Lush Review

Candles, bath & body, etc

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 17:16:35 GMT

I love candles. Adore them. Have boxes of Yankee Candles in the closet. And now I've decided to start making wickless soy candles and soy melts.

What are wickless candles? Just what it sounds like. A container of scented wax with no wick. You use it on a candle warmer to melt. No flame. More scent throw because a lot more wax is melted. I'm getting my wax order tomorrow hopefully and can start testing these, then get them on etsy. The wax doesn't go away, but the fragrance does eventually.

Why soy? One main reason. Soy is renewable. It helps the American famer, which is so important. Paraffin is a by-product of petroleum, which is not renewable.

What is a melt? Think Yankee Candle tarts. Small disks of wax that are melted over a tea light or on an electric tart burner. Same philosophy as a wickless candle, just a smaller scale. I've thrown a few in a votive holder and placed on my candle warmer. Same thing, wax doesn't disappear, just loses fragrance over time. I've been testing one now for over 15 hrs and it's still going strong.

I'm also going to dip into some bath and body. I just ordered a soap base to play with. Going to try an oatmeal/milk/honey soap. I found a great soy body butter that is just to die for. And I'd like to make milk bath powders.

I'm signing up for a craft fair in December. I hope I can have everything ready by then!!

I have a few of my melts as "free" samples on etsy.

http://www.EponaSoyCandles.etsy.com

I think there is a comment section when you order, or just comment on here that you did, and I'll double the sample, or one of each, your choice.

Melomint Bubble Bar

Thu, 07 Sep 2006 19:02:39 GMT

Melomint Bubble Bar:
If you like spearmint chewing gum you'll likely have a weakness for this bubble bar. The mint, cypress and chlorophyll provides relief to tired and aching bodies at the end of a hard day, and with the look and shape of a slice of watermelon, this bubble bar is a beauty.

Source: Lush Online Old Favs

Grr.... another one I should have ordered a whole big box of. The initial smell put me off. M.I.N.T. I like mint, but now my whole closet reeks of it.

Anyways, I crumbled it under the faucet, and even though the water was hot, the bar felt very cold. Odd. It turned the water a lovely light watermelon juice pink color. Tons of bubbles. Not so much mint smell though once it get in there.

I took a new magazine and climbed in. Since I've been packing and stressed at work, my back's been tight and sore. The mint really helped. Again, the water was really hot, but if I stayed really still, I could feel my skin going cold. (Kind of like when you get horse liniment on your hands and then run them under warm water.) If I moved , I got a whiff of mint and my skin got warm. It's kind of hard to explain, but I loved it. It loosened my back too.

I have two more and am going to save them till really needed. And then cry when they are gone!

Dusting Powder - Snow On Snow

Tue, 05 Sep 2006 21:43:04 GMT

Snow On Snow:
In the bleak midwinter, this is just what you need on your freshly bathed skin: soft, smooth, white dusting powder which makes it so much easier to pull on your woolly tights. Shake With Care!

Source: Lush Online Old Favs order

Discontinued

OMG. I. Love. This. I'm so glad I ordered two. I should have ordered twenty. It's softly scented, just like Snowcake and Smitten. The smell slightly lingers, but not too much.

order

Thu, 22 Jun 2006 20:40:04 GMT

I ordered 2 Snow On Snow dusting powders, 3 Uluru bath bombs and 3 Melomint bubble bars yesterday :)

They won't get here till mid August though :(

Cleanliness

Mon, 19 Jun 2006 17:55:05 GMT

2005 Christmas Limited Edition Bubble Bar

The English 18th Century evangelist, John Wesley preached (amongst other things) "slovenliness is no part of religion... cleanliness is, indeed, next to godliness" and small grubby children have been given this as a very pale excuse for having to take a bath ever since. Here's a better reason! A citrus scented, bright lemon-lime, choirboy-shaped bubble bath.

Source: Lush Online

This was a Christmas one. I just used it over the weekend :) It had really no scent at all. I don't recall that it had much of a scent when I got it though.

Mounds of fluffy bubbles! Lovely bright green water!

I don't know if I'd get it again because of the lack of scent, but there were definite bubbles.

Romance In A Stone - bath bomb

Mon, 12 Jun 2006 21:31:34 GMT

This bath bomb is scented with a fragrance of wild oranges; inside is a love poem to say the things you may find yourself stumbling over. We scatter in some rose petals because as symbols go, you can't do better than roses.

Source: Lush Chicago, I think Armitage

This one was nice as far as it did not stain the tub. It had a shower of dried rose petals, which was ok. There was a love poem in there, but most of it was washed off, so you couldn't really read it. It had an ok scent, nothing strong or definite at all. I didn't get orange at all. I probably won't get this one again.

Bubble Bar: Christmas Kisses

Tue, 23 May 2006 17:53:10 GMT

This is a spicy bubble bar. It's a wickedly warming mixture of clove leaf and cinnamon leaf essential oils, with a splash of reviving sweet orange and lime. Comforting benzoin and exotic patchouli help you to relax as you sink beneath its mounds of bubbles.

Source: Lush Online (Big Frees)

BUBBLES!!! Lots of bubbles! Towering white bubbles over bright red water. Amazingly, it did not stain the tub. Or me. :) It had a nice spicy scent for about 5 minutes. Then it faded pretty quickly. I did not get any orange or lime. Just cinnamon and clove. No patchouli or benzoin.

This is not one I would have tried, so I'm glad I got it in the Big Frees. It did not melt all the way down. I had to crush red bits between my fingers, but I guess that is ok.

Dusting Powder: Honey Bee Have

Mon, 15 May 2006 21:32:18 GMT

Ingredients:
Sodium Bicarbonate, Kaolin, Magnesium Carbonate, Honey, Perfume, Ylang Ylang Oil (Cananga odorata), Geranium Oil (Pelargonium crispum), Benzoin Resinoid (Styrax benzoin).

Description:
All of our products are vegetarian, as you probably know. Most of our products are vegan; when they aren't, it's usually because of something in them made by bees: honey or beeswax. Honey has a long history of use for skincare dating back to Ancient Egypt and possibly earlier, who knows? It is very soothing on the skin and it smells gorgeous too, Where you find honey at Lush you'll generally find soothing ylang ylang oil too, The combination makes one of our favourite scents. Add it to a base of deodorising powders, with a shot of fragrant, soothing benzoin and geranium, and you have beauty in a pot.

Source: Lush Chicago Armitage Discon party

So far I like it. I use it sparingly daily. It has a ylang ylang scent when too much is used. I'm not sure if I would buy this again, but I'm glad I got to try it and will finish it!

Ballistic- Bollywood

Thu, 13 Apr 2006 21:54:49 GMT

This spicy bath bomb is hot in more ways than one. Its soft orange color is spiced up with a jelly jewel 'bindi' which it wears on its forehead. Its orange scent is spiced up with ginger and black pepper essential oils. Orange revives you when you're feeling bored and tired; ginger warms you up and gives you a feeling of well-being. Black pepper, The Black Gold of India, The King of Spices, was widely prized throughout the ancient world; as an essential oil it is said to be energizing, to help tone your muscles, reduce muscle stiffness and aches, detoxify and get rid of excess fat.

Source: Lush Armitage

I. Loved. It. Spicy! But yet smelled like a dreamsicle (remember those?). Creamy orange with a touch of spice now and then. It turned the water a lovely orange color. Can't say if it reduced muscle stiffness as I didn't have any at the time. Too bad I don't have another one, I could use it today after my horse drug me around the arena last night!

I will definitely be getting this one again.

ETA: I forgot. This had a big dark green hard leaf in it. The ingredient label I got said what it was, but I don't remember now. I thought it was a piece of plastic at first. I did take it out and threw it away. Kind of creeped me out at first!!

Sicilian

Sat, 01 Apr 2006 16:48:07 GMT

"Description:
Why Sicilian? Well, we named it thus because of the organic Sicilian oranges we slice up and put inside each one and because its sunny colour and refreshing citrus scent remind us of the fruit trees in Sicily's fertile valleys. We pack it with refreshing, uplifting orange, tangerine and mandarin oils to make us feel almost as good as if we were tootling around on a Vespa with the warm wind messing up our hairdo.

LT 2004: The Sicilian is a bath for brightening up dull days; even sunny days can appear dull when there's nothing exciting to look forward to. If you know your're going to spend all day in meetings, or in a room with no daylight or haivng tea with yoru dullest relative thake a Sicilian bath first. The reviving essential oils, made from Sicilian oranges, mandarins, tangerines and orange flowers will cheer you up so much you might actually find you enjoy yourself! Share citrus Sicilians with your co-workers and relatives and all your days will be summer."

Source: Lush Armitage discontinued party

This is a discontinued bath bomb.

I liked it, but did not love it. I only bought two of these, so that is alright. I did not realize this had marigold leaves in it, or I would have socked it. Oh well.

It turned the water a pale creamy yellow. It did have a really nice scent. Sort of orange-lemon with a hint of almost vanilla. It smelled familiar, but I could not place it. The smell in the air did not last too long, but I could smell it on my skin after. I used this right before going to bed, and instead of being uplifting, it put me to sleep :)

I'm glad I got to try it, but like I said, I won't lament not being able to easily buy more.

Shower Gel - Snow Fairy

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 17:22:18 GMT

Snow Fairy

Snow Fairy shower gel is pink and sparkly so you can flutter around smelling sweet and looking twinkly all through the festive season. You can use it to wash your hair and body and it smells just like our Candy Fluff dusting powder, sweet but sexy.

Source: Lush Armitage, Snowy Gift

This is not one I would have purchased. I don't like the smell of it in the bottle. It is waaaay too sweet. However, my friend Erika tried it and liked it, so I decided to give it a shot. And guess what. I like it. It is not as sweet out of the bottle. It has a nice pleasing candy scent. I did not use it on my hair, and no sparkles were left on my skin. I have not tried the Candy Fluff dusting powder, but now I might give it a shot if it smells like this. It made my skin really soft, and left a nice faint scent. Jon likes it too :) (on me, not him using it!!)

ETA: Smells like circus peanuts!!

Bath Bomb: Jingle Spells

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 15:27:59 GMT

I do not have a description for this one since I got it at the store after the Christmas items were taken off the website.

Source: Lush store in Marshall Fields Chicago

Bright purple water! Lots of star shaped glitter! It smelled good, could not quite place it. Not very moisturizing, but it was nice. It did NOT leave a ring around the tub, which was surprising. It did leave lots of big glitter, but that was fine with me.

Soap: 17 Cherry Tree Lane

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 15:20:55 GMT

"The inspiration for this creamy soap blew in from the East. Noriko used a traditional Japanese design of stylised cherry trees to decorate the top of each block; buy a slice and your piece may feature a cherry, a sprinkle of golden glitter or a cocoa coloured tree branch. We've named it, appropriately, after the place where Mary Poppins turned up when she blew in on the east wind to take care of Jane and Michael Banks. To continue the theme, 17 Cherry Tree Lane is scented with our floral Sakura fragrance: mimosa, orange and jasmine blossom perfume your body when the soft lather touches it. (Noriko even put a spoonful of sugar into the mixture.) "

Source: Lush store sample, Marshall Fields Chicago

I got this as a free sample when I went to the Marshall Fields store. I had never paid any attention to this soap, and I'm not sure why. I did not get much smell from it, but it was really creamy, and once it got wet, smelled really soft and good. Not a strong scent from this one, and it does not stick around much. Which is good at times.

I have never tried Sakura either... I bet they would be really good together!

Bath Bomb: Avobath

Mon, 20 Feb 2006 16:35:51 GMT

"The Avobath (try saying it quickly) is a morning Bath Ballistic, scented with refreshing lemongrass, uplifting bergamot and stabilizing rosewood; just what you need to get you ready to face the world with your head held high. (It's a bit glittery but not wildly so; you should be able to get away with this one on a work day. Try it at the weekend first if you.ve got a really straight boss.) Organic avocado (hence the name) and olive oil moisturize your skin as you enjoy your morning bathe, inhaling the lovely, fresh scent and splashing about in the bright green water."

Source: Lush Chicago - Marshall Fields

Green!! Bright green! I did not smell any avocado, but got the lemongrass and almost a hint of lime. Very green, very refreshing after a stressful day. The scent lasted, even as I stayed soaking for about an hour reading. I will definitely buy this one again. I can see why it is one of the Top 5.

(I did not notice any glitter...)

ETA 09/07/06: This is now one of my favorites. It is great after working outside on a really hot day with cool water.

Black Tooth Gel

Tue, 07 Feb 2006 22:44:30 GMT

Black is citrus and Indian sandalwood flavoured a tooth lightening gel. It's black because it uses charcoal to get your teeth really clean; just make sure you've rinsed properly and check in the mirror before you smile at anyone. With its lime and lemon essential oils it's surprisignly good at making your teeth whiter. Red wine and coffee drinkers, use this regularly.

Source: Lush Chicago (Marshall Fields)

Interesting taste. Not bad, but not great either. I bought this because the girl behind the register recommended it. So did my friends Erika and Melissa. She gave us a great piece of advice. Do Not Wet Your Toothbrush First. The gel will slide right off. I did it accidently, and she was right.

I do still use regular toothpaste, but it is nice to use something else now and then. Not sure on the whitening as I do not use it daily, and use a regular whitening toothpaste. Sometimes it is nice not to have that blast of mint. Especially right before having orange juice!

(side note: anyone else notice all the spelling errors on the Lush.com site? or is it just me?)

Creamy Candy Bubble Bar

Tue, 07 Feb 2006 22:40:02 GMT

The Creamy Candy Bath may be used by two kinds of people. The first lot are those who love everything pink, fluffy and sweet. They will adore you for giving them one of these skin softening, vanilla scented bars. The second bunch are the dour, dismal, cynical, sarcastic lot who could really do with a dose of pink fluffiness in their lives. You may have to run a bath for them and sneak this in secretly to get them to use one. If you're a pink fluffy person, get some of these because you'll love them. If you're a dismal, sarcastic pain in the neck then please do us all a favour and use a few of these to give us a break.

Source: Lush Chicago party, freebie

This was ok. I did not get much of a scent, but it did produce nice pinkish bubbles and made my skin soft. I don't plan on buying one.

Sonic Death Monkey

Thu, 19 Jan 2006 14:54:50 GMT

Chocolate orange, fresh lime, caribbean coffee

This shower gel makes your hair and body feel soft; it's scented with chocolate orange and tones you up with fresh lime, Caribbean coffee and herbal tea.

Source - Lush Chicago

First, what is up with the name? I used it on my hair, not again. It felt icky after. As a shower gel, it is great. I love the smell. It has a hint of coffee, but that is overpowered by the chocolate orange. I hate coffee, so that is a good thing. It's nice to use a shower gel now and then after using the soaps for so long.

I Love Juicy

Thu, 19 Jan 2006 14:41:29 GMT

I Love Juicy is full of raw energy because it's made with our revolutionary, organic, enzymic kiwi, pineapple and papaya base. This has exceptionally deep cleansing powers and works sumptuously in hard water areas to give your hair a healthy shine. That's the fresh fruit bit; the jelly part of the shampoo comes from the carageenan seaweed which makes a soft gel to moisturise and soften, unlike other products for greasy hair. It smells fruitily of the above, plus mango, which is packed with vitamins and nutrients, and lemon and orange essential oils.

Source: Lush Chicago, my mom's purchase

Yummy! So fruity, but not sickening sweet fruit. Made my hair very soft, silky, shiny. I borrowed this from my mom, but will definitely be purchasing this and switching between this and Cynthia Sylvia Stout!

Teddy Bear Christmas Bath Bomb

Wed, 18 Jan 2006 14:48:05 GMT

No description, I waited too long!

Source: Lush Chicago, Big Frees gift box (Snowy Showers)

Anyways, it is supposed to be like the brown part in Honey Bee. It smelled just like HIWTK, and was used with HIWTK :) It did leave a horrid ring around the tub. It made my skin soft, but not as good as Butterball. I'm glad I tried it, but if it comes out next year, not too sure I'll get it again.

wuh oh

Fri, 13 Jan 2006 17:41:01 GMT

Dear Lush Lover,
In appreciation of your business, we wanted to thank you with a free gift! Please stop in to our Armitage Chicago location to receive your free holiday bath bomb!

In addition, here's a list of our latest parties:
January Parties

1. FREE YOUR MIND! Jan 22 from 4-6pm Can't remember the last time you pampered yourself? Well, sit back, relax, and enjoy the massage-- you deserve it! Let our massage therapists calm your senses & release your tension. Come in to relax with us, and enjoy fun raffles, music, and yummy snacks. Call us for an appointment and RSVP by Jan 20th for your goody bag.

2. THE BIG THAW...it's the end of the BIG FREES! Jan 29 from 3-5 pm. It's your last chance to take advantage of the BIG FREES promo- spend $45 and get 3 holiday items free!! AND the 5 days prior to the Big Thaw party (Jan. 24-Jan. 28), come in and take advantage of even more free products. Starting January 24th, we'll reveal the day's secret free product which is yours with every $45 purchase! Come on in and de-thaw from the cold with Lush! Please RSVP by Jan. 27 to receive a goody bag.

Ma Bar

Tue, 03 Jan 2006 17:11:52 GMT

The Ma Bar is our solution to the chocolate cravings which seem to possess us when the weather gets warmer. It has been scientifically proven that smelling sweets can satisfy your appetite for them. Crumble the chocolate and toffee coloured (and scented) Ma Bar under your running bathwater for a cocoa, orange, sugar and honey scented bath (let's not forget the scrumptious smell of Honey I Washed the Kids) which tones your skin and cures your need for sweetness (until next time). The Ma Bar has been extended because you love it so much, you've made it a best seller.

Source: Lush Chicago

Mmmm.... I have a new favorite bubble bar. I have only tried the Monkey one, and did not like it, but I think it was old. I got it because I wanted to try the chocolate/toffee combo. It was great! Even if I did use Snowcake with it instead of HIWTK. It turned the water a nice chocolate color. The chocolate part did not melt/dissolve as nicely as the rest, so I had to crumble it more under the water. Tons and tons of bubbles. I will definitely buy this one again!

visit!

Sat, 31 Dec 2005 22:56:39 GMT

So mom and I went to Lush (Chicago, Armitage) today to spend some money for a friend in CA :) I had said on my other journal that I wanted to take advantage of the Big Frees, but since I just got a big order online, there was nothing I really needed. She paypaled me some money to get some stuff for her. Whatever I wanted to get :) Whee!

I got a few things for myself (with my money). It included lots of goodies for her (not saying what, as she might see this!), Each Peach massage bar for mom, and for me: Ma Bar bubble bar and Sonic Death Monkey shower gel. The little bottle since I'm not sure if I'll like it or not.

They had a table set up for the Big Frees. It had a few of the smaller gift boxes and some of the bath ballistic sleds (had 4 bath ballistics on it). I was nosing around, and an employee comes up, tells us about the Big Frees and said she'd be right back. Ok... she comes back with three bigger boxes! Apparently, they are doling them out daily. She said those would be the best deals of the day. I snagged the Snowy Gift. $42.95 online. It contained Teddy Bears Christmas bath ballistic, Mr Butterball bath ballistic, 3.3 fl oz Snow Fairy shower gel, Cleanliness bubble bar, Egg Snog and Ruby Red Slippers bubble bar. Whee! I wanted to try Snow Fairy, but since it was soooooo sweet (reminds me of BPAL's Jailbait), I had decided against it. Free? Sure, I will gladly try it.

They had decent sized chunks of the Christmas soaps and Champagne Snow shower jelly left. And tons and tons of the Christmas bath ballistics. Bath bombs, whatever. :) As usual, everyone was really nice. I love that little store!

The package has already been sent, box courtesy of the Snowy gift :)

Herbalism

Tue, 27 Dec 2005 18:41:45 GMT

Cleansing wash for oily and problem skin

When you see this you may question our claim that our new skincare products are the most beautiful we have ever made, but once you use it you will understand. Herbalism is named after the powdered herbs which give it a dark green colour and which also give it the power to keep your skin calm and free of irritation. We use cleansing nettle, which is full of vitamins, marigold for its soothing properties, chamomile to calm your skin and astringent rosemary to tone the skin. China clay gently cleanses away excess oil and a gentle exfoliating mix of ground almonds and rice bran keeps your skin fresh. We make this wash for more oily skin which is difficult to keep clear; use it and you'll find that it makes a big difference. (100g lasts for ages as you only need a fingertip-full each time you wash with it.)

Green!

I was in love with AOBS. Till I met Herbalism. It is much easier to work with. It smooths on instead of clumping. It takes the oil away for a long time. I used it in the shower this morning at 6:30, it is now 12:40, and my face is still smooth, soft and oil free. The little bit of acne I had is clearing up after using this for a few days.

Smitten hand cream

Tue, 27 Dec 2005 18:35:52 GMT

Last year, Mark, our top bod at Lush (he has no official title but we all know who's boss) asked the Lush forum for a list of beautiful words. Smitten was one of them. The forum members asked Mark for a lighter, daytime hand cream scented with the same deliciously mouth-watering fragrance as Snowcake soap. Fair's fair. Now we have a beautiful new hand cream with a beautiful name made with natural oils and butters for a longer term benefit for your mits. (Note to non-mother tongue English speakers: mittens are like gloves but with one big 'finger' instead of the usual four so 'Smitten' is a hand protector pun as well as a lovely name. Just so you know')

Ok, someone melted Snowcake and put it in a container. It is Snowcake through and through. It makes my hands soft too :)

Pied de Pepper foot cream

Tue, 27 Dec 2005 18:34:38 GMT

Soothing Spicy Foot Cream

There's only one thing proven to keep you fit and healthy into old age and that's walking three miles a day. ( It was in the Observer so it must be true.) Anyway, now that you're going to be walking your daily three miles you'll need to keep your feet soft, comfortable and a pleasure to walk on. You'll do this by rubbing spicy Pied de Pepper all over them (including between the toes) to soften the skin with olive oil and cocoa butter, to neutralize whiffs and stimulate the circulation skin with cinnamon, clove and ginger and to refresh them with lemon oil. (If you wear trainers on your long walks always wear socks.)

So nice! I have terribly cold feet at night. My husband calls them ice cubes and is not happy when I put them on him to warm them up :) I have started using this at night, before I climb into bed, and it seems to make them warmer. At least they feel warmer to me and I don't have to freeze him out. The smell is nice too, very Christmasy.