Christina Alyce Beauty

The name of this body conditioner certainly doesn't lie, it will absolutely make you tingle! After my normal shower routine, as a last step, I moved out of the water and applied this all over my body. I had heard that this product is meant to leave your skin feeling cool and minty fresh, but I had no idea what I was in for. I started at my shoulders and worked my way down, and didn’t really feel anything out of the ordinary at first, but once I reached my legs I started to feel a tingly sensation. By the time I had rinsed off and stepped out of the shower, I was covered in goose bumps! This is some serious stuff, and I do not recommend it if your body naturally runs a bit on the cooler side like mine does, because you will be stuck huddling under the covers for a good 20 minutes after your shower. 

The reason this product causes such an intense sensation is due to the minty ingredients- this contains menthol crystals, peppermint oil, and spearmint oil, all of which leave your skin feeling cool and refreshed, and give this body conditioner a straightforward, minty aroma that lingers on your skin. The oils and butters found in Christingle, such as jojoba oil, murumuru butter, and shea butter retain moisture and leave your skin feeling incredibly soft. Despite rinsing of this product in the shower, it helps to keep your skin very hydrated all day, and I didn’t need to apply lotion at all after my shower, or throughout the day.

Unfortunately, since this did leave me a bit too chilly, I will probably not purchase this. The tub I do have was from a gift set I received for Christmas, and while I will certainly use it up, I don’t plan to use this agin till a scorching hot summer day rolls around. This certainly isn’t an ideal product for the dead of winter!

Rating: 3/5

Price: 

Status: Limited Edition, Christmas 2015

Vegan?: Yes

Would I repurchase?: No

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Organic Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia chinensis), Murumuru Butter (Astrocaryum Murumuru), Glycerine, Fair Trade Shea Butter (Butyrosopermum parkii), Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Menthol Crystals, Peppermint Oil (Mentha piperita), Spearmint Oil (Mentha spicata), Grapefruit Oil (Citrus paradisi), Cassia Oil (Cinnnamomum Cassia), Lilial, Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool, Perfume, Colour 42090.

I think I have discovered my ideal scrub. So far, everything I have tried from Lush has been either too harsh or to crumbly to use 100% effectively, but oh my goodness, this beauty is perfect. Not only does this product gently exfoliate your skin with sugar and sand, but it is combined with many oils and butters to leave you with soft and hydrated skin as well. I love scrubs and body butters, so a product that combines the two is always a winner. 

This deliciously tropical scrub is packed with all the best hydrating ingredients out there - murumuru butter from brazil to hydrate and protect your skin, organic shea butter to absorb easily into the skin, coconut oil to hydrate, and illipe butter to richly nourish and even combat a multitude of skin problems. 

When using this scrub in the shower, I found that this is the first that I’ve used that I have not had to cut up or crush first, in fear that it will fall apart during use. Normally Lush scrubs either fall apart very easily, as Sugar Babe does, or they are much too harsh to use without crushing them up first, like with Sugar Scrub. I found that this was the perfect consistency to rub on my body as is, and got an effective exfoliation and perfect dose of hydration, simultaneously. I use this as the very last step in the shower, after washing. This paired deliciously with Beautiful Shower Gel. While this does stay together very well, I will cut it into single-use segments next time to preserve it more effectively, otherwise it’s at risk of dissolving too quickly. This is a dense scrub that will last many showers, but it’s pricey (and limited edition) so I don’t dare waste it!

Of course, since this product is a body butter, the scent absorbs into your skin and lingers long after you have left the shower, and it really is a fantastic fragrance. Inspired by sand sculptures, this body butter’s scent conjures up images of warm, tropical beach. Coconut oil, rosewood oil, orange oil, and sandalwood oil combine to mimic the aroma of a tropical cocktail or high-end suntan oil. I don’t think I could imagine a more beachy and inviting smell.

My only complaint with Sandy Santa is the red of his hat tends to make a bit of a mess in the shower, but it is easily rinsed off the shower and skin. I would love to see this product released in the summer months in a different shape (and without the annoying red) so that I can stock up on this Holy Grail of a scrub. I am very disappointed I didn’t gab more when I had the opportunity, because this is now a solid favorite.

Rating: 6/5 (yep, it’s that good!)

Price: £5.75 ($8.59)

Status: Discontinued Christmas Product, Kitchen Exclusive

Vegan?: Yes

Would I repurchase?: Yes

Ingredients: Sugar, Murumuru Butter, Sodium Bicarbonate, Organic Shea Butter, Illipe Butter, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cream of Tartar, Sand, Lauryl Betaine, Brazilian Orange Oil, Rosewood Oil, Sandalwood Oil, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Limonene, Linalool, Methyl Ionone, Perfume, Colour 14700.

Licorice has never been one of my favorite scents or flavors, but recently it has been growing on me. I decided to give Lush’s new licorice scented Christmas bubble bar a try, and I’m really glad I did. At first sniff, this small, swirly purple bubble bar appears to have a much more complex scent than what I anticipated. While the licorice is most definitely present, a sweet, lemony note of bergamot stood out to me the most. In the water, the lemon subsided and the fennel and tarragon became much more pronounced, and the air filled with a much more traditional aroma licorice. I found it smelled very comforting and cozy, perfecter winter bath.

When filling my tub, I decided to use the entire bubble bar at once, since it is on the smaller side. Also, I enjoy using an entire bar the first time I try a product just to see how vivid the water can get, and how many bubbles it can produce. Bar Humbug did not disappoint! I put my bubble bar in my strainer, and stuck attainder the tap. As soon as the water hit it, rich pinky purple water started to fill the tub, and the bubbles started to grow. By the time the bar was fully dissolved, I had a mountain of bubbles and incredibly bright and pigmented water. Between the color and the scent of this bubble bar, I think it would pair beautifully with the herbal and fuchsia Jingle Spells bath bomb.

The bubbles this created lasted a long time in the bath, and were so plentiful. I will probably only use half a bar the next time I use Bar Humbug, since it was so effective. I was really pleased with the scent and color, and it softened the water as well as most of Lush’s bath bombs. Overall, it was a fantastic and unique new addition to this year’s Christmas range.

Rating: 5/5

Price: 

Status: Limited edition, Christmas 2015

Vegan?: Yes

Would I repurchase?: Yes

Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream Of Tartar (Potassium bitartrate), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Perfume, Cornflour (Zea mays), Bergamot Oil (Citrus Aurantium bergamia), Fennel Oil (Foeniculum vulgare), Tarragon Oil (Artemisia dracynculus, Synthetic Fluorphogopite, Silver Glimmer Lustre (Corn Starch, Maltodextrin, Potassium Aluminium Silicate, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Colour 77400), Citral, Coumarin, Limonene, Colour 45410, Colour 17200, Colour 42090, Colour 77226.  

Before discovering Lush, I never used bar soap. I hated the feeling on my skin, and it was only once I received a sample in an online order that I realized how fantastic a good soap can be. I’m so glad I changed my mind, because otherwise I probably wouldn’t have ever tried this truly magical soap.

Old Father Time was introduced this year as part of the Christmas range, and while it’s doesn’t boast a particularly “Christmassy” smell or look, it is festive nonetheless. In store, you will see it in the form as a giant maroon clock with numbers, cogs, and the gold face of Old Father Time himself. Each piece cut from the clock is unique, mine is gold and maroon with luster covering the outside. 

I have honestly never smelled something like this soap before, and I quickly became enamored with it. My 100g bar, tucked away in my bathroom closet, fragrances the entire bathroom more than any other product, especially soap, that I’ve used from Lush thus far. It fills the air with a sweet, incense smell that is strong, but not sickening or overpowering by any means. This soap is composed of some beautifully aromatic ingredients, such as Myrrh resinoid for a warm amber note, and Opoponax oil for a dash of balsamic, honey scent. Sage and Thyme come together to offer a green note. Rosewood and tuberose add a warm, woody, and slightly floral aspect. Redcurrants are perhaps the most apparent scent in the mix, giving this soap a fruity and sweet fragrance. I love sweet and incencey fragrances, and I find that this is the perfect balance for me.

Using this in the shower did prove to be a bit tricky, because this may just be the most slippery soap I’ve ever encountered. I will admit, I dropped this a number of times trying to lather it! Also, when in contact with water, the soap becomes quite messy, and leaves a burgundy puddle wherever you rest it, which made quite a mess of the side of my tub. Luckily, it does not stain, and the gorgeous lather and fragrance make up for this inconvenience. I just needed to rub this on my netted sponge a couple of times before I had a generous helping of suds to take care of my entire body. And, of course, the beautiful aroma was amplified in the steam of the shower, though it did not linger long on my skin afterwards, or leave my skin particularly hydrated.

Overall I think this is a gorgeous wintertime soap, and I want to stock up on another block or two to see me through the never ending New England winter. This has a beautifully complex scent that I imagine would be enjoyed by many, so this would make a fantastic gift for any soap lover on your list.

Rating: 4.5/5

Price: 

Status: Christmas 2015 Limited Edition

Vegan?: Yes

Would I repurchase?: Yes

Ingredients: Fresh Sage and Thyme Infusion (Salvia officinalis;Thymus vulgaris), Glycerine, Rapeseed Oil; Coconut Oil (Brassica napus;Cocos nucifera), Sorbitol, Water (Aqua), Perfume, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Redcurrants (Ribes rubrum), Myrrh Resinoid (Commiphora myrrha), Opoponax Oil, Rosewood Oil (Aniba rosaeodora), Tuberose Absolute (Polianthes Tuberosa), Sodium Chloride, EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Benzoate, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool, Radiant Gold Lustre; Gold Glimmer Lustre; Glacier Blue Lustre; Yoshi Yellow Lustre     

Items in this gift:

Cold as Ice Knotwrap

Star Light, Star Bright Bath Melt

Northern Lights Bath Bomb

Abominaball Bath Bomb

Snow Showers Shower Jelly

This is my first Halloween as a Lushie, so I was excited to see what spooky treats LUSH had in store for me. While this collection was small, I feel like they only released the cream of the crop. I was Incredibly happy that the collection featured THREE items with the Lord of Misrule scent! As soon as I read that Lord of misrule features vanilla, patchouli, and black pepper, I knew it would be a must-have, even before taking a whiff myself. This gooey green cream, perhaps reminiscent of a ghostly ectoplasm, is absolutely decadent. It is most noticeably very vanilla, but the spicy dash of black pepper and earthy patchouli save it from being too sickly sweet, and have an uplifting effect on your mood.

This shower gel also contains some ingredients that are wonderful for your skin. Wheat germ oil offers a dose of  Vitamin E, which softens and moisturizes skin and is even suspected to lessen the appearance of scars and stretch marks in high concentrations.

The consistency of this shower cream  caught me off guard. I had heard some people say it was nice and thick, as you would expect a shower cream to be. Others complained it was a little thinner than they expected, but I had no idea it was anywhere near as watery as it turned out to be  - it was even even thinner than The Olive Branch!  They must have some inconsistencies between batches, because a few weeks later I ordered a 500ml bottle from the UK for my mom, and it was thick like I had expected mine to be. I'm not too bothered by it as it's not my favorite scent, and only a tiny bottle, but I just would've liked a more luxurious texture. It does lather beautifully either way though. One nice surprise was the pretty and subtle lustre, which certainly made the concoction look extra magical, and it rinsed off easily. I would definitely repurchase this product., as long as I could be sure it's the thicker version!

Rating 4 out of 5 (-1 for consistency)

Price £4.75/$7.35 for 100g, £9.50/$14.70 for 250g, £15.95/$24.69 for 500g, £27.50/$42.57 for 1kg.

Ingredients Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Patchouli and Peppercorn Infusion (pogostermon cablin; Piper nigrum), Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Glycerine, Stearic Acid, Lauryl Betaine, Perfume, Lactic Acid, Organic Wheatgerm Oil (Triticum 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, Mathylparaben, Propylparaben.

Vegan? Yes!

Would I repurchase? Yes

Goes Well With Lord of Misrule Bath Bomb, Butterball Bath Bomb, Aliens & Monsters Fun, The Rough With The Smooth Body Scrub