Kiss Me Quick Business Wash Card

When Lush first opened their first flagship store on Oxford Street, the number of new and innovative products that graced the shelves was a little overwhelming. Yet none of these exclusives were as interesting or as unique as their array of, what the company term 'wash cards'. Seemingly the first of its kind, these strange looking sheets are a solid alternative to the usual selection of gels and jellies that they offer. While I am not completely convinced of their true merit just yet, I recognise the fact that they work well as a novelty gift, and definitely spruce up the typical shower if you find yourself bored of your normal, average, every- day washing routine. 

Kiss Me Quick Business Wash Card is yet another step in a new direction - this time taking the idea of the solid shower sheet and doctoring a slightly new concept from it. Matching the size of a debit card, or indeed a business card as the name suggests, this limited edition Valentine's Day item has many uses. 

Firstly, the size of this card means that this will slip easily into a purse or a side pocket of a bag/suitcase - making it a great travelling companion that wont weigh you down. Due to their format not allowing for any sort of spillages whatsoever, this solid rendition of a shower gel also guarantees to be leakage-free, and suitable to take on board a plane as part of your hand luggage.

Secondly, the lack of any active moisture means that the sheets are preservative free, which means that they should have a much longer shelf life, and are also able to be utilised much further when it finally does come into contact with water. Furthermore, they don't contribute to package waste in the slightest, making it far more environmentally friendly than their other shower counterparts. 

So in a sense, I do actually recognise their true worth as a product, and can honestly see the merit of using them in replacement of other liquid alternatives. However, I'm still not convinced that these could or will ever be able to rival the jelly and gel variations that Lush already do so well.

What is different about this wash card, when compared to previous renditions, is the fact that the base ingredient featured here is fresh apple pulp as opposed to melon. Known to contain antioxidants and vitamins that both nourish and refresh the skin, apples are naturally full of malic acid, which gently removes any dead skin build that may be causing your skin to appear dull and uneven, and adds radiance almost immediately

Sharing its scent with the 29 High Street range, Kiss Me Quick features a combination of ylang ylang, lemon and lime oils to give the wash card its key notes, as well as tonka, geranium and jasmine to build upon these layers and help to create a well-rounded yet refreshing complex aroma.

The ylang ylang is definitely at the forefront here, offering a sweet and very heady floral aroma - one that is encased within the citrus oils, which bring about a very fruity, almost honeyed aroma. The lemon and lime oils not only give this shower sheet a bright, uplifting fragrance, but are known for their cleansing properties, and the ability to leave your skin looking and feeling radiant afterwards. 

Underneath this there is gentle reminder from the tonka absolute, which serves as the base smell - giving the product a gentle muskiness: a creaminess, while supporting the other main components and creating a shower sheet that is as rich as it is sultry.  

As far as my senses are concerned, Kiss Me Quick is an almost perfect replica of the liquid perfume, once it has had a short while to warm on the skin; as well as the shower gel, when its notes have been stimulated under the warmth of a hot shower. Not only will the fragrance perk you up and stimulate your senses, but act as a blanket of warmth when the world outside is too bitter to face.

What is great about this wash card is that it can also be used as a shampoo, which helps to lighten your load even more when you're travelling. Having only tried this out once, I can honestly say that it left my hair feeling silky-smooth and incredibly clean - not to mention the fact that the scent radiated from my locks for hours afterwards. 

While it lathered up quickly, and was equally as generous as a regular shower gel in terms of the amount of 'foam' it produced, I was a little disappointed to discover that the sheet near-on disintegrated when coming into contact with the running water. This is definitely not a product you should use in one go. Instead, to get the most out of it, I would recommend that you break off a small piece (1cm), add a little water away from the direct flow of the shower, and then massage it across your skin in a circular motion. 

The wash card produces a light, fluffy and very fragrant lather, and you can easily clean your entire body with the recommended size piece. In that sense it is equally as effective, if not more so than the shower gel variation, and works as a great 'top up' for those who love the scent but don't have the privilege of owning the shower gel.  

As a gift, or as a product to store for future travel plans, this is a lovely limited edition to invest in. Although I won't be replacing my shower gels anytime soon, this business card has definitely sparked my interest in the shower sheets a little more, and I will be grabbing a few of these before they're discontinued. While a part of me considers £2 to be a little expensive for the size of the item, I can also see how its price tag makes it easily accessible for those on a budget, and who perhaps don't wish to invest the amount it costs for a full-sized version.   

Quantitative Ingredients: Fresh Apple Pulp, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Perfume, Cellulose Sodium polyacrylate, Ylang Ylang Oil, Lemon Oil, Lime Oil, Sandalwood Oil, Tonka Absolute, Jasmine Absolute, Gardenia Extract, DRF Alcohol, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Citral, *Eugenol, *Limonene, *Linalool Alpha-Isomethyl ionone, Benzyl Alcohol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Coumarin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde, Yellow Lustre, Colour 14700, Colour 45410, Colour 45380:3.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £2 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
29 and a Half Soap
29 High Street Liquid Perfume
29 High Street Solid Perfume
29 High Street Shower Gel
HQ Perfume
Kiss Me Quick Business Wash Card

Secret Santa Ballistic

Scrumptious Shower Smoothie

It's not very often that I don't recognise a product that appears on the Lush Kitchen menu. In fact, since the introduction of the Kitchen some three years ago, there have only ever been two items that have stumped me into having to carry out a little research. The first was Aqua Mirabilis Underwater Body Butter, of which I didn't even realise there were two variations of the same product, and the second was this recent release.

Scrumptious Shower Smoothie reads exactly as it means to go on. While the company are known for using witty puns to name their products, and using tongue-in-cheek taglines to entice their customers, this one is as literal as you can get. At first glance, it could even be accused of being a little presumptuous, and has a lot to live up to given the bold statement that is its name. Thankfully, Lush are fully aware of how to make something both smell and behave scrumptiously, and I cannot stress how amazing this product is.

First released over seventeen years ago, this shower smoothie has been described as being both like a 'blueberry parfait' and a fruit salad. Boasting a myriad of different fruity ingredients, it is no wonder that the outcome is a product that completely blew my mind upon first sniff, and one that I continue to use on an almost daily basis.

With a base made from a blueberry infusion, and a combination of fresh orange juice, mashed bananas, and lemon and lime oil making up the other key components, this shower smoothie smells like the world's greatest desert. From the tub I could immediately smell both the bananas and the blueberries - a pairing that produces a rich, creamy fruity smell, and reminds me a little of homemade ice cream. It's by no means an overly powerful smell, but it's strong enough that you'll be hard-pressed not to want to stick a spoon in the tub and shove a mountain of the smoothie into your mouth. Disclaimer: I should probably add that curiosity got the better of me and I did attempt to eat some, which only heeded disappointing results.

Both the lime and the lemon oils are also present in the aroma of this smoothie. However, there isn't any citrus notes to observe here; it's strictly a fruity smell, and one that is interestingly sweet without being what I would describe as uplifting or zesty in any way. Strangely, you almost get a note of raspberry bubblegum when you smell this in the pot - a factor that just made me fall in love with this product even more.

For those unsure what a shower smoothie is, Scrumptious is like a soap that has been pulverised into a liquid, and had extra oils and butters added to make it more moisturising for the skin. You use it in the same way you would a shower gel - lathering it across your body and then washing it away under running water. 

Impressively, I found that this particular smoothie foamed up a lot better than most of the other ones I have tried from Lush. Usually, I find that they coat the skin but don't work in the same way that both a soap or a shower gel would be expected to do. However, Scrumptious Shower Smoothie lathers up a treat and you need very little to clean your whole body with. For this reason, I would say that this is one of the better valued variations, and lasts a lot longer than most of its siblings. Judging by how much I have used so far, I would say that you could easily get a good 20+ full body washes out, and even more you're only using it on specific areas.     

As if the fragrance wasn't enough to make me fall in love with this product to begin with, I was amazed to find that I could smell it on my skin for a good couple of hours after I had towelled myself down. Moreover, I found that if I used this before I went to bed, the smell of fresh blueberries and banana would still be on my pillow the next morning, which was a welcoming reward first thing in the morning.

I should point out that I would refrain from using this on areas that have recently been shaved, or use this as an alternative to shaving foam, as I found that it irritated my pores and caused them to either sting a little, or come out in a rash for a short white after bathing. However, this rule applies to most of Lush's soap-based products, so I wouldn't expect anything different with this one.

Overall, this is by far my favourite shower smoothie for Lush, and its name really does describe how this product smells and works in the shower. While my skin didn't feel as moisturised as a shower gel would make it, it was definitely a step up from a normal piece of soap, and I feel a smoothness once I had towelled myself down.

Ultimately, I really hope that the Lush Kitchen choose to bring this back in the near future because I'm getting dangerously close to finishing my first tub, and the idea of not having this as a permanent fixture in my bathroom, is a little disheartening.

Quantitative Ingredients: Blueberry Infusion, Walnut Oil, Glycerine, Vegetable Soap, Fresh Orange Juice, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, Fresh Banana, Lime Oil, Lemon Oil, Methyl Paraben, Propyl Paraben.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £10.50 for 250g.

Year Of Original Release: 1998.

    

Cupid Bath Bomb

There are certain products that just make sense.This may seem like a strange statement to make, but let me explain. Occasionally, Lush will release an item that leaves me wondering why it hasn't been brought out before - a product that just 'fits' so well with the season it's a part of; one perfectly suited to the format it's been molded into. Cupid Bath Bomb is one such item.

While I won't claim that it's anywhere near being one of my favourite bath bombs, the design lends itself to being the perfect Valentine's gift for a loved one. Furthermore, the fragrance epitomises the very essence of romance - something that combines the sweet with the floral; the fruity with the musky.

Making its debut for the 2017 Valentine's Day range, this bath bomb is on the small side - weighing in at roughly 150g. Yet despite this, the product is still strong enough to contend with some of the bigger variations, and pretty enough to be excused for its size. The £2.95 price tag more than justifies the smaller design, although I should point out that this is definitely a 'one-bath' item. 

Sharing its scent with Razzle Dazzle Bath Melt, Cupid boasts a combination of lime, bergamot and violet absolute as the key ingredients. However, it is the inclusion of the fresh raspberry juice that really makes the biggest impression. Upon first sniff, I could immediately make out a musky, berry-led raspberry smell; it's almost as if someone has extracted the starchy components of the fruit and ladled them straight into this bath bomb.

Alongside this, the violet leaf adds its own note of floral, which elevates the fruity element of the bath bomb and adds a subtle smell that reminds me a little of Kerbside Violet Liquid Perfume. While I wouldn't say the rose is particularly strong in this fragrance, it does serve its purpose - adding sweet notes to the raspberry and more musky undertones to the violet.

Fans of Razzle Dazzle will be pleased to know that this ballistic mimics the smell perfectly, and I could see little difference between the two. While I believe that the bath bomb does leave a more powdery impression on the senses, this is no doubt due to the format it is in rather than the addition of the violet leaf, which is not present in the original bath melt.

Upon contact with the water, this bath bomb begins to fizz rather quickly - floating on the surface while the ends of the arrows ebb their vivid pink colour into the water. Within a matter of seconds however, the bath bomb seems to slow down, and the remaining part floats silently in the tub - bubbling and frothing for a good three to four minutes while streams of white etch themselves throughout the tub.

Once the bath bomb has dissipated, you're left with a translucent pink bath, and the odd remnants of the foam decorating the surface in swirls and patterns. While I wouldn't say that the colour of the water blew me away, or that the bath bomb's performance was anything to write home about, I was definitely impressed that the smell remained present throughout the whole experience. Even when using much stronger products alongside Cupid, I could still detect it's aroma on my skin and within the room. It certainly wasn't the strongest bath bomb I have ever used, but it packs up punch for the size that it is.

What is good about this seasonal special is that the inclusion of the various fruity oils means that your skin is left feeling really clean and clear, and my face in particular felt much smoother and far more radiant after towelling myself down. Despite this, I wouldn't say that this is the most moisturising of bath bombs, and it may benefit you to add a bath melt in as well, or use a massage bar or body lotion afterwards. 

Lush state that this is a great bath bomb to use to 'ease your nerves before a hot date'. However, you might find it difficult to resist the allure of Cupid, and may end up spending date night in the bath while you bathe in its pretty pink waters. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Persian Lime Oil (Citrus aurantifolia), Bergamot Oil (Citrus Aurantium bergamia), Violet Leaf Absolute (Viola odorata), Cream of Tartar (Potassium bitartrate), Rose Petal Powder (Rosa damascena), Fresh Raspberry Juice (Rubus Idaeus), Water (Aqua), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, *Limonene, *Linalool, *Eugenol, Fragrance, Red 4, Red 33, Red 27. 

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £2.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:

Cupid Bath Bomb

Razzle Dazzle Bath Melt

Video coming tonight!

Calavera Bath Bomb

You can never have too many Calacas-scented products in your life, that's for sure. It's one of those fragrance families that inspires somewhat of a cult following, and I am a fully fledged member of that movement - captivated by the very essence of its simple but delectable, mouth-watering lime aroma.

While I have already developed a love affair with the shower gel, jelly, perfume and Enchanter Bath Bomb, I was very excited when the Lush Kitchen announced that they were releasing Calavera Bath Bomb for the first time. One of the products that teased me relentlessly when it was made available as part of the US Retro range, I was so happy to be finally able to try it out for myself. And it didn't disappoint.

Released at part of the 2010 limited edition Halloween range, this is a bath bomb inspired by the Day Of The Dead festivities. Featuring a generous helping of lime and neroli oil, Calavera is a fresh, uplifting fruity bath bomb. While not as sour as the actual fruit, Lush have managed to find the perfect combination of zestiness and sweetness, and while I still stipulate that it reminds me of candy, it still retains a very natural fragrance that I love more and more with each use.

Although the bath bomb doesn't look as bright or as appealing as many of the other products in this range, you only have to pop one in the water to realise that you shouldn't judge a product by its outer shell. Sporting a cream shell with etches of pink, green and blue as light decoration, this bath bomb is far more colourful than may be immediate obvious.

Upon contact with the water, this ballistic begins to foam wildly - bubbling and frothing quietly while sending out waves of white across the tub. At the same time, small pink and yellow bubbles begin to form on the surface of the bath bomb, and as the product starts to get smaller, pockets of yellow and pink begin to ebb into the water. 

Towards the end of the show, vibrant strands of both yellow and blue explode out of the bomb and pattern the surface with swirls of vivid colour. As Calavera divides into two, and more and more colour seeps into the bath tub, the product reveals a number of Marigold petals in its centre - a surprise I was not expecting at all, and one that made the experience all the more magical. 
   
Known as a symbol of death during the Day Of The Dead festivities, these flowers are often sprinkled across graves and alters - used as a way to guide the  deceased back to their loved ones. The attractive scent of the marigold is said to draw them back to earth for the yearly Dia de los Muertos reunion. What I loved about the use of them in this bath bomb, is that the movement of the water made it appear as if the flowers were almost insect-like, and the petals moved and swayed like insect legs, which was a little creepy at first.

Once the bomb had fully dissolved, I was left with a fragrant bath that was coated with an eerie blanket of white foam. The water was a golden yellow-colour and there were swirls of blue painted across the surface in which the marigolds rested like wilted flowers.

While this bath bomb is softer in scent when compared to The Enchanter, Calavera is in no way subtle, and much like Monsters' Ball, offers a slightly more sophisticated take on the Calacas fragrance. It's almost as if the neroli has been given a little more responsibility in this format and the lime has taken the tiniest of steps backwards to allow it so. Furthermore, I actually found that this product softens the water more than the aforementioned bath bomb does, and my skin was beautifully soft and smooth after I had exited the bath. 

As the other Calacas-scented ballistics happen to be two of my all-time favourite bath bombs, I was not expecting this one to be able to stand up next to its competition. However, I feel as if this is a great addition to a fragrance family that I hope they keep extending, and I will definitely be buying a handful of these next time they are available again.  

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Lime Oil (Citrus aurantifolia), Olibanum Resinoid (Boswellia carterii), Neroli Oil (Citrus Aurantium amara), Marigold Petals (Calendula officinalis), Sugar, Cream of Tartar (Potassium bitartrate),Cocamide DEA, Lauryl Betaine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Benzyl Salicylate, *Citral, *Limonene, *Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Perfume, Colour 45350, Colour 45410, Colour 61570, Colour 42090.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £4.25 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2010 

      

Reindeer And Robin FUN Bar

Fun is always a product that I forget to use - what with the extortionate number of shower gels and jellies that I currently own. Aside from any seasonal releases and limited editions, I never feel the need to add a bar to my basket when I'm picking up my regular products or simply browsing a store. Yet it's one that I rekindle my love for whenever I remember to take one into the bathroom with me. 

Designed to be both affordable and fun, these bars are as versatile and as effective as they are great value for money, and are the perfect stocking filler for fans old and new. For children, they offer a great incentive to have a bath, where they can get creative and make the experience a little more interesting for themselves; for adults, we can reap all of the benefits of this multi-use item while also satisfying that inner child at the same time.

Reindeer And Robin FUN is one of three new limited edition versions to make an appearance this season, and is perhaps one of my all-time favourite FUN variations over all. Sporting a brown, red, white and yellow design; a set of paper antlers and some dairy free chocolate buttons for decoration, this bar is all set for you to make your very own array of Christmas animals. 

While it may be the least visually beautiful out of the three seasonal FUN bars (who really wants to wash themselves with a brown soap?), you only have to peel back the wrapper to reveal a fragrance so delicious, that you'd be hard-pressed not to want to eat it.

Containing both lime oil and pepper oil, this FUN bar is described as being cola-scented, and I have to say that this is exactly what my initial impression of it was when I tried it out for the first time. The lime oil is not as sharp or as citrusy as the likes of Calacas and Nightwing. Instead, it's a very warming, creamy fruity smell - a little like a lime-scented buttercream on top of a vanilla cupcake.

Alongside this, the black pepper adds a rounded, rather aromatic element to the FUN bar, that doesn't smell anything like the spicy condiment that you grind over your food, nor like the rich, peppery note that's found in anything Lord Of Misrule scented. Instead, it almost deepens the lime smell so that it's far more long-lasting when in use and slightly different to anything else that Lush have released with lime as the key ingredient. 

It reminds me of cola bottle candy, just without the fizzy element that is normally present because of the sugar. While it's definitely a very foody smell, and not one that I'd say is in any way complex, it is really delicious - one that children and adults with a sweet tooth will definitely enjoy. Furthermore, when a chocolate chip slips into the piece you're using, you get a rich, decadent note of chocolaty goodness to contend with as well. Yum!

As with all of Lush's versatile bars, this one can be used in a variety of different ways - crumbled under the running tap to aid a bubble bath, or massaged into the hair for an alternative to shampoo. The most popular choice is to break a small piece off and massage it across your skin, much like a solid shower gel. No matter how you choose to use this FUN bar, the same results are always heeded; your hair and skin will feel super soft and clean, and the wonderful fragrance will linger on your body for an hour or two after you've towelled yourself down. 

This particular bar produces creates either a rusty-red or brown lather (depending on what part of the bar you use) and smells really strong throughout the entire experience. At first, I was a little worried about staining as there were  quite a few splashes of brown across bath tub. However, I quickly discovered that these splodges wash off with ease. Having said that, I would recommend that you're careful when using this around anything that could stain, as I can imagine that if any of suds were to get onto clothing, it would cause a bit of a mess.   

What is really great about Reindeer And Robin is that I could still detect the delectable scent on my skin over an hour after I had towelled myself down, and this stayed with me as I settled down to sleep. While I may have gone to bed with my mouth salivating, I sure enjoyed waking up to the smell of sweet limes on my pillow. 

Overall, this is by no means a product that has changed my life, or indeed one that offers anything particularly ground-breaking. However, the smell is really beautiful and I will be buying a number of these before the seasonal products fly off the shelves for good.

Quantitative Ingredients: Cornflour, Talc, Glycerine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Perfume, Persian Lime Oil, Aniseed Oil, Black Pepper Oil, Benzoin Resinoid, Gardenia Extract, *Citral, *Limonene, Bronze Splendour and Rosie Red Lustre, Colour 19140:1, Colour 19140, Colour 14700, Colour 17200, Dark Chocolate.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £5.95 for 200g.

Year Of Original Release: 2016. 

   

Papa Noel Face Wash Jelly

Lush are normally first to admit when something doesn't go right for them. As a company, they are very open with their customers about the fact that while they trial and test each and every one of their products before they hit the shelves,  the fact that they are handmade means that at times things will go wrong. The very nature of their self-preserving, freshly-made products means that there is a greater margin for error when compared to other, more synthetic, mass-produced items. 

Papa Noel Face Wash Jelly sparked quite an interest when it was first revealed at the beginning of the season. However, that excitement was short-lived when a few days later, the product was removed from the shelves. While speculation was all that the community were able to go on, it soon transpired that the formulation of the jelly wasn't quite right, and Lush decided to recall the product until they had figured out how to rectify the situation.

A few weeks later saw the return of the jelly, and the difference between the two was very much evident from the get-go. Firstly, the original was far thicker, heavier and more 'fluffy' in consistency - perhaps the main problem that led to the large product breaking apart almost immediately upon contact with water. The newer version is slightly smaller (weighing in at 180g as opposed to the 200g it started off as); a little shinier to the touch; and far more robust when in use than the original. Besides this, both jellies function in the same manner, and so far I have noticed little difference in how they leave my skin feeling and smelling after use.

The first of its kind, Papa Noel is a seasonal novelty that sees Lush taking two of their greatest achievements - shower jellies and facial skin care - and bringing the two worlds together. Featuring lime, jojoba and tangerine oil, this face wash may be in a league of its own in regards to design, but its aroma is the tried and tested fragrance you would expect to find in Enzymion Facial Cleanser.

Bright and fruity like a tropical cocktail, this jelly features lime oil to clear out the pores, tangerine oil to brighten the skin and jojoba to smooth and soften the complexion. While I haven't tried the two products together, I would imagine that the facial cleanser and this seasonal novelty would no doubt compliment each other well. 

To use, you can do one of two ways. I found that wetting it under the shower for a split second, before massaging it across the whole face, was the most effective way for me to wash my face. The jelly is robust enough that it doesn't break, big enough that it's easy to hold, and the fact that it sits away from the shower means that it helps to cool the face for those brief few moments on the skin. 

On the other hand, some people also choose to break off a small piece, lather this into their hands and then massage it across the face. Either way, the jelly is fairly generous so you don't need to hold or massage the product for long. Having using this daily for the last couple of weeks, I have not noticed any change in terms of the shape or size of Papa Noel, meaning that a single jelly would easily last you six months to a year, and this is with daily use.

Once on the skin, I chose to leave the lather on for a while before rising away, as I found that this left my face feeling very clean and gentle afterwards. The lather itself is not as fluffy as you'd normally expect a shower jelly to produce; instead what you get is a similar lather to that of a more oily soap. While I wouldn't say that my complexion felt highly moisturised after using this, my skin did feel clearer, and I could smell the fruity, almost 'tangy' aroma for a short while after exiting the shower. 

Funnily enough, it took me buying one of these to realise that I am not as invested in this smell as I once was. When I discovered Enzymion for the first time many years ago, I thought it was one of the best smells to come from Lush. Although I definitely enjoyed the scent of this, I wasn't as in awe of it as I was expecting it to be. Furthermore, as the original facial cleanser has a tendency to do, the scent of this gives off a note that I can only describe as smelling a little like plastic. It certainly wasn't off-putting, however it didn't sit well with me under the hot water.

While this is an enjoyable product, and one that I will continue to use regularly over the next few months, this is not something that I feel I can scream and shout about. I'm sure more products of this calibre will begin to seep into Lush's extensive range of facial products in the near future, but I can't say this is one of the best ideas I have seen in recent years. Quirky but not necessarily groundbreaking.  

Quantitative Ingredients: Glycerine, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Carrageenan Extract, Kaolin, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Perfume, Lilial, Organic Jojoba Oil, Tangerine Oil, Lime Oil, Titanium Dioxide, *Citral, *Limonene, *Linalool.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £7.95 for 180g 

Year Of Original Release: 2016.

Over And Over Bath Bomb

It is clear from recent releases that Lush have found themselves to be onto a winning streak when it comes to product design. While their increased sales are more than enough evidence to showcase their ever-growing popularity, it is not that often that they release a product that causes as much mass hysteria as the Roller Bath Bomb seems to do. 

Since the release of this limited edition (which seems to sell out quicker than the speed of light), the company have brought out two more variations of the half ballistic/half bath melt combination - neither anywhere near as popular as the aforementioned 'best seller', but both of which offer a wonderful and very unique aroma.

To clear things up, despite looking almost identical to Never Mind The Ballistics, Over And Over Bath Bomb has a very different scent. Although both are described as having fruity aromas, the former product is more of a creamy, peachy sort of fruity smell, whereas the latter is much more spritely and fresh-smelling.

Supposedly sharing its scent with a liquid perfume called What Would Love Do, this bath bomb was first released in limited quantities during Lush's Creative Showcase event back in September of this year. Sporting a yellow design and half-dipped in an orange bath melt, this bath bomb is both highly moisturising and beautiful to boot, not to mention the fact that it smells like a little ball of sunshine.

Containing both lime and fennel oil, my immediate thought upon sniffing this bath bomb was that it smelled very similar, if not identical to Five O'Clock Whistle Shower Smoothie, albeit a little bit sharper and with more of a citrusy kick to it. The lime is definitely not tart or bitter on the senses, but I wouldn't say that it's as rounded or as sweet as something like Nightwing Shower Jelly.

The inclusion of the fennel is what sets this bath bomb apart from the aforementioned smoothie, as this ingredient offers a very subtle herbal layer that sits underneath the lime. This component helps to elevate the citrusy fragrance and give Over And Over an almost grassy, slight aniseed-like afterthought.

Some fans have said that the smell of this reminds them of Lemslip, and I can see where they're coming from. While this is strictly a lime smell, and there isn't a lemon component to speak of, the bomb does give off a fresh, crisp clinical scent that wouldn't seem out of place in a detergent or a toilet cleaner. That's not to say it's an awful smell - far from it. However, I can definitely see the link between the two.

Upon impact with the water, Over And Over froths up immediately and forms a large igloo of yellow foam on the surface of the tub. Within seconds, the ballistic starts to shoot out streams of bright pink foam across the water, and it is the combination of these two colours that give the bath its rich, bright orange finish. The overall experience lasted for a good couple of minutes - with the bath bomb decorating the surface with swirls of vivid colours, not unlike The Enchanter. 

Unfortunately, I didn't find that this bath bomb was as potent with its fragrance once it had fully dissolved, although I was surprised to find that the smell stayed on my skin for a couple of hours after I had towelled myself down. Given the nature of lime-scented products, I do feel as if this is an ingredient that can sometimes disperse a lot quicker than other citrus smells - that's if it's not supported with other elements. As the fennel was the weaker of the two components, it wasn't much help at retaining the aroma for longer in the bath.

In its favour, this bath bomb is incredibly moisturising. Before I had even submerged myself under the water, I could see the swirls of oils on the surface of the water, and was slightly worried to see the build up of some of these around the outside of the tub. However, they washed away with ease after my bath and I didn't find that the experience was overly greasy at all; I would have happily washed my hair in the water and I don't envisage that it would have caused any problems if I did.

Instead the oils made the water seem far more sultry and thicker than your typical bath water, and both during and afterwards, melt skin felt super-nourished and in far better condition than it had been before I stepped into the tub. It almost felt as if the butters and oils had wrapped a protective layer of moisturise over my skin and for this reason, I didn't have to use a lotion or a massage bar afterwards.

Overall, this is a bath bomb that would work better in the warmer months, because although the ingredients help make this a product to use if you have parched skin and need it replenished, the fragrance is very uplifting and bright, and it's far lighter than what you'd necessarily want in the colder months. I really enjoyed using this for nourishment and because the smell is rather lovely, but I wouldn't say that this is one that I would want to stock up on, on a regular basis. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Lime oil, Fennel oil. 

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £4.25 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2016.