Oil, Olibanum Oil, Clary Sage Oil, Water (Aqua), Chamomile Tea Bag, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 42090, Colour 19140. Vegan?: Yes. 2017 Price: £4.25 each. Year Of Original Release: ?
Lush are known for their novel ideas - from the wash cards, shower jellies and solid mouthwash tabs, to the weirdly-shaped bubble bars and bath bombs that adorn their shelves in any given store. In almost all of the above cases, the purpose of the product far outweighs any alluring factor that an item may possess, and even when it's not a favourite you can still appreciate its worth. However, if there is one product that seems to serve no extra purpose aside from being a novelty factor, it is their ever-growing collection of enlarged bath bombs. Magnified in size as well as price, these limited editions often appeal to both collectors and avid lovers of a particular ballistic - holding no extra merits aside from a physical difference, and the fact that it warrants you having an incredible expensive session in the tub. The Sexxx Bomb Bomb is one of two extra large bath bombs to have come out in the Lush Kitchen recently, and the first to make its debut this year. As the name and design suggest, this enormous bath bomb is modelled on one of Lush's biggest selling products, the Sex Bomb. Coming in at nearly four times the size and weight of the regular ballistic, this is good value for money in that sense. However, using it as a one-off will definitely make it one of the biggest investments you might make this year, on a bath bomb alone. Containing a collaboration of jasmine and ylang ylang, this limited edition is as sweet as it is floral. This is definitely one for the jasmine fans as the flower's naturally uplifting and rather euphoric aroma makes itself known immediately - creating an intoxicating blend of fresh but fruity floral notes. The ylang ylang extends the floral smell further by adding in a little muskiness to dampen and ground the resinous properties of the jasmine. Finally, the clary sage oil deepens the smell with its musty, earthy undertones. It is this element that makes it such a sensual-smelling bath bomb, and the ingredient that I think prevents the jasmine from being as narcotic and as heady as it normally is by itself. Sexxx Bomb is definitely as sexy and as sensual as it's older sister, and Surprisingly, before this bath bomb was added to water, it didn't appear to be any stronger in scent than the smaller version. In order to prevent any users from developing a reaction to the surplus ingredients in the tub, Lush have to dilute the ingredients in all of their bigger bath bombs. This is to ensure that they're not too heavy in the way of smell, and also to prevent any irritation on the skin that could be caused from the prolonged contact with an excess amount of oils. On the positive side, once this bath bomb had dissolved in the tub, I found that the aroma was the perfect level; not too strong that it stifled your senses in any way, yet not as weak as the original Sex Bomb, which underwhelmed me quite a bit when I tried it out for myself. While the colour of the water remained a pastel pink colour, I did notice that the effect was far more prominent: the colour was more opaque and appeared to be thicker in consistency, and this helped me to appreciate the experience a little more. Furthermore, while I wouldn't say the effect of the bath bomb was anywhere near as nourishing as a bubble bar, it was definitely more softening and more moisturising than a regular bath bomb. My legs and arms developed a glean within minutes of submerging myself in the water, and I could feel the effects of this long after I had exited the tub. Despite the fact that all of the magnified bath bombs that I have tried so far have been fast-fizzers, I really appreciated the effect that Sexxx Bomb created while it was dissolving. As it projected waves of gorgeous pink across the surface, the bath bomb also generated thousands of little air pockets, which floated across the water and created a stunning array of miniature patterned bubbles. I've never seen this happen with any of Lush's other bath bombs before, and this was a welcome sight to observe.
After exiting the bath nearly two hours later, I appreciated the fact that I could still smell the bath bomb on my skin, and I found that was able to detect it on my hair the following day as well. Furthermore, the fragrance lingered around for a good couple of hours in the bathroom, which was a welcome bonus for my flatmates and I. Although I enjoyed using this bath bomb, and I am happy that I made the decision to purchase a couple of these when they were available, this wouldn't be one that I would be interested in buying again. As a novelty gift for a loved one, a special treat for an avid fan of the regular-sized Sex Bomb, or a one-off purchase for collectors who need to try everything once, this bath bomb works well, and offers users something a little different from the norm. However, its price tag does not justify this being used very often, and for that reason, I'll reserve my one remaining bomb for when a very special occasion arises. Quantitative Ingredients:Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Sesquicarbonate, Jasmine Absolute, Clary Sage Oil, Ylang Ylang Oil, Soya Milk, Titanium Dioxide, Synthetic Musk, Propylene Glycol, *Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Alpha-Isomethyl ionone, Perfume, Colour 17200, Colour 42090, Colour 14700, Colour 45410, Rice Paper Flower. Vegan?: Yes. 2017 Price: £10.50 each. Year Of Original Release: 2017.
With so many products left to review, I have found myself reaching for the most interesting ones as opposed to the ones that have been in my possession for the longest amount of time. Therefore, a miniature bath bomb with very little colour, doesn't have any hope of being noticed when its competing with far more interesting counterparts. Hokkaido Bath Bomb was first released in the Lush Kitchen back in January 2017 - appearing to generate little excitement as it remained available for the whole week and into the successive week as well. Although it wasn't a product that I had tried before, I found myself placing an order without feigning too much excitement. Upon arrival, it joined the stack of bath bombs that were waiting to be tried and tested, and it wasn't until I used one for the first time yesterday, that I realised how much I had underestimated this little gem. One of Lush's smaller bombs, this limited edition ballistic appears a little on the expensive side to begin with. However, while I would say that the £4.25 price tag is definitely on the high side and doesn't necessarily reflect the overall quality of experience that you get, there is good reason as to why it is more than you would expect it to be. Containing a bigger range of oils than perhaps any other bath bomb I have seen from Lush, Hokkaido is surprisingly subtle in smell: a factor that would normally dampen my experience with a product, but in this case made me appreciate this ballistic far more than I initially thought that I would. A combination of ginger, clove bud and cedarwood oils gives this product a gentle, spicy and rather warming aroma. Firstly, I should start by saying that I was surprised by how subtle the overall fragrance was. This is perhaps one of Lush's most delicate scents that features clove bud oil, and it's one so gentle that you would almost expect to lose the smell completely in the bath tub. The cloves and ginger offer a light, herbal aroma, while the inclusion of the lemongrass gives this bath bomb an element of grassiness to it. What is rather peculiar about this arrangement is the fact that the lemongrass doesn't offer any of the citrus elements that you would normally expect. If you were to compare Avoshowerto this bath bomb, it's unbelievable to think that the two products could share the same component: they are so far apart in fragrance. Alongside these different smells, this bath bomb also contains cocoa butter, rice bran oil and soya milk powder. Together, these three components make this one of the most moisturising bath bombs that Lush have ever released. For something so small, you would not believe how thick and nourishing the water was after one of these had fully dissolved. While the bath water ends up a slightly murky shade of green, there is an impressive blanket of foam that rests on the surface, and you can see the droplets of oil in the water as your bathe. For this reason, this is definitely not suited for bathers who dislike the greasier bombs, as you can definitely feel the impact of the cocoa butter in the water. Furthermore, I would not recommend that you try to wash your hair in the water as it's likely to impact the overall condition of your locks. Moreover, I would ensure that you give the sides of your tub a wipe down afterwards as some of these oils tend to smear themselves across the surface. Overall, the only aspect of this bath bomb that lets itself down is its colour performance in the water. Yet, the purpose of Hokkaido is to provide a sensual experience with additional skin-softening properties, and so I cannot actually imagine the bath bomb working as well if these additional colours were included. This is definitely one that I would buy again in the future - it's just a shame that many people would have missed out on this one because it isn't the most interesting to look at, nor the most exciting on paper. Quantitative Ingredients:Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Laureth 4, Soya Milk Powder, Perfume, Rice Bran Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Cedarwood Oil, Clove Bud Oil, Ginger Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Sandalwood Oil, Gardenia Extract, *Citral, *Eugenol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 42090. Vegan?: Yes. 2017 Price: £3.75 each. Year Of Original Release: ?
One of those less than perfect items was the interesting-looking Want To Believe Bath Melt - which isn't the most attractive product to begin with, so you can only imagine what they would look like 3-4 years past their best before. To say that they were a royal flop in the bath is an understatement. Having said that, I actually quite enjoyed the unique idea behind the bath melt, and was a little disappointed when I couldn't give it any more than an embarrassing one-bottle rating.
Firstly, the inclusion of charcoal makes this far more effective than most of the other Lush bath melts that I have tried before. Not only is charcoal known for drawing out toxins and bacteria from the skin, it is also great at balancing out oily skin and leaving it looking radiant without any excess grease. Although I have dry skin, I did notice that my complexion looked and felt far more radiant within a short while of being in the bath. In fact, my face felt noticeably smoother and more radiant for a good 24 hours after I had used one of these. 
Despite the black attire, this bath melt is a real softy at heart, and I was thrilled to see how much of an impression it made in the water. Within a matter of seconds, the bath melt was dissolving across the tub - sending out both swirls of creamy white foam and glistening flecks of black and silver lustre. It certainly wasn't the most interesting of experiences to watch, but it was something very different, and I appreciated that.
