One of two new roulades for this year's seasonal range, Candy Cane is probably one of the least talked about products of the year. Sharing its name with both the bubble bar and the previously released soap - two very different products scent wise, I wasn't sure what to expect when I bought and first used the generous chunk I picked up on Oxford Street a couple of weeks back.
Modelled on the popular Christmas sugar-encrusted delicacy, this roulade is closer in smell to the soap but definitely not a direct replica by any means. Containing fresh mint and cypress oil, this shower soap has a gentle and mildly refreshing minty aroma with just a hint of sweetness - one that is nothing as potent or as strong as the likes of Christingle or Freeze but would still appeal to those who like these items. This is for those who want something subtle but equally as invigorating and fresh-feeling as mint products usually are.
Out of its wrapping, this adorable roulade sports a white and red stripy outer layer, which is made from honeydew melon pulp and can be utilised along with the softer inside. when you're cleaning yourself in the shower. This slightly harder outer shell not only protects the product from drying out as quickly as it might have done without it, but also helps to stop this roulade being as slippery and hard-to-hold while in use.While I wouldn't say this product is as rich or as sugary as the popular edible version, it offers a gentle mint smell with just a hint of sweetness that I associate with the inclusion of both the cocoa butter and cedarwood oil. Yet despite being such a delicate smell, you can smell this roulade throughout your shower and it leaves a lasting, albeit very subtle smell on your skin for a short while after you've towelled yourself down. I feel as if a dusting powder in the same fragrance would be a lovely addition to prolong this smell even further, and I hope that the company choose to branch out this scent family in the near future.
How you use Candy Cane is down to personal preference. Some choose to use the whole chunk at once - massaging it in circular motions across their skin to generate a thick, soapy lather to clean themselves with. This is effective if you're not sure how much you need to use each time, although I would recommend that you pay the slice down once you have finished to prevent any shrinkage when not in use.
Others such as myself prefer to break off a generous piece and stimulate the lather between our hands, before transferring the creamy suds across the skin as described above. This means that you're not wetting the whole piece and generally seems to generate more lather. Furthermore, I find that using this method gives you more of a chance to stimulate the oils and butters in the roulade and get a really nice thick, creamy coat of soap and fragrance to clean yourself with.
Impressively, I found that this roulade was really moisturising on my skin, and my hands and body felt both sleek and silky-smooth. This is rare for me as I tend to find that most soaps leave my skin feeling clean but rather parched afterwards, and I always have to rely on a moisturiser to bring back some of the oils that have been stripped from my pores. Furthermore, the light, sweet dusting of mint lingers on your skin for a good hour after you've exited the shower and this leaves your skin feeling really invigorated.This roulade makes an exceptional alternative as a soap, and when used this way I find that it lasts just as long, if not longer, than a normal 100g block from Lush's regular line. In its favour, Candy Cane is more moisturising and easier to use than a block of rigid soap, not to mention more generous with its lather - and for those that find soaps dry out their skin, this would be a great product to get your hands on.
While I wouldn't rave about this product for its fragrance, and I wouldn't say the design is anything that's going to win any awards, Candy Cane is a product that I feel is going to slip by many this season, and only once its gone will consumers realise that they should have invested a little more in the beauty. Although I was not expecting to purchase any more than my initial chunk, after the positive experience I have had so far, I will be buying another piece to see me through the early winter months of next year.
Vegan?: Yes.
2016 Price: £5.95 for 100g.
Year Of Original Release: 2016.
