ProductWhores

Christmas Candy Box

I am the queen of last minute shopping around Christmas time (true story - one time I was still shopping on Christmas Eve and the mall actually closed around me and I had to basically roll under the Macy's security gate to get to the parking lot).  This year, I'm doing a little better than normal, but I still have two gifts to go out and buy on Christmas Eve.  If you're in the same boat, I suggest a quick trip to a LUSH store.  They have a ton of already wrapped gifts (which you'd understand my love for if you could see my sad wrapping skills) and each one of them is totally worth buying.  I can't even come close to picking a favorite, but I adore the Christmas Candy Box.  It has some of my all time favorite LUSH products in it (I've been obsessed with their Rock Star and Honey I Washed the Kids soaps for years) and some of the new soon to be classics (Bubble Gum Lip Scrub and Snow Fairy Lip Tint).  The box smells amazing when you open it - I can't imagine anyone opening it and not being instantly delighted.  (And if they aren't, maybe they don't deserve your gift.  I'm just saying...)  It's worth a trip to the mall on December 24th just to get your hands on one of these.  And if you keep it for yourself, who has to know?

Note: A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with LUSH

Groove To Some R&B

I kind of love that LUSH has more hair products now, although my wallet definitely feels differently, since it basically just falls open whenever I walk into a LUSH store.  R&B (which stands for revive and balance) is a hair softener that you work into your hair after it's dry to keep it soft and pretty all day.  (Ever since a frightening experience in college where my friends and I teased my hair to make it go with my vampire costume, I've been scared of hair products because it seriously took me like a week to get my hair back to normal.  I walked around for seven days with what looked like dreadlocks, so I'm always scared when I first put a hair product in that it's going to turn me into a long lost Marley sister again).  R&B, I'm happy to say, does nothing of the sort.  It smells amazing from the jasmine, orange flower, and bay leaf absolute, and you only need a small amount to keep your hair shiny and fight frizz.  (Frizz is my mortal enemy, especially with the rain this week).  It has a trio of oils in it (coconut, avocado, and olive) that moisturize your hair, but it doesn't make it look greasy at all.  (My other mortal hair enemy).  It's especially nice if you're putting your hair in a ponytail because you can just work in some R&B and then twist it up and go.  When you take your hair out at the end of the night, it'll be knot-free and super soft.  (With no dreadlocks!)  If only I could go back in time and give a tub to my poor, traumatized 18-year-old self...

Note:  A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with LUSH

Stay On The Grass

I'm definitely a city girl and could never imagine going back to living in a place where it's impossible to find a store open past 8pm, but the one thing I really miss about the suburbs is the smell of freshly cut grass when everyone was mowing their lawns on the weekend.  (I used to think using a lawnmower seemed like so much fun - I used to beg my dad to let me push ours around the backyard, which in retrospect seems kind of ridiculous because... why?  It's not like I loved yard work or any sort of manual labor and it wasn't even one of those cool riding ones that seem so awesome when you're a kid.  Thank God he never actually let me because I'm fairly certain I would have run over my feet, or possibly the dog).  LUSH's new Grass shower gel brings all those childhood memories back but in the best way possible.  It smells exactly like fragrant summer grass with slight notes of bergamot and neroli on top and it lathers up fantastically well.  It leaves my skin super soft and deliciously scented, but what I love most about it is how unique it is.  I mean, sure, I love food scented shower gels (oh, how I love them...) but a lot of brands have amazing bottles of those.  I don't think I've ever encountered another brand with a shower gel quite like this one, and it's what makes me love LUSH so much.  I've decided that I'm going to treat myself by using it in the shower after I come back from the gym, but if I'm lazy and don't go, I won't let myself use it.  Hopefully my love for LUSH will win out over my laziness most nights.  We'll see...

Note: A sample  of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with LUSH

Exfoliate Away...

 

I love a good exfoliator, but sometimes you can buy one that's perfect in a lot of ways, but doesn't actually exfoliate so well.  (Which always makes me wonder - who approved the product?  Shouldn't an exfoliator, you know, exfoliate?)  You won't have that problem with LUSH's new Brimstone Shower Scrub.  In fact, I kept having to remind myself to go easier when I was using it - it's that powerful.  For $4.95, you get a "block" of the product to take into the shower with you.  Then all you have to do is rub it over your wet skin to let the exfoliation magic begin.  Because it has sulphur (which normally smells... not great) they've used jasmine absolute in it as well to mask the scent, which works wonders because I thought it smelled delightful and not at all sulphury.  After I got out of the shower, my skin was so soft - you can definitely tell it works if you compare it to other, non-Brimstoned skin.  The only thing to take note of - much like a gremlin, you really shouldn't get your Brimstone wet because it seems to dissolve if it gets water poured directly on it (using it on wet skin is fine though).  I stupidly left mine under my dripping showerhead and it dissolved into a puddle of scrub overnight.  Although come to think of it, didn't gremlins actually multiply when they got wet?  How cool would it be if Brimstone could do that, too?  You could wake up to an entire shower full of Brimstones!  Who wouldn't love that?

Note:  A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with LUSH 

Sole Revival

Now that it's summer again, it's time to make sure your feet are in top shape for all the poolside lounging they're going to do.  (And for those of you who hate pools, all the cute sandals you'll be wearing!)  LUSH has just introduced a new Sole Revival kit, designed to get your tootsies looking great in no time.  For only $20, you get seven products.  It comes with:

• Volcano Foot Mask
• 2 Little Feet Bath Bombs
• Running to the Embassy Body Butter
• Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter
• Fair Trade Foot Lotion
• Pied de Pepper Foot Cream

I adore the Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter and the Pied de Pepper Foot Cream and I'm dying to try the Volcano Foot Mask, so I'm definitely in for this one.  (It would also make a really cute gift).  Sole Revival is a limited edition, so if your feet are in need of some TLC, head to LUSH as soon as possible.  See you there!

Lick Your Lips

Lip Scrubs are totally the product that I never think about (unlike lip gloss, which I think about ALL the time) until I go to use them.  And then I'm all, "Lip scrubs are great!  Why don't I use these more often?!"  My two recent finds are part of LUSH's new product releases and they're both great.  Sweet Lips is the scrub to use if you're a chocolate fan because it smells exactly like a chocolate bar.  (And I mean, exactly!)  It's actually hard to rub it on my lips and not want to lick them and eat it because it smells so delicious.  Mint Julip is (obviously) for those fans of mint - it has peppermint oil in it, which makes your lips all tingly after you use it.  It too is hard not to want to eat.  (Don't use these if you're on a diet because it'll immediately make you run to your nearest supermarket for some sort of dessert).  The scrubs both come in small little jars and to use, you just rub the scrub on your lips and exfoliate the area.  They both worked well for me - the scrubs are a little grainier than other lip scrubs I've used, but that's what makes them work so easily and it also means that you don't have to use a ton of product to get results.  They're also easily portable (although really, how often do you scrub your lips on the go?  That would be kind of weird.  It's definitely more of an "at home" treatment).  Plus, they're only $8.95 and the small jar will last you a long time, so it's economical.  And it gives you the perfect excuse to go check out LUSH's other new products, which is always a good thing.  Santa Monica, here I come... 

Note:  A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with LUSH

Get Naked

Earth Day is coming up soon (and it's the 40th anniversary) so I think we can all take a moment to do something good for the planet.  That could involve picking up trash or recycling the soda can you were going to be lazy enough to just throw away... or it could be buying something "naked" from LUSH.  In the LUSH world, "naked" means products without packaging, which is much better for the environment.  (Over 70% of their products fit in this category - they saved more than 21 tons of plastic in 2009!)
 
To celebrate Earth Day, LUSH is launching a limited edition Naked Kit which contains six of their most popular solid, unpackaged and preservative-free offerings in a biodegradable box.  Here's what's in the box:

• Mini Squeaky Green Shampoo Bar – this shampoo, which lasts 60 washes, will revitalize and stimulate the scalp.
• Mini Buffy Body Butter – LUSH’s Body Butters are one-of-a-kind.  Packed with natural butters to moisturize and sand to exfoliate, this bar will save time, money and the planet.
• Mini Therapy Massage Bar – soothe your body and your conscience with this 100% certified organic massage bar, a true LUSH invention made with natural oils and absolutely no preservatives. 
• Sexy Peel Soap – with uplifting lemon and lime, this soap (along with all of LUSH soaps) is made with a palm-free base.  A first of its kind, this revolutionary soap base has saved 133,000 pounds of palm oil from being produced, helping to save rainforests, indigenous people and orangutans in Southeast Asia. 
• Choice of Toner Tab – steam your face with these LUSH inventions.  Choose from: T Tree (oily skin), Vitamin C (aging skin), Vitamin E (all skin types), and Q10 (skin soothing).
• Cleanser: Fresh Farmacy or Coalface – LUSH uses the finest ingredients when creating our solid face cleansers.  Choose from: Fresh Farmacy (for troublesome skin) or Coalface (for oily skin).

Best of all, the Naked Kit is only $20, so it's totally affordable to treat yourself.  (You should probably still pick up some trash in honor of Earth Day, but at least with the Naked Kit you'll be able to get yourself clean once you're home.  Win win!)

Easter At LUSH

I've been seriously jonesing for a LUSH fix lately.  Despite the fact that there are a few stores around me, I've somehow managed to not set foot in one for moods, which is a tragedy.  I might have to rectify that this weekend, especially because I really want to check out all of their limited edition Easter products.  (Are they not adorable?)  Also, they're having a national Easter Event at every store in the U.S. on Saturday, April 3rd.  If you spend $40 (sooo easy to do) you'll snag yourself an Easter product FREE!  And the only thing better than LUSH is free LUSH, so I think we all know what I have to do.  Now I just have to decide where the best shopping around the LUSH stores near me is and travel appropriately...

Stock Up On LUSH

If you aren't all shopped out after the holidays (or if you're just tired of buying gifts for other people and want to treat yourself) this LUSH promotion is definitely for you.  From now until January 5th, they're having a special online promotion.  If you buy any holiday item or soap, you'll get two products of equal or lesser value absolutely free.  Or even better - if you buy a holiday pre-wrapped gift or a year round pre-wrapped gift, you'll get one of equal or lesser value free.  And to make things even easier, you don't even have to enter a promo code or find a coupon - you'll automatically be asked to select your free product (or products!) when you're checking out.  So simple!  (This could be very bad for my bank account).  But act quickly - the offer is limited to available inventory, so start filling your shopping cart now before all your favorites are gone.  You can check out all the products here.  Enjoy!

Merry Christmas

There are so many different wrapped gifts from Lush this holiday season that it would be really impossible for me to pick a favorite.  That being said, the Merry Christmas gift is definitely on the top of my list.  I like sets that have products from a bunch of different categories so I can get a little variety from my purchase.  (Or, I guess, give a little variety if I'm actually forced to give it as a gift instead of keeping it all for myself!)  Among other things, the set has a Let Them Eat Cake lip balm, which I adore, and a bunch of Bath Bombs and Bubble Bars that I love using around the holidays to relax.  There's also one of their (fairly) new Sugar Scrubs, which I haven't tried yet and am dying to test out.  Santa really needs to put this one under the tree for me this year.  (Hint, hint...)