Christina Alyce Beauty

Tomatoes are by far one of my favorite foods, and I find myself craving them on an almost daily basis. So when I found out the Lush Kitchen would be hosting the beautiful Cream of Tomato soap, I jumped on the chance to extend m love of the food into my cosmetics collection. I know many people probably think a tomato and basil scented soap sounds a bit strange, but after the first use I was convinced this is one of the best soaps Lush has ever released.

I will admit that a dry sniff of this isn’t the most mouthwatering aroma Lush offers, there are many prettier scents out there. But what I do love about the still-on-the-vine scent is a unique savoriness that not many other soaps offer. Cream of Tomato boasts a very green, fresh, and tangy scent, very much like how a live tomato plant smells, mixed with lemon. Once the soap hits the water, it does take on a slightly more sweet and creamy scent, and I thoroughly enjoy it. I think this soap is very unisex, and would be a fantastic first Lush product for any guy in your life.

Lush recently updated their soap base, and this is one of the few soaps that uses this new recipe, and it proves that the reformulation is a winner. Cream of Tomato has one of the most velvety lathers I’ve ever experienced, and only takes a moment to produce a luxurious foam. This soap contains coconut oil and rapeseed oil, making it relatively moisturizing, while the grapefruit oil, lemon oil, and fresh tomato keep it toning and cleansing. This soap left my skin feeling clean and soft, but a little taut and I did need lotion after my shower

I think this is a very unique soap, that fells very high quality during use, and I really hope this becomes available in all stores because I would love to repurchase it.

Rating: 5/5

Price: £2.95 /100g

Status: Oxford Street and Kitchen Exclusive

Vegan?: Yes

Would I repurchase? Yes

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Glycerine, Rapeseed Oil: Coconut Oil (Brassica napus: Cocoa nucifera), Sorbitol, Talc, Perfume, Passata, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Stearate, Grapefruit Oil Citrus paradisi), Sicilian Lemon Oil (Citrus limonum), Violet Leaf Infusion (Viola odorata), Basil Oil (Ocimum basilicum), Titanium Dioxide, Irish Moss (Chondrus crispus), Fresh Tomato (Lycopersician), Sodium Chloride, EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Eugenol, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Colour 14700.

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.

I am usually cautious about purchasing higher priced Kitchen Items, like Shower Gels and Body Lotions, because at $15 or $20, it’s a bit of an investment for something I may not like. I went back and forth on this one for quite a while and though I didn’t want to spend the money, I’ve learned from experience that I’d probably regret passing it up and give in weeks later buying it for a very inflated price on eBay or elsewhere. I could always sell it myself if it didn’t agree with me anyway!

The list of ingredients and online description certainly make the scent of this sound unique. With a few floral ingredients, grapefruit oil, and fennel, you’d perhaps imagine a fresh floral scent, with a dash of licorice. But in reality, the scent is nothing like what I expected. I will do my best to explain how it actually smells to me, but in all honesty, this scent was rather weird and difficult to describe. 

I could definitely detect a little bit of citrus in the aroma, but It doesn’t smell at all floral to me- my nose can’t pick out the rose or jasmine ingredients, whatsoever. There is a slightly powdery note that may come form the rose, but I really can’t be sure. The fennel gives the shower gel an equally sweet and bitter twinge, and brings everything together to create an overall fresh, sweet, yet almost plastic scent... a rather strange way to describe it but it’s not necessarily a bad smell. I have certainly smelled worse things from lush.

Moving past the strange scent, this gel is also pretty unique to look at. A neon green opaque liquid, this shower gel certainly looks electrifying. The creamy consistency is similar to that of Lush’s new shower creams, and I did find this shower gel to be a little more softening than other shower gels, and it still lathered really well. The scent lingered very softly on my skin after using this. 

Overall, B Electro is a pretty decent shower gel, and while I don’t think I will repurchase it, it is definitely an eye catching product with a unique scent, and feels great on the skin.

Rating: 3.5

Price: £11 ($16.64) for 240g

Status: Kitchen Exclusive

Vegan?: Yes

Would I repurchase?: Probably Not

Ingredients: Fresh Rose Petals, Water (Aqua), Sodium Alkyl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Glyceryl Stearate & PEG-100 Stearate, Fine Sea Salt, Cocamide MEA, Perfume, Glycol Cetearate, Propylene Glycol, Lauryl Betaine, Grapefruit Oil, Fennel Oil, Rose Absolute, Jasmine Absolute, Tincture of Benzoin, Organic Jojoba Oil, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Colour 59040, Colour 42090, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

It’s a bit late in the year for a Halloween product review, but this gorgeous lotion makes for a wonderful winter scent. I was apprehensive to purchase this at first, because as you may already know, I am really not keen on floral scents, particularly rose. I ended up missing out on this in October when It was in the kitchen, and I realized afterwards that I should’ve gotten it. I kept seeing it pop up on my instagram feed, and everyone raved about how magical and spicy it smelled. Finally, I tracked down a bottle on Mercari, and after a bundle deal and a few credits, I got it for a much better price than I would’ve found on ebay, so I was ecstatic.

I received it a few days later, and I was so happy once I unscrewed the lid and took my first sniff. It truly was a magical fragrance. I was relieved that out of the two floral components, carnation was much more prominent than the rose. The carnation gives this lotion a beautiful spicy and warm scent, while the rose softens the edges and gives it a dash of femininity. Tangerine oil keeps the scent from becoming too heavy, and lends a bright citrus note to the lotion, while almond oil is slightly nutty and warm. Together, the ingredients create a fragrance that I can really only describe as absolutely magical. I do think this is a more wintry scent, because while it is not overpowering by any means, it is heavier and warming. I really hope I can get my hands on the Potion Perfume, because I would love for this to be my signature scent. It is feminine but not little girlish, I find it to be mysterious with a dash of glamour. Because I only have one bottle and I doubt it will reappear in the Kitchen again for at least another 6 months, I am rationing what I have and using it more as a perfume than a full body lotion, focusing it only on my pulse points and upper body. Luckily the scent is long lasting and strong enough to be noticed, even with this very sparse application!

I have only used Potion on my entire body once, but I use it multiple times a week on my upper body, so I feel like I have a good grasp of how it preforms on the skin. With ingredients like cocoa butter and almond oil, you can tell just from the ingredient list that this is a wonderfully hydrating concoction. Coacoa butter is supremely soft and moisturizing, and my skin just drinks it up. Almond oil’s composition is quite similar to the oils produced by your skin, so it is easily absorbed and very replenishing. I find that this lotion absorbs quickly and does not leave me feeling greasy, yet soothes and hydrates as well as a much heavier lotion would. I don’t need to top up my lotion at all at the end of the day, even with cold temperatures outside, and huddling in front of a drying space heater at work all day. I get very dry skin, so it’s not uncommon for some lotions to need a top up around dinnertime in the winter, but this one persists a full 24 hours.

I really adore this lotion, and I hope I can find another good deal on a bottle soon, and that it returns to the Kitchen next year, It really isn’t one to miss!

Rating: 5/5

Price: £10.50 ($15.75) for 250g.

Status: Kitchen Exclusive

Vegan?: Yes

Would I repurchase?: Yes!

Scent Family:

Ingredients: Fresh Rose Petal Infusion, Almond Oil, Cocoa Butter, Glycerine, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Fresh Tangerines, Rose Absolute, Carnation Absolute, Tangerine Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Eugenol, Geraniol, Farnesol, Limonene, Linalool, Perfume, Methylparaben, Propylparaben. 

Items featured in this video:

Granny Takes A Dip (Kitchen Exclusive)
The Enchanter (Kitchen Exclusive)
Still Life (Kitchen Exclusive)
Golden Slumbers (Oxford Street & in The Spa Gift Set)
Guardian of the Forest (Available Everywhere)
Cyanide Pill (Oxford Street Exclusive)

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

I love many different kinds of scents- sweet, fruity, herbal... but warm and spicy cinnamon & cloves scent is by far my favorite. When Jacko appeared in the Lush Kitchen at the end of October, I felt an insatiable hunger to obtain as many bath bombs as I could get my hands on. Of course, being the dummy that I am, I somehow only came away with one. My lone Jacko arrived, and I was just as in love with the scent as I had expected to be, and so the hunger didn’t cease. 

I made it my mission to track down more of this wonderful bomb to creat my pumpkin army. The week after the UK Kitchen hosted Jacko, he moved along to the Japanese Kitchen. I joined a group ordering group on Facebook in hopes of obtaining him and everything seemed to be going smoothly for me to order two (and a Witches Ball Bubble Bar) but then I never heard back from the group moderator, despite her assuring me she would place my order. A few days later, someone contacted me through instagram offering to sell me one of hers. I responded, never heard back, and started to give up hope. I checked ebay nearly every day, hoping one would appear,but the only ones that did were absurdly priced. As much as I love Jacko, I would never spend $20 on a single bath bomb. Fast forward to this Monday, I decided to sign up for the app Mercari because I had heard they often had a lot of rare Lush stuff. Lo and behold, I found a Jacko instantly, and was able to bundle him with multiple other items I had been in search of, to get a good deal. Now that I had another Jacko secured, I finally felt I could use my original, just in time for a Thanksgiving bath.

Pumpkin pie is a very popular and rather traditional dessert served here in the US at Thanksgiving. So, of course, what better product to use on Thanksgiving than a bath bomb that shares so many spices with the delicious smelling pie? Jacko’s scent is first and foremost cloves and cardamom, and this is amplified once it hits the water. these spices are warm, strong, and spicy, and nothing smells more like fall. Spearmint also makes an appearance, but is quite subtle, which was a relief to me because I don’t particularly like the idea of mint and cloves together. Luckily, the combination works beautifully together to create a comforting, spicy treat.

Jacko is a fast fizzer, which is probably to be expected since it is relatively small as well as flat. I love a bath bomb that puts on a good show, but of course I can appreciate a more tame display as well. Jacko is just a simple orange bomb, he doesn’t offer a glitter or a thousand colors, but to me, that is perfectly fine. I was surprised by how vividly colored the water was, because at first glance, Jacko is quite chalky and pale. Instead of the weak orangey waters you expect, you’re provided with a beautiful pool of rich orange water to soak in.

I used Pumpkin soap to wash up with, which shares the same scent as Jacko, and the two went together beautifully. It added to and emphasized the clove and cardamom scent wonderfully, and I left the tub smelling good enough to eat.

While the search is not over by any means, I am so glad I was able to experience Jacko, and I will soon have a second stashed away safely. 

Rating: 5/5

Price: £3.50 ($5.25)

Status: Retired/Kitchen Item

Vegan?: Yes

Would I repurchase? Yes

Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Cardamom Oil, Clove Bud Oil, Spearmint Oil, *Cinnamal, *Coumarin, *Eugenol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Perfume, Colour 15510.

Sugar Babe was in the Lush Kitchen the very first time I discovered the Kitchen, and among a few other items, made it into my first order. The description sounded lovely - like a softer, floral version of Sugar Scrub, a product that has become a staple in my stash. 

Once my order arrived, I unwrapped Sugar Babe, and I could already tell it was going to be a lovely scrub. Presenting itself in a form reminiscent of a half snowball, this pure white scrub bar is the same size and shape as Sugar Babe, but much softer and more crumbly to the touch.  My only issue with Sugar Scrub is that it is very abrasive, and I need to break it down before use, but that can be difficult because it is very dense and not easy to break. Sugar Babe on the other hand, is easily segmented into the perfect amount for multiple showers. I chose to cut mine into quarters so that this will last me 4 showers. Upon slicing into it (I used a knife for better accuracy but this could be broken by hand just as easily) it revealed a bright red dot on the interior. I don’t think this burst of color serves any skin-benefiting function, but it does look pretty. 

When using Sugar Babe, it is important to keep it out of the flow of the water, because since it is all sugar, it will dissolve quickly. I place the segment that I’m about to use on the side of the tub, and the rest is stored in a recycled black pot in my bathroom closet, safe from humidity. After I wash and rinse my skin thoroughly, I step out of the direct stream of the shower head, and take my segment of Sugar Babe in hand, and crumble it into a mound of what looks like granulated sugar. I rub the granules all over my skin, in gentle circular motions, then rinse off.

Sugar Babe is a wonderful everyday exfoliant. It’s probably not the most effective on areas that need heavy duty exfoliation, but for gentle exfoliation a few times a week, it works beautifully. Aside from exfoliating, it does a lovely job moisturizing the skin. Coconut oil and beeswax work to lock in moisture, so when paired with the exfoliating sugar, you’re left with soft and hydrated skin. I didn’t feel at all greasy after this either.

This scrub is strongly scented, and the perfume lingers on your skin for a long time after use. Ylang Ylang, and Mimosa offer a very floral scent, that I found to be very slightly powdery. Coconut oil also offers a slight hint of creamy sweetness, though I think a more pronounced coconut scent would be beautiful, because I’m not a huge fan of floral scents.

Overall, this scrub is a fantastic choice for those who enjoy Sugar Scrub, but crave a gentler and more moisturizing alternative. It’s lingering floral scent is sure to please any floral lovers as well.

Rating: 4.5/5

Price: £3.50

Status: Discontinued/Kitchen Exclusive

Vegan?: No, contains Beeswax

Would I repurchase? Yes

Ingredients:  Fair Trade Sugar, Sodium Bicarbonate, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (Cocos nucifera), Cream of Tartar (Tartaric Acid), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Mimosa Absolute (Mimosa tenuiflora), Beeswax Absolute (Cera alba), Ylang Ylang Oil (Cananga odorata), Cocamide DEA, Lauryl Betaine, *Coumarin, Benzyl Salicylate, Perfume, Colour 73360 * Occurs naturally in Essential Oils

I received my order, and though the melts smelled pleasant, I was disappointed that they were not more spicy. I was expecting a full-on gingery scent with undertones of jasmine, almond, and oakmoss, something spicy with a hint of sweetness, as well as a floral woodiness. Overall the smell felt extremely one dimensional and flat, not anywhere near as magical as you’d expect from a purple product with such a name. The actual scent is difficult to describe, I suppose it just smells like ginger, but without the spicy kick.

As the bath melt melted in the water, it was a beautiful sight. a rich purple pool of cocoa butter with  pink and blue swirling through. I did not fill my tub as much as I do with a bubble bar or bath bomb because I wanted the skin nourishing ingredients to be as concentrated as possible. Despite the lesser amount of water, this melt did not change the color of the water aside from making it fairly cloudy, but, even worse, was not all that moisturizing. I may be spoiled by Ceridwen’s cauldron, which is nearly twice the size and does an amazing job, but I know that classic Dreamtime is the same size as Something Wicked and still offers a generous amount of moisture. In the tub, the water hardly felt softened, and out of the water, my skin was only slightly more moisturized than it would be after a bath with a bubble bar or bath bomb. I did not need to use lotion on my entire body, but my problem areas like my elbows and feet were not sufficiently quenched from the bath. This is not an issue I’ve ever run into with other bath melts.

This may be my most disappointing Kitchen purchase since Krysztal Solid Deodorant. Or perhaps even more disappointing, because at least the deodorant smelled wonderful. This fell short of expectations in every category, and I don’t plan to purchase it again, should it return to the Kitchen.

Rating: 2.5/5

Price:  £4

Status: Retired/ Kitchen Exclusive

Vegan?: Yes

Would I repurchase? No

Ingredients: Cocoa Butter (Theobroma cacao), Laureth 4, Almond Oil (Prunus dulcis), Perfume, Ginger Oil (Zingiber officinale), Jasmine Absolute (Jasminum officinale), Oakmoss Absolute (Evernia prunastri), Colour 77007, Colour 18050, Colour 61585.

Big Blue is one of Lush’s more popular bath bombs, often mixed with Sunnyside to create a shimmery turquoise cocktail known as “Mermaid Water”. I skipped the bubble bar and tried this strikingly blue bomb all by itself, and enjoyed every moment.

This ocean inspired bomb is packed full with wonderful treats from the sea. Nourishing Arame seaweed is used to detoxify, soothe, soften, and protect the skin against moisture loss. Unrefined coarse and fine sea salt are added for their astringent and cleansing effects, as well as beneficial minerals like sodium and magnesium. Sea salts are also thought to promote healing and contain anti-inflammatory and muscle soothing properties, which will be of benefit post-workout, to relieve menstrual cramps, and to reduce the pain of arthritis. I suffer from severe cramps as well as arthritis in most of my joints, so this bath bomb is truly a miracle for me!

This bomb also contains lovely ingredients that hail from dry land, such as lemon oil and lavender. Lemon oil brightens and cleanses skin, while lavender acts as an aromatic to promote relaxation as well as soothe joint pain. The combination of the two create a light, clean scent. The lemon oil is uplifting, while the lavender is calming, and the salt and seaweed give a hint of the sea.

I found this bath bomb very softening, and I felt refreshed, relaxed, and clean once I got out of the tum. My skin was lightly fragranced for a while afterward. I really enjoyed the relief this bomb brought my joints, and I will surely be repurchasing it as a staple in my stash. I know some people have concerns about the seaweed because it leaves behind quite a lot of it, and while this is not an issue for me, I can understand how it would be worrisome. An easy solution would be to drop the bomb into the oe of an old pair of tights and cut it off at the ankle, (or wrap it up in cheesecloth), secure the top, and drop it in the bath. this way, the bomb is free to dissolve in the water and release its nutrients, but the messy stuff stays inside the little sachet. It’s also a great way to recycle a pair of ruined tights!

Rating: 5 out of 5

Price: £3.50/$6.50

Status: Permanent

Vegan?: Yes

Would I repurchase?: Yes

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.

I took a risk ordering this from the Kitchen, and after using it multiple  times, I’m not really sure where I stand with it in regards to scent. It’s hard to bring up Supertramp without someone comparing it to Tramp and Smaragadine. Tramp was a well loved shower gel that was discontinued a few years ago, and is highly sought after. I am not sure why i was discontinued, I heard that it was because it contained oakmoss, and there were new regulations involving the ingredient, but Lush Still carries a handful of other products with oakmoss, so I’m not really sure. Either way, Tramp was removed, the oakmoss was taken out, a plethora of new ingredients were added, and it was renamed and reissued as Supertramp. Many people say that with the addition of the new ingredients, it’s a Tramp and Smaragadine hybrid, that falls short of both of the originals.

I never had the chance to smell Tramp or Smaragadine, but the scent of Supertramp is complex, and I really cannot decide if I like it or hate it. The scent that I find to me the most noticeable in the bottle is a woody, spicy scent that I imagine comes from the patchouli, sandalwood, ginger and allspice . Under this earthy spice, the peppermint is very noticeable. Though this product contains rose and lavender, I really can’t detect any floral notes whatsoever. The fruity, citrus notes of petitgrain are also hard to detect. In the shower, the scent is almost completely taken over by a smokiness from the patchouli. This is a very masculine scent, if you’re looking for something sweet, floral, or fruity, you certainly won’t find it here. While I like a more earthy, musky, and spicy scent, I cannot decide if this is just a little too over the top for me,

As a shower gel, this thick, emerald green liquid performs well. It lathers beautifully in a netted sponge and cleanses the skin thoroughly without drying you out. The white horehound and peppermint leaf infusion is wonderful for stimulating circulation, and helps to give skin a healthy glow.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Price: £11.95

Status: Kitchen Exclusive, Last released Oct 9th, 2015

Scent Family: Supertramp Bubble Bar

Vegan?:  Yes

Would I repurchase? Probably not

Ingredients: White Horehound and Peppermint Leaf, Herb, Rose Petal and Lavender Flower Infusion, Water (Aqua), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Lauryl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Fine Sea Salt, Organic Orange Peel Decoction, Patchouli Oil, Petitgrain Oil,  Pimento Berry Oil, Sandalwood Oil, Ginger Oil, Plantain Vinegar Gel, Perfume, Methyl Ionone, Eugenol, Limonene, Linalool, Chlorophyllin, Methylparaben.