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

Yog Nog Soap

   Eggnog is the most popular holiday drink in North America... and I can't stand it!
   So you can imagine my surprise last LUSH Christmas season when I tried Yog Nog soap for the first time and absolutely fell in love with it... Like mixing your favorite seasonal pudding, spices, and fudge all into one scrumptious bar of soap!

"Creamy sudser with warm, festive spices."

   This beautifully festive and wonderfully creamy soap is perfect for any day of the holiday season... With a color similar to eggnog (a bit more yellow), a generous dusting of cocoa and nutmeg powder, and an imprinted design of ornaments, fir trees, and angels.
   At first Yog Nog smells of nutmeg and vanilla, but it is a far deeper scent than that... Clove bud oil mixes effortlessly with the ylang ylang oil, and leaves lingering notes of spice and sweetness on skin long after your shower or bath. Not to mention the scent of nutmeg and cocoa has filled my bathroom! It is definitely an all-day-long scent without being overpowering, but it is still recognizable.
   This soap is made with a 100% palm-free soap base, as well as soy yogurt, so it is friendly for many walks of life... As shown above, the lather is consistent and creamy, rather than bubbly, but will still leave your skin feeling extremely clean. The unmistakably soft texture and creamy lather of Yog Nog is derived from coconut and rapeseed oils; even my skin can handle using it to shave non-sensitive areas.

   This is my second year using Yog Nog soap, and I've already purchased a big chunk to last me until next year... I give it a 5/5, for performance and looks, and always suggest it to whoever shows interest in the LUSH Christmas range.
   Grab yourself a slice, or a whole chunk, before this seasonal goodie is gone!

Handmade With Fresh Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Glycerine, Rapeseed Oil; Coconut Oil (Brassica napus; Cocos nucifera), Sorbitol, Soya Yoghurt (Glycine soja), Fragrance, Clove Bud Oil (Eugenia caryophyllus), Ylang Ylang Oil (Cananga odorata), Gardenia Extract (Gardenia jasminoides), Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Chloride, EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Sodium Hydroxide, *Eugenol, *Linalool, Cocoa Powder (Theobroma cacao), Nutmeg Powder (Myristica Fragrans).

*This post 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

Bohemian Soap

   Bohemian soap bar is a classic LUSH Cosmetics product that is simple but quite effective. A beautiful and bright experience to spark some serious creativity... Not to mention this lovely slice looks exactly like a frozen lemonade treat!

"Inspiring lemon soap for creative minds and toned skin."

   Bohemian is palm-free, which makes it easier on our skin and the environment! This soap truly is as simple as it comes with LUSH products, but that is the beauty of it... Wonderfully bright lemon oil helps balance and tone skin, and is a natural astringent (cleans skin and tightens pores). I love using Bohemian on early mornings (mixing it with a bit of Slammer shower gel) because then my skin is left smelling heavenly for hours to come, and wakes me up with each whiff I get... It also goes well with green FUN! I cut a small chunk of both off and put them in a hand strainer, let the water run over them, and soon seriously citrusy bubbles have formed.
   Although this soap may seem drying, do not worry! As you can see within the slice shown below, coconut oil is the secondary ingredient in this product. This helps to nourish and soften the skin during and after use, and produces a thin but fantastic lather... Not to mention softening the sharpness of the lemon oil when it comes to the scent left on your skin.
   Note: The photo shown above of the lather does not do justice; the toning properties make the lather dry quickly on the skin (when not exposed to water)... This makes it hard to photograph. My apologies!

    For years, Bohemian soap bar has been a staple in my stash and I will forever give it a 5/5! I recommend it to everyone I know that likes any sort of citrus, has sensitivities, or just needs a nice pick-me-up.

Handmade With Fresh Ingredients: Rapeseed Oil (Brassica napus), Glycerine, Water (Aqua), Coconut Oil (Cocos nucifera), Sorbitol, Fragrance, Lemon Oil (Citrus limonum), Sodium Stearate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, *Citral, *Limonene, *Linalool.

*The body products I review are tested for a week+.

This post is in no way sponsored; all 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

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

ColourPop Lippie Stix

   By now, you all know I'm quite the lipstick junkie and usually stick to liquid to mattes... I stumbled across ColourPop while searching some Instagram tags, and since I was in need of some new lip products I headed to the site.
   ColourPop.com has a very clean design, and is extremely easy to navigate around. The site has a wide range of cosmetics from highlighters to lipsticks, all less than $10.00 USD. Not only that, but shipping is free over $30.00 (in the U.S.) and when you first make an account you'll receive a $5.00 off coupon via email!

   ColourPop's lipstick range consists of Ultra Matte Lips, Lippie Pencils, and Lippie Stix... For every Lippie Stix, there is a matching Lippie Pencil (you don't have to play a guessing game).
   Lippie Stix come in a variety of formulas, from sheer to matte, and a range of colors that suit all skin tones. With almost every ColourPop product they show swatches on light and dark skin (side by side)... Throw in the great descriptions and ingredients list, I'm in love with the website's set up.
   As you can see above, the Stix don't come in a traditional tube, but rather a convenient crayon style that makes application precise and easy... The formulas of the seven Stix I ordered consisted of five mattes, one satin, and one pearlized. I realized that the matte colors withstood day-to-day activities better than the other formulas, which is the usual with lipsticks. Also, darker colors are "thicker" in formula, but not necessarily harder to apply (maybe more creamy, if you will).
   The bottom left photo is after one hard swipe with a Simple makeup removing wipe, and the bottom right photo is after washing my forearm with antibacterial soap and cold water... The way certain colors "stained" and others easily removed was expected; these also act slightly as a lip stain (rubbed off product is much less noticeable). From my experience thus far, the Stix did not feather much at all - especially the mattes - and withstood much more than "traditional" lipstick would have.

 

•  Blood: Matte; A deep, burgundy red. Perfect color for colder days. Applies smoothly, and without much difficulty. Stained lips slightly and has good staying power, so reapplication very drawn out.
• Bichette: Matte; A red color with wine and plum, making it a classic blue undertone red. Perfect year round color. Applies like silk, so be careful of mishaps. Kisses the lips with some stain, and looks lovely.
• Flawless: Satin; A red undertone violet that even Beyonce herself would love. Perfect for colder weather or year round bold statement days. Glides on when applying, but I didn't notice any stain.
• LBB: Matte; A plum/wine toned pink-ish purple. Perfectly fine for year round. A bit more thick/creamy, but well worth the extra-steady application. Some staining if worn for long periods of time.
• Lumiere: Matte; A dusty mauve color that is my favorite in the whole bunch (believe it or not). Wonderful for year round wear. Applies like a gem, and although it doesn't stain it has great staying power.
• Westie: Matte; A perfectly dusty, baby pink. Lovely for any spring, summer, and even fall occasion that calls for a touch of softness. Application is effortless, with no noticeable staining, and a tiny bit less staying power.
• Wet: Pearlized; A cool mixture of taupe and gunmetal that I'm 100% into. Nice for cold weather, but also great in warmer months thanks to the taupe. Applies beautifully, has much more staying power than I imagined, and no noticeable staining.

   The Lippie Stix formulas all have a signature scent, much like M.A.C lipsticks! The scent is that of fresh baked white cake that has yet to be covered in frosting. It is uplifting, without any sort of sugary-sweet notes - I'm in love with it!

   ColourPop's customer service and shipping was awesome, for lack of a more eloquent word. My package arrived two days earlier than the tracking showed, and the box was very sturdy. The product packaging is wonderful... Representative of the clean yet stylish look of the website, well made, and also containing a list of ingredients for that particular product; with proper labels consisting of the cruelty free symbol, made in the U.S.A label, product type, product name, brand name, and company address.

   The ColourPop brand is now one of the two companies I automatically suggest to those looking for lip products that are worth every penny spent... I'm completely hooked, and can't wait to make my next order to try some eyeshadows, as well as the Ultra Matte Lip line... Head to ColourPop's Instagram (@ColourPopCosmetics) and check out the endless stream of swatches and brand announcements, and once you realize that this brand is for you (like I know you will), hop over to ColourPop.com to make your first purchase!

*These products were worn on multiple occasions for over a month.

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

xoxo Elle

Zero UV

   I recently found myself wanting to play around with different styles of sunglasses, so I started searching around Instagram for beloved brands and stumbled upon ZeroUV.com... As someone who hasn't owned more than one or two pairs of sunnies at a time, do to finances or just not caring for most styles, Zero UV was a completely wonderful site to explore.
   All three sunnies were under $15.00 USD, shipped via USPS, arrived two days earlier than expected, and were individually packaged within the box they arrived in! Not to mention the neon yellow sunglasses bag and adorable business card also included in the box... Between all of those factors, and the wonderful customer service I've experienced with the company, I was very excited to shoot a bit with AJay for this post.
   9627 (Unique Retro Round Crystal Kaleidoscope Lens Sunglasses): The second I put these on I felt like I was back in the late 90s! Perfect kaleidoscope vision in every color imaginable, with decent sight range... These sunnies arrived completely intact, and the only flaw was a small scratch on one of the lenses. It wasn't a big deal to me though, because you can't tell unless you're ALL UP IN my face and it doesn't alter/affect vision.
   8410 (Designer Inspired Round Fashion Sunglasses w/ Baroque Swirl Arms): If you want something stylish and classy, I definitely recommend these sunnies... They arrived just peachy, but when you close the sides to set them down they sit crooked. I'm almost positive this isn't a fault though, because they don't sit crooked on my face... These are the sunglasses that stay in my purse at least 4/7 days of the week (because I'm still a diehard cat eye fan).
   9318 (Women's Oversize Round Cross My Heart Hope To Die Sunglasses): This was my favorite saying when making a promise to friends when I was little, so of course I needed these sunnies! They arrived in perfect condition, and are now one of my favorite accessories to wear.

   Zero UV has an amazing range of vintage to futuristic inspired glasses (including non shaded and themed), and I'm definitely hooked! The products are affordable, unique, and versatile. I cannot wait to put in my next order... Check out ZeroUV.com and also find this amazing brand on Instagram/Twitter (@ZeroUV)

 Top: Target

Leggings: Black Milk Clothing

Necklace: BaubleBar

Lipstick: Colour Pop

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

xoxo Elle

lashSENSATIONAL by Maybelline

   As someone whose eyelashes fall out ridiculously easy, I'm very picky when it comes to eye makeup... I was going through my YouTube feed and noticed a few weeks back that +Fleur DeForce had mentioned this product, so I headed to Walgreen's and picked up the lashSENSATIONAL mascara by Maybelline.
   It has been a while since I've trusted a drug store mascara, but I gave it a go... And I'm happy to say, it surpassed expectations!

   When I'm hunting for any makeup that goes on my eyelashes, I want the following:

• Curls (or at least helps keep the curl from my eyelash curler)
• Some extra volume is a plus
• Dries quickly (doesn't stay wet/sticky)
• No eye irritation
• Comes off without pulling eyelashes out

   My eyelashes are long, but grow straight out; eyelash curlers are a must. lashSENSATIONAL does a good job at holding a curl with one-two coats (depending on how thick your lashes are), and dries within 30 seconds... I always choose the blackest formula, and for this mascara it is 00 Blackest Black. I really enjoy the way the formula coats every lash without tugging on them, but it is a bit (almost) sticky while being applied. When my hands shake and it inevitably gets on my eyelids, I wait for it to dry before attempting to remove it; less messy that way... The wand has short, harder bristles in the inner scoop of the brush for adding volume and making sure the root of the lash is completely coated. The outer scoop has longer, more flexible bristles to help add length and separate lashes. I enjoy the versatility in this wand, because it gives options for different looks without having to use multiple products!
   This mascara does not add too much length to my already long eyelashes, and the amount of volume it adds to my lashes make them look like they are healthy and full. I would imagine on someone with regular, healthy lashes it will add some nice volume... I, of course, have gotten this mascara in my eyes in the past, and it did not burn. Of course, you should always wash out your eyes after something like this happens! When I wash off lashSENSATIONAL with micellar water, makeup wipes, or even just water in the shower (VERY GENTLY stroking my lashes) the formula becomes like a gel, easily and gently coming off.
   Even though I like my lashes to look like I'm wearing falsies, I really love this mascara! lashSENSATIONAL mascara makes me feel like I have healthy, beautiful eyelashes and someone who doesn't suffer from hair loss like I do will probably love the extra umf that it gives to their lashes as well... I rate is a 4.5/5, only because I wish mascara would make my eyelashes look fake, and definitely intend on purchasing more!

Ingredients: Water, Propylene Glycol, Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Polyurethane-35, Cera Alba/Beeswax/Cire Dabeille, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-200 Glyceryl Stearate, Ethylenediamine/Stearyl Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer, Copernicia Cerifera Cera/Carnauba Wax/Cire de Carnauba, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Ethylene/Va Copolymer, Alcohol Denat., Paraffin, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Disodium EDTA, Tetrasodium EDTA, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Silica. May Contain: CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499/Iron Oxides, CI 77007/Ultramarines, CI 77891/Titanium Dioxide, MICA, CI 75470/Carmine, CI 77288/Chromium Oxide Greens, CI 77742/Manganese Violet, CI 77510/Ferric Ferrocyanide]

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

xoxo Elle