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31 May 2014

Bada Bing Bada Boom Shower Jelly

If there was ever a product that sold itself on name alone, this would be the one. Ever since Lush announced that this shower jelly was going to be one of their Kitchen releases, I have annoyed everyone around me by inserting it's title into almost every sentence that comes out of my mouth. It's seriously catchy!

However, my enthusiasm was short lived when I realised that Bada Bing Bada Boom Shower Jelly is just another name for The Joy Of Jelly; a product that didn't win my heart over at all. Having carried out a little research, I found out that Lush decided to revamp Joy of Jelly a few years after it had first made it's appearance. They changed it's appearance and gave it a far catchier name. The rest, as they say, is history. 

In all fairness, Bada Bing Bada Boom is a lot more visually stunning - sporting a beautiful deep shade of red - reminiscent of the red wine that features as a key ingredient in the product. At first, I thought that Lush had also included little specks of gold lustre as the jelly has a slight glimmer that seems to reflect the light. However, on closer inspection I realised that the shimmer is caused by thousands of tiny bubbles that pass right through the jelly. 

As well as wine, this jelly offers both a herbal and a floral element to it's aroma. Firstly, Bada Bing features thyme and sage; both of which build a subtle aromatic layer that nestles itself alongside the other key ingredients. Secondly, and most prominently, this jelly has a combination of rose, lavender and jasmine. These three ingredients make up the strongest part of the scent and give this jelly a rather heady, unique floral smell. Finally, the inclusion of white wine vinegar adds a slight savoury-sweet after-thought that wraps all of the smells together. If you're worried about the red wine, as I was, you'll be happy to know that you can detect elements of it's scent in the mix, but it's not at all pungent or overpowering. 

Together, these ingredients make for an interesting fragrance, and one that I'm not very keen on. Lush describe it as being sexy and alluring, and I can imagine why some people would think this about it. However, I find the aroma a little strange and not one that has any redeeming features. On their own, I enjoy each and every one of the scents that have gone into creating this jelly. However, when combined, they give off a rather odd aroma that doesn't really do much for me. 

Although I'm not keen on it's scent, I cannot deny that Bada Bing Bada Boom Shower Jelly does lather up well in the shower. If you enjoy it's fragrance, you'll be pleased to know that it intensifies somewhat when exposed to the hot water and it does tend to linger on your skin for a long time after use. The shower jelly also lathers up really nicely and is amazingly moisturising; something we can thank the inclusion of the seaweed for. It did leave my skin feeling super clean and not at all dry like a lot of other shower products I have used in the past.    
This is obviously a popular product, hence why Lush have chosen to bring it back through their Kitchen. Fans of Sex Bomb will no doubt want to check this out, as it does share it's scent with the popular bath bomb. However, it's not one that appeals to me or my senses. For this reason, I would not choose to buy it again.

Quantitative Ingredients: Glycerine, Red Wine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Propylene Glycol, Thyme, Rose petal and Lavender infusion, Rose Petal Infusion, Carrageenan Extract, Perfume, Jasmine Absolute, Clary Sage Oil, Ylang Ylang Oil, Synthetic Musk, White Wine Vinegar, Lilial, Linalool, Limonene, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £7.95 for 240g.

Scent Family:
Bada Bing Bada Boom Shower Jelly
Joy Of Jelly Shower Jelly
Love Soap
The North Polar Left The Tap On Soap
Sex Bomb Bath Bomb
Sex Bomb Body Lotion
Sex Bomb Solid Perfume
Tulip Mum Reusable Bubble Bar

30 May 2014

Happy For S.A.D Shower Gel


Happy 4 SAD is one of those old Lush products that I was desperate to try out, if only I could get my hands on some! As luck would have it, I managed to find a small bottle being sold on eBay late last year, and snapped it up with excitement. However, what I received left little to the imagination, so I was really excitable when Lush brought this out last week in their Kitchen. 

It was first released back in 2004, and was sold to raise awareness of SAD - Seasonal Affective disorder, which is a condition that affects some people’s mood in winter when there are fewer hours of daylight. To reflect the sentiments behind this shower gel, Happy 4 SAD uses the uplifting fragrance of oranges, grapefruit and mandarin oils to uplift your spirits and improve your mood. 

Firstly, I was rather impressed and slightly confused by the colour of this shower gel. The product's original look is a vivid purple colour, which definitely doesn't match up with the scent it gives off. Furthermore, this shower gel actually changes colour to a pale turquoise when left out in the sun, which is rather impressive, but still doesn't really represent the fragrance it possesses. 

When describing this shower gel, Lush say that they have included 'rose to restore happy feelings, uplifting, refreshing mandarin and a drop or two of the wonderful neroli, said to relieve tension and stress and give a feeling of euphoria to all who smell it. Whenever you feel the dull, dark days and long nights getting you down, get up with Happy for SAD.'

On first sniff, this shower gel reminded me of orange squash with a touch of rose; a floral, bitter citrus scent with not much else going on behind it. It was very plain and one-dimensional, and paled in comparison to the likes of Happy Hippy and Prince Charming Shower Gel. However, when using it in the shower, I found that the smell came out of it's shell a little. I was able to detect a stronger herbal element to the smell and the orange aroma intensified a little. 

Happy 4 SAD is one of the thinnest shower gels I've experienced so far, which worried me that I'd end up wasting a lot of it down the drain. However, a little goes a long way, and I found even the smallest drop lathered up wonderfully. The foam it produced was neither oily like Twilight or fluffy like The Olive Branch - instead sitting somewhere nicely in-between. 
Not surprisingly, the gentle scent didn't last long at all and by the time I had towel-dried myself down, it had completely dispersed. This was probably the most disappointing aspect of this shower gel as I can imagine enjoying it much more if the fragrance was stronger. However, I recognise the fact that this product has been designed to be a gentle companion in the shower - not something that should overpower or dominate your senses. 
Overall, I felt that Happy for SAD had a lot of potential, but there were just too many things that needed bettering in order for it to reach it's potential. Those who love gentle scents will not doubt love this, but it's not something I can get that excited over and will not be buying again. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Fresh Dove Orchid Infusion, Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Fair Trade Aloe Vera Gel, Lauryl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Fine Sea Salt, Neroli Oil, Grapefruit Oil, Mandarin Oil, Rose Oxymel, *Limonene, *Linalool, Perfume, Colour 42090, Colour 17200, Methylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes.

2015 Price: £9.95 for 250g.
2017 Price: £18.95 for 500g.

Year Of Original Release: 2004.

Scent Family:
Happy For S.A.D Shower Gel
Shut Up And Get Over It Bath Bomb

29 May 2014

Lust Liquid Perfume


Before I began buying and collecting Lush products, my interest in scents were particularly limited; I'd always pick the sugary-sweet, synthetic type fragrances that were as generic as the other 500 bottles of perfume on the shelf. I was not interested in trying out any of the interesting more complex scents and would shy away from anything that was particularly strong.

Fast forward two years and I have ordered a bottle of Lush's 'Lust' perfume - a powerfully sensual, dirty jasmine perfume that I never imagined myself enjoying. Although there are other notes in here, such as ylang ylang, vanilla, sandalwood and rose, jasmine is definitely the predominate scent. The sandalwood gives the perfume a wonderful warmth that intensifies on the heat of your skin; the rose adds a sweet, floral kick that gives the perfume a sexy edge. 

This is a perfume that takes no prisoners. It's strong, it's seductive and it'll upstage any other scent that you may be wearing at the time. This is not a subtle perfume in any way, so if you want something simple and gentle, this is not the one for you. This is a perfume that'll empower you when you're wearing it, and it makes you feel confident throughout the entire day. 

Lust comes out as a red-tinted liquid but it does not stain the skin so there's no need to be alarmed by this. Additionally, I would say that you should be rather scrupulous when spraying this perfume as you don't need very much at all. This latter point means that a 30ml bottle should last you a lot longer than most shop-bought varieties, meaning it's create value for money. 

Sharing it's scent with ‘Flying Fox’ shower gel, a product that is unfortunately not vegan, this perfume stays with you, and will let off small bursts of scent throughout the day. I have worn the same scarf to work for the past few months, and I can still smell Lust on there some six+ weeks after last using it. It's a sophisticated, unique fragrance that may be too overpowering for some, but one that will grow on you over time.

I happen to love this scent, and I love it even more knowing that a few years ago, I would have turned my nose up at such a unique and empowering smell. I always get compliments when I wear this, and most people comment on how fresh and natural it smells. It's become a staple perfume in my household now.

Quantitative Ingredients: Organic Jojoba Oil, Castor Oil, Candelilla Wax, Perfume, Jasmine Absolute, Rose Absolute, Ylang Ylang Oil, Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute, Sandalwood Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Cinnamal, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Citral, *Coumarin, Eugenol, Geraniol, Isoeugenol, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronellol, Farnesol, Limonene, Linalool, Colour 15850.

Vegan?: Yes.

2015 Price: £12 for 10ml, £24 for 30ml. 

Scent Family:
Floating Flower Bath Ballistic
Flying Fox Body Lotion
Flying Fox Shower Gel
Flying Fox Solid Perfume
Fox Bath Bomb
Godiva Solid Shampoo Bar
Lust Liquid Perfume 
Lustre Dusting Powder
Lust Solid Perfume
Yes Yes Yes Massage Bar
Youki-Hi Bath Ballistic

28 May 2014

Noriko Soap



Despite owning close to 10kg worth of Lush soap, it has only been over the last few months that I've began to use it regularly. Being a big fan of their shower gels has meant that my collection of soap has been overlooked somewhat, especially when I'm deciding what to use in the shower, meaning that it's built up very quickly. 

Noriko Soap was at the top of my 'to try' list for two reasons: firstly, it happened to be one of my newest acquisitions, and I thought it wise to try the freshest blocks first; secondly, because I was rather intrigued with it's description, as well as it's inclusion in the Christmas 2013 range. 

First created back in 1999, this soap is named after its creator, Noriko, who was inspired to create a soap using Japanese-inspired ingredients. It's a weird sort of soap, with a very strange, almost-savoury scent to match. In fact, I find it very difficult to fully describe this scent as it's like nothing I've ever smelt before. 

What I can pick up are elements of ylang ylang, a woody floral sort of scent, which sits very subtly in the mix. Lush claim that rose absolute is also supposed to sit highly in it's fragrance, however, I could not detect this at all. There is a gentle citrus undertone here, which somewhat elevates the ylang ylang scent and is no doubt brought about by the addition of Brazilian orange oil in the ingredients list. It's a very unique scent, and one that would be best suited for those of you who don't like overpowering smells.
The soap is a creamy white in colour and is decorated with a thin slice of coloured jelly on the top. I get the impression that the jelly is to add a bit of colour to the soap as it doesn't serve any other purpose here and unlike a normal shower jelly, is quite rigid and hard in consistency. Interestingly, this soap is the first of Lush's soaps that I notice contains tofu, which supposedly helps to nourish the skin and add an overall creamy texture to the soap. 

On the positive side, this soap is very resilient in the water, which means that a 100g block lasted me a long time. It's very easy to lather up and leaves your skin feeling very smooth. Furthermore, the soap contains little bits of agar agar gel throughout each piece, which helps to exfoliate the skin and gently massage the body. It did leave my skin feeling soft and clean, without drying it out. 

Noriko leaves behind a faint floral scent, on both the skin and in the bathroom, which was very pleasant. This gentle smell is not obtrusive and can be overridden with body lotions and perfumes, without worrying there'll be a clash of smells.

The only small downside for me was that the smell wasn't to my particular tastes. In all fairness, I found it a little boring. Despite it making my skin feel wonderful and smooth, this wouldn't be enough to make me buy it again. It's an odd choice to include alongside the Christmas selection, but I'm glad I got to try it at least once.

Quantitative Ingredients: Propylene Glycol, Rapeseed Oil and Coconut Oil, Rice Decoction, Sake, Tofu, Water, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Agar Agar Gel, Titanium Dioxide, Perfume, Lavender Oil, Rose Absolute, Ylang Ylang Oil, Brazilian Orange Oil, Glycerine, Sodium Chloride, EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Gardenia Extract, *Geraniol, *Farnesol, *Benzyl Salicylate, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Linalool, Colour 42090, Colour 14700.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £4.25 for 100g.
2017 Price: £4.25 for 100g.

Scent Family:
Christmas Hedgehog Bubble Bar
Eyeball Bath Bomb
Noriko Soap
Softy Bath Bomb

27 May 2014

Deep Sleep Shower Jelly


This product has been on my shelf for near enough forever, and it was only when I was doing an inventory recently, that I realised I should have used it sooner. Throughout the beginning of this year, I suffered from a serious bout of insomnia, brought on because of the pressures of my teaching job. After multiple pills were shoved my way, none of which had any effect on my 'one-hour-a-night-habit', I began to think that I'd have to live like this until I collapsed from exhaustion. Thankfully, my sleeping is somewhat more substantial now, but this would have been a great product if I ever needed a natural remedy to bring about a good night's rest. 

Firstly, this jelly is beautiful; a wonderful deep orange colour with just the slightest pearly glisten to make it look that little bit more magical. Deep Sleep has tiny specks of golden glitter sprinkled within the product, which helps it to look just that little bit more appealing in the tub. Don't worry about the glitter through, it doesn't stick to your skin so you don't have to worry about getting covered in plastic lustre. 

Lush describe Deep Sleep Shower Jelly as an 'insomniac's salvation', and I can see why. Made from a combination of chamomile, lavender and just a hint of neroli, this is a shower jelly packed with essential natural ingredients to bring about a subdued state. 
The jelly possesses a very natural-smelling scent, mostly dominated by the lavender. This lavender smell is a strong, aromatic sort of fragrance, very similar to the scent of Lush's Angels On Bare Skin Facial Cleanser. To compliment this, Lush have included a slight orangey scent that comes through when using this jelly in the shower. This just makes the product's fragrance more uplifting and slightly sweet. Furthermore, I can also detect the chamomile smell coming through, which gives the jelly a nice floral and herbal scent. 

Like most of Lush's shower jellies, Deep Sleep contains multiple oils that not only adds to it's overall fragrance, but gives it moisturising properties. Lavender oil is known for it's antiseptic, antibacterial and deodorising effect; Neroli oil helps to improve the tone and texture of the skin. I found that this jelly felt very velvety and I did notice my skin became smoother and softer after using this. 

Unlike other jellies I have tried such as Sweetie Pie and Calacas, this one creates a more oily lather, which makes your skin feel incredible after use. Furthermore, it's quite a thick, elasticated sort of jelly which means you don't have to use as much as you normally would for jellies such as the ones I've mentioned above. Unfortunately, it is this latter point that also makes this product rather difficult to use. I cannot tell you the amount of times I have lost pieces down the drain whilst trying to lather this across my body. It's incredibly annoying.

However, this product does do what it's supposed to do when it comes to helping detox your mind from any worries or stresses that may be preventing you from sleeping. Neroli is one of the few essential oils to be scientifically proven to increase serotonin production in the brain, which enhances your mood and helps you to feel happier and more relaxed. Used alongside lavender oil, which is also supposed to help calm your senses, this jelly really does help you to feel your best and get a good night's sleep.

I can see why Deep Sleep is such a popular product from Lush, and it really does help aide a better night's rest. Despite this, there's still the issue with the wastage that comes with using such a fiddly product, and the smell doesn't stay on your skin, which was disappointing. Furthermore, I found the lavender scent a little overpowering at times, which is why I haven't rated this product as high as I could. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Glycerine, Sunflower Petals Infusion, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Propylene Glycol, Sunflower Seed Infusion, Fresh Organic Orange Juice, Carrageenan Extract, Lavender Oil, Chamomile Oil, Lavender Absolute, Neroli Oil, Linalool, Perfume, Gardenia Extract, Colour 14700, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Radiant Gold Lustre.

Vegan?: Yes.

2015 Price: £7.95 for 250g. 
2016 Price: £7.95 for 250g. 

26 May 2014

Breeze On A Sea Air Toner Spray


I'm not going to lie to you when I say that I recognise that Lush have a great deal when it comes to their toner waters. Given that the prominent ingredient in these products is water, it's no surprise that I was a little hesitant to fork out almost £9 for a 250g bottle. Although I love the company and most of what they stand for, I appreciate the fact that these products are slightly overpriced. However, through a mixture of loyalty, curiosity and no doubt stupidity, I reached into my pocket and paid the price for a bottle. 

Breeze On A Sea Air Toner Spray is a weird choice for Lush to bring back - you would assume that they would opt for their more popular bath bombs and shower gels; appealing to the masses. However, I for one am really excited that they're resurrecting lesser known items, as it means that Lush fans, new and old, get to sample products that we all assumed would never see the light of day again. 

This toner water works very much like their other ones - firstly acting as a refreshing aide for when your skin needs that 'pick me up' throughout the day. Simply spray directly onto the face and then wipe away with a cotton pad - Breeze revitalises and rejuvenates skin, leaving it feeling instantly uplifted and dirt-free. 

Featuring a blend of mineral-rich sea water and rejuvenating rosemary, this toner water also works at conditioning your skin without clogging the pores or upsetting the natural balance of your complexion. The inclusion of aloe vera gel means this toner water also has a cooling effect on your skin, making it a perfect companion for the summer months when you're looking for a little something to help keep your temperature down.

As well as toning and refreshing your skin, Breeze On A Sea Air features violet leaf, which gives the product most of it's scent and works as an antiseptic to keep your skin calm and under control. I'm lucky enough not to suffer from sensitive skin, but I did notice how gentle it felt against my face, especially when I wiped it away. 

With some toner waters, you can almost feel them stripping your face of it's natural oils, and they can leave skin parched and lifeless. However, this toner water left my face feeling wonderfully soft and radiant. Even after the initial application, my complexion was noticeably softer and smoother to touch, and it felt really hydrated, toned and with a natural glow. In fact, I would say that this product gave me better results than that of my facial moisturiser, which is why I have stopped using Enzymion for a while and plan on using this instead. If I wasn't convinced that a glorified bottle of water could make a lot of difference to my skin, I was after I had used this. 

What I found with this toner water, is that it's probably the weakest smelling one I have tried yet - I could only smell elements of the aloe vera and violet for a brief second before I couldn't detect any fragrance at all. However, in hindsight, I don't think this really matters. This product is aimed at a quick fix that relieves you and your skin during the stuffier moments of your day, whilst supporting the natural state of your skin. Having a strong, long-lasting fragrance would only clash with any perfume you may be wearing at the time, so I actually prefer the fact that it barely smells at all.

Breeze On A Sea Air Toner Spray is a perfect companion to carry with you at all times. Whether you work in a stuffy office, travel frequently or just need a pick me up during a night out, this is a product that will instantly refresh and uplift your skin, whilst rejuvenating your mindset and leaving you feeling beautiful. 

Although this is expensive for what it is, a bottle of this size will last you for at least two months, making it worth the initial cost. In hindsight, I wish I had bought a second bottle as I'm keen to take this with me when I go holidaying during the summer break. I hope that Lush choose to release this through their kitchen again as I will definitely invest in another couple of bottles to last me throughout the year. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Spring Water, Fresh Sea Water, Fair Trade Organic Aloe Vera Gel, Violet Leaf Absolute, Boronia absolute, Perfume, Methylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes.

2015 Price: £8.50 for 250g.
2016 Price: £8.50 for 250g.


25 May 2014

Krysztal Solid Deodorant


As I've stated in all of my Lush deodorant reviews, this is one aspect of the cosmetic industry that Lush haven't managed to 'perfect' as of yet. In Lush's defence, I can imagine it being quite difficult to design a product that eradicates and masks a natural bodily function. As it stands, I've yet to find a readily available product in any high street shop - at least one that doesn't cost almost £10 for the privilege.

Krysztal Solid deodorant looks a little like it's brother, T'eo; an oval-shaped block of hardened powder with a thin layer of wax on the base. Named after one of Cosmetics To Go founders, Stan Krysztal, this product claims to contain a mixture of oils to refresh your armpits whilst also calming hard-working skin. 

To begin with, first impressions reveal that this deodorant is one of the nicest smelling ones to be released from Lush. With a combination of lemon oil and lemon and lime juice, Krysztal smells very much like Stepping Stone Foot Scrub - a bright, zesty citrus aroma. There is a very slight after-scent of jojoba here, but it works at rounding off the scent and isn't too prominent in the overall smell. 
Lush suggest that you apply this onto dried skin - gently rubbing in a circular motion across your armpits. Having found that T'eo works better with slightly damp skin, I was expecting this to be the same. However, after carefully applying this to my dry skin, I found that it worked at leaving it's scent on my body whilst painting my armpits with a very thin layer of white powder. It doesn't leave enough on your body to stain clothing and it disappears very quickly afterwards so you're not left with pasty-looking underarms. Furthermore, I didn't have to scrub hard to get this product to work, which meant that my armpits didn't feel sore or turn pink from irritation. 

Unfortunately, I found that it doesn't stop you from sweating but the powder does contain bicarbonate of soda to soak up some of your access sweat, so I was drier with this on than without. It also has essential oils to neutralise smells, including cypress oil to tone, so I wasn't plagued with any unwanted smells throughout the day. I do wonder why anyone would be that interested in toning their armpits though. 

Despite leaving my skin smelling wonderful, I found that it didn't protect me for very long. As someone who works long, hard days, I had to re-apply this almost hourly, which isn't very practical for those of us who live busy lives. If I wasn't able to re-apply this, my skin felt damp under my arms again, even though I had done very little manual labour to warrant a lot of sweating. Sometimes I think that these natural deodorants almost make me sweat more than I usually would - although, I wonder whether this is because I'm just more aware of my bodily functions when wearing these products. 

Overall, I am going to continue using this as it makes me feel clean and refreshed, and it does neutralise smells and prevent the smell of sweat from seeping through. Having used this about eight times a day over the weekend, and not seeing any reduction in it's size, Krysztal is a long-lasting deodorant and will definitely surpass the shelf-life of your average deodorant. However, if like me you're more prone to sweating, this is not a product that will keep you dry so I will have to continue using my Nivea stick alongside this to top up during the day. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Organic Jojoba Oil, Lemon Oil, Black Wax (Specerit Black Z), Magnesium Carbonate, Cypress Oil, Lime Oil, Fresh Organic Lemon Juice, Fresh Organic Lime Juice, Citral, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes.

2015 Price: £5.00 for 90g.

24 May 2014

Dragon's Egg Bath Bomb



...And God said 'let there be light' and there was light... In all honesty, I felt the same mixture of elation, wonderment and amazement the first time I used a Dragon's Egg Ballistic, as I can imagine somebody new to religion feeling, having read Genesis for the first time. Not that I'm comparing Christianity to a bath bomb; I'm merely trying to convey the sheer happiness I felt when trying out one of my, now, all time favourite bathing products.     

Lush describe the experience like this; 'As the white outer layer of Dragon’s Egg fizzes into a light, creamy foam, it releases a drift of dissolving dragon’s scales (rice paper confetti) and crackling popping candy. As its golden inner core is revealed, your bathwater is transformed into a shimmering amber. Its bergamot and citrus scents leave you feeling transformed and invigorated, so perfect for a morning bath.'

They say, never judge a book by it's cover, and this sentiment in definitely true when I'm talking about Dragon's Egg; It's plain white demeanour, with the odd colourful 'splodge' across it's shell, was not going to get my heart racing. However, this bath bomb immediately transformed my mind, and my bath tub, when it got to work in the tub.

This ballistic is one of the slower-working ones, so upon placing it in the water, it immediately begins to foam and froth; littering the surface with a creamy, white foam but without fizzing or immediately spewing out colour. As Dragon's Egg begins to dissolve, streaks of vibrant, golden-yellow begin to flow out of the bath bomb, creating a whirlpool of luxurious glittery patterns and swirls; very much like the yolk and 'white' of a real egg. 

This ballistic is a very tangy, zesty product, with heaps of ingredients to maintain the smell throughout the entire experience. The scent is very similar to that of Avobath, although I found this one to be a little more playful and slightly sweeter. It reminded me of the lemon sherbet I used to eat as a child - a memory that only served to strengthen my love of this ballistic. Furthermore, Dragon's Egg contains a mixture of citrus oils and bergamot oil, to not only give it an uplifting, refreshing fragrance, but help it to soften your skin while you're relaxing.

This product really is very invigorating, which is probably why Lush suggest you should use this first thing in the morning to wake you up. It's a great ballistic to use during the winter months; to perk up those over-worked senses, or simply to reenergise yourself after a stressful day. You really feel and smell like royalty after you've bathed in Dragon's Egg's wonderful waters. 
I absolutely adore this ballistic, and will always choose this over any other bath bomb in Lush's regular range. I cannot recommend this product enough, and only hope that all of my 'gushing' will convince you, that this is a product that needs to be experienced!

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Perfume, Popping Candy, Lemon Oil, Bergamot Oil, Jasmine Absolute, Cream of Tartar, Water, Gardenia Extract, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Propylene Glycol, Lauryl Betaine, *Citral, *Limonene, *Linalool, Gold Lustre, Radiant Gold Lustre, Colour 15510, Colour 17200, Colour 14700, Colour 45410, Rice Paper.

Vegan?: Yes.

2015 Price: £3.35 each.

Scent Family:
Dragon's Egg Ballistic 
FUN With A Twist





23 May 2014

Big Blue Bath Ballistic




I've been meaning to try the Big Blue Ballistic for quite some time now; partly because I really enjoyed my experience with the Mermaid bath bomb, which shared the same scent, and partly because most hardcore Lush fans rave about how amazing it is, and they tend to know what they're talking about!

Using essential oils and other natural ingredients, Lush have created a ballistic that'll help you to unwind and relax. Not only that, but the experience you'll get serves as a great reminder of what it's actually like to bathe in the ocean. For someone who used to live mere minutes away from the enticing sea, I do still get occasional yearnings to smell the fresh sea breeze and taste the salt of the air on the my tongue. Big Blue is a great way for me to satisfy these cravings. 

One of the key ingredients used here is seaweed. The type of kelp Lush use is called Arame seaweed, which softens in your hot bath water and helps you to relax. Arame is rich in vitamins and minerals including iodine, which helps to regulate the metabolism and help you to feel calm and collected. This seaweed is packed inside the bath bomb; swirling around the water and sinking to the bottom of the tub when the ballistic is dissolving.

Big Blue also offers a tang of lemon, a hint of lavender and a dash of sea salt, which all help to produce a fresh scented bathing experience. The salt helps to remove dead skin cells, while the lemon oil clears the mind and gives the ballistic a sweet, citrusy scent. In addition, the lavender oil, which works as an cleanser, smoothens out your skin and leaves a slight floral element to the bath.
To top the experience off, Big Blue turns the bath water a vivid blue, which stays this beautiful shade throughout your entire bathing experience. The added minerals help to cleanse and soften your skin leaving you feeling invigorated and renewed.

My skin felt super smooth and soft after using this; it didn't feel tight or in any way dry. The fragrance lingered on my body and lasted until the following day, which was a nice surprise. My only issue is that the fragrance of the bath bomb, whilst dissolving, was definitely weaker than I was expecting. Furthermore, I was unable to pick up it's scent all that much throughout my bathing experience, which was a shame. However, I'm wondering whether this has anything to do with the ballistic's age, as I'd had this one tucked away for almost a year before I decided to use it.

In my opinion, this bath bomb is one of the best ones available at the moment; I will definitely be buying this again in the near future. Despite, having to clean the seaweed out of the bath after you've finished, this doesn't take away from how great this bath bomb is. I highly recommend that you give this one a go, even if you're on to prefer sweeter-smelling cosmetics.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Coarse Sea Salt, Fine Sea Salt, Perfume, Arame Seaweed, Lemon Oil, Lavender Oil, Seaweed Absolute, *Eugenol, *Geraniol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 42090, Colour 19140.

Vegan?: Yes. 

2014 Price: £3.35 each.
2015 Price: £3.35 each.

Scent Family:
Big Blue Ballistic
Big Blue Body Conditioner
Big Blue Egg Bath Bomb
Bubbling Under Bubble Bar
Enchanted Island Bath Melt
Flotsam Soap
Mermaid Ballistic




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