"Glaciers" Bath Cocktail

Products Used:

• Frozen bath bomb (whole) - fresh and uplifting waters; key notes of grapefruit oil, neroli oil, and rose oil.
• Sunnyside bubble bar (half) - liquid sunshine; key notes of sweet wild orange oil, lemon oil, and tangerine oil.

*This post is in no way sponsored.*

xoxo Elle

"Siren's Song" Bath Cocktail

Products Used:

• Big Blue bath bomb (whole) - the beach in bathbomb form; key notes of lemon oil, salt, and lavender oil.
• Sunnyside bubble bar (half) - liquid sunshine; key notes of sweet wild orange oil, lemon oil, and tangerine oil.

*This post is in no way sponsored.*

xoxo Elle

Bath Art: The Experimenter

 The Experimenter - a bathtime cinema that smells of a vanilla campfire; key notes of vetivert oil, tonka absolute, and fair trade vanilla absolute.

*This post is in no way sponsored.*

xoxo Elle

Emotional Brilliance Eyeshadow

    So lets talk about how much love the makeup line by LUSH Cosmetics deserves but doesn't seem to receive, at least in the US... The Emotional Brilliance range has made on/expiration date stickers on each product, just like the all LUSH goodies, and consists of the Eyes Right mascara, color supplements/tints (including Feeling Younger which is more of a highlight), liquid eyeliners, the Emotional Brilliance face powder, and cream eyeshadows/lipsticks. Why have I put the shadows and lipsticks together? Because, like with many of their products, LUSH formulated these beauties to be multi-use; shadows as lipstick and lipstick as eyeshadow...

    The eyeshadows I wanted to use as an example and really highlight today is Sophisticated - a gorgeous mocha/copper tone that is as great an eyeshadow as it is a lipstick or eyeliner; I've even know people who have perfected using it as a bronzer (or even contour)... These shadows are great for beginners in makeup and professionals alike thanks to the doe-foot applicator. This small, soft, but sturdy applicator is the perfect size for maneuvering around the eyelid and even creating thin line work with the very tip! The dropper bottle style packaging is not only pleasing to the eye but extremely sturdy, making it great to travel with in your purse/makeup bag/backpack/etc. I personally have never experienced one of these bottles coming unscrewed in my bag and I've used these products for a few years now.

   I personally love Sophisticated as both a base for other eyeshadows or as a color on its own. Even with my oily eyelids, unless it is a pretty humid day, I don't need a primer when using this product! It swipes on opaque and a small amount goes a long way - if you want a more sheer effect, swipe a line on your lash line and use your ring finger to gently pat the color up onto the rest of your eyelid... This line is great for blending with other eyeshadows (cream, pressed, or loose pigments) because when it dries it creates a wonderful base to build next to or over top of, but when it is when it mixes with other pigments in a way that is so effortless looking without needing a transitioning shade. Also, eyeliners lay over-top of this range nicely because they dry so smoothly and don't smear... As far as using Sophisticated as a lipstick, I really like using a burgundy lip liner and shading it in some with the ~shadow~ over-top to create a really unique ombre effect - or patting it in the center of my bottom lip and cupids bow as a highlight.

   The Emotional Brilliance range is... Brilliant! For lack of a more unique word choice *cheesy grin*. The shadow/lipstick range is made for all skin tones and age groups - the first one I ever sold was a deep fuchsia color to a woman who hadn't ever tried non-neutral makeup on any part of her body before! They're that good... That is why I give Sophisticated (and its siblings) a 5/5!
   What is your favorite product from the Emotional Brilliance shadow/lipstick range? Or is there something from another part of the line you'd like me to discuss? Let me know, or head to your local LUSH shop and spin the Wheel of Emotional Brilliance to test something new totally new!

*Although I have worked for LUSH Cosmetics this post is in no way sponsored and all opinions are my own.*

xoxo Elle

Supernova Bath Bomb

   Take a dip into pink champagne waters with the best party prep bath bomb around - Supernova Bath Bomb from the LUSH Kitchen! Turn on your favorite playlist and pour yourself a glass of, well, whatever suits you... There's a galaxy waiting.

"Celestial celebration!"

   This bath bomb comes from the champagne heaven that is the Celebrate scent family, which highlights gorgeous notes of sweet orange oil, lime oil, and cognac oil... Also in this family are:

• Celebrate Body Lotion
• Celebrate Perfume(s)
• Celebrate Shower Gel
• Snow Showers Shower Gel
• First Snow Dusting Powder
• Golden Wonder Bath Bomb

   I had been lusting after Supernova for quite a while, so I was ecstatic when my order arrived in the post... On first impression, while still wrapped up, I could see the lovely shade of pink and smell the wonderful scent of the bath bomb. Once unwrapped, I noticed the red, yellow, and blue confetti throughout the ballistic and it was less dusty than expected (I have no idea why I expected it to be dustier)... I filled my bathtub with water that was bordering between warm and hot, as I usually do for LUSH Cosmetics bath bombs, and gently placed it in the water. This was a much slower fizzer than a name like Supernova let on to be but I was pretty pleased about it. Then, gradually, my entire bathroom filled with hints of sweet orange and lime, and I was slightly taken back to LUSH Christmas (I went a bit Golden Wonder crazy this past season) - the bath water ended up being somewhere between Barbie and rosy pink with confetti floating and melting about.

   After soaking in this bath for a while I hadn't noticed Supernova having any "body perks" - my skin wasn't any softer and the Celebrate scent I love so much was very, very faint on my skin and disappeared after thirty minutes... But my condition did cause a small ~issue~... My entire lower body looked as if I had sunburn for three or so hours, yet there wasn't any odd sensation or pain associated with this reaction.   Like I always say, with my illness I never know when/why/how my body will react to products/environments; I've not heard of anyone else experiencing any poor reactions to Supernova.

   I only purchased three Supernova Bath Bombs (two for myself and one for my mother, whose favorite LUSH products are those within the Celebrate family), and I'm regretting not grabbing another two or three for us to split... This is a wonderful product that left me in a great mood, and I give it a 4/5! If the scent lingered better and it softened my skin, it would have gotten a 5/5, but I'm not complaining whatsoever. I look forward to when this fizzer hits the Kitchen again, and definitely recommend you try one out.

Handmade With Fresh Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Perfume, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Sweet Orange Oil, Cognac Oil, Lime Oil, Paper Confetti, Linalool, Limonene, Colour 45410.

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

xoxo Elle

Shark Infested Custard

   Dunnn-dun... Dunnn-dun... Dun-dun, dun-dun, dun-dun... DA-DUN-DUN! There's something swimming - erm - floating in the water with a fin as black as night... Shark Infested Custard Bath Oil made its way from LUSH Oxford Street, across the pond, and into my bath water.

"What's yellow and dangerous?"

   When dealing with bath oils/bath melts, I use 3/4 hot to 1/4 cold water to ensure that these products melt properly... Much like Razzle Dazzle, compared to IAARB, Shark Infested Custard melted quite smoothly within the water and when picked up by hand as well. Now, I adore throwing in a bath melt or bath oil into my cocktails because they add a little luxury to the experience, but I do tend to lean more towards melts - not just because of the financial end or accessibility, but because of how the product acts in the water. In my experience, melts tend to drift about and evenly distribute throughout the water but as oils melt they drift and cling to the sides of the tub (we are speaking melts vs oils ALONE in the bath water, with no other products)... I generally turn on the jets or swish my arms around vigorously to try and prevent the cling, and the mess that comes with it. This particular product did seem to have a bit more of a consistency difference than the other LUSH Oxford Street luxury bath oils after this "mixing" process I go through... I understand not every product will be the same though.
   As far as looks go, this is an absolutely adorable product... Who wouldn't be attracted to a tiny shark fin placed into a bright yellow ball with a name like Shark Infested Custard?! Add in the delicious aroma of the Vanillary scent family, that perfectly resembles vanilla custard... Borderline irresistible! I will credit all of the new Oxford Street bath oils with having gorgeously unique scents that are just as true when melted as they are in solid form.
   With an ingredient list that includes organic Shea butter, extra virgin cocoa butter, organic jojoba oil, and extra virgin coconut oil you can expect this little guy is one to pack the punch when it comes to moisture - but I was sort of disappointed. Instead of feeling soft and silky, I felt like I needed to shower... Like I was covered in cooking oil. It was so upsetting because of how wonderful I smelled! I'm writing it off to body chemistry not mixing with this particular product.

   All in all, even though I'm a huge Vanillary fragrance fan, I'm giving Shark Infested Custard Bath Oil a 3/5. It just isn't my favorite luxury bath oil out of all the Oxford Street exclusives like I thought it would be... No matter my usual tricks to keep the tub relatively comfortable and clean, I was left with a bright yellow ring around the tub and felt far too oily. I'm sure it is just my preferences, and I still think it is a very cute design.

Handmade With Fresh Ingredients: Organic shea butter, Fair trade organic cocoa butter, Laureth 4, PEG-6 Caprylic / Capric Glycerides, & PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Perfume, Extra virgin coconut oil, Organic jojoba oil, Titanium dioxide, Fresh honeydew melon pulp, Rapeseed oil, Coconut oil, Glycerine, Sodium chloride, EDTA, Tetrasodium etidronate, Sodium hydroxide, Colour 19140:1, Colour 47005

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

xoxo Elle

Quinquireme of Nineveh

   Let's get right down to it, Quinquireme of Nineveh soap has several of my favorite ingredients that LUSH Cosmetics uses and I've never hit the Add To Cart button so fast in my life... This LUSH Kitchen exclusive fills the entire room with its dreamy aroma and brings about whispers of decades gone by.

"Precious cargo." 

   Firstly, let's define what the name means... Quinquireme is a large Greek, Roman, or Carthaginian ship used to wage wars and haul cargo between the first and fourth century B.C., and Nineveh is known as the capital city of ancient Assyria off the Tigris River... The poem Cargoes by John Masefield, about this vessel and its voyage, can be found by clicking HERE.

   This milky white bar of soap seems so simple and plain, but if you've used LUSH long enough you know that some of the best products aren't exactly as they seem on the outside... Through the wrapping, I honestly did not like the smell of this soap. So much so that it sat in my cabinet for almost three weeks! I finally ran out of the current slice I was using and decided to unwrap QoN, and when I did it was a burst of gorgeous fragrance that I couldn't believe I had been missing out on.

   Fair trade vanilla absolute and creamed coconut are the base notes for this soap -  think smooth, sweet, creamy, and borderline edible. Sweet orange oil adds into the mix, giving it the pinch of fruitiness it needs, and finalizes the heavenly scent that has filled my entire bathroom (but somehow it isn't overpowering whatsoever)... This scent stays on skin for a few hours and combines well with sharp citrus and/or sweetly fruity shower gels. If I were more of a fan of floral scents, I believe they would also pair quite well... Or, ya know, go crazy like I do from time to time by using Curly Wurly Shampoo during the same shower/bath...

   QoN has small bits of coconut throughout each bar that provide gentle but effective exfoliation. That exfoliation preps skin for the intense moisture given from the rapeseed and coconut oil, as well as the cleansing and soothing properties of the benzoin resinoid.

   I never get bitter about missing exclusive items, or when I only purchase one of something instead of multiples, Quinquireme of Nineveh Soap has become the only exception... *grumble grumble grumble*... I give this gorgeous product a 5/5, and hope I see it hit the LUSH Kitchen menu again - sooner than later - so I can stock up!

Handmade With Fresh Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Rapeseed oil and coconut oil, *Glycerine, Creamed coconut, Sorbitol, Sodium lauryl sulfate, Perfume, Sodium strearate, Titanium dioxide, Sweet orange oil, Fair trade vanilla absolute, Benzoin resinoid, Sodium chloride, EDTA, Tetrasodium etidronate, Sodium hydroxide, *Cinnamyl alcohol, *Limonene

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

xoxo Elle

Which Came First?

   There is an everlasting discussion that inspired this final LUSH Easter product review... Which Came First? Bath Bomb was previously released under the name Immaculate Eggception, and although the previous name was a bit more fitting (if you ask me) - it still packs a wonderful punch on all fronts and rules the LUSH Cosmetics displays with its extra large size.

"Eggs Benedict come-be-hatched!"

    Which Came First? is such a large bath bomb that it can easily be used for three baths... All I had to do was tap my bomb on the edge of my tub one good time and it broke in half rather easily. The yellow chick design inside can be popped out/cut out with a knife (please do not put yourself in harms way).

   When I picked up Which Came First? the vanilla absolute was the immediate fragrance that was noticeable, but as it lingered in the air, sharper citrus notes of grapefruit made themselves known... As the outer shell quickly dissolved in a flurry of bright pink, yellow, and blue, the inner yellow egg sunk to the bottom of the tub and took its time dissolving.
   As the yolk disappeared, the bath water began to look like something I should be dipping eggs into for Easter - SO PLEASING TO THE EYE! Once dissolved, my tub was full of brilliant pink-orange water... I noticed a small bead at the bottom of the tub and picked it up. At first I thought it was plastic, but it began slowly dissolving as I held it in my wet palm. It smelled strongly of citrus (almost tangerine, which makes sense for mixing lemon and grapefruit with vanilla), so I tossed it back in the water to finish dissolving. Did anyone else notice this little ball, or was it a happy accident?
   My skin wasn't left with much, if any, fragrance from the bath but this sweet combination is one I was okay with leaving in the tub... Not that it wasn't lovely, but I don't think it would compliment me much throughout the day like previous LUSH Easter scents. I was left a tad bit softer than before my bath though, and I always chalk that up as a plus!

   Once again, I need to make sure I get my hands on a few more of these before they're gone from the sites/shops... I give Which Came First? Bath Bomb a 4.5/5 for its gorgeous scent, multi-bath use, and absolutely gorgeous color display while fizzing about in the water. It is a product that embodies the decoration of Easter eggs!
   I hope you have a wonderful spring that is packed full of flowers, baths, and bike rides my darlings - and a Happy Easter to those that celebrate it.

Handmade With Fresh Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Perfume, Grapefruit Oil, Lemon Oil, Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute, Dipropylene Glycol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Gardenia Extract, Colour 45410, Colour 17200, Colour 14700, Colour 42090, Orange Pip

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

xoxo Elle