Holiday FUN

   Everyone needs some good, clean fun for this holiday season, and LUSH Cosmetics' holiday FUN is a bath staple, in a category all on its own... Some  familiar scents have joined us for LUSH Christmas 2015 and I'm quite excited to be chatting about them with you all!
   If you're not familiar with LUSH Cosmetics FUN products, they're what many lushies refer to as LUSH PlayDoh - moldable, squishable, play-with-able products for your bath that can be used as a soap, shampoo, or bubble bar!
   These products create much creamier bubbles than the average bubble bar, and before you know it there will be a tub full of fluffy, bubbling goodness; be mindful that these bubbles will dissipate faster than the average bubbles... Also, if your FUN is crumbling, or not sticking together, add a dab or so of water for a quick fix.

   *Please note that LUSH Cosmetics does not advertises FUN products by comparing them to PlayDoh. This is simply what many lushies reference to when explaining how you can mold and play with the products as well as getting clean.

   Shown above are the four holiday FUN bars that I picked up this season...

• Magic of Christmas - Conjure up a treat! This tangerine, fennel, and juniperberry oil filled FUN shares its scent with the Wizard bubble bar that many of us were missing this autumn season.
• Snowman - Would you like to build a snowman? You may recognize the scent of Sicilian lemon, bergamot, and buchu oils combine to be almost identical to the Easter soap, Carrot.
• Santa - Santa Claus kit! Let calming jasmine and ylang ylang of Christmas past linger on your skin... Christmas Eve bubble bar, to be exact.
• Aliens & Monsters - Where no bath has gone before! You'll recognize this vanilla and black pepper scent from a familiar face of this season - the Lord of Misrule bath bomb.

   *Not shown is the Snakes & Ladders FUN that shares a very similar scent with Ponche shower gel, a potent and fruity product of Christmas past.

   Use these bars to create ghoulish creatures, elves, snowmen, holiday gifts, snowflakes, and even Santa himself! Shown below is the wonderful handiwork of my mother using Snowman FUN.

   For storing FUN, I always recommend the marbling method (see below)... Rip apart the colors into equal parts then mold them together equally. Make sure to get rid of air pockets as you re-create the log shape. Cut the "log" into equal slices, then store in a container that won't have much room for air... It's that simple! (This also works for single colors, you just cut the FUN as-is and store it the same way.)

   I want to make a quick mention, since I've been asked a good bit... The only way to get samples of FUN is when ordering online. In my experience, only when ordering from the UK website... You cannot get samples of bath products (bath bombs, bubble bars, FUN, bath oils, bath melts).

   Also, I want to remind everyone that every time you purchase FUN of any color, 2.5% of sales go to the LUSH FUNd supporting charities in Fukushima, Japan to help create safe places for children to play outside.
   Every FUN that LUSH Cosmetics makes is unique - in scent, use, and look. Whether it is an exclusive in the Kitchen, for a holiday, or part of the (growing) regular line of FUN, they're always worth picking up.

Handmade With Fresh Ingredients: *Vary by product.

*This post is not at all sponsored and all opinions are my own.*

xoxo Elle

LUSHoween Gifts

   For my final LUSHoween 2015 post, I wanted to show off the fantastic gift sets and knot wrap available this season! I hope you've enjoyed the spooktacular products I've gotten to review, and are looking forward to LUSH Christmas as much as I am!

   Heebie Jeebies! These adorable spheres of naked goodies double as Halloween ornaments, comes with the classic What's In My Gift pamphlet, and are protected inside by LUSH packing peanuts...
   Pumpkin Heebie Jeebie comes with a Sparkly Pumpkin bubble bar (review HERE) and a Lord of Misrule bath bomb (review HERE) - both of mine arrived perfectly intact, but the naked packaging did leave my LoM half covered in sparkles.
   Bat Heebie Jeebie comes with the tiniest Lord of Misrule shower cream (review HERE) known to mankind and a 100g tub of Nightwing shower jelly (review HERE) - there was no spilling of products in this gift set and I have no complaints.

   Fire Cracker gift set is as colorful inside as its wrapping paper is! This gift set is very much a transition from LUSHoween to LUSH Christmas, but feeling festive is always a good thing in my book...
   Inside you will find, packaged naked, a Lord of Misrule bath bomb to represent Halloween, an Experimenter bath bomb to represent the permanent product transitions happening within LUSH, and a Cinders bath bomb which is a Christmas classic.
   Protected by LUSH packing peanuts, and accompanied by a What's In My Gift pamphlet, all three of my bath treats were wonderfully intact and barely had any rubbing marks.

    Pink Moon knot wrap is honestly the most stunning knot wrap LUSH has ever made (these photos don't do any justice, sadly)... Deep purples, shades of pink, bat silhouettes, and stars. Perfection!
   Made from two, 500ml plastic bottles in standard LUSH recycling fashion - Pink Moon is larger than the average knot wrap, which makes it a nice scarf, hair wrap, or bandanna.

   And remember... Winter is Coming to LUSH Cosmetics very, very soon!

*This post is in no way sponsored and all opinions are my own.*

xoxo Elle

Nightwing Shower Jelly

   "I AM THE NIGHT!" screams the tiny bat made of jelly... Nightwing shower jelly is a new product here for LUSHoween and may I just say, it is completely adorable! Covered in references to The Dark Knight (including a hidden quote) and shaped like a bat silhouette, this is the ultimate creepy-cute product.

"When the dark night rises, jump in the shower with this soothing aloe vera and zesty lime juice sidekick."

   Now let's get one thing straight before we dive into this review... This shower jelly does not smell ~just like~ Calacus shower gel! Calacus is far more sweetly scented than Nightwing, although they would pair well together in a bath cocktail.

   While on the topic of scent, Nightwing smells exactly like LimeAid and it literally makes my mouth water! Gorgeous, fresh lime juice and lime oil help to brighten skin and your outlook on the day to come. The scent does not linger on skin much, if at all, and that is quite disappointing since this product is so wonderfully pungent in solid form... Aloe Vera gel soothes the skin while carrageenan extract, an extract from Irish moss seaweed, is an excellent moisturizing agent.
   This shower jelly rubs about quite nicely into a creamy, lavender colored lather, and you'll be happy to know I've not noticed any skin tinting (since its deep purple, almost black color has raised that question). My skin was left feeling wonderfully clean without feeling dried out... This is easily the runniest shower jelly I've ever dealt with, but a bit less so than I was expecting from what I've read about it. My Nightwing had some excess jelly at the top of its wings that blended into its head, but I was still able to tell it was a bat shape. Not to mention that this shower jelly cuts like silk, without any sort of crumbling apart or melting.
   LUSH also notes on the Nightwing product page that you can use it in your hair for a good cleanse, but I can't test that out do to my hair being colored - so let me know in the comments if you've tried it!

   I'm not a shower jelly fan (other than giving them a good spanking when on display), nor am I a fan of jello, but I'm glad I grabbed this little creature of the night - I give Nightwing shower jelly a 3.5/5. The scent not lingering on the skin really bothers me, but it still is a nice product... Make sure to pick up Nightwing online or in your local shop before LUSHoween is over!

Handmade With Fresh Ingredients: Glycerine, Water (Aqua), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Propylene Glycol , Fresh Lime Juice and Aloe Vera Gel Decoction (Citrus Aurantifolia; Aloe Barbadensis), Carrageenan Extract (Chondrus crispus), Lime Oil (Citrus aurantifolia), Carob Syrup (Ceratonia Siliqua), *Citral, *Limonene, Red 33, Blue 1, Iron Oxides.

*All body products are tested for several days before being reviewed.

This review is in no way sponsored and all opinions are my own.*

xoxo Elle

Sparkly Pumpkin Bubble Bar

   If you're a fan of the fruity cocktails and punch that fill our glasses during the holidays, you'll love this LUSHoween exclusive! Sharing its scent with the LUSH Christmas soap known as Mr. Punch, prepare for a potent and sparkling Halloween treat with Sparkly Pumpkin bubble bar.

"Add a sparkle to cold, wintery nights."

   Sparkly Pumpkin is an adorable little treat that's good for two-three baths, depending on your preference for bubbles... Perfectly pumpkin orange, covered in Gold Glimmer Lustre, with a cinnamon stick to represent the pumpkin's stem. This bubble bar just screams autumn in its looks, but the scent will prepare you for the holidays that are right around the corner!

   This bath goodie is one with a very strong and distinct scent... Lime and grapefruit oils bring a wonderful touch of zingy citrus and tangy sweetness, while the delightfully unique notes of juniperberry bring fruit, sweetness, and a hint of earthiness to Sparkly Pumpkin - making it a great treat for any bath, including a festive bath cocktail!

   Once you've crumbled up part of this bubble bar and let it run under the water, you'll notice a peach tone comes over the bath water with a bit of golden sparkles floating about. I couldn't capture a photo of the bath's color, but trust me when I say it was pleasing to the eye... The bubbles produced are classic LUSH bubbles; a perfect amount, great for making bubble beards, and lasted the length of my bath. Although they did leave a very small amount of residue once my bath was finished, it easily cleans up (like most bubble residue) by pouring a little water over it.

   After drying off and watching the sparkly water go down the drain I was left feeling quite happy, without too much "OMG I AM SO AWAKE," and a tad festive - I'm not one for punch, you see. I noticed the faint scent of juniperberry and lime lingering on my skin and a few bits of glitter; delightful!

   I may not be much of a holiday punch fan, but I am a fan of Sparkly Pumpkin bubble bar... I give it a 3.5/5, and will most likely pick up one or two more before the LUSHoween goodies disappear for another year!

Handmade With Fresh Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar (Potassium bitartrate), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Cornflour (Zea mays), Fragrance, Juniperberry Oil (Juniperus communis), Lime Oil (Citrus aurantifolia), Grapefruit Oil (Citrus paradisi), *Citral, *Geraniol, *Citronellol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Orange 4, Red 21 Lake, Gold Glimmer Lustre (Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Iron Oxides, Silica), Cinnamon Sticks (Cinnamomum cassia).

*This review is in no way sponsored and all opinions are my own.*

xoxo Elle

Lord of Misrule Bath Bomb

   Manage your mischief and feast among fools with the Lord of Misrule! This LUSHoween bath bomb has returned to us this autumn, and I couldn't be more excited to re-stock up on this wonderfully unique fizzer.
   Inspired by the Pagan Feast of Fools, sweet and herbal, with the color of the season hidden inside... The LoM bath bomb will be sure to cast its spell on you.

"Strange and magnificent - spicy, herbal bathtime celebrations."

   There is almost nothing better, as a lushie, than a fresh Lord of Misrule bath bomb...
   Strong vanilla absolute and black pepper oil notes fill the air to lift your spirits even before it's time to hop in the bath. Once it hits the water and starts to fizz, soft and foamy green gently glides over the water's surface while fans of rich wine start to mix into the bath water. To add to the beauty of this product, streams of red drop down creating a lovely smoke effect underwater while popping candies crackle the entire dissolving process.
   The water is left a gorgeous color, perfectly between mulled wine and berry... Once you sink into these unique waters, the notes of patchouli wrap around you and ground the scent family as a whole. Many people find the LoM scent to be too intense, but I absolutely adore the way it fills up the room and find it to be much more gentle in liquid form; the same gentleness that lingers on your skin for quite some time after your bath.
   Note: I find the bath bomb to be a bit more herbal than the shower cream.

   I love the Lord of Misrule bath bomb, just as much as I love the LoM shower cream (reviewed HERE)! With an amazing color scheme and scent family, and no residue left in the tub, it is worth stocking up on each season. Head to your local shop or to the US/UK sites to grab yourself this LUSHoween exclusive.

Handmade With Fresh Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Popping Candy (Isomalt, Carbon Dioxide), Cream of Tartar (Potassium bitartrate), Black Pepper Oil (Piper nigrum), Patchouli Oil (Pogostemon cablin), Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute (Vanilla Planifolia), Lauryl Betaine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Gardenia Extract (Gardenia jasminoides), *Limonene, Fragrance, Red 33, Blue 1, Yellow 5.

*This review is in no way sponsored; all stated opinions are my own.*

xoxo Elle