CyNTHia SYlviA STouT

Cynthia Sylvia Stout may have been created especially for those who need to control their fluffy hair, but don't take this literally - my fine, straight hair is in love with this shampoo! As with many Lush products, you need to be open to new experiences to try this one out. Cynthia is bottled and looks conventional; however, its ingredients may surprise you and its scent may make some people walk away... but you shouldn't! Cynthia Sylvia Stout is made with organic beer, cognac oil, balsamic vinegar, yeast infusion, fresh lemon juice, and lemon oil. It does smell a bit strange at first, as you may figure, but the smell (mostly balsamic vinegar and beer) fades away when you lather it up, and it disappears completely when you apply a conditioner. If you keep an open mind knowing that those ingredients are excellent for your hair, you won't even mind the smell! I am very glad I gave Cynthia Sylvia Stout a chance: It's become one of my favorite shampoos! It defines my haircut, bringing out an exquisite deep brown shade and loads of shine to it. I know: Sometimes fear can keep us from trying out something new. But if fear is what you feel, you can always share it with a salesperson at Lush, and she is likely to give you a free sample of this shampoo. Whether you get a sample or buy your own bottle, don't forget to shake it well, as the stout tends to sit in the bottom of the bottle. To be environmentally correct, instead of throwing your empty bottle away, take it to Lush for a refill of this shampoo -- and yes, I AM assuming that you'll want to buy this shampoo over and over ;)

SyMPaThY foR ThE SkIN (Body Lotion)

Sympathy for the Skin is a body lotion made with fresh bananas (... that's right! FRESH BANANAS!). But if you don't like the idea of smelling like a banana, you don't have to worry: This lotion smells like freshly made vanilla/custard ice-cream! Its scent is delicate and subtle, and I would assume that most people could fall in love with it. You might find several tiny banana seeds in the lotion, but this will not be an issue once you put the lotion on your skin. The seeds seem to disappear (magically?!). But maybe the best thing this lotion has to offer is its moisturizing power, that's enough to kiss winter's dryness "goodbye!!!". I like to use this lotion before bedtime, as its texture and scent are so soothing to the senses... and above all, it is a lovely feeling to wake up in the morning having baby-bottom's skin :) Sympathy for the Skin is made with vanilla, almond oil, fresh bananas, cocoa butter, glycerine, sandalwood oil and lemon oil. A final tip: Keep his one away from your pets, especially if they are banana-lovers such as dogs, monkeys and ferrets! And watch out -- When it comes to pets, there are better ways to wake up in the morning than being licked out of bed!

SeaNIcK (solid shampoo)

Very few shops have the "nerve" to offer unusual products to their customers. In the era of packaged goods, Lush invested in a product that can make anyone skeptical: a line of naked solid shampoos! No silicone. No preservatives. No packaging. No labels. No waste! This is a truly "green" choice we can make. Yes it looks like soap, but it doesn't feel like one. Lush's solid shampoos are made with natural ingredients and healthy essential oils that pamper our hair and our scalp. Seanick is an amazing choice, and my hair's favorite :) It is especially good for fine hair that needs volume (like mine!!). It's made with seaweed (for softness) and sea salt (for volume), plus lemon (for shine), orange, and jasmine oils. This shampoo makes my hair feel SO LIGHT! The extra volume is clearly there, but without weight or flyaways. Using a solid shampoo is as easy as using a bar of soap: You can either rub the bar between your palms to lather it up (and it really lathers!), or you can use the bar directly onto your hair. Either way, this solid shampoo goes a long way - it's equivalent to three bottles of regular shampoo; thus, it's worth every penny! I heard that Seanick is the solid version of Lush's famous volumizing shampoo, Big, but in my opinion, Seanick gives you a plus -- its generous quantity of essential oils moisturizes and soothes your hair better than Big (which is made with 50% sea-salt). Still, Seanick is recommended for normal hair, and may not be the best choice for those whose hair is dry. Anyway, if you have dry hair, but you REALLY want to fall in love with Seanick, just make sure to follow it with a good conditioner, then you both (Seanick and you) can live happily ever after! Environmentally correct volume and shine... ... here we go! ;)

ThE OLivE BrAnCH (shower gel)

When I say that some scents grow on you, I mean it! The Olive Branch is the most perfect example I can think of: I *disliked* this shower gel at first. I tried it, didn't like it, gave it two stars, and assumed that I would not buy it again. Maybe the problem was that I expected to smell olives in it, but the olives were not there. Luckily I didn't stop using it, and I started to like it gradually, after each shower. Call it irony, but now I think The Olive Branch smells like a Branch of Heaven, and it is possibly my favorite shower gel from Lush... depending on the mood in which I am :) The "gel" is actually very watery, so using a loofah will only waste it. Instead, I prefer to rub a little of it in my bare palms, as it lathers a lot, and it goes a long way too. The Olive Branch is quite moisturizing, and it has a wonderful scent that does linger way after you leave the shower - just LOVELY! It's made with vine leaf infusion, fresh mandarin juice, olive oil, bergamot oil, orange absolute, sea salt, and gardenia. We have to shake the bottle before using it, because the olive oil separates from the rest of the gel (as you can see in the picture above). Despite liking it so much, I don't use this shower gel daily. I need to be in a special mood to use this one, as this is a very lively, energizing scent - special for those days when you feel like singing in the shower! ;)

HOneY TraP (lip balm)

I also fell into this trap! Finding the perfect lip balm is never an easy task - I was never happy with the ones that I got at pharmacies and department stores, until the day I found Honey Trap! This is the best lip balm I've ever bought, and it's exactly what I've been looking for all these years. It is extra-moisturizing, and delicious! Think of honey, white chocolate and peppermint... Yummy! I use this lip balm at night and it's still beautiliciously put in the morning – after all, this is the most hydrating of Lush's lip balms. Its downside is that it's not in a stick, so you need to put your finger in it :( However, if you don't like that idea (I don't!), you can use a lip brush to apply it. It's also easy to find retractable lip brushes that you can keep in your bag if you want to use your lip balm on-the-go. Honey Trap is made with honey, white chocolate, peppermint, oatmeal infusion, vanilla, wheat-germ, almond oil, orange oil, beeswax, shea butter, olive oil, and glycerin. It sounds like an orchestra of yumminess!

ANgeLs On BaRE SkIN (cleanser)

Angels on Bare Skin may intimidate some people because of its look and texture, but this is Lush’s most popular cleanser for a good reason – it cleanses, moisturizes and exfoliates the skin, all at once. It’s good for all skin types, and its exfoliation is very mild, so it can be used on a daily basis. Maybe our biggest challenge is to learn how to use this cleanser – we need to make a thick paste with it, to reach a texture that reminds us of what a facial mask would look and feel like. This takes some practice, but it does get easier every time. It smells good and soothing in my opinion (mostly lavender scent), but it's a bit weird at first. Anyway; like with other Lush products, this is a scent that will most certainly grow on you, even if you don’t fall head over hills with it from the start. Angels on Bare Skin is recommended for all skin types, and is made with lavender oil, rose absolute, lavender flowers, and ground almonds. Lavender oil has antiseptic, antimicrobial, anti-bactericidal, and antiviral properties - yes, lavender IS the "universal oil." The scent of lavender is also balancing, calming, and soothing, when used in small quantity.

FiGs aNd LeAVeS (soap)

I am a fan of creamy, moisturizing soaps. It's no surprise I fell in love with a soap that's so underrated: Figs and Leaves. This may not be the most attractive soap from Lush (it's not pink, glittery, or wiggly), but it is the most moisturizing I've ever found - I don't even need body lotion after using it! I like to use this soap in the shower, but not directly under the water (otherwise the soap will melt away). Figs and Leaves comes with fig seeds and pieces of leaves that will not exfoliate the skin like porridge would, but they will give you a mild "massage," and a certain glow that will bring a smile to your lips :) Its scent is somewhat sweet, but mature... mmmmm... difficult to explain, but it's worth the try. Remember that Lush is usually very generous when it comes to free samples. They will also let you try their soaps in the shop (hands only, of course!) before you decide whether you want them, so you can't go wrong with it! Figs and Leaves is made with figs, aloe vera, coconut oil, sunflower oil, ylang ylang, and orange blossom. Ylang Ylang is known for its sensuous and stimulating properties; it's a warm, uplifting, and meditative scent. Ylang Ylang also balances the oil produced by skin and scalp, treating overly dry and overly oily spots.

FReSh FaRmAcy (cleanser)

Fresh Farmacy is a drying cleanser that needs to be used with care if your skin is not super oily. It is recommended for sensitive oily skin, to avoid breakouts. It works wonders for my oily T-zone combination skin ONLY because I learned to use it correctly -- I use it at the end of the day when my skin is oilier, dirtier, and in need of rest. I don't rub the cleanser directly on my face. I don't rub it all over my face either - I rub it in my palms, and apply it only on my T-zone, using the precision of my fingertips - I DON'T want this cleanser to touch delicate or dry areas of my face; I made this mistake before, and my skin turned out to be a lifeless reflective squeaky surface - similar to a shiny bald head (sorry, bald pals!); not very pretty or healthy... but the pros are many when you use it correctly: It controls excessive oil; it soothes your pours (with calamine); it makes you feel soooo clean... and it lasts long if used the way I do. A salesperson at Lush also said that a small piece of FF can be applied directly on pimples (like a pen), because it can help them dry out fast. The recommendation was for a friend of mine, and I don't know if it has worked for her, but I think it makes sense. Fresh Farmacy is made with calamine, chamomile, rose absolute, and lavender oil.

PoRRiDgE (soap)

Porridge is my very favorite exfoliator. I use it daily on my hands, and weekly in the shower. At first I thought this soap might be too rough, but now I think it's just perfect! To go easy on my skin, I first rub it gently in my palms to make it lather, and only then I use it on my body, when I can slide the soap gently. Lathering is an important part of the process to prevent the oats from being too abrasive. Porridge lathers fairly well, and its lather has the healthy oils that will moisturize our skin during the exfoliation. The more you use Porridge, the more the oats will show, and the more exfoliating it will become. I avoid using it directly under the shower, because the running water can make the soap melt quickly, and we don't want that, right? And the scent... oh, it makes me want to EAT it! It's made with oatmeal, fresh orange juice, coconut oil, and sunflower oil. Yum!!

HoNeY I WaShEd ThE KiDs (soap)

At first I thought the scent of honey and caramel would be too sweet, but I found out that this soap makes me feel like a child again, and I let go of all worries when I use it :) HIWTK is a soothing soap if used at the end of the day, and I also like to keep a chunk of it at work, as its scent tends to de-stress me during the day. The youtube Lush Channel shows us this soap's making process, and I find it fascinating! It feels good to know what we are putting on our skin, especially when they are yummy ingredients -- It's made with honey, coconut oil, orange oil, and bergamot. It lathers well too, especially for hand-washing. The texture on top is real beeswax, and it makes the soap look great! I heard of people who use it for exfoliation, but I'm not a fan. I heard that by ordering it online you might not get the beeswax layer (only the lighter creamy part of the soap), so you might want to visit a Lush shop to buy this one.