Unicorn Horn

   I'm a firm believer that, no matter our gender, we should all indulge in a fairytale once in a while... Some of us seek out Disney films for these stories, some of us look to anime for those adventures, and some of us go to LUSH Cosmetics around Valentine's Day!
   Why? Because once again Unicorn Horn Bubble Bar has reared its magnificent pastel swirls up in hopes of making us believe in a bit of magic during the month of love.

"They're real!"

   Unicorn Horn is an adorable product shaped as, well, a unicorn's horn! With pastel blue, pink, and yellow swirled together with silver lustre to help give this bubble bar some magic... Where does the rest come from? Its uplifting floral scent! I was very skeptical of this product last year and avoided it altogether because of my sensitivities to floral smells, but I took the plunge this year and snagged one with one of my LUSH Kitchen orders when it hit the UK site. I was surprised, to say the least, that my head didn't feel a single twinge when around or when using this bubble bar (especially since lavender is basically my mortal migraine enemy)... I noticed notes of neroli oil a lot more than I anticipated, and not as much ylang ylang as I had hoped for. The scent didn't evolve at all once in the water, which I always find disappointing, but it actually seemed to disappear completely after a few minutes.
   For the consistency of this product, it was shocking (in a good way) to see it produce classic LUSH bubbles; big, soft, and a little noisy. Not so many that I felt claustrophobic, but not so little that they were gone within ten minutes... I will say I was immensely sad that my tub water didn't change color whatsoever, even with using the entire cone. I'm a big fan of the more "plain" products that are meant to wow your mind/body with physical results, rather than putting on a show while they dissolve, but if you hand me a cone of lustre and pastels (with big media hype) I would expect a bit more color in my bath.
   It didn't do much at all for my skin or mood, other than leave some lustre here and there... And even with the amount of lustre in this product, there wasn't much left as residue in the tub afterwards. Which is always a plus in my book.

    Maybe it was my particular Unicorn Horn Bubble Bar that seemed more like a dud, but to me this is just a cutesy purchase to take some selfies with. I give it a 2/5, and probably won't repurchase if it returns next LUSH Valentine's... If you had a different experience with this bubble bar, let me know in the comments section!

Handmade With Fresh Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Cornflour, Perfume, Lavender Oil, Ylang Ylang Oil, Neroli Oil, Citral, Limonene, Linalool, Snowflake Lustre, Silver Glimmer Lustre, Maize Starch, Colour 45430, Colour 42090, Colour 47005, Colour 19140, Colour 45350

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

xoxo Elle

Blackberry

   Let this bath bomb bring you back down to earth...
   Blackberry bath bomb is one of the first bath bombs that LUSH Cosmetics invented, back in 1989 in Mo Constantine's garden shed laboratory... Earthy and uplifting, Blackberry is one of LUSH's ultimate crowd pleasers.

"A purple, fruity fizzer for a burst of cheeriness."

   To be honest, I have no idea why I never tried this bath bomb before a few months ago. I've been venturing on my lushie journey since 2010, and I've definitely been missing out...
   The scent of Blackberry is beautifully earthy and sweet thanks to frankincense (also known as olibanum), which brings rich woody notes, and the refreshing citrus of bergamot. The lovely scent lingered on my skin well into my day, creating tons of compliments given to me... As the bath water becomes an inviting shade of indigo, look out for the booming surprise inside!
   Something that was a bit interesting, not particularly positive, to me was that once this bomb was completely dissolved there was visible oil on the surface (shown below). This created an instant ring around my bathtub that was very similar to that of the bath oils - but luckily there were no stains left behind, and cleaning up the ring just took a bit of rubbing with a wet washcloth... With that being said, Blackberry left my skin feeling very soft, and I could have easily shaved my legs while in the tub thanks to the gentle oils on my skin.

   I feel quite silly for waiting so long to try Blackberry bath bomb, and it is now a regular in my stash! I give this fizzer a 3.5/5, because even though the oil creates cleanup, I love the scent and softness it provides... Head to your local shop or LUSH online to grab yourself one of these bombs today!

Handmade With Fresh Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Fragrance, Bergamot Oil (Citrus Aurantium bergamia), Frankincense Oil (Boswelia carterii), *Limonene , Hexyl Cinnamal, Lilial, Red 33, Green 3.

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

xoxo Elle

Lover Lamp

   Have the hots for anyone this Valentine's Day? Whether the answer is yes, or no, you can fall head-over-heels for Lover Lamp bath bomb without any heartache!
   (Well, unless you get quite emotional when you've run out of this lovely fizzer.)
   Before even using this bath bomb, the scent alone was enough to instantly have me order several more to stash throughout the year... Let's see if Lover Lamp is the one for you!

"Heart-crossed lovers."

   When Lover Lamp bath bomb arrived along with some other LUSH UK goodies, I was so excited to see how much it smelled like a chocolate orange (because who doesn't enjoy those delicious holiday treats)... I picked up this cute, creamy white bath bomb to notice it was a bit dusty but the decorative hearts were fully intact, peaking out from the surface.
   Immediately I could smell the very soft and true scent of fair trade vanilla absolute, and right after that the hints of Brazilian orange oil peaked through... From the scent, even not knowing the ingredients, it was easy to tell this bomb had cocoa butter (fair trade organic) somewhere in it (the adorable hearts).

   This is a very quick fizzer, but that never deters me if it is a genuinely good product... The water turns so creamy you would think there was powdered milk in the bomb! I'm a huge fan of this aesthetic and  the way it makes my skin feel... The large butter hearts release and melt very slowly, revealing gold glimmer lustre within them (not so much that this bath was sparkly). Once a few layers had dissolved, more hearts were released from the bomb - except these were extra tiny and extra adorable... The scent of vanilla mixed with the now melting cocoa butter hearts to create a milk chocolate note that enhanced the orange oil to perfectly create the scent of the chocolate orange treats that are so enjoyed during the Christmas season.

   Lover Lamp left my skin feeling wonderfully soft and beautifully, but gently, scented of vanilla... This was a nice bath for calming down (especially for those of us who have a hard time with lavender or mint)... Although this fizzer stood perfectly well on its own, I can easily see it paired with a numerous amount of products; especially lotions to bring out the Brazilian orange oil!

   I give Lover Lamp bath bomb a 4.5/5 and cannot wait until the extras that I ordered arrive! Whether you're sharing this bath with a loved one, or loving on yourself, this LUSH Valentine's exclusive is definitely one to give a try - before they're all gone.
   (Side note: I did not have any bath residue, but I can see the melted cocoa butter hearts sticking to the side of the tub if your bath water isn't hot enough.)

Handmade With Fresh Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Titanium Dioxide, Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute, Brazilian Orange Oil, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Castor Oil, Polyglyceryl-­3­ Stearate, Red Edible Hearts, Limonene, Perfume, Gold Glimmer Lustre, Colour 14700

*This post 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

Yoga Bomb

   Take it slow.
   Don't you love when something that seems so simple surprises you? Well, that is exactly what Yoga Bomb bath bomb embodies... Not only is there a beautiful surprise below it's bright orange exterior, but this bath bomb's scent is quite unexpected as well!

"Take a journey of the self as reassuringly soothing sandalwood oil creates a sanctuary of calm in your bath."

   My first impression of Yoga Bomb was that it's scent was unique. Slightly sweet but still clean while in solid form, I'm sure due to the sandalwood which usually brings soothing notes and sweetness to a product... When fully dissolved, this bomb leaves behind water that is a beautifully saturated amber color with lustre floating about. The scent changes to gently sweet and fruity notes - ho wood oil adding relaxing floral notes and cassie absolute is comfortingly sweet.
   Fizzing slow, and creating a soft white noise sound, Yoga Bomb lives up to it's stress-free hype... There was a bit of disappointment for me with the colors of my particular bomb though! As shown above, and in other reviews/demos, this product releases a surprise of green, blue, and purple that fan into the water. My bomb seemed to barely have any of this surprise inside it, to the point it didn't fan out in the slightest.
   When I turned on the tub's jets, shockingly, a good amount of creamy bubbles formed; I was sort of baffled. I did use some FUN the day before, but made sure to thoroughly clean the tub after... I contacted the LUSH Cosmetics' costumer service Twitter, and was informed that the cream of tartar was the culprit! Which is now completely obvious, since something similar has happened to me in the past.

   The lustre didn't stick to my skin nearly as much as it usually does, even with the amount released from this bath bomb... And although there was no residue left around the tub, when the water fully drained there was a ton of lustre stuck to the bottom of the tub. All it took was a bit of water washed over it to go down the drain, but keep that in mind when purchasing.

   Even with the color output not being as prominent as what I've seen in other reviews, I still give Yoga Bomb bath bomb a 4/5! It truly is a lovely and relaxing slow fizzer, and I've already got plans to order more now that they're available outside of LUSH Oxford Street.

Handmade With Fresh Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Perfume, Cream of Tartar, Cassie Absolute, Olibanum Oil, Ho Wood Oil, Sandalwood Oil, Water (Aqua), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Benzyl Benzoate, Eugenol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Snowflake Lustre, Frosty Holly Lustre, Gold Glimmer Lustre, Colour 45410, Colour 42090, Colour 15985.

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

xoxo Elle

Emperor of Ice Cream

   Buttercream, one of the most decadent types of frosting... So the LUSH Kitchen decided to whip some up! Of course, I'm talking about the recent Emperor of Ice Cream buttercream... A creamy soap in a see-through tub, this product's formula was brand new to me and I was so excited to give it a try.

"Scented with a vanilla pod infusion and delicately balanced with floral fragrance of jasmine and rose absolutes. This is a rich, creamy, no-expense-spared buttercream."

   When it came to consistency, I had no idea what to expect... I would say my conclusion is that if a regular bar of soap and D'Fluff shaving soap had a baby (consistency wise), that would be what LUSH's formula for buttercream is like... I love the slightly whipped feeling of this product. Coconut oil, cocoa butter, Shea butter, and macadamia nut oil leave EoIC packing quite the moisturizing punch, while still leaving your skin feeling very clean.
   This beautifully formulated soap seems quite pasty when you scoop it out of the tub, but the second it becomes wet it softens into the whipped consistency I mentioned previously. It is easy to over-scoop this product, but luckily with potted products you can just put a bit back... Once the small chunks soften, the lather this product gives is rich, creamy, and definitely proves the "no expense paid" aspect.
   I knew it would be floral, with notes of sweetness thanks to the vanilla pod infusion, but this scent wasn't what I expected... I'm very sensitive to floral scents. If something smells powdery (such as rose), or too many floral notes are combined, it tends to give me a headache... EoIC has notes of jasmine absolute, rose absolute, and lavender oil. All very strong on their own, and when combined? It was just too much for my liking. I love strolling through flower gardens in the warmer months, but I couldn't do it all day long - this scent linger, noticeably, for several hours.

   All in all I'm 100% in love with the buttercream formula, but Emperor of Ice Cream's scent is just not for me, so I'm giving it a 3.5/5. Luckily, my mother adores the product as a whole, so I was happy to gift the practically full tub to her... If you enjoy strong floral scents or the more bitter side of vanilla, this product is definitely for you!

Handmade With Fresh Ingredients: Fair Trade Vanilla Pod Infusion (Vanilla planifolia, Glycerine, Rapeseed Oil; Coconut Oil (Brassica napus; Cocos nucifera), Orange Blossom Honey (Citrus Aurantium dulcis), Cocoa Butter (Theobroma cacao), Perfume, Water (Aqua), Fair Trade Shea Butter (Butyrospermum parkii), Mango Butter (Mangifera indica), Organic Macadamia Nut Oil (Macadamia ternifolia), Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (Cocos nucifera), Jasmine Absolute (Jasminum grandiflorum), Rose Absolute (Rosa damascena), Ylang Ylang Oil (Cananga odorata), Lavender Oil (Lavandula angustifolia), Sodium Chloride, EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Sodium Hydroxide, *Linalool.

*All body products I review are used for a week+.

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

xoxo Elle

Yummy Yummy Yummy

   Mmm, mmm, mmm! Yummy Yummy Yummy shower gel was recently in the LUSH Kitchen and I was told I just haddd to pick one up... So, I did!
   I'm in love with all things American Cream, and was told this was the strawberry equivalent - I find that it doesn't remind me of American Cream, but rather more spot on with the ever so wonderful D'Fluff shaving soap.

"A scrummy strawberry scented shower gel... Like a frothy pink milkshake to refresh and hydrate your skin."

   Even though Yummy didn't have the scent I expected, I still really enjoy it. The beautiful, fresh strawberry with notes of geranium, passionflower, and almond oil make you feel like you've been transported to a beautiful little garden... This orange-y pink shower gel is a very heavy scent inside the bottle, but once washed over skin? Far more delicate, and lingers for a few hours.
   Since I research Kitchen products a bit before purchasing, I was aware that this shower gel would be thin in consistency; be prepared, because it is borderline watery... The lather of this product matches it's consistency, thus it is rather thin and frothy. Also, Yummy does a great job of leaving your skin feeling wonderfully clean and nourished without any hint of residue!
   It arrived separated, as shown in the photo below (middle). At first I thought it was due to the temperatures in my state, but I've come to realize that it just separates on its own after each use. One or two little tips of the bottle mixes this gel back up, and it's ready for use.

   I give Yummy Yummy Yummy shower gel a 3/5, simply because I'm into more thick shower gels and the scent wasn't what I expected it to be... With that being said, it is still a lovely product that I definitely recommend to lover's of flower gardens and springtime! Don't forget to check out the LUSH Kitchen Instagram (@LUSHKitchen) each Sunday for the following week's menu.

Handmade With Fresh Ingredients: Fresh strawberries infused (Fragaria vesca), Sodium alkyl sulfate, Honey water (Aqua), Almond oil (Prunus dulcis), Sodium laureth sulfate, Perfume, Glyceryl stearate, Cocamide MEA, Propylene glycol, Glycol cetearate, Fine sea salt, Lauryl betaine, Olibanum oil (Boswellia carterii), Bergmot oil (Citrus aurantium bergamia), Geranium oil (Pelargonium graveolens), Passionflower seed oil (Passiflora edulis), Water (Aqua), Balsamic vinegar, *Limonene, *Linalool, Benzyl alcohol, Colour 14700, Methylparaben, Propylparaben

*All body products that I review have been used for a week+.

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

Lemon Days & Ginger Beer

   If you want a product that screams summertime, Lemon Days & Ginger Beer bath bomb is for you! Fresh from the LUSH Kitchen, this bath bomb is easily one of the most effervescent products ever made by LUSH... The seasons may be changing, but this bath will keep the sun shining bright for months to.

   I have never experienced a LUSH product that so perfectly matches it's ingredient list... The scent of Lemon Days is vibrant with the complex fragrance of ginger beer, thanks to ginger oil and powdered ginger, with gentle notes of lemonade from the lemon peel and mimosa absolute - bubbly, for sure! This bath bomb is a dusty yellow color in solid form, but once it sinks to the bottom of the tub and dissolves it leaves your bath water a summery, saturated yellow with hints of glitter (much less than the average LUSH bath bomb).

   In comparison to ginger ale, ginger beer is a bit more robust in its flavor with some spicy notes... Mainly known for being a soft drink that plays a leading role in a Moscow Mule, it originated as an alcoholic beverage (fermented ginger, sugar, water, and cultures) in England in the mid 1700s... I'm not sure if you can get actual ginger beer (alcoholic) in this day and age unless you make it yourself.
   The scent that lingered on my skin was slightly floral - I believe from the geranium, bergamot, and sandalwood. What was left on my skin was gentle, with whiffs catching my attention a handful of times throughout the day... This quick fizzer is a mood uplifter, giving a more emotional response, rather than being a "wake up" product... Not to mention that there is little to no clean up after Lemon Days does it's job; fizzing away any blues!

   I adore Lemon Days & Ginger Beer bath bomb, and give it a 4/5! If you need to brighten your mood while relaxing, or in need of a simplistic bath, this product is for you... Although, this bath bomb would be killer in a cocktail! Make sure to keep your eye on the menus from the LUSH Kitchen. You won't want to miss out on the next time this wonderful product is available.

Handmade With Fresh Ingredients: Sodium bicarbonate, Citric acid, Lemon peel (Citrus limonum), Powdered ginger (Zingiber officinalis), Perfume, Ginger oil (Zingiber officinale), Mimosa absolute (Acacia decurrens), Mandarin oil (Citrus  reticulata), Sandalwood oil (Santalum austro-caledonicum vieill), Geranium oil (Pelagronium graveolens), Bergamot oil (Citrus aurantium bergamia), Gardenia extract (Gardenia jasminoides), *Citral, *Limonene, *Linalool, Coumarin, Hydroxycitronellal, Colour 19140.

*This post is in no way sponsored; All opinions are my own.*

xoxo Elle