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

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

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

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

LOVE soap; #GayisOK

   In 76 countries it is illegal to be part of the LGBTQIA identity, so LUSH Cosmetics recently ran a campaign fueled by love, and the hashtag #GayisOK... Launched the day before marriage equality spread throughout the US, it seems LUSH creators magically knew the day was coming.
   This limited edition soap is fittingly titled LOVE soap, and scented like the FizzBanger bath bomb! (Which came as a surprise to many, it seems.) A scent that lights up a room, but I'm sure the mass amount of sparkles in this product help it shine as well.

"Snap a selfie with your LOVE soap and let the world know that #GayisOK!"

   When I woke up the morning of the release, I found the USA site was already sold out! (Restocked the next day, go figure!) I ordered my bar from the UK site, so mine arrived a bit later than usual... This product is SO much more than I was expecting, and I'm hoping to grab another bar before they're completely sold out.

   As expected, after washing up with this soap I was left shimmering! LOVE soap not only has gold dusting on the top (which can be easily washed off), but also throughout the product... Not only that, but I was blown away at how moisturizing this bar wound up being, and how fragrant my skin was left after rinsing off.
   If Fizzbanger is a frequent in your LUSH stash like it is in mine, you are no stranger to the beautiful notes of cinnamon leaf oil... But the moment I opened the package, I was hit with a burst of scent that is three times stronger than the bath bomb (in a good way)! The ylang ylang oil and oak moss extract compliment the cinnamon leaf oil beautifully, and you're left with an uplifting and almost zesty fragrance that lasts.
   The bar itself is silky and creamy to the touch, with a coconut oil base, so I'm not sure why I was SO surprised at how soft my skin felt afterwards. Not only was I left feeling like a goddess, thanks to the sparkling silky skin, but also completely clean! Which, if you know "fancy soaps" well enough, you also know that sometimes you aren't left feeling very clean at all (or like there is a dragging effect on your skin).
   I'm giving LOVE soap a 4.5/5! The scent is gorgeous, and so is the working power of the product; mixed with the other items in my lushie stash, it is a bit much for me on my migraine prone days... I'm thoroughly impressed with this wonderful product, and commend LUSH Cosmetics for this recent campaign. Head to the LUSH USA site to snag what is left of this limited edition soap!

Handmade With Fresh Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Glycerine, Rapeseed Oil (Brassica napus), Coconut Oil (Cocos nucifera), Sorbitol, Fragrance, Cinnamon Leaf Oil (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), Petitgrain Absolute (Citrus Aurantium amara), Ylang Ylang Oil (Cananga odorata), Oak Moss Extract (Evernia Prunastri), Mica, Sodium Chloride, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Sodium Hydroxide, EDTA, Tetrasodium Editronate, Silica, Tin Oxide, *Citral, *Cinnamal, Coumarin, *Geraniol, *Limonene, *Linalool

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

xoxo Elle

Yuzu & Cocoa Shower Cream

    Like your favorite sweet treat, but ten times better! Yuzu & Cocoa shower cream takes everything you love about Yuzu & Cocoa bubbleroon and amplifies it. The perfect mix of earthy and sweet, with cocoa, bergamot, grapefruit, and yuzu...
   After reading reactions of Lushies, and my own personal liking, LUSH Oxford Street has a winner with this product.

"Yes it smells like chocolate oranges. No, you can't eat it. Cocoa and tonka absolutes meld with grapefruit and bergamot oils to effectively brighten your mood."

   Yuzu & Cocoa's scent comes from an array of ingredients that shine bright on their own, and when combined, create a complex loveliness that is nothing short of unique... To start off, the fresh yuzu juice that makes this shower cream linger on the skin. Yuzu is a citrus fruit/plant that originated in east Asia, and is believed to be a hybrid of sour mandarin and lchang papeda (another type of citrus fruit native to parts of China). This wonderful ingredient, along with the bergamot and grapefruit oil, leave Yuzu & Cocoa with a bouquet of beautifully sharp citrus notes.
   From there, we have cocoa absolute and fair trade organic cocoa butter, giving this shower cream it's forefront notes of chocolate... Literally, everyone that gets a wiff of this product says that they want to eat it, just like the label says. The chocolate scent is better than any frosting covered treat you'll ever have... Throw in some tonka absolute to the mix and all these ingredients combined give this shower cream a nice earthy undertone.
   When it comes to the working ability of Yuzu & Cocoa, it surpassed my expectations... The lather was rich, creamy, and yellow and I was left with silky, non-stained skin! Now, I don't advise people to use "regular soaps" for daily shaving, but I still test them out for those of us who get busy and need to be as speedy as we can in the shower. When I tested Yuzu & Cocoa out on my legs, it didn't leave any redness and my skin did feel nice after... I will say, if you don't like soaps that leave you smelling like their fragrance, then you might want to stay clear of this one! The scent lingered on my skin for several hours after my shower, although the longevity will vary due to body chemistry.
   As my final review for my Oxford Street soap week, I wanted to save Yuzu & Cocoa shower cream for last... Rating it a 5/5, and yet again wishing I purchased a larger bottle. This gorgeously complex product is one I highly recommend, look forward to purchasing more of, and am excited to see more reviews on.

Handmade With Fresh Ingrediants: Water (Aqua), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Yuzu Infusion (Citrus junos), Glycerine, Stearic Acid, Fresh Yuzu Juice (Citrus junos), Lauryl Betaine, Perfume, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter (Theobroma cacao), Lactic Acid, Cocoa Absolute (Theobroma cacao), Tonka Absolute (Dipteryx odorata), Grapefruit Oil (Citrus paradisi), Bergamot Oil (Citrus Aurantium bergamia), Titanium Dioxide, *Citral, *Coumarin, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 19140, Methylparaben, Propylparaben

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

xoxo Elle

Apandapand Soap Bar

  Cleansing? Definitely. Juicy? You bet. Toning? Oh yeah... LUSH Oxford Street's exclusive Apandapand soap is a revisited classic of A Pound A Pound soap that gives you the whole fruit, no doubt!

   When LUSH says they put the entire fruit into a products, they mean it! You can find tons of "the making of" videos on LUSH YouTube channels that prove you're not missing one bit of an ingredient in a product... And Apandapand is citrusy proof.

"Roll up, roll up. It's easy peasy lemon squeezy to clean up your act with this citrusy grapefruit soap. Lather up and take a stroll through a bustling morning market, sharp with the scent of fresh fruit."

   When I purchased Apandapand, I wasn't sure exactly how it would look. I was hoping for some sort of pink, like many grapefruit products, and I was far from disappointed! When I unwrapped the soap to find a beautiful, creamy, pink bar, I was ecstatic.

   It's scent was delicate inside the wrapping, but once out it was heavy and sharp. Even sitting on my shower cabby, it filled my bathroom with it's fragrance.. Fresh grapefruit juice, grapefruit oil, and Sicilian lemon oil leave this soap packing quite a punch! Even with all the cleansing and toning power of Apandapand's citrus, it leaves your skin hydrated thanks to the coconut oil... Once you've lathered up with this pretty, pink soap you'll notice it definitely gets you squeaky clean without that dragging feeling on your skin. The lather, while extremely creamy, is a more unpleasant color (not that I expected vibrancy) that showed Apandapand was getting rid of any gunk on my body.
   As usual, I tested this soap out for shaving. Apandapand did a decent job but I wouldn't recommend shaving with this soap if you have sensitive skin in any way... Also, when cutting it into halves, it was a total breeze! My knife I use only for cutting my LUSH products went through the bar smoother than any other soap in the past.

   Although this soap doesn't beat out my regular grapefruit favorite, Happy Hippy shower gel, I'm still glad I snagged a bar. I give Apandapand soap a 3/5, and if it ever comes to US stores I'll consider purchasing another slice.

Handmade With Fresh Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Glycerine, Rapeseed Oil; Coconut Oil (Brassica napus; Cocos nucifera), Sorbitol, Fresh Grapefruit Juice (Citrus paradisi), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Stearate, Grapefruit Oil (Citrus paradisi), Sicilian Lemon Oil (Citrus limonum), Litsea Cubeba Oil, Sodium Chloride, Titanium Dioxide, Gardenia Extract (Gardenia jasminoides), EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Perfume, *Citral, *Limonene, Colour 45350, Colour 14700, Colour 17200, Colour 45410

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

xoxo Elle

Lord of Misrule Shower Cream

   If mischief is your middle name, make sure you listen up! Spicy and sweet, with silver lustre... Lord of Misrule shower cream is sure to bring out the very best baddest in you.
   Lord of Misrule was an LUSH Oxford Street exclusive that I literally jumped out of my seat for when reading through the list of over 200 products that would only be sold (for now) at Oxford Street location... I got several of the LoM bath bombs last autumn, and its scent and lovely design in the water captured my heart within one use! When I realized I missed the LoM shower cream while it was in the Kitchen, I was completely bummed out... But when I read it would be a regular item at Oxford Street, I just had to get my hands on the shower cream version of my favorite bath bomb.

"Get down and earthy with this mischievous herbal blend. Add a little spice to your shower with black pepper and patchouli oils, and a dash of Fair Trade vanilla absolute to keep it sweet."

   My first impression of the Lord of Misrule shower cream was that is had far more silver lustre than I anticipated, which excited me, and that it was a pretty thin consistency... Inside the bottle and on the skin, LoM's scent is a beautiful arrangement of vanilla and patchouli, with dashes of black pepper here and there. The sweetness of the vanilla absolute is much stronger than that of the bath bomb, and on that same note, the bath bomb is more peppery than the shower cream... And as far as the sexy spiciness from the patchouli, in my experience, it is even within the soap and the bomb.
   There is Snowflake Lustre within this product, and it leaves a wonderfully light shimmer all over your body once you've finished your shower or bath... Looking at the bottle, Lord of Misrule reminds me of spells being cast into the air, glimmering all the while!
   As I stated above, the consistency of LoM is much thinner than I expected, and I don't recommend it for any sort of regular shaving... But that didn't sway me either way. I love how smoothly it applies to the skin, and the rich color makes me feel like its the witching hour all over again... But, I will say this; Pale people be cautious! I have bleached parts of my skin, technically its scarring, from some bad flare ups of my autoimmune condition. My regular skin pigment is more golden tan... I noticed that the bleached out scarring did stay a bit green after rinsing off. It only lasted for about half an hour or so before disappearing, but that is still something to keep an eye on.
   I rate Lord of Misrule shower cream with a 5/5, even with the minor tinting of my skin... I cannot wait to get my hands on a larger bottle of this gorgeous shower cream, and I recommend you give it a try as well... Now, go out and get into a little mischief.

Handmade With Fresh Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Patchouli and Peppercorn Infusion (Pogostemon cablin; Piper nigrum), Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Glycerine, Stearic Acid, Lauryl Betaine, Perfume, Lactic Acid, Organic Wheatgerm Oil (Triticurn vulgare), Black Pepper Oil (Piper nigrum), Patchouli Oil (Pogostemon cablin), Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute (Vanilla planifolia), Titanium Dioxide, *Limonene, *Linalool, Snowflake Lustre (Potassium Aluminium Silicate, Titanium Dioxide), Colour 42090, Colour 47005, Methylparaben, Propylparab

*All body products I review are ones that I have used a week+.*

xoxo Elle

Beautiful Shower Gel

    Wake up in the morning and adorn yourself in the rich, creamy lather of Beautiful shower gel, one of LUSH Oxford Street's exclusive new soaps... This shimmering, sunny shower gel has a sensual musk to it that is truly like no other, but heavily influenced by 1000 Kisses' scent.
   I was lucky enough to have a friend visiting London recently and was able to get some Oxford Street items shipped to me here in the States... I've been so excited to try out these products for myself, and for you all, and starting out with Beautiful leads me to believe I won't be disappointed in these new products; not one bit.

"You've got to get up every morning with a smile on your face. With a little helping hand from this shower gel."

   My first impression of this product was that it had way more glitter than I expected, its scent notes were deeper than I was prepared for, and the feeling of frustration because I didn't purchase a larger bottle...
   The glitter leaves you with a light dusting, rather than looking like you just crafted for several hours. Also, a lot of the glitter in my particular bottle had settled at the bottom, which may bother some but I was glad... I like luster, but I'm not much on glitter while off stage.
   Beautiful's scent is that of delicious apricots while in the bottle, but once you've lathered up and rinsed it off you are left with a lovely peach fragrance... Both in the bottle and on the skin, you'll notice a sexy yet musky note of myrrh that gives this shower gel a memorable scent.
   I was quite surprised at how luxurious and softening the lather from this soap was. It glides over the skin like silk, leaving hints of glitter along the way; although the lather has a slight yellow-ish tint to it, by no means has it ever stained my skin... I don't recommend using shower gels for shaving, and that goes for this one, even with the level of creaminess it produces in it's lather.
   Beautiful shower gel is even more wonderful than I could describe, and the 1000 peachy kisses left on my skin after using this product definitely turn around any dull mood in the morning... I give this shower gel a 5/5, and cannot wait to get my hands on a larger bottle!

Handmade With Fresh Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Glycerine, Lauryl Betaine, Fresh Peach Juice (Prunus persica), Perfume, Lactic Acid, Labdanum Resinoid (Cistus labdaniferus), Osmathus Absolute (Osmanthus fragrans), Myrrh Resinoid (Commiphora myrrha), Gardenia Extract (Gardenia jasminoides), Carrageenan Extract (Chondrus crispus), Dried Apricots (Prunus armeniaca), Myrrh Gum Powder (Commiphora myrrha), Lilial, Coumarin, *Limonene, *Linalool, Gold Glimmer Lustre (Synthetic Flourphogopite, Iron Oxides, Silica), Colour 19140, Methylparaben, Propylparaben

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

xoxo Elle

Sandstone Soap

   Sand under your feet, sunshine beaming down, sunscreen on your skin, and a cold drink in your hand... Now if only we had a way to get a bit of these feelings during our day-to-day lives... Well, we sort of do, thanks to LUSH's Sandstone soap!
   How can I compare a beach day to a bar of soap? Its because this particular vegan soap is packed full of ingredients that send your mind straight to the shoreline... At least, that was my first impression when lathering up with this beautiful bar.
   Inspired by the beach-going babes of Brazil that combine sand with their tanning oil for silky smooth skin, this soap has a good amount of sand throughout it to scrub blemishes, dry skin, pealing skin, or to just get your blood circulating! I recently forgot to reapply sunscreen while tanning, and of course I drifted off... For the first time in ages, I was left with a bit of sunburn. I tested a patch on my stomach with sandstone, and it didn't seem to hurt much (of course I do not recommend using scrubby-things on actual, serious sunburn)... I used Sandstone every other day, and continued after I peeled a bit. I was left with silky smooth skin and easily skipped a handful of days being miserable.
   When I think of a cold drink and sunshine warming my skin, my mind tends to think of citrus... And this soap has plenty of it! Litsea Cubeba, a tree/shrub native to China, Indonesia, and Taiwan, is a super lemon-scented ingredient in Sandstone that also has natural antiseptic properties... To be honest, its scent is like Bohemian, but better.
   This bar may sound drying, but I've come to find the opposite thanks to the coconut oil (which is the same scent as my favorite sunblock). Plus, the coriander and gardenia oils help to tone and brighten the skin.
   Sandstone may be advertized for its exfoliating power, but it gets an amazing lather going as you wash up... I've even used it on lazy days for shaving my shins, although I know it dulls my razors faster... Also, when cutting this soap into halves for storage, the knife went through fairly easy! The only "downfall" to this soap is that you'll have a tiny bit of sand in your tub once you're all finished.
   In conclusion, I can't find anything I dislike about this soap, so I'm giving it a 5/5! If you're not sure if this sandy soap is for you, grab a sample of it from your local LUSH Cosmetics store and test it out.

Handmade With Fresh Ingredients: Water (Aqua) , Sand , Glycerine , Rapeseed Oil , Coconut Oil (Brassica napus; Cocos nucifera) , Sodium Hydroxide , Sodium Stearate , Fragrance , Litsea Cubeba Oil , Coriander Oil (Coriandrum sativum) , Sodium Chloride , Gardenia Extract (Gardenia jasminoides) , EDTA , Tetrasodium Etidronate , *Citral , *Geraniol , *Limonene , *Linalool , Hydroxycitronellal

*All body products I review are ones I have used for a week+...
This post is in no way sponsored and all opinions are my own.*

xoxo Elle